Walker Buehler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #1 prospect in 2018
  Buehler's meteoric rise to top-prospect status in 2017 was just the latest chapter in a history of excellence. The Lexington, Ky., native was considered a top two-rounds talent out of high school but fell to the 14th round due to a strong Vanderbilt commitment. In college, he started a College World Series championship game as a sophomore and led the Commodores to a national title, pitched for Team USA and was co-MVP of the Cape Cod League. He pitched through elbow soreness as a junior to wrap up a decorated career, and the Dodgers drafted him 24th overall in 2015. An MRI later revealed he needed Tommy John surgery, which he had shortly after being drafted, and he missed virtually all of 2016. Buehler looked like a different pitcher in his first full season back in 2017. He returned sitting 96-99 mph, after previously living 91-96, and rocketed from high Class A Rancho Cucamonga to the majors. Buehler is thin-framed, but that doesn't affect his stuff or the ability to hold it. His newly-enhanced fastball sits 97-98 mph deep into outings, reaching 100 and rarely dipping below 95. It jumps on hitters quickly out of his loose, athletic, elastic delivery, and he pounds the strike zone. The one shortcoming of his fastball is it doesn't have a ton of life, making it easier for hitters to square up when he misses his spot, a problem that was exposed during his September callup in the Dodgers bullpen. Buehler's slider and curveball are both plus pitches he locates well. His slider is a wipeout offering at 91-93 mph with tight spin and late tilt, and his north-to-south power curveball is equally dangerous at 81-84 mph. Buehler is still working on his changeup, with only about one in five he throws flashing average. He shows average to above command and control on all of his offerings. To top it off, he has a fearless mentality, exceptional makeup and a solid understanding of how to set hitters up. Buehler's slight frame gives a few evaluators pause, but most see him as an elite pitching prospect with top-of-the-rotation potential. He has yet to pitch more then 95 innings in a season and will likely start 2018 back at Triple-A Oklahoma City in an effort to increase his durability.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #11 prospect in 2017
  Buehler never felt quite right during his junior season at Vanderbilt in 2015. The Dodgers drafted him with the 24th overall pick that year, with an MRI revealing he would need Tommy John surgery. After signing for $1,77,500, Buehler had the operation that August and was back on the mound 11 months later. Despite missing most of 2016 to rehab, Buehler still won a ring as he pitched five scoreless innings over two playoff starts for low Class A Great Lakes, which won the Midwest League championship. Buehler's progress has been encouraging so far, especially since he was throwing 91-96 mph before surgery but upon his return was touching 98. It's difficult to judge Buehler's other pitches since his return, but before the operation he threw a curveball and slider with tight spin, though they had a tendency to run together. He also throws a changeup with late fade that flashes as an above-average offering. It's not the cleanest arm action, but Buehler is a solid strike-thrower who has the athleticism to repeat his high-intensity mechanics. Durability is a question mark for the thin-framed Buehler, but he has the stuff to pitch in the middle of a rotation.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #11 prospect in 2016
  Elbow soreness delayed Buehler's junior season at Vanderbilt in 2015, but he was effective when he returned to the Commodores rotation, helping lead them to a return trip to the College World Series finals. He never felt quite right all year, though, and after the Dodgers drafted him with the 24th overall pick, an MRI revealed he would require Tommy John surgery, which he had in August. Buehler, who signed for $1,777,500, will miss the entire 2016 season, with the expectation that he can get back on the mound in instructional league, then make his pro debut in 2017. When healthy, Buehler showed a quality arsenal of pitches and a good delivery. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph, though it tends to be straight. He has the ability to generate tight spin on his breaking pitches, though his curveball and slider can blend together at times. He rounds out his repertoire with a changeup that flashes above-average potential with late fade. Buehler's arm action and quick-tempo delivery are polished. He's a good athlete who repeats his mechanics and throws strikes. He has a chance to become a mid-rotation starter, though he'll have to answer questions about his durability and whether his stuff will return once he's done with his rehab.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #12 prospect in 2015 draft
  Buehler had a busy summer last year. After helping Vanderbilt win its first-ever national championship, he pitched briefly for Team USA and was then named co-MVP of the playoffs in the Cape Cod League, as he helped Yarmouth-Dennis to the championship. His start to his junior season at Vanderbilt was delayed by elbow soreness, but he's pitched well since rejoining the Commodores rotation. At his best, Buehler has four above-average offerings. He throws his fastball in the low to mid 90s, though it doesn't have a ton of life. That, in addition to his clean arm action, allows him to pound the strike zone, but also makes it a bit easier for hitters to square the pitch up if he misses in the zone. His curveball and slider both show promise and he has a good feel for spinning the baseball, but they run together at times. He gets good fading action on his changeup. Though at a listed 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Buehler is taller than teammate Carson Fulmer, he isn't very physical and also lacks ideal size for a righthander. Scouts have more confidence that Buehler will be able to remain in the rotation, however, thanks to his deep arsenal, athleticism and more polished delivery.
