Alec Marsh

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The 2022 season was a strange trip for Marsh, one of Kansas City's second round picks in 2019 after a career at Arizona State. At times he flashed some of the best stuff in the system, but inconsistency and the inability to command the ball in the zone led to a season of ugly stats (6.88 ERA, 28 home runs in 124.1 innings) albeit with 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Marsh's issues primarily stem from lack of fastball command. The pitch sits around 94 mph and ticks up a bit more in shorter outings, but he missed with it too much in the middle of the plate and it also cut on him. Essentially, he was throwing too many strikes instead of not enough and not self-correcting problems. He gets swings-and-misses from both the 85-mph slider and 87-mph changeup, although scouts noted that his breaking balls were sharper in previous years. The 79-mph curveball is his fourth pitch, used as a change-of-pace breaking ball he mixes in occasionally. Improving the repeatability of his delivery is another area for improvement.
  
  The Future: Marsh was added to the 40-man roster and will head to big league camp looking for a spot on the opening day roster. He will most likely return to Triple-A Omaha for more refinement of his repertoire. He finished 2022 with his two best outings of the year--something to build on if he can continue to improve his consistency and pitch mix. Overall, it was a good learning year coming off the 2021 season when he got only six starts due to biceps soreness and arm fatigue.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Marsh entered 2021 as one of several picks to click in the Royals system after gaining strength during the 2020 shutdown, giving his fastball a significant velocity bump while also developing more separation between his breaking balls. But Marsh made just six regular- season starts at Double-A before being shut down because of biceps soreness and arm fatigue. He returned to make one start in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Despite limited looks in 2021, Marsh showed enough to remain one of the better pitching prospects in the Royals system. He attacks the zone with a fastball that sits at 96 mph and tickles triple-digits. He aggressively goes right at hitters, throwing four pitches, all potential plus offerings, for strikes. Marsh’s two breaking balls tended to blend together earlier in his career, but he now gets enough separation to make them distinct pitches. His mid-80s slider is a hard, tight pitch that sometimes resembles a cutter, and his curveball that ranges from the high 70s to low 80s has solid depth. His changeup has natural depth and he throws it with good arm speed. His delivery is clean and repeatable.
  
  The Future: Marsh has all the attributes of a starting pitcher, but he could also thrive as a power arm at the back of the bullpen. He could be a contributor to the big league team in 2022 if he stays healthy.
  
