Jordan Balazovic Stats & Scouting Report

IP	35.1
ERA	5.6
WHIP	1.5
BB/9	3.82
SO/9	12.48

Full name Jordan Balazovic
Born 09/17/1998 in Mississauga, ON, Canada
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Saint Martin
Drafted in the 5th round (153rd overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 (signed for $515,000).

View Draft Report

A year after a historic Canadian high school class, Balazovic is the top-ranked prep Canuck in this year's class. The righthander has a lean, projectable frame with wide shoulders and a high waist. Balazovic's developmental trajectory is positive; early last summer he pitched with his fastball sitting at 84-88. By the fall, he was sitting 88-89 and bumping 90. This spring, he's shown slightly improved velocity, touching as high as 93 and sitting comfortably at 89-90. Balazovic has a polished changeup that he can locate at the knees with late fade and tumbling action. He throws a breaking ball with 11-to-5 shape in the mid-70s. Balazovic gets his core extended over his front side well and extends his glove hand high for extra deception. Scouts note how rare it is for him to be squared up. Balazovic is committed to Auburn, but for the 2017 class; if he doesn't get the bonus money he's looking for, he'll simply go to 13th grade, as Canada's schools have, and try again next year. He has a head whack at release, but he has an otherwise clean delivery. Balazovic is slightly young for this year's class, and won't turn 18 until September.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After an impressive 2021 season with Double-A Wichita, Balazovic seemed poised to help the Twins rotation at some point in 2022. Instead, he took a massive step backwards. His stuff backed up and hitters feasted for much of the season with Triple-A St. Paul. He had the ninth-worst ERA and 12th-worst FIP among all MiLB pitchers with 70 or more innings.

Scouting Report: Balazovic's 2022 season was almost a disaster from start to finish, though he did show improved stuff and success in September, which sent him into the offseason on a high note. Balazovic came into the season without the same strength he showed in 2021. He also seemed to be stiffer and less athletic in his delivery all season. That played a part in his fastball losing 2-3 mph. He sat 94-96 mph in 2021 and touched 99. He topped out at 96 and sat 92-94 in 2022. Balazovic added a somewhat promising hard, high-80s slider. If he can regain his previous arm speed, it could become a plus pitch, but right now both it and his changeup are fringe-average. Grading Balazovic's pitches right now requires blending what he's shown in the past versus what he showed in 2022.

The Future: Balazovic has used two options already. The 2023 season should show if his 2022 season was a one-year setback or a new and troubling trend. A broken jaw he suffered in an altercation before spring training will slow his start to the season and is another worrisome indication.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.
Track Record: The Twins liked Balazovic’s physical upside and developing fastball out of high school, and they signed the top-ranked Canadian prospect in the 2016 class to a $515,000 bonus in the fifth round. The big righthander made the Futures Game in 2019, and after being sidelined early in 2021 due to a back injury, pitched well in a shortened season in his first try at Double-A.

Scouting Report: Balazovic has a solid blend of three pitches and a north-south approach that could play up thanks to a funky delivery that features a high front side and some length in the back of his arm action. While some scouts might be bothered by his forearm flying out, he does a good job getting on time at foot strike and has generally been an above-average strike-thrower, though in 2021 his walk rate jumped to 8.9%. Balazovic’s fastball has continued to tick up and sat in the 95-96 mph range. He establishes the zone well with the pitch and uses a low-80s, 12-to-6 curveball and upper-80s split-changeup down in the zone off of it. Scouts thought he added more depth to the breaking ball this year and it could be a 55-grade offering, while the changeup needs more refinement to become above-average but is a fine third offering for now.

The Future: Balazovic looks like a solid No. 3 starter who will find success more by spotting his fastball up in the zone and successfully pairing his secondaries down. There’s no one wipeout offering here yet, but his pitch mix works well in tandem. He could make his big league debut in 2022 if he stays healthy.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Balazovic was the top Canadian prospect in the 2016 draft. The Twins took a shot on his lean, projectable frame and developing fastball and signed him for $515,000 in the fifth round. Balazovic broke out with a 2.69 ERA at the Class A levels in 2019 and made the Futures Game. He was a late addition to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic’s standout fastball command sets up the rest of his arsenal. His heater is a plus offering that ranges from 89-96 mph and sits around 93, with above-average carry and deception that helps it play up. His secondaries are solid but not overwhelming. Balazovic throws a curveballin the 78-82 mph range that is potentially an above-average pitch, and his average changeup gives him a third offering to keep hitters off-balance. Balazovic has walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings throughout his minor league career, though he has yet to face upper-level hitters.

