Austin Bergner

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #120 prospect in 2019 draft
  Bergner has been a famous prospect dating back to his high school days, when he showcased a fastball in the mid-90s, promising secondary pitches and won a pair of gold medals with USA Baseball. He made it to campus at North Carolina and was eventually selected by the D-backs in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he ultimately decided to return for his junior season. Bergner has a solid arsenal of pitches and has flashed three plus offerings with his fastball, curveball and changeup. However, he's never shown that stuff consistently and has underperformed at UNC, getting hit more often than his talent would suggest. There is also some reliever risk with Bergner, who throws with an unconventional arm action and has struggled with command--although that particular aspect of his game has improved each year in Chapel Hill. This spring, scouts have seen Bergner's low- to mid-90s fastball and low-80s changeup as his best pitches and are starting to question his feel for spin, which adds to his list of concerns. Bergner still has plenty of talent and a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame that scouts can dream on, but he has yet to put everything together and become the pitcher that he showed signs of out of high school.
• Ranked #130 prospect in 2018 draft
  Drafted in the 38th round by the Red Sox out of Florida in 2016, Bergner opted to honor his commitment to North Carolina. The lanky 6-foot-4, 195-pound righthander ranked No. 165 in the BA 500 and was one of UNC's blue-chip pitching recruits that year, along with fellow Floridian righthander Tyler Baum. Bergner pitched primarily out of the bullpen his freshman year but has started on Saturdays this season. He's been inconsistent as a starter, posting a 5-2, 4.70 record through 10 starts, but he has the stuff to dominate in any given outing. Bergner sits comfortably in the mid-90s, averaging 94 mph with his fastball, and holds that velocity deep into games. His fastball command has improved over the course of the season, but he still has spurts where it gets away from him. He complements his fastball with a plus, low-80s changeup with sharp downward action and a fringy upper-70s breaking ball that sometimes shows better. While his arsenal gives him the chance to start, Bergner's effortful, unconventional arm action scares off some scouts and could ultimately push him to the bullpen at the next level. Just a sophomore, Bergner has leverage if teams don't meet his number in the draft, as he could return for another season in UNC's weekend rotation and attempt to build his stock further.
• Ranked #165 prospect in 2016 draft
  Bergner has been a prominent player on the national scene throughout his high school career, and twice played for USA Baseball's 18U team. He won two gold medals with the national team, winning the 2014 Pan American Championships and the 2015 World Cup. While Bergner's track record of success is long, he didn't quite reach those same heights this spring. His fastball velocity was down a tick, sitting more in the low 90s than the mid 90s. He throws both a curveball and a changeup. His curveball shows the depth to miss high school bats, and he's shown feel for his changeup at times, though the pitch needs refinement. Bergner is perceived to be a tough sign and turned 19 in May, which will make him a draft-eligible sophomore in two years if he upholds his commitment to North Carolina.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  May Update: Bergner is actually throwing a little softer than the 94-95 mph he sat at last year, but he&#39 s been just as effective in a jump to Double-A Erie as he&#39 s proven he can get above hitters&#39 bats at the top of the zone. His hard 84-87 mph slider gives him a second effective weapon to attack hitters.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Bergner has been a famous prospect dating back to his high school days, when he showcased a fastball in the mid-90s, promising secondary pitches and won a pair of gold medals with USA Baseball. He made it to campus at North Carolina and was eventually selected by the D-backs in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he ultimately decided to return for his junior season. Bergner has a solid arsenal of pitches and has flashed three plus offerings with his fastball, curveball and changeup. However, he's never shown that stuff consistently and has underperformed at UNC, getting hit more often than his talent would suggest. There is also some reliever risk with Bergner, who throws with an unconventional arm action and has struggled with command--although that particular aspect of his game has improved each year in Chapel Hill. This spring, scouts have seen Bergner's low- to mid-90s fastball and low-80s changeup as his best pitches and are starting to question his feel for spin, which adds to his list of concerns. Bergner still has plenty of talent and a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame that scouts can dream on, but he has yet to put everything together and become the pitcher that he showed signs of out of high school.