After missing an entire season due to a back injury, Hunter Green has gone from one of the organization’s rising stars to one of the biggest question marks. Has his development been permanently setback or is he still young enough to get back on track in 2015?
Hunter Green
10 words or less: So he’s eventually going to pitch, right?
Position: SP Born: 7/12/1995
Bats: L Throws: L
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 175
2014 Rank: #9
2014 Season Stats
DID NOT PLAY
PITCHING
Fastball – B. The latest reports come from when he was 17 and still in high-school which is 18 months ago. He was throwing 90-92 at the time, which is quite a bit above average for a prep lefty, which is why he was widely viewed as a first round selection (the Angels managed to snag him in the 2nd round). We know that before his back was injured, Green had put on a very noticeable amount of weight (good weight), and that it was believed that his fastball could very likely climb into the mid-90’s with time and maturation. He has since stopped hitting the weights and has also lost the weight, but look for Green to come back strong.
Off-speed Pitches – B. Green’s scouting report indicated a “plus” hard-curve and a changeup with tons of potential, but still a work in progress.
Control – I. We honestly have no idea, he wasn’t on the mound in 2014.
Command – I. See Control.
Mechanics – B. His mechanics looked pretty good to me in the scouting videos. Simple drop-&-drive, three-quarters release, good balance, fluid throughout.
OVERALL
Performance – F. Kind of a lost season, but in talking to Hunter, it seems his head is in the right place. He knows what he needs to do to get better, the Angels are certainly enamored with him (as will the fans once they seem him pitch), and time is definitely on his side.
Projection – A. Green has front-mid rotation starter type of potential. That’s a very long way down the road, but for now it’s really nice to have that sort of upside present within the organization.
Estimated Time of Arrival – 2019/2020. The fun part about drafting Hunter Green when he was essentially a 17-year old is that he basically just sat out his age 18 season. Meaning next year is his age 19 season, and as such, assuming he’s healthy he’ll be right on track with every other prep signee. The other cool thing about that is, he can take 4-5 years in the minors and still reach the majors as a 23 or 24 year old, which is quite young.
Grade as a Prospect – C+. There are no numbers to back any of it up, but Hunter Green has better potential than a large majority of pitching prospects.
2014 in Review*
The Angels were over the moon when they got the opportunity to draft Hunter Green, but that enthusiasm has likely waned to certain degree. Yes, Hunter is only 19, but anytime a guy loses an entire season due to a back injury, you have to be concerned. Green is a tall lanky guy, so he needs to have a strong trunk to keep all his long levers under control. We don’t know the nature of the back injury, but it could be a huge problem if it is something that could become chronic or easily re-injured.
What’s worse about Green losing a whole year is that he also lost a whole year of physical maturation. Green was listed at 6’4″, 175 pounds out of the draft, which is waifish. He had reportedly bulked up some last offseason, something he very badly needed to do, but because of his back injury, he lost all that bulk and needs to start from scratch.
Looking Ahead*
Because of the injury, the Halos pretty much have to hit the reset button on Hunter Green’s development. That means he is likely to spend 2015 working out in the instructional leagues before making his way to the Arizona League where he’ll be a 20-year old playing with a bunch of teenagers. Maybe if things go well, he’ll get promoted or jump straight to Orem, but either way he will have to wait until 2016 for his first season of full season baseball. That seems likely an awfully long time for a 2013 draft pick to wait, and it is, but Green has youth on his side.
That being said, Green can’t really afford many more setback along the way if the Angels want him to both maximize his potential and reach the big leagues at a reasonable age.
*As we do every year, the scouting reports and grades are provided by Scotty Allen while Garrett Wilson provides the 2014 in Review and Looking Ahead sections.
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