Cody Kukuk

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #21 prospect in 2014
  A big, powerful, athletic lefthander who draws physical comparisons with Jon Lester, Kukuk threw just 10 innings in 2012 following an arrest on suspicion of DUI and subsequent team suspension. He got back on the field in 2013, spending the year in the low Class A Greenville rotation, where he showed one of the more substantial ceiling/floor chasms in the system. Kukuk's fastball played up during the year, as he bumped up from 90-92 mph to sit at 93, while registering as high as 97 in the season's final months. His hard slider continues to evade bats, and even his changeup was a swing-and-miss offering by season's end. Opponents could do little against him when he threw strikes, hitting .197 with a .274 slugging percentage, and he struck out 9.5 per nine innings. However, Kukuk endured several outings where he had little control, which is reflected in a walk rate of 6.8 per nine innings. If he can harness his stuff, his future probably fits best as a late-innings bullpen weapon. However, because of his athleticism and power stuff, Kukuk might make a breakthrough and emerge as a starter--or he might stall in the minors. Either way, he's headed to high Class A Salem in 2014.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #27 prospect in 2013
  A potential third-round pick in the 2011 draft, Kukuk lasted until the eighth round because he had a reported seven-figure asking price. He signed for $800,000 that August but didn't make his pro debut for another 12 months. He was arrested and charged with drunken driving in May while in extended spring training, and the Red Sox held him out of game action until the charges were dropped for lack of probable cause. He overpowered Gulf Coast League hitters, who went just 3-for-35 (.083) with 16 strikeouts against him, and continued to impress during instructional league. After pitching at 88-91 mph as a high school starter, Kukuk sat at 92-93 mph and peaked at 95 in short pro stints. His fastball has life as well, and he's improving his feel for a hard slider that shows the potential to give him a second plus pitch. His changeup isn't as far along as his other two offerings. Like most young pitchers, Kukuk needs more consistency with his stuff, command and delivery. But there's no doubting that he has a quality left arm and plenty of upside. Because he has just 10 pro innings under his belt, it remains to be seen whether Boston will deem him ready for a full-season assignment to start 2013.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #31 prospect in 2012
  The Red Sox spent $6.65 million on their four picks in the first and sandwich rounds of the 2011 draft. Their highest bonus after that went to Kukuk, who turned down a commitment to Kansas to sign for $800,000 in the seventh round. If not for his seven-figure asking price, he might have gone as high as the third round. Kukuk is an exceedingly projectable lefthander whose best days are down the road. He has shown the ability to hit 94 mph with his fastball, though he spent much of his high school senior season working at 88-91 mph. He also flashes a hard slider, though it too lacks consistency and gets slurvy. His changeup is less developed than his other two pitches. Kukuk's biggest need is to maintain his release point, which would improve the quality of his pitches and his control. He went to a more compact delivery last spring in an effort to throw more strikes, a move that frustrated scouts who wanted to see him cut loose like he had in the past. Boston will give Kukuk plenty of time to develop and he doesn't figure to make his full-season debut until 2013.