Scouting Report

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

More of a position player in his first two seasons as a California high schooler, Doughty skipped most of the big showcase events in 2023 except for a breakout performance at the Area Code Games. As he performed well last spring, he steadily boosted his stock until the Guardians drafted him 36th overall and signed him for $2,569,200. He'll make his pro debut in 2025 and could move faster than most prep pitchers.

Doughty stands out most with his precocious feel for spin, as both his low-80s curveball and mid-80s slider feature plenty of depth and can exceed 3,000 rpm. Both are plus pitches and his fastball could get there as he fills out his 6-foot-1 frame, because he already works at 91-95 mph and touches 97 with impressive armside run and command. He also shows promising aptitude for throwing a mid-80s changeup with fade, though it is a bit firm.

While Doughty isn't very physical, he's a good athlete with a quick arm and a fluid delivery. He not only fills the zone, but he also can land his quality breaking balls for strikes or get batters to chase them off the plate. His intelligence is another point in his favor that could help him reach his ceiling of a No. 2 starter.

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

Doughty didn't get a lot of exposure before this spring, skipping most of the premier showcase events save for a breakout performance at the Area Code Games and not pitching during the fall. More of a position player in his first two years as a California high schooler, he performed well throughout his senior season and steadily climbed Draft boards. The Guardians looked to replenish their supply of arms in July and started by taking him with a supplemental first-round choice and signing him for $2,569,200.

Though Doughty isn't very physical at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, he maintains a 91-95 mph fastball deep into games and touches 97 with quality armside run and command. His feel for spin is even more impressive, as he can top 3,000 rpm with a low-80s curveball and a mid-80s slider that both feature plenty of depth. He hasn't had much need for his mid-80s changeup, which can get too firm but does have some fade.

Doughty overcomes his lack of size with athleticism and arm speed. He provides plenty of strikes and shows the aptitude for landing his breaking pitches in the zone as well as using them to get chases. An intelligent pitcher, he could develop into a No. 2 or 3 starter.

Video scouting report »

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

Doughty wasn’t on the radar much, and wasn’t at all of the high profile showcase events over the summer, but came on the scene in a big way at the Area Code Games with some serious swing-and-miss stuff. He didn’t pitch in the fall for Chaparral High School in California, but the scouting industry was buzzing this spring when he came out of the gate showing that what he did late in the summer appears to be for real.

While Doughty isn’t all that big at 6-foot-1, he is compact, strong and extremely athletic on the mound. He has a quick arm that fires fastballs up to 96-97 mph with life and solid command. He misses bats with it and even more so with his power low-80s curve, that tops 3,000 rpm and features tight break. He has an 83-85 mph slider with two-plane late lateral movement, and some think both breaking pitches could be plus in time. He has some feel for a changeup, but he doesn’t throw it much.

Doughty’s athleticism helps him find the strike zone very consistently, especially given his power repertoire. Those who were around him at the Area Code Games also saw plus makeup, a kid who was a sponge for pitching knowledge, something he would take to Oklahoma State should the Draft not go his way. Since he’s come out and shown he can dominate like he did late last summer, he may never make it to campus, with his name coming up in early-round discussions.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2025	Lynchburg Hillcats activated RHP Braylon Doughty from the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2025	Lynchburg Hillcats placed RHP Braylon Doughty on the 7-day injured list.
	03/30/2025	RHP Braylon Doughty assigned to Lynchburg Hillcats from ACL Guardians.
	08/05/2024	RHP Braylon Doughty assigned to ACL Guardians.
	07/27/2024	Cleveland Guardians signed RHP Braylon Doughty.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated RHP Braylon Doughty.
	06/06/2024	RHP Braylon Doughty assigned to College Workout.
	01/30/2024	RHP Braylon Doughty assigned to High School Workout.
	08/09/2023	RHP Braylon Doughty assigned to High School Workout.
	08/09/2023	High School Workout activated RHP Braylon Doughty.