Zach Haake

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #27 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Durability concerns continue to be part of the equation for Haake, who missed six weeks with an oblique injury in 2021 and also missed two months in 2019 with shoulder soreness. He pitched well with High-A Quad Cities when healthy, posting a 3.74 ERA in 45.2 innings. Kansas City then sent Haake to the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled at times.
  
  Scouting Report: Injuries and inconsistency have made Haake difficult to project dating back to his underwhelming college career, but his long frame and pitch mix have continued to earn him chances to start when healthy. His fastball sits 93-96 mph with armside run, and he also has feel for a potentially plus changeup, his most consistent secondary. Continued development of Haake’s mid-80s slider will be key for him. Sometimes it tends to flatten out, resembling more of a cutter, but it was a potent swing-and-miss offering against High-A Central hitters this year, generating a 49% whiff rate. Haake walked 4.34 batters per nine innings and will need to tighten his strike-throwing.
  
  The Future: Some evaluators feel Haake has regressed over the last two years and Kansas City did not add him to its 40-man roster, leaving him unprotected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. It’s becoming increasingly likely he winds up in a relief role before long.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #23 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Haake has had an up-and-down career that included an 8.47 ERA at Kentucky his junior season. The Royals still drafted him in the sixth round based on his loud stuff and were rewarded when he posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Haake missed nearly two months with shoulder soreness, however, and his only 2020 action came during the Royals' fall instructional program.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake's strength is a 93-97 mph fastball with good life that is capable of beating hitters up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it cuts so much before dropping quickly. He also throws a slider with 11-to-5 break, which flashes plus and has good late movement. Haake is athletic but doesn't always repeat his delivery and has fringe-average control. He has a history of struggling to get through an order a second time.
  
  THE FUTURE: Haake has the repertoire to remain in the rotation with more consistency and a cleaner delivery. He has the stuff to thrive in a bullpen role if those developments don't come.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #15 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Haake is perhaps the poster child for both outstanding amateur scouting and player development. He posted an 8.47 ERA in his one year at Kentucky, but the Royals were astute enough to pick him in the sixth round in 2018 and sign him to a $297,500 bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake missed part of the 2019 season at low Class A Lexington with shoulder soreness but pitched well in his 18 starts at the level. He's two or three inches taller than his listed height, with a lanky frame that can add strength. With a big fastball in the mid-to-upper-90s, he's capable of beating hitters with it up in the zone but needs more consistency with the pitch. Haake's best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it moves so much before dropping quickly. He needs to develop consistency with the slider, a potential plus pitch with 11-to-5 break getting good depth and late movement.
  
  THE FUTURE: There's still some rawness to Haake's game and questions persist as to how deep into games he'll be able to get, but he's got the tools and athleticism to take a big jump forward over the next year. He's slated for high Class A Wilmington.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #23 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Haake made a circuitous journey through the college ranks, spending one year each at Arkansas State, John A Logan (Ill.) JC, and finally at Kentucky where he split his Wildcats season between the bullpen and the rotation. The Royals continued loading their 2018 draft class with a smorgasbord of college pitchers by taking Haake in the sixth round, despite an ugly 8.37 ERA in his final college season.
  
  Scouting Report: Haake's difficulties at Kentucky stemmed from moving back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen, as he didn't have the endurance to succeed the second time through a lineup. The first item of business when reporting to the Royals' complex was to start a throwing program to build up his endurance. He also worked on his delivery in order to stay on line and repeat his delivery and his finish more often. Haake's fastball sits 93-98 mph, pitching most often at 95-96 mph in instructional league, but it comes in fairly straight. His 85-86 mph changeup is a below-average offering but showed improvement in the fall, while his average, 84-87 mph slider is still a work in progress that could become above-average in the future. With a tall, slender frame, Haake has plenty of room to get stronger. Track Record: Haake's three-pitch mix in college indicates a future in the starting rotation, but Haake's track record could indicate a bullpen role is more likely, unless the Royals' conditioning program pays off. Haake will most likely begin 2019 with low Class A Lexington.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #218 prospect in 2018 draft
  After pitching sporadically at Arkansas State as a freshman, Haake transferred to John A. Logan (Ill.) JC for his sophomore season, showed power stuff and became one of the key signees in Kentucky's 2017 recruiting class. Haake began his Wildcats career in the bullpen as a power setup man, but moved to the weekend rotation after Zack Thompson went down with an elbow injury. In short stints, he's been electric, including two perfect innings when matched up against Florida's Brady Singer. But Haake has not shown the ability to succeed a second time through the order, which explains why is overall stats are ugly. There are scouts who see him as a starter, as Haake will flash three above-average pitches. His 93-97 mph fastball earns 70 grades from some scouts, while his 82-85 mph slider is a plus pitch and he'll flash an above-average 86-88 mph changeup at his best. Haake lands onto a stiff front side and he gets off-line, which impacts his control at times, but his arm action is clean. Haake's stuff will likely push him into the third or fourth round, despite an ugly stat line. He's most likely a power reliever in pro ball, but with three pitches, there's still plenty of reasons to dream.
• Ranked #150 prospect in 2017 draft
  Last year righthander Matthias Dietz (the Orioles' second round pick) became only the second John A. Logan (Ill.) JC player to be selected in the top 10 rounds of the draft. Now Haake, a kickback from Arkansas State, gives the Volunteers a chance to have top 10 round picks in consecutive years. Haake is a skinny and projectable 6-foot-5, 190-pound righthander with a projectable frame but very little musculature at this point. What he does already have is a quick arm. Haake has pitched at 90-95 mph all spring, dominating junior college hitters (10.41 K/9, 2.52 ERA) with an above-average fastball. He is generally around the strike zone, showing potential for average control, although his command is still questionable in part because he still has work to do on repeating his delivery. Haake''s 80-82 mph potentially average slider has generally been his best offspeed pitch, but it's a little sweepy and he's refined his changeup to the point where it now flashes plus. Haake is considered a third-to-fifth round talent by a number of teams. But he is signed to go to Kentucky next season and is expected to require a significant signing bonus to forgo a chance to pitch in the Southeastern Conference.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Durability concerns continue to be part of the equation for Haake, who missed six weeks with an oblique injury in 2021 and also missed two months in 2019 with shoulder soreness. He pitched well with High-A Quad Cities when healthy, posting a 3.74 ERA in 45.2 innings. Kansas City then sent Haake to the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled at times.
  
