Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels out of Savannah State University, right-handed pitching prospect Kyle McGowin was sent to the Washington Nationals in the Danny Espinosa deal a year ago, and he spent the summer of 2017 split between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse with a stint on the disabled list and a quick rehab period mixed in between. In total, the 26-year-old (DOB: November 27, 1991) right-hander made 19 starts this summer, finishing 3-12 with a 5.95 ERA, throwing 98.1 innings and allowing 119 hits (10.9 H/9) and 40 walks (3.7 BB/9) against 75 strikeouts (6.9 K/9).
Because of the injury setback during the summer, the Washington Nationals sent Kyle McGowin to the Arizona Fall League last month, where the threw for the Mesa Solar Sox. That’s where Baseball Census saw the righty pitch several times, and it’s from those viewings that we produced this full Kyle McGowin scouting report, which includes game video, tool grades, pitch notes, projections, and more below.
Kyle McGowin Scouting Report, Washington Nationals — 2017
Dates observed in 2017: Arizona Fall League
Kyle McGowin Scouting Report — Washington Nationals — 2017 Game Video
Kyle McGowin Scouting Report — Future Projection
More or less in his final form as a now-26-year-old after time spent across multiple years in Triple-A and a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Kyle McGowin isn’t likely to elicit much excitement with below-average stuff and execution and a track record of getting hit hard in the upper minors. That’s unlikely to change at this point with now more than 500 professional innings under his belt, and so it’s a pretty straightforward projection for the righty: 2018 at Triple-A Syracuse, with both a short-term and long-term future as organizational depth in the upper minors for the Washington Nationals and, likely, a few other organizations as he ages.
Now, he does have some interesting deception in his mechanics and surprisingly good feel for a changeup, so there may be a shot for the Washington Nationals to use McGowin as a spot starter or low-leverage long reliever. It should be noted that he draws an extreme amount of ground ball contact, too, so command refinements would boost his profile a bit as a pitch-to-contact ground ball machine. I’m pessimistic that’ll happen to a large extent considering his age, track record, and a lack of velocity that’d otherwise provide a margin of error, though.
Overall Future Potential (Future Value): Spot start/low-leverage relief ceiling; more likely organizational depth piece with possibility for up-and-down role in coming years (40)
MLB ETA: 2018
Did you like this Kyle McGowin scouting report? Get more prospects here:
Washington Nationals OF Victor Robles — CLICK HERE
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Sandy Alcantara — CLICK HERE
Detroit Tigers IF Kody Eaves — CLICK HERE
Los Angeles Dodgers RHP James Marinan — CLICK HERE
New York Yankees RHP Cody Carroll — CLICK HERE
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