Scouting Report

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

A solid high school prospect who was in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 as the 2021 Draft approached, Baumeister was a converted catcher whose name was moving up Draft boards. On the day of the Draft, however, he announced he would be honoring his commitment to Florida State, so he was not selected. Two years later, he’s now a sophomore eligible prospect and still offers size and projection, albeit with mixed results production-wise.

After pitching almost exclusively in relief for the Seminoles as a freshman, Baumeister largely threw well as a starter in the Cape Cod League last summer and has been a constant in Florida State’s rotation this spring. While his fastball has averaged around 93 mph, he can reach back for 97 mph on occasion and it’s not hard to believe he’ll get to consistently plus velocity while showing some good riding quality to it up in the zone. His mid-70s curve is playable, with the lower velocity keeping hitters off-balance. Baumeister can fold in a little cutter-like slider and a fringy changeup at times as well.

While Baumeister is durable and has a fairly simple delivery, he’s struggled at times with limiting walks and has been hit more than expected since he headed to college. The size and raw stuff should still intrigue teams, though they’ll have to contend with the leverage he’ll have as a sophomore. 

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

A converted catcher ranked as a high school prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, Baumeister had a chance to be picked fairly high in the 2021 Draft. But he went unselected after announcing on the day of the Draft that he was honoring his commitment to Florida State, and it wasn’t until two years later that the Orioles took him in Competitive Balance Round B with the 63rd overall pick in 2023. Baumeister signed for an over-slot $1.61 million bonus and moved to High-A Aberdeen for his first full season, posting a 3.06 ERA with a 29.5 percent strikeout rate over 70 2/3 innings. The Rays picked him up as part of a three-prospect return for Zach Eflin at the Trade Deadline.

At 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds, Baumeister is a tall, physical right-hander with exciting raw stuff. His best pitches are a low-to-mid-90s fastball that can get as high as 97 mph and a playable mid-70s curve he uses to keep hitters off balance. He also can dunk in a developing cutter-like slider at times as well as a fringy changeup, but both those pitches are behind his primary offerings. The fastball shows some good riding quality up in the zone, and it’s not hard to believe Baumeister will be able to get to consistently plus velocity with it as he grows and develops. 

Baumeister began his college career pitching in relief and then had mixed results in the rotation as a Draft-eligible sophomore, in part because he’s had trouble at times limiting walks. He might be able to clean up those issues because of his fairly simple delivery and his size suggests he can be durable. That remains a work in progress on the pro side, but his overall pitch shapes should make for exciting additions to the Tampa Bay pipeline.

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

A solid high school prospect who was in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 as the 2021 Draft approached, Baumeister was a converted catcher whose name was moving up Draft boards. On the day of the Draft, however, he announced he would be honoring his commitment to Florida State, so he was not selected. Two years later, he had mixed results as a Draft-eligible sophomore, but his size and projection excited the Orioles enough for them to take him in the Competitive Balance Round B and sign him for an over-slot bonus of $1.61 million.

Baumeister began his Seminoles career pitching in relief in 2022, but raised his profile as a starter on the Cape Cod League that summer and stuck in the FSU rotation this spring. While his fastball averaged around 93 mph, he can reach back for 97 on occasion, and it’s not hard to believe he’ll get to consistently plus velocity while showing some good riding quality to it up in the zone. His mid-70s curve is playable, with the lower velocity keeping hitters off balance. Baumeister can fold in a little cutter-like slider and a fringy changeup at times as well.

While Baumeister is durable and has a fairly simple delivery, he’s struggled at times with limiting walks and has been hit more than expected since he headed to college. The size and raw stuff do give the Orioles' player development staff exciting ingredients to work with.

Video scouting report »

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

The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., has had three alum make it to the big leagues, most notably Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. Hunter Barco, a left-handed pitcher now at the University of Florida, was a solid Draft prospect in 2019 who opted to head to school. Baumeister, once a two-way player who caught and pitched, is now focusing on the mound, and he has the chance to be the first player from the school to be taken in the first five rounds since Jones.

Baumeister’s stock on the mound has been ticking upward since he’s returned from a minor knee issue, and his decision to only pitch hasn’t hurt either. He’ll sit in the 92-94 mph range and can reach back for 96 with some run. He complements it with a solid curveball, a three-quarters breaking ball he’s been landing for strikes, though it will morph into a slider-like pitch at times. He has a pretty good feel for a changeup, but doesn’t really need it at this level.

At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Baumeister fits the prototype of a prep right-hander with some upside. His improved strike-throwing after his focus turned to pitching is a strong sign and a reason he might go high enough to keep him from attending Florida State.

Awards

Baseball America High Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

SAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

SAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
09/01/2024

SAL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
08/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/30/2024	Bowling Green Hot Rods activated RHP Jackson Baumeister.
	07/26/2024	Tampa Bay Rays traded RHP Zach Eflin to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Jackson Baumeister, OF Matthew Etzel and OF Mac Horvath.
	07/26/2024	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods.
	04/02/2024	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from FCL Orioles.
	08/10/2023	RHP Jackson Baumeister roster status changed by FCL Orioles.
	08/10/2023	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to Orioles Organization.
	08/10/2023	FCL Orioles activated RHP Jackson Baumeister.
	07/25/2023	Baltimore Orioles signed RHP Jackson Baumeister.
	06/05/2023	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to College Workout.
	05/07/2022	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to Florida State Seminoles.
	06/15/2020	RHP Jackson Baumeister assigned to PG National 1 - Black.
	06/15/2020	C Jackson Baumeister assigned to PG National 1 - Black.
	07/23/2019	C Jackson Baumeister assigned to 17U National Team Development Program.