Carson Palmquist Stats & Scouting Report

IP	82.1
ERA	3.17
WHIP	1.12
BB/9	3.61
SO/9	12.35

Full name Carson James Palmquist
Born 10/17/2000 in Fort Myers, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Miami
Drafted in the 3rd round (88th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2022 (signed for $775,000).

View Draft Report

Palmquist was a reliever for two years with Miami and in 2021 posted a 2.22 ERA over 44.2 innings, with 75 strikeouts and just eight walks—good for a 9.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He impressed in five innings with Team USA during the summer, striking out seven and walking none. Palmquist transitioned to a starting role this spring with Miami and continued to perform well. He posted a 2.89 ERA over 16 starts and 84 innings, with 118 strikeouts (32.9 K%) and 32 walks (8.9 BB%). His average velocity dropped a tick and he sat in the upper 80s and low 90s as a starter, compared to getting his fastball up into the 94-96 mph range out of the bullpen. Palmquist throws a changeup around 80 mph that generated whiffs 56% of the time this spring, and he also throws a slow and sweepy breaking ball in the mid 70s that plays up because of Palmquist’s arm slot more than any sharp or late-breaking action. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound lefty has a low, sidearm slot that creates difficult angles and adds deception to his entire pitch mix. Palmquist has the command to start, but his stuff might play better out of the bullpen.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After two outstanding years working out of the Miami bullpen, Palmquist impressed during USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team trials and made the jump to the Hurricanes’ rotation as a junior. The Rockies drafted Palmquist in the third round in 2022 and signed him for $775,000. The lefthander made his full-season debut with High-A Spokane in 2023 and reached Double-A Hartford late that season. Palmquist made 18 starts with Hartford in 2024 before he was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Scouting Report: Palmquist is a sidearming lefthander with feel for all of his pitches. While he lacks even average power across his arsenal, he mixes shapes well and hits spots consistently with deception. Palmquist mixes a four-seam fastball that sits 90-92 mph and touches 94 at peak with an upper-70s slider, a low-80s changeup and a low-80s cutter. Palmquist’s usage is dominated by his fastball and slider. His slider has slurvy shape and plays up because of his low arm slot, leading to a high rates of whiffs. While his fastball has below-average velocity and ride on the surface, his arm slot, low release and nearly seven feet of extension create conditions for his fastball plane to play up. Palmquist’s changeup is a good chase pitch which he struggles to land in the zone. It’s an effective pitch in two-strike counts. Palmquist will mix in a low-80s cutter as well but it’s rarely used. He throws an average number of strikes and tends to stay out of the trouble zones but will experience lapses in command.

The Future: Palmquist has the makings of a back-end starter who can handle innings and strike out more batters than his fastball velocity would suggest. He will likely debut with the Rockies in 2025 if a rotation spot opens.

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

Track Record: Palmquist spent two seasons in the Miami bullpen as one of the top relievers in the country. He earned a USA Baseball Collegiate National Team invite heading into his draft spring and impressed during trials. Palmquist returned to Miami and made the successful jump into the starting rotation, earning first team all-ACC honors for his performance. Palmquist was drafted by the Rockies in the third round and made a single appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League after signing. Palmquist began the 2023 season with High-A Spokane and struck out 35.7% of hitters over his 15 starts.Palmquist was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 24 making and made four starts with Hartford.

Scouting Report: A low-slot lefty, Palmquist lacks power on his pitches but also doesn’t throw anything straight. He expanded his arsenal in 2023 by adding a slider and a cutter to complement his curveball. His fastball sits between 90-92 mph and touches 93 mph with heavy armside run and a flat approach angle. Despite Palmquist’s lack of velocity, his fastball is quite deceptive. His most frequently used secondary is a curveball that sits between 75-76 mph with a difficult horizontal angle. Palmquist’s best pitch is his changeup, which sits between 81-82 mph with heavy armside run and tumble. Both his curveball and his changeup drive weak contact and generate whiffs in and out of the zone. Palmquist’s slider and cutter are similar variations of the same pitch with a difference of 4-5 mph of average velocity. Palmquist is an average strike thrower with a feel for his entire arsenal.

The Future: Palmquist’s lack of velocity as a starter is a limiting factor and he’ll likely settle into a bullpen role.

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

Track Record: A reliever for his first two seasons at Miami who dominated out of the pen for the Hurricanes, Palmquist struck out 75 batters over 44.2 innings in 2021. After a star turn with the Collegiate National Team over the summer, he jumped into the Hurricanes' rotation. He made 16 starts and compiled a 9-4, 2.89 mark with 118 strikeouts to 32 walks. The Rockies selected Palmquist in the third round and signed him for an above-slot bonus of $775,000. Palmquist made one appearance in the Arizona Complex League.

