Jack Kochanowicz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Kochanowicz was a projectable high school pitcher from Pennsylvania when the Angels drafted him in the third round in 2019. They signed him for nearly double slot value at $1,247,500. Part of the Angels’ alternate training site in 2020, Kochanowicz’s pro debut was slowed by the pandemic and an oblique injury before having two rocky seasons with Low-A Inland Empire. Altering his delivery and arm slot at the end of spring training 2023 helped him find new velocity and early season success at High-A Tri-City, earning a May promotion to Double-A Rocket City where he ran up a 6.53 ERA in 70.1 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Kochanowicz is a 6-foot-7, strike-throwing righthander with a groundball-inducing repertoire. Lowering his arm slot to low three-quarters at the end of spring training helped him become more confident in his fastball. Kochanowicz favors a two-seam fastball to a four-seam grip with which he began his pro career. While altering the shape of how his fastball approaches the plate, he added 3-4 ticks to his heater which now sits 95-97 mph and touches 99. That makes him tough for righthanded hitters to square up and yields a high rate of ground balls. Kochanowicz’s velo gains added separation to his sinking changeup, making it a swing-and-miss weapon in the upper 80s. He has mostly scrapped a loopy curveball in the early stages of development, instead favoring a sweeping slider in the mid-to-upper 80s that will flash above-average. Kochanowicz throws strikes at a high clip but will need to expand the zone, because he throws too many pitches over the heart of the plate.
  
  The Future: Kochanowicz has the makings of a groundball-oriented back-end rotation arm or possible reliever. Added to the 40-man roster in november, he could get an opportunity in Anaheim in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #25 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Kochanowicz signed for an over-slot $1.25 million bonus as a third-round pick in 2019 and had to wait almost two years to make his professional debut. The layoff showed at Low-A Inland Empire in 2021, where Kochanowicz surrendered 102 hits in 83.1 innings and got tagged for an 6.91 ERA while averaging barely four innings per outing.
  
  Scouting Report: Kochanowicz is a big-bodied righthander with an athletic and relatively fluid delivery that produces lively fastballs in the 93-97 mph range. His high-spin, big-breaking, mid-70s curveball with big drop and late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch if he can command it, and his changeup shows average potential. Kochanowicz struggled to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes in 2021, forcing him to throw his fastball over the middle, where it was crushed. He should improve as he gains better command of the heater and learns to attack different parts of the zone with it. The Angels love his work ethic and inquisitive nature and believe he will grow from the adversity.
  
  The Future: Kochanowicz’s focus in 2022 will be on fastball command and getting ahead in counts. He needs to do that and start throwing his secondaries for strikes to live up to his starter potential.
  
