Frank Mozzicato

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: The Royals surprised the industry by drafting Mozzicato seventh overall in 2021, signing the Connecticut high school product for $3,547,500, or 35% under slot value. He raised his stock in his senior season by throwing four straight no-hitters. Mozzicato got off to a fast start at Low-A Columbia in 2023, showing better stuff and pitchability. Through his first nine starts, he posted a 2.14 ERA with 40% strikeouts and an improved walk rate of 13.5%. He then missed time after a collision with a teammate during batting practice and struggled to find his rhythm in July after a promotion to High-A Quad Cities.
  
  Scouting Report: Mozzicato’s fastball sat between 90-94 mph early in 2023 when he was pitching at 200 pounds, but difficulties keeping that weight on caused his heater to dip to 88-92. The pitch plays up due to deception and feel. Mozzicato has room to add strength and velocity, if he can avoid losing 15 pounds during the season as he did in 2023. That would improve the effectiveness of his plus curveball. Mozzicato’s 78-81 mph breaking ball is a true power curve with 11-to-5 shape. It’s a downer with good gloveside break and vertical movement. His key performance directive in 2023 was to use his changeup more often, and he was up to throwing it 10-12% of the time in 2023. It’s a traditional circle-change with armside fade, delivered at 82-84 mph, with a chance to grade near average. Mozzicato’s control is inconsistent, in part because of a long arm action, but his athleticism gives him a chance to improve.
  
  The Future: Mozzicato enters his age-21 season in 2024 with a chance to pitch his way to Double-A if he dominates High-A hitters. Adding velocity and developing his third pitch will help him meet his projection of a no. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mozzicato was best known at his Manchester, Conn., high school for throwing four straight no-hitters, fueled by one of the best curveballs in the prep ranks. The Royals surprised the industry by taking Mozzicato with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft and signing him for $3,547,500, nearly $2 million under slot. Like fellow Royals 2021 draftee Ben Kudrna, Mozzicato's game action was confined to extended spring training until he finally made his debut with Low-A Columbia in May. Mozzicato made 19 starts for the Fireflies, striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings but with a high walk rate of 6.7 per nine. In addition to having one of the highest strikeout rates in the Carolina League, he also generated a high groundball rate of 54%.
  
  Scouting Report: While he still has a lot of development ahead, Mozzicato has a promising repertoire. His above-average fastball sat between 89-92 mph with rise that allowed it to play up in the zone and get whiffs. His plus curveball at 78-80 mph is a downer with good glove-side break and 16 inches of vertical movement. Mozzicato's changeup is still in the developmental stage because he didn't need to use it much in high school. Even so, it projects as an above-average offering at 84-85 mph. His changeup plays well off his fastball because it has 11 inches of vertical break, and he sells it with solid arm speed. Mozzicato's high walk rate is fueled in part by inconsistency in the way he lands with his lead leg. If he can correct that issue, he could have average control. He also needs to get stronger.
  
  The Future: Mozzicato has the attributes of a major league starter, though some observers see a future bullpen arm. He'll head to High-A Quad Cities in 2023, likely moving one level per year as he matures physically.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #7 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Mozzicato was an under-the-radar draft prospect until his stock soared in his senior season, when he pitched four straight no-hitters and showed one of the best curveballs in the country. The Royals pulled a surprise when they selected Mozzicato seventh overall in the draft and signed him for a $3,547,500 bonus, about $3 million under slot. Mozzicato reported to the Royals training facility in Surprise, Ariz., after signing but did not pitch in games during the regular season. He made his unofficial debut during instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Mozzicato’s curveball is his money offering. It’s at least a plus pitch with some observers believing it could eventually be plus-plus because of its high spin rate, sharp bite and good depth. It has 1-to-7 shape, and he showed in instructs that he can fold it into the zone for a strike and expand the zone with it when ahead in the count. His fastball sits 90-93 mph with good vertical movement, and with his size and athleticism he should be able to add velocity with more experience and physical maturity. Like most prep pitchers, Mozzicato didn’t have to use a changeup much during his high school career, but it’s a potential plus pitch that is hard for hitters to see because he sells it with arm speed and it looks like his fastball coming out of his hand. He repeats his delivery and has good feel to pitch.
  