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #12 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second supplemental round in 2019 from Arizona State, Marsh began his career with a promising pro debut at Rookie-level Idaho Falls where he showed use of four pitches and significantly lowered his walk rates from his college career. After pitching a few games in a pop-up league in Texas, Marsh reported to the Royals alternate training site late in the summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The biggest change for Marsh during the summer of 2020 was an increase in his fastball velocity. Previously sitting 90-94 mph with both a two-seamer and a four-seamer, he added several ticks and is now touching 99 mph. The extra velo changes his profile, especially with the new high-powered fastball being complemented by his cerebral approach to pitching and solid secondary pitches. His best secondary is an 11-to-5 power curveball that has good shape and depth, which he pairs with a short, tight slider resembling a cutter. He previously needed more separation between the breaking balls but they now look like different pitches, with the curveball averaging 80 mph and the slider 86 mph. He has feel for a solid-average or better changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. Marsh delivers his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: If he maintains the velocity increase, Marsh profiles as a solid, reliable mid-rotation starter. He'll make his full-season debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #23 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Marsh soared up draft boards during his junior year at Arizona State, where he excelled as the Sun Devils' Friday night ace. His first pro experience with Idaho Falls of the rookie-level Pioneer League was quite good, and he finished with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 38-to-4.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Marsh is aggressive on the mound and pitches to contact, with his best pitch being a 90-94 mph fastball that he throws as a two-seamer and a four-seamer. He has both a slider and a curveball that flash as plus pitches, but he needs to get more separation between the two breaking balls and gain more confidence. Marsh has feel for a solid-average changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. He delivers all of his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Marsh is ready to form an orderly line with the multitude of Royals pitching prospects heading to full-season ball, with his likely destination being low Class A Lexington. He projects as a solid-bodied back-end starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #97 prospect in 2019 draft
  The Sun Devils' Friday Night starter has taken one of the biggest jumps forward of any Division I college pitcher in 2019, highlighted by a mid-April complete game victory over then-No. 3 Oregon State in front of a large contingent of scouts and scouting directors. Marsh has gotten stronger and consistently gets ahead of hitters by throwing his first pitch for strikes. His five-pitch mix all grade as average pitches, although his fastball flashes plus, especially when he dials up the velocity into the mid-90s in key situations. Marsh most often uses his two-seamer to get ground balls and his four-seamer for swings and misses, complementing both offerings with a changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. He also mixes in a 78-82 mph slider and 72-76 mph curveball. He repeats a clean delivery, with all pitches coming from the same slot. At times, Marsh can struggle when his four-seam fastball flattens out. Marsh's improvement should allow him to go early on Day 2 of the draft.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #7 prospect in 2019
  Marsh blossomed in his final college season at Arizona State, excelling as the Sun Devils’ Friday night starter. He carried that success into his pro debut, though he was limited to three innings or fewer per start after a heavy college workload. Marsh throws all four of his pitches for strikes and walked just four batters in 13 starts. His best pitch is his 90-94 mph fastball he can throw as both a four-seamer and a two-seamer. He used all his pitches aggressively and came right after hitters. "He’s very aggressive and pitches to contact,” Idaho Falls manager Omar Ramirez said. Both Marsh’s mid-80s slider and upper-70s curveball flash plus, but he needs to get more separation between them. He will need to use his changeup more as he advances.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The 2022 season was a strange trip for Marsh, one of Kansas City's second round picks in 2019 after a career at Arizona State. At times he flashed some of the best stuff in the system, but inconsistency and the inability to command the ball in the zone led to a season of ugly stats (6.88 ERA, 28 home runs in 124.1 innings) albeit with 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Marsh's issues primarily stem from lack of fastball command. The pitch sits around 94 mph and ticks up a bit more in shorter outings, but he missed with it too much in the middle of the plate and it also cut on him. Essentially, he was throwing too many strikes instead of not enough and not self-correcting problems. He gets swings-and-misses from both the 85-mph slider and 87-mph changeup, although scouts noted that his breaking balls were sharper in previous years. The 79-mph curveball is his fourth pitch, used as a change-of-pace breaking ball he mixes in occasionally. Improving the repeatability of his delivery is another area for improvement.
  
  The Future: Marsh was added to the 40-man roster and will head to big league camp looking for a spot on the opening day roster. He will most likely return to Triple-A Omaha for more refinement of his repertoire. He finished 2022 with his two best outings of the year--something to build on if he can continue to improve his consistency and pitch mix. Overall, it was a good learning year coming off the 2021 season when he got only six starts due to biceps soreness and arm fatigue.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The 2022 season was a strange trip for Marsh, one of Kansas City's second round picks in 2019 after a career at Arizona State. At times he flashed some of the best stuff in the system, but inconsistency and the inability to command the ball in the zone led to a season of ugly stats (6.88 ERA, 28 home runs in 124.1 innings) albeit with 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Marsh's issues primarily stem from lack of fastball command. The pitch sits around 94 mph and ticks up a bit more in shorter outings, but he missed with it too much in the middle of the plate and it also cut on him. Essentially, he was throwing too many strikes instead of not enough and not self-correcting problems. He gets swings-and-misses from both the 85-mph slider and 87-mph changeup, although scouts noted that his breaking balls were sharper in previous years. The 79-mph curveball is his fourth pitch, used as a change-of-pace breaking ball he mixes in occasionally. Improving the repeatability of his delivery is another area for improvement.
  
