Adam Kloffenstein

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #29 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Kloffenstein toiled in the minors for three seasons before he took a noticeable step forward in 2023. He made 17 starts for New Hampshire to begin the season and pitched to a 3.24 ERA while driving ground balls at a better than 50% rate and posting a 27.1% strikeout rate. The Cardinals acquired Kloffenstein as a part of the Jordan Hicks trade with Toronto, and assigned him to Triple-A Memphis where he made eight starts to finish the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has a deep repertoire and mixes six different pitches, including a sinker, slider, changeup, cutter, four-seam fastball and curveball. Kloffenstein’s bread and butter is his slider and sinker combination. His sinker is a low-90s offering with heavy sink from a steeper approach angle that added two ticks of velocity in 2023. His slider is a sweeper in the low-to-mid 80s he shows advanced feel for. His cutter, changeup, curveball and four-seam fastball are all fringe to below-average offerings. Kloffenstein’s strike-throwing is fringe-average but he’s typically around the zone.
  
  The Future: Kloffenstein is a potential depth starter who could fit in long relief duty thanks to a sinker/slider combination that allows him to drive high groundball rates and miss bats.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #17 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Kloffenstein was one of the top pitching prospects in the short-season Northwest League in 2019 and entered 2021 as one of Toronto’s Top 10 prospects. Kloffenstein’s stock dropped in 2021 after his first year in a full-season league, and he had trouble throwing strikes with High-A Vancouver.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has an extra-large build at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds and pitches off a mix of four- and two-seam fastballs. The velocity bump from 2020 carried over into 2021, and he sat at 90-93 mph and touching 96. Kloffenstein struggled with his fastball command, however, leading to too much hard contact off his fastball and too many walks. Kloffenstein’s slider is his most reliable secondary pitch. The raw spin on both his slider and curveball are a little below-average, but they both flash average overall. Kloffenstein has a mid-80s changeup that’s a little firm but has good fade, though it’s a pitch he doesn’t use much.
  
  The Future: Kloffenstein lacks a true plus pitch, so he needs to get his delivery in better rhythm to throw more strikes to stick as a starter and regain his stock. Double-A New Hampshire is up next.
  
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
  Track Record: A third-round pick in 2018, Kloffenstein was one of the top pitchers in the short-season Northwest League as a teenager in 2019. Instead of going to the alternate training site or instructional league in 2020, Kloffenstein stayed home in Texas to pitch in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he had a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21.1 innings, throwing no more than three innings per appearance.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has the extra-large frame similar to other pitchers the Blue Jays have drafted highly in recent years. It’s his touch and feel that sticks out more than overpowering stuff, but he also saw a slight velocity bump in 2020. He’s a strike-thrower who sits in the low-to-mid 90s with sink and now reaches 97 mph. He pairs it with two breaking pitches that he has natural feel to spin. Both his slider and curveball are average pitches with a chance to be plus, with his slider typically the more reliable of the two. His changeup, a developmental focus for Kloffenstein in 2020, has good fade and gives him a chance to develop another average pitch once he throws it more.
  
  The Future: Between his control and arsenal, Kloffenstein has the ingredients to remain a starter, with a chance for his stuff to tick up even further. There’s mid-rotation potential, with low Class A likely next.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: In the first round of the 2018 draft, the Blue Jays picked shortstop Jordan Groshans, then in the third round they took Kloffenstein, his Magnolia (Texas) High teammate. Kloffenstein was one the youngest players in his draft class and didn't turn 19 until the end of the 2019 season, which he spent carving up hitters in the college-heavy, short-season Northwest League. He ranked No. 5 in the league's loaded Top 20 prospects list.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kloffenstein is built like a power pitcher with a solid fastball, but also has impressive feel for his age, both with his control and ability to manipulate his breaking stuff. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph, with a peak of 95. Kloffenstein has an innate feel for spinning his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider. Both are at least average with a chance to be plus. He shows feel for a potentially average or better changeup as well that fades away from lefties.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kloffenstein has a starter profile and, given his youth, there might be another gear coming for his stuff. If it does, he could be a mid-rotation starter, with low Class A Lansing as his next step.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #12 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Blue Jays used their first-round pick in 2018 on shortstop Jordan Groshans, then in the third round they drafted Kloffenstein, his Magnolia (Tex.) HS teammate. The Blue Jays pulled Kloffenstein away from his TCU commitment with an over-slot $2.45 million signing bonus.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has an extra-large frame with good athleticism, body control and balance, helping him throw strikes from a sound delivery. His fastball fluctuated anywhere from 89-95 mph as a senior, but he could add a little extra in time. He shows feel for an array of secondaries, with his slider the most advanced. His slider stays in line well with his fastball before breaking late with hard tilt, projecting as an above-average pitch. Sometimes his curveball is more effective than his slider depending on the day, while his changeup is advanced and could give him another above-average pitch with more experience. He's an intelligent pitcher who earns praise from coaches as a student of the game.
  