  The Future: After getting his feet wet in the pro game, Mozzicato will be ready for a full-season assignment in 2022, with a likely limit on his total innings throughout the season.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #42 prospect in 2021 draft
  Mozzicato didn’t pitch at big national events last summer, which kept him under the radar. At the time, he was mostly throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s with good feel for a curveball and looked like a safe bet to get to Connecticut. Instead, his stock skyrocketed this spring, when he rattled off a stretch of no-hitters in four straight starts and ended the regular season averaging 21.7 K/9. One of the younger players in the class (he turns 18 on June 19), Mozzicato has plenty of projection arrows pointing up, with easy arm action, a low-effort delivery and more space to fill out his projectable frame. That should help him add to a fastball that has trended up this spring, with Mozzicato now sitting at 88-91 mph and reaching 93. His separator is a plus curveball, a 74-80 mph pitch that’s one of the best breaking balls in the country from a high school lefty. It’s a tight spinning pitch with top-to-bottom action, sharp bite and good depth to rack up whiffs. Mozzicato already manipulates speeds on his curveball based on the situation like a veteran, with an ability to consistently execute and command the pitch well beyond his years. Mozzicato mostly carves through hitters with his fastball and curve, but he has shown feel for a low-80s changeup that could develop into an average or better pitch. Mozzicato’s pitchability is advanced for his age but he needs to improve his fastball command, though his athleticism and repeatable delivery should help him do so. Mozzicato doesn’t have the present velocity of some other pitchers, but his combination of youth, delivery, physical projection and a knockout curveball have catapulted him into Day One consideration.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mozzicato was best known at his Manchester, Conn., high school for throwing four straight no-hitters, fueled by one of the best curveballs in the prep ranks. The Royals surprised the industry by taking Mozzicato with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft and signing him for $3,547,500, nearly $2 million under slot. Like fellow Royals 2021 draftee Ben Kudrna, Mozzicato's game action was confined to extended spring training until he finally made his debut with Low-A Columbia in May. Mozzicato made 19 starts for the Fireflies, striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings but with a high walk rate of 6.7 per nine. In addition to having one of the highest strikeout rates in the Carolina League, he also generated a high groundball rate of 54%.
  
  Scouting Report: While he still has a lot of development ahead, Mozzicato has a promising repertoire. His above-average fastball sat between 89-92 mph with rise that allowed it to play up in the zone and get whiffs. His plus curveball at 78-80 mph is a downer with good glove-side break and 16 inches of vertical movement. Mozzicato's changeup is still in the developmental stage because he didn't need to use it much in high school. Even so, it projects as an above-average offering at 84-85 mph. His changeup plays well off his fastball because it has 11 inches of vertical break, and he sells it with solid arm speed. Mozzicato's high walk rate is fueled in part by inconsistency in the way he lands with his lead leg. If he can correct that issue, he could have average control. He also needs to get stronger.
  
  The Future: Mozzicato has the attributes of a major league starter, though some observers see a future bullpen arm. He'll head to High-A Quad Cities in 2023, likely moving one level per year as he matures physically.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mozzicato was best known at his Manchester, Conn., high school for throwing four straight no-hitters, fueled by one of the best curveballs in the prep ranks. The Royals surprised the industry by taking Mozzicato with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft and signing him for $3,547,500, nearly $2 million under slot. Like fellow Royals 2021 draftee Ben Kudrna, Mozzicato's game action was confined to extended spring training until he finally made his debut with Low-A Columbia in May. Mozzicato made 19 starts for the Fireflies, striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings but with a high walk rate of 6.7 per nine. In addition to having one of the highest strikeout rates in the Carolina League, he also generated a high groundball rate of 54%.
  
  Scouting Report: While he still has a lot of development ahead, Mozzicato has a promising repertoire. His above-average fastball sat between 89-92 mph with rise that allowed it to play up in the zone and get whiffs. His plus curveball at 78-80 mph is a downer with good glove-side break and 16 inches of vertical movement. Mozzicato's changeup is still in the developmental stage because he didn't need to use it much in high school. Even so, it projects as an above-average offering at 84-85 mph. His changeup plays well off his fastball because it has 11 inches of vertical break, and he sells it with solid arm speed. Mozzicato's high walk rate is fueled in part by inconsistency in the way he lands with his lead leg. If he can correct that issue, he could have average control. He also needs to get stronger.
  
  The Future: Mozzicato has the attributes of a major league starter, though some observers see a future bullpen arm. He'll head to High-A Quad Cities in 2023, likely moving one level per year as he matures physically.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Mozzicato was an under-the-radar draft prospect until his stock soared in his senior season, when he pitched four straight no-hitters and showed one of the best curveballs in the country. The Royals pulled a surprise when they selected Mozzicato seventh overall in the draft and signed him for a $3,547,500 bonus, about $3 million under slot. Mozzicato reported to the Royals training facility in Surprise, Ariz., after signing but did not pitch in games during the regular season. He made his unofficial debut during instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Mozzicato&#39s curveball is his money offering. It&#39s at least a plus pitch with some observers believing it could eventually be plus-plus because of its high spin rate, sharp bite and good depth. It has 1-to-7 shape, and he showed in instructs that he can fold it into the zone for a strike and expand the zone with it when ahead in the count. His fastball sits 90-93 mph with good vertical movement, and with his size and athleticism he should be able to add velocity with more experience and physical maturity. Like most prep pitchers, Mozzicato didn&#39t have to use a changeup much during his high school career, but it&#39s a potential plus pitch that is hard for hitters to see because he sells it with arm speed and it looks like his fastball coming out of his hand. He repeats his delivery and has good feel to pitch.
  