Scouting Report: With a lefthanded sidearm operation, Palmquist creates a difficult angle on all of his pitches, particularly to lefthanders. He mixes a fastball, changeup and slider. Palmquist's fastball sits in the low 90s as a starter but showed mid-90s velocity as a reliever his first two seasons at Miami. His changeup is a low-80s that generates whiffs at a high rate in college. His breaking ball is a mid-70s sweeper with moderate horizontal break that plays up out of his hand due to his sidearm slot. He's shown average command across a variety of roles as an amateur, and how his fastball velocity progresses as a starter will ultimately define whether he can stick in the role.

The Future: Palmquist is a deceptive lefthander with a chance to start due to his average control, but a reliever role to fall back on if starting doesn't take.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

School: Miami Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade: 45/High
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: - | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: | Control: 55
Palmquist was a reliever for two years with Miami and in 2021 posted a 2.22 ERA over 44.2 innings, with 75 strikeouts and just eight walks—good for a 9.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He impressed in five innings with Team USA during the summer, striking out seven and walking none. Palmquist transitioned to a starting role this spring with Miami and continued to perform well. He posted a 2.89 ERA over 16 starts and 84 innings, with 118 strikeouts (32.9 K%) and 32 walks (8.9 BB%). His average velocity dropped a tick and he sat in the upper 80s and low 90s as a starter, compared to getting his fastball up into the 94-96 mph range out of the bullpen. Palmquist throws a changeup around 80 mph that generated whiffs 56% of the time this spring, and he also throws a slow and sweepy breaking ball in the mid 70s that plays up because of Palmquist’s arm slot more than any sharp or late-breaking action. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound lefty has a low, sidearm slot that creates difficult angles and adds deception to his entire pitch mix. Palmquist has the command to start, but his stuff might play better out of the bullpen.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A reliever for his first two seasons at Miami who dominated out of the pen for the Hurricanes, Palmquist struck out 75 batters over 44.2 innings in 2021. After a star turn with the Collegiate National Team over the summer, he jumped into the Hurricanes' rotation. He made 16 starts and compiled a 9-4, 2.89 mark with 118 strikeouts to 32 walks. The Rockies selected Palmquist in the third round and signed him for an above-slot bonus of $775,000. Palmquist made one appearance in the Arizona Complex League.

Scouting Report: With a lefthanded sidearm operation, Palmquist creates a difficult angle on all of his pitches, particularly to lefthanders. He mixes a fastball, changeup and slider. Palmquist's fastball sits in the low 90s as a starter but showed mid-90s velocity as a reliever his first two seasons at Miami. His changeup is a low-80s that generates whiffs at a high rate in college. His breaking ball is a mid-70s sweeper with moderate horizontal break that plays up out of his hand due to his sidearm slot. He's shown average command across a variety of roles as an amateur, and how his fastball velocity progresses as a starter will ultimately define whether he can stick in the role.

The Future: Palmquist is a deceptive lefthander with a chance to start due to his average control, but a reliever role to fall back on if starting doesn't take.

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

Track Record: A reliever for his first two seasons at Miami who dominated out of the pen for the Hurricanes, Palmquist struck out 75 batters over 44.2 innings in 2021. After a star turn with the Collegiate National Team over the summer, he jumped into the Hurricanes' rotation. He made 16 starts and compiled a 9-4, 2.89 mark with 118 strikeouts to 32 walks. The Rockies selected Palmquist in the third round and signed him for an above-slot bonus of $775,000. Palmquist made one appearance in the Arizona Complex League.

Scouting Report: With a lefthanded sidearm operation, Palmquist creates a difficult angle on all of his pitches, particularly to lefthanders. He mixes a fastball, changeup and slider. Palmquist's fastball sits in the low 90s as a starter but showed mid-90s velocity as a reliever his first two seasons at Miami. His changeup is a low-80s that generates whiffs at a high rate in college. His breaking ball is a mid-70s sweeper with moderate horizontal break that plays up out of his hand due to his sidearm slot. He's shown average command across a variety of roles as an amateur, and how his fastball velocity progresses as a starter will ultimately define whether he can stick in the role.

The Future: Palmquist is a deceptive lefthander with a chance to start due to his average control, but a reliever role to fall back on if starting doesn't take.

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

August Update: Palmquist was a reliever for two years with Miami and in 2021 posted a 2.22 ERA over 44.2 innings, with 75 strikeouts and just eight walks—good for a 9.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He impressed in five innings with Team USA during the summer, striking out seven and walking none. Palmquist transitioned to a starting role this spring with Miami and continued to perform well. He posted a 2.89 ERA over 16 starts and 84 innings, with 118 strikeouts (32.9 K%) and 32 walks (8.9 BB%). His average velocity dropped a tick and he sat in the upper 80s and low 90s as a starter, compared to getting his fastball up into the 94-96 mph range out of the bullpen. Palmquist throws a changeup around 80 mph that generated whiffs 56% of the time this spring, and he also throws a slow and sweepy breaking ball in the mid 70s that plays up because of Palmquist&#39s arm slot more than any sharp or late-breaking action. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound lefty has a low, sidearm slot that creates difficult angles and adds deception to his entire pitch mix. Palmquist has the command to start, but his stuff might play better out of the bullpen. He signed with the Rockies for $775,000 in the third round.