Mason Denaburg Stats & Scouting Report

IP	55.2
ERA	4.04
WHIP	1.46
BB/9	5.5
SO/9	7.6

Full name Mason Alan Denaburg
Born 08/08/1999 in Cape Canaveral, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Merritt Island
Drafted in the 1st round (27th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2018 (signed for $3,000,000).

View Draft Report

Perhaps the most athletic pitcher in the class, Denaburg was one of the harder-throwing high school arms during the summer showcase season in 2017, touching 97 mph in short stints and serving as a reliever for USA Baseball's 18U National Team. A former two-way player, Denaburg would be a legitimate pro prospect as a catcher with a strong throwing arm and raw power with the bat. However, his stuff on the mound is too intriguing for pro teams to keep him in gear and Denaburg scrapped catching this spring with Merritt Island (Fla.) High to focus on improving as a pitcher. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander made a big jump after his first start of the season, when he matched up with Eau Gallie High (Melbourne, Fla.) righthander Carter Stewart in a highly-attended Prep Baseball Report tournament. In that game, Denaburg touched 97 mph in the first inning and settled into the low 90s, regularly touching 94 mph while also showing a much-improved curveball in the upper 70s that looked like a plus pitch. Over the summer, Denaburg was extremely fastball-heavy and scouts couldn't get a good feel for his secondary offerings. The breaking ball that he showed in February gave scouts a reason to get excited. He threw a hard slider with a spike grip during the summer, but discovered a different grip when throwing bullpens and flat ground sessions during the offseason. Denaburg also throws an occasional low-80s changeup that shows promise. After the PBR event, Denaburg was more inconsistent and eventually shut things down altogether with biceps tendinitis that has caused him to miss approximately one month. The status of that injury will further complicate things as teams try to decide whether he is best served as a starter or a reliever long term, although his arm strength, athleticism and feel for spin give him a ceiling as a middle-of-the-rotation arm.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: With Denaburg, the trouble is that he doesn’t have much track record as a professional due to injuries. Since he was taken 27th overall and signed for $3 million after battling biceps tendonitis as a senior in high school, Denaburg has thrown just 20.1 innings in the system, all in 2019. He had shoulder surgery after the 2019 season and then dealt with tenderness early in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. In March 2021, he had Tommy John surgery, costing him another season.

Scouting Report: It remains to be seen what Denaburg will look like when he gets back on the mound, but he typically works with a fastball that touches as high as 97 mph, a high-spin curveball in the upper-70s and a changeup that was making strides toward being an average pitch. In his debut in 2019, he struggled with control, walking 14 in his 20.1 innings, and that will need improvement moving forward.

The Future: Step one for Denaburg is getting healthy and back on the mound in games. Everything else is secondary at this point. At 22 years old next opening day, he has some catching up to do, but he still has time to get back on track.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 45
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2018 draft but was limited to eight starts his senior year by biceps tendinitis. The Nationals took him 27th overall and signed him for $3 million. Injuries have limited Denaburg in pro ball. He had shoulder surgery after a disappointing 2019 season and dealt with tenderness in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. He began throwing with fewer restrictions at the start of instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He didn’t show that velocity in his pro debut, but he impressed team officials with his progression during his recovery. Rehab pitching coordinator Mark Grater sent video to colleagues who say Denaburg has built up his body and is in the best shape he's been. Denaburg also has a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that shows above-average potential. His developing changeup has potential to be average. Denaburg is a good athlete who caught as well as pitched in high school and fields his position well. He has to prove he can get to fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: It all comes down to health for Denaburg. He’s thrown just 20 professional innings and needs development time to catch up.
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was the 27th overall pick in 2018 despite missing time in high school with biceps tendinitis. He signed for $3 million, some of which he used for a Christmas gift for his parents by paying off their loans. The video of his appreciative moment has more than 2,600 likes on Twitter. Denaburg pitched in instructional league during his draft year, but he didn't make his minor league debut until 2019, when he again wasn't healthy. He had minor shoulder surgery after the season and is expected to be back for the start of spring training.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball and changeup. The secondary stuff needs more consistency. The Nationals are hoping he can be a righthanded version of Robbie Ray, a 2010 Nationals draft pick who needed time to overcome injuries and reach the majors. Though Denaburg's velocity was down in the Gulf Coast League, he has a strong repertoire when healthy. He's also a good athlete capable of repeating his delivery.