THE FUTURE: With a strong, 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and a long history of good strikeout and walk rates, it would be a surprise to not see Balazovic impact the Twins’ rotation at some point. His upside will depend on how much he can get out of his secondaries.
TRACK RECORD: After parts of two seasons in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Balazovic started to hint at his potential in his 2018 tenure in the low Class A Midwest League. Still, he remained fairly anonymous until he returned to the level in 2019. His stellar start was rewarded with a trip to the Futures Game in Cleveland, and he also missed time to pitch for Team Canada in the Pan-American Games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic blew away MWL hitters with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s before he earned a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers. From there, he kept on dominating. He backed up the fastball with a slider and a changeup that each has a chance to be average or a tick better. The slider is a bit of a slurvier offering—so much so that evaluators occasionally mistake it for a curveball. The changeup has been a big point of emphasis in his development and ranks behind his slider in his arsenal's hierarchy and will be the key to whether he can remain in the rotation. Balazovic is also gifted with a strong, projectable frame befitting a power pitcher.

THE FUTURE: Balazovic will likely move to Double-A Pensacola, where he'll get to test his arsenal against more advanced hitters.
Track Record: Snatched two rounds after Griffin Jax in the 2016 draft, Balazovic signed for $515,000 and needed a couple of years to make the transition to pro ball.

Scouting Report: Balazovic visits both sides of the plate at 91-95 mph and touches 97. He is learning to work up in the zone effectively as well. He found a new grip for his hard slider, which can be hit and miss, but flashes above-average when it’s on. His changeup projects as an average pitch, giving him more than enough weapons to post a nine-inning strikeout rate of 11.4 with a 13.4-percent swinging-strike rate in the Midwest League. Competitive with a repeatable delivery, Balazovic has improved his work habits as he’s gained maturity though some still question his makeup. Those off-field improvements enabled him to move past a disappointing 2017 in the Gulf Coast League, where he walked 4.5 batters per nine.

The Future: Balazovic should open the year in Fort Myers and projects as a mid-rotation starter at best.

Draft Prospects

A year after a historic Canadian high school class, Balazovic is the top-ranked prep Canuck in this year's class. The righthander has a lean, projectable frame with wide shoulders and a high waist. Balazovic's developmental trajectory is positive; early last summer he pitched with his fastball sitting at 84-88. By the fall, he was sitting 88-89 and bumping 90. This spring, he's shown slightly improved velocity, touching as high as 93 and sitting comfortably at 89-90. Balazovic has a polished changeup that he can locate at the knees with late fade and tumbling action. He throws a breaking ball with 11-to-5 shape in the mid-70s. Balazovic gets his core extended over his front side well and extends his glove hand high for extra deception. Scouts note how rare it is for him to be squared up. Balazovic is committed to Auburn, but for the 2017 class; if he doesn't get the bonus money he's looking for, he'll simply go to 13th grade, as Canada's schools have, and try again next year. He has a head whack at release, but he has an otherwise clean delivery. Balazovic is slightly young for this year's class, and won't turn 18 until September.

Minor League Top Prospects

An interesting prospect entering the season, Balazovic took off in the FSL and vaulted into the top tier of the game’s prospects. The big righthander boasts a fastball that can sit in the mid-90s and touch up to 98, and couples it with a slurvy breaking ball that is solid-average now but projects as plus. With those two pitches in tow, Balazovic’s biggest challenge now is to refine his changeup, which ranks as below-average. Balazovic, who made appearances in both the Futures Game and the Pan-Am Games, made great gains with his conditioning in the offseason and saw the benefits all season long. Some scouts would like to see him keep his intensity and focus throughout the course of his starts, though they universally see him fitting into a major league rotation. The most bullish of outside evaluators peg him as a No. 3 starter because of his combination of stuff, command and athleticism.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After an impressive 2021 season with Double-A Wichita, Balazovic seemed poised to help the Twins rotation at some point in 2022. Instead, he took a massive step backwards. His stuff backed up and hitters feasted for much of the season with Triple-A St. Paul. He had the ninth-worst ERA and 12th-worst FIP among all MiLB pitchers with 70 or more innings.

Scouting Report: Balazovic's 2022 season was almost a disaster from start to finish, though he did show improved stuff and success in September, which sent him into the offseason on a high note. Balazovic came into the season without the same strength he showed in 2021. He also seemed to be stiffer and less athletic in his delivery all season. That played a part in his fastball losing 2-3 mph. He sat 94-96 mph in 2021 and touched 99. He topped out at 96 and sat 92-94 in 2022. Balazovic added a somewhat promising hard, high-80s slider. If he can regain his previous arm speed, it could become a plus pitch, but right now both it and his changeup are fringe-average. Grading Balazovic's pitches right now requires blending what he's shown in the past versus what he showed in 2022.