  The Future: Kloffenstein has the potential of a mid-rotation starter, with enough upside for more.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #35 prospect in 2018 draft
  Kloffenstein is a strong, 6-foot-5 projectable righthander out of Magnolia (Texas) High, who showed an interesting package of starter traits over the summer and impressed scouts and scouting directors early this spring. He has a high, three-quarter slot and a quick arm, with a fastball in the low 90s. His breaking ball had a curveball shape over the summer and came across in the low 80s, but now looks more like a slider thanks to a mechanical tweak made by the Texas commit. This past year, Kloffenstien has shown a lot of progression, as he was always a big, physical presence but has now taken steps mentally and physically. He has cleaned up his body and holds his velocity deeper into starts, while also flashing a changeup in the mid-80s that induced several swings and misses over the summer.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #5 prospect in 2019
  Kloffenstein already has a leg up on the competition because of his workhorse frame, which will help him immensely on the road to remaining a starter. He dominated the Northwest League with a mix of five pitches—the standard four plus a two-seam fastball—that each project as at least average. His fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range, and his two-seamer, which shows the potential to be an above-average pitch, settled in at a couple of ticks below his four-seamer. He shows the ability to spin both his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider. He throws his low-80s changeup with the same conviction as his fastball, and the pitch shows excellent fading action away from lefthanders. He’s a solid bet to settle in as a potential rotation piece once he’s finished developing.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Kloffenstein was one of the top pitching prospects in the short-season Northwest League in 2019 and entered 2021 as one of Toronto’s Top 10 prospects. Kloffenstein’s stock dropped in 2021 after his first year in a full-season league, and he had trouble throwing strikes with High-A Vancouver.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has an extra-large build at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds and pitches off a mix of four- and two-seam fastballs. The velocity bump from 2020 carried over into 2021, and he sat at 90-93 mph and touching 96. Kloffenstein struggled with his fastball command, however, leading to too much hard contact off his fastball and too many walks. Kloffenstein’s slider is his most reliable secondary pitch. The raw spin on both his slider and curveball are a little below-average, but they both flash average overall. Kloffenstein has a mid-80s changeup that’s a little firm but has good fade, though it’s a pitch he doesn’t use much.
  
  The Future: Kloffenstein lacks a true plus pitch, so he needs to get his delivery in better rhythm to throw more strikes to stick as a starter and regain his stock. Double-A New Hampshire is up next.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
  Track Record: A third-round pick in 2018, Kloffenstein was one of the top pitchers in the short-season Northwest League as a teenager in 2019. Instead of going to the alternate training site or instructional league in 2020, Kloffenstein stayed home in Texas to pitch in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he had a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21.1 innings, throwing no more than three innings per appearance.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has the extra-large frame similar to other pitchers the Blue Jays have drafted highly in recent years. It's his touch and feel that sticks out more than overpowering stuff, but he also saw a slight velocity bump in 2020. He's a strike-thrower who sits in the low-to-mid 90s with sink and now reaches 97 mph. He pairs it with two breaking pitches that he has natural feel to spin. Both his slider and curveball are average pitches with a chance to be plus, with his slider typically the more reliable of the two. His changeup, a developmental focus for Kloffenstein in 2020, has good fade and gives him a chance to develop another average pitch once he throws it more.
  