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #7 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Kochanowicz a high-round prep pitcher draftee, a rare step for them. Taken in the third round in 2019 and signed for an over-slot $1.25 million, he spent the final weeks of 2020 at the alternate training site before heading to instructional league. He stood out in Arizona as he improved his fastball command, made progress with his changeup and gained a better mechanical feel for how his large frame works on the mound.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz checks in at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, but his delivery is athletic and relatively fluid. His lively fastball ranged from 90-95 mph when he signed and now sits 93-94 and touches 97 with ride up in the zone. The Angels love his work ethic and believe he will gain even more velocity as he continues to mature and add strength. Kochanowicz’s high-spin, big-breaking curveball with late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch. His changeup is still developing but shows average potential. Kochanowicz is a natural strike-thrower for his age and should have no trouble maintaining at least average control with his clean delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz shows the ingredients of a mid-rotation starter and maybe more, but he has yet to pitch in a professional game and has a lot of development ahead. He'll make his pro debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: While the Angels have been aggressive picking high school position players in the early rounds, they have not pursued many prep pitchers high in the draft. They made an exception for Kochanowicz, drafting the burly but athletic righthander in the third round and giving him an overslot $1.25 million signing bonus to sway him from a Virginia commitment. Kochanowicz did not pitch for an affiliate after signing and spent most of the summer working on his strength and conditioning.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz's above-average fastball sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with late, riding life up in the zone. He generates good spin on his low-80s curveball, and it should become an above-average pitch as he gets stronger and adds velocity to it. He already has a good feel for an upper-80s changeup with depth. Kochanowicz generates plenty of downhill plane with his height and high-threequarters arm slot. He is very fluid in the way he moves and appears comfortable in his delivery, allowing him average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz is far from a finished product but is very projectable with his size, athleticism and easy velocity. He will likely start 2020 in extended spring training before pitching in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #61 prospect in 2019 draft
  A 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander committed to Virginia, Kochanowicz is a projectable arm out of the Northeast with a high, three-quarter arm action and clean delivery. Despite his long frame and levers, Kochanowicz has a strong feel for throwing strikes. Over the summer, he sat mostly in the 89-92 mph range, but his fastball ticked up slightly this spring and scouts have seen him closer to 90-94 mph. He throws a mid-70s curveball that has solid 11-to-5 spin and good depth, but he casts the pitch at times and it can also get loopy. At the moment, it projects as a solid-average breaking ball, but Kochanowicz will need to improve the power and consistency of the pitch for scouts to grade it any higher than that. He also throws a firm, 85-87 mph changeup that shows promise, but it's closer to a third average offering. While Kochanowicz doesn't have a single plus pitch, it wouldn't take much additional strength to get his fastball there on velocity alone. All of his offerings play up thanks to his extension off the mound and a slight crossfire delivery.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Kochanowicz signed for an over-slot $1.25 million bonus as a third-round pick in 2019 and had to wait almost two years to make his professional debut. The layoff showed at Low-A Inland Empire in 2021, where Kochanowicz surrendered 102 hits in 83.1 innings and got tagged for an 6.91 ERA while averaging barely four innings per outing.
  
  Scouting Report: Kochanowicz is a big-bodied righthander with an athletic and relatively fluid delivery that produces lively fastballs in the 93-97 mph range. His high-spin, big-breaking, mid-70s curveball with big drop and late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch if he can command it, and his changeup shows average potential. Kochanowicz struggled to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes in 2021, forcing him to throw his fastball over the middle, where it was crushed. He should improve as he gains better command of the heater and learns to attack different parts of the zone with it. The Angels love his work ethic and inquisitive nature and believe he will grow from the adversity.
  
