Michael Lorenzen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	101.2
ERA	3.81
WHIP	1.28
BB/9	4.25
SO/9	6.64

Full name Michael Clifton Lorenzen
Born 01/04/1992 in Anaheim, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 217 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Cal State Fullerton
Debut 04/29/2015
Drafted in the CB-A round (38th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013 (signed for $1,500,000).

View Draft Report

Lorenzen's loud raw tools make him an intriguing prospect as a position player and as a pitcher. A freshman All-American in 2011, Lorenzen's OPS dropped from .906 that season to .788 in 2012, as his strikeout total nearly doubled. His contact issues continued last summer with Team USA, but he has rebounded to post his best season as a junior, posting a .938 OPS and seven home runs through 46 at-bats, after he hit just two long balls in each of his first two seasons. Many scouts harbor doubts that he will hit enough in pro ball to be a regular, citing his exaggerated load and struggles against breaking balls. His pitch recognition has improved--he is doing a better job laying off pitches in the dirt this spring--but it still has a ways to go. He has slightly above-average raw power but is learning to harness it. If he hits, Lorenzen could be a star, because he is an outstanding defensive center fielder with a bazooka arm. He is a slightly above-average runner with superb instincts, translating to excellent range. Some clubs prefer Lorenzen off the mound, where he attacks hitters with a 93-97 mph fastball with minimal effort. His hard curveball projects as an above-average pitch, but it's fringy now, and he needs to command it more consistently. A team that likes Lorenzen as a position player has a nice fallback of putting him on the mound if his bat doesn't pan out.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Reds work creatively to acquire pitchers in the draft. They've had success drafting lower-profile college pitchers with funky arm actions, and they've shown interest in those who serve as two-way players in college. Lorenzen served primarily as Cal State Fullerton's center fielder, but he also closed, recording 35 saves in 45 college innings. After Lorenzen's rough stint in the 2013 Arizona Fall League, the Reds still promoted him aggressively to Double-A Pensacola in 2014. He handled the aggressive assignment with no problems. He finished third in the Southern League with a 3.13 ERA. He has turned into a vastly different pitcher than he was in college, when he threw mostly 95-98 mph four-seamers up in the zone. As a starter, Lorenzen relied on a 92-95 mph two-seamer with sink and bore. It was a pitch-efficient, bat-breaking means of achieving results. He still showed the ability to run his four-seamer up to 97 mph when he wanted. Lorenzen impressed scouts with his competitive demeanor to go with his athleticism. His slurvy 82-84 mph slider works more vertically than a traditional slider, and some scouts describe it as a curveball, but it's an average pitch. His changeup is below-average, but he locates it and has shown aptitude for throwing it. Lorenzen's lack of strikeouts are a concern, but he has plenty of stuff and will head to Triple-A Louisville in 2015. He projects as a mid-rotation starter who could arrive in Cincinnati by the end of 2015.
Lorenzen threw just 45 innings in college, mainly because he was also a center fielder. But whenever he did pitch the game was likely on the line. Lorenzen appeared as a pitcher 42 times, recording 35 saves (a school record) while going 5-0. Lorenzen was draftable as a center fielder, but he faced concerns about his ability to hit for average, which made him more appealing as a strong-armed righthander. A $1.5 million signing bonus persuaded him to give up hitting. Lorenzen is understandably raw on the mound, but he could move very quickly as a reliever. His 95-99 mph fastball has surprising life considering its velocity. It's a plus-plus pitch, and his 80-83 mph slurve projects as plus as well. While that repertoire has served him well in a relief role, Lorenzen has athleticism, competitiveness and a fresh arm, so the Reds want to see if he can start. For the switch to take, he must improve his below-average changeup, the consistency of his slurve and his command. Lorenzen never threw more than two innings in a game in college, so developing stamina is another issue The Reds sent Lorenzen to the Arizona Fall League to get more innings as a starter. If they stick with the plan to start him, he'll likely need to drop back down to high Class A. Long-term, his most likely role is late-game reliever, potentially as a closer.

Draft Prospects

Lorenzen's loud raw tools make him an intriguing prospect as a position player and as a pitcher. A freshman All-American in 2011, Lorenzen's OPS dropped from .906 that season to .788 in 2012, as his strikeout total nearly doubled. His contact issues continued last summer with Team USA, but he has rebounded to post his best season as a junior, posting a .938 OPS and seven home runs through 46 at-bats, after he hit just two long balls in each of his first two seasons. Many scouts harbor doubts that he will hit enough in pro ball to be a regular, citing his exaggerated load and struggles against breaking balls. His pitch recognition has improved--he is doing a better job laying off pitches in the dirt this spring--but it still has a ways to go. He has slightly above-average raw power but is learning to harness it. If he hits, Lorenzen could be a star, because he is an outstanding defensive center fielder with a bazooka arm. He is a slightly above-average runner with superb instincts, translating to excellent range. Some clubs prefer Lorenzen off the mound, where he attacks hitters with a 93-97 mph fastball with minimal effort. His hard curveball projects as an above-average pitch, but it's fringy now, and he needs to command it more consistently. A team that likes Lorenzen as a position player has a nice fallback of putting him on the mound if his bat doesn't pan out.

Minor League Top Prospects

A two-way standout at Cal State Fullerton, Lorenzen was advanced enough as a pitcher to reach Double-A two months after being selected 38th overall in the 2013 draft. He returned to Pensacola this season and finished third in the SL with a 3.13 ERA, out-pitching Blue Wahoos rotation-mate and Reds top prospect Robert Stephenson by a wide margin. Lorenzen's mound demeanor and fierce competitiveness are among the first things evaluators praise, though he also throws two plus pitches with sharp enough control to profile as a mid-rotation starter. He pitches at 92-94 mph and bumps 96, keeping the ball in the lower regions of the zone with his fastball and plus changeup in the low 80s. He throws an average low-80s curveball with 11-5 break and tends to keep the ball on the ground with all his pitches, allowing just nine home runs in 24 starts on the season.

Career Transactions

RHP Michael Lorenzen elected free agency.
Kansas City Royals activated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 15-day injured list.
Kansas City Royals sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Kansas City Royals sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Kansas City Royals sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Kansas City Royals placed RHP Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list. Left hamstring strain.
Kansas City Royals activated RHP Michael Lorenzen.
Texas Rangers traded RHP Michael Lorenzen to Kansas City Royals for LHP Walter Pennington.
RHP Michael Lorenzen roster status changed by Kansas City Royals.
Texas Rangers activated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 15-day injured list.
Texas Rangers sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Round Rock Express.
Texas Rangers placed RHP Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. Right neck strain.
Philadelphia Phillies activated RHP Michael Lorenzen.
Philadelphia Phillies reassigned RHP Michael Lorenzen to the minor leagues.
Detroit Tigers traded RHP Michael Lorenzen to Philadelphia Phillies for 2B Hao-Yu Lee.
Detroit Tigers traded RHP Michael Lorenzen to Philadelphia Phillies for 2B Hao-Yu Lee.
Detroit Tigers activated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 15-day injured list.
Detroit Tigers activated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 15-day injured list.
Detroit Tigers sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Detroit Tigers sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Toledo Mud Hens.
Detroit Tigers sent RHP Michael Lorenzen on a rehab assignment to Toledo Mud Hens.
Detroit Tigers placed RHP Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 27, 2023. Left groin strain.