Kevin Munson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #28 prospect in 2013
  Munson was a catcher at the beginning of his college career at James Madison but was quickly moved to the mound to take advantage of his arm strength. The Diamondbacks took Munson in the fourth round in 2010 and started him in full-season ball, assuming that he could move quickly and help the big league club sooner rather than later. Instead, command issues have plagued him throughout his career, caused in part by a delivery in which he opens up early, causing the stuff to flatten out and come up. He's no longer considered to have closer potential, but still possesses a 91-95 mph fastball that touches 97, as well as a hard slider. He fields his position well and displays good mound presence. Munson improved his command after the season's first two months and was dominating hitters by the end of the year, posting a 0.84 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 11 innings in August. His 2013 Opening Day assignment will depend on which Munson shows up in spring training.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #19 prospect in 2012
  Munson posted a 1.59 ERA in his 2010 pro debut, handling the transition so easily that the Diamondbacks thought he had a chance to be a big league contributor as early as 2012. That ETA seemed optimistic after he struggled with his command and control for most of last year in high Class A, though he finished with a strong final month after learning to trust his fastball. James Madison recruited Munson as a catcher and righthander, but quickly realized his arm strength would serve him best on the mound. He works mainly off his fastball, which operates at 91-95 mph and has good sink. His other pitch is a 79-83 mph slider that some scouts say looks more like a cutter. Munson walked nearly a batter per inning in the first four months of last season, and he doesn't have a history of filling the strike zone. His delivery is partly to blame, as he has a short arm action and lands on a stiff front leg, though it also provides deception. He threw strikes in August and in the Arizona Fall League, so he might have turned a corner. Munson likely will return to Double-A after finishing 2011 there. If he can continue to harness his fastball, he still could be in line for a callup at some point this year.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #13 prospect in 2011
  After picking projectable, high-risk pitchers with their second- and third-round choices in 2010, the Diamondbacks went with a safer choice in Munson, who served as closer for James Madison. He went straight to South Bend after signing for $243,000 and pitched well there before ending the season with Visalia. Munson is a sinker/slider pitcher with deception to his delivery. His fastball sits comfortably at 92-94 mph with good life, sink and run. His hard slider, a legitimate above-average offering, is a swing-and-miss pitch that he can throw in any count. He has a curveball but it's not functional right now, and he may not need it out of the bullpen. He's a gamer with great makeup. Munson spent part of his time at James Madison as a catcher, so his arm is relatively fresh. He relies on his slider too much at times and will have to sharpen his command. He never started a game in college, so the Diamondbacks will keep him in the role he's comfortable with. He projects as a solid reliever but probably not a closer. New GM Kevin Towers is noted for his bullpen construction, so Munson's development will be watched closely. In all likelihood, he'll be the first player from Arizona's 2010 draft class to make the big leagues, but it may not be until 2012.