THE FUTURE: Denaburg will continue to learn the pro game. In 2019, he pitched through adversity, but he's still a young pitcher with a high upside.
Track Record: A converted catcher, Denaburg established himself as one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in a deep 2018 prep pitching class and did enough over the summer and during his spring season to get selected at No. 27--even though he missed time with biceps tendinitis. He did not pitch after signing for $3 million.

Scouting Report: An athletic righthander with an ideal starter's frame, Denaburg touched 97 mph at times as an amateur, though he usually settles into the low 90s. At the lower velocities he commands the pitch substantially better. However, as Denaburg continues to refine his understanding of pitching, he has the mechanics, arm action and athleticism that should allow him to develop at least above-average control. In addition to a plus fastball, Denaburg has a curveball in the upper-70s that will need more consistency but has the power and depth to become a second plus offering. Denaburg rarely threw a low-80s changeup as an amateur, but he showed good feel for the pitch at instructional league.

The Future: Denaburg has middle-of-the-rotation upside and should have more than enough body control to make the small adjustments that will be necessary to handle his first full season in 2019.

Draft Prospects

Perhaps the most athletic pitcher in the class, Denaburg was one of the harder-throwing high school arms during the summer showcase season in 2017, touching 97 mph in short stints and serving as a reliever for USA Baseball's 18U National Team. A former two-way player, Denaburg would be a legitimate pro prospect as a catcher with a strong throwing arm and raw power with the bat. However, his stuff on the mound is too intriguing for pro teams to keep him in gear and Denaburg scrapped catching this spring with Merritt Island (Fla.) High to focus on improving as a pitcher. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander made a big jump after his first start of the season, when he matched up with Eau Gallie High (Melbourne, Fla.) righthander Carter Stewart in a highly-attended Prep Baseball Report tournament. In that game, Denaburg touched 97 mph in the first inning and settled into the low 90s, regularly touching 94 mph while also showing a much-improved curveball in the upper 70s that looked like a plus pitch. Over the summer, Denaburg was extremely fastball-heavy and scouts couldn't get a good feel for his secondary offerings. The breaking ball that he showed in February gave scouts a reason to get excited. He threw a hard slider with a spike grip during the summer, but discovered a different grip when throwing bullpens and flat ground sessions during the offseason. Denaburg also throws an occasional low-80s changeup that shows promise. After the PBR event, Denaburg was more inconsistent and eventually shut things down altogether with biceps tendinitis that has caused him to miss approximately one month. The status of that injury will further complicate things as teams try to decide whether he is best served as a starter or a reliever long term, although his arm strength, athleticism and feel for spin give him a ceiling as a middle-of-the-rotation arm.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Fastball in the Washington Nationals in 2019

Scouting Reports

Track Record: With Denaburg, the trouble is that he doesn’t have much track record as a professional due to injuries. Since he was taken 27th overall and signed for $3 million after battling biceps tendonitis as a senior in high school, Denaburg has thrown just 20.1 innings in the system, all in 2019. He had shoulder surgery after the 2019 season and then dealt with tenderness early in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. In March 2021, he had Tommy John surgery, costing him another season.

Scouting Report: It remains to be seen what Denaburg will look like when he gets back on the mound, but he typically works with a fastball that touches as high as 97 mph, a high-spin curveball in the upper-70s and a changeup that was making strides toward being an average pitch. In his debut in 2019, he struggled with control, walking 14 in his 20.1 innings, and that will need improvement moving forward.

