Kyle McGowin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #22 prospect in 2017
  McGowin was able to take the mound for 27 starts for the second year in a row in 2016, erasing memories of early-career injury issues that limited him to just 20 games over his first two pro seasons. He split the year between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake, going 9-14, 5.83, marked by the usual adjustment period when pitching in hitter-friendly Salt Lake for the first time. The positive signs were there as McGowin regained some fastball velocity, sitting 89-93 mph, and improved both of his off-speed pitches. McGowin's slider is an average pitch with plenty of depth at 79-82 mph, and his low-80s changeup projects to be an average offering. McGowin doesn't have a real physical frame, so long-term he may be better suited to a bullpen role. He'll head back to Salt Lake for another crack at PCL hitters unless he is taken in the Rule 5 draft after the Angels chose to leave him unprotected off the 40-man roster.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #17 prospect in 2016
  McGowin didn't put up the same gaudy stats last year that he did in 2014, when he posted a 2.93 with high Class A Inland Empire, but the former Savannah State hurler registered one significant number: 27. That's the number of times he went to the mound to start a game for Double-A Arkansas, indicating that he took the ball every five days instead of spending time on the disabled list. After a rocky first half, McGowin posted an improved 3.52 ERA in his final 14 outings. Recovery from a 2014 elbow injury that didn't require surgery may have contributed to McGowin's slow start, and he struggled to repeat his threequarters delivery and tried to get out in front of balls. He throws both a four-seam fastball from 89-93 mph and a two-seamer from 86-90, with the latter having better movement and command. The slider was graded as a plus pitch in the past, but in Double-A he had more trouble landing it and used it more as a chase pitch. His 80-85 mph changeup is fringy but not far from being an average offering. McGowin doesn't have a real physical frame. In the long term he may be better suited to a bullpen role. After staying healthy for a full season, McGowin should pitch in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in 2016.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #10 prospect in 2015
  The Angels have emphasized pitching in the last two drafts, making McGowin a fifth-rounder in 2013 from Savannah State. During his last year in school he led the Tigers to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title while finishing second among NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts (128). McGowin pitched sparingly in his first pro season, then missed part of 2014 with an elbow injury. He celebrated on Twitter when he learned he did not need Tommy John surgery. McGowin throws from a regular threequarters arm slot with a repeatable delivery and a clean arm action, but with a wider slot that gives his pitches good sink. His fastball sits usually in the 90-93 mph range with plus life, and he gets really good action on the two-seamer. McGowin's best pitch is a plus slider that averages 82 mph, which he complements with an average changeup at 79-80 mph. His stuff stays down in the zone, making him a good groundball pitcher. McGowin reached Double-A Arkansas for one start in 2014 and likely will return there in 2015. He projects as a back-end starter but has to prove he's durable enough to hold up over a full season.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #29 prospect in 2014
  The Angels have plenty of high-velocity arms with shaky command and high-effort deliveries. As a group, they may help as relievers, but not many arms in the system project as starters. In a course correction, Los Angeles drafted 10 pitchers in their first 11 picks in 2013 with an emphasis on those with clean deliveries and feel for setting up hitters. McGowin, a fifth-round pick, is a prime example of the organization's new approach. He showed durability and stuff at Savannah State, leading the club to its first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Along the way, he finished second in NCAA Division I with 128 strikeouts. The heavy workload did wear McGowin down, as he threw 121 innings as a junior, including a 144-pitch shutout in the MEAC championship game where he pitched with three days of rest. The Angels kept him on a tight leash at Rookie-level Orem, but they'll expand his role in 2014. McGowin throws an 86-89 mph two-seam fastball and a 90-93 mph four-seamer as well as a promising slider and a potentially average changeup. McGowin's best-case scenario is as a back-end starter, one that could move quickly through the system. The Angels expect to challenge him with a big jump to high Class A Inland Empire in 2014.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #211 prospect in 2013 draft
  McGowin, a late-blooming Long Island native, will be the highest-drafted player in Savannah State history. He starred in the Atlantic Collegiate League for two seasons and ranked as the No. 2 prospect last summer. He's lean and lanky at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, with wiry strength. He wore down over the course of the season, as he pitched Savannah State to its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with two wins in the league tournament, including a 144-pitch shutout in the title game on three days' rest. His 11 strikeouts in that game pushed him to 128, second in Division I and tops among draft-eligible players. McGowin's fastball has touched 95 mph but sits in the 89-93 range. His secondary stuff shows promise but remains raw. He flashed a plus slider in the fall, but this spring his curve and slider have blended together. He seldom throws a changeup, leading to modest feel for the pitch. Some clubs like McGowin in the first five rounds, while others see him as a better fit in the sixth to 10th round.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  The Angels have emphasized pitching in the last two drafts, making McGowin a fifth-rounder in 2013 from Savannah State. During his last year in school he led the Tigers to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title while finishing second among NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts (128). McGowin pitched sparingly in his first pro season, then missed part of 2014 with an elbow injury. He celebrated on Twitter when he learned he did not need Tommy John surgery. McGowin throws from a regular threequarters arm slot with a repeatable delivery and a clean arm action, but with a wider slot that gives his pitches good sink. His fastball sits usually in the 90-93 mph range with plus life, and he gets really good action on the two-seamer. McGowin's best pitch is a plus slider that averages 82 mph, which he complements with an average changeup at 79-80 mph. His stuff stays down in the zone, making him a good groundball pitcher. McGowin reached Double-A Arkansas for one start in 2014 and likely will return there in 2015. He projects as a back-end starter but has to prove he's durable enough to hold up over a full season.