IP | 124 |
---|---|
ERA | 4.43 |
WHIP | 1.4 |
BB/9 | 3.19 |
SO/9 | 8.71 |
- Full name Austin Michael Krob
- Born 09/20/1999 in Lisbon, IA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Texas Christian
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Drafted in the 12th round (360th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2022 (signed for $125,000).
View Draft Report
Most scouts and analysts alike expected Krob to make the jump into professional baseball last spring. Choosing to return to TCU, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefthander’s season was interrupted with injury before making a return late in the spring as a reliever. However, Krob impressed in his return, giving evaluators hope that he was back to his old form. Against Texas A&M in regional play, Krob logged 5.1 innings, surrendering one run on three hits with eight punchouts. His low-90s fastball presented the zip it once had along with his hard-biting, mid-80s slider. Krob has a changeup that works well against righthanded hitters, giving him a mix that should allow him to start at the next level if he can stay healthy. The talent is there for Krob to climb the minor league ladder, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll do it as a starter or reliever.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 40/High
Track Record: Lightly recruited out of high school, Krob pitched mostly out of the bullpen in his one season at Kirkwood (Iowa) JC and his first year at Texas Christian. He moved into the Horned Frogs’ rotation as a junior and impressed before falling back as a senior. The Padres saw enough to draft him in the 12th round and sign him for $125,000. Krob got back on track in his first full professional season and cruised to a 2.72 ERA in 22 appearances (21 starts) across the Class A levels. He joined Double-A San Antonio’s bullpen for the Texas League playoffs.
Scouting Report: Krob is a crafty lefthander who keeps hitters off-balance with his ability to mix and match. His two-seam fastball sits 91-92 mph and touches 95 with natural sink to induce a heavy dose of grounders. His low-80s slider is fringy but effective against lefties and his straight, 84-88 mph is fringy but plays against righthanders. Krob has an easy, simple delivery and effectively moves the ball around the strike zone. Almost everything to lefties is either in or on their hands. Krob has a solid feel for pitching and thrives under pressure. His control is average and improving.
The Future: Krob is already 24 years old and doesn’t have much room for growth. He projects to be a swingman or mop-up reliever who is particularly effective against lefties.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
Draft Prospects
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School: Texas Christian Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.8
Most scouts and analysts alike expected Krob to make the jump into professional baseball last spring. Choosing to return to TCU, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefthander’s season was interrupted with injury before making a return late in the spring as a reliever. However, Krob impressed in his return, giving evaluators hope that he was back to his old form. Against Texas A&M in regional play, Krob logged 5.1 innings, surrendering one run on three hits with eight punchouts. His low-90s fastball presented the zip it once had along with his hard-biting, mid-80s slider. Krob has a changeup that works well against righthanded hitters, giving him a mix that should allow him to start at the next level if he can stay healthy. The talent is there for Krob to climb the minor league ladder, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll do it as a starter or reliever. -
Krob was lightly recruited coming out of Lisbon (Iowa) High. But an excellent year with Kirkwood (Iowa) JC turned him into an in-demand prospect. Krob came to Texas Christian after one year at Kirkwood and immediately became a valuable reliever for the Horned Frogs. He worked seven scoreless appearances in the shortened 2020 season, then gained more experience that summer pitching in the Texas Collegiate League. That helped him get ready to become TCU’s Saturday starter in 2021. He went 8-1, 3.81 and struck out a career-high 13 in his last start of the year. Krob doesn’t have a plus pitch, but he does figure out how to keep hitters off-balance with his low-90s fringe-average fastball and low-80s average slider. He has a compact, uncomplicated and easy delivery. Almost everything to lefties is either in on their hands or down and away, and he largely works the same areas (glove side followed by down and in) to righthanded hitters. He has started to throw an average straight changeup to righthies. Krob has a solid feel for pitching and seems to thrive under pressure. He has only fringe-average control but average or better command—he’s around the strike zone consistently, but he will nibble at times. He doesn’t have the weapons to dominate, but he does provide consistency. A team that likes his competitiveness could be intrigued on Day Two of the draft.