Alec Bettinger
| IP | 10 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 13.5 |
| WHIP | 2.1 |
| BB/9 | 2.7 |
| SO/9 | 4.5 |
- Full name Alec John Bettinger
- Born 07/13/1995 in Alexandria, VA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Virginia
- Debut 05/02/2021
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Drafted in the 10th round (294th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 (signed for $10,000).
View Draft Report
Bettinger had an outstanding senior season out of Virginia's bullpen. He went 8-0, 2.43 and struck out 71 batters while walking 31 in 61 innings. Bettinger shows a low 90s fastball and hits his spots. He's a quality senior sign.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: When the Brewers drafted Bettinger as a senior sign in 2017, his $10,000 bonus helped the team go over slot to sign Tristen Lutz, Brendan Murphy and Nick Egnatuk. Bettinger has proven more than just a money saver. He made an auspicious debut in early May. Called up to give a breather to a spent pitching staff, Bettinger gave up two grand slams and 11 earned runs in four innings, tying the record for the most earned runs allowed in an MLB debut.
Scouting Report: Bettinger was much better in his other three MLB appearances, but his awful MLB debut is a reminder of how he doesn’t have much margin for error. He’s the type of crafty, funky and deceptive righthander who relies on plus command to succeed. When he nibbles, it’s intentional, as he has to stay on the edges of the strike zone. His 89-92 mph fringe-average fastball has good carry, but the lack of velocity limits its effectiveness. He relies on a cross-fire delivery to add deception. Bettinger’s average mid-70s curve is effective if he locates it down in the zone, but hitters tee off if he leaves it up. He also spots his average 86-88 mph cutter, which helps keep hitters off his fastball. He has shown little confidence in a below-average changeup.
The Future: Bettinger is unlikely to ever be a regular member of the Brewers’ rotation, but he can provide spot starts as well as serve as a low-leverage multi-inning reliever thanks to his durability and control.
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TRACK RECORD: Bettinger split between starting and relieving at Virginia before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen as a senior. The Brewers drafted him in the 10th round, signed him for $10,000 and developed him as a starter. Bettinger ranked second in the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
SCOUTING REPORT: Bettinger doesn't have a plus pitch, but he throws strikes, is durable and has a feel for pitching that has yielded better results than his stuff would suggest. There's some funk and deception in his release, which gives him a little more margin with a fastball that sits 89-93 mph with occasional cutting action and can scrape 94-95 mph. The pitch has good vertical movement, helping him miss bats when he elevates. Bettinger's best secondary pitch is his changeup, which is a solid-average pitch with good sink and fade when it's on. He mixes in a curveball that has been effective against minor leaguers, though it's typically a fringy pitch which might not get major league hitters to bite.
THE FUTURE: Bettinger faces questions about whether his stuff will work against major league hitters. He should open 2021 in Triple-A and is in position to make his debut if he pitches well. -
TRACK RECORD: Expectations are usually modest for 10th-round draft picks who sign for $10,000, but Bettinger has become an overachiever in the Brewers' system. Selected after his senior season at Virginia, Bettinger had poor-to-modest results in his first two seasons as a pro before beginning to blossom last year at Double-A Biloxi.
SCOUTING REPORT: After getting past a poor start to the season (8.13 ERA through six outings), his strikeout rate improved (9.68 per nine innings), his walk rate declined (2.16) and he became the staff workhorse, leading the team with 146.1 innings. A major reason for that breakthrough was a bump up in velocity, with his fastball sitting in the low 90s and occasionally touching higher, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. Bettinger mixes in an above-average curveball and dependable cutter, giving him a mix that should allow him to remain a starting pitcher. His command has sharpened considerably, allowing him to miss more bats and he has some deception in a funky, crossfire delivery.
THE FUTURE: If Bettinger is unable to continue advancing as a starter, he at least projects as a multiinning reliever in the major leagues. He likely will begin the 2020 season at Triple-A San Antonio, leaving him a phone call away from the top level.
Scouting Reports
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Track Record: When the Brewers drafted Bettinger as a senior sign in 2017, his $10,000 bonus helped the team go over slot to sign Tristen Lutz, Brendan Murphy and Nick Egnatuk. Bettinger has proven more than just a money saver. He made an auspicious debut in early May. Called up to give a breather to a spent pitching staff, Bettinger gave up two grand slams and 11 earned runs in four innings, tying the record for the most earned runs allowed in an MLB debut.
