Grayson Hitt Stats & Scouting Report

IP	6
ERA	15
WHIP	2.67
BB/9	16.5
SO/9	13.5

Full name Robert Grayson Hitt
Born 12/11/2001 in Memphis, TN
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Alabama
Drafted in the 4th round (112th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 (signed for $1,200,000).

View Draft Report

School: Alabama Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 40. Cutter: 55. Control: 35.

Hitt was a high school casualty of the Covid-shortened 2020 season. He was on a helium trajectory before the season was shut down thanks to upping his fastball velocity from the high 80s to the low 90s, but he wasn’t seen frequently enough to be selected in the five-round draft, and instead headed to Alabama. He earned a lot of scouting attention during the 2022 fall after a velocity jump, but struggled heavily with his control during the 2023 season. He posted a 4.19 ERA in eight starts and 38.2 innings with a 29% strikeout rate and 14.8% walk rate before an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery ended his season. Hitt has a lean frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and throws with an easy arm action but finishes slightly closed off, which hurts his direction at times and creates a jarring fall-off to the third base side. He also had a tendency to have his hand in a less than optimal position at foot strike, which some scouts thought could add strain to his elbow. Pre-injury, Hitt pitched at 92 and touched 96 with his fastball, and mixed in a low-80s slider, mid-70s curveball and upper-80s cutter. He’s spun the baseball well dating back to high school and manipulates his breaking stuff well, and has also infrequently used a low-80s changeup. Hitt has impressive stuff, but has control and now health concerns.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: An intriguing pitching prospect and standout wide receiver in high school, Hitt’s draft stock was on the rise before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the 2020 season. He landed at Alabama and turned in a pair of inconsistent seasons before appearing on the verge of a breakout junior year. That promise was cut short when he suffered an elbow injury after eight starts and had season-ending Tommy John surgery. The D-backs remained intrigued with his potential despite the injury and drafted him in the fourth round. He signed for $1.2 million, more than double the recommended slot amount.

Scouting Report: Hitt is an athletic, 6-foot-3 lefthander with power stuff. His fastball sat in the mid 90s and touched 98 before his injury. He also features a potentially plus low-90s cutter and a pair of solid breaking balls. His low-80s slider projects to be an average pitch while his mid-to-upper 70s curveball is a potentially above-average offering that has flashed higher. Hitt has long battled fringe-average command and control, but he has the stuff to overpower hitters even when he misses his spots. He has an athletic, lean build with an easy arm action. Hitt struggled with wildly inconsistent outings in college, but the D-backs are optimistic his athleticism will allow him to flourish with more development.

The Future: Hitt’s surgery will keep him out until at least the middle of the 2024 season. He projects to be a hard-throwing No. 4 starter if he returns with his stuff intact.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 45

Draft Prospects

School: Alabama Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 40. Cutter: 55. Control: 35.

Hitt was a high school casualty of the Covid-shortened 2020 season. He was on a helium trajectory before the season was shut down thanks to upping his fastball velocity from the high 80s to the low 90s, but he wasn’t seen frequently enough to be selected in the five-round draft, and instead headed to Alabama. He earned a lot of scouting attention during the 2022 fall after a velocity jump, but struggled heavily with his control during the 2023 season. He posted a 4.19 ERA in eight starts and 38.2 innings with a 29% strikeout rate and 14.8% walk rate before an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery ended his season. Hitt has a lean frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and throws with an easy arm action but finishes slightly closed off, which hurts his direction at times and creates a jarring fall-off to the third base side. He also had a tendency to have his hand in a less than optimal position at foot strike, which some scouts thought could add strain to his elbow. Pre-injury, Hitt pitched at 92 and touched 96 with his fastball, and mixed in a low-80s slider, mid-70s curveball and upper-80s cutter. He’s spun the baseball well dating back to high school and manipulates his breaking stuff well, and has also infrequently used a low-80s changeup. Hitt has impressive stuff, but has control and now health concerns.
A projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound lefthander, Hitt was something of a helium prospect early this spring before the shortened 2020 season prevented teams from seeing him. After throwing a fastball in the 87-89 mph range last summer at East Coast Pro, Hitt’s velocity increased to the 89-93 mph range this spring. On top of that he showed an above-average curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s that has solid diving action and shape that varies. While Hitt’s control is below-average at the moment, scouts love his athleticism and the ease to his operation and believe he has plenty of room for refinement and added power thanks to his projectable frame. Also a talented wide receiver, Hitt had 1,101 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for Houston High last fall. There was a reasonable amount of scouting heat on Hitt early this spring, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get taken in the top five rounds, but he has an Alabama commitment to fall back on as well.