• Ranked #50 prospect in 2012 draft
  Kentucky had its best-ever high school class in 2008, with four players who ranked among Baseball America's top 75 prospects and were led by Robbie Ross, now in the big leagues with the Rangers. After lacking any comparable prep talents in the next three drafts, the Bluegrass State is fruitful once again. Buehler belongs in the first two rounds this year and Woodford County High (Versailles) righthander Colton Hollon could be the first high school player drafted in 2013. The pair matched up in a May 1 game shortened by rain, with Buehler touching 94 mph with his fastball and Hollon topping him at 96. Buehler shows the potential for three plus pitches. At his best, he deals at 90-94 mph with his fastball, devastates hitters with an 80-81 mph curveball and confounds them with a sinking changeup. He's still skinny at 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds, so there are days when his fastball sits at 86-91 mph and his secondary pitches aren't as crisp. That leads some scouts to wonder how well he'll be able to maintain his stuff with an increased workload in pro ball, though they love his smooth arm action and polish. Though Buehler is a good student who has committed to Vanderbilt, teams believe he may be signable if drafted in the first couple of rounds.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #1 prospect in 2017
  Before making his big league debut as a reliever in September, Buehler made successful stops at three different minor league levels in 2017, which included a 10-week stay at Tulsa. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2015 and pitching just five innings in 2016, he threw 88.2 innings in the minors prior to his callup. Buehler made 11 starts in the TL during his meteoric rise and pitched off a 95-99 mph fastball that jumps on hitters quickly. He also throws a plus slider and true north-to-south curveball to help rack up 11.8 strikeouts and just 2.8 walks per nine innings. Having feel for an at least average changeup that's especially effective against lefthanded hitters gives Buehler the full arsenal necessary to project as at least a No. 2 starter. The biggest questions he face regard his lean frame and thus questionable stamina and durability.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 2018

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Buehler's rise to top prospect status in 2017 was meteoric in some ways, but really was just the latest chapter in a history of excellence. The Lexington, Ky., native was considered a top two-rounds talent out of high school but fell to the 14th round due to a strong Vanderbilt commitment. In college he started the College World Series championship game as a sophomore and led the Commodores to a national title, pitched for Team USA and was co-MVP of the Cape Cod League. He pitched through elbow soreness as a junior to wrap up a decorated career, and the Dodgers drafted him 24th overall in 2015. An MRI later revealed he needed Tommy John surgery, which he had shortly after being drafted, and he missed virtually all of 2016. Buehler looked like a different pitcher in his first full season back in 2017. He returned sitting 96-99 mph, after previously living 91-96, and rocketed from high Class A Rancho Cucamonga to the majors. Scouting Report: Buehler is thin-framed, but that doesn't affect his stuff or the ability to hold it. His newly-enhanced fastball sits 97-98 mph deep into outings, reaching 100 and rarely dipping below 95. It jumps on hitters quickly out of his loose, athletic, elastic delivery, and he pounds the strike zone. The one shortcoming of his fastball is it doesn't have a ton of life, making it easier for hitters to square up when he misses his spot, a problem that was exposed during his September callup in the Dodgers bullpen. Buehler's slider and curveball are both plus pitches he locates well. His slider is a wipeout offering at 91-93 mph with tight spin and late tilt, and his north-to-south power curveball is equally dangerous at 81-84 mph. Buehler is still working on his changeup, with only about one in five he throws flashing average. He shows average to above command and control on all of his offerings. To top it off, he has a fearless mentality, exceptional makeup and a solid understanding of how to set hitters up. The Future: Buehler's slight frame gives a few evaluators pause, but most see him as an elite pitching prospect with top-of-the-rotation potential. He has yet to pitch more then 95 innings in a season and will likely start 2018 back at Triple-A Oklahoma City in an effort to increase his durability. If he can do that, Buehler has a long future in rotation ahead of him.