Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The next MLB Draft profile is on a hard-throwing right-hander who has the talent to be a Top 10 pick, but should be around come pick 40 due to injury. Here’s Arkansas RHP Peyton Pallette.
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Previous Profiles
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Vitals
6’1, 180 pounds
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
DOB: May 9, 2001
Location
Fayetteville, Ark.
Year: Junior
Rankings
The Athletic: 48
Baseball America: 39
CBS Sports: NR
ESPN: 34
MLB Pipeline: 40
Prospects Live: 56
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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The Dodgers’ current regime have never been shy about taking players who have health risks, especially if said players have relatively high ceilings. Aside form Walker Buehler in 2015 — whose medical issues weren’t known/established until shortly before the draft — they have shied away from taking those kinds of players with their first selection. But since they’re picking at No. 40 and don’t have another 2nd-round selection, they might have to get bold. Pallette, had he not undergone Tommy John Surgery in January, would probably be a Top 20 pick next month.
Pallette, when healthy, worked in the 93-95 MPH range and saw his fastball hit 99 MPH. He’s able to get movement on it, giving it another dimension and making it that much harder to hit. But the pitch everyone buzzes about is his curveball. It has flashed double-plus and sits in the 78-83 MPH range. It’s a high-spin hammer and should generate plenty of swinging strikes at the next level. He backs it up with a high-80s changeup that he is behind his other two pitches, but is still above-average and generates grounders.
Even with TJ, a profile like this would normally still get drafted earlier than he’s projected. However, his command/control profile is fringy right now and that is keeping him from being a mid-1st-rounder (or better). Pallette’s delivery is relatively clean and he has a quick arm that helps him produce premium velocity. He has a three-quarters arm slot, which helps him to get some extra action on his heater. He has a little cross-body/crossfire action in his delivery, so that’s something to monitor as he makes his way back from TJ.
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Video
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Typical recovery time from TJ is 14 months. If Pallette follows that path, he could be ready for minor-league action for the start of the 2023 season. If he is drafted by LA, you can be sure they’re not going to push him too hard right out of the gate. If he comes back healthy with similar stuff as he had before the surgery, he has No. 2 starter upside. How he comes back and, more importantly, how his command/control fares will determine his ultimate role.
Buehler is a common comp for Pallette, and you can see why in the videos. If he’s the pick at 40, they should be able to get him signed.
