Tyler Skulina Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Tyler J. Skulina
Born 09/18/1991 in Strongsville, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Kent State
Drafted in the 4th round (108th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2013 (signed for $800,000).

View Draft Report

Skulina had aspirations of going in the first five rounds as an Ohio high schooler in 2010, but a back injury and his Virginia commitment dropped him to the Athletics in the 46th round. He spend just one semester with the Cavaliers before transferring to Kent State, helping the Golden Flashesmake their first-ever College World Series appearance last June. He has been inconsistent this spring, allowing 11 earned runs in two innings against Louisville, yet carrying a 95 mph fastball and a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Miami (Ohio). Skulina shows first-round stuff when he's at his best. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder holds the velocity on a 91-96 mph fastball with tailing action, and he misses more bats with a tight 80-84 mph slider. He also uses a curveball to give hitters a different look and is working on a changeup. His up-and-down season is the product of inconsistent control and command, which likely will make him available in the third round.

Top Rankings

Skulina originally started his college career at Virginia but left after a semester, sat out 2011, then helped the Golden Flashes to a surprise College World Series run in 2012. He has a power arm and the best breaking ball in the Cubs' draft class, a hard slider that he uses for strikeouts and to get groundball outs. He throws the slider with power, up to 84 mph as an amateur. He has a good feel for using the pitch and has a strong body that allows him to hold the velocity on his 91-94 mph fastball, which peaks at 96. Skulina also throws a curveball and decent changeup, which is definitely his fourth-best pitch. He threw well in his pro debut before tiring after a promotion to low Class A Kane County. He'll head back there for 2014 to see if he can adjust to the five-day professional rotation while maintaining his power stuff.

Skulina had aspirations of going in the first five rounds as an Ohio high schooler in 2010, but a back injury and his Virginia commitment dropped him to the Athletics in the 46th round. He spend just one semester with the Cavaliers before transferring to Kent State, helping the Golden Flashesmake their first-ever College World Series appearance last June. He has been inconsistent this spring, allowing 11 earned runs in two innings against Louisville, yet carrying a 95 mph fastball and a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Miami (Ohio). Skulina shows first-round stuff when he's at his best. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder holds the velocity on a 91-96 mph fastball with tailing action, and he misses more bats with a tight 80-84 mph slider. He also uses a curveball to give hitters a different look and is working on a changeup. His up-and-down season is the product of inconsistent control and command, which likely will make him available in the third round.