  The Future: Marsh was added to the 40-man roster and will head to big league camp looking for a spot on the opening day roster. He will most likely return to Triple-A Omaha for more refinement of his repertoire. He finished 2022 with his two best outings of the year--something to build on if he can continue to improve his consistency and pitch mix. Overall, it was a good learning year coming off the 2021 season when he got only six starts due to biceps soreness and arm fatigue.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record:: Marsh entered 2021 as one of several picks to click in the Royals system after gaining strength during the 2020 shutdown, giving his fastball a significant velocity bump while also developing more separation between his breaking balls. But Marsh made just six regular- season starts at Double-A before being shut down because of biceps soreness and arm fatigue. He returned to make one start in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Despite limited looks in 2021, Marsh showed enough to remain one of the better pitching prospects in the Royals system. He attacks the zone with a fastball that sits at 96 mph and tickles triple-digits. He aggressively goes right at hitters, throwing four pitches, all potential plus offerings, for strikes. Marsh&#39s two breaking balls tended to blend together earlier in his career, but he now gets enough separation to make them distinct pitches. His mid-80s slider is a hard, tight pitch that sometimes resembles a cutter, and his curveball that ranges from the high 70s to low 80s has solid depth. His changeup has natural depth and he throws it with good arm speed. His delivery is clean and repeatable.
  
  The Future: Marsh has all the attributes of a starting pitcher, but he could also thrive as a power arm at the back of the bullpen. He could be a contributor to the big league team in 2022 if he stays healthy.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Marsh entered 2021 as one of several picks to click in the Royals system after gaining strength during the 2020 shutdown, giving his fastball a significant velocity bump while also developing more separation between his breaking balls. But Marsh made just six regular- season starts at Double-A before being shut down because of biceps soreness and arm fatigue. He returned to make one start in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Despite limited looks in 2021, Marsh showed enough to remain one of the better pitching prospects in the Royals system. He attacks the zone with a fastball that sits at 96 mph and tickles triple-digits. He aggressively goes right at hitters, throwing four pitches, all potential plus offerings, for strikes. Marsh’s two breaking balls tended to blend together earlier in his career, but he now gets enough separation to make them distinct pitches. His mid-80s slider is a hard, tight pitch that sometimes resembles a cutter, and his curveball that ranges from the high 70s to low 80s has solid depth. His changeup has natural depth and he throws it with good arm speed. His delivery is clean and repeatable.
  
