Cody Poteet

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #14 prospect in 2017
  Poteet pitched in multiple roles for deep Bruins staffs that included 2015 first-rounder James Kaprelian, making 39 starts and 34 relief appearances in three seasons. The Marlins placed him in the rotation upon drafting him and signing him for a slot bonus of $488,700 in the fourth round in 2015. Poteet's velocity ticks up out of the bullpen to about 94 mph, but as a starter he sits 88-92 mph with his fastball with running action to the arm side. He generates a fair amount of ground balls thanks to the pitch's boring action. His slider flashes above-average with some tilt and his curveball shows average, although it can get loopy. His changeup needs more repetitions to become useful. Poteet profiles as a back-end starter and has been compared to Tom Koehler, albeit with less velocity, and Mike Leake. If he can't clean up his changeup, he could be a solid middle relief option who relies primarily on a fastball and slider.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #19 prospect in 2016
  Because Poteet didn't turn 21 until after the 2015 draft, he was one of the youngest college pitchers in his draft class. He also was difficult for scouts to pin down because he pitched in multiple roles on a deep Bruins staff that included Yankees first-rounder James Kaprielian and closer David Berg, a sixthround pick of the Cubs. Poteet made mid-week starts in February and March but shifted to relief when Pacific-12 Conference play began. In relief, Poteet's fastball touched 94 mph and sat 90-92. As a starter, he sat most often between 88-91 mph with a fastball that lacked movement. In his brief pro experience at short-season Batavia, Poteet sat more 90-94 mph with boring action in on the hands of righthanders. He threw just 13 innings in five appearances and topped out at 57 pitches, however. Poteet thrives when he's throwing his two breaking balls for strikes, with his slider flashing plus at 84-86 mph. It grades out higher than his curveball, which can get loopy. Poteet has drawn comparisons with Mike Leake for his pitch mix and size, and with his pedigree, a jump to full-season ball in 2016 seems probable.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #190 prospect in 2015 draft
  Poteet, who married UCLA women's basketball player Madeline Poteet prior to the school year, has presented scouts with an enigma as he's shifted between multiple roles on a deep Bruins pitching staff. He made more mid-week starts early this season while working almost exclusively in relief during Pacific-12 Conference play. Poteet's fastball played up in the relief role, as his fastball scraped 94 at times but more often sat at 90-92. His fastball lacks waggle and he has to locate it, particularly when he gets out of synch with his delivery. Poteet thrives when he's throwing his two breaking balls for strikes, with the slider at times earning plus grades at 84-86 mph. It grades out higher than his solid-average curve, and on his best days he locates both pitches well. He has also shown a changeup, though it's his fourth pitch. Poteet is a good athlete with a smallish 6-foot-1, 188-pound body who has attacked hitters with more aggression as a reliever than he did as a starter. He has starter stuff, though, in a year with modest college pitching options.
• Ranked #189 prospect in 2012 draft
  Poteet established himself on the showcase circuit, but his stock has fallen this spring. He passed on playing for his high school team to play in the same wood-bat league as Tanner Rahier. The 6-foot-1 Poteet has good strength in his frame and flashes tantalizing stuff. He works in the 88-92 mph range and tops out at 93-94, but his fastball lacks life and deception, and it was hittable this spring. His fastball is more effective when his changeup is on, diving down and away from lefthanded hitters. His calling card is a power curveball that flashes plus, and he mixes in a decent slider that he controls better than the curve. His overall command is spotty, in part because he doesn't do a great job finishing his delivery. Scouts also question his competitiveness, and some think he would benefit from three years at UCLA. A team that likes his upside could take a chance on him in the third to fifth round.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Poteet was the Marlins' fourth-round pick in 2015 out of UCLA and made his big league debut in 2021. He made seven starts for the club before going on the IL on June 28 with a right knee sprain. He operates with a four-pitch mix fronted by a four-seam fastball that averages roughly 94 mph.