R.J. Dabovich Stats & Scouting Report

IP	4.1
ERA	10.38
WHIP	2.77
BB/9	12.46
SO/9	10.38

Full name Roderick John Dabovich
Born 01/11/1999 in Pueblo, CO
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 208 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Arizona State
Drafted in the 4th round (114th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2020 (signed for $197,500).

View Draft Report

Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in the 18th round in 2018 after his freshman season at Central Arizona before he transferred to Arizona State. He pitched in both relief and in the rotation in his sophomore season before serving as the Sun Devils’ closer this year. Dabovich is expected to attract plenty of draft attention because of the plus velocity on his fastball—it sits 92-95 mph and touches 98 with good spin rates. Some observers like the 82-86 mph slider best among his secondary pitches, as it flashes plus but also gets flat at times, while others prefer the solid-average curveball that comes in at 75-78 mph. Dabovich also occasionally throws a mid-70s splitter and a changeup in the low 80s. He changed his repeatable delivery this year from high three-quarters to being more overhead. He has average command of all his pitches and is generally around the plate. If he turns pro this year, Dabovich could get another try as a starting pitcher but has the velocity to handle a relief role.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Dabovich bounced between starting and relieving at Arizona State and in the Cape Cod League but moved to the bullpen full-time after the Giants drafted him in the fourth round of the shortened 2020 draft. Dabovich dominated in his first season as a reliever, but he ran into trouble in 2022 once he reached Triple-A and started facing higher-level hitters.

Scouting Report: Dabovich is a physical, 6-foot-3 righthander who follows a simple formula--four-seam fastballs up followed by curveballs down for chases. His fastball is an above-average pitch that sits 95-98 mph with carry through the top of the zone at its best, but he pitched through a nagging hamstring injury in 2022 that threw off his mechanics and resulted in less rise. He also struggled to adjust to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's automatic ball-strike system, leading to fewer strikes with his fastball and an elevated walk rate. Dabovich's curveball is a plus offering in the mid-80s with strong, downward snap and generates whiffs more than half the time he throws it. His control was already fringy and fell to below-average with his injury and the ABS system at Triple-A.

The Future: Dabovich will head back to Triple-A to begin 2023. He has the potential to reach the majors as a low to mid-leverage relief prospect if his fastball and control rebound.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 40
Track Record: Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in 2018 out of Central Arizona JC. Instead of signing, he transferred to Arizona State, where he dabbled as a starter but settled into the closer’s role during the brief 2020 season. Dabovich has been a relief-only prospect since the Giants drafted him in the fourth round in 2020, but his pitch mix meshes perfectly with the organization’s pitching philosophy.

Scouting Report: Dabovich works with two pitches—a mid-to-upper 90s fastball that peaks at 99 mph and a hard downer curveball in the mid 70s. By using those two pitches in concert, Dabovich creates a perfect north-south attack pattern that helped him rise quickly through the minors and reach Double-A in his pro debut. He also generates deception with a straight overhand delivery. Despite a bit of starting experience in college, Dabovich’s aggression and mentality are best suited for the bullpen, where he can go right at hitters for an inning at a time. He was extraordinarily dominant at High-A Eugene, where he allowed just two hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 28.

The Future: Dabovich finished the year in the Arizona Fall League, where he made up time lost due to back stiffness toward the end of the regular season. He could reach the majors in 2022 and has the ceiling of a hard-throwing setup man trusted with high-leverage situations.
TRACK RECORD: An 18th-round selection by the Royals in 2018 after a year at Central Arizona JC, Dabovich instead transferred to Arizona State. He spent his first season in Tempe shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen but took over closer duties in the shortened 2020 season. The Giants drafted him in the fourth round and included him on their instructional league roster in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dabovich's money pitch is a 93-96 mph fastball that has touched 98. He had a full four-pitch arsenal from his starting days, but the Giants prefer he focus on his upper-70s curveball because of the way it forms a tunnel with his four-seamer. Dabovich also shifted his arm slot from a high three-quarters to true overhand, which should make it easier for him to drive his curveball down through the zone.

THE FUTURE: Dabovich could move quickly through the system. He has the repertoire to be a middle reliever.

Draft Prospects

Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in the 18th round in 2018 after his freshman season at Central Arizona before he transferred to Arizona State. He pitched in both relief and in the rotation in his sophomore season before serving as the Sun Devils’ closer this year. Dabovich is expected to attract plenty of draft attention because of the plus velocity on his fastball—it sits 92-95 mph and touches 98 with good spin rates. Some observers like the 82-86 mph slider best among his secondary pitches, as it flashes plus but also gets flat at times, while others prefer the solid-average curveball that comes in at 75-78 mph. Dabovich also occasionally throws a mid-70s splitter and a changeup in the low 80s. He changed his repeatable delivery this year from high three-quarters to being more overhead. He has average command of all his pitches and is generally around the plate. If he turns pro this year, Dabovich could get another try as a starting pitcher but has the velocity to handle a relief role.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Dabovich bounced between starting and relieving at Arizona State and in the Cape Cod League but moved to the bullpen full-time after the Giants drafted him in the fourth round of the shortened 2020 draft. Dabovich dominated in his first season as a reliever, but he ran into trouble in 2022 once he reached Triple-A and started facing higher-level hitters.

Scouting Report: Dabovich is a physical, 6-foot-3 righthander who follows a simple formula--four-seam fastballs up followed by curveballs down for chases. His fastball is an above-average pitch that sits 95-98 mph with carry through the top of the zone at its best, but he pitched through a nagging hamstring injury in 2022 that threw off his mechanics and resulted in less rise. He also struggled to adjust to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's automatic ball-strike system, leading to fewer strikes with his fastball and an elevated walk rate. Dabovich's curveball is a plus offering in the mid-80s with strong, downward snap and generates whiffs more than half the time he throws it. His control was already fringy and fell to below-average with his injury and the ABS system at Triple-A.

