Jackson Ferris Stats & Scouting Report

IP	98.1
ERA	3.39
WHIP	1.16
BB/9	3.94
SO/9	10.89

Full name Jackson Conner Ferris
Born 01/15/2004 in Winston-Salem, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Drafted in the 2nd round (47th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2022 (signed for $3,005,000).

View Draft Report

Originally a product of Mount Airy High in North Carolina, Ferris transferred to IMG Academy, where he wowed scouts during his junior season by posting a 0.55 ERA over 50.2 innings and striking out 86 batters compared to just 13 walks. He made significant velocity increases throughout his high school career, and over the 2021 showcase circuit was regularly around 93 mph and touching 96-97 mph at peak from the left side. On top of that fastball, Ferris has flashed multiple above-average secondaries: a mid-70s curveball with impressive depth and spin (2,400-2,600 rpm) and a mid-80s changeup that’s thrown with fastball arm speed. That loud stuff did come with some inconsistencies that scouts hadn’t previously seen from him as an underclassman, and throughout the 2022 spring he was largely the same pitcher—good pure stuff, but scattered and inconsistent command from outing to outing. Many scouts believe Ferris’ complicated, contorting delivery is simultaneously a boon for his deception and a burden for overall consistency. There’s tilt and drift during Ferris’ leg lift, with plenty of length and hooking action in the back of his arm slot, and then finally a crossfiring lower half in his landing. He’s not always on time with his release at foot strike and many in the industry believe he’ll need to clean up some of those moving parts to make the most out of his obvious arm talent. Ferris is committed to Mississippi but has plenty of interest among the top two rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: After beginning his prep career in North Carolina, Ferris spent the last half of his high school days at Florida’s IMG Academy, where he went 16-0 over two seasons. The Cubs drafted him with their second-round pick in 2022, then watched as he opened eyes at Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2023. He was dealt to the Dodgers—along with outfielder Zyhir Hope—in the trade that sent Michael Busch to Chicago in January 2024. Ferris finished his first season with the Dodgers with 145 strikeouts across 126.2 innings and reached Double-A.

Scouting Report: Ferris works with a five-pitch mix, but his low-90s fastball and mid-80s slider are by far his most-used offerings. His heater featured an average of 16 inches of induced vertical break and got a miss rate of 23.7%. With the Cubs, Ferris’ arm slot was lower and his main breaking ball was a sweeper. With the alterations to his delivery, he now throws a short, sharp bullet slider which gives him a pitch with velocity that nestles nicely between his fastball and curveball. Ferris rounds out his mix with a low-70s curveball, a changeup that averaged around 87 mph and a potentially average cutter. Scouts outside the organization believe his heater and both breaking pitches could be above-average offerings, while his changeup is a clear fourth pitch. Ferris’ control can be a bit scattershot and is somewhat hindered by a longer arm action in the back of his delivery, though he improved his core strength and coordination as the year went on and found the strike zone more often as a result. His next steps will involve upping the usage of his curveball and changeup and streamlining his delivery to throw more consistent strikes.

The Future: After a solid stint at Double-A to close the 2024 season, Ferris will likely return to Double-A in 2025. He has a ceiling as a midrotation starter if everything comes together.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Ferris began his high school career at Mt. Airy (N.C.) High before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, where went 16-0, 0.80 over two seasons facing top competition. The Cubs drafted him 47th overall in 2022 and signed him for $3 million, nearly double the slot value for that pick. Ferris made his pro debut with Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2023 and showed electric stuff in short stints. He went 2-3, 3.38 with 77 strikeouts in 56 innings for the Pelicans, but he averaged just three innings per start and struggled with walks (nearly 14% of batters) and pitch efficiency. He was traded to the Dodgers along with Zyhir Hope in the deal that sent Michael Busch and Yency Almonte to the Cubs.

Scouting Report: Ferris is a tall, projectable lefthander with loud stuff. His fastball sits 93-95 mph with explosive late life that overwhelms hitters in the strike zone. His plus, 74-77 mph curveball is a hammer for which he shows has great touch and feel. He expertly manipulates the shape and velocity of his curveball and is able to neutralize righthanded hitters with it. Ferris added a 79-81 mph slider with power sweep in his first pro season and shows above-average potential with it, though his execution is inconsistent. He rarely throws his average 85-87 mph changeup. Ferris has plenty of stuff, but his complicated, contorted delivery yields below-average control. He has a deep stab in the back, his arm is late at foot strike and he finishes with a notable head whack. His arm action and command are below-average, but his stuff is good enough to beat hitters even when he misses his spot. He held opponents to a .179 average in the Carolina League and allowed only one home run all season.

The Future: Ferris has the stuff to be a midrotation starter, but he has to iron out his delivery to throw more strikes and last deeper into games. He is now one of the Dodgers’ most promising young starting pitching prospects.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Ferris starred as an underclassman at Mt. Airy (N.C.) High before transferring to national prep power IMG Academy to gain increased exposure. He took advantage by going 16-0, 0.80 over two seasons at the high-profile program and solidified himself as one of the top prep lefthanders in the 2022 draft class. The Cubs drafted him 47th overall and signed him for just over $3 million, nearly double the recommended slot amount, to forgo a commitment to Mississippi.

