Tony Locey

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #22 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: A high school teammate of Orioles lefthander D.L. Hall and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm, Locey went from being a midweek starter and reliever as a sophomore at Georgia to the Bulldogs' Friday night starter as a junior. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round pushed him to low Class A Peoria in his pro debut, where he struck out 28 batters in 15 innings. The Cardinals did not bring Locey to their alternate training site in 2020, but the Rockies still acquired him as one of five players for Nolan Arenado in the offseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey's plus fastball has long been his calling card. It sits 93-96 mph and will touch 98. He locates it well and has developed average control. His arm can be a little late catching up to his lower half in his delivery. His slider has the movement of a potentially plus pitch, but right now it's more of a chase pitch than one he can throw convincingly near the strike zone. He also has thrown a get-meover curveball as a surprise early-count pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey will need to develop a more reliable third pitch if he wants to stay a starter. Even if he can't, his fastball/slider combo gives him a solid chance to be a power reliever.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #24 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Locey teamed with Orioles prospect D.L. Hall and Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to lead Warner Robins (Ga.) High to a state title in 2016. Locey went on to Georgia and spent two years in the Bulldogs rotation, taking over as their Friday starter midway through his junior year. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round, No. 96 overall, and signed him for $604,800.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey's primary weapon is his plus fastball. It's an explosive pitch that sits 94-96 mph and touches 98, and it plays at the top of the strike zone despite the lack of an elite spin rate. Locey complements his heater with a sharp, short slider with late break that flashes plus at its best, although it plays down because he has trouble locating it in the strike zone. His fringy curveball serves as a usable early count pitch. Locey's control ranges from below-average to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey's control and lack of a reliable third pitch make him a future reliever for many evaluators. The Cardinals will keep him as a starter for now.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #196 prospect in 2019 draft
  As a senior in high school, Locey helped pitch Warner Robins High to a state title. He had plenty of help, as Orioles lefthander DL Hall was also on the pitching staff and the lineup included future Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. At Georgia, Locey's inconsistent slider and below-average control kept him from taking on a larger role in his first two years in Athens. But he moved into the Sunday role as a junior, and he pitched well enough that when Emerson Hancock was sidelined, he became the Friday night starter. Locey reached double digits in strikeouts in four different starts this year. He allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his first 14 games. Locey's plus fastball sits at 92-95 mph and will touch 96-98 mph. He can carry that velocity deep into games. Locey's slider is hard, sharp and short with late break, although he does still lose the feel for it at times, which means it flashes plus more than it's consistently earning those grades. Scouts worry that it's too often a chase pitch and will need to see him prove he can locate for strikes in pro ball. He also throws a get-me-over curveball that's a fringy, early-count pitch, but it can be effective because hitters are geared up for his high-velocity fastball. Locey has improved to show average control this year. There's plenty of debate over whether Locey has any shot to remain a starter in pro ball despite an excellent 2019 season, but even those who think he can't start look at his fastball and slider and see a potential late-inning reliever with dominating stuff.
