Sam Bordner Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Samuel Tristan Bordner
Born 10/16/1996 in Columbus, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 228 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisville
Drafted in the 16th round (477th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2018 (signed for $125,000).

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Bordner capably served as Louisville's closer, but in mid-April he was shut down with an elbow inflammation. Before his injury, Bordner's track record of success bode well for him–he was a spectacular 2-0, 0.41 as a sophomore with 16 hits allowed in 43.2 innings. But even when healthy, his 90-92 mph heavy fastball (it's touched 94-95) was more an above-average pitch than the plus fastball usually expected out of dominating reliever. Bordner's breaking ball needs to get sharper as it earns 40-45 grades from scouts right now. Louisville hoped to see Bordner return for the NCAA tournament, but his injury status clouds his draft status.

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Bordner capably served as Louisville's closer, but in mid-April he was shut down with an elbow inflammation. Before his injury, Bordner's track record of success bode well for him--he was a spectacular 2-0, 0.41 as a sophomore with 16 hits allowed in 43.2 innings. But even when healthy, his 90-92 mph heavy fastball (it's touched 94-95) was more an above-average pitch than the plus fastball usually expected out of dominating reliever. Bordner's breaking ball needs to get sharper as it earns 40-45 grades from scouts right now. Louisville hoped to see Bordner return for the NCAA tournament, but his injury status clouds his draft status.
Bordner is another high school pitcher whose best is yet to come. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Bordner has an excellent pitcher's frame. He already has a solid four-pitch arsenal, as he can mix in both a curveball and a slider that have some depth and flashes the potential to throw a solid changeup as well. He started out slow as he went straight from the basketball court to the diamond, but as the weather warmed up, his 89-91 mph fastball has become 90-94 more consistently. His fastball has plenty of arm side run. The Louisville recruit has a free and easy delivery with good tempo and he does a good job of maintaining a consistent release point.

Bordner capably served as Louisville's closer, but in mid-April he was shut down with an elbow inflammation. Before his injury, Bordner's track record of success bode well for him--he was a spectacular 2-0, 0.41 as a sophomore with 16 hits allowed in 43.2 innings. But even when healthy, his 90-92 mph heavy fastball (it's touched 94-95) was more an above-average pitch than the plus fastball usually expected out of dominating reliever. Bordner's breaking ball needs to get sharper as it earns 40-45 grades from scouts right now. Louisville hoped to see Bordner return for the NCAA tournament, but his injury status clouds his draft status.