  The Future: After getting his feet wet in the pro game, Mozzicato will be ready for a full-season assignment in 2022, with a likely limit on his total innings throughout the season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 50
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Mozzicato was an under-the-radar draft prospect until his stock soared in his senior season, when he pitched four straight no-hitters and showed one of the best curveballs in the country. The Royals pulled a surprise when they selected Mozzicato seventh overall in the draft and signed him for a $3,547,500 bonus, about $3 million under slot. Mozzicato reported to the Royals training facility in Surprise, Ariz., after signing but did not pitch in games during the regular season. He made his unofficial debut during instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Mozzicato’s curveball is his money offering. It’s at least a plus pitch with some observers believing it could eventually be plus-plus because of its high spin rate, sharp bite and good depth. It has 1-to-7 shape, and he showed in instructs that he can fold it into the zone for a strike and expand the zone with it when ahead in the count. His fastball sits 90-93 mph with good vertical movement, and with his size and athleticism he should be able to add velocity with more experience and physical maturity. Like most prep pitchers, Mozzicato didn’t have to use a changeup much during his high school career, but it’s a potential plus pitch that is hard for hitters to see because he sells it with arm speed and it looks like his fastball coming out of his hand. He repeats his delivery and has good feel to pitch.
  
  The Future: After getting his feet wet in the pro game, Mozzicato will be ready for a full-season assignment in 2022, with a likely limit on his total innings throughout the season.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  The Royals surprised the industry when they announced the Connecticut high school product as the seventh overall pick, especially with bigger names still on the board. Mozzicato didn't pitch in many senior showcases leading into his senior year, and wasn't much of a known commodity as a prep Connecticut lefty prior to the spring. But he soon changed that, throwing four consecutive no-hitters and surging up draft boards. What separates Mozzicato from other high school pitchers is his plus curveball, perhaps the best breaking ball among prepsters in the draft.
• 2021 Draft Prospects
  Mozzicato didn’t pitch at big national events last summer, which kept him under the radar. At the time, he was mostly throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s with good feel for a curveball and looked like a safe bet to get to Connecticut. Instead, his stock skyrocketed this spring, when he rattled off a stretch of no-hitters in four straight starts and ended the regular season averaging 21.7 K/9. One of the younger players in the class (he turns 18 on June 19), Mozzicato has plenty of projection arrows pointing up, with easy arm action, a low-effort delivery and more space to fill out his projectable frame. That should help him add to a fastball that has trended up this spring, with Mozzicato now sitting at 88-91 mph and reaching 93. His separator is a plus curveball, a 74-80 mph pitch that’s one of the best breaking balls in the country from a high school lefty. It’s a tight spinning pitch with top-to-bottom action, sharp bite and good depth to rack up whiffs. Mozzicato already manipulates speeds on his curveball based on the situation like a veteran, with an ability to consistently execute and command the pitch well beyond his years. Mozzicato mostly carves through hitters with his fastball and curve, but he has shown feel for a low-80s changeup that could develop into an average or better pitch. Mozzicato’s pitchability is advanced for his age but he needs to improve his fastball command, though his athleticism and repeatable delivery should help him do so. Mozzicato doesn’t have the present velocity of some other pitchers, but his combination of youth, delivery, physical projection and a knockout curveball have catapulted him into Day One consideration.
• 2021 Draft Prospects
  Mozzicato didn’t pitch at big national events last summer, which kept him under the radar. At the time, he was mostly throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s with good feel for a curveball and looked like a safe bet to get to Connecticut. Instead, his stock skyrocketed this spring, when he rattled off a stretch of no-hitters in four straight starts and ended the regular season averaging 21.7 K/9. One of the younger players in the class (he turns 18 on June 19), Mozzicato has plenty of projection arrows pointing up, with easy arm action, a low-effort delivery and more space to fill out his projectable frame. That should help him add to a fastball that has trended up this spring, with Mozzicato now sitting at 88-91 mph and reaching 93. His separator is a plus curveball, a 74-80 mph pitch that’s one of the best breaking balls in the country from a high school lefty. It’s a tight spinning pitch with top-to-bottom action, sharp bite and good depth to rack up whiffs. Mozzicato already manipulates speeds on his curveball based on the situation like a veteran, with an ability to consistently execute and command the pitch well beyond his years. Mozzicato mostly carves through hitters with his fastball and curve, but he has shown feel for a low-80s changeup that could develop into an average or better pitch. Mozzicato’s pitchability is advanced for his age but he needs to improve his fastball command, though his athleticism and repeatable delivery should help him do so. Mozzicato doesn’t have the present velocity of some other pitchers, but his combination of youth, delivery, physical projection and a knockout curveball have catapulted him into Day One consideration.