Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6’2” 185 lbs. DOB: 9/12/93
(Orem/AZL-Angels): 1-3, 7.76 ERA, 18 BBs, 20 Ks, 29.0 IP
A two-way sports star (baseball/basketball), Keynan Middleton was a late rising prospect that the Angels took in the 3rd round (95th overall) of the 2013 draft. If there’s one word that describes him, it’s “projectable.”
Keynan throws both a 2-seam and 4-seam fastball anywhere from 91-95 mph. The two-seam has late run and the 4-seam has good side-to-side movement and sink. He also throws a hammer curve, and is developing a slider and changeup. He has smooth mechanics, mostly throwing from a 3/4ths slot. He hides the ball well, making his pitches even more effective. All four pitches have the potential to develop as Major League pitches, giving him the makings of an impact starter.
Keynan has a low mileage arm. He only started pitching for a full season in 2013, which is one of the reasons why the Angels were able to get him in the 3rd round. Consequently, the Angels will take it slow with him to condition him to a full season’s workload. Judging Keynan solely by the numbers is not a fair measure of his talent because he’s still so new to pitching full-time. However, when he’s ready, he could be a real gem in the Angels organization and a force on the mound.