Tommy Doyle

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #23 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle found his stride as a closer at Virginia and continued to shine in that role as a professional, saving a combined 37 games in his first two seasons at the Class A levels. Doyle pitched well at the alternate training site in 2020 and was fast-tracked to the majors, but he struggled with the jump and allowed six hits and six runs in 2.1 innings over three appearances.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle boasts an excellent one-two punch in a 95-97 mph fastball and a wipeout slider that is the best in the Rockies system. He also has a changeup, but it's a below-average pitch and is very much a work in progress. The development of that third pitch, whether a changeup or something else, could be the key to Doyle becoming a truly dominant reliever. He keeps his high-octane stuff in the strike zone with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rockies compare Doyle to Scott Oberg in terms of stuff and the fact neither had the smoothest introduction to the major leagues. He is likely to start 2021 back in the minors but should be back in the majors at some point.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #19 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle was drafted by the Nationals in 2014 but instead chose to head to Virginia, where he spent the next three seasons. After a transitional first season at Rookie-level Grand Junction, Doyle has strung together two quality seasons as a reliever at both levels of Class A, recording a combined 37 saves along with a 2.67 ERA and .548 OPS against.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle features a fastball that ranges from 95-98 mph with hard downer action that hitters usually beat into the ground. Doyle backs up the fastball with a power slurve in the 89-91 mph range that he now throws effectively to both sides of the plate. Doyle's changeup is still a work in progress due to deceleration issues in his delivery and timing. He often pulls the pitch to his gloveside, which gives it a cutterish look. While Doyle was able to use his slider in 2019 to neutralize lefthanded hitters, he may need to develop a pitch with more separation from his fastball in order to enhance his versatility and value in a major league pen. Doyle's delivery is solid with loose levers with leverage through his lower half and solid downhill plane. Doyle also added a higher front side to his delivery to enhance his plane to the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Doyle should start 2020 at Double-A Hartford, where additional refinement changing speeds could put him on the fast track to a big league bullpen.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #136 prospect in 2017 draft
  Scouts have history with Doyle dating back to his high school days, when they could dream on his 6-foot-6 frame and low 90s fastball. The Nationals picked Doyle in the 35th round in 2014, but he opted to head to Virginia. Doyle showed flashes in his first two years at Virginia, then took off as the Cavaliers' closer as a junior. Doyle has a quick arm and his fastball has reached as high as 96 mph, working mostly at 91-93. He has an out pitch in his mid-80s slider, which shows hard and late 10-to-4 break and looks like his fastball as it comes out of his hand. Virginia has called that pitch for him often this season, and scouts would like to see him learn to pitch off of his fastball as a pro. The team that takes Doyle could try him as a starter; he has experience starting in high school and as a sophomore at Virginia. He'll be a good value pick in the fifth to eighth rounds, especially if he develops into a starter in pro ball.
• Ranked #215 prospect in 2014 draft
  Doyle has showed improved velocity this spring after showing flashes last summer. A Virginia commit, he already pitches with the squat UVa-style delivery built for throwing strikes. His fastball has been consistently 89-92 mph this spring, touching 94. The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder gets downhill plane and sink from a compact arm action and high three-quarters arm slot. With a short stride from a drop-and-drive delivery, Doyle has short actions and a head whack. His breaking ball has been inconsistent but shows average potential. He doesn't use his changeup often. Continued development of his strike-throwing ability will be key. Young for his class, Doyle offers considerable projection with a slender, extra-large frame with long limbs. Virginia rarely loses in-state commits.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #16 prospect in 2017
