GLENDALE, Ariz. – JT Brubaker wasn’t your typical projectable right-handed pitching prospect out of the draft.
He had the typical frame and potential to add velocity. He was tall, skinny, and while he mostly sat 91-93 MPH, he hit the mid-90s. Still, most projectable guys with dreams of a velocity increase come from the high school ranks. The idea is that they would grow into their bodies in their age 18-21 years, adding velocity in college. If you could sign them early, you could see that increase in the system.
This has worked for the Pirates with several prospects, including Mitch Keller, Tyler Glasnow, Nick Kingham, and Clay Holmes, to name a few.