Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

When Ashcraft gave up playing wide receiver in high school to focus on pitching, his Draft stock bumped up and he was firmly in the middle of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 when the Pirates took him in the second round of the 2018 Draft, signing him for an over-slot bonus of $1.83 million. Injuries have slowed him down considerably (not to mention the pandemic), with a non-throwing shoulder dislocation needing surgery in 2019 and Tommy John Surgery 10 starts into his 2021 season. He had a very strong, and closely monitored, return to the mound in 2023, pitching his way to Double-A for the first time and landing a spot on the 40-man roster.

Ashcraft got the stuff bump pitchers often get when they are post-TJ surgery, and he managed to improve his overall command at the same time. His fastball was averaging 95 mph and touched 98 mph in Double-A, a high-spin heater with good life up in the zone. His hard 87-89 mph slider has become an out pitch, but he also misses bats with his bigger low-80s curve. He has a changeup, but it’s far behind the other offerings, and development of it will be a focus in 2024. 

An outstanding athlete, Ashcraft has always repeated his simple delivery well and been around the plate, but his strike-throwing took a leap forward in 2023 as he walked just 1.9 per nine. It’s possible he hasn’t reached the zenith of his potential stuff-wise, either, and he’ll work to grow his workload and show he can handle a full season’s worth of starting.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A two-sport athlete who was also a wide receiver in high school, Ashcraft’s focus on pitching as a senior helped improve his Draft stock. The Pirates, never ones to shy away from going over slot for high-end prep pitching, took the projectable right-hander in the second round of the 2018 Draft and signed him for $1.825 million. Since then, it’s been a little tough for him to stay on the mound. First, there was dislocation in his non-throwing shoulder that needed surgery in 2019. Then there was the pandemic-ruined 2020 season, followed by Ashcraft needing Tommy John surgery after 10 starts in 2021, wiping out his 2022 season. There’s reason for cautious optimism as he’s returned to the mound and thrown well early in 2023.

Ashcraft has worked tirelessly with the Pirates’ rehab staff and coordinator Vic Black to get back to where he was pre-injury. Early in 2023, he was able to dial his high-spin fastball up to 97 mph with good life. He still has two distinct breaking pitches, with an upper-80s slider with cutter-like action that can miss bats and a slower, curve averaging around 80 mph with good depth, both thrown with high spin rates. He’s shown some feel for a changeup in the past, but he hasn’t thrown it much.

With a simple and repeatable delivery, Ashcraft’s athleticism shows on the mound, and he’s continued to be an outstanding strike-thrower, even as he shakes off the rust post-surgery. He’s still just 23 years old for all of the 2023 season, with the hope that if he can put the injuries in his rear view, he can get back to reaching his considerable ceiling as a starting pitcher.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A two-sport star in high school who pitched and played wide receiver on the football team, Ashcraft’s decision to focus on baseball in his senior year led to him being a second-round pick of the Pirates in the 2018 Draft, where he got an above-slot bonus to sign rather than head to Baylor. His numbers for his first two summers were uneven at best, but might be attributed to a dislocation to his non-throwing shoulder suffered when he still played football. He had surgery to correct it in 2019 and the Pirates were very pleased with Ashcraft's instructional league play in 2020.

At 6-foot-5 with a super-athletic frame, Ashcraft is, as they say, “what they look like.” Completely healthy, his stuff is all ticking up in the right direction. Ashcraft's fastball is up to 96 mph regularly and he made strides commanding the pitch during instructs. His slider is also sharper with more bite to it and his changeup gives him a third at-least average pitch. He does have a curve, but it’s more of a show-me breaking ball for strike one.

With more time on the mound, Ashcraft should be able to translate his athleticism to solid overall command. There’s deception in his delivery and good direction now that he’s healthy. All signs are pointing up, with Ashcraft a good candidate to move up the list with a healthy season.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Ashcraft was a standout wide receiver and pitcher for his first three years of high school, then gave up football to focus on baseball in his senior year. That allowed the projectable right-hander to move up Draft boards and eventually land in the second round of the 2018 Draft, where the Pirates went above slot with a $1.825 million bonus to sign him away from his commitment to Baylor. His numbers in the New York-Penn League in 2019 weren’t pretty, but it turned out he was pitching with a dislocation-type injury in his non-throwing shoulder from his football days, so the Pirates shut him down early and he had surgery to correct it.

