Scott Moviel Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Scott Michael Moviel
Born 05/07/1988 in Cleveland, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'9" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Saint Edward
Drafted in the 2nd round (77th overall) by the New York Mets in 2007 (signed for $414,000).

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The Andrew Brackman comparisons are obvious. Product of an Ohio high school? Check. Signed to play in college at North Carolina State? Check. Huge body that has scouts dreaming of a monster frontline starter? Check. Unlike Brackman, Moviel doesn't have a basketball scholarship, but he has played the sport in high school. He's an intimidating 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds and athletic for his size. He has a 91-92 mph fastball that tops out at 94, and he has tightened up a curveball that was loopy a year ago. Brackman had similar stuff when he came out of Cincinnati's Moeller High three years ago, though his breaking ball was better. As with any large pitcher, there are concerns as to how well Moviel will repeat his delivery and command his pitches. His mechanics don't have any major flaws, though he could do a better job of staying on top of his pitches. Because his older brothers Paul (in the Devil Rays system) and Greg (in the Mariners organization) went backward in college, Moviel is considered signable, especially if he goes in the top three rounds as expected.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Moviel's 2009 season didn't start until late June. He had surgery in January after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during offseason conditioning drills. While nearing a May return, he popped some stitches and experienced inflammation in the knee and required a second procedure to clean it out. When he returned to the mound, Moviel continued to show that he has a high ceiling and a ways to go to reach it. A former Michigan basketball recruit who signed to play two sports at North Carolina State before the Mets drafted him, Moviel is still growing into his body but is a good athlete and is less awkward than many tall pitchers. He hit 94 mph with his fastball last summer and usually pitches in the low 90s, though his velocity was down at times. At the suggestion of St. Lucie pitching coach Phil Regan, Moviel added a slider that has become his best secondary pitch. His curveball and changeup still require a lot of work. He throws strikes and uses his height to throw on a tough downward plane. Moviel, whose brothers Greg and Paul also pitched professionally, should get his first shot at Double-A this season.
The youngest of four brothers, Moviel comes from a baseball family. Sibling Greg, a lefthander, pitched in the Mariners organization. Paul, a fellow righthander and a 36th-round pick in 2003, pitched in the White Sox and Rays organizations. Moviel was prepared to follow the path of fellow Ohioan-turned-Yankees-first-rounder Andrew Brackman: pitch for North Carolina State, and compete for the Wolfpack basketball team--or at least try to as a 6-foot-11 walk-on. Then the Mets selected Moviel 77th overall in the 2007 draft and he bypassed college for the minors. Moviel sat at 90 mph with his fastball, tossed an 84-86 mph changeup and had a 75-79 mph curveball, with the more effective breaking pitches being the ones thrown with more power. Like many taller pitches, Moviel needs time to grow into his body, though the former University of Michigan basketball recruit is not as awkward as might be expected for his size and is considered an above-average athlete. Moviel needs to develop a changeup as he rises in the Mets' system. He's ticketed for high Class A to open 2009.
Moviel is the youngest of three brothers pitching in pro ball, joining Greg (Mariners) and Paul (Rays). Scott has the highest upside of the trio, in part because he's three inches taller than his brothers. He was set to follow in the footsteps of another 6-foot-11 Cincinnati-area pitcher, Andrew Brackman, and attend North Carolina State when the Mets drafted him in the second round in June and signed him for $414,000. While Brackman, who went 30th overall to the Yankees, has bigger stuff and was a better basketball player, the Mets are happy with Moviel, who has excellent athleticism and coordination for a pitcher his size. He's flexible and repeats his delivery well. His best pitch is his fastball, which sits at 90-92 mph and tops out at 94. He has shown the ability to spot his fastball well and should have average command down the line. He also has feel for his nascent changeup, which he rarely threw as an amateur. His biggest weakness is his breaking ball, which has been slow and slurvy. He has shown the ability to spin the baseball, though, and New York believes he'll eventually have a solid hard slider with work and experience. Moviel has a high ceiling and just needs innings. He's likely to report to extended spring training and then short-season Brooklyn for 2008.

Minor League Top Prospects

The tallest pitcher in the GCL at 6-foot-10, Moviel also has stuff to back up his height advantage. He consistently threw 92-93 mph and touched 95 with his fastball. He draws comparisons to Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brackman because both are huge Ohio natives who committed to North Carolina State (Brackman played for the Wolfpack but Moviel turned pro). Though Brackman is three years older, Moviel may be more polished. Scouts raved about his ability to not only repeat his delivery, but his secondary pitches as well. He'll pitch inside with his fastball with no fear, and his 82-83 mph hammer curveball really keeps opposing hitters at bay. Moviel also has a workable changeup, though it lags behind his other two offerings. There are concerns about his long arm action, but he's athletic and fields his position well for a big man.