Scouting Report

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

Messinger spent most of his college career as a reliever at Virginia before the Yankees signed him for an above-slot $225,000 as a 13th-rounder in 2021. They had him spend that summer reshaping his fastball and slider before making his pro debut in 2022. His improved stuff has translated into 232 strikeouts in 194 innings over his first two seasons, and he finished last year with a start in Double-A.

After sitting at 90 mph with his fastball in his final year with the Cavaliers, Messinger now deals at 92-94 mph with bat-missing run and carry, and he touched 99 in 2022. His slider also has jumped from the upper 70s in college to 81-84 mph with high spin rates and nasty sweep. He also has increased the power and gets good depth on an upper-70s curveball, though he doesn't use it very often.

Messinger's sinking mid-80s changeup lags behind the rest of his repertoire because it doesn't have enough velocity separation from his fastball and he struggles to throw it for strikes. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame to create angle and extension that make life difficult for hitters, but he's still learning to harness his upgraded stuff. He has a ceiling of a No. 4 starter with a fallback of becoming a multi-inning reliever who could lean even more heavily on his slider.

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

Primarily a reliever in college at Virginia, Messinger signed for an over-slot $225,000 as a 13th-rounder in 2021. He spent time remaking his fastball and slider before embarking on his pro debut last season in Single-A. He showcased some of the most interesting stuff in the lower levels of the Yankees system while moving into the rotation in late May and striking out 112 in 83 2/3 innings. 

After averaging 90 mph with his fastball in his final college season, Messinger operated at 92-94 and touched 99 with armside run and carry on his four-seamer in 2022. His slider went from parking in the upper 70s with the Cavaliers to sitting at 81-84 mph with high spin rates and dastardly sweep. He also has good shape on an upper-70s curveball that added power but doesn't find the strike zone consistently. 

Messinger's changeup is a work in progress, showing some sink but coming in too firm in the mid-80s. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame to create difficult angle and extension, though he's still learning to harness his improved arsenal. He has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter but will have to refine his changeup, control and command to reach it. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/27/2024	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to New York Yankees.
	09/12/2023	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to Somerset Patriots from Hudson Valley Renegades.
	04/02/2023	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Tampa Tarpons.
	02/26/2023	RHP Zach Messinger, , and assigned to New York Yankees.
	04/04/2022	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to Tampa Tarpons.
	03/21/2022	RHP Zach Messinger roster status changed by New York Yankees.
	03/21/2022	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to FCL Yankees.
	03/21/2022	New York Yankees signed free agent RHP Zach Messinger to a minor league contract.
	02/14/2019	RHP Zach Messinger assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.