  Doyle found the right role in his junior year at Virginia, thriving as the Cavaliers' closer when he saved 14 games and posted a 1.87 ERA. He continued to pitch out of the bullpen with Grand Junction but will likely be given a shot in the rotation. Doyle has the size and repertoire of a prototype back-of-the-rotation starter. His fastball sits in the low 90s, touching as high as 96 mph, and he flashes a plus slider with good spin. His breaking ball was his out pitch in college, and he relied on it more than his fastball, so the Grand Junction staff had him limit the use of it in order to pitch off the heater more often. Doyle's fastball has angle, but it's fairly straight and he needs to add more movement. He uses his changeup infrequently but will need to improve the pitch if he heads back into the rotation.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle found his stride as a closer at Virginia and continued to shine in that role as a professional, saving a combined 37 games in his first two seasons at the Class A levels. Doyle pitched well at the alternate training site in 2020 and was fast-tracked to the majors, but he struggled with the jump and allowed six hits and six runs in 2.1 innings over three appearances.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle boasts an excellent one-two punch in a 95-97 mph fastball and a wipeout slider that is the best in the Rockies system. He also has a changeup, but it's a below-average pitch and is very much a work in progress. The development of that third pitch, whether a changeup or something else, could be the key to Doyle becoming a truly dominant reliever. He keeps his high-octane stuff in the strike zone with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rockies compare Doyle to Scott Oberg in terms of stuff and the fact neither had the smoothest introduction to the major leagues. He is likely to start 2021 back in the minors but should be back in the majors at some point.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle found his stride as a closer at Virginia and continued to shine in that role as a professional, saving a combined 37 games in his first two seasons at the Class A levels. Doyle pitched well at the alternate training site in 2020 and was fast-tracked to the majors, but he struggled with the jump and allowed six hits and six runs in 2.1 innings over three appearances.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle boasts an excellent one-two punch in a 95-97 mph fastball and a wipeout slider that is the best in the Rockies system. He also has a changeup, but it's a below-average pitch and is very much a work in progress. The development of that third pitch, whether a changeup or something else, could be the key to Doyle becoming a truly dominant reliever. He keeps his high-octane stuff in the strike zone with average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rockies compare Doyle to Scott Oberg in terms of stuff and the fact neither had the smoothest introduction to the major leagues. He is likely to start 2021 back in the minors but should be back in the majors at some point.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle was drafted by the Nationals in 2014 but instead chose to head to Virginia, where he spent the next three seasons. After a transitional first season at Rookie-level Grand Junction, Doyle has strung together two quality seasons as a reliever at both levels of Class A, recording a combined 37 saves along with a 2.67 ERA and .548 OPS against.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle features a fastball that ranges from 95-98 mph with hard downer action that hitters usually beat into the ground. Doyle backs up the fastball with a power slurve in the 89-91 mph range that he now throws effectively to both sides of the plate. Doyle’s changeup is still a work in progress due to deceleration issues in his delivery and timing. He often pulls the pitch to his gloveside, which gives it a cutterish look. While Doyle was able to use his slider in 2019 to neutralize lefthanded hitters, he may need to develop a pitch with more separation from his fastball in order to enhance his versatility and value in a major league pen. Doyle’s delivery is solid with loose levers with leverage through his lower half and solid downhill plane. Doyle also added a higher front side to his delivery to enhance his plane to the plate. FUTURE: Doyle should start 2020 at Double-A Hartford, where additional refinement changing speeds could put him on the fast track to a big league bullpen. BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Doyle was drafted by the Nationals in 2014 but instead chose to head to Virginia, where he spent the next three seasons. After a transitional first season at Rookie-level Grand Junction, Doyle has strung together two quality seasons as a reliever at both levels of Class A, recording a combined 37 saves along with a 2.67 ERA and .548 OPS against.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Doyle features a fastball that ranges from 95-98 mph with hard downer action that hitters usually beat into the ground. Doyle backs up the fastball with a power slurve in the 89-91 mph range that he now throws effectively to both sides of the plate. Doyle's changeup is still a work in progress due to deceleration issues in his delivery and timing. He often pulls the pitch to his gloveside, which gives it a cutterish look. While Doyle was able to use his slider in 2019 to neutralize lefthanded hitters, he may need to develop a pitch with more separation from his fastball in order to enhance his versatility and value in a major league pen. Doyle's delivery is solid with loose levers with leverage through his lower half and solid downhill plane. Doyle also added a higher front side to his delivery to enhance his plane to the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Doyle should start 2020 at Double-A Hartford, where additional refinement changing speeds could put him on the fast track to a big league bullpen.