2023 #52 RHP Hunter Stanley Scouting Report
2023 #52 RHP Hunter Stanley Scouting Report
Stanley could be a quick moving reliever if he finds a few MPH on his fastball that he had in college and stays healthy in 2023
Build & Background
Smaller frame. Medium athletic build. Over the top delivery with a bit of a funky windup. Almost drops down during his move forward to the plate like a sidearmer, but drops his arm straight down for an over the top delivery while he tilts back to get the arm through the slot, making it tough for hitters to pick up. Stanley was a workhorse his senior year in college and threw a complete game, two-hitter in college in 2021 at Southern Miss, striking out 16.
What Stanley does well
In college, Stanley was 93-95 and could hit 97 with his fastball and it came with a lot of ride and deception thanks to his delivery. He was more low-90s in 2022, especially after he was hurt most of the year and came back. But he had no problem missing bats. He’s got a good slider that missed bats in college and should be a weapon for him in the pros. He had above average control in college as well.
Where Stanley needs to improve
Unfortunately, Stanley can’t do anything about his age. He’ll pitch all of 2023 at age 25 in his second pro season, with the first shortened. He needs to be on the mound and re-discover some fastball velocity from college along with staying healthy and improving his slider. Health seems to be his biggest need right now. His changeup was a fringey pitch in college and little used in 2022. He also threw a big 12-6 curveball in college as well that didn’t get used in 2022, possibly due to pitching as a reliever.
Intangibles
As noted, Stanley was a bulldog type like workhorse his final year at Southern Miss. He had a great final season in college and thrived in big games. He was able to overcome a mid-season injury in 2022 that knocked out his first pro season to come back and pitch in the AFL, and did so very well.
Future
Given his age and fringey secondaries, it seems almost certain Stanley is going to be fast tracked as a reliever now. If he can find 94-97 again consistently and his slider or any other secondaries play up with it, and he finds the control he had in college, he should move relatively fast. It wouldn’t be a shock for him to start 2023 in Double-A Akron’s bullpen, if they have room. If the velo comes back and his health, Stanely could have a future as in the seventh man in an eight man bullpen, or a sixth inning type guy. He could do that at 92-94 possibly, but the impact of missing bats as often would be gone and he’d likely be a filler type relief options.
Role: 40 - up-and-down depth reliever/sixth inning arm