  The Future: Kochanowicz’s focus in 2022 will be on fastball command and getting ahead in counts. He needs to do that and start throwing his secondaries for strikes to live up to his starter potential.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Kochanowicz a high-round prep pitcher draftee, a rare step for them. Taken in the third round in 2019 and signed for an over-slot $1.25 million, he spent the final weeks of 2020 at the alternate training site before heading to instructional league. He stood out in Arizona as he improved his fastball command, made progress with his changeup and gained a better mechanical feel for how his large frame works on the mound.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz checks in at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, but his delivery is athletic and relatively fluid. His lively fastball ranged from 90-95 mph when he signed and now sits 93-94 and touches 97 with ride up in the zone. The Angels love his work ethic and believe he will gain even more velocity as he continues to mature and add strength. Kochanowicz's high-spin, big-breaking curveball with late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch. His changeup is still developing but shows average potential. Kochanowicz is a natural strike-thrower for his age and should have no trouble maintaining at least average control with his clean delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz shows the ingredients of a mid-rotation starter and maybe more, but he has yet to pitch in a professional game and has a lot of development ahead. He'll make his pro debut in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Kochanowicz a high-round prep pitcher draftee, a rare step for them. Taken in the third round in 2019 and signed for an over-slot $1.25 million, he spent the final weeks of 2020 at the alternate training site before heading to instructional league. He stood out in Arizona as he improved his fastball command, made progress with his changeup and gained a better mechanical feel for how his large frame works on the mound.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz checks in at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, but his delivery is athletic and relatively fluid. His lively fastball ranged from 90-95 mph when he signed and now sits 93-94 and touches 97 with ride up in the zone. The Angels love his work ethic and believe he will gain even more velocity as he continues to mature and add strength. Kochanowicz’s high-spin, big-breaking curveball with late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch. His changeup is still developing but shows average potential. Kochanowicz is a natural strike-thrower for his age and should have no trouble maintaining at least average control with his clean delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz shows the ingredients of a mid-rotation starter and maybe more, but he has yet to pitch in a professional game and has a lot of development ahead. He'll make his pro debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Angels made Kochanowicz a high-round prep pitcher draftee, a rare step for them. Taken in the third round in 2019 and signed for an over-slot $1.25 million, he spent the final weeks of 2020 at the alternate training site before heading to instructional league. He stood out in Arizona as he improved his fastball command, made progress with his changeup and gained a better mechanical feel for how his large frame works on the mound.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz checks in at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, but his delivery is athletic and relatively fluid. His lively fastball ranged from 90-95 mph when he signed and now sits 93-94 and touches 97 with ride up in the zone. The Angels love his work ethic and believe he will gain even more velocity as he continues to mature and add strength. Kochanowicz’s high-spin, big-breaking curveball with late horizontal movement gives him a second potential plus pitch. His changeup is still developing but shows average potential. Kochanowicz is a natural strike-thrower for his age and should have no trouble maintaining at least average control with his clean delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz shows the ingredients of a mid-rotation starter and maybe more, but he has yet to pitch in a professional game and has a lot of development ahead. He'll make his pro debut in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: While the Angels have been aggressive picking high school position players in the early rounds, they have not pursued many prep pitchers high in the draft. They made an exception for Kochanowicz, drafting the burly but athletic righthander in the third round and giving him an overslot $1.25 million signing bonus to sway him from a Virginia commitment. Kochanowicz did not pitch for an affiliate after signing and spent most of the summer working on his strength and conditioning. BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz’s above-average fastball sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with late, riding life up in the zone. He generates good spin on his low-80s curveball, and it should become an above-average pitch as he gets stronger and adds velocity to it. He already has a good feel for an upper-80s changeup with depth. Kochanowicz generates plenty of downhill plane with his height and high-threequarters arm slot. He is very fluid in the way he moves and appears comfortable in his delivery, allowing him average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz is far from a finished product but is very projectable with his size, athleticism and easy velocity. He will likely start 2020 in extended spring training before pitching in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: While the Angels have been aggressive picking high school position players in the early rounds, they have not pursued many prep pitchers high in the draft. They made an exception for Kochanowicz, drafting the burly but athletic righthander in the third round and giving him an overslot $1.25 million signing bonus to sway him from a Virginia commitment. Kochanowicz did not pitch for an affiliate after signing and spent most of the summer working on his strength and conditioning.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kochanowicz's above-average fastball sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with late, riding life up in the zone. He generates good spin on his low-80s curveball, and it should become an above-average pitch as he gets stronger and adds velocity to it. He already has a good feel for an upper-80s changeup with depth. Kochanowicz generates plenty of downhill plane with his height and high-threequarters arm slot. He is very fluid in the way he moves and appears comfortable in his delivery, allowing him average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kochanowicz is far from a finished product but is very projectable with his size, athleticism and easy velocity. He will likely start 2020 in extended spring training before pitching in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander committed to Virginia, Kochanowicz is a projectable arm out of the Northeast with a high, three-quarter arm action and clean delivery. Despite his long frame and levers, Kochanowicz has a strong feel for throwing strikes. Over the summer, he sat mostly in the 89-92 mph range, but his fastball ticked up slightly this spring and scouts have seen him closer to 90-94 mph. He throws a mid-70s curveball that has solid 11-to-5 spin and good depth, but he casts the pitch at times and it can also get loopy. At the moment, it projects as a solid-average breaking ball, but Kochanowicz will need to improve the power and consistency of the pitch for scouts to grade it any higher than that. He also throws a firm, 85-87 mph changeup that shows promise, but it's closer to a third average offering. While Kochanowicz doesn't have a single plus pitch, it wouldn't take much additional strength to get his fastball there on velocity alone. All of his offerings play up thanks to his extension off the mound and a slight crossfire delivery.