RHP Noble Meyer is the 11th-ranked prospect in this year’s MLB Draft, according to the MLB.com draft prospect rankings. The 18-year-old is wrapping up his senior year at Jesuit High School in Oregon. Possibly staying close to home if he goes the college route, he has committed to the University of Oregon on a baseball scholarship. Meyer is the highest-ranked high school pitcher on the list. He hails from the same school as another recently drafted pitcher, Mick Abel, now a highly touted prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies minor-league system. If both he and Meyer pan out, Jesuit might start to establish a reputation as a pitching factory. A strong showing on the summer circuit allowed Meyer to skyrocket up the draft rankings. Here’s a closer look at what the potential future star could bring to a major league mound.
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— Prep Baseball Report (@prepbaseball) April 28, 2023
Noble Meyer Draft Profile
Scouting grades (MLB.com): Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
Strengths
Meyer sports a tall, slender frame at 6’5″ and 185 lbs. He fits into the recent mold of pitchers with this type of build who can also throw very fast. His fastball generally tops out between 97 and 98 mph, although he has occasionally hit triple digits in his senior year. Meyer prefers to throw the two-seamer over the four-seamer in most cases. He complements that pitch with a mid-80s slider with lots of lateral movement and a changeup he’s continuing to improve on.
Meyer’s profile from Perfect Game, the summer league he pitched in this year, states he has a 3/4 arm slot with quick, fluid motion. He has also shown a good ability to locate his fastball, and his changeup is plateauing in the high 80s although he has hit the low 90s with it in the past.
Weaknesses
Meyer’s slider is nasty with a high spin rate, but it tends to flatten when he overthrows it. While it could become his main strikeout pitch in the future, overthrows could lead to some hard-hit balls. Pitchers who resemble Noble Meyer physically have enjoyed much success at the major league level, but they have also been injured fairly often. This is especially true when their fastball lives in the mid-90s or higher. In order to maintain that velocity consistently, thinner pitchers have to rely almost solely on arm strength. As a result, arm injuries, particularly elbow and shoulder injuries, become much more likely. Meyer will have to find a way to not overthrow his fastball too much and also mix in his other pitches a healthy amount. Otherwise, he leaves himself vulnerable to frequent arm injuries and long-term absences.
Noble Meyer MLB Player Comparison
Though it hurts to make this comparison given recent developments, describing Meyer’s physique and pitch arsenal immediately brings to mind Jacob deGrom. deGrom is 6’4″ and 180 lbs and throws a heater that often touches triple digits. He also mixes in lethal off-speed pitches, including a changeup and curveball. If Meyer can approach deGrom at the peak of his abilities, he is in store for a very successful career. However, he must take care to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued deGrom.
Overreliance on the fastball has led to frequent injuries for deGrom, the latest being a torn UCL requiring his second Tommy John surgery. A potential solution for Meyer could be to build up his core. This would avoid putting all the pressure on his arm to deliver a high-velocity fastball. For now, it’s impossible to predict how Meyer will fare healthwise. Still, it’s important for slender pitchers like him to note that a good balance between the fastball and off-speed stuff helps the chance of maintaining a healthy pitching arm.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Noble Meyer, Mick Abel, Jacob deGrom