  The Future: Between his control and arsenal, Kloffenstein has the ingredients to remain a starter, with a chance for his stuff to tick up even further. There's mid-rotation potential, with low Class A likely next.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
  Track Record: A third-round pick in 2018, Kloffenstein was one of the top pitchers in the short-season Northwest League as a teenager in 2019. Instead of going to the alternate training site or instructional league in 2020, Kloffenstein stayed home in Texas to pitch in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he had a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21.1 innings, throwing no more than three innings per appearance.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has the extra-large frame similar to other pitchers the Blue Jays have drafted highly in recent years. It’s his touch and feel that sticks out more than overpowering stuff, but he also saw a slight velocity bump in 2020. He’s a strike-thrower who sits in the low-to-mid 90s with sink and now reaches 97 mph. He pairs it with two breaking pitches that he has natural feel to spin. Both his slider and curveball are average pitches with a chance to be plus, with his slider typically the more reliable of the two. His changeup, a developmental focus for Kloffenstein in 2020, has good fade and gives him a chance to develop another average pitch once he throws it more.
  
  The Future: Between his control and arsenal, Kloffenstein has the ingredients to remain a starter, with a chance for his stuff to tick up even further. There’s mid-rotation potential, with low Class A likely next.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
  Track Record: A third-round pick in 2018, Kloffenstein was one of the top pitchers in the short-season Northwest League as a teenager in 2019. Instead of going to the alternate training site or instructional league in 2020, Kloffenstein stayed home in Texas to pitch in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he had a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21.1 innings, throwing no more than three innings per appearance.
  
  Scouting Report: Kloffenstein has the extra-large frame similar to other pitchers the Blue Jays have drafted highly in recent years. It’s his touch and feel that sticks out more than overpowering stuff, but he also saw a slight velocity bump in 2020. He’s a strike-thrower who sits in the low-to-mid 90s with sink and now reaches 97 mph. He pairs it with two breaking pitches that he has natural feel to spin. Both his slider and curveball are average pitches with a chance to be plus, with his slider typically the more reliable of the two. His changeup, a developmental focus for Kloffenstein in 2020, has good fade and gives him a chance to develop another average pitch once he throws it more.
  
  The Future: Between his control and arsenal, Kloffenstein has the ingredients to remain a starter, with a chance for his stuff to tick up even further. There’s mid-rotation potential, with low Class A likely next.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: In the first round of the 2018 draft, the Blue Jays picked shortstop Jordan Groshans, then in the third round they took Kloffenstein, his Magnolia (Texas) High teammate. Kloffenstein was one the youngest players in his draft class and didn’t turn 19 until the end of the 2019 season, which he spent carving up hitters in the college-heavy, short-season Northwest League. He ranked No. 5 in the league’s loaded Top 20 prospects list.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kloffenstein is built like a power pitcher with a solid fastball, but also has impressive feel for his age, both with his control and ability to manipulate his breaking stuff. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph, with a peak of 95. Kloffenstein has an innate feel for spinning his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider. Both are at least average with a chance to be plus. He shows feel for a potentially average or better changeup as well that fades away from lefties.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kloffenstein has a starter profile and, given his youth, there might be another gear coming for his stuff. If it does, he could be a mid-rotation starter, with low Class A Lansing as his next step.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: In the first round of the 2018 draft, the Blue Jays picked shortstop Jordan Groshans, then in the third round they took Kloffenstein, his Magnolia (Texas) High teammate. Kloffenstein was one the youngest players in his draft class and didn't turn 19 until the end of the 2019 season, which he spent carving up hitters in the college-heavy, short-season Northwest League. He ranked No. 5 in the league's loaded Top 20 prospects list.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kloffenstein is built like a power pitcher with a solid fastball, but also has impressive feel for his age, both with his control and ability to manipulate his breaking stuff. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph, with a peak of 95. Kloffenstein has an innate feel for spinning his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider. Both are at least average with a chance to be plus. He shows feel for a potentially average or better changeup as well that fades away from lefties.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kloffenstein has a starter profile and, given his youth, there might be another gear coming for his stuff. If it does, he could be a mid-rotation starter, with low Class A Lansing as his next step.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Kloffenstein already has a leg up on the competition because of his workhorse frame, which will help him immensely on the road to remaining a starter. He dominated the Northwest League with a mix of five pitches—the standard four plus a two-seam fastball—that each project as at least average. His fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range, and his two-seamer, which shows the potential to be an above-average pitch, settled in at a couple of ticks below his four-seamer. He shows the ability to spin both his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider. He throws his low-80s changeup with the same conviction as his fastball, and the pitch shows excellent fading action away from lefthanders. He’s a solid bet to settle in as a potential rotation piece once he’s finished developing.