  Scouting Report: Injuries and inconsistency have made Haake difficult to project dating back to his underwhelming college career, but his long frame and pitch mix have continued to earn him chances to start when healthy. His fastball sits 93-96 mph with armside run, and he also has feel for a potentially plus changeup, his most consistent secondary. Continued development of Haake’s mid-80s slider will be key for him. Sometimes it tends to flatten out, resembling more of a cutter, but it was a potent swing-and-miss offering against High-A Central hitters this year, generating a 49% whiff rate. Haake walked 4.34 batters per nine innings and will need to tighten his strike-throwing.
  
  The Future: Some evaluators feel Haake has regressed over the last two years and Kansas City did not add him to its 40-man roster, leaving him unprotected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. It’s becoming increasingly likely he winds up in a relief role before long.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Haake has had an up-and-down career that included an 8.47 ERA at Kentucky his junior season. The Royals still drafted him in the sixth round based on his loud stuff and were rewarded when he posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Haake missed nearly two months with shoulder soreness, however, and his only 2020 action came during the Royals' fall instructional program.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake's strength is a 93-97 mph fastball with good life that is capable of beating hitters up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it cuts so much before dropping quickly. He also throws a slider with 11-to-5 break, which flashes plus and has good late movement. Haake is athletic but doesn't always repeat his delivery and has fringe-average control. He has a history of struggling to get through an order a second time.
  
  THE FUTURE: Haake has the repertoire to remain in the rotation with more consistency and a cleaner delivery. He has the stuff to thrive in a bullpen role if those developments don't come.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Haake has had an up-and-down career that included an 8.47 ERA at Kentucky his junior season. The Royals still drafted him in the sixth round based on his loud stuff and were rewarded when he posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Haake missed nearly two months with shoulder soreness, however, and his only 2020 action came during the Royals' fall instructional program.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake's strength is a 93-97 mph fastball with good life that is capable of beating hitters up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it cuts so much before dropping quickly. He also throws a slider with 11-to-5 break, which flashes plus and has good late movement. Haake is athletic but doesn't always repeat his delivery and has fringe-average control. He has a history of struggling to get through an order a second time.
  
  THE FUTURE: Haake has the repertoire to remain in the rotation with more consistency and a cleaner delivery. He has the stuff to thrive in a bullpen role if those developments don't come.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Haake has had an up-and-down career that included an 8.47 ERA at Kentucky his junior season. The Royals still drafted him in the sixth round based on his loud stuff and were rewarded when he posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Haake missed nearly two months with shoulder soreness, however, and his only 2020 action came during the Royals' fall instructional program.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake's strength is a 93-97 mph fastball with good life that is capable of beating hitters up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it cuts so much before dropping quickly. He also throws a slider with 11-to-5 break, which flashes plus and has good late movement. Haake is athletic but doesn't always repeat his delivery and has fringe-average control. He has a history of struggling to get through an order a second time.
  
  THE FUTURE: Haake has the repertoire to remain in the rotation with more consistency and a cleaner delivery. He has the stuff to thrive in a bullpen role if those developments don't come.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Haake is perhaps the poster child for both outstanding amateur scouting and player development. He posted an 8.47 ERA in his one year at Kentucky, but the Royals were astute enough to pick him in the sixth round in 2018 and sign him to a $297,500 bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake missed part of the 2019 season at low Class A Lexington with shoulder soreness but pitched well in his 18 starts at the level. He’s two or three inches taller than his listed height, with a lanky frame that can add strength. With a big fastball in the mid-to-upper-90s, he’s capable of beating hitters with it up in the zone but needs more consistency with the pitch. Haake’s best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it moves so much before dropping quickly. He needs to develop consistency with the slider, a potential plus pitch with 11-to-5 break getting good depth and late movement.
  
  THE FUTURE: There’s still some rawness to Haake’s game and questions persist as to how deep into games he’ll be able to get, but he’s got the tools and athleticism to take a big jump forward over the next year. He’s slated for high Class A Wilmington.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Haake is perhaps the poster child for both outstanding amateur scouting and player development. He posted an 8.47 ERA in his one year at Kentucky, but the Royals were astute enough to pick him in the sixth round in 2018 and sign him to a $297,500 bonus.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Haake missed part of the 2019 season at low Class A Lexington with shoulder soreness but pitched well in his 18 starts at the level. He's two or three inches taller than his listed height, with a lanky frame that can add strength. With a big fastball in the mid-to-upper-90s, he's capable of beating hitters with it up in the zone but needs more consistency with the pitch. Haake's best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it moves so much before dropping quickly. He needs to develop consistency with the slider, a potential plus pitch with 11-to-5 break getting good depth and late movement.
  
  THE FUTURE: There's still some rawness to Haake's game and questions persist as to how deep into games he'll be able to get, but he's got the tools and athleticism to take a big jump forward over the next year. He's slated for high Class A Wilmington.