The Future: Dabovich will head back to Triple-A to begin 2023. He has the potential to reach the majors as a low to mid-leverage relief prospect if his fastball and control rebound.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Dabovich bounced between starting and relieving at Arizona State and in the Cape Cod League but moved to the bullpen full-time after the Giants drafted him in the fourth round of the shortened 2020 draft. Dabovich dominated in his first season as a reliever, but he ran into trouble in 2022 once he reached Triple-A and started facing higher-level hitters.

Scouting Report: Dabovich is a physical, 6-foot-3 righthander who follows a simple formula--four-seam fastballs up followed by curveballs down for chases. His fastball is an above-average pitch that sits 95-98 mph with carry through the top of the zone at its best, but he pitched through a nagging hamstring injury in 2022 that threw off his mechanics and resulted in less rise. He also struggled to adjust to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's automatic ball-strike system, leading to fewer strikes with his fastball and an elevated walk rate. Dabovich's curveball is a plus offering in the mid-80s with strong, downward snap and generates whiffs more than half the time he throws it. His control was already fringy and fell to below-average with his injury and the ABS system at Triple-A.

The Future: Dabovich will head back to Triple-A to begin 2023. He has the potential to reach the majors as a low to mid-leverage relief prospect if his fastball and control rebound.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 40
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in 2018 out of Central Arizona JC. Instead of signing, he transferred to Arizona State, where he dabbled as a starter but settled into the closer&#39s role during the brief 2020 season. Dabovich has been a relief-only prospect since the Giants drafted him in the fourth round in 2020, but his pitch mix meshes perfectly with the organization&#39s pitching philosophy.

Scouting Report: Dabovich works with two pitches—a mid-to-upper 90s fastball that peaks at 99 mph and a hard downer curveball in the mid 70s. By using those two pitches in concert, Dabovich creates a perfect north-south attack pattern that helped him rise quickly through the minors and reach Double-A in his pro debut. He also generates deception with a straight overhand delivery. Despite a bit of starting experience in college, Dabovich&#39s aggression and mentality are best suited for the bullpen, where he can go right at hitters for an inning at a time. He was extraordinarily dominant at High-A Eugene, where he allowed just two hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 28.

The Future: Dabovich finished the year in the Arizona Fall League, where he made up time lost due to back stiffness toward the end of the regular season. He could reach the majors in 2022 and has the ceiling of a hard-throwing setup man trusted with high-leverage situations.
Track Record: Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in 2018 out of Central Arizona JC. Instead of signing, he transferred to Arizona State, where he dabbled as a starter but settled into the closer’s role during the brief 2020 season. Dabovich has been a relief-only prospect since the Giants drafted him in the fourth round in 2020, but his pitch mix meshes perfectly with the organization’s pitching philosophy.

Scouting Report: Dabovich works with two pitches—a mid-to-upper 90s fastball that peaks at 99 mph and a hard downer curveball in the mid 70s. By using those two pitches in concert, Dabovich creates a perfect north-south attack pattern that helped him rise quickly through the minors and reach Double-A in his pro debut. He also generates deception with a straight overhand delivery. Despite a bit of starting experience in college, Dabovich’s aggression and mentality are best suited for the bullpen, where he can go right at hitters for an inning at a time. He was extraordinarily dominant at High-A Eugene, where he allowed just two hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 28.

The Future: Dabovich finished the year in the Arizona Fall League, where he made up time lost due to back stiffness toward the end of the regular season. He could reach the majors in 2022 and has the ceiling of a hard-throwing setup man trusted with high-leverage situations.
TRACK RECORD: An 18th-round selection by the Royals in 2018 after a year at Central Arizona JC, Dabovich instead transferred to Arizona State. He spent his first season in Tempe shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen but took over closer duties in the shortened 2020 season. The Giants drafted him in the fourth round and included him on their instructional league roster in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dabovich's money pitch is a 93-96 mph fastball that has touched 98. He had a full four-pitch arsenal from his starting days, but the Giants prefer he focus on his upper-70s curveball because of the way it forms a tunnel with his four-seamer. Dabovich also shifted his arm slot from a high three-quarters to true overhand, which should make it easier for him to drive his curveball down through the zone.

THE FUTURE: Dabovich could move quickly through the system. He has the repertoire to be a middle reliever.
TRACK RECORD: An 18th-round selection by the Royals in 2018 after a year at Central Arizona JC, Dabovich instead transferred to Arizona State. He spent his first season in Tempe shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen but took over closer duties in the shortened 2020 season. The Giants drafted him in the fourth round and included him on their instructional league roster in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dabovich's money pitch is a 93-96 mph fastball that has touched 98. He had a full four-pitch arsenal from his starting days, but the Giants prefer he focus on his upper-70s curveball because of the way it forms a tunnel with his four-seamer. Dabovich also shifted his arm slot from a high three-quarters to true overhand, which should make it easier for him to drive his curveball down through the zone.

THE FUTURE: Dabovich could move quickly through the system. He has the repertoire to be a middle reliever.

Career Transactions

Sacramento River Cats placed RHP R.J. Dabovich on the full-season injured list.
Sacramento River Cats placed RHP R.J. Dabovich on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 9, 2024.
RHP R.J. Dabovich assigned to San Francisco Giants.
RHP R.J. Dabovich roster status changed by Sacramento River Cats.
RHP R.J. Dabovich roster status changed by Sacramento River Cats.
Sacramento River Cats placed RHP R.J. Dabovich on the 7-day injured list.
RHP R.J. Dabovich roster status changed by San Francisco Giants.
San Francisco Giants invited non-roster RHP R.J. Dabovich to spring training.