Justin Grimm

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #5 prospect in 2013
  Grimm adapted quickly to the routine of pro ball following a wildly erratic college career at Georgia, where he ran up a 5.80 ERA in three seasons. He beat the Astros in his June 16 debut, little more than a year and a half after making his pro debut in low Class A. Grimm decimated Double-A competition with a strong three-pitch mix and plus control. He found the going tougher in Triple-A and the big leagues when batters tended not to chase his 12-to-6 curveball. He pitches at 91-94 mph while commanding his fastball to both sides of the plate. That helps him work ahead of batters and set up his curve, changeup and slider/cutter hybrid. His changeup has come the farthest since turning pro, helping him hold minor league lefties to a .231 average while sporting a 4-1 K-BB ratio against them in 2012. Adding the slider gives Grimm the ability to change the speed and shape on his breaking ball, while also helping him stay in the zone more frequently. Texas bypassed Martin Perez, who already was on the 40-man roster, when it called on Grimm in June. Both could earn larger roles with the Rangers in 2013, whether starting or relieving. Most scouts see Grimm as a potential mid-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #15 prospect in 2012
  Rangers scouting director Kip Fagg was the team's national crosschecker when he first saw Grimm pitch as a high schooler, and he always liked Grimm's athleticism, frame and the way the ball exploded out of his hand. The Red Sox drafted Grimm in the 13th round out of high school, but he opted to attend Georgia, where he showed flashes of brilliance but went 6-12, 5.80 in three college seasons. Fagg never doubted Grimm's upside and met with him twice before the 2010 draft, finally getting his man with a fifth-round pick and an above-slot $825,000 bonus. A long-toss advocate, Grimm works his fastball at 92-96 mph with late sinking life. His power curveball gives him a second plus offering. The development of his circle changeup last year was a key to his success and gives him a chance to remain a starter. Texas has worked with Grimm to refine and repeat his delivery, which contains considerable effort. He has mid-rotation potential, though he could also fill a late-inning relief role with his velocity playing up out of the bullpen. He'll advance to Double-A in 2012.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #18 prospect in 2011
  An unsigned 13th-round pick by the Red Sox out of a Virginia high school in 2007, Grimm had a disappointing college career at Georgia, posting a 5.84 career ERA in three seasons. Nevertheless, the Rangers signed him for a well-over-slot bonus of $825,000 as a fifth-round pick last summer, and he showed off one of the liveliest arms in the system during instructional league. Grimm pitches at 92-96 mph with his fastball, and his sharp overhand curveball arrives at 82-83 and gives him a second potential plus offerings. His changeup still lags behind his power pitches, but he's working on it. Grimm has an electric arm and a prototype pitcher's frame, and Texas believes he could take off with a couple of mechanical tweaks. He tended to rush through his delivery in college, often causing him to miss armside and up. He also had a head jerk in his delivery that affected his command, and the Rangers had some success calming that down in instructional league. He also did a much better job repeating his mechanics in the fall. Grimm has the arm strength, size and stuff to be at least a midrotation big league starter if his delivery and command continue to improve. He'll likely make his pro debut as a starter in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #18 prospect in 2011
  When the Rangers promoted Erlin to Double-A, they made sure the Pelicans weren't left shorthanded. Grimm replaced the lefty in the Myrtle Beach rotation and while he didn't match Erlin's dominance, he did perform well in his debut as a pro. He struggled throughout his college career at Georgia because he couldn't throw strikes, but he showed improved command as a pro after toning down his delivery. While he was a starter this year, Grimm most likely projects as a power reliever because he has one dominant pitch and his mechanics still contain some effort. His 92-94 mph fastball has good life and would play up even more if he worked out of the bullpen. His hard curveball has potential as an average to plus pitch, but his changeup is ineffective.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Grimm adapted quickly to the routine of pro ball following a wildly erratic college career at Georgia, where he ran up a 5.80 ERA in three seasons. He beat the Astros in his June 16 debut, little more than a year and a half after making his pro debut in low Class A. Scouting Report: Grimm decimated Double-A competition with a strong three-pitch mix and plus control. He found the going tougher in Triple-A and the big leagues when batters tended not to chase his 12-to-6 curveball. He pitches at 91-94 mph while commanding his fastball to both sides of the plate. That helps him work ahead of batters and set up his curve, changeup and slider/cutter hybrid. His changeup has come the farthest since turning pro, helping him hold minor league lefties to a .231 average while sporting a 4-1 K-BB ratio against them in 2012. Adding the slider gives Grimm the ability to change the speed and shape on his breaking ball, while also helping him stay in the zone more frequently. The Future: Texas bypassed Martin Perez, who already was on the 40-man roster, when it called on Grimm in June. Both could earn larger roles with the Rangers in 2013, whether starting or relieving. Most scouts see Grimm as a potential mid-rotation starter.