Tommy McCollum

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #29 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: McCollum was a reliever at Division II Wingate in North Carolina for three seasons but a poor draft year led him to go unselected in 2021. He signed with the Phillies as a free agent then made a solid 2022 season but struggled with control between High-A and Double-A in 2023 and had a stint on the development list as a way to manage his workload. He also dealt with a blister issue.
  
  Scouting Report: McCollum is a big, strong righthander who comes at hitters from a near-overhand slot with a lower release height and extension that creates an element of deception. He works mostly with a mid-90s fastball that got heavy dose of whiffs and a split-changeup in the low 80s that at its best shows hard drop out of the zone. The quality of the pitch is inconsistent but flashes above-average. He rounds out his mix with a short slider in the high 80s that opened up the outer part of the plate and got plenty of swings and misses. His control is still well below-average.
  
  The Future: McCollum has excellent stuff but needs to greatly improve his control and command for it to be useful. If he throws more strikes, he could fit as a reliever. If not, he’ll be relegated to the minor leagues.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 30
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #29 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: McCollum pitched mainly out of the bullpen for Wingate in each of his three seasons with the program, but struggled mightily in 2021 and went unselected in the 20-round draft. The Phillies signed him as a nondrafted free agent, and he had an impressive 2022 campaign at Low-A Clearwater, striking out 52 batters in 31 innings to go with a 1.45 ERA.
  
  Scouting Report: McCollum has a powerful, three-pitch mix out of the bullpen, with a four-seam fastball that averaged over 94 mph in 2022 and topped out above 97 mph. The pitch has riding life at the top of the zone with good extension, and it induced a whiff rate just below 42% in 2022. He pairs the pitch with a hard, mid-80s slider that has cutter-like shape, and rounds out his arsenal with a split-changeup that could prove to be his best swing-and-miss weapon. The pitch sits in the mid 80s and induced a 50% whiff rate in 2022 in a limited sample. McCollum was plagued by command issues in college, but he took a step forward in that department with Clearwater. McCollum's delivery and arm action have led to injury concerns, but he has the weapons to succeed in a big league bullpen if he can stay healthy.
  
  The Future: McCollum could be a quick mover in 2023 and will likely start the season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the potential to be a power arm at the back of an MLB bullpen.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: McCollum pitched mainly out of the bullpen for Wingate in each of his three seasons with the program, but struggled mightily in 2021 and went unselected in the 20-round draft. The Phillies signed him as a nondrafted free agent, and he had an impressive 2022 campaign at Low-A Clearwater, striking out 52 batters in 31 innings to go with a 1.45 ERA.
  
  Scouting Report: McCollum has a powerful, three-pitch mix out of the bullpen, with a four-seam fastball that averaged over 94 mph in 2022 and topped out above 97 mph. The pitch has riding life at the top of the zone with good extension, and it induced a whiff rate just below 42% in 2022. He pairs the pitch with a hard, mid-80s slider that has cutter-like shape, and rounds out his arsenal with a split-changeup that could prove to be his best swing-and-miss weapon. The pitch sits in the mid 80s and induced a 50% whiff rate in 2022 in a limited sample. McCollum was plagued by command issues in college, but he took a step forward in that department with Clearwater. McCollum's delivery and arm action have led to injury concerns, but he has the weapons to succeed in a big league bullpen if he can stay healthy.
  
  The Future: McCollum could be a quick mover in 2023 and will likely start the season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the potential to be a power arm at the back of an MLB bullpen.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: McCollum pitched mainly out of the bullpen for Wingate in each of his three seasons with the program, but struggled mightily in 2021 and went unselected in the 20-round draft. The Phillies signed him as a nondrafted free agent, and he had an impressive 2022 campaign at Low-A Clearwater, striking out 52 batters in 31 innings to go with a 1.45 ERA.
  
  Scouting Report: McCollum has a powerful, three-pitch mix out of the bullpen, with a four-seam fastball that averaged over 94 mph in 2022 and topped out above 97 mph. The pitch has riding life at the top of the zone with good extension, and it induced a whiff rate just below 42% in 2022. He pairs the pitch with a hard, mid-80s slider that has cutter-like shape, and rounds out his arsenal with a split-changeup that could prove to be his best swing-and-miss weapon. The pitch sits in the mid 80s and induced a 50% whiff rate in 2022 in a limited sample. McCollum was plagued by command issues in college, but he took a step forward in that department with Clearwater. McCollum's delivery and arm action have led to injury concerns, but he has the weapons to succeed in a big league bullpen if he can stay healthy.
  
  The Future: McCollum could be a quick mover in 2023 and will likely start the season at High-A Jersey Shore. He has the potential to be a power arm at the back of an MLB bullpen.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.