The Future: Step one for Denaburg is getting healthy and back on the mound in games. Everything else is secondary at this point. At 22 years old next opening day, he has some catching up to do, but he still has time to get back on track.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 45
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2018 draft but was limited to eight starts his senior year by biceps tendinitis. The Nationals took him 27th overall and signed him for $3 million. Injuries have limited Denaburg in pro ball. He had shoulder surgery after a disappointing 2019 season and dealt with tenderness in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. He began throwing with fewer restrictions at the start of instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He didn't show that velocity in his pro debut, but he impressed team officials with his progression during his recovery. Rehab pitching coordinator Mark Grater sent video to colleagues who say Denaburg has built up his body and is in the best shape he's been. Denaburg also has a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that shows above-average potential. His developing changeup has potential to be average. Denaburg is a good athlete who caught as well as pitched in high school and fields his position well. He has to prove he can get to fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: It all comes down to health for Denaburg. He's thrown just 20 professional innings and needs development time to catch up.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 45
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2018 draft but was limited to eight starts his senior year by biceps tendinitis. The Nationals took him 27th overall and signed him for $3 million. Injuries have limited Denaburg in pro ball. He had shoulder surgery after a disappointing 2019 season and dealt with tenderness in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. He began throwing with fewer restrictions at the start of instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He didn’t show that velocity in his pro debut, but he impressed team officials with his progression during his recovery. Rehab pitching coordinator Mark Grater sent video to colleagues who say Denaburg has built up his body and is in the best shape he's been. Denaburg also has a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that shows above-average potential. His developing changeup has potential to be average. Denaburg is a good athlete who caught as well as pitched in high school and fields his position well. He has to prove he can get to fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: It all comes down to health for Denaburg. He’s thrown just 20 professional innings and needs development time to catch up.
Fastball: 60. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 45
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2018 draft but was limited to eight starts his senior year by biceps tendinitis. The Nationals took him 27th overall and signed him for $3 million. Injuries have limited Denaburg in pro ball. He had shoulder surgery after a disappointing 2019 season and dealt with tenderness in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. He began throwing with fewer restrictions at the start of instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He didn’t show that velocity in his pro debut, but he impressed team officials with his progression during his recovery. Rehab pitching coordinator Mark Grater sent video to colleagues who say Denaburg has built up his body and is in the best shape he's been. Denaburg also has a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that shows above-average potential. His developing changeup has potential to be average. Denaburg is a good athlete who caught as well as pitched in high school and fields his position well. He has to prove he can get to fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: It all comes down to health for Denaburg. He’s thrown just 20 professional innings and needs development time to catch up.
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was the 27th overall pick in 2018 despite missing time in high school with biceps tendinitis. He signed for $3 million, some of which he used for a Christmas gift for his parents by paying off their loans. The video of his appreciative moment has more than 2,600 likes on Twitter. Denaburg pitched in instructional league during his draft year, but he didn’t make his minor league debut until 2019, when he again wasn’t healthy. He had minor shoulder surgery after the season and is expected to be back for the start of spring training.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball and changeup. The secondary stuff needs more consistency. The Nationals are hoping he can be a righthanded version of Robbie Ray, a 2010 Nationals draft pick who needed time to overcome injuries and reach the majors. Though Denaburg’s velocity was down in the Gulf Coast League, he has a strong repertoire when healthy. He’s also a good athlete capable of repeating his delivery.

THE FUTURE: Denaburg will continue to learn the pro game. In 2019, he pitched through adversity, but he’s still a young pitcher with a high upside.
TRACK RECORD: Denaburg was the 27th overall pick in 2018 despite missing time in high school with biceps tendinitis. He signed for $3 million, some of which he used for a Christmas gift for his parents by paying off their loans. The video of his appreciative moment has more than 2,600 likes on Twitter. Denaburg pitched in instructional league during his draft year, but he didn't make his minor league debut until 2019, when he again wasn't healthy. He had minor shoulder surgery after the season and is expected to be back for the start of spring training.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Denaburg has a mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball and changeup. The secondary stuff needs more consistency. The Nationals are hoping he can be a righthanded version of Robbie Ray, a 2010 Nationals draft pick who needed time to overcome injuries and reach the majors. Though Denaburg's velocity was down in the Gulf Coast League, he has a strong repertoire when healthy. He's also a good athlete capable of repeating his delivery.

THE FUTURE: Denaburg will continue to learn the pro game. In 2019, he pitched through adversity, but he's still a young pitcher with a high upside.
Ranked the No. 22 player in the 2018 draft class, Denaburg bounced back from a biceps injury as a high school senior to go No. 27 overall to the Nationals. He throws a plus fastball that has touched 97 mph as well as an improved curveball that should be a second plus pitch. There’s still significant projection with Denaburg, but he has the athleticism and arm strength to take big steps forward.