Garrett Gould

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #17 prospect in 2013
  Gould steadily built momentum leading up to the 2009 draft, first by winning MVP honors at the 2008 World Wood Bat Association Championships and then by breaking Nate Robertson's strikeout record at Maize (Kan.) High in the spring of 2009. He landed the largest signing bonus in the Dodgers' 2009 class, $900,000, and looked to be on the right track after a strong 2011 season in low Class A, but his stock took a hit last season with a disappointing showing in high Class A. Gould's fastball sat in the low 90s in 2011, but he mostly operated at 89-90 mph last season amid concerns he had gotten out of shape. His overhand curveball remained a plus pitch with tilt and depth, but he struggled to throw strikes and got in trouble whenever hitters were able to lay off the curve. His fastball lacks movement, and the results were predictable when he fell behind in the count and had to lay it in the zone. He has a decent changeup with sink and fade and needs to throw it more. While his velocity has dropped, his mechanics have actually gotten smoother since he signed, and he's softened how he lands on his front leg. Gould likely will graduate to Double-A for 2013, trying to re-establish himself as a future mid-rotation starter if his velocity bounces back and his command steps forward.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #6 prospect in 2012
  Though his $900,000 bonus was the largest in the Dodgers' 2009 draft class, Gould spent his first two pro seasons at Rookie-level Ogden before making the move to low Class A in 2011. Gould has a quality three-pitch mix. He commands both sides of the plate with a sinking fastball that ranges from 90-95 mph and sits at 92-93. His curveball is his best pitch, a sharp three-quarters breaker which comes in at 79-83 mph. Gould also has a changeup that plays as a solid third pitch. His command and aggressiveness in the strike zone have improved notably. Gould used to raise some red flags with his mechanics because he landed on a stiff front leg, but he softened it up in 2011 and his whole delivery got cleaner. The Dodgers stressed the need to improve his work ethic and his demeanor on the mound. He responded to the challenge, though he still can do a better job of controlling his emotions. Gould has the weapons to be a mid-rotation starter and possibly more. He'll join Lee again in 2012, this time in high Class A. Gould's pure stuff is a little better, while Lee has more pitchability.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #18 prospect in 2011
  Gould broke out on the high school scouting showcase circuit in 2008, most notably by beating Shelby Miller in the World Wood Bat Association Championships and being named the event's MVP. He was an all-state quarterback as a high school junior, but gave up the gridiron as a senior to concentrate on baseball. He netted the largest bonus in Los Angeles' 2009 draft class, signing for $900,000. Gould's fastball velocity jumped into the low 90s in the spring of 2009, but he didn't show that same heat consistently last season. He pitched mostly at 88-91 mph, topping out at 93. With his physical frame, he could add velocity as he matures. His above-average curveball is his best weapon right now, featuring tight break and good depth. Gould's changeup is a work in progress but shows promising fading action. He lands on a bit of a stiff front leg, but his delivery is otherwise simple and repeatable with clean arm action. His command will have to be tightened as he moves up but it's at least average to a tick above for a pitcher his age. Gould profiles as a mid-rotation starter for now, and his ceiling goes higher if his velocity does pick up. He took his lumps in the Pioneer League last season but should find a more hospitable pitching environment in low Class A in 2011.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #11 prospect in 2010
  The Dodgers rarely exceed bonus recommendations from the commissioner's office, but they gave Gould $900,000--$337,500 over the slot value for the No. 65 pick last year and more than they gave their top choice, Aaron Miller. Gould impressed scouts at the World Wood Bat Championship in October 2008, striking out 18 and allowing only one hit in eight shutout innings, and followed up by breaking Nate Robertson's Maize (Kan.) High record with 95 strikeouts in 57 innings last spring. Gould's best pitch is a hard curveball that he throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, giving righthanders the impression it's coming straight at their batting helmet's earhole. He also has a quality fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 94. His changeup is a work in progress. Extremely athletic, Gould was a star quarterback and basketball forward in high school and would have been a two-way player had he attended Wichita State. Despite just three innings of pro experience, he's advanced enough to begin 2010 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Midwest League #17 prospect in 2011
  Though Gould got the highest bonus ($900,000) in the Dodgers' 2009 draft class, he spent two years in the Rookie-level Pioneer League and had only middling success. He turned a corner in the MWL and might have led the league in wins if the Dodgers hadn't limited him to 16 innings over his last six starts to keep him under 125 for the season. Gould had one of the better curveballs in the league, a low-80s breaker with 12-to-6 movement that grades as a plus-plus pitch at times. He sets up his curve with an 88-91 mph sinker that tops out at 94, and he also shows signs of developing an average changeup. His command took a step forward this year, though he must learn to control his emotions on the mound.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #13 prospect in 2010
  Gould broke Nate Robertson's strikeout record at Maize (Kan.) High before signing with the Dodgers for $900,000 as a second-round pick in 2009. He got his feet wet in the Pioneer League last season, making three relief appearances for Ogden. While Gould touched 94 mph in high school, he settled into a 90-91 mph groove in his first extended pro look, and at times he slipped to 88-89. Even at reduced velocity, his fastball worked well because he commands it to both sides of the plate and it features plus sink and armside life. Gould's delivery isn't textbook, as he noticeably tilts his body back, but his mechanics don't affect his command. If anything, the motion helps disguise his secondary stuff, which grades as average to plus. He throws an 81-83 mph curveball with solid depth and tight rotation, and he maintains his arm speed when delivering his low-80s changeup that fades away from lefthanders.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Like Zach Lee, Gould was also a standout high school quarterback, but he decided to focus on baseball for his senior year. Though his $900,000 bonus was the largest in the Dodgers' 2009 draft class, he spent his first two pro seasons at Rookie-level Ogden before successfully making the move to low Class A in 2011. Scouting Report: Gould has a quality three-pitch mix. He commands both sides of the plate with a sinking fastball that ranges from 90-95 mph and sits at 92-93. His curveball is his best offering, a sharp three-quarters breaker which comes in at 79-83 mph. Gould also has a changeup that plays as a solid third pitch. His command and aggressiveness in the strike zone have improved notably. Gould used to raise some red flags with his mechanics because he landed on a stiff front leg, but Los Angeles softened his landing in 2011 and his whole delivery got cleaner. The Dodgers also stressed the need to improve his work ethic and his demeanor on the mound. He responded to the challenge, though he still can do a better job of controlling his emotions. The Future: Gould has the weapons to be a mid-rotation starter and possibly more, depending on how well his changeup progresses. He'll join Lee again in 2012, this time in high Class A. Gould's pure stuff is a little better, while Lee has more pitchability.