Christian Binford

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #16 prospect in 2015
  As was the case with Brandon Finnegan and Sean Manaea, the Royals were able to land Binford late because he came with an injury history. He had Tommy John surgery in high school, so most scouts expected to see him go to Virginia as a projectable starter. The Royals, however, convinced him to sign for $575,000 as a 30th-round pick in 2011. After an excellent start at high Class A Wilmington in 2014, Binford moved up to Double-A Arkansas in July, then moved to the Triple-A Omaha bullpen. The move did not suit him and he did not get called up. Binford is one of the few minor league pitchers with above-average present command. He doesn't just throw strikes--he locates to the corners. He carved hitters up with well-placed two-seamers down and in to righthanders. His fastball is average at best (89-91 mph), but it's been effective because he gets excellent extension and locates it. His slurve has morphed into two pitches. His slider is his second-best pitch, for he can throw it consistently for strikes, but he mixes in a slurvy curveball that is more of a chase pitch and a straight 80 mph change with little fade but good arm speed. Binford has no true plus pitch, but he succeeds with pitch movement and command. He will return to Northwest Arkansas with a chance to become a No. 5 starter, but one who has little margin for error.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2014
  The Royals spent aggressively under the draft rules of the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement, and Binford was one of the final beneficiaries. A $575,000 bonus swayed the Tommy John surgery alumnus and 30th-round pick in 2011 away from a Virginia commitment, and so far the Royals have seen a return on their investment. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in 20 of 23 starts at low Class A Lexington in 2013. Binford shows excellent command and feel for a young pitcher with his size. He doesn't throw especially hard, but he generates excellent downhill angle on his naturally heavy 88-93 mph fastball, and he locates it with precision. Binford's delivery isn't picture-perfect--he has a wrap in his takeaway and his delivery ends with his momentum carrying him toward first base--but he repeats his motion consistently. His changeup has developed into an average pitch that generates weak contact. His fringy breaking ball is on the line between curveball and slurve. He can throw it for strikes but needs to tighten it up. Binford projects as a back-end starter if he maintains his present velocity with a chance for more if he adds a little more. He will pitch at high Class A Wilmington in 2014.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #26 prospect in 2013
  If Binford were a year younger, he'd probably be in college rather than pro ball. He didn't pitch much as a high school junior as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, and he entered 2011 as a raw project at a small Pennsylvannia private school who was strongly committed to Virginia. In the final year before MLB installed stricter draft spending restrictions, the Royals took him in the 30th round and persuaded him to sign for $575,000--something not feasible under the current draft rules. In his 2012 pro debut, Kansas City discovered that Binford was more physical and tougher than they expected. He showed advanced feel for pitching and surprising control, at one point going five straight starts without allowing a walk. Binford gets ahead of hitters with an 89-93 mph fastball with good boring action. He can throw his curveball for strikes in any count, though it's a fringy pitch that's better when it catches hitters off guard. His changeup shows some potential but is further away. Binford lacks much more projection but profiles as a No. 4 starter who could soak up innings. He's ready to make the jump to low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #13 prospect in 2014
  The Royals thought enough of Binford to sign him away from Virginia for $575,000 in 2011, two years after he had Tommy John surgery. This year, he dominated in the CL before climbing to Double-A and then to Triple-A, where he started in Omaha's national championship-winning game against Pawtucket. Binford threw just three innings in that game, allowing one run on a leadoff homer to Rusney Castillo. Otherwise, he pitched in relief for the Storm Chasers to cap an excellent season. The best control pitcher in the CL, Binford pitches with a fringe 88-92 mph fastball, but he pounds the strike zone with it and a pair of average secondary pitches: a curveball and a changeup. "His pitches have heavy sink with late movement, and he's a strike-thrower," Carolina manager Scooter Tucker said.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  As was the case with Brandon Finnegan and Sean Manaea, the Royals were able to land Binford late because he came with an injury history. He had Tommy John surgery in high school, so most scouts expected to see him go to Virginia as a projectable starter. The Royals, however, convinced him to sign for $575,000 as a 30th-round pick in 2011. After an excellent start at high Class A Wilmington in 2014, Binford moved up to Double-A Arkansas in July, then moved to the Triple-A Omaha bullpen. The move did not suit him and he did not get called up. Binford is one of the few minor league pitchers with above-average present command. He doesn't just throw strikes--he locates to the corners. He carved hitters up with well-placed two-seamers down and in to righthanders. His fastball is average at best (89-91 mph), but it's been effective because he gets excellent extension and locates it. His slurve has morphed into two pitches. His slider is his second-best pitch, for he can throw it consistently for strikes, but he mixes in a slurvy curveball that is more of a chase pitch and a straight 80 mph change with little fade but good arm speed. Binford has no true plus pitch, but he succeeds with pitch movement and command. He will return to Northwest Arkansas with a chance to become a No. 5 starter, but one who has little margin for error.