The Future: Balazovic has used two options already. The 2023 season should show if his 2022 season was a one-year setback or a new and troubling trend. A broken jaw he suffered in an altercation before spring training will slow his start to the season and is another worrisome indication.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After an impressive 2021 season with Double-A Wichita, Balazovic seemed poised to help the Twins rotation at some point in 2022. Instead, he took a massive step backwards. His stuff backed up and hitters feasted for much of the season with Triple-A St. Paul. He had the ninth-worst ERA and 12th-worst FIP among all MiLB pitchers with 70 or more innings.

Scouting Report: Balazovic's 2022 season was almost a disaster from start to finish, though he did show improved stuff and success in September, which sent him into the offseason on a high note. Balazovic came into the season without the same strength he showed in 2021. He also seemed to be stiffer and less athletic in his delivery all season. That played a part in his fastball losing 2-3 mph. He sat 94-96 mph in 2021 and touched 99. He topped out at 96 and sat 92-94 in 2022. Balazovic added a somewhat promising hard, high-80s slider. If he can regain his previous arm speed, it could become a plus pitch, but right now both it and his changeup are fringe-average. Grading Balazovic's pitches right now requires blending what he's shown in the past versus what he showed in 2022.

The Future: Balazovic has used two options already. The 2023 season should show if his 2022 season was a one-year setback or a new and troubling trend. A broken jaw he suffered in an altercation before spring training will slow his start to the season and is another worrisome indication.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.
BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: The Twins liked Balazovic&#39s physical upside and developing fastball out of high school, and they signed the top-ranked Canadian prospect in the 2016 class to a $515,000 bonus in the fifth round. The big righthander made the Futures Game in 2019, and after being sidelined early in 2021 due to a back injury, pitched well in a shortened season in his first try at Double-A.

Scouting Report: Balazovic has a solid blend of three pitches and a north-south approach that could play up thanks to a funky delivery that features a high front side and some length in the back of his arm action. While some scouts might be bothered by his forearm flying out, he does a good job getting on time at foot strike and has generally been an above-average strike-thrower, though in 2021 his walk rate jumped to 8.9%. Balazovic&#39s fastball has continued to tick up and sat in the 95-96 mph range. He establishes the zone well with the pitch and uses a low-80s, 12-to-6 curveball and upper-80s split-changeup down in the zone off of it. Scouts thought he added more depth to the breaking ball this year and it could be a 55-grade offering, while the changeup needs more refinement to become above-average but is a fine third offering for now.

The Future: Balazovic looks like a solid No. 3 starter who will find success more by spotting his fastball up in the zone and successfully pairing his secondaries down. There&#39s no one wipeout offering here yet, but his pitch mix works well in tandem. He could make his big league debut in 2022 if he stays healthy.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
Track Record: The Twins liked Balazovic’s physical upside and developing fastball out of high school, and they signed the top-ranked Canadian prospect in the 2016 class to a $515,000 bonus in the fifth round. The big righthander made the Futures Game in 2019, and after being sidelined early in 2021 due to a back injury, pitched well in a shortened season in his first try at Double-A.

Scouting Report: Balazovic has a solid blend of three pitches and a north-south approach that could play up thanks to a funky delivery that features a high front side and some length in the back of his arm action. While some scouts might be bothered by his forearm flying out, he does a good job getting on time at foot strike and has generally been an above-average strike-thrower, though in 2021 his walk rate jumped to 8.9%. Balazovic’s fastball has continued to tick up and sat in the 95-96 mph range. He establishes the zone well with the pitch and uses a low-80s, 12-to-6 curveball and upper-80s split-changeup down in the zone off of it. Scouts thought he added more depth to the breaking ball this year and it could be a 55-grade offering, while the changeup needs more refinement to become above-average but is a fine third offering for now.

The Future: Balazovic looks like a solid No. 3 starter who will find success more by spotting his fastball up in the zone and successfully pairing his secondaries down. There’s no one wipeout offering here yet, but his pitch mix works well in tandem. He could make his big league debut in 2022 if he stays healthy.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Balazovic was the top Canadian prospect in the 2016 draft. The Twins took a shot on his lean, projectable frame and developing fastball and signed him for $515,000 in the fifth round. Balazovic broke out with a 2.69 ERA at the Class A levels in 2019 and made the Futures Game. He was a late addition to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic's standout fastball command sets up the rest of his arsenal. His heater is a plus offering that ranges from 89-96 mph and sits around 93, with above-average carry and deception that helps it play up. His secondaries are solid but not overwhelming. Balazovic throws a curveballin the 78-82 mph range that is potentially an above-average pitch, and his average changeup gives him a third offering to keep hitters off-balance. Balazovic has walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings throughout his minor league career, though he has yet to face upper-level hitters.

