9 FOSTER GRIFFIN, LHP

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BA GRADE

50

Risk: High

FB: 50.

CB: 55.

CHG: 55.

CTL: 55.

Born: July 27, 1995. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—Orlando, 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Jim Buckley.

One of two first-round picks by Kansas City in 2014 when the Florida native was one of the top high school arms in that draft class, Griffin struggled in his first two full seasons coinciding with a drop in his velocity.

After finishing the 2016 season at high Class A Wilmington with a 6.23 ERA, Griffin returned the next year as a different pitcher. With an uptick in velocity and a more aggressive nature on the mound, Griffin pitched better off of his fastball, missed more bats and improved his breaking ball to post a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts back at Wilmington before moving up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His combined total of 15 wins was among the best in that category in the minor leagues. Griffin took more of a bulldog mentality to the mound in 2017, speeding up the game and getting better arm speed, which allowed him to make more quality pitches down in the zone. His fastball sits 88-92 mph, up a tick from before, and he located it better. His two-seamer has tail while his four-seam fastball has cut to it. He sharpened his 11-5 curveball, getting more shape to it and allowing him to be more aggressive with the pitch. Griffin uses his changeup to keep hitters off balance; it’s a below-average pitch now but projects as an average or above-average offering. He sequences his pitches well and showed the ability to change speeds in and out. Griffin is credited with having good makeup and focus on the mound.

After 18 starts at Double-A, Griffin may be ready to move on to Triple-A Omaha although he’ll still be only 22 in the spring. He has the upside of a No. 4 starter.

Year

Club (League)

Class

W

L

ERA

G

GS

2015

Lexington (SAL)

LoA

4

6

5.44

22

22

2016

Lexington (SAL)

LoA

1

4

3.38

7

7

 

Wilmington (CAR)

HiA

5

10

6.23

20

20

2017

Wilmington (CAR)

HiA

4

2

2.86

10

10

 

NW Arkansas (TL)

AA

11

5

3.61

18

18

Minor League Totals

25

29

4.49

88

88

Year

Club (League)

CG

SV

IP

H

HR

2015

Lexington (SAL)

0

0

103

123

8

2016

Lexington (SAL)

0

0

37

35

3

 

Wilmington (CAR)

0

0

95

130

9

2017

Wilmington (CAR)

0

0

57

43

2

 

NW Arkansas (TL)

0

0

105

108

11

Minor League Totals

0

0

425

458

35

Year

Club (League)

BB

SO

K/9

WHIP

AVG

2015

Lexington (SAL)

35

71

6.2

1.54

.296

2016

Lexington (SAL)

9

29

7.0

1.18

.243

 

Wilmington (CAR)

43

76

7.2

1.81

.330

2017

Wilmington (CAR)

20

60

9.5

1.11

.210

 

NW Arkansas (TL)

34

81

7.0

1.36

.271

Minor League Totals

153

336

7.1

1.44

.276