Conner Greene

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #16 prospect in 2018
  The arrows seemed to be pointing up for Greene after the 2015 season, when he finished the year in Double-A, was throwing strikes and was throwing harder than ever. Greene hit triple-digits on on the radar gun in 2017, but the rest of his numbers underwhelming. Greene is an excellent athlete with a power arm, sitting in the mid-90s and reaching 101 mph. Despite that big velocity, hitters had little trouble squaring up Greene last year in Double-A. His fastball lacks great movement and he doesn't command it well yet, which led to a high walk rate. He also didn't miss many bats as he lacks a putaway secondary pitch. His 79-81 mph curveball and 86-88 mph changeup are fringe-average pitches, because he tends to slow his arm speed on when he throws them. There are significant developmental jumps Greene will have to make to continue as a starter, and while the Blue Jays plan to keep him in that role, he has the type of stuff that could play well in short stints without having to get through a lineup multiple times.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #5 prospect in 2017
  Greene broke out in 2015, finishing the year in Double-A. He didn't respond well when sent back to high Class A to start 2016 and struggled with his control, ranking 13th in the minors with 71 walks. In terms of stuff, no Blue Jays farmhand can match Greene, who has the system's most explosive fastball for a starter. He can reach 98 mph and pitches in the 93-97 range at his best with his four-seamer, at times mixing in an 89-92 two-seamer. He's very athletic, lean and loose. His changeup remains his best secondary pitch, an above-average pitch thrown with good arm speed and featuring late fade. His 83-87 mph slider flashes above-average with depth, but it lacks consistency, while his curveball gets slow and loopy. Scouts outside the organization question Greene's dedication to learning pitch sequencing and attention to detail, both on and off the mound. Greene tinkered with his delivery to sync up his body and fast arm and had an inconsistent between-starts routine, which contributed to his below-average control. If his control clicks, Greene has front-of-the-rotation potential, but he has to throw quality strikes above Class A. He will likely return to Double-A in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #2 prospect in 2016
  Greene is the only Blue Jays prospect with his own IMDB page. He's modeled since childhood and has dabbled in acting, with two brief appearances in "Anger Management," a sitcom starring fellow Santa Monica High grad Charlie Sheen. Signed for a below-slot $100,000 bonus in 2013, Greene has started growing into his body, adding about 20 pounds to his listed weight, and broke out in 2015, finishing the season in Double-A. The Blue Jays prioritize tall, loose, athletic, projectable pitchers for the draft, and Greene checks every box, building strength via gymnastics and surfing in the offseason. He adds pitchability and a now-plus fastball. He sat 86-90 in high school but has reached 97 mph as a pro, though he usually pitches off his 92-94 mph heater. He gets good angle to the plate thanks to his delivery and three-quarters slot, making his fastball tough to square up. His changeup has similar angle and sinking life and is his best secondary pitch, helping handle lefthanded hitters (.207 in 198 at-bats) better than righthanded ones (.307 in 309 atbats). Greene's curveball flashes above-average but lacks consistency because it lacks consistent power and location. He's working to add some sweep to it to make it more of a swing-and-miss pitch. Greene's first year in full-season ball went better than anyone expected. He may spend all of 2016 back in Double-A as he tries to polish his curveball and overall command. He has the pieces to mature into a No. 2 starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #446 prospect in 2013 draft
  Long and lean at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds, Greene is all about projection. He has a high waist, long legs and a quick arm, and he has cleaned up his delivery, helping him touch 91-92 mph on occasion. He usually pitches at 87-88, and his secondary stuff is underdeveloped. He throws a splitter rather than a changeup, and the pitch has sink but is inconsistent. His curve has 11-to-5 break, and his best ones rate as 40s on the 20-80 scouting scale. He needs to sharpen it up and improve his command of his entire repertoire. Greene is committed to JC of Southern Nevada.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #17 prospect in 2016
  The Blue Jays put Greene on the fast track in 2015, a season he finished in Double-A, but he returned to high Class A to start 2016 and didn't respond tremendously. His delivery got a bit out of whack, and the Southern Californian struck some managers as too laid back for his own good at times, with inconsistent focus leading to high walk totals. However, Greene's combination of youth, projection and electric present stuff still made him one of the league's best pitching prospects. He has added some good weight and holds plus fastball velocity deeper into games, now sitting 93-96 mph and touching 97 regularly with good life. Greene's delivery produces good angle to the plate and plenty of ground balls, and his hard curveball has good spin and shape at its best. Greene has improvements to make with pitch sequencing and with the consistency of his curveball, which remains behind his plus changeup. But his main issues are focus and fastball command.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Greene broke out in 2015, finishing the year in Double-A. He didn't respond well when sent back to high Class A to start 2016 and struggled with his control, ranking 13th in the minors with 71 walks. Scouting Report: In terms of stuff, no Blue Jays farmhand can match Greene, who has the system's most explosive fastball for a starter. He can reach 98 mph and pitches in the 93-97 range at his best with his four-seamer, at times mixing in an 89-92 two-seamer. He's very athletic, lean and loose. His changeup remains his best secondary pitch, an above-average pitch thrown with good arm speed and featuring late fade. His 83-87 mph slider flashes above-average with depth, but it lacks consistency, while his curveball gets slow and loopy. Scouts outside the organization question Greene's dedication to learning pitch sequencing and attention to detail, both on and off the mound. Greene tinkered with his delivery to sync up his body and fast arm and had an inconsistent between-starts routine, which contributed to his below-average control. The Future: If his control clicks, Greene has front-of-the-rotation potential, but he has to throw quality strikes above Class A. He will likely return to Double-A in 2017.