Rick Porcello

by John Sickels on May 28, 2025 1:03 PM EDT in News

Thinking about Rick Porcello

Considered the top high school pitcher available in the draft, Porcello is the current favorite to go Number Two overall to Kansas City. . .the other candidate, Matt Wieters, we'll look at tomorrow.

If you could design a "perfect" high school pitching prospect, it would be hard to beat Porcello. He's tall and lanky...6-5, 190...with some projection left in his body. He's athletic. He already throws 93-94 MPH, hitting 96-98 at times. His curveball and slider are both very good pitches. His changeup wasn't very good last year according to my sources, but has really improved this season, giving him four pitches that should be above-average, or better, at the major league level. Control, an issue in the past, has also taken a major step forward this year. He's very intelligent, with a 3.94 GPA for Seton Hall Prep.

So, let's see....good size, athletic, throws hard, throws strikes, has a diverse arsenal, still has projectability, knows how to pitch, intelligent, has improved his previous weaknesses. Hard to beat all that.

What about injury risk? His mechanics are clean and his athleticism helps. Also, coming from a cold-weather high school state, he has a bit less wear and tear on his arm than high school pitchers from warmer climes. He's been active on the showcase circuit so he doesn't lack high-level experience.

He's got just about everything going for him, and his risk of injury or failure is no higher than for any other high school pitcher, and perhaps a bit lower.

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Jarrod Parker

John, How does Parker compare to Porcello?

by nate050904 on May 28, 2025 1:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Similarly...

how does Blake Beavan compare!?

Is there really much of a gap between Porcello, Parker and Beavan?

by NewKidInTown on May 28, 2025 3:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

1 Perspective

I have read that at least some scouts view them as very comparable in talent, the only difference being Parker is 3-4 inches shorter than Porcello. You probaly can't go wrong with either.

I Beaven is ranked, by scouts (I assume) and by the scouting services I have read, a touch below Parker, and certainly below Porcello. That it not an insult though, as he is still considered a top 15 talent. But if they had to be ranked, I'd say Porcello is a top 3 talent, Parker probably a top 7-10 talent, and Beaven a top 15. Pretty darn good year for HS pitching.

by CW on May 28, 2025 3:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

I tend to agree with you CW,

I guess i'm just a little perplexed as to why Beavan is ranked lower, that's all. He's a pretty good size himself.

He put up phenomenal numbers in Texas, and he was also dominant when he pitched in International play for Team USA last summer. Arguably at a higher level of competition.

Is it his delivery or stuff that ranks him lower do you think!?

by NewKidInTown on May 28, 2025 3:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not sure

I have never seen him pitch, but I have read that his delivery is a bit funky and involves a bit of effort. That is probably why he is dropped down a few notches. Porcello and Parker (despite his size) seem to have the ability to effortlessly crank their FBs up to the mid-90s.

by CW on May 28, 2025 3:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re:

There are some concerns about his delivery, i.e. it's a bit rough and could cause problems down the line. That said, he's easily a 1st rounder, and scouts are being a bit nit-picky this year given the surplus of elite prep pitching prospects.

Beaven is solidly in the tier 2 of prep pitchers along with Aumont, Parker, and Harvey.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 28, 2025 5:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Parker....

for a 6'1 guy has a TON of room to grow, and I think alot of people can and have fallen in love with such a long athletic frame.

He's one of the few shorter pitchers who is just too athletic and talented to pass up.

by SenorGato88 on May 28, 2025 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

last season

from john's writeup, it seems like he's made a lot of strides this last year...my biggest worry (with the caveat that i don't know a ton about the guy) would be that these step forwards were more mirage than trend and you'd end up with a guy that should have been picked a few rounds later..

by biggentleben on May 28, 2025 1:34 PM EDT 0 recs

3.94 GPA?

Wee, it's my first post ever, although I've been on this site for over a year now.

We must not forget that this is a prep school obsessed with having the best athletes. I have it on good word that the classes Porcello takes (and that of his teammates, since this info is from a teammate) are joke classes a la Georgia basketball: "How many points is a three-point field goal?" type of stuff.

I'm not saying the kid isn't smart, I'm just saying that his GPA has very little to do with his intelligence. You should see the Gen Ed. classes University of Hartford students take, it's a wonder how any of them graduate with less than a 3.5, although in normal classes they're capable of about 2.5. So it's obviously not just Seton Hall Prep, it's other prep schools and even colleges where a GPA should be taken with a grain of salt.

On that note, I wonder what Greg Oden's GPA was at Ohio State...

"...It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

by metsman128 on May 28, 2025 2:12 PM EDT 0 recs

I think...

Seton Hall Prep is a little bit more serious than that. I was actually enrolled there before, and that school is strict as hell. In retrospect, that school was a much better fit for me than the HS I actually went to.

They REALLY push their guys.

Anyway, Porcello is probably my favorite HS pitching prospect since Kazmir/Everts in 2002.

by SenorGato88 on May 28, 2025 2:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

kershaw

what happened to your man love for kershaw from last year?

by npurcell on May 28, 2025 2:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Porcello > Kershaw

But I just remembered how much I liked Kershaw.

See what a new draft can do to a guy?

by SenorGato88 on May 28, 2025 2:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plus...

don't forget my Jersey bias.

by SenorGato88 on May 28, 2025 2:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

true

shiny new toy syndrome always gets people :)

that said, porcello is excellent.

by npurcell on May 28, 2025 3:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Porcello

Rick was recruited by Vanderbilt, Virginia, and UNC, all of which are elite universities. I believe he also ended up with an SAT score of over 1700.

