Jonathan Heasley

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #13 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Heasley was Kansas City’s 18th-round pick in 2018 out of Oklahoma State and has since surpassed other more high-profile pitching prospects in the organization. He reached the majors in 2021 and made three starts for the Royals. He spent the bulk of the season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he went 7-3, 3.33 and struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Heasley stands out for his bulldog mentality and extreme competitiveness on the mound, allowing his stuff to play up. His fastball sits 93-95 mph with sink and touches 97. His solid-average 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s is thrown with depth and spin, and he has good feel for a mid-80s changeup that projects to be above-average. Heasley repeats his delivery well and pounds the strike zone with above-average control of all three of his pitches.
  
  The Future: With a strong body, pitchability and resilience, Heasley is capable of filling multiple roles on a pitching staff. His ceiling is a back-of-the-rotation starter, but he can also provide value in a swingman role or as a multi-inning reliever.
  
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #21 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't quite live up to expectations at Oklahoma State and fell to the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He found his stride in his full-season debut and went 8-5, 3.12 at low Class A Lexington, albeit against mostly younger competition. The Royals added Heasley to the alternate training site in September and kept him in Kansas City for their fall instructional league program at Kauffman Stadium.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley is a competitor on the mound with four average or better pitches. He started throwing from a higher slot at Lexington. The move helped his velocity and his fastball now touches 97 mph with a high spin rate. Heasley's best secondary is a potential plus curveball that plays well off the fastball with 12-to-6 movement and heavy break. A changeup that is tough on hitters from both sides gives Heasley a third quality pitch. He rounds out the arsenal with a slider that he uses infrequently but has late, short break. He ties everything together with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heasley's stuff looked great in his pro debut, but he'll be more tested by age-appropriate competition. That should come in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #22 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't live up to expectations in his two years at Oklahoma State before the Royals picked him in the 13th round in 2018, signing the draft-eligible sophomore for an over-slot $247,500 bonus. His first pro season did nothing to put him on prospect lists, but improved confidence in his arsenal in 2019 helped change his projection.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley uses a 90-95 mph higher-spin fastball that he commands well. A new, higher slot led to even more velocity, including a few brushes with 97 during the Carolina League playoffs. Heasley complements the heater with three secondary pitches, the best being a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes plus. That pitch is down and late when thrown to the outer portion of the strike zone. The changeup could be a plus pitch in time, as it's tough on righthanded batters when he stays on it longer and finishes it better. Heasley is very competitive on the mound and repeats his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Another year of continued improvement could make Heasley next year's pop-up prospect, although many scouts see him as a reliever. He'll head to high Class A Wilmington in 2020.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #267 prospect in 2018 draft
  A draft-eligible sophomore, Heasley's results haven't matched his stuff. He can touch 94-95 mph with his fastball, his power slider can earn above-average grades and he mixes in a below-average curve and change as well. But he's proven very hittable this spring as he's moved from a relief role to a spot in Oklahoma State's rotation. Heasley's below-average control needs to improve. He was 3-6, 6.72 at the end of the regular season with 86 hits allowed in 71 innings, 36 walks and 72 strikeouts.
• Ranked #307 prospect in 2016 draft
  A big righthander who was a star quarterback for Prestonwood Christian, Heasley led the football team to a state title and then followed it up with a baseball state title as well, Heasley has plenty of velocity (90-94 mph) and a potentially average changeup although his delivery is a little stiff. What he needs to do is show that he can spin a breaking ball, as his curveball is pretty inconsistent at this point. He's signed with Oklahoma State.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Heasley was Kansas City’s 18th-round pick in 2018 out of Oklahoma State and has since surpassed other more high-profile pitching prospects in the organization. He reached the majors in 2021 and made three starts for the Royals. He spent the bulk of the season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he went 7-3, 3.33 and struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Heasley stands out for his bulldog mentality and extreme competitiveness on the mound, allowing his stuff to play up. His fastball sits 93-95 mph with sink and touches 97. His solid-average 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s is thrown with depth and spin, and he has good feel for a mid-80s changeup that projects to be above-average. Heasley repeats his delivery well and pounds the strike zone with above-average control of all three of his pitches.
  