Now fully healthy, Ashcraft can get back to helping turn his performance into production. His fastball was already up to 94 mph, and given his 6-foot-5 athletic frame, it’s easy to dream on more velocity as he fills out and gets stronger. He does throw two breaking balls and both have decent spin and shape, but the slider is the priority pitch as he’s more comfortable with it and it’s been more effective, while the curve is more of a get-me-over kind of pitch. He has feel for his changeup, something that will only improve once he commits to throwing it more.

Ashcraft’s athleticism should allow him to repeat his delivery and become a better strike-thrower in the future. The shoulder injury likely played a part in him being so hittable in 2019 as his front side was flying open too much. Strong and stable now, that should allow for more deception and better direction toward home plate.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A two-sport high school standout who starred as a wide receiver as well as a pitcher, Ashcraft left the gridiron for good to focus on baseball as a senior. He started rising up Draft boards among prep pitchers and landed in the second round, where the Pirates went above slot ($1.825 million) to keep him from attending Baylor, then sent him to make his brief professional debut in the Gulf Coast League.

At 6-foot-5 and closing in on 200 pounds, Ashcraft is the prototypical athletic and projectable high school right-hander. He's been up to 94 mph consistently already, and with his frame, he's likely to add strength and velocity as he matures and he throws his fastball with excellent extension, angle and sink. His slider was up to 82-85 mph in the GCL and could give him a second plus pitch in time. The changeup is behind the other two pitches, but he has a feel for it and there's confidence it will catch up and be at least an average offering. 

Ashcraft has a clean delivery and that plus athleticism helps him repeat it, which points to an ability to throw strikes consistently. The Pirates are no strangers to being patient with projectable prep pitchers, which will come in handy as they help Ashcraft hopefully reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The Pirates have long coveted big, projectable and athletic high school arms in the Draft, so it should come as no surprise they liked Ashcraft, who set what is believed to be a national high school record with 37 touchdown receptions as a junior wide receiver in 2016. The Texas prepster gave up football to focus on baseball as a senior, and his stock went up as a result, landing in the second round, where Pittsburgh gave him an above-pick-value bonus of $1.825 million to sign him away from his Baylor commitment.

Ashcraft is more about future projection than now stuff, though he showed flashes, especially late in the state playoffs. He has a loose, quick arm, but was pitching at 85-88 mph in the late innings for much of the spring. Ashcraft sat at 92 mph and touched 94 during the postseason. He throws his heater with sink, something the Bucs love, and he uses his 6-foot-5 frame well to create extension and angle. Ashcraft's slider has promise -- an upper-70s breaking ball currently with good tilt that will improve as he adds power. He has feel for a changeup, though it's a work in progress, and his athleticism helps him repeat his delivery and throw strikes.

There is a lot more in the tank for Ashcraft, with the potential to eventually have two plus pitches and the ability to command them once he adds strength. It will take some time, but he has the chance to be at least a mid-rotation starter when all is said and done.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RHP Braxton Ashcraft from Indianapolis Indians.
	09/25/2024	Indianapolis Indians activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 7-day injured list.
	08/31/2024	Indianapolis Indians placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 7-day injured list.
	08/30/2024	Indianapolis Indians activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 7-day injured list.
	07/12/2024	Indianapolis Indians placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 11, 2024.
	07/06/2024	Indianapolis Indians activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 7-day injured list.
	06/28/2024	Indianapolis Indians placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 27, 2024.
	06/11/2024	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve.
	03/11/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Braxton Ashcraft to Altoona Curve.
	03/07/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
	11/14/2023	Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of RHP Braxton Ashcraft from Altoona Curve.
	09/30/2023	Altoona Curve activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
	08/11/2023	Altoona Curve transferred RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the Development List.
	06/20/2023	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
	06/20/2023	Altoona Curve activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
	05/16/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
	05/09/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers transferred RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the Development List.
	05/09/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers transferred RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the Development List.
	04/21/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 7-day injured list.
	04/21/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 7-day injured list.
	04/09/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers sent RHP Braxton Ashcraft on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders.
	04/07/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 7-day injured list.
	11/08/2022	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 60-day injured list.
	04/08/2022	Greensboro Grasshoppers placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list.
	11/07/2021	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated RHP Braxton Ashcraft from the 60-day injured list.
	07/27/2021	Greensboro Grasshoppers placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list.
	05/01/2021	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Pirates Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to Pirates Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to Pirates Organization.
	06/12/2019	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to West Virginia Black Bears from GCL Pirates.
	06/12/2019	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.
	07/07/2018	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to GCL Pirates.
	06/22/2018	Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
	07/28/2017	RHP Braxton Ashcraft assigned to UA National.