Justin Fall

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #267 prospect in 2021 draft
  Fall certainly passes the eye test when he takes the mound—a tall, well-proportioned southpaw who looks like what teams want in a big pitcher. He ranked as the No. 208 player in the 2020 class after impressing for two years at Brookdale (N.J.) JC, but struggled with his control in a four-game stint for Arizona State in 2020. He’s cut his walk rate almost in half this spring, walking 4.3 hitters per nine innings, while pitching off of a fastball that sits around 90 mph with sink and a slider in the low 80s, although he was erratic in his lone postseason start. Fall started the year pitching out of the bullpen until a rash of early-season injuries decimated the Sun Devils starting staff. He delivers his pitches with an easy, effortless arm stroke, touching as high as 95 mph with an improving slider. Observers believe that his repertoire would be more effective if he tunneled the slider after the fastball as well as increasing the velocity on the breaking ball. The 79-82 mph changeup is inconsistent, giving credence to the idea that he could dominate out of the bullpen with a power sinker/slider combo. One concern is that he didn’t miss many bats, striking out 45 batters in 74.2 regular-season innings, especially considering his stuff and size. There’s such a wide range of opinions on Fall that it’s hard to project where he’s going to be drafted, but most likely he goes in the sixth-to-10th-round range.
• Ranked #208 prospect in 2020 draft
  At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Fall certainly looks the part on the mound. He came to Arizona State after a strong two-year juco career at Brookdale (N.J.) JC, passing on a chance to turn pro when the Royals picked him last year in the 34th round. Fall had mixed results in just four starts with the Sun Devils prior to the early end of the college season. He delivers his fastball with a compact, loose arm, sitting 89-92 mph and touching 94, but with below-average command. The life on the heater plays down and he doesn’t miss enough bats. Both secondary pitches—slider and changeup—are below-average offerings but with potential to be average pitches. His slider remains inconsistent and gets too flat at times, lacking tilt or angle. While he walked only 13 batters in 64.1 innings in his final juco season, Fall issued 13 walks in 19 innings this spring, albeit in a small sample size. He could go in the top five rounds to a team that likes the frame and believes that the command and secondaries will improve with experience. Otherwise he may wind up back at Arizona State for another season.
• Ranked #141 prospect in 2019 draft
  Fall is a projectable lefthander out of Brookdale (N.J.) JC who drew some attention as an undrafted free agent following his freshman year. He has significantly improved his draft stock as a sophomore, adding at least 20 pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame while also seeing marked improvements with his pure stuff. Fall impressed over the summer with a low-90s fastball and improved breaking ball, and he's touched as high as 95 mph this spring. His stuff faded down the stretch, however, and there have been outings where his velocity has dipped into the mid-80s. Scouts have also questioned Fall's secondary offerings and noted that he essentially overpowered weaker competition with his fastball en route to a 1.95 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 11 walks in 60.1 innings. While his walk rate is impressive, scouts have said Fall, who is still growing into his frame, can scatter the zone at times. His changeup is below-average at this point, but the pitch could become an average offering down the line. Fall's slider shows above-average potential at its best, but it could also use refinement. There's not much track record to speak of with Fall, and teams will need to project on his secondaires and strike-throwing ability. Still, he's at least an average athlete who should be able to make improvements and learn how to hold his stuff more effectively as he continues his development. Fall is committed to Arizona State.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Fall is a projectable lefthander out of Brookdale (N.J.) JC who drew some attention as an undrafted free agent following his freshman year. He has significantly improved his draft stock as a sophomore, adding at least 20 pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame while also seeing marked improvements with his pure stuff. Fall impressed over the summer with a low-90s fastball and improved breaking ball, and he's touched as high as 95 mph this spring. His stuff faded down the stretch, however, and there have been outings where his velocity has dipped into the mid-80s. Scouts have also questioned Fall's secondary offerings and noted that he essentially overpowered weaker competition with his fastball en route to a 1.95 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 11 walks in 60.1 innings. While his walk rate is impressive, scouts have said Fall, who is still growing into his frame, can scatter the zone at times. His changeup is below-average at this point, but the pitch could become an average offering down the line. Fall's slider shows above-average potential at its best, but it could also use refinement. There's not much track record to speak of with Fall, and teams will need to project on his secondaires and strike-throwing ability. Still, he's at least an average athlete who should be able to make improvements and learn how to hold his stuff more effectively as he continues his development. Fall is committed to Arizona State.