Patrick Corbin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #9 prospect in 2012
  One of the better athletes in the system, Corbin played both baseball and basketball at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC before transferring to Chipola (Fla.) JC in 2009. The Angels drafted him in the second round that June, then sent him to the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade 13 months later. Part of Mobile's 2011 championship club, he led the Southern League in innings (160) and strikeouts (142). Like fellow lefties Tyler Skaggs and David Holmberg, Corbin experienced a bump in fastball velocity in 2011. His heater now ranges from 89-94 mph and usually operates at 90-92. He's still very lanky and could gain more speed as he gets stronger. He throws with terrific angle to the plate and his three-quarters delivery also creates nice downward plane. Both of Corbin's secondary pitches have the potential to become plus offerings, with his changeup more consistent than his late-breaking slider. The biggest quibbles scouts have are with his arm action and slight build, but he has been durable and fills the strike zone. His athleticism helps him field his position well and control the running game. Corbin will move to Triple-A in 2012 and be in line for a promotion if there's an opening at the major league level. He projects as a No. 4 starter.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #9 prospect in 2011
  While Tyler Skaggs was the centerpiece of the Dan Haren trade from the Diamondbacks' perspective, Corbin could give them a second lefty starter out of the deal. He began his college career playing baseball and basketball at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC in 2008 before transferring to Chipola (Fla.) JC and going in the second round the following year. Because Corbin already had pitched 118 innings at the time of the trade, Arizona limited him to three innings per start afterward. Corbin's fastball ranges from 88-92 mph with very good movement. He has the ability to throw nothing but fastballs for long periods because it tails and sinks and is never straight. Both of his secondary pitches have the potential to become at least solid if not more, and his slider currently rates ahead of his changeup. Corbin commands all three of his pitches, has an athletic delivery and possesses a feel for his craft. He has a projectable body, though there are questions about whether his slight build will allow him to hold up over a full season in the rotation. Corbin is ready for Double-A. He projects as a No. 3 or 4 starter and could get his first chance in the big leagues in 2012.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #12 prospect in 2010
  Corbin graduated from high school in upstate New York in 2007 and headed to nearby Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC to play both baseball and basketball. He transferred to Chipola (Fla.) JC for the 2009 season to focus on pitching and showed so much improvement that he was regarded as Florida's top juco pitching prospect. He won over observers in the Rookie-level Pioneer League after signing for $450,000 as a second-round pick. Corbin can dunk a basketball from a standstill, and his premium athleticism and loose arm portend more velocity down the road. He pitches downhill at 90 mph with natural sink now, and he ranges from the high 80s to 93. One thing remains consistent: the natural cutting or tailing action on his fastball. Corbin's hard slurve ranges from 75-82 mph and features sharp, deep tilt at its best. His aptitude and clean arm stroke enabled him to flash a plus changeup. Corbin's athleticism makes him a standout defender on the mound. He's around the plate, but his command suffers because he can't predict how his lively fastball will behave. He needs to improve the balance in his delivery because he tends to lean toward the plate with his upper body, which causes his arm to drag. Corbin is tall and skinny, with much of his future value tied to the development of his fastball. His mound presence and willingness to pitch in on righthanders could make him a mid-rotation starter. He's ready for low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #20 prospect in 2012
  Along with Skaggs, Corbin was part of the four-player package the Diamondbacks received from the Angels for Dan Haren in July 2010. He opened 2012 in Double-A and made just four starts before getting called up to Arizona. He spent the rest of the season on the Phoenix-Reno shuffle, joining the big league rotation for good at the beginning of August. Corbin's fastball usually ranges from 87-92 mph, and it's effective because it has life and he commands it down in the strike zone. His changeup is a potential plus pitch, and he also features an average slider with late break and some depth. He excels at throwing strikes, but his command could use some fine-tuning.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #16 prospect in 2011
