Mason Melotakis Scouting Report — Minnesota Twins, 2017

Mason Melotakis scouting report

Org.: Minnesota Twins
Pos.: LHP
B/T: R/L
DOB: June 28, 1991 (23 years old)
Draft: 2nd round (63rd overall), 2012
Player Page: Click Here
2016 Club(s): Chattanooga (AA)

The last two summers have been completely forgettable for Mason Melotakis, as the lefty lost nearly both full seasons due to Tommy John surgery and the inevitable, arduous recovery. Melotakis is healthy now, though, and the Minnesota Twins‘ lefty showed it by appearing in 36 games for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to the tune of a 2.97 ERA and 42 strikeouts across 33.1 innings in 2016. Then, he followed up with 11 very solid appearances (just two runs allowed in 11 innings pitched) for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League in the fall of 2016. Now, it’s safe to say Melotakis is healthy again and should restart fully for 2017—while factoring in as a big piece of the Twins’ future plans.

Mason Melotakis scouting report — physical tools and projection

Listed at 6’2″, 220 pounds, Melotakis looks all of that and then some, and he uses that strength and power to let loose some plus velocity numbers, sitting comfortably right around 95 mph in many outings and touching as high as 97 mph during Arizona Fall League play last October. The Twins, seeing this power profile in its infancy when they drafted him in 2012, had initially developed Melotakis as a starting pitcher, but he’s now settled comfortably into a relief role that fits well with that plus fastball which also has some sink to it, allowing the lefty to match up decently well against righties in addition to his lefty-on-lefty work.

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It’s not just a fastball, though; Melotakis’ power curveball will miss bats, too, and it sits from 83-85 mph—a notable velocity for a breaking ball that still remains a true overhand curve without turning into a slider or a slurve. That pitch alone sets Melotakis apart as far as lefty set-up men go, and it’s that pitch, coupled with his good fastball velocity, that should give him several opportunities in the big leagues in 2017 and 2018. Melotakis shows off a changeup, too, but it’s not something that he needs right now—and although he’s shown decent control throughout his career, his ability to command his lively stuff isn’t quite where it needs to be.

That said, though, the raw stuff is there—and now that he’s finally healthy again, Melotakis may turn some heads in very short order for the Twins in 2017.

Mason Melotakis scouting report — what’s ahead in 2017

Fully healthy now, Melotakis ought to let it hunt in 2017, and depending on how he throws, he’ll likely get a shot in the big leagues at some point during the season. Expect him to spend the start of the summer with Triple-A Rochester, but he’s not far off from big league action, and with the lively, hard stuff he’s shown, he certainly ought to have the opportunity to get lefties out for years to come as a big league set-up man.

Mason Melotakis scouting report — get more below

Below, get more on Melotakis and the Twins. You can also buy a large, high-resolution version of the photo you see at the top of this post, with no watermark, by clicking the “buy this photo” tab below.

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