Daniel McGrath

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #23 prospect in 2014
  McGrath's mother hails from New England, and the family racehorse is named Schilling, factors that help explain why the then-18-year-old Australian lefthander took less money ($400,000) to sign with the Red Sox in 2012. McGrath made a revelatory pro debut in 2013, making short work of Rookie-level hitters and advancing to the short-season New York-Penn League, in part because he dramatically improved his conditioning in the offseason. Now he features a leaner frame that allows him to throw strikes with a surprisingly advanced three-pitch mix: a mid- to high-80s fastball, a solid changeup and a fringe curveball. McGrath recorded half of his outs in the GCL via strikeout, and after a promotion to Lowell, he struck out more than a batter per inning, though he relies more on command than pure stuff. McGrath's lefthandedness and pitchability present a mid-rotation ceiling that will be tested at low Class A Greenville in 2014.