Erik Tolman Stats & Scouting Report

IP	28
ERA	2.571
WHIP	1.286
BB/9	4.179
SO/9	8.036

Full name Erik Tolman
Born 06/03/1999 in Irvine, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 193 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Arizona State
Drafted in the 14th round (413th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2021 (signed for $125,000).

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Tolman began his career at Arizona State as a two-way player, pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman while also seeing time at designated hitter and in the outfield. The southern California southpaw was in the Sun Devils’ rotation in his third season in Tempe until suffering an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. Prior to the injury Tolman delivered a fastball sitting 89-91 mph and touching 93, an invisible pitch that hitters had trouble following. What really made him effective was a plus changeup and a curveball that was a tick below-average but played up when mixed in with his other pitches. The command was the biggest issue, and he walked 53 batters over 79.1 innings in his ASU career. Scouts believed that he was very signable, especially since he wouldn’t be ready to pitch until sometime during the 2022 college season when he’d be approaching the age of 23.

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Draft Prospects

Tolman was a two-way player in his sophomore year at Arizona State, but the draft-eligible lefthander’s future is on the mound. He pitched well as the Sun Devils’ Tuesday night starter, posting a 2.50 ERA and striking out 30 batters in 18 innings. Tolman is an athletic strike thrower with excellent feel to pitch. His loose arm generates speed from a compact, repeatable low-effort delivery, getting good angle on his pitches. Tolman delivers a fastball sitting 86-90, touching 92, with a frame that can still add strength, and he works in a 76-81 mph slider that is a consistent pitch for him. A strong competitor on the mound with the potential to take a big step forward with more experience, Tolman would be a strong candidate to be picked in a normal draft year, but observers expect him to return to ASU for his junior season.
Tolman had helium after he helped pitch El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) to a section title as a junior and touched 92 mph at the Area Code Games the following summer. But he didn't maintain it, pitching at 85-88 mph with shaky control as a senior and losing most evaluators' interest. Tolman is physical and athletic with room to grow into his 6-foot-2, 186-pound frame, so there is hope his velocity will increase with time. He shows feel to spin a hard, 75-79 mph breaking ball and has a 71-73 mph changeup he throws for strikes. He moonlighted as a power-hitting outfielder with a strong swing on days he didn't pitch. Tolman has promise, but his lack of velocity and questionable strike-throwing ability have most teams willing to let him go to college. He signed with Cal Poly, but it was announced late in the spring he would not be attending there. He has not yet committed to another school.