Jimmy Lambert

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #12 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Lambert completed his first full season in 2021 since having Tommy John surgery, starting 19 games at Triple-A Charlotte and another four in the majors. The 2016 fifth-round pick had previously made his major league debut with two short outings in the 2020 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lambert would get better grades on his four-pitch mix if he sharpened his command, but they all currently grade out as solid-average to a tick above-average offerings. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph and gets good carry but is not an overpowering pitch. He generates swings and misses with a moderately sweeping slider, which tunnels off of his fastball as it moves away from righthanded batters as it approaches the plate. His mid-80s changeup has armside fade and tumble, and he gets heavy downward break on a mid-70s curveball. Lambert uses a simple, easy delivery that his athleticism allows him to repeat. His control and command still have a ways to go.
  
  The Future: The most optimistic projection for Lambert is as a fourth or fifth starter, although some observers believe he’ll fit better in a swingman role.
  
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #15 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, whose younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies, got scouts' attention with an excellent five-game stretch at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly thereafter and had Tommy John. Under normal circumstances, Lambert would have missed a good chunk of the season finishing his rehab before returning to the minors. With no minor league season, he instead got a chance to make his big league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Lambert pitches with a four-seam fastball that averaged around 93 mph and touched 96 during his two-game stint in the big leagues. He backs it up with a trio of pitches that each could reach above-average. He went to his low-80s changeup and downer, mid-70s curveball in nearequal measure in the majors, and the White Sox particularly like the action his high arm slot creates on his changeup. His fourth pitch is a short, sharp mid-80s slider, which he threw twice in the big leagues (for consecutive swinging strikes against the Twins' Miguel Sano).
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert's season ended when he strained his right forearm and had to be placed on the injured list. He should be ready to go for spring training, however, and could find himself back in the big leagues at some point.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, the older brother of Rockies righthander Peter Lambert, showed enough in his junior season at Fresno State to earn a fifth-round selection and a $325,000 bonus from the White Sox in 2016. He moved slowly through the White Sox's two Class A levels before a strong five-game stint at Double-A Birmingham put him on the map in 2018. He continued to show swing-and-miss characteristics in 2019 (10.6 strikeouts per nine innings) in a return to Birmingham but had his season cut short by Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lambert's stuff doesn't jump off the page, but he gets hitters to swing through it nonetheless. His fastball typically works in the low 90s with flecks of 94 every now and then, but the riding action the pitch shows at the top part of the strike zone makes it play harder than its radar gun readings. He backs the fastball with a traditional complement of curveball, slider and changeup, and each of his three offspeed pitches projects as average if not a tick better. No one secondary pitch jumps out, but Lambert's ability to game plan and utilize opposition scouting reports helps him use each pitch in the optimal scenario.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert is working out at the White Sox's spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz. and could possibly make an appearance late in 2020. He's on the White Sox's 40-man roster and projects as a back-end starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #479 prospect in 2016 draft
  Lambert worked his way into Fresno State's rotation as a sophomore, but didn't really find his footing until his junior season, when he wound up leading the Mountain West Conference in wins while going 10-2, 3.13. The older brother of Rockies 2015 draftee Peter, Lambert is a command pitcher at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds who pops a 94 on occasion with his fastball and throws four pitches for strikes. None plays as plus, but he makes pitches and competes well.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Lambert completed his first full season in 2021 since having Tommy John surgery, starting 19 games at Triple-A Charlotte and another four in the majors. The 2016 fifth-round pick had previously made his major league debut with two short outings in the 2020 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lambert would get better grades on his four-pitch mix if he sharpened his command, but they all currently grade out as solid-average to a tick above-average offerings. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph and gets good carry but is not an overpowering pitch. He generates swings and misses with a moderately sweeping slider, which tunnels off of his fastball as it moves away from righthanded batters as it approaches the plate. His mid-80s changeup has armside fade and tumble, and he gets heavy downward break on a mid-70s curveball. Lambert uses a simple, easy delivery that his athleticism allows him to repeat. His control and command still have a ways to go.
  
  The Future: The most optimistic projection for Lambert is as a fourth or fifth starter, although some observers believe he&#39ll fit better in a swingman role.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Lambert completed his first full season in 2021 since having Tommy John surgery, starting 19 games at Triple-A Charlotte and another four in the majors. The 2016 fifth-round pick had previously made his major league debut with two short outings in the 2020 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lambert would get better grades on his four-pitch mix if he sharpened his command, but they all currently grade out as solid-average to a tick above-average offerings. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph and gets good carry but is not an overpowering pitch. He generates swings and misses with a moderately sweeping slider, which tunnels off of his fastball as it moves away from righthanded batters as it approaches the plate. His mid-80s changeup has armside fade and tumble, and he gets heavy downward break on a mid-70s curveball. Lambert uses a simple, easy delivery that his athleticism allows him to repeat. His control and command still have a ways to go.
  
