Scouting Report

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

Messick pitched sparingly, but effectively, out of Florida State’s bullpen in 2020, appearing in just six games in the pandemic-shortened season. After pitching well in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, he not only earned a spot in the Seminoles’ rotation in 2021, but served as the Friday night starter, finishing with a 3.10 ERA, 12.6 strikeout per nine innings and 5.48 K/BB ratios. He capped it off by throwing well for Team USA last summer and has been effective again at the top of FSU’s rotation this spring.

The six-foot-tall Messick fits the advanced college lefty prototype well. He has a legitimate four-pitch mix he knows how to use well, starting with a fastball that touches 95 mph, but averages around 91 mph more often that not. He has a softer curve he can fold in, but his newer slider, which is firmer and shorter, is a better breaking ball that he throws more frequently. His changeup is his best secondary offering, a low-80s offspeed pitch that misses bats both in and out of the strike zone and gets weak contact on the ground.

Messick throws a ton of strikes with a very strong feel to pitch. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the world, but he does have a pretty high floor as a left-handed starter, giving him the chance to become the second southpaw to come out of Plant City High School to reach the big leagues, following former All-Star Kenny Rogers.

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

Messick starred at Florida State, winning Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year honors in his first full season in 2021 and placed fifth in NCAA Division I with 144 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings in his second. Signed for $1.3 million as a 2022 second-round selection, he's typical of the finesse pitchers the Guardians have excelled at developing. He breezed through Single-A but scuffled in High-A during his pro debut last year, combining for a 3.77 ERA with a 136/39 K/BB ratio in 121 2/3 innings.

Messick leans heavily on his command and his tumbling low-80s changeup, which earns some well-above-average grades from scouts and helps the rest of his stuff play up. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95, though its flat approach angle and his cambio help it miss a surprising number of bats. His biggest weakness is his lack of feel for spinning the ball, which produces an upper-70s slider and mid-70s curveball that don't miss many bats.

Though he's more strong than athletic, Messick spent some time as a two-way player for the Seminoles and does a fine job of repeating a delivery. His 6.7 K/BB ratio is the best in Florida State history, and he hides the ball well while pounding the strike zone and keeping hitters off balance with his changeup. He has a high floor as a end-of-the-rotation starter, with the potential for more if Cleveland can work its usual magic and help him upgrade his fastball and breaking pitches.

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

In his two full seasons at Florida State, Messick won ACC Pitcher of the Year honors in 2021 and ranked fifth in NCAA Division I with 144 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings last spring. His 6.7 K/BB ratio is easily the best in Seminoles history, and he fits the mold of the polished college pitcher Cleveland has tremendous success with. Signed for $1.3 million as a second-round pick last July, he won't make his pro debut until 2023 but has impressed the Guardians with how well he has soaked up instruction and utilized development resources. 

Messick stands out most with his command and low-80s changeup, which tumbles at the plate and earns well-above-average grades from some evaluators. His changeup and flat approach angle help his fastball play better than its pedestrian velocity, with his heater sitting at 90-92 mph and topping out at 94. His breaking balls lack power and bat-missing spin, with his average upper-70s slider more reliable than his fringy mid-70s curveball. 

More burly than athletic, Messick hides the ball extremely well while repeating his delivery and pounding the strike zone. His stuff doesn't give him much margin for error but he makes few mistakes and gets hitters to chase his changeup seemingly whenever he wants. He had one of the highest floors in the 2022 Draft as a good bet to become a back-of-the-rotation starter, and the Guardians are masters of helping finesse pitchers find more ceiling. 

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

The Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year in 2021, Messick encored by ranking fifth in NCAA Division I with 144 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings at Florida State this spring. A classic finesse left-hander, his 6.7 K/BB ratio is the best in Seminoles history. The Guardians drafted him 54th overall in July and signed him for $1.3 million.  

Messick's low-80s changeup tumbles at the plate and some evaluators grade it as a well-above-average pitch. He relies heavily on his cambio, which plays well off a low-90s fastball that peaks at 94 and deceives hitters with its flat approach angle and carry up in the zone. His breaking balls lack power, with his average upper-70s slider occasionally flashing as a solid offering and his mid-70s curveball just a fringy option. 

The burly Messick hides the ball well in his delivery and college hitters rarely were able to barrel his pitches. He pounds the strike zone while also getting his opponents to chase his changeup almost at will. He'll need to watch the conditioning of his 6-foot, 225-pound frame but comes with high floor as a likely back-of-the-rotation starter. 

Awards

EAS Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
05/14/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	06/22/2024	LHP Parker Messick assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	03/07/2024	Cleveland Guardians Prospects activated LHP Parker Messick.
	06/27/2023	LHP Parker Messick assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats.
	04/06/2023	LHP Parker Messick assigned to Lynchburg Hillcats from ACL Guardians.
	03/06/2023	LHP Parker Messick assigned to ACL Guardians from Guardians Organization.
	08/16/2022	LHP Parker Messick assigned to Guardians Organization.
	07/30/2022	Cleveland Guardians signed LHP Parker Messick.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated LHP Parker Messick.
	06/11/2022	LHP Parker Messick and assigned to College Workout.
	05/07/2022	LHP Parker Messick assigned to Florida State Seminoles.
	05/07/2022	Florida State Seminoles activated LHP Parker Messick.