Carson Sands
| IP | 171 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.368 |
| WHIP | 1.608 |
| BB/9 | 5.105 |
| SO/9 | 6.737 |
- Full name Carson Sands
- Born 03/28/1995 in Tallahassee, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School North Florida Christian
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Drafted in the 4th round (109th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2014 (signed for $1,100,000).
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Sands, who is old for the class at 19 years old, has been known since he was an underclassman on the showcase circuit, showing intriguing potential against older competition and winning a Gold Medal on the 2012 18-and-under USA Baseball national team (as one of two rising juniors on the team). But evaluators felt some prospect fatigue as he remained a similar player over the showcase circuit last year, with some belief that he may have plateaued. But he has come on strong this spring, especially once the weather began to warm. He went from sitting 88-90 mph, touching 91, to sitting 90-92, touching 94 and 95. Sands, who has a quick arm, has also reduced the effort in his delivery, quieting a head whack, and throwing more strikes. His delivery offers deception, downhill plane and at least average glove-side run to his fastball. Sands' breaking ball has improved significantly, and has at least average potential, flashing above-average. Scouts also like the way he throws his breaking ball for strikes. The Florida State commit showed better feel for his changeup last summer, and the offering has at least average potential. The lean, 6-foot-2, 205-pound Sands has a good pitcher's build with room to get stronger. Sands' younger brother Cole has a low-90s fastball and has followed in his brother's footsteps as an underclassman who has drawn notice on the showcase circuit. He will likely be a priority follow for the 2015 draft.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Sands pitched in high school with his younger brother Cole, a 22nd-round pick in 2015 of the Astros who didn't sign and is attending Florida State. The elder Sands signed for $1.1 million and has shown durability as well as excellent work ethic between starts, taking to the rigors of pro ball well. At present, Sands lacks a putaway pitch and profiles more as a workhorse back-of-the-rotation southpaw, though with his size he has earned comparisons to pitchers ranging from David Wells to Jeremy Affeldt. His numbers at short-season Eugene suffered because of one nine-run, one-out outing, but in general he threw consistent strikes with three average pitches: a fastball that sits in the 88-92 mph range, a solid-average curveball and an above-average changeup. Sands has just scratched the surface with his fastball, according to Cubs coaches, who want him to get more power from his big frame with adjustments in his delivery. He has a feel for using his secondary stuff and drives the ball downhill, having yet to allow a pro home run through 76 innings. Sands should move up to the low Class A South Bend rotation in 2016. -
Sands signed for $1.1 million as part of the Cubs' prep pitching haul in 2014. Part of USA Baseball's 16U and 18U teams, he has continued to get better since, smoothing out his delivery and bumping up his velocity. Sands is a big-bodied lefthander who has touched 95 mph at times with downward plane to his fastball. He gets good armside action to his heater and throws strikes with it. His curveball and changeup have average potential, and the curve has improved its shape and consistency over the last two years. Sands' stuff was inconsistent after signing, and club officials were impressed with how he kept his composure when he struggled. His body has room to fill out, and he could wind up being a mid-rotation workhorse if it all comes together. He'll challenge for a full-season role in 2015.
Draft Prospects
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Sands, who is old for the class at 19 years old, has been known since he was an underclassman on the showcase circuit, showing intriguing potential against older competition and winning a Gold Medal on the 2012 18-and-under USA Baseball national team (as one of two rising juniors on the team). But evaluators felt some prospect fatigue as he remained a similar player over the showcase circuit last year, with some belief that he may have plateaued. But he has come on strong this spring, especially once the weather began to warm. He went from sitting 88-90 mph, touching 91, to sitting 90-92, touching 94 and 95. Sands, who has a quick arm, has also reduced the effort in his delivery, quieting a head whack, and throwing more strikes. His delivery offers deception, downhill plane and at least average glove-side run to his fastball. Sands' breaking ball has improved significantly, and has at least average potential, flashing above-average. Scouts also like the way he throws his breaking ball for strikes. The Florida State commit showed better feel for his changeup last summer, and the offering has at least average potential. The lean, 6-foot-2, 205-pound Sands has a good pitcher's build with room to get stronger. Sands' younger brother Cole has a low-90s fastball and has followed in his brother's footsteps as an underclassman who has drawn notice on the showcase circuit. He will likely be a priority follow for the 2015 draft.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Sands signed for $1.1 million as part of the Cubs' prep pitching haul in the 2014 draft, a haul that also included Eugene teammate Justin Steele. Like Hillsboro's Cody Reed, Sands is another of the NWL's big-bodied lefthanders with above-average velocity. Sands gets good downhill plane on a fastball that reached 95 mph this season, and he showed solid fastball command and good armside action. Sands struggles to control his curveball, which flashed plus but had inconsistent shape. His changeup flashes average. If he can refine his control and harness his curveball, Sands has the makings of a mid-rotation starter and has plenty of room to fill out his body. -
The Cubs saved bonus-pool money with their early draft picks and used the surplus to sign prep pitchers Sands, Justin Steele and Dylan Cease to over-slot bonuses totaling $3.6 million in rounds four through six. Sands received $1.1 million. Already 19, Sands has a strong body but has a bit of projection remaining. The Cubs used him in a tandem-starter system with Steele, and both southpaws turned heads with their quality repertoire and poise on the mound. Sands commands all three of his pitches, with his best being a 91-93 mph fastball delivered with downward plane. Both his curveball and changeup are solid pitches, projecting to be at least average. He gets good rotation on his curveball and throws it for strikes. "He shows good composure on the mound no matter what's going on," Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez said, "and he stays calm out there."
