Dakota Mekkes Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Dakota Mekkes
Born 11/06/1994 in Jenison, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'7" / Wt.: 275 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Michigan State
Drafted in the 10th round (314th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 (signed for $275,000).

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Mekkes' 15 strikeouts per nine innings are easily the best in Division I this year. But it's not all that easy to explain exactly how he does it. Mekkes' fastball is fine, but it doesn't have exceptional velocity--he's 90-93 mph out of the bullpen and his slider earns fringe-average to average grades. He also infrequently uses a changeup that flashes average with late fade, but it's more often is a below-average offering. But while Mekkes' fastball has only average velocity, it plays as an above-average pitch because of Mekkes' low arm slot, deceptive delivery and his ability to change a hitter's eye level. One coach called Mekkes' fastball a rise ball because of his ability to elevate up in the zone over a hitter's hands. His slider also plays up because he can locate it and it plays well off of his fastball. Mekkes is not a one-inning reliever--he worked three or more innings five times this season, including six shutout innings in an extra-inning win against Maryland. Mekkes doesn't appear to be particularly athletic but he fields his position well and holds runners.

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The massive Mekkes took a while to thrive, redshirting as a freshman at Michigan State and throwing just 12 innings the next spring. That summer, he starred in the Texas Collegiate League with 33 strikeouts in 26 innings. He had one of the best seasons of any college pitcher in 2016, leading the nation in most strikeouts (15.2) and fewest hits allowed (4.1) per nine innings. Signed for $275,000, Mekkes hasn't quite maintained that strikeout ratio, but he had a tremendous first full season in 2017, again proving hard to square up. Opponents hit just .155 against him in two Class A stops. Mekkes has deception in his long-limbed delivery, and hitters just don't pick up his 90-92 mph fastball, which can touch 94, with any consistency. Cubs officials say Mekkes' ball moves late and jumps even when you're just playing catch with him, though the pitch lacks extraordinary spin rate. His average slider and changeup aren't extraordinary, but they come out of the same low three-quarters slot as his fastball and play off the pitch. Mekkes' control actually has been better as a pro than it was in college, but Double-A will test if he can keep fooling hitters with his heater and pitch around the walks he does issue.

Mekkes' 15 strikeouts per nine innings are easily the best in Division I this year. But it's not all that easy to explain exactly how he does it. Mekkes' fastball is fine, but it doesn't have exceptional velocity--he's 90-93 mph out of the bullpen and his slider earns fringe-average to average grades. He also infrequently uses a changeup that flashes average with late fade, but it's more often is a below-average offering. But while Mekkes' fastball has only average velocity, it plays as an above-average pitch because of Mekkes' low arm slot, deceptive delivery and his ability to change a hitter's eye level. One coach called Mekkes' fastball a rise ball because of his ability to elevate up in the zone over a hitter's hands. His slider also plays up because he can locate it and it plays well off of his fastball. Mekkes is not a one-inning reliever--he worked three or more innings five times this season, including six shutout innings in an extra-inning win against Maryland. Mekkes doesn't appear to be particularly athletic but he fields his position well and holds runners.