Cleveland Guardians 2023 prospect scouting report: #16 RHP Xzavion Curry

Curry has three average offerings and control, but what is his best future role?

Build, Background, and Delivery

Short and compact frame. Short levers. Athletic build. Easy, clean and repeatable delivery. Gets downhill well for size. Pitched at Georgia Tech. Missed 2019 and 2020 after being drafted. Made debut in 2021, advancing to Double-A. Advanced to the majors in 2022.

What Curry does well

Repeats his delivery well and throws four pitches for strikes. Strong fastball command. Good spin and rise to the heater. Curve pairs well off of fastball, especially up in the zone. Slider has taken some steps forward. Will steal a strike early in counts with a curve.

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Where Curry needs to improve

Despite control and spin on fastball, it’s an average pitch at best. Works it well up in zone but has fringe average velocity. Changeup is behind other three pitches. It lacks fade and run, and doesn’t have enough velocity separation from his fastball.  

Intangibles

Since getting healthy, Curry has flown through the system. He’s worked hard to overcome a late start to his career, maintaining a calm and focused demeanor. Regarded as a good, fun teammate when outside of the white lines.

Future

There have been cases where pitchers with two solid breaking balls can overcome the lack of a changeup. Curry’s curve could act as a neutralizer against lefties while his slider is better against right handers. Despite fringe-average fastball velocity, the ride on Curry’s fastball makes it playable and nearly above average. Still, it’s more likely Curry is a good bet as sixth inning type of reliever who can moonlight as a spot starter, and even look occasionally serviceable doing so. There’s a solid big league career to be had by Curry but the better impact likely comes as a reliever 

Role- 45 - Middle relief/spot starter

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