MLB Pipeline rated Eder as the fifth-best high school left-hander in the 2017 Draft, but his strong commitment to Vanderbilt knocked the second-round talent all the way down to the Mets in the 34th. A midweek starter as a freshman and a reliever as a sophomore, he closed out the Commodores' 2019 College World Series championship with a three-inning save against Michigan. He did a much better job of harnessing his stuff in the Cape Cod League in the summer and during fall practice, but his velocity and control regressed during the shortened 2020 season.
When Eder is at his best, he can work at 92-95 mph and touch 97 with his fastball and back it up with a plus curveball. But there also are days when he'll sit closer to 90 mph and lack feel for his curve. Though he can flash a solid changeup, it's still a work in progress because he hasn't used it much in short stints with the Commodores.
Eder threw all three offerings for strikes on the Cape but sometimes has trouble finding the zone and can get hit hard when his location is off. His strong 6-foot-4 frame is built for durability and helps create tough angle on his pitches. If he can maintain the consistency and command of his stuff that he showed in the summer and fall, he could be a mid-rotation starter.
Despite flashing first-round stuff in college and earning a three-inning save in the 2019 College World Series clincher, Eder never could fully establish himself in Vanderbilt's weekend rotation. The Marlins paid him an over-slot $700,000 in the fourth round of the shortened 2020 Draft, challenged him with a Double-A assignment for his pro debut next year and he responded by dominating -- until blowing out his elbow that August. He missed all of 2022 following Tommy John surgery and a fractured left foot delayed his return until last June. He turned in his best start of the season right before Miami traded him to the White Sox for Jake Burger in August, then lost the strike zone and recorded a 11.42 ERA at Double-A Birmingham and got pounded in the Arizona Fall League.
After rocking a 93-96 mph fastball that peaked at 98 with riding action before his elbow reconstruction, Eder pitched more at 90-93 last season and is sitting at 92-94 this year. He has regained the power on his mid-80s slider, which lacks consistency but can be a plus offering with two-plane depth and horizontal action when he stayed on top of it. He has added a low-80s curveball that can miss bats when he lands it in the strike zone, but his mid-80s changeup has gotten firmer and less lively.
Eder had a history of inconsistent control and command before dominating in his pro debut, and Chicago is trying to help him regain the delivery he maintained in 2021. If he can repeat his three-quarters arm slot on a regular basis and recapture the stuff he had three years ago, he might be a No. 2 starter. This season, he has looked more like a guy who'll have to be a reliever who relies on his breaking pitches.
Though Eder flashed first-round stuff at Vanderbilt and notched a three-inning save in the 2019 College World Series clincher, a lack of consistency prevented him from cracking the Commodores' weekend rotation until his junior year. After signing with Miami for an over-slot $700,000 in the fourth round of the shortened 2020 Draft, he went to Double-A for his 2021 pro debut and dominated until blowing out his elbow that August. Tommy John surgery and a left-foot fracture kept him off the mound until this June, and he was coming off his best start of the year when the Marlins sent him to the White Sox for Jake Burger at the Trade Deadline.
Eder displayed a plus fastball and slider throughout the 2021 season before he got hurt, and a pro scout with another organization called him the best pitching prospect in baseball. His four-seamer sat at 93-96 mph and touched 98 with ride up in the zone, and he commanded it better than he ever had. He also tightened up his low-80s slider, generating more horizontal action and locating it with more precision than before.
Eder also made strides with a low-80s changeup that offers some fade and tumble. Most importantly, he threw all three pitches for strikes after a history of inconsistent control and command. If his stuff returns after his elbow reconstruction and that polish is for real, he should become at least a No. 3 starter and perhaps more.
Eder flashed first-round stuff at Vanderbilt and earned a three-inning save in the 2019 College World Series finale, but he also lacked consistency and didn't claim a spot in the Commodores' weekend rotation until his junior year. Even then, his stuff and control regressed during the shortened college season, though the Marlins still gave him an over-slot $700,000 as a fourth-rounder. Pushed to Double-A for his 2021 pro debut, he dominated and earned a spot in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game before he blew out his elbow in August and required Tommy John surgery.
A pro scout with another organization called Eder the best pitching prospect in baseball after seeing him, and the lefty maintained a plus fastball and slider all summer until he got hurt. He parked at 93-96 mph and touched 98 with his four-seam heater, creating riding action up in the zone and commanding it better than ever. He tightened his low-80s slider, generating more horizontal break and locating it with more precision than he had in the past.
Eder also made strides with his low-80s changeup, which features some fade and tumble, and his ability to throw all three pitches for strikes. His strong 6-foot-4 frame should give him the durability needed for starting and his size also creates a difficult angle for hitters. Assuming he returns to full health after elbow reconstruction, he could become a No. 3 starter and possibly more.
One of the top prep left-handers in the 2017 Draft, Eder might have gone in the top two rounds if not for his Vanderbilt commitment that dropped him to the Mets in the 34th round. He flashed first-round stuff with the Commodores and earned a three-inning save in the championship game of the 2019 College World Series, but he couldn't claim a spot in their weekend rotation until 2020. Though his stuff and control regressed during the shortened college season, he still landed an over-slot $700,000 bonus as a fourth-rounder. Sent to Double-A for his pro debut in 2021, he dominated until blowing out his elbow in August, requiring Tommy John surgery that may sideline him for all of next season.
While Eder lacked consistency at Vanderbilt, that wasn't an issue as he overmatched Double-A hitters. He maintained the velocity on his four-seam fastball, sitting at 93-96 mph and touching 98, and the quality of his low-80s slider, giving him a second plus pitch. He also showed improved feel for his low-80s changeup, which features some tumble.
Eder's strong 6-foot-4 frame is built for starting and his size helps create difficult angle on his pitches. After averaging 4.6 walks per nine innings during his three college seasons, he threw all three of his pitches for strikes this year, like he did when he starred in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2019. He began to look like a steal with his instructional league performance last fall and showed the makings of at least a No. 3 starter before his elbow gave out.
One of the best left-handers in the 2017 high school class, Eder might have gone in the top two rounds if not for a strong commitment to Vanderbilt that knocked him down to the Mets in the 34th round. He flashed first-round stuff with the Commodores and closed out their 2019 College World Series championship with a three-inning save against Michigan, but didn't land a spot in their weekend rotation before this spring. Though his velocity and control regressed in his four starts as a junior, he still commanded an over-slot $700,000 bonus as a fourth-rounder.
When Eder is on, he can operate at 92-95 mph and touch 97 with his fastball while backing it up with a plus curveball. He lacks consistency, however, and there are days where he'll park around 90 mph with his heater and lose the feel for his curve. He shows the making of a solid changeup, though it's still a work in progress because he didn't employ it much in short stints in college.
Eder showed the ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes in the Cape Cod League last summer but averaged 4.6 walks per nine innings during his three seasons at Vanderbilt. He has a strong 6-foot-4 frame built for durability and his size helps create difficult angle on his pitches. If he can maintain the quality and command of his stuff that he showed in the Cape and during fall practice, he could prove to be a steal.
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.
! 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
CWS
