Alex Scherff 2017 MLB Draft Profile
Overview
Everything’s bigger in Texas. The same can be said about Alex Scherff, the 6′ 4” flamethrower out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Scherff has plenty of mileage on his arm as a prep pitcher, moving from Prestonwood Christian Academy to Colleyville Heritage High School. The “Big Boy” from Texas has done a lot to improve himself over the last year, including losing almost 40 pounds and adding almost 10 mph to his fastball.
MLB Pipeline ranks Scherff at #41 in their top 50 draft prospects. One would expect to see Scherff drafter somewhere in the late first round or early second round.
Strengths
After losing 40 pounds in the last year, it’s obvious to see that Scherff moves around a lot better. He’s been able to condition more which has allowed him to add power to his fastball. Scherff attributes the speed increase to his better physical condition. Due to his broad shoulders, he’s able to square up easier which allows a low effort delivery. Some scouts give Scherff the best changeup in the draft, which he uses confidently and consistently.
“Scherff also worked diligently at his craft,” writes Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America. “Some of his most influential coaches include longtime major leaguers Shane Reynolds and Roger Clemens, and Scherff gives a lot of credit to Jace Findley, his high school pitching coach at Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas).”
Weaknesses
Due to his increase in speed, Scherff has had trouble with the command of his fastball. At times, he has also had trouble commanding his breaking pitches, mainly due to the 3/4 delivery. Another cause for possible concern is the mileage on his arm. Moving from a public high school to a prep school has put many innings on the 19-year-old. Scherff has also pitched on many select teams, adding to the fatigue.