  The Diamondbacks got two quality lefthanded pitching prospects in the Haren trade a year ago. In addition to Skaggs, they also landed Corbin, who topped the SL in innings (160) and strikeouts (142). A former basketball player at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC, Corbin has tremendous athleticism that helps him repeat his delivery and throw plenty of strikes from his three-quarters arm slot. He pitches to both sides of the plate with his 87-92 mph fastball, working aggressively to get ahead of hitters. He spots his tailing fastball well enough that he can pitch nearly exclusively with it early in the game, then use his offspeed stuff later in the game when necessary. Corbin's sharp, late-breaking slider grades out as average or a tick better. He mixes in an effective changeup that's average now and could be a plus pitch in time. Though his arm action does give some scouts pause, he has the upside of a solid mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked California League #10 prospect in 2010
  Corbin opened the season in low Class A and saw time with two Cal League clubs, moving from Rancho Cucamonga to Visalia when the Angels shipped him to the Diamondbacks as part of the Dan Haren deal. Corbin already had worked 119 innings by late July, so Arizona limited him to three-inning starts in August. He has just average velocity on his 88-92 mph fastball, but it plays up because it tails and sinks, and he commands it so well. "It's never straight," Visalia manager Audo Vicente said. Corbin improved his slider and changeup, and both should become solid secondary pitches. He's athletic but needs to get stronger as scouts wonder if his skinny frame can handle the physical demands of a big league starter.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #5 prospect in 2009
  Tall and thin at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Corbin played baseball and basketball at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC before transferring to Chipola (Fla.) JC, where he focused on pitching and emerged as a second-round pick in June. He can dunk a basketball from a standstill, and his premium athleticism and loose arm portend more velocity down the road. Corbin's fastball currently ranges from 88-93 mph, sitting at 90-91 with natural sink and either tailing or cutting action. He's around the plate, but his command in the zone suffers because he often can't predict how his fastball will behave. Corbin throws a hard slurve that's 75-82 mph and sometimes features sharp, deep tilt. His clean arm stroke allowed him to take to a changeup quickly, and it showed flashes of being a plus pitch by the end of the season. He projects a quiet confidence on the mound and has shown a willingness to pitch in on righthanders.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: One of the better athletes in the system, Corbin played both baseball and basketball at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC before transferring to Chipola (Fla.) JC in 2009. The Angels drafted him in the second round that June, then sent him to the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade 13 months later. Part of Mobile's 2011 championship club, he led the Southern League in innings (160) and strikeouts (142). Scouting Report: Like fellow lefties Tyler Skaggs and Dennis Holmberg, Corbin experienced a bump in fastball velocity in 2011. His heater now ranges from 89-94 mph and usually operates at 90-92. He's still very lanky and could gain more speed as he gets stronger. He throws with terrific angle to the plate, as good as Arizona farmhand, and his three-quarters delivery also creates nice downward plane. Both of Corbin's secondary pitches have the potential to become plus offerings, with his changeup more consistent than his late-breaking slider. The biggest quibbles scouts have are with his arm action and slight build, but he has been durable and fills the strike zone. His athleticism helps him field his position well and control the running game. The Future: Corbin will move to Triple-A in 2012 and be in line for a promotion if there's an opening at the major league level. He projects as a No. 4 starter.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Background: While Tyler Skaggs was the centerpiece of the Dan Haren trade from the Diamondbacks' perspective, Corbin could give them a second lefty starter out of the deal. He began his college career playing baseball and basketball at Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC in 2008 before transferring to Chipola (Fla.) JC and going in the second round the following year. Because Corbin already had pitched 118 innings at the time of the trade, Arizona limited him to three innings per start afterward. Scouting Report: Corbin's fastball ranges from 88-92 mph with very good movement. He has the ability to throw nothing but fastballs for long periods because it tails and sinks and is never straight. Both of his secondary pitches have the potential to become at least solid if not more, and his slider currently rates ahead of his changeup. Corbin commands all three of his pitches, has an athletic delivery and possesses a feel for his craft. He has a projectable body, though there are questions about whether his slight build will allow him to hold up over a full season in the rotation. The Future: Corbin is ready for Double-A. He projects as a No. 3 or 4 starter and could get his first chance in the big leagues in 2012.