Foster Griffin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #29 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Griffin was coming off a rough 2018 season in Double-A, where the southpaw struggled to command his fastball, but the Royals still challenged him with an assignment to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He fared better than the numbers would indicate. Griffin finished the calendar year in the Dominican Winter League pitching in a relief role with impressive results, striking out 31 in 23.1 innings while walking just six.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Griffin was a better pitcher in the second half as the fastball ticked up to 92-94 mph with better command and more confidence throwing it. He adds cut to some of his fastballs resulting in more lateral movement than the regular heater, giving a different look to hitters. His go-to pitch is an 81-82 mph changeup that has good deception and break and is thrown with the same arm speed. Griffin commands his low-80s curveball, getting good spin and using it as a chase pitch below the zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Royals showed their confidence in Griffin by adding him to the 40-man roster. The bullpen experience in winter ball makes him a little more intriguing heading into the 2020 season, with his fastball velocity ticking up a notch and his stuff being a bit crisper in shorter stints.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #30 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: One of two first-round picks by the Royals in 2014, Griffin had a breakout year in 2017, regaining his prospect luster with an uptick in fastball velocity and a more aggressive attitude on the mound. He wasn't the same pitcher when he returned to Double-A Arkansas in 2018, however, nibbling too much.
  
  Scouting Report: Griffin has good aptitude on the mound to go with his adequate three-pitch mix. He normally throws his 89-92 mph fastball with average command, but his velocity would often drop during rough periods. Griffin has both a two-seam and four-seam fastball, getting tail from the former and cut with the latter. His best pitch is a changeup, an average offering. Earlier in the season, he used his changeup infrequently against lefthanded hitters but started going to the pitch more often later in the season. Griffin rounds out his arsenal with an average, 11-to-5 curveball.
  
  The Future: Griffin will be challenged with an assignment to Triple-A Omaha, where he'll have to continue his aggressiveness on the mound. He projects best as an up-and-down starting pitcher because of his lack of a plus pitch and his struggles to miss bats. The Royals left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and he went unpicked.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #9 prospect in 2018
  One of two first-round picks by Kansas City in 2014 when the Florida native was one of the top high school arms in that draft class, Griffin struggled in his first two full seasons coinciding with a drop in his velocity. After finishing the 2016 season at high Class A Wilmington with a 6.23 ERA, Griffin returned the next year as a different pitcher. With an uptick in velocity and a more aggressive nature on the mound, Griffin pitched better off of his fastball, missed more bats and improved his breaking ball to post a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts back at Wilmington before moving up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His combined total of 15 wins was among the best in that category in the minor leagues. Griffin took more of a bulldog mentality to the mound in 2017, speeding up the game and getting better arm speed, which allowed him to make more quality pitches down in the zone. His fastball sits 88-92 mph, up a tick from before, and he located it better. His two-seamer has tail while his four-seam fastball has cut to it. He sharpened his 11-5 curveball, getting more shape to it and allowing him to be more aggressive with the pitch. Griffin uses his changeup to keep hitters off balance; it's a below-average pitch now but projects as an average or above-average offering. He sequences his pitches well and showed the ability to change speeds in and out. Griffin is credited with having good makeup and focus on the mound. After 18 starts at Double-A, Griffin may be ready to move on to Triple-A Omaha although he'll still be only 22 in the spring. He has the upside of a No. 4 starter.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #29 prospect in 2017
  Considered one of the top high school arms in the 2014 draft, Griffin impressed scouts with a strong track record of success, solid stuff and an excellent ability to locate three pitches. He was a projection pick in many ways, because scouts saw his long limbs and solid frame and figured as he matured he would add a tick to his 88-92 mph fastball. Instead, Griffin has struggled to maintain even his prep velocity while starting every fifth day. With a fringe-average fastball at best and a fringe-average curveball and changeup, he lacks an out pitch. So far, hitters have been quite comfortable facing Griffin--he allowed a career .291 opponent average before high Class A Carolina League batters hit .330 against him in 2016. Griffin tinkers with his delivery too much during and between starts, but he has the potential for average control. If he can find a little more velocity, he could still be a back-end starter thanks to his ability to locate, but the projections of a future mid-rotation innings-eater now seem unrealistic.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #13 prospect in 2016
  While his low Class A Lexington teammate Scott Blewett started great and finished poorly, Griffin, the second first-round pick in the Royals' 2014 draft, rallied after an awful start. Through the first three months, Griffin had a 7.14 ERA and had allowed 75 hits in 58 innings. After Aug. 1, Griffin posted a 3.22 ERA with 48 hits in 44 ? innings. Griffin needs to be precise because he's a lefty with a clean delivery but without eye-popping stuff. Griffin's success is based more on angle and location than plus stuff. His curveball's improved consistency played a big part in his strong finish because he tightened it and started throwing it for strikes more often. It is a potentially average offering. Griffin's changeup has more potential than the curveball and will flash above-average with late fade. Griffin repeats his smooth delivery and has the potential to eventually have above-average control, which he will need to reach his ceiling as a No. 4 starter. Griffin looks ready to start 2016 in high Class A Wilmington.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #7 prospect in 2015
  Orlando, 2014 Of the 31 players drafted and signed by the Royals in 2014, 11 of them were lefthanded pitchers, including first-round picks Brandon Finnegan and Griffin. A lanky lefty with an excellent body, Griffin led Orlando's The First Academy to a National High School Invitational title. Limited to three innings per start in his pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington, he allowed just four extra-base hits in 28 innings. Griffin could end up with three above-average pitches. A plus athlete, he might gain a tick or two on his fastball, but at 88-92 mph he already is effective at getting good angle. He can run his fastball in on righthanders and shows an ability to locate the pitch to both sides of the plate. Griffin is a strike-thrower with a clean delivery. His 79-91 mph changeup has solid deception and some late fade to generate swings and misses. His curveball is a tight downward breaker at its best, but too often is a slower, loopier pitch he can't always control. Griffin is the most prominent high school lefty the Royals have had in the system since the days of Mike Montgomery, Danny Duffy and John Lamb. He'll head to low Class A Lexington in 2015 and his polish gives him a chance to excel once he gets accustomed to the heavier workload of pro ball. High.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2014 draft
  A year after Marlins unsigned third-rounder Ben DeLuzio became the highest-drafted player in The First Academy's (Orlando) history, Griffin is positioned to grab that title. Griffin teamed with Adam Haseley to form the top duo of senior lefthanders in the country. They led The First Academy to a championship at the National High School Invitational in March, tossing shutouts and hitting over .500 for the event in frigid conditions. Griffin presents a nice blend of present stuff, strike-throwing ability and projection. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has an ideal pitcher's build that is made to handle innings and has drawn physical comparisons to Cole Hamels. His fastball sits 88-92 mph, touching 94 with glove-side run and downhill plane, and he's capable of getting his fastball under the hands of righthanded hitters. He has advanced feel for an above-average changeup. His curveball has improved and shows enough spin to project as at least an average offering. The Mississippi commit is a strike-thrower who can command his fastball to both sides of the plate. He is the son of a former professional golfer, Fred, and is old for the class.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #19 prospect in 2017
  Griffin recorded a 5.43 ERA in 27 starts last season before showing marked improvement this year, which he began at high Class A and concluded in the TL after a late-May promotion. Griffin has above-average control but never has missed many bats. He saw an uptick in velocity this season with a fastball that now sits in the low 90s and touches 93 mph regularly. His fastball features some movement and comes out of his hand well, but his 11-to-5 curveball might be his most improved pitch. Griffin's changeup gives him a third offering to help keep hitters off balance, but both offspeed pitches must continue to progress if he is going to come close to reaching heightened expectations as a 2014 first-round pick.
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  Ranked American League #4 prospect in 2014
  Griffin emerged as one of the top prep lefthanders for the 2014 draft after showing improvement in the spring, and he signed for $1.925 million. He threw no more than three innings per start during his pro debut, when he showed stuff and projection. Griffin offers an ideal pitcher's body with long extremities and significant projection remaining. His fastball largely sat 88-91 mph and touched 93 with downhill plane and sink, and he showed the ability to get under the hands of righthanders with glove-side run. His changeup has above-average potential with a chance to be plus, while his curveball has improved significantly over the last year and in pro ball. It shows at least average potential, flashing plus with downer tilt. The offering is inconsistent and he will need to stay on top of it more frequently. Griffin has strike-thrower qualities with a loose, easy arm action and projects to have at least average control. His body, three-pitch mix and strike-throwing ability give him mid-rotation potential, but his below-average strikeout rate (6.1 per nine) will need to improve.

• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Griffin was coming off a rough 2018 season in Double-A, where the southpaw struggled to command his fastball, but the Royals still challenged him with an assignment to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He fared better than the numbers would indicate. Griffin finished the calendar year in the Dominican Winter League pitching in a relief role with impressive results, striking out 31 in 23.1 innings while walking just six.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Griffin was a better pitcher in the second half as the fastball ticked up to 92-94 mph with better command and more confidence throwing it. He adds cut to some of his fastballs resulting in more lateral movement than the regular heater, giving a different look to hitters. His go-to pitch is an 81-82 mph changeup that has good deception and break and is thrown with the same arm speed. Griffin commands his low-80s curveball, getting good spin and using it as a chase pitch below the zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Royals showed their confidence in Griffin by adding him to the 40-man roster. The bullpen experience in winter ball makes him a little more intriguing heading into the 2020 season, with his fastball velocity ticking up a notch and his stuff being a bit crisper in shorter stints.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Orlando, 2014 Of the 31 players drafted and signed by the Royals in 2014, 11 of them were lefthanded pitchers, including first-round picks Brandon Finnegan and Griffin. A lanky lefty with an excellent body, Griffin led Orlando's The First Academy to a National High School Invitational title. Limited to three innings per start in his pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington, he allowed just four extra-base hits in 28 innings. Griffin could end up with three above-average pitches. A plus athlete, he might gain a tick or two on his fastball, but at 88-92 mph he already is effective at getting good angle. He can run his fastball in on righthanders and shows an ability to locate the pitch to both sides of the plate. Griffin is a strike-thrower with a clean delivery. His 79-91 mph changeup has solid deception and some late fade to generate swings and misses. His curveball is a tight downward breaker at its best, but too often is a slower, loopier pitch he can't always control. Griffin is the most prominent high school lefty the Royals have had in the system since the days of Mike Montgomery, Danny Duffy and John Lamb. He'll head to low Class A Lexington in 2015 and his polish gives him a chance to excel once he gets accustomed to the heavier workload of pro ball. High.