Originally a second-round pick by Toronto out of high school in 2015, Singer failed to reach an agreement with the Blue Jays due to concerns about his post-Draft physical. He honored his commitment to the University of Florida and became one of the most successful and durable starting pitchers in the nation over the next three years, leading the Gators to a College World Series title as a sophomore. He was ranked No. 2 among Draft prospects by MLB Pipeline going into the 2018 Draft, but fell into the mid-first round when it finally arrived. The Royals were thrilled to get Singer with the No. 18 overall pick and went over slot value to sign him. Workload concerns along with a minor hamstring issue kept Singer off the mound entirely in what would have been his pro debut, but he hit the ground running in a healthy 2019 season that included a midseason promotion to Double-A.
Singer's calling card is his sinker-slider combo, and he knows how to use both pitches in harmony to generate a plethora of weak, mostly ground-ball contact. He eats up right-handed hitters with a low-90s sinker and can reach back for a few extra ticks with his four-seamer, controlling both fastballs well. His slider is a plus pitch when he stays on top of it, and he keeps hitters off-balance by effectively manipulating its speed and depth. While those two pitches can give righties fits, Singer will need to develop a better changeup in order to dispatch left-handed hitters at higher levels.
Singer works from a slightly lower arm slot but is consistently around the plate with all three pitches, standing out more for his control than command. He shows enough feel for a changeup to project it as at least average, while improvements to both his control and command are to be expected as he gains more experience. Singer's stuff, feel and off-the-charts competitiveness give him a realistic future as a mid-rotation starter, and he'll look to keep moving quickly in 2020 after finishing his first season on a high note by posting a 1.96 ERA, 9.5 K/9 and .188 BAA over his final nine starts in Double-A.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55
When the 2018 Draft commenced, no one, certainly not the Royals, thought Brady Singer would be available at No. 18 overall. A three-year starter and star on a stacked Florida Gators pitching staff, Singer was rated No. 2 among Draft prospects by MLB Pipeline. While Singer didn't sign as a second-round pick of the Blue Jays because of a disagreement over a post-Draft physical, he proved to be durable for three seasons and the Royals were happy to draft him and give him an over pick-value bonus of $4,247,500 to sign. Because of his workload and a small hamstring issue, he didn't pitch competitively in 2018, but he reached Double-A in his first full season.
Singer attacks hitters with two pitches that have the chance to be consistently plus in his fastball and slider. It's really three when considering he throws both a two-seamer with sink and a four-seamer with riding life, that typically sit in the low-90s but can touch 95-96 mph at times. His slider is often a plus pitch, when he stays on top of it in his delivery, and he manipulates the speed and depth of the breaking ball to give hitters different looks. With those two pitches, he didn't need his changeup much, but he has shown some feel for it and given his overall pitching acumen, there's confidence it will give him a third at least average offering.
Using a slightly lower arm slot, Singer has shown excellent control and command that should continue in his pro career. That, combined with his stuff and off-the-charts competitiveness on the mound, should allow him to move quickly and eventually pitch near the top of a big league rotation.
Singer agreed to terms with the Blue Jays as a second-rounder out of a Florida high school in 2015, only to have the deal fall apart when the two sides disagreed about the results of a post-Draft physical. He starred in three years at Florida, ranking as the Cape Cod League's top prospect after his freshman year, playing a prominent role as the Gators won the 2017 College Series as a sophomore and winning Southeastern Conference pitcher of the year honors as a junior. Rated as the No. 2 prospect in the 2018 Draft by MLB Pipeline, he surprisingly lasted until the 18th pick, where the Royals signed him for $4,247,500, a franchise record for a pitcher.
Singer throws two versions of a fastball, ranging from 91-96 mph with a two-seamer that sinks and a four-seamer that rides, and commands both well. When he stays on top of his slider, it gives him a second plus pitch, and he has tremendous feel for altering the depth and speed of his breaking ball. He didn't use a changeup much in college but flashes the potential for a solid third offering.
While some scouts quibble about Singer's lower arm slot, he was durable throughout his college career and his control and command improved each season. He has the upside of a frontline starter, perhaps more of a No. 2 than a true No. 1. His competitiveness is off the charts and he should move quickly through the Minors.