  The Future: Marsh has all the attributes of a starting pitcher, but he could also thrive as a power arm at the back of the bullpen. He could be a contributor to the big league team in 2022 if he stays healthy.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second supplemental round in 2019 from Arizona State, Marsh began his career with a promising pro debut at Rookie-level Idaho Falls where he showed use of four pitches and significantly lowered his walk rates from his college career. After pitching a few games in a pop-up league in Texas, Marsh reported to the Royals alternate training site late in the summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The biggest change for Marsh during the summer of 2020 was an increase in his fastball velocity. Previously sitting 90-94 mph with both a two-seamer and a four-seamer, he added several ticks and is now touching 99 mph. The extra velo changes his profile, especially with the new high-powered fastball being complemented by his cerebral approach to pitching and solid secondary pitches. His best secondary is an 11-to-5 power curveball that has good shape and depth, which he pairs with a short, tight slider resembling a cutter. He previously needed more separation between the breaking balls but they now look like different pitches, with the curveball averaging 80 mph and the slider 86 mph. He has feel for a solid-average or better changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. Marsh delivers his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: If he maintains the velocity increase, Marsh profiles as a solid, reliable mid-rotation starter. He'll make his full-season debut in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second supplemental round in 2019 from Arizona State, Marsh began his career with a promising pro debut at Rookie-level Idaho Falls where he showed use of four pitches and significantly lowered his walk rates from his college career. After pitching a few games in a pop-up league in Texas, Marsh reported to the Royals alternate training site late in the summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The biggest change for Marsh during the summer of 2020 was an increase in his fastball velocity. Previously sitting 90-94 mph with both a two-seamer and a four-seamer, he added several ticks and is now touching 99 mph. The extra velo changes his profile, especially with the new high-powered fastball being complemented by his cerebral approach to pitching and solid secondary pitches. His best secondary is an 11-to-5 power curveball that has good shape and depth, which he pairs with a short, tight slider resembling a cutter. He previously needed more separation between the breaking balls but they now look like different pitches, with the curveball averaging 80 mph and the slider 86 mph. He has feel for a solid-average or better changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. Marsh delivers his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: If he maintains the velocity increase, Marsh profiles as a solid, reliable mid-rotation starter. He'll make his full-season debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second supplemental round in 2019 from Arizona State, Marsh began his career with a promising pro debut at Rookie-level Idaho Falls where he showed use of four pitches and significantly lowered his walk rates from his college career. After pitching a few games in a pop-up league in Texas, Marsh reported to the Royals alternate training site late in the summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The biggest change for Marsh during the summer of 2020 was an increase in his fastball velocity. Previously sitting 90-94 mph with both a two-seamer and a four-seamer, he added several ticks and is now touching 99 mph. The extra velo changes his profile, especially with the new high-powered fastball being complemented by his cerebral approach to pitching and solid secondary pitches. His best secondary is an 11-to-5 power curveball that has good shape and depth, which he pairs with a short, tight slider resembling a cutter. He previously needed more separation between the breaking balls but they now look like different pitches, with the curveball averaging 80 mph and the slider 86 mph. He has feel for a solid-average or better changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. Marsh delivers his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: If he maintains the velocity increase, Marsh profiles as a solid, reliable mid-rotation starter. He'll make his full-season debut in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Marsh soared up draft boards during his junior year at Arizona State, where he excelled as the Sun Devils’ Friday night ace. His first pro experience with Idaho Falls of the rookie-level Pioneer League was quite good, and he finished with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 38-to-4. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Marsh is aggressive on the mound and pitches to contact, with his best pitch being a 90-94 mph fastball that he throws as a two-seamer and a four-seamer. He has both a slider and a curveball that flash as plus pitches, but he needs to get more separation between the two breaking balls and gain more confidence. Marsh has feel for a solid-average changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. He delivers all of his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Marsh is ready to form an orderly line with the multitude of Royals pitching prospects heading to full-season ball, with his likely destination being low Class A Lexington. He projects as a solid-bodied back-end starter.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Marsh soared up draft boards during his junior year at Arizona State, where he excelled as the Sun Devils' Friday night ace. His first pro experience with Idaho Falls of the rookie-level Pioneer League was quite good, and he finished with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 38-to-4.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Marsh is aggressive on the mound and pitches to contact, with his best pitch being a 90-94 mph fastball that he throws as a two-seamer and a four-seamer. He has both a slider and a curveball that flash as plus pitches, but he needs to get more separation between the two breaking balls and gain more confidence. Marsh has feel for a solid-average changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. He delivers all of his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Marsh is ready to form an orderly line with the multitude of Royals pitching prospects heading to full-season ball, with his likely destination being low Class A Lexington. He projects as a solid-bodied back-end starter.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Sun Devils' Friday Night starter has taken one of the biggest jumps forward of any Division I college pitcher in 2019, highlighted by a mid-April complete game victory over then-No. 3 Oregon State in front of a large contingent of scouts and scouting directors. Marsh has gotten stronger and consistently gets ahead of hitters by throwing his first pitch for strikes. His five-pitch mix all grade as average pitches, although his fastball flashes plus, especially when he dials up the velocity into the mid-90s in key situations. Marsh most often uses his two-seamer to get ground balls and his four-seamer for swings and misses, complementing both offerings with a changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. He also mixes in a 78-82 mph slider and 72-76 mph curveball. He repeats a clean delivery, with all pitches coming from the same slot. At times, Marsh can struggle when his four-seam fastball flattens out. Marsh's improvement should allow him to go early on Day 2 of the draft.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Marsh blossomed in his final college season at Arizona State, excelling as the Sun Devils’ Friday night starter. He carried that success into his pro debut, though he was limited to three innings or fewer per start after a heavy college workload. Marsh throws all four of his pitches for strikes and walked just four batters in 13 starts. His best pitch is his 90-94 mph fastball he can throw as both a four-seamer and a two-seamer. He used all his pitches aggressively and came right after hitters. "He’s very aggressive and pitches to contact,” Idaho Falls manager Omar Ramirez said. Both Marsh’s mid-80s slider and upper-70s curveball flash plus, but he needs to get more separation between them. He will need to use his changeup more as he advances.