Josh Wolf

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #25 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf blossomed as a high school senior in 2019 by showing a dramatic uptick in velocity and continuing to throw strikes at his newfound speed. The Mets drafted him in the second round that year and signed him for $2.15 million, nearly $800,000 over slot for the 53rd pick. Wolf made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, but had to work remotely until instructional league in 2020 after not being brought to the Mets’ alternate training site. The Indians acquired him after the season as one of four players for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf has a chance to develop three average to above pitches with above-average control. Multiple scouts have likened his body type and athleticism to Walker Buehler when he was in high school. Wolf ranges from 91-96 mph with his fastball and throws strikes. He has potential to pitch in the mid 90s as he matures, with untapped physicality in his lean 6-foot-3 frame. Wolf shows an advanced feel for spin. He calls his breaking ball a curveball but its shape and late, abrupt break at 78-81 mph are more indicative of a slider or slurve. Given his ease of operation, Wolf should be able to pick up a usable changeup and continue throwing strikes.
  
  THE FUTURE: It will take time, but Wolf has mid-rotation upside and could blossom with a season of regular work. He should get his first taste of full-season ball in 2021.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #8 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf improved his velocity as a high school senior to sit in the mid-90s and occasionally reach 97 mph after he had ranged from 88-92 on the 2018 showcase circuit. Scouts took immediate notice of his velocity spike as well as his continued ability to throw strikes, making Wolf one of the more prominent pop-up prospects for the 2019 draft. The Mets selected him in the second round and went nearly $800,000 over slot to sign him. Wolf made five appearances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he struck out 12 and walked only one in eight innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf throws two plus pitches, shows an aggressive mound demeanor that endears him to scouts and is a twitchy athlete with a quick arm and projectable frame. He pitched at 94 mph with life in his pro debut and ranged from 91-96 while continuing to throw strikes. Wolf shows aptitude for spinning a 79-83 mph curveball that projects as a plus pitch once he develops the command to shape it consistently. Like most high school righthanders, he doesn't have a lot of experience throwing a changeup but has the ingredients to develop an average one.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wolf needs to add about 15 pounds to his frame, but his athleticism and presence give him a mid-rotation ceiling. He should be ready for low Class A in 2020.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #54 prospect in 2019 draft
  After showing solid stuff but topping out in the low 90s for most of last summer, Wolf entered the spring solidly out of Day 1 consideration and behind a number of other Texas prep pitchers. That evaluation quickly changed, as Wolf came out this spring with added strength--he's listed at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds but is likely heavier than that now--and started pitching consistently in the mid-90s and touched as high as 97 mph. In addition to his much-improved fastball velocity, Wolf spins a nasty curveball that looks like a big league breaking ball and is a surefire plus offering. The pitch settles in the mid- to upper 70s, while Wolf also throws a mid-80s changeup that could use some refinement. While there are still some command questions with Wolf, he has also improved in that regard. Those who know him are impressed with his dedication to his craft on the mound and his understanding of what he's trying to accomplish when he's on the rubber. Previously, Wolf would have been a safe bet to reach campus at Texas A&M, and he is expected to be a reasonably tough sign. But now, he's pitching at a clip that might push him into Day 1 consideration and making a jump straight into pro ball more likely.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf blossomed as a high school senior in 2019 by showing a dramatic uptick in velocity and continuing to throw strikes at his newfound speed. The Mets drafted him in the second round that year and signed him for $2.15 million, nearly $800,000 over slot for the 53rd pick. Wolf made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, but had to work remotely until instructional league in 2020 after not being brought to the Mets' alternate training site. The Indians acquired him after the season as one of four players for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf has a chance to develop three average to above pitches with above-average control. Multiple scouts have likened his body type and athleticism to Walker Buehler when he was in high school. Wolf ranges from 91-96 mph with his fastball and throws strikes. He has potential to pitch in the mid 90s as he matures, with untapped physicality in his lean 6-foot-3 frame. Wolf shows an advanced feel for spin. He calls his breaking ball a curveball but its shape and late, abrupt break at 78-81 mph are more indicative of a slider or slurve. Given his ease of operation, Wolf should be able to pick up a usable changeup and continue throwing strikes.
  
  THE FUTURE: It will take time, but Wolf has mid-rotation upside and could blossom with a season of regular work. He should get his first taste of full-season ball in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf blossomed as a high school senior in 2019 by showing a dramatic uptick in velocity and continuing to throw strikes at his newfound speed. The Mets drafted him in the second round that year and signed him for $2.15 million, nearly $800,000 over slot for the 53rd pick. Wolf made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, but had to work remotely until instructional league in 2020 after not being brought to the Mets’ alternate training site. The Indians acquired him after the season as one of four players for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf has a chance to develop three average to above pitches with above-average control. Multiple scouts have likened his body type and athleticism to Walker Buehler when he was in high school. Wolf ranges from 91-96 mph with his fastball and throws strikes. He has potential to pitch in the mid 90s as he matures, with untapped physicality in his lean 6-foot-3 frame. Wolf shows an advanced feel for spin. He calls his breaking ball a curveball but its shape and late, abrupt break at 78-81 mph are more indicative of a slider or slurve. Given his ease of operation, Wolf should be able to pick up a usable changeup and continue throwing strikes.
  
