Zack Erwin Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Zachary Scott Erwin
Born 01/24/1994 in Park Ridge, IL
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Clemson
Drafted in the 4th round (112th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2015 (signed for $508,000).

View Draft Report

Erwin is the top pitching prospect on a talented Clemson squad that includes pro prospects all over the diamond. At his best, Erwin will show the potential for three above-average pitches. His fastball can bump 92 mph, but operates mostly at 88-90. Erwin commands his fastball well to his arm side, with the ability to go up and down the zone, and he can also hit the zone down and to his glove side. His best secondary pitch is his curveball, which projects as an above-average pitch. When Erwin is on top of it, the offering shows 1-to-7 break and consistently tight spin. His third pitch is a split-finger changeup, which he can pound down and to both sides of the plate. The change shows late fade and tumble, and is a swing-and-miss pitch when Erwin buries it at the knees, though he can hang it at times. Erwin is an outstanding athlete, with a well-coordinated stride and excellent balance. He uses his torso well, and gets outstanding extension towards the plate, allowing his stuff to jump on hitters.

Top Rankings

The White Sox forfeited their second- and third-round picks in the 2015 draft when they signed free agents Melky Cabrera and David Robertson, so the club's fourth-round selection of Erwin was Chicago's second pick. He recorded a 1.34 ERA in his pro debut and did not allow a home run in 40 innings, about half of them at low Class A Kannapolis, yet the White Sox view Erwin more as a fast-moving, high-floor southpaw who could provide major league value as soon as 2017. He pitches at 88-90 mph and can touch 92 with an average fastball he locates both inside and outside, which keeps righthanded batters from lunging over the plate at his plus changeup. Scouts regard Erwin's curveball as a potentially solid-average pitch with 1-to-7 break and tight spin. He has above-average control and command thanks to a balanced, coordinated delivery, though the White Sox, as they do with all their pitchers, have stressed that he needs to stay taller in his delivery to avoid throwing uphill. What Erwin lacks in electric stuff, he makes up for with pitchability and proximity to the majors. He will be ready for high Class A Winston-Salem in 2016.

Erwin is the top pitching prospect on a talented Clemson squad that includes pro prospects all over the diamond. At his best, Erwin will show the potential for three above-average pitches. His fastball can bump 92 mph, but operates mostly at 88-90. Erwin commands his fastball well to his arm side, with the ability to go up and down the zone, and he can also hit the zone down and to his glove side. His best secondary pitch is his curveball, which projects as an above-average pitch. When Erwin is on top of it, the offering shows 1-to-7 break and consistently tight spin. His third pitch is a split-finger changeup, which he can pound down and to both sides of the plate. The change shows late fade and tumble, and is a swing-and-miss pitch when Erwin buries it at the knees, though he can hang it at times. Erwin is an outstanding athlete, with a well-coordinated stride and excellent balance. He uses his torso well, and gets outstanding extension towards the plate, allowing his stuff to jump on hitters.