Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Curley was a 16th-round pick by the Pirates in 2024 after two years at Virginia Commonwealth but didn’t sign and instead transferred to Georgia. He began as the Bulldogs’ closer but became the club’s No. 1 starter later in the spring, finishing with a 3.55 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 85 strikeouts in 66 innings. That pushed him into the third round last summer, and he signed with the D-backs for below slot at $700,000.

The 5-foot-10 right-hander sure makes for an interesting watch. When pitching out of the windup, he looks like he hesitates a bit in his gather before rushing toward the plate with high effort. (In the stretch, he gets things moving a lot quicker, as you’d imagine.) He runs his fastball up to 100 mph and generally sits 94-97 with high spin rates, thanks to added velo as a junior. He can work a few different breaking ball looks -- the best of which is a mid-80s slider with good depth. There’s a harder version in the upper 80s with cutter-like tendencies too and a 79-81 mph curveball with more vertical snap.

Curley didn’t show a changeup or other armside offspeed pitches in Athens, using his curve to neutralize lefties instead. That, along with the exertion in his delivery for his size, give him a relief projection in the Majors. But in their search for depth, the D-backs should still give him plenty of starting chances to open his career, knowing the stuff could be high-leverage quality if Curley needs to slide back.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Curley spent his first two college seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, then turned down the Pirates as a 16th-rounder last July in order to transfer to Georgia. He opened his junior year as the Bulldogs' closer, worked his way into their rotation by late March and took over as their No. 1 starter three weeks later. He added 3 mph to his fastball this spring before the Draft and limited opponents to a .179 average while striking out 85 in 66 innings. Arizona took him in the third round and signed him for below slot at $700,000.

Curley not only deals at 94-97 mph and reaches 100 with his fastball, but he also produces high spin rates and difficult carry, and has maintained his velocity through longer outings. He also has shown the ability to miss bats with three different breaking balls, the best of which is a mid-80s slider with impressive depth. It elicits more chases than an upper-80s cutter and a low-80s curveball that serves as a change of pace against lefties.

Though he'll get a chance to prove himself as a starter in pro ball, Curley projects more as a power reliever at the next level. He lacks size and pitches with considerable effort which results in fringy control. His fastball does lack life, so he needs to work in the mid-90s and up in the zone to keep it off barrels.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Curley spent his first two college seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, then turned down the Pirates as a 16th-rounder last July in order to transfer to Georgia. He opened his junior year as the Bulldogs' closer, worked his way into their rotation by late March and took over as their No. 1 starter three weeks later. He has added 3 mph to his fastball this spring and limited opponents to a .179 average while striking out 85 in 66 innings.

Curley not only deals at 94-97 mph and reaches 100 with his fastball, but he also produces high spin rates and difficult carry, and has maintained his velocity through longer outings. He also has shown the ability to miss bats with three different breaking balls, the best of which is a mid-80s slider with impressive depth. It elicits more chases than an upper-80s cutter and a low-80s curveball that serves as a change of pace against lefties.

Though he'll get a chance to prove himself as a starter in pro ball, Curley projects more as a power reliever at the next level. He lacks size and pitches with considerable effort which results in fringy control. His fastball does lack life, so he needs to work in the mid-90s and up in the zone to keep it off barrels.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Brian Curley assigned to Arizona D-backs Prospects.
	08/04/2025	ACL D-backs activated RHP Brian Curley.
	07/22/2025	RHP Brian Curley assigned to ACL D-backs.
	07/21/2025	Arizona Diamondbacks signed RHP Brian Curley.
	06/03/2025	RHP Brian Curley assigned to College Workout.
	02/09/2025	RHP Brian Curley assigned to Georgia Bulldogs.