Evan Steele
| IP | 57 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.842 |
| WHIP | 1.193 |
| BB/9 | 2.684 |
| SO/9 | 11.368 |
- Full name James Evan Steele
- Born 11/14/1996 in Marietta, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Chipola JC
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Drafted in the CB-B round (73rd overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2017 (signed for $826,500).
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Steele was the No. 320 prospect in the 2015 BA 500, and he spent one year at Vanderbilt before transferring to Chipola. This spring, he got off to a strong start, with his fastball working mostly at 90-91 and touching 93. He missed some time due to a blood clot, and he slowly returned to form as the spring unfolded. Towards the end of the season, Steele was back at full strength, slinging his low 90s heater from his low three-quarters arm slot and mixing in a hard sweeping breaking ball and potentially above-average changeup. He has excellent size and is said to have high extension according to TrackMan, giving him the deception for his stuff to play up.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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TRACK RECORD: After missing all of 2018 with a shoulder injury, Steele's season didn't start until mid- May and ended just two months later. He pitched effectively when he was on the mound, logging a 2.39 ERA over 11 starts at low Class A Lexington.
SCOUTING REPORT: Steele's fastball sits 91-92 mph, touches 94 and plays up with the extra movement and sink he gets on it. There were times that the fastball sat more in the high 80s because he was still getting his feet back under him after so much downtime. His arm action and delivery allow him to command all four of his pitches. The effectiveness of the curveball and slider vary depending on the day, but there's enough separation between the two. He uses a funky, lower slot delivery to give lefthanded hitters tough at-bats. The changeup improved during the season and shows a bit more depth when he stays behind the pitch through his delivery.
THE FUTURE: Steele may again start his season in extended spring training before returning to Lexington or heading to high Class A Wilmington. Steele has starter potential, but his deceptive delivery from the left side means he could do well in a bullpen role. -
Steele pitched infrequently at Vanderbilt in 2016 before heading to Chipola (Fla.) JC for his sophomore year, where he posted a 5-0, 2.01 record in 10 starts, striking out 58 in 40.1 innings. Selected by the Royals with the 73rd overall pick in 2017, Steele saw limited innings in his pro debut, not getting on the mound in the Rookie-level Arizona League until mid-August. Steele has a good frame and squared shoulders, getting plenty of arm speed using an abbreviated windup from the first-base side of the rubber. He gets good plane and deception on his pitches, utilizing a 91-94 mph fastball with tail and arm-side sink. He has feel for an above-average changeup at 85-87 mph. While he didn't throw his breaking ball much in rookie ball or instructional league, he shows confidence in an 82-84 mph slider, backfooting it to righthanded hitters. His pitches play up because of the deception in his delivery. Projecting as a No. 4 starter, Steele may get a low Class A assignment to start the 2018 season.
Draft Prospects
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Steele was the No. 320 prospect in the 2015 BA 500, and he spent one year at Vanderbilt before transferring to Chipola. This spring, he got off to a strong start, with his fastball working mostly at 90-91 and touching 93. He missed some time due to a blood clot, and he slowly returned to form as the spring unfolded. Towards the end of the season, Steele was back at full strength, slinging his low 90s heater from his low three-quarters arm slot and mixing in a hard sweeping breaking ball and potentially above-average changeup. He has excellent size and is said to have high extension according to TrackMan, giving him the deception for his stuff to play up. -
Steele gives scouts plenty to dream on as a 6-foot-5, 210-pound lefthander. But at this stage of his career, he is all about projection. Steele throws his fastball in the mid to upper 80s, topping out at 90-91. He also shows the makings of a good curveball and a nascent changeup. But he'll need to refine his delivery to allow him to throw strikes more consistently. Steele is committed to Vanderbilt and is expected to make it to school, with the chance to emerge in a few years as a much more high-profile prospect with some of the rough edges in his game worked out and a bit more velocity on his fastball.
Scouting Reports
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TRACK RECORD: After missing all of 2018 with a shoulder injury, Steele's season didn't start until mid- May and ended just two months later. He pitched effectively when he was on the mound, logging a 2.39 ERA over 11 starts at low Class A Lexington.
SCOUTING REPORT: Steele's fastball sits 91-92 mph, touches 94 and plays up with the extra movement and sink he gets on it. There were times that the fastball sat more in the high 80s because he was still getting his feet back under him after so much downtime. His arm action and delivery allow him to command all four of his pitches. The effectiveness of the curveball and slider vary depending on the day, but there's enough separation between the two. He uses a funky, lower slot delivery to give lefthanded hitters tough at-bats. The changeup improved during the season and shows a bit more depth when he stays behind the pitch through his delivery.
THE FUTURE: Steele may again start his season in extended spring training before returning to Lexington or heading to high Class A Wilmington. Steele has starter potential, but his deceptive delivery from the left side means he could do well in a bullpen role.
