Name: Keegan Akin (click link for full 2019 scouting report)
Position: LHP
Age as of 6/30/20: 25
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Current Grade: 50
Future Grade: 50
Ceiling Grade: 50
Most Likely Future Role: 5th Starter/Power multi-inning reliever
Ceiling: 4th starter
Career Stats
Quick Scouting Report Update: The former 2nd round pick made his major league debut and ended up making six starts after two relief outings. Got mixed results throwing two five inning shutout starts in September but in four of his other starts he never got out of the 4th inning.
Akin used the traditional fastball, curveball, slider, changeup repertoire to strikeout an impressive 12.3 batters/9. Missed bats with his 91-93 MPH fastball (28% WHIFF), curveball (27.3%) and changeup (36%) but was in a lot of full counts and his pitch counts got up high quickly.
Although he missed a lot of bats with his changeup, he makes too many mistakes with the pitch and batters put up a .432 WOBA against the pitch. His 81 MPH slider was not a good pitch and he may want to go with more of a cutter or rely in the curveball as his breaking ball in the future.
While Akins does have a starters repertoire with three average major league pitches that occasionally flash plus, his inconsistency makes it tough for him to be counted on to give the team 5-6 innings on a regular basis and suggests his best role may be as an impact multi-inning reliever.
Akin reminds me a bit of Arthur Rhodes who was an impact 2-3 innings reliever for the Orioles after failing to stick as a starter.
Saying that, Akin will mostly spend 2021 in the rotation but will need to produce with Michael Baumann, Zac Lowther, and Bruce Zimmermann knocking on the door.