  THE FUTURE: It will take time, but Wolf has mid-rotation upside and could blossom with a season of regular work. He should get his first taste of full-season ball in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf blossomed as a high school senior in 2019 by showing a dramatic uptick in velocity and continuing to throw strikes at his newfound speed. The Mets drafted him in the second round that year and signed him for $2.15 million, nearly $800,000 over slot for the 53rd pick. Wolf made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, but had to work remotely until instructional league in 2020 after not being brought to the Mets’ alternate training site. The Indians acquired him after the season as one of four players for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf has a chance to develop three average to above pitches with above-average control. Multiple scouts have likened his body type and athleticism to Walker Buehler when he was in high school. Wolf ranges from 91-96 mph with his fastball and throws strikes. He has potential to pitch in the mid 90s as he matures, with untapped physicality in his lean 6-foot-3 frame. Wolf shows an advanced feel for spin. He calls his breaking ball a curveball but its shape and late, abrupt break at 78-81 mph are more indicative of a slider or slurve. Given his ease of operation, Wolf should be able to pick up a usable changeup and continue throwing strikes.
  
  THE FUTURE: It will take time, but Wolf has mid-rotation upside and could blossom with a season of regular work. He should get his first taste of full-season ball in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf improved his velocity as a high school senior to sit in the mid-90s and occasionally reach 97 mph after he had ranged from 88-92 on the 2018 showcase circuit. Scouts took immediate notice of his velocity spike as well as his continued ability to throw strikes, making Wolf one of the more prominent pop-up prospects for the 2019 draft. The Mets selected him in the second round and went nearly $800,000 over slot to sign him. Wolf made five appearances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he struck out 12 and walked only one in eight innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf throws two plus pitches, shows an aggressive mound demeanor that endears him to scouts and is a twitchy athlete with a quick arm and projectable frame. He pitched at 94 mph with life in his pro debut and ranged from 91-96 while continuing to throw strikes. Wolf shows aptitude for spinning a 79-83 mph curveball that projects as a plus pitch once he develops the command to shape it consistently. Like most high school righthanders, he doesn’t have a lot of experience throwing a changeup but has the ingredients to develop an average one.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wolf needs to add about 15 pounds to his frame, but his athleticism and presence give him a mid-rotation ceiling. He should be ready for low Class A in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Wolf improved his velocity as a high school senior to sit in the mid-90s and occasionally reach 97 mph after he had ranged from 88-92 on the 2018 showcase circuit. Scouts took immediate notice of his velocity spike as well as his continued ability to throw strikes, making Wolf one of the more prominent pop-up prospects for the 2019 draft. The Mets selected him in the second round and went nearly $800,000 over slot to sign him. Wolf made five appearances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he struck out 12 and walked only one in eight innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wolf throws two plus pitches, shows an aggressive mound demeanor that endears him to scouts and is a twitchy athlete with a quick arm and projectable frame. He pitched at 94 mph with life in his pro debut and ranged from 91-96 while continuing to throw strikes. Wolf shows aptitude for spinning a 79-83 mph curveball that projects as a plus pitch once he develops the command to shape it consistently. Like most high school righthanders, he doesn't have a lot of experience throwing a changeup but has the ingredients to develop an average one.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wolf needs to add about 15 pounds to his frame, but his athleticism and presence give him a mid-rotation ceiling. He should be ready for low Class A in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  After showing solid stuff but topping out in the low 90s for most of last summer, Wolf entered the spring solidly out of Day 1 consideration and behind a number of other Texas prep pitchers. That evaluation quickly changed, as Wolf came out this spring with added strength--he's listed at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds but is likely heavier than that now--and started pitching consistently in the mid-90s and touched as high as 97 mph. In addition to his much-improved fastball velocity, Wolf spins a nasty curveball that looks like a big league breaking ball and is a surefire plus offering. The pitch settles in the mid- to upper 70s, while Wolf also throws a mid-80s changeup that could use some refinement. While there are still some command questions with Wolf, he has also improved in that regard. Those who know him are impressed with his dedication to his craft on the mound and his understanding of what he's trying to accomplish when he's on the rubber. Previously, Wolf would have been a safe bet to reach campus at Texas A&M, and he is expected to be a reasonably tough sign. But now, he's pitching at a clip that might push him into Day 1 consideration and making a jump straight into pro ball more likely.