Scouting Report: Bettinger was much better in his other three MLB appearances, but his awful MLB debut is a reminder of how he doesn’t have much margin for error. He’s the type of crafty, funky and deceptive righthander who relies on plus command to succeed. When he nibbles, it’s intentional, as he has to stay on the edges of the strike zone. His 89-92 mph fringe-average fastball has good carry, but the lack of velocity limits its effectiveness. He relies on a cross-fire delivery to add deception. Bettinger’s average mid-70s curve is effective if he locates it down in the zone, but hitters tee off if he leaves it up. He also spots his average 86-88 mph cutter, which helps keep hitters off his fastball. He has shown little confidence in a below-average changeup.
The Future: Bettinger is unlikely to ever be a regular member of the Brewers’ rotation, but he can provide spot starts as well as serve as a low-leverage multi-inning reliever thanks to his durability and control.
-
TRACK RECORD: Bettinger split between starting and relieving at Virginia before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen as a senior. The Brewers drafted him in the 10th round, signed him for $10,000 and developed him as a starter. Bettinger ranked second in the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
SCOUTING REPORT: Bettinger doesn't have a plus pitch, but he throws strikes, is durable and has a feel for pitching that has yielded better results than his stuff would suggest. There's some funk and deception in his release, which gives him a little more margin with a fastball that sits 89-93 mph with occasional cutting action and can scrape 94-95 mph. The pitch has good vertical movement, helping him miss bats when he elevates. Bettinger's best secondary pitch is his changeup, which is a solid-average pitch with good sink and fade when it's on. He mixes in a curveball that has been effective against minor leaguers, though it's typically a fringy pitch which might not get major league hitters to bite.
THE FUTURE: Bettinger faces questions about whether his stuff will work against major league hitters. He should open 2021 in Triple-A and is in position to make his debut if he pitches well. -
TRACK RECORD: Bettinger split between starting and relieving at Virginia before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen as a senior. The Brewers drafted him in the 10th round, signed him for $10,000 and developed him as a starter. Bettinger ranked second in the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
SCOUTING REPORT: Bettinger doesn't have a plus pitch, but he throws strikes, is durable and has a feel for pitching that has yielded better results than his stuff would suggest. There's some funk and deception in his release, which gives him a little more margin with a fastball that sits 89-93 mph with occasional cutting action and can scrape 94-95 mph. The pitch has good vertical movement, helping him miss bats when he elevates. Bettinger's best secondary pitch is his changeup, which is a solid-average pitch with good sink and fade when it's on. He mixes in a curveball that has been effective against minor leaguers, though it's typically a fringy pitch which might not get major league hitters to bite.
THE FUTURE: Bettinger faces questions about whether his stuff will work against major league hitters. He should open 2021 in Triple-A and is in position to make his debut if he pitches well. -
TRACK RECORD: Expectations are usually modest for 10th-round draft picks who sign for $10,000, but Bettinger has become an overachiever in the Brewers’ system. Selected after his senior season at Virginia, Bettinger had poor-to-modest results in his first two seasons as a pro before beginning to blossom last year at Double-A Biloxi.
SCOUTING REPORT: After getting past a poor start to the season (8.13 ERA through six outings), his strikeout rate improved (9.68 per nine innings), his walk rate declined (2.16) and he became the staff workhorse, leading the team with 146.1 innings. A major reason for that breakthrough was a bump up in velocity, with his fastball sitting in the low 90s and occasionally touching higher, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. Bettinger mixes in an above-average curveball and dependable cutter, giving him a mix that should allow him to remain a starting pitcher. His command has sharpened considerably, allowing him to miss more bats and he has some deception in a funky, crossfire delivery.
THE FUTURE: If Bettinger is unable to continue advancing as a starter, he at least projects as a multiinning reliever in the major leagues. He likely will begin the 2020 season at Triple-A San Antonio, leaving him a phone call away from the top level. -
TRACK RECORD: Expectations are usually modest for 10th-round draft picks who sign for $10,000, but Bettinger has become an overachiever in the Brewers' system. Selected after his senior season at Virginia, Bettinger had poor-to-modest results in his first two seasons as a pro before beginning to blossom last year at Double-A Biloxi.
SCOUTING REPORT: After getting past a poor start to the season (8.13 ERA through six outings), his strikeout rate improved (9.68 per nine innings), his walk rate declined (2.16) and he became the staff workhorse, leading the team with 146.1 innings. A major reason for that breakthrough was a bump up in velocity, with his fastball sitting in the low 90s and occasionally touching higher, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. Bettinger mixes in an above-average curveball and dependable cutter, giving him a mix that should allow him to remain a starting pitcher. His command has sharpened considerably, allowing him to miss more bats and he has some deception in a funky, crossfire delivery.
THE FUTURE: If Bettinger is unable to continue advancing as a starter, he at least projects as a multiinning reliever in the major leagues. He likely will begin the 2020 season at Triple-A San Antonio, leaving him a phone call away from the top level.
