Scouting Report

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

Though some clubs considered Hartle the best high school left-hander in the 2021 Draft, his unwavering commitment to Wake Forest led to him going unselected. That won't happen again, though it's unlikely he'll go in the first round as projected entering 2024. After he notched 140 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings while earning All-America honors as a sophomore, his stuff and command have regressed this spring.

Last year, Hartle displayed exquisite feel for four different pitches, starting with a fastball that averages 90 mph and tops out at 94 but missed plenty of bats because of his angle, sinking and boring action and command. His plus low-80s slider with two-plane depth was his best secondary pitch, though his upper-80s cutter wasn't far behind and his mid-80s changeup also had its moments. But his heater, slider and cutter haven't been as effective during his junior season.

Hartle has an easy delivery that has allowed him to sling strikes and move his pitches around wherever he wants in the past. But he has lacked his usual precision in 2024 and gotten cutter-happy at the expense of his fastball. Once considered a lock to be at least a No. 4 starter in the big leagues with the upside of a No. 2, he now has scouts trying to figure out what happened and whether it can be fixed.

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

Though some clubs considered Hartle the best high school left-hander in the 2021 Draft, his unwavering commitment to Wake Forest led to him going unselected. Considered a consensus first-round talent entering his 2024 junior season, he saw his stuff and command regress and fell to the Pirates in the third round, where he signed for $850,000. Pittsburgh traded him along with Luis Ortiz and lefty pitching prospect Michael Kennedy to acquire Spencer Horwitz from the Guardians at the Winter Meetings in December.

In 2023, Hartle displayed exquisite feel for four different pitches, starting with a fastball that averages 90 mph and tops out at 94 but missed plenty of bats because of his angle, sinking action and command. His plus low-80s slider with two-plane depth was his best secondary pitch, though his upper-80s cutter wasn't far behind, and his mid-80s changeup also had its moments. But his heater, slider and cutter weren’t as effective during his junior season.

Hartle has an easy delivery that has allowed him to sling strikes and move his pitches around wherever he wants in the past. He lacked his usual precision in 2024 and got cutter-happy at the expense of his fastball, greatly reducing his effectiveness. Once considered a lock to be at least a No. 4 starter in the big leagues with the upside of a No. 2, he begins his pro career as an enigma.

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

With a series of strong performances on the showcase circuit last summer, Hartle established himself as the top high school left-hander in the minds of several clubs. He didn't build on that momentum after having an appendectomy this spring, though he did win Gatorade's North Carolina high school player of the year award. He doesn't have quite the same ceiling or athleticism as MacKenzie Gore of Blake Walston, North Carolina prep southpaws taken in recent first rounds, but he could have a solid three-pitch mix with command to match.  

Using his 6-foot-5 frame and a low three-quarters arm slot, Hartle creates angle and sink on a sneaky low-90s fastball that tops out at 94 mph and plays better than its velocity. His low slot makes it difficult to stay on top of his breaking ball, a sweepy 79-83 mph slider that grades as fringy to average, though he locates it well. He has advanced feel for a low-80s changeup with fade. 

Hartle doesn't blow hitters away with his present stuff, but he gets outs because he mixes his offerings and puts them where he wants. The Wake Forest recruit still has room to add muscle, so he could gain more power on his pitches as he gets stronger. Developing a crisper breaking ball would really enhance his profile.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	12/12/2024	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to Lake County Captains.
	12/12/2024	Lake County Captains activated LHP Josh Hartle.
	12/10/2024	Cleveland Guardians traded 1B Spencer Horwitz to Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Luis L. Ortiz, LHP Michael Kennedy and LHP Josh Hartle.
	09/02/2024	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates.
	08/05/2024	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to FCL Pirates.
	07/23/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates signed LHP Josh Hartle.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated LHP Josh Hartle.
	03/01/2024	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
	06/29/2023	College Workout activated LHP Josh Hartle.
	06/26/2023	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to USAB Stripes Team.
	05/26/2023	College Workout activated LHP Josh Hartle.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated LHP Josh Hartle.
	05/20/2023	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
	05/02/2022	LHP Josh Hartle and assigned to Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
	06/16/2020	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to PG National 3 - Gold.
	06/16/2020	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to PG National 3 - Gold.
	07/23/2019	LHP Josh Hartle assigned to 17U National Team Development Program.