Robby Rowland Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Robert Chistopher Rowland
Born 12/15/1991 in Toledo, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Cloverdale
Drafted in the 3rd round (88th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 (signed for $395,000).

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When scouts use the term "projection righthander," Rowland is exactly the type of pitcher they're talking about with his body type, athleticism and bloodlines. At 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, Rowland looks the part of a young Josh Johnson. He is one of the top basketball players in California and could have accepted scholarships to small Division I programs as a shooting guard. Rowland's father Rich is a former big league catcher (Tigers and Red Sox from 1990-1995), and his older brother is a college catcher. As for his actual abilities, Rowland pitches with an 87-90 mph fastball and touches 92. He uses a split-finger fastball as his primary out pitch, with an inconsistent overhand curveball, a changeup and recently developed cutter/slider. Rowland has a loose, easy, quick arm stroke from an overhand slot. When he takes his time to get out over his front leg, he gets good tilt and late run and his curveball then shows as future average pitch. He has signed with Oregon.

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The son of former major league catcher Rich Rowland, Robby could have gone to Oregon on a baseball scholarship or pursued a basketball offer, but instead he signed with the Diamondbacks for $395,000 after being taken in the third round. His older brother Richie joined him on the Missoula roster as a nondrafted free agent catcher. Rowland has a tall, strong body with room to fill out. He carries himself with confidence and has an outgoing personality. His 87-91 mph fastball has late run, and he offers projection with possibility of an increase in velocity as he fills out. His curveball, which he throws at 69-75 mph, has good spin and has 12-to-6 potential. His slider is slightly better than the curve, and he also throws a forkball, his swing and miss pitch, in the low 80s with diving action. He has a clean, over-the-top delivery and commands all of his pitches. Rowland projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter at present, but he could become more than that if the fastball becomes a plus pitch. He could move up to low Class A to start the 2011 season, but more likely will stay in extended spring training before reporting to Yakima in June.

Rowland could have pursued college baseball at Oregon or a career as a basketball shooting guard at a small Division I program, but he opted instead to take Arizona's bonus offer of $395,000. He's the son of former big league catcher Rich Rowland, and his catcher in his first pro start was his older brother Richie, who signed with the Diamondbacks this summer as a nondrafted free agent. A big athlete with a muscular lower half, Rowland sports an ideal pitcher's frame and a free-spirited attitude. He throws downhill from an overhand slot, showing a loose, quick arm that produces steady 88-89 mph two-seam fastballs with late running action. He touches 92 and figures to improve his velocity and fastball command with maturity. Rowland throws a promising 12-to-6 curveball, but it's a bit slow and loopy at 69-70 mph. His average slider grades out better now, and he throws a low-80s forkball with occasional diving action instead of changeup. A projection play, he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.