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Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After transferring from Kirkwood (Iowa) CC to Texas Christian, Krob pitched out of the bullpen during the shortened 2020 season and battled the strike zone in the Texas Collegiate League in the summer. He improved his conditioning during the offseason and became a dependable No. 2 starter for the Horned Frogs this spring. He struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings to beat McNeese State in a regional playoff game in his final start of the season. 

Krob relies heavily on his 82-85 mph slider, using it about 40 percent of the time, and it can be a plus pitch with two-plane break at its best. To remain a starter in pro ball, he'll need to miss more bats with his fastball, which sits at 89-92 mph, maxes out at 95 and features more angle than life. He also has an upper-70s downer curveball and a sinking low-80s changeup that are average offerings. 

Krob's control remains inconsistent and he doesn't have enough fastball to succeed when he doesn't locate it. He could be a back-of-the-rotation option, but many scouts believe he'd be most effective as a lefty reliever who leans even more on his slider. It's effective against both left-handers and right-handers. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

A transfer from Kirkwood (Iowa) CC, Krob ascended to the TCU starting staff in his second year there in 2021 and placed at No. 250 on the MLB Pipeline Draft rankings that summer. No team took him, however, and he returned to the Horned Frogs, only to flip between the rotation and bullpen in '22. The Padres believed in him enough to take the left-hander in the 12th round that July and signed him for $125,000, the max allowed without dipping into their bonus pool. Pitching in his age-23 season, Krob was dominant for both Single-A Lake Elsinore and High-A Fort Wayne in his first full season, finishing with a 2.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 109 1/3 innings.

In many ways, Krob dominated those levels as he should for someone his age and experience, but the Padres came away believing he set himself up for a potentially solid pro career. The 6-foot-3 southpaw still has his 81-85 mph sweeping slider that’s gotten an even longer tail in pro ball and helped him pick up consistent K’s. His low-80s changeup also shows decent fade, and it was notable that Krob held righties to a .316 slugging percentage and .629 OPS across his 22 outings last season. The sinking fastball only sits 89-92 mph, but the action on it helped force a lot of weak contact as Krob ranked ninth among Minor League qualifiers with a 55.2 percent ground-ball rate.

The former Horned Frog pitches out of the stretch, beginning with his back almost turned to the batter, and his delivery looks relatively free and easy, heightening the belief that he’ll stick as a starter. After making a pair of Double-A postseason appearances, Krob has faced more challenges upon his Texas League return this summer.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

A transfer out of Kirkwood (Iowa) CC, Krob first pitched out of the TCU bullpen in 2020, transitioned to the rotation in 2021 and then worked in both roles in 2022. As his role changed, his Draft stock dropped, and the Padres took him in the 12th round last year before giving him a $125,000 bonus, the max allowed at the time without dipping into their bonus pool. Krob made quick work of Single-A Lake Elsinore to begin his first full season, as a senior sign should, and has delivered a similar performance at High-A Fort Wayne following a late June promotion. 

The 6-foot-3 left-hander works 90-92 mph with a sinker that he can locate to either side of the plate. The velocity certainly won't bowl anyone over, especially as he ascends toward the upper levels, but it's kept him producing ground-ball rates nearing 60 percent in A ball. (That's especially helpful in the California League.) He's gotten more strikeouts than the typical ground-baller too, thanks to an 83-85 mph slider with good sweep and a mid-80s fading changeup. Krob also mixes in an upper-70s curveball for a different look, but it isn't as sharp.

The former Horned Frog has improved his control since his collegiate days and now throws enough strikes to keep him a starter. That's good news because he lacks the overpowering stuff that would play up in shorter stints as a reliever. Krob turned 24 in September, so the clock is ticking, but he's laid a solid pro foundation in his first full season.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/07/2024	San Diego Padres Prospects activated LHP Austin Krob.
	01/26/2024	San Diego Padres invited non-roster LHP Austin Krob to spring training.
	09/19/2023	LHP Austin Krob assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
	09/19/2023	San Antonio Missions activated LHP Austin Krob.
	06/27/2023	LHP Austin Krob assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	06/27/2023	Fort Wayne TinCaps activated LHP Austin Krob.
	08/30/2022	LHP Austin Krob assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	08/20/2022	LHP Austin Krob assigned to ACL Padres.
	08/01/2022	San Diego Padres signed LHP Austin Krob.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated LHP Austin Krob.
	06/11/2022	LHP Austin Krob assigned to College Workout.
	02/06/2022	LHP Austin Krob assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	02/06/2022	TCU Horned Frogs activated LHP Austin Krob.
	07/07/2021	LHP Austin Krob and assigned to College Workout.
	07/07/2021	LHP Austin Krob assigned to College Workout.
	02/01/2021	LHP Austin Krob assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	02/01/2021	LHP Austin Krob assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	09/30/2019	LHP Austin Krob assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.