• Ranked #407 prospect in 2016 draft
  Armed with a big fastball and developing breaking ball, Locey has two solid pitches that could allow him to succeed at the next level. His heater sits in the low 90s and reaches as high as 96 mph, with sinking action when he's able to locate it down in the strike zone. He has an effortful delivery, with a stabbing motion in the back of his arm action, an across-body finish and a head snap as he finishes. His delivery leads most evaluators to project him to end up in the bullpen long term. He'll have to monitor his conditioning going forward, as he has some less-than-ideal weight on his frame. Locey is committed to Georgia.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A high school teammate of Orioles lefthander D.L. Hall and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm, Locey went from being a midweek starter and reliever as a sophomore at Georgia to the Bulldogs' Friday night starter as a junior. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round pushed him to low Class A Peoria in his pro debut, where he struck out 28 batters in 15 innings. The Cardinals did not bring Locey to their alternate training site in 2020, but the Rockies still acquired him as one of five players for Nolan Arenado in the offseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey's plus fastball has long been his calling card. It sits 93-96 mph and will touch 98. He locates it well and has developed average control. His arm can be a little late catching up to his lower half in his delivery. His slider has the movement of a potentially plus pitch, but right now it's more of a chase pitch than one he can throw convincingly near the strike zone. He also has thrown a get-meover curveball as a surprise early-count pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey will need to develop a more reliable third pitch if he wants to stay a starter. Even if he can't, his fastball/slider combo gives him a solid chance to be a power reliever.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A high school teammate of Orioles lefthander D.L. Hall and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm, Locey went from being a midweek starter and reliever as a sophomore at Georgia to the Bulldogs' Friday night starter as a junior. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round pushed him to low Class A Peoria in his pro debut, where he struck out 28 batters in 15 innings. The Cardinals did not bring Locey to their alternate training site in 2020, but the Rockies still acquired him as one of five players for Nolan Arenado in the offseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey's plus fastball has long been his calling card. It sits 93-96 mph and will touch 98. He locates it well and has developed average control. His arm can be a little late catching up to his lower half in his delivery. His slider has the movement of a potentially plus pitch, but right now it's more of a chase pitch than one he can throw convincingly near the strike zone. He also has thrown a get-meover curveball as a surprise early-count pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey will need to develop a more reliable third pitch if he wants to stay a starter. Even if he can't, his fastball/slider combo gives him a solid chance to be a power reliever.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Locey teamed with Orioles prospect D.L. Hall and Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to lead Warner Robins (Ga.) High to a state title in 2016. Locey went on to Georgia and spent two years in the Bulldogs rotation, taking over as their Friday starter midway through his junior year. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round, No. 96 overall, and signed him for $604,800.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey’s primary weapon is his plus fastball. It’s an explosive pitch that sits 94-96 mph and touches 98, and it plays at the top of the strike zone despite the lack of an elite spin rate. Locey complements his heater with a sharp, short slider with late break that flashes plus at its best, although it plays down because he has trouble locating it in the strike zone. His fringy curveball serves as a usable early count pitch. Locey’s control ranges from below-average to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey’s control and lack of a reliable third pitch make him a future reliever for many evaluators. The Cardinals will keep him as a starter for now.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Locey teamed with Orioles prospect D.L. Hall and Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to lead Warner Robins (Ga.) High to a state title in 2016. Locey went on to Georgia and spent two years in the Bulldogs rotation, taking over as their Friday starter midway through his junior year. The Cardinals drafted him in the third round, No. 96 overall, and signed him for $604,800.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Locey's primary weapon is his plus fastball. It's an explosive pitch that sits 94-96 mph and touches 98, and it plays at the top of the strike zone despite the lack of an elite spin rate. Locey complements his heater with a sharp, short slider with late break that flashes plus at its best, although it plays down because he has trouble locating it in the strike zone. His fringy curveball serves as a usable early count pitch. Locey's control ranges from below-average to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Locey's control and lack of a reliable third pitch make him a future reliever for many evaluators. The Cardinals will keep him as a starter for now.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  As a senior in high school, Locey helped pitch Warner Robins High to a state title. He had plenty of help, as Orioles lefthander DL Hall was also on the pitching staff and the lineup included future Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. At Georgia, Locey's inconsistent slider and below-average control kept him from taking on a larger role in his first two years in Athens. But he moved into the Sunday role as a junior, and he pitched well enough that when Emerson Hancock was sidelined, he became the Friday night starter. Locey reached double digits in strikeouts in four different starts this year. He allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his first 14 games. Locey's plus fastball sits at 92-95 mph and will touch 96-98 mph. He can carry that velocity deep into games. Locey's slider is hard, sharp and short with late break, although he does still lose the feel for it at times, which means it flashes plus more than it's consistently earning those grades. Scouts worry that it's too often a chase pitch and will need to see him prove he can locate for strikes in pro ball. He also throws a get-me-over curveball that's a fringy, early-count pitch, but it can be effective because hitters are geared up for his high-velocity fastball. Locey has improved to show average control this year. There's plenty of debate over whether Locey has any shot to remain a starter in pro ball despite an excellent 2019 season, but even those who think he can't start look at his fastball and slider and see a potential late-inning reliever with dominating stuff.