You may be just messing around, but by all accounts Porcello is a very intelligent person and a great kid overall.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 28, 2025 5:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

wait, what?

did they change the SAT again? i can't be the only one old enough to think it maxed out at 1600.

by jpahk on May 28, 2025 5:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really?

They changed the grading scale for him. Damn he must be smart.

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 28, 2025 5:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

LOL

Damn, I'm the idiot. Apparently a perfect score on the SAT is now a 2400. Think about a picture of me with an arrow to my mouth and a little caption that says insert foot here.

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 28, 2025 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

1700

Isn't that great... I'm not going to get into scores like people did last year. But I have a friend who was accepted to Vandy with a 2200. Just saying

by Metty5 on May 28, 2025 8:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

before we get into this

just assume all sections were the same and put it into the 1600 scale.

...that's about an 1130

I'll be the first A+ prospect...

by ufoboy90 on May 28, 2025 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

re:

John points out Porcello's stellar GPA, and you imply that he must be taking easy classes and SHP hands out A's like candy.

I add that Porcello had a good SAT score and was recruited by some world-class schools, and you reply that you had a friend with a higher score that's in at Vandy. Um, okay....no offense, but who cares?

Do you actually have a point, or do you just have an axe to grind?

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 28, 2025 10:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol way to get testy

I was making a point that if you have that GPA. You should be scoring much higher on your SATS unless of course you are taking easy classes and in fact you aren't really that smart.

by Metty5 on May 28, 2025 10:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not really

It indicates neither really. High School really isn't all that hard. It's probably a 3.94 weighted, which is good, but not spectacular. All you have to do is be decently smart and take honors classes to achieve that GPA. His SAT score is the equivalent of an 1130 on the old scale, which is above-average. Not an elite score that would be needed to get into a school like Vandy otherwise, but still a very good score.

by Tyler on May 28, 2025 10:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not Necessarily

Every accredited high school, whether it's parochial or not, has a large volume of core classes that everyone needs to take and pass if they want to graduate. I'm sure Porcello took his share of easy classes, just like everyone does, to help offset his harder classes.

Spin it however you'd like, but a 3.94 GPA is fantastic and shows the type of intelligence and work ethic Porcello has.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 29, 2025 8:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

...uhh

...1130 is not very good

I'll be the first A+ prospect...

by ufoboy90 on Jun 1, 2025 10:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

uh

1130 is fine. Assuming he's a reasonably bright guy, there's no reason for him to be studying hard for that test, retaking it to get a higher score, or taking it too seriously. He's going to earn millions of dollars on a signing bonus or have his pick of schools should he choose that route regardless of whether he scores a 1000 or a 1600 on his SAT.

by limozeen on Jun 2, 2025 3:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Greg Oden's GPA was 3.5 I think

He probably took all Phys Ed classes I bet.

by Bravesin07 on May 28, 2025 2:44 PM EDT 0 recs

history

well he did take the class history of rock n' roll

by kjc on May 28, 2025 4:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

OSU

i remember andy katzenmoyer's last year at ohio state, i think his curriculum consisted of AIDS awareness, music appreciation, and golf. not that these things are unimportant in the grand scheme of things (well, except golf), but that's not a courseload that can really be taken seriously.

by jpahk on May 28, 2025 5:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Verlander Comp

Thoughts on Porcello being compared to Verlander? I have seen quite a few Verlander comps for him, the latest one from David Rawnsley. Seems fairly accurate to me, given that they are both tall, RH power arms that can throw gas all day.

Also, Porcello made a relief appearance a week or two ago where he hit 99, 98, 99, and 100. I think his potential is through the roof, and he has a chance to be special if he stay healthy. Mid to Upper 90's gas, smooth and repeatable delivery, excellent breaking stuff, 4 potentially plus pitches, great makeup.....what more do you want?

As John said, you can't draw 'em up better than this.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 28, 2025 5:26 PM EDT 0 recs

I think the comp is close...

but I noticed that Porcello doesn't stay as tall as Verlander in his delivery.

Then again, I've seen sh*t video of Porcello. But he looks more like a bigger Oswalt.

by SenorGato88 on May 28, 2025 9:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

RE Bigger Oswalt

I saw a video and thought of Oswalt as well.

by royalsfan7 on May 28, 2025 10:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Signability

Does the fact that Porcello is a good student make it more likely he will go to college? I would assume that any team using a top 10 overall pick on him would check that out first.

by DrBGiantsfan on May 29, 2025 10:11 AM EDT 0 recs

Possibly

But I think it's more likely that he would use college as leverage to get the money he's looking for, rather than view college as a realistic option at this point. Porcello is arguably the 2nd best pro prospect in this draft, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for him to go to school for 3 years if his main goal is becoming a pro baseball player.

I have a feeling that Boras will use all the tricks up his sleeve to get Porcello a big pay day. There have been rumors that he has already floated out quotes in the $6 mill bonus range plus a MLB contract. That's obviously absurd, but he may be trying to scare off the small-market teams.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 29, 2025 10:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

Oden

Oden scored a 980 on his SAT which is 13 points higher than the average score of those on Division I basketball scholarships according to the NCAA. It's slightly below the national average of 1028. Some of the comments on this string imply that Oden is not intelligent. I'd be more careful about such statements in the future.

by Con on May 30, 2025 4:38 PM EDT 0 recs