  The Future: With a strong body, pitchability and resilience, Heasley is capable of filling multiple roles on a pitching staff. His ceiling is a back-of-the-rotation starter, but he can also provide value in a swingman role or as a multi-inning reliever.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't quite live up to expectations at Oklahoma State and fell to the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He found his stride in his full-season debut and went 8-5, 3.12 at low Class A Lexington, albeit against mostly younger competition. The Royals added Heasley to the alternate training site in September and kept him in Kansas City for their fall instructional league program at Kauffman Stadium.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley is a competitor on the mound with four average or better pitches. He started throwing from a higher slot at Lexington. The move helped his velocity and his fastball now touches 97 mph with a high spin rate. Heasley's best secondary is a potential plus curveball that plays well off the fastball with 12-to-6 movement and heavy break. A changeup that is tough on hitters from both sides gives Heasley a third quality pitch. He rounds out the arsenal with a slider that he uses infrequently but has late, short break. He ties everything together with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heasley's stuff looked great in his pro debut, but he'll be more tested by age-appropriate competition. That should come in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't quite live up to expectations at Oklahoma State and fell to the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He found his stride in his full-season debut and went 8-5, 3.12 at low Class A Lexington, albeit against mostly younger competition. The Royals added Heasley to the alternate training site in September and kept him in Kansas City for their fall instructional league program at Kauffman Stadium.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley is a competitor on the mound with four average or better pitches. He started throwing from a higher slot at Lexington. The move helped his velocity and his fastball now touches 97 mph with a high spin rate. Heasley's best secondary is a potential plus curveball that plays well off the fastball with 12-to-6 movement and heavy break. A changeup that is tough on hitters from both sides gives Heasley a third quality pitch. He rounds out the arsenal with a slider that he uses infrequently but has late, short break. He ties everything together with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heasley's stuff looked great in his pro debut, but he'll be more tested by age-appropriate competition. That should come in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't quite live up to expectations at Oklahoma State and fell to the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He found his stride in his full-season debut and went 8-5, 3.12 at low Class A Lexington, albeit against mostly younger competition. The Royals added Heasley to the alternate training site in September and kept him in Kansas City for their fall instructional league program at Kauffman Stadium.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley is a competitor on the mound with four average or better pitches. He started throwing from a higher slot at Lexington. The move helped his velocity and his fastball now touches 97 mph with a high spin rate. Heasley's best secondary is a potential plus curveball that plays well off the fastball with 12-to-6 movement and heavy break. A changeup that is tough on hitters from both sides gives Heasley a third quality pitch. He rounds out the arsenal with a slider that he uses infrequently but has late, short break. He ties everything together with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Heasley's stuff looked great in his pro debut, but he'll be more tested by age-appropriate competition. That should come in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn’t live up to expectations in his two years at Oklahoma State before the Royals picked him in the 13th round in 2018, signing the draft-eligible sophomore for an over-slot $247,500 bonus. His first pro season did nothing to put him on prospect lists, but improved confidence in his arsenal in 2019 helped change his projection.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley uses a 90-95 mph higher-spin fastball that he commands well. A new, higher slot led to even more velocity, including a few brushes with 97 during the Carolina League playoffs. Heasley complements the heater with three secondary pitches, the best being a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes plus. That pitch is down and late when thrown to the outer portion of the strike zone. The changeup could be a plus pitch in time, as it’s tough on righthanded batters when he stays on it longer and finishes it better. Heasley is very competitive on the mound and repeats his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Another year of continued improvement could make Heasley next year’s pop-up prospect, although many scouts see him as a reliever. He’ll head to high Class A Wilmington in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't live up to expectations in his two years at Oklahoma State before the Royals picked him in the 13th round in 2018, signing the draft-eligible sophomore for an over-slot $247,500 bonus. His first pro season did nothing to put him on prospect lists, but improved confidence in his arsenal in 2019 helped change his projection.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley uses a 90-95 mph higher-spin fastball that he commands well. A new, higher slot led to even more velocity, including a few brushes with 97 during the Carolina League playoffs. Heasley complements the heater with three secondary pitches, the best being a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes plus. That pitch is down and late when thrown to the outer portion of the strike zone. The changeup could be a plus pitch in time, as it's tough on righthanded batters when he stays on it longer and finishes it better. Heasley is very competitive on the mound and repeats his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Another year of continued improvement could make Heasley next year's pop-up prospect, although many scouts see him as a reliever. He'll head to high Class A Wilmington in 2020.