Meet Brody Hopkins, A Pitching Prospect With Major Helium | Low-A Best Tools
Image credit: Brody Hopkins - Seattle Mariners 2024 spring training (Bill Mitchell)
Righthander Brody Hopkins started opening eyes in spring training, when he was one of the 70 prospects scouts identified on the backfields as potential up-arrow players.
Once the regular season began, it was easy to see why they felt that way about the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Winthrop.
The 22-year-old Hopkins was dealt from the Mariners along with two other prospects to the Rays in the Randy Arozarena deal. Prior to that, Hopkins had an eye-opening turn at Low-A Modesto, where he struck out 95 hitters in 83.2 innings.
The gem of Hopkins’ arsenal is his slider, which won the Best Breaking Pitch category unanimously in Best Tools voting. The pitch sits around 87 mph and has a miss rate of 39%.
When he exited the Cal League, Hopkins ranked eighth in strikeouts, third in ERA (2.90) and WHIP (1.22).
Beyond his killer breaking ball, Hopkins also dominates hitters with a mid-90s fastball that peaks around 99 mph as well as a cutter and a changeup.
Both his fastball and slider have a chance to be plus pitches, and both of his other offerings are fringy to average. His control could be tightened.
Tie it all together, and you have one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the low minors.