  The Future: The most optimistic projection for Lambert is as a fourth or fifth starter, although some observers believe he’ll fit better in a swingman role.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, whose younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies, got scouts' attention with an excellent five-game stretch at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly thereafter and had Tommy John. Under normal circumstances, Lambert would have missed a good chunk of the season finishing his rehab before returning to the minors. With no minor league season, he instead got a chance to make his big league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Lambert pitches with a four-seam fastball that averaged around 93 mph and touched 96 during his two-game stint in the big leagues. He backs it up with a trio of pitches that each could reach above-average. He went to his low-80s changeup and downer, mid-70s curveball in nearequal measure in the majors, and the White Sox particularly like the action his high arm slot creates on his changeup. His fourth pitch is a short, sharp mid-80s slider, which he threw twice in the big leagues (for consecutive swinging strikes against the Twins' Miguel Sano).
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert's season ended when he strained his right forearm and had to be placed on the injured list. He should be ready to go for spring training, however, and could find himself back in the big leagues at some point.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, whose younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies, got scouts' attention with an excellent five-game stretch at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly thereafter and had Tommy John. Under normal circumstances, Lambert would have missed a good chunk of the season finishing his rehab before returning to the minors. With no minor league season, he instead got a chance to make his big league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Lambert pitches with a four-seam fastball that averaged around 93 mph and touched 96 during his two-game stint in the big leagues. He backs it up with a trio of pitches that each could reach above-average. He went to his low-80s changeup and downer, mid-70s curveball in nearequal measure in the majors, and the White Sox particularly like the action his high arm slot creates on his changeup. His fourth pitch is a short, sharp mid-80s slider, which he threw twice in the big leagues (for consecutive swinging strikes against the Twins' Miguel Sano).
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert's season ended when he strained his right forearm and had to be placed on the injured list. He should be ready to go for spring training, however, and could find himself back in the big leagues at some point.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, whose younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies, got scouts' attention with an excellent five-game stretch at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly thereafter and had Tommy John. Under normal circumstances, Lambert would have missed a good chunk of the season finishing his rehab before returning to the minors. With no minor league season, he instead got a chance to make his big league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Lambert pitches with a four-seam fastball that averaged around 93 mph and touched 96 during his two-game stint in the big leagues. He backs it up with a trio of pitches that each could reach above-average. He went to his low-80s changeup and downer, mid-70s curveball in nearequal measure in the majors, and the White Sox particularly like the action his high arm slot creates on his changeup. His fourth pitch is a short, sharp mid-80s slider, which he threw twice in the big leagues (for consecutive swinging strikes against the Twins' Miguel Sano).
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert's season ended when he strained his right forearm and had to be placed on the injured list. He should be ready to go for spring training, however, and could find himself back in the big leagues at some point.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, the older brother of Rockies righthander Peter Lambert, showed enough in his junior season at Fresno State to earn a fifth-round selection and a $325,000 bonus from the White Sox BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High in 2016. He moved slowly through the White Sox’s two Class A levels before a strong five-game stint at Double-A Birmingham put him on the map in 2018. He continued to show swing-and-miss characteristics in 2019 (10.6 strikeouts per nine innings) in a return to Birmingham but had his season cut short by Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lambert’s stuff doesn’t jump off the page, but he gets hitters to swing through it nonetheless. His fastball typically works in the low 90s with flecks of 94 every now and then, but the riding action the pitch shows at the top part of the strike zone makes it play harder than its radar gun readings. He backs the fastball with a traditional complement of curveball, slider and changeup, and each of his three offspeed pitches projects as average if not a tick better. No one secondary pitch jumps out, but Lambert’s ability to game plan and utilize opposition scouting reports helps him use each pitch in the optimal scenario.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert is working out at the White Sox’s spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz. and could possibly make an appearance late in 2020. He’s on the White Sox’s 40-man roster and projects as a back-end starter.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lambert, the older brother of Rockies righthander Peter Lambert, showed enough in his junior season at Fresno State to earn a fifth-round selection and a $325,000 bonus from the White Sox in 2016. He moved slowly through the White Sox's two Class A levels before a strong five-game stint at Double-A Birmingham put him on the map in 2018. He continued to show swing-and-miss characteristics in 2019 (10.6 strikeouts per nine innings) in a return to Birmingham but had his season cut short by Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lambert's stuff doesn't jump off the page, but he gets hitters to swing through it nonetheless. His fastball typically works in the low 90s with flecks of 94 every now and then, but the riding action the pitch shows at the top part of the strike zone makes it play harder than its radar gun readings. He backs the fastball with a traditional complement of curveball, slider and changeup, and each of his three offspeed pitches projects as average if not a tick better. No one secondary pitch jumps out, but Lambert's ability to game plan and utilize opposition scouting reports helps him use each pitch in the optimal scenario.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lambert is working out at the White Sox's spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz. and could possibly make an appearance late in 2020. He's on the White Sox's 40-man roster and projects as a back-end starter.