Scouting Report: Ferris is a tall, projectable lefthander with premium stuff for his age. His fastball comfortably sits at 93 mph, touches 96-97 and has room to tick up as he gets stronger. He complements his fastball with an above-average, high-spin curveball in the mid 70s with impressive depth and a mid-80s changeup he sells well with his arm speed. Ferris' stuff is loud, but his complicated, contorting delivery has a lot of moving parts that cause him difficulty throwing strikes. His posture and balance are inconsistent and his arm is often not where it needs to be at foot strike, leading to scattered command and control. He tends to stay around the plate but struggles to consistently locate his offerings in the zone.

The Future: Ferris has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter, but he has to smooth out his delivery and improve his control and consistency. He is set to make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40

Draft Prospects

School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. Committed/Drafted: Mississippi
Age At Draft: 18.5
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: - | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: | Control: 45
Originally a product of Mount Airy High in North Carolina, Ferris transferred to IMG Academy, where he wowed scouts during his junior season by posting a 0.55 ERA over 50.2 innings and striking out 86 batters compared to just 13 walks. He made significant velocity increases throughout his high school career, and over the 2021 showcase circuit was regularly around 93 mph and touching 96-97 mph at peak from the left side. On top of that fastball, Ferris has flashed multiple above-average secondaries: a mid-70s curveball with impressive depth and spin (2,400-2,600 rpm) and a mid-80s changeup that’s thrown with fastball arm speed. That loud stuff did come with some inconsistencies that scouts hadn’t previously seen from him as an underclassman, and throughout the 2022 spring he was largely the same pitcher—good pure stuff, but scattered and inconsistent command from outing to outing. Many scouts believe Ferris’ complicated, contorting delivery is simultaneously a boon for his deception and a burden for overall consistency. There’s tilt and drift during Ferris’ leg lift, with plenty of length and hooking action in the back of his arm slot, and then finally a crossfiring lower half in his landing. He’s not always on time with his release at foot strike and many in the industry believe he’ll need to clean up some of those moving parts to make the most out of his obvious arm talent. Ferris is committed to Mississippi but has plenty of interest among the top two rounds.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Ferris starred as an underclassman at Mt. Airy (N.C.) High before transferring to national prep power IMG Academy to gain increased exposure. He took advantage by going 16-0, 0.80 over two seasons at the high-profile program and solidified himself as one of the top prep lefthanders in the 2022 draft class. The Cubs drafted him 47th overall and signed him for just over $3 million, nearly double the recommended slot amount, to forgo a commitment to Mississippi.

Scouting Report: Ferris is a tall, projectable lefthander with premium stuff for his age. His fastball comfortably sits at 93 mph, touches 96-97 and has room to tick up as he gets stronger. He complements his fastball with an above-average, high-spin curveball in the mid 70s with impressive depth and a mid-80s changeup he sells well with his arm speed. Ferris' stuff is loud, but his complicated, contorting delivery has a lot of moving parts that cause him difficulty throwing strikes. His posture and balance are inconsistent and his arm is often not where it needs to be at foot strike, leading to scattered command and control. He tends to stay around the plate but struggles to consistently locate his offerings in the zone.

The Future: Ferris has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter, but he has to smooth out his delivery and improve his control and consistency. He is set to make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Ferris starred as an underclassman at Mt. Airy (N.C.) High before transferring to national prep power IMG Academy to gain increased exposure. He took advantage by going 16-0, 0.80 over two seasons at the high-profile program and solidified himself as one of the top prep lefthanders in the 2022 draft class. The Cubs drafted him 47th overall and signed him for just over $3 million, nearly double the recommended slot amount, to forgo a commitment to Mississippi.

Scouting Report: Ferris is a tall, projectable lefthander with premium stuff for his age. His fastball comfortably sits at 93 mph, touches 96-97 and has room to tick up as he gets stronger. He complements his fastball with an above-average, high-spin curveball in the mid 70s with impressive depth and a mid-80s changeup he sells well with his arm speed. Ferris' stuff is loud, but his complicated, contorting delivery has a lot of moving parts that cause him difficulty throwing strikes. His posture and balance are inconsistent and his arm is often not where it needs to be at foot strike, leading to scattered command and control. He tends to stay around the plate but struggles to consistently locate his offerings in the zone.

The Future: Ferris has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter, but he has to smooth out his delivery and improve his control and consistency. He is set to make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40
BA Grade: 50/Extreme

August Update: Originally a product of Mount Airy High in North Carolina, Ferris transferred to IMG Academy, where he wowed scouts during his junior season by posting a 0.55 ERA over 50.2 innings and striking out 86 batters compared to just 13 walks. He made significant velocity increases throughout his high school career, and over the 2021 showcase circuit was regularly around 93 mph and touching 96-97 mph at peak from the left side. On top of that fastball, Ferris has flashed multiple above-average secondaries: a mid-70s curveball with impressive depth and spin (2,400-2,600 rpm) and a mid-80s changeup that&#39s thrown with fastball arm speed. That loud stuff did come with some inconsistencies that scouts hadn&#39t previously seen from him as an underclassman, and throughout the 2022 spring he was largely the same pitcher—good pure stuff, but scattered and inconsistent command from outing to outing. Many scouts believe Ferris&#39 complicated, contorting delivery is simultaneously a boon for his deception and a burden for overall consistency. There&#39s tilt and drift during Ferris&#39 leg lift, with plenty of length and hooking action in the back of his arm slot, and then finally a crossfiring lower half in his landing. He&#39s not always on time with his release at foot strike and many in the industry believe he&#39ll need to clean up some of those moving parts to make the most out of his obvious talent.