THE FUTURE: With a strong, 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and a long history of good strikeout and walk rates, it would be a surprise to not see Balazovic impact the Twins' rotation at some point. His upside will depend on how much he can get out of his secondaries.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Balazovic was the top Canadian prospect in the 2016 draft. The Twins took a shot on his lean, projectable frame and developing fastball and signed him for $515,000 in the fifth round. Balazovic broke out with a 2.69 ERA at the Class A levels in 2019 and made the Futures Game. He was a late addition to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic’s standout fastball command sets up the rest of his arsenal. His heater is a plus offering that ranges from 89-96 mph and sits around 93, with above-average carry and deception that helps it play up. His secondaries are solid but not overwhelming. Balazovic throws a curveballin the 78-82 mph range that is potentially an above-average pitch, and his average changeup gives him a third offering to keep hitters off-balance. Balazovic has walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings throughout his minor league career, though he has yet to face upper-level hitters.

THE FUTURE: With a strong, 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and a long history of good strikeout and walk rates, it would be a surprise to not see Balazovic impact the Twins’ rotation at some point. His upside will depend on how much he can get out of his secondaries.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Balazovic was the top Canadian prospect in the 2016 draft. The Twins took a shot on his lean, projectable frame and developing fastball and signed him for $515,000 in the fifth round. Balazovic broke out with a 2.69 ERA at the Class A levels in 2019 and made the Futures Game. He was a late addition to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic’s standout fastball command sets up the rest of his arsenal. His heater is a plus offering that ranges from 89-96 mph and sits around 93, with above-average carry and deception that helps it play up. His secondaries are solid but not overwhelming. Balazovic throws a curveballin the 78-82 mph range that is potentially an above-average pitch, and his average changeup gives him a third offering to keep hitters off-balance. Balazovic has walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings throughout his minor league career, though he has yet to face upper-level hitters.

THE FUTURE: With a strong, 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and a long history of good strikeout and walk rates, it would be a surprise to not see Balazovic impact the Twins’ rotation at some point. His upside will depend on how much he can get out of his secondaries.
TRACK RECORD: After parts of two seasons in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Balazovic started to hint at his potential in his 2018 tenure in the low Class A Midwest League. Still, he remained fairly anonymous until he returned to the level in 2019. His stellar start was rewarded with a trip to the Futures Game in Cleveland, and he also missed time to pitch for Team Canada in the Pan-American Games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic blew away MWL hitters with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s before he earned a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers. From there, he kept on dominating. He backed up the fastball with a slider and a changeup that each has a chance to be average or a tick better. The slider is a bit of a slurvier offering—so much so that evaluators occasionally mistake it for a curveball. The changeup has been a big point of emphasis in his development and ranks behind his slider in his arsenal’s hierarchy and will be the key to whether he can remain in the rotation. Balazovic is also gifted with a strong, projectable frame befitting a power pitcher.

THE FUTURE: Balazovic will likely move to Double-A Pensacola, where he’ll get to test his arsenal against more advanced hitters.
TRACK RECORD: After parts of two seasons in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Balazovic started to hint at his potential in his 2018 tenure in the low Class A Midwest League. Still, he remained fairly anonymous until he returned to the level in 2019. His stellar start was rewarded with a trip to the Futures Game in Cleveland, and he also missed time to pitch for Team Canada in the Pan-American Games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Balazovic blew away MWL hitters with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s before he earned a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers. From there, he kept on dominating. He backed up the fastball with a slider and a changeup that each has a chance to be average or a tick better. The slider is a bit of a slurvier offering—so much so that evaluators occasionally mistake it for a curveball. The changeup has been a big point of emphasis in his development and ranks behind his slider in his arsenal's hierarchy and will be the key to whether he can remain in the rotation. Balazovic is also gifted with a strong, projectable frame befitting a power pitcher.

THE FUTURE: Balazovic will likely move to Double-A Pensacola, where he'll get to test his arsenal against more advanced hitters.
An interesting prospect entering the season, Balazovic took off in the FSL and vaulted into the top tier of the game’s prospects. The big righthander boasts a fastball that can sit in the mid-90s and touch up to 98, and couples it with a slurvy breaking ball that is solid-average now but projects as plus. With those two pitches in tow, Balazovic’s biggest challenge now is to refine his changeup, which ranks as below-average. Balazovic, who made appearances in both the Futures Game and the Pan-Am Games, made great gains with his conditioning in the offseason and saw the benefits all season long. Some scouts would like to see him keep his intensity and focus throughout the course of his starts, though they universally see him fitting into a major league rotation. The most bullish of outside evaluators peg him as a No. 3 starter because of his combination of stuff, command and athleticism.