Scouting Report

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

When the Phillies selected Ottenbreit in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft out of the Michigan high school ranks and went over slot to sign him, they knew he might be a bit of a project as a young prep arm from a northern cold-weather state. He made just two starts in 2022 before he needed Tommy John surgery, returning for just two appearances in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in July 2023. Now healthy, Ottenbreit’s climb to full-season ball has been uneven, but he’s finally been able to show some of the upside potential that made him a Draft prospect in the first place.

The 6-foot-4 Ottenbreit stayed in Florida all offseason to get himself built up and ready to pitch in 2024 and there have been some positive development as a result. Still very much about projection, his sinking fastball will come in regularly around the 92-95 mph mark, topping out a tick or two higher, and it’s easy to dream on more consistent velocity the further removed from surgery he gets. He can really spin a breaking ball with elite-level spin rates, kind of a hybrid slurve pitch -- à la Aaron Nola -- that misses a ton of bats. He does have a changeup but it’s behind his other offerings.

While there is still work to do in terms of his overall command, Ottenbreit did a better job finding the zone in 2024 than in his brief pro experience prior to this season. He might eventually be best suited for the bullpen, but for now the Phillies are content to let him work on his whole arsenal as a starter.

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

High school pitchers from northern, cold-weather states are often seen as projects, or that they need college ball to develop. Most thought Ottenbreit, a Michigander, was going to head to Michigan State to do just that, but the Phillies swooped in to take him in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft and went over slot to sign him away from that commitment for $775,000. They’ll have to wait to see what kind of pitcher they really have on their hands because he suffered a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery after just two starts in his first full season of pro ball.

Ottenbreit is still very much about projection on the mound. When he was healthy, the 6-foot-4 right-hander did show a fastball that could touch the mid-90s, sitting more in the low-90s consistently. He’s already added size and strength since signing, giving hope that there’s more velocity in the tank once he gets going again. He can really spin his curve, a breaking ball that could be an above-average pitch in time. He had been adding in a slider and was working on his changeup before he was sidelined, and the plan is to bring back his entire four-pitch mix once he has a clean bill of health.

There will be work to do in terms of his overall command, certainly not uncommon for a cold-weather high school arm, with confidence that added strength will help him repeat his delivery more consistently. It’ll be 2024 before the Phillies really get a sense of what Ottenbreit can be, but he has the potential to be a mid-rotation type starter.

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

To date, three pitchers from Trenton High School in Michigan have made it to the big leagues, though J.J. Putz was the only one to initially get drafted from the school and he, Anthony Bass and Matt Shoemaker all went on to college before embarking on a professional career. Most thought Ottenbreit would follow suit by working on his craft at Michigan State, but the Phillies swooped in by taking him the fourth round of the 2021 Draft and giving him an over-slot bonus of $775,000 to keep him from pitching for the Spartans. He had barely gotten his first full season started in 2022 when he injured his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery.

The Phillies bought mostly in to Ottenbreit’s projection, though he also had some feel for some secondary stuff that made him more interesting. He’d generally been 91-93 with his fastball, maybe touching 94, with the hope that there’s more in the tank as he filled out his 6-foot-4 frame and he’s already put on about 30 pounds since he signed. He can really spin a breaking ball, registering high spin rates on his curve. Before he got hurt, he was working on adding a slider and changeup, giving him the chance to have a legitimate four-pitch mix.

Ottenbreit’s command has been spotty, but added strength should help him repeat his delivery more consistently. He may never have pinpoint command, but he could eventually get to average control. It might take a while, but he was trending in the right direction before surgery, with the chance to eventually develop into a big league starter.

Awards

FSL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/21/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/16/2024	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	08/27/2024	Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP Micah Ottenbreit to the Development List.
	08/24/2024	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	08/16/2024	Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP Micah Ottenbreit to the Development List.
	03/07/2024	Philadelphia Phillies Prospects activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	03/07/2024	Philadelphia Phillies Prospects activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	11/06/2023	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	08/17/2023	RHP Micah Ottenbreit roster status changed by Clearwater Threshers.
	07/01/2023	Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Micah Ottenbreit on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.
	07/01/2023	Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Micah Ottenbreit on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.
	07/01/2023	Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Micah Ottenbreit on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.
	07/01/2023	Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Micah Ottenbreit on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.
	04/07/2023	Clearwater Threshers placed RHP Micah Ottenbreit on the 60-day injured list.
	11/10/2022	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	11/10/2022	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	05/18/2022	Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP Micah Ottenbreit from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/20/2022	Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP Micah Ottenbreit to the Development List.
	04/13/2022	RHP Micah Ottenbreit assigned to Clearwater Threshers from FCL Phillies.
	09/30/2021	RHP Micah Ottenbreit assigned to Phillies Organization.
	09/30/2021	Phillies Organization activated RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	08/31/2021	RHP Micah Ottenbreit assigned to FCL Phillies.
	07/17/2021	Philadelphia Phillies signed RHP Micah Ottenbreit.
	06/17/2020	RHP Micah Ottenbreit assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.
	06/17/2020	RHP Micah Ottenbreit assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.