Miami Marlins LHP Scott Squier Scouting Report, 2017

Selected by the Miami Marlins in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, left-handed pitching prospect Scott Squier spent the full 2017 season with High-A Jupiter, where he appeared in 28 games (26 starts), throwing 132.0 innings and finishing 5-9 with a 3.82 ERA. In that span, the University of Hawaii product allowed 143 hits (9.6 H/9) and 26 walks (3.6 BB/9) while striking out 102 batters (5.4 K/9) for the Hammerheads. After the season, the Marlins sent the 25-year-old lefty (DOB: September 17, 1992) to the Arizona Fall League, where he pitched for the Salt River Rafters across October and November.

Scott Squier is a pretty conventional lefty, offering a three-pitch mix and playing primarily off his fastball to draw weak contact without wipeout stuff. Good control and some command have kept him a starting pitcher for much of his career, but 2018 will mark his fifth season in pro ball and it’s time to push into the upper minors and establish a presence there against better hitters. Below, Baseball Census has a full Scott Squier scouting report based on our views at the Arizona Fall League, including game video, tool grades, projection notes and more on the Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect.

Scott Squier Scouting Report, Miami Marlins — 2017

Dates observed in 2017: Arizona Fall League

TOOL (FV)

NOTES & COMMENTS

Fastball (45)

Straight pitch, with modest arm-side run at times, especially when starting out to arm-side from release. Very good downward plane from height when kept down in the zone. Run will get wild and ‘take off’ to arm-side when left up; flat there with no depth. Low effort, easy out of his hand; plane is best attribute to drawing weak/inconsistent contact when down, but certainly not an above-average pitch. Command imperative here; fastball loses considerable plane/life anywhere above bottom third of zone. Velocity: 88-92, T 93.

Curveball (40)

Sharp 11-to-5 break, almost slider-like in harder movement but with more consistent vertical depth. Not a hammer, but enough life here to get by when it stays down in the zone; inconsistent execution with some spinners left up. As with fastball, does well when he gets on top and out front of the pitch. Some velo here; doesn’t completely change hitter’s rhythm and batters can adjust to it somewhat easier than they would with more traditional hook and slightly larger velo differential. Velocity: 76-79, T 81.

Changeup (40)

Surprisingly good at selling the changeup out of his hand, even on ones that are left up without life. When it’s down, it tumbles with some arm-side run and proves moderately effective, particularly against RHH. When left up it loses run and floats out. But, identical arm speed and arm action to fastball can still sell it fairly well at times, at least out of his hand. As with curve, command inconsistencies leave him with little margin of error here; doesn’t miss bats at a significant rate and so must live down in the zone on weak contact or else changeup will get hit hard. Velocity: 80-83, T 84.

Control/Command (50/40)

Fills the zone and avoids walks, but gets into trouble with command issues missing spots and leaving pitches up within zone. Downward plane on all his stuff plays well at the knees, but anything left higher than that really flattens/straightens out and runs the risk of finding a barrel. Command not where it needs to be at present considering lack of overpowering/wipeout stuff; very little margin of error to work with; must hit spots every time.

Mechanics

High three-quarters release provides good downward plane; double-tap in his glove before hand break and a long arm swing on the backside that shows the ball very early, particularly against RHH. Lined up straight on to plate through mechanics landing, on down to release and finish; consistent mechanics, though will falter to third base side from the stretch at times. Fails to finish pitches and too often left standing tall at finish, lacking real leg drive to plate. Low effort mechanics ideal for longer rotation role, but that comes at the expense of cutting out lower half to a large degree. Pitches tall; ideal for downward plane but lack of follow through an issue in pitch execution.

Intangibles

1.50 - 1.59 to the plate in quicker move; also flashed a slightly slower (~1.75) move to the plate with higher balance point. Holds runners fairly well long sets and looks; frequent pick-off looks to first base, but didn’t ever see his ‘A’ move. Pacing issues with runners on bases; will slow down pitch-to-pitch markedly; no urgency, affects defense. Old for league/level in 2017 and generally has been thus far through his entire career; 2018 will be show-me year in upper minors to figure out whether he’s a big league contributor or organizational depth.

Scott Squier Scouting Report — Miami Marlins — 2017 Game Video

Scott Squier Scouting Report — Notes, Analysis & Projection

Scott Squier was an interesting choice to send out to Salt River, considering he threw more than 130 innings during the regular season and is far from being on any prospect list — though that likely says more about the Miami Marlins and how they see the AFL season than it does Squier himself, who no doubt benefitted from the opportunity to face some very good, young hitters.

But reality comes quick now, with the lefty already 25 years old. Having only just graduated the High-A Florida State League in 2017, he must move quickly from here if the Miami Marlins are to take him seriously as a potential big league contributor. For me, little of what Squier did at the Arizona Fall League last month would suggest that he’ll be a significant piece in the club’s imminent big league rebuild over the next few years. He’s hittable (FSL opponents batted .280 against him in 2017) with middling stuff and very little margin of error considering his lack of overpowering velocity or wipeout pitch life, and he’ll find it a struggle to survive in the upper minors without pinpoint command to dot his stuff corner to corner right at the knees.

Assuming modest improvements in time — even though, at 25, Squier may be close to final form — and knowing he’s a lefty with feel for three pitches, there’s still a shot yet for him to function in an up-and-down role in the coming years. Short of a magic injection of raw pitch life out of nowhere, though, his in-zone command must markedly improve to the point where he’s living at the knees, because there’s just not much margin of error anywhere higher in the zone. Scott Squier is a consistent strike thrower who attacks hitters with three pitches and has a solid minor league track record, though, and that’ll count for something as he makes the transition into the upper minors.

Overall Future Potential (Future Value): Underwhelming arsenal with command inconsistencies; likely relief future in low-leverage work; possible spot/emergency starts in an up-and-down role (40)

MLB ETA: 2019