Scouting Report

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

While his twin brother, Kyson, went to the Red Sox with the 15th overall pick, Malachi was a higher-rated prospect in high school and turned down an over-slot offer from the Diamondbacks as a 12th-rounder in 2022. The siblings have similar arsenals, but Kyson harnesses his much better and outperformed Malachi at Northwest Florida State JC and Oklahoma. The latter still went early himself; in this case, in the second round to the Tigers where he signed for $1,448,700.

Though Witherspoon parks at 95-97 mph and peaks at 99 with his fastball, it lacks life and gets pounded because he doesn't locate it well. His most effective pitch is a low-80s curveball with depth, though scouts believe his tighter slider in the upper 80s will be his best option in the long run. He can throw a decent upper-80s changeup with fade but doesn't have much faith in it.

Witherspoon adds deception to his power stuff with his low three-quarters arm slot, flat approach angle and quality extension. But working exclusively out of the stretch still leaves him with fringy control and below-average command because he doesn't repeat his mechanics. He'll probably get the opportunity to start at the next level, but he'll need to remake his fastball shape and may be a reliever in the long run.

Video scouting report »

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

Every year there are prospects who "pop up" onto Draft radars, players who were relatively unknown before the spring but take a huge step forward in their Draft year to become more seriously considered in the early rounds. Witherspoon, whose twin brother Kyson is also a high school senior, has become one of the more intriguing ones in Florida, coming out of the Jacksonville-area high school ranks. 

Teams have been scrambling to see Witherspoon this spring as his velocity started to climb. Those in the area who have known him always knew of his ability to spin a breaking ball and that hasn't changed, with a plus curveball that has registered spin rates up around 3,000 rpm. Strong and athletic at 6-foot-3, he has a stronger lower half might be the reason why his fastball has ticked upwards and made him a much more interesting prospect. He's now up to 95 mph and sitting around 92-93 mph with the pitch, also thrown with high spin rates. He's also shown a surprising feel for his changeup at times.

Witherspoon is still a bit raw and more about projection, though he tends to be around the strike zone. He doesn't have the cleanest delivery and some see a little reliever risk, but the Jacksonville recruit has a huge up arrow next to his name.

Video scouting report »

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

While his twin brother, Kyson, will likely be the first college right-hander drafted in July, Witherspoon was a higher-rated prospect in high school and turned down an over-slot offer from the Diamondbacks as a 12th-rounder in 2022. The siblings have similar arsenals, but Kyson harnesses his much better and has outperformed Malachi at Northwest Florida State JC and Oklahoma. The latter could still go as early as the third round to a team that believes it can add polish to his overpowering stuff.

Though Witherspoon parks at 95-97 mph and peaks at 99 with his fastball, it lacks life and gets pounded because he doesn't locate it well. His most effective pitch is a low-80s curveball with depth, though scouts believe his tighter slider in the upper 80s will be his best option in the long run. He can throw a decent upper-80s changeup with fade but doesn't have much faith in it.

Witherspoon adds deception to his power stuff with his low three-quarters arm slot, flat approach angle and quality extension. But working exclusively out of the stretch still leaves him with fringy control and below-average command because he doesn't repeat his mechanics. He'll probably get the opportunity to start at the next level, but he'll need to remake his fastball shape and may be a reliever in the long run.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/04/2025	FCL Tigers activated RHP Malachi Witherspoon.
	07/24/2025	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to FCL Tigers.
	07/23/2025	Detroit Tigers signed RHP Malachi Witherspoon.
	06/03/2025	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to College Workout.
	01/31/2025	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.
	07/06/2024	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to Chatham Anglers.
	04/02/2024	Chatham Anglers activated RHP Malachi Witherspoon.
	04/02/2024	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to Chatham Anglers.
	02/06/2024	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.
	05/09/2023	RHP Malachi Witherspoon and assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	RHP Malachi Witherspoon assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated RHP Malachi Witherspoon.
	06/01/2022	RHP Malachi Witherspoon and assigned to High School Workout.