Dan Langfield

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #30 prospect in 2014
  A year ago, Langfield seemed to be following a somewhat similar trajectory as lefthander Tony Cingrani. Like Cingrani, he was a college pitcher the Reds drafted in the third round after falling because of concerns about his delivery. Langfield had a loud pro debut, going 3-0, 2.68 with 54 strikeouts in 37 innings while showing plus stuff at Rookie-level Billing in 2012. The similarities with Cingrani ended in 2013 when Langfield battled a shoulder injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the entire season. He had not recovered enough to pitch in instructional league, so the Reds won't really know until 2014 if he can regain his pre-surgery stuff. Before the injury, Langfield had a 93-97 mph fastball, a hard slider that could end up as a second plus pitch and a fringy changeup and curveball that flash average at times. His delivery through college involved effort and recoil, and while he had toned down his motion with the Reds, it will remain a concern until he once again throws free and easy off the mound.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #11 prospect in 2013
  In 2011, the Reds drafted Tony Cingrani, a pitcher projected by most scouts to end up in the bullpen, and let him start, and by the end of 2012 they were encouraged that Cingrani had a chance to stick there. They may have made a similar discovery in Langfield, whose father Paul was a 10th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1980 and peaked in Class A ball. After signing him for $436,800 as a third-round pick last June, Cincinnati smoothed out a delivery that had a lot of effort in college, making his approach much cleaner, freer and easier without losing anything off his fastball. In college Langfield seemed to be pitching to the radar gun too often, as his 93-97 mph fastball was his calling card. The Reds slowed down his delivery, toned down the arm-jarring recoil and were rewarded with a strong pro debut. His fastball and hard slider both could be plus pitches and allowed him to lead Conference USA in strikeouts last year, and his changeup and curveball show flashes of being solid offerings as well. His control improved as his delivery cleaned up, but it still needs further refinement. He has been durable throughout his amateur career. Langfield's ability to tone down his delivery has shelved efforts to move him to the bullpen for now. He heads to full-season ball with a chance to anchor the Dayton rotation.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #60 prospect in 2012 draft
  Langfield impresses scouts for his story and his stuff. A 6-foot righthander, he was one of New England's top arms three seasons ago out of high school. He also was thick-bodied and still had some baby fat. He headed to Memphis, trimmed up his body and improved the quality of his stuff while maintaining the toughness of a cold-weather Northeast pitcher. He has three strikeout pitches, though he delivers them with some effort. Langfield's fastball tends to be true but has plenty of power, touching as high as 97 mph and sitting in the 92-94 range. Some scouts prefer his hard slider, which has depth and cutter velocity at 85-87 mph. Most prefer his downer curveball, also thrown with power. He was leading Conference USA and ranked fifth in Division I in strikeouts with 99 in 79 innings. His control can be spotty, but he lowered his walk rate from 5.2 per nine innings last season to 3.9 so far in 2012. Langfield has a high slot that tends to cause his fastball to straighten out, and most scouts believe he'll wind up in the bullpen down the line. But his three-pitch repertoire will at least give him a chance to start.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #10 prospect in 2012
  Langfield ranked 15th in NCAA Division I with an average of 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings during the spring, then upped that rate to 13.1 at Billings. He has a 93-94 mph fastball that he can bump up to 96 when he wants, but the quality of his secondary offerings is what set him apart from other Pioneer League pitchers Langfield's slider is a plus pitch, and his hard curveball and his changeup are both average. His below-average command prevented him from ranking higher on this list and could make him a reliever in the long run. If the Reds move him to the bullpen, he could move quickly.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: In 2011, the Reds spent a third-round pick on Tony Cingrani, a college pitcher most scouts projected as a reliever. Cincinnati let him start, and Cingrani looks like he has a future in the rotation after leading the minors in ERA last season. The Reds may have made a similar third-round discovery with Langfield. After signing him for $436,800 last June, Cincinnati helped him smooth out his mechanics without losing anything off his fastball. His father Paul was a 10th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1980. Scouting Report: In college, Langfield's 93-97 mph fastball was his calling card, but he pitched to the radar gun too often. The Reds slowed down his delivery, toned down some arm-jarring recoil and were rewarded with a strong pro debut. His fastball and hard slider both could be plus pitches and allowed him to lead Conference USA with 111 strikeouts in 94 innings last spring. His curveball and changeup show flashes of becoming solid offerings as well. Langfield's control improved after he cleaned up his mechanics, but it still needs further refinement. He has been durable throughout his amateur career. The Future: Langfield's ability to make adjustments to his delivery has shelved efforts to move him to the bullpen for now. He heads to full-season ball with a chance to anchor the Dayton rotation.