James Karinchak

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Karinchak excelled during his first two seasons at Bryant before an injury slowed him as a junior in 2017 and he fell to the ninth round. He took off in pro ball, racing to Double-A Akron in his first full professional season. He pitched even better at the start of 2019, posting video game numbers to earn a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. A hamstring injury sidelined him for two months, but he came back strong and made his major league debut in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Karinchak's fastball averages 97 mph and is good enough to produce swings and misses. His breaking ball can be a plus pitch and has the shape of a curveball but, at 85 mph, the velocity of a slider. His control is fringy and his somewhat funky delivery hinders his strike-throwing, though it does help his stuff play up.
  
  THE FUTURE: Karinchak will head into 2020 competing for a spot in the Indians' bullpen. He has the stuff to pitch in high-leverage situations, though his control may need to improve to eventually become a closer or set-up man.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #122 prospect in 2017 draft
  Karinchak was the ace of Bryant's 47-12 club in 2016, going 12-3 with a 2.00 ERA while ranking 25th in the country with 112 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. The righthander came out of the chute showing first-round stuff, challenging Arkansas in his first start with a fastball that reached 96 mph, a changeup with tumbling split action and a hard, power curveball in the low 80s with downer action. His curve earned plus grades, and the three-pitch mix and Karinchak's confidence were moving him up boards before he lost momentum. He left a start in early March with an apparent arm injury and missed some time. His fastball command backed up as did his velocity; in some starts, he sat 90-92. He has a high, over-the-top arm slot that aids his curveball and a bit of a head whack in his delivery, and several scouts turned him in as a future reliever.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Karinchak excelled during his first two seasons at Bryant before an injury slowed him as a junior in 2017 and he fell to the ninth round. He took off in pro ball, racing to Double-A Akron in his first full professional season. He pitched even better at the start of 2019, posting video game numbers to earn a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. A hamstring injury sidelined him for two months, but he came back strong and made his major league debut in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Karinchak’s fastball averages 97 mph and is good enough to produce swings and misses. His breaking ball can be a plus pitch and has the shape of a curveball but, at 85 mph, the velocity of a slider. His control is fringy and his somewhat funky delivery hinders his strike-throwing, though it does help his stuff play up.
  
  THE FUTURE: Karinchak will head into 2020 competing for a spot in the Indians’ bullpen. He has the stuff to pitch in high-leverage situations, though his control may need to improve to eventually become a closer or set-up man.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Karinchak excelled during his first two seasons at Bryant before an injury slowed him as a junior in 2017 and he fell to the ninth round. He took off in pro ball, racing to Double-A Akron in his first full professional season. He pitched even better at the start of 2019, posting video game numbers to earn a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. A hamstring injury sidelined him for two months, but he came back strong and made his major league debut in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Karinchak's fastball averages 97 mph and is good enough to produce swings and misses. His breaking ball can be a plus pitch and has the shape of a curveball but, at 85 mph, the velocity of a slider. His control is fringy and his somewhat funky delivery hinders his strike-throwing, though it does help his stuff play up.
  
  THE FUTURE: Karinchak will head into 2020 competing for a spot in the Indians' bullpen. He has the stuff to pitch in high-leverage situations, though his control may need to improve to eventually become a closer or set-up man.