Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The theme of injured pitching prospects continues with this MLB Draft Profile. This time, it’s on Mississippi State’s Landon Sims.
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Previous Profiles
- Peyton Graham (June 15)
- Drew Gilbert (June 21)
- Ryan Cermak (June 22)
- Thomas Harrington (June 27)
- Peyton Pallette (June 28)
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Vitals
6’2, 227 pounds
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
DOB: Jan. 3, 2001
Location
Starkville, Miss.
Year: Junior
Rankings
The Athletic: 50
Baseball America: 22
CBS Sports: NR
ESPN: 52
MLB Pipeline: 41
Prospects Live: 49
Slot recommended bonus (No. 29): $1,950,900
Note: All information of draft prospects compiled from Internet sources, scouting reports and videos.
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You can’t teach arm talent, and that’s something Sims has almost more than anyone else in the class. So why is someone like this potentially available? Yo0u guessed it — he had Tommy John Surgery earlier this year. Even before the injury, he had reliever risk, but TJ is the biggest reason he could be available for LA at No. 40.
Sims is armed with two potentially double-plus pitches in his fastball and slider. His heater isn’t a triple-digit offering, as it sits in the 93-95 MPH range and gets up to 98, but what makes it a potentially plus-plus pitch is the movement he’s able to get on it. Because of his arm slot, he’s able to get extra run and ride on it that helps induce plenty of swinging strikes. He pairs it with mid-80s slider that might actually better at inducing swinging strikes. It features tight spin and good depth. As of now, Sims doesn’t have a legitimate third pitch. He has a show-me changeup, but it needs a lot of work. If the Dodgers were to take him and have visions of him starting, they’ll figure out a way to help him develop a third pitch.
His delivery, while compact, has a significant amount of crossfire. That contributes to his reliever risk due to durability concerns and, more importantly, command/control issues. He has a lightning quick arm and has an advanced feel for pitching. Sims has thrived on his stuff to date and, if he comes back healthy, could continue to do so. But he’s going to have to improve his command/control if he’s going to stick in the rotation.
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Video
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Because of his wicked fastball/slider combination, Sims often gets comped to Craig Kimbrel. If he can’t stick in the rotation, he could be a shutdown reliever, possibly for multiple innings. A lot will depend on how he comes back from TJ and how his command/control fare. He also gives off J.T. Ginn vibes, who, coincidentally, also went to MSU (after the Dodgers didn’t sign him in 2018). He should be plenty signable at No. 40.
