Collyer drew some Walker Buehler comps as a Georgia high schooler because of his quality stuff and wispy, projectable 6-foot-1 frame. He didn't have the same polish but the Rangers were enchanted enough to buy him away a Clemson comment for a well-over-slot $585,000 in the 12th round in 2019. He took to becoming a full-time reliever in mid-2023 and while his development has taken longer than anticipated, Texas made sure to re-sign him as a Minor League free agent this offseason.
Collyer long has demonstrated feel for spin and can rip his sweeping mid-80s slider at upwards of 3,000 rpm, though the pitch varies between devastating and vulnerable because he leaves it over the plate too often. He uses his slide piece more than his fastball, which gained velocity in 2025 and sat at 96-98 while touching 100 with late armside run. He's mix in a decent upper-80s cutter that climbs to 94 mph as a third offering.
Slinging his pitches out of a low arm slot, Collyer creates some of the best pitch shapes in the system. The downside is that his funky wide-angle delivery makes it different for him to harness his arsenal and his walk rates continue to rise as he ascends through the Minors. He issued free passes to 16 percent of the hitters he faced last year, making it difficult to project him as more than a middle reliever.
As a Georgia high schooler with a wispy 6-foot-1 frame, quality stuff and plenty of projection remaining, Collyer reminded scouts of what Walker Buehler looked like in high school. Though he lacked Buehler's polish, the Rangers bought into his upside and signed him away from a Clemson commitment with a well-over-slot $585,000 bonus in the 12th round of the 2019 Draft. His development has taken longer than expected, but he has looked better since becoming a full-time reliever in mid-2023.
Collyer always has stood out with his feel for spin and can exceed 3,000 rpm on his mid-80s slider with sweep, an offering that can be devastating at times but also gets hit hard when he leaves it over the plate. He throws it more than his fastball and occasionally will turn it into a low-90s cutter. His heater has gained velocity this season, dealing at 96-98 mph and reaching triple digits with late armside run, and is his most effective option.
Right-handers have trouble picking up Collyer's pitches as he slings them out of a low arm slot, but his funky wide-angle delivery hampers his control as much as it provides deception. His walk rate has climbed as he has risen through the Minors, and he'll be more of a middle reliever than a late-inning option if he can refine his control and command. He became a Minor League free agent after the season and Texas made sure to re-sign him.
At 6-foot-1 and 155 pounds and flashing quality stuff with plenty of projection remaining, Collyer reminds scouts a bit of what Walker Buehler looked like in high school. Buehler was more polished and Collyer needs to get a lot stronger, so he may not get picked high enough to divert him from attending Clemson. He has the potential to blossom into a first-round pick after three years of college just like Buehler did.
Though he lacks physicality, Collyer has an electric arm capable of running fastballs up to 96 mph and sitting at 90-92 with running action. His frame easily could add another 30 pounds, after which he might operate in the mid-90s and push triple digits. He also flashes promising power on his slider, which lacks consistency but can be a plus pitch when he stays on top of it. Collyer also shows the makings of an effective changeup, though he doesn't need to use it much against high schoolers.
There's a lot going on in his delivery, which includes excessive effort and some head whack that impede his ability to command his pitches. Getting stronger not only would increase his velocity but also should allow him to improve and repeat his mechanics.
How this works:
This section shows two different ways to evaluate pitch movement.
On the left, “Total Movement” shows the real-world movement of a pitch, including the forces of gravity, which affects every pitch thrown.
Since gravity requires time, and slower pitches aren't 'better' just because they have more time to move, a pitch's movement is compared to other pitches of the same pitch type, within +/- 2 MPH and +/- 0.5 feet of extension/release.
On the right, Induced Movement (or IVB) is reported without gravity, and attempts to isolate movement created by the pitcher's ability to spin and manipulate the ball.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift:
three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of
their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about
how positioning is defined here