Two years after breaking former big leaguer Pat Misch’s single-season school strikeout record at Western Michigan, Akin earned Baltimore’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award with a breakout 2018 at Double-A Bowie. Akin paced the Eastern League in wins (14), strikeouts (142), and ranked third in ERA (3.27), but didn’t fair nearly as well at Triple-A Norfolk (6-7 with a 4.73 ERA) in 2019. Despite ample need for rotation help, the Orioles held the former second-round pick in the Minors all season as to not impede his development, though he was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason.
The Orioles had Akin focus on developing his offspeed pitches more in 2019, which contributed to the bump in both his strikeout (10.5 per nine) and walk rates (4.9 per nine) at Norfolk. While he still issued more free passes than was ideal, Akin also led the International League with 131 punchouts in 112 1/3 innings. His best pitch is a high-spin, 92-95 mph fastball that, two years ago, he threw more than three-quarters of the time. That rate decreased dramatically last summer in place of a slurvy slider, which Akin throws in the low 80s, and changeup, which he uses to induce soft contact against right-handed hitters. There is a sense that all could play up in shorter stints if Akin eventually ends up in the bullpen.
Akin’s ceiling, though, seems to be that of a mid-to-back-end starter, especially if he can improve his control and command. His first chance should come soon enough, with rotation help still needed in Baltimore.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Akin struck out 133 batters as a Western Michigan junior to establish a single-season record, surpassing former big leaguer Pat Misch on the school's all-time list. The Orioles took him in the second round that June, then assigned him directly to Class A Advanced Frederick for his first full season. Akin pitched to mixed results early before settling in during the second half, and he built upon that success during a breakout Double-A campaign in 2018. He was named Baltimore's Minor League pitcher of the year and garnered similar honors in the Eastern League after he led the circuit in wins (14), strikeouts (142), and batting average against (.225), and posted the third-best ERA (3.27).
<p>Akin's repeatable delivery and clean arm action allow him to paint both sides of the plate with a fastball that sits at 91-94 mph and touches 95. An above-average slider in the low 80s is Akin's best secondary pitch, and he also demonstrates feel for a changeup that's at least average. He throws each of his three pitches for strikes and is comfortable pitching inside against right-handed hitters with his fastball. While he doesn't generate many ground balls and at times is prone to the long ball, Akin does induce a healthy number of whiffs and induces weak contact by effectively changing speeds.
<p>The Orioles changed Akin's heel placement on the rubber back in 2017, and that adjustment has helped him stay on line to the plate and better execute his pitches. He still has gains to make both with his control and command, but all the ingredients are there for Akin to serve as a No. 4 starter, perhaps more, if he continues down his current developmental path.
Akin showed scouts during his junior year at Western Michigan that he could miss plenty of bats as he established a new single-season strikeout record of 133 (in 109 innings) to surpass former big leaguer Pat Misch on the school's all-time list. Targeting college arms, the Orioles made Akin their second-round pick that June, and he immediately impressed the organization during his pro debut with Class A Short Season Aberdeen. Making the jump directly to Class A Advanced Frederick for his first full season, Akin pitched to mixed results early before settling in during the second half.
Akin's repeatable delivery and clean arm action allow him to paint both sides of the plate with a fastball that sits at 91-94 mph and reaches 96. His go-to secondary offering is a short, above-average slider in the low 80s, and he also demonstrates feel for a changeup that could be at least average. He throws each of his three pitches for strikes, and club officials rave about how he attacks the inner-half against right-handed hitters.
Akin's initial struggles in the Carolina League prompted the Orioles to give him two-week break in late May to correct his mechanics. An adjustment to Akin's heel placement on the rubber did the trick, as it allowed the southpaw to stay more in line with the plate and better execute his pitches. Akin could develop into a No. 3 or 4 starter if he continues down his current path, though there's also a non-zero chance he ends up in the bullpen.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Akin parlayed a dominant junior campaign at Western Michigan into a second-round selection by the Orioles, as he became the program's first top-three-round selection since Ryan Van De Weg (Padres) and Luke Wilcox (Yankees) in 1995. The left-hander shattered the school strikeout record of former big leaguer Pat Misch, fanning 133 in 109 innings, and then led the Broncos to their first Mid-American Conference tournament championship by winning two games in five days to take home MVP honors. Akin's dominance carried over into his pro debut at Class A Short Season Aberdeen, and he continued to make strides in 2017 despite bypassing the Class A level en route to the Carolina League.
One of the hardest-throwing lefty starters in his class, Akin's fastball sits at 91-94 mph and reaches 96 with late life, and he maintains that velocity deep into games. His above-average slider in the low 80s represents his best secondary offering and makes him particularly effective against lefty hitters. His changeup, though less advanced, projects to be average. Akin's easy and repeatable delivery, as well as his clean arm action, allows him to paint both sides of the plate his heater, in turn helping him to set up his other pitches.
The Orioles rave about Akin's makeup and poise and believe those qualities could help him ascend the Minors quickly. With three average-or-better pitches and at least average control and command, Akin profiles as a No. 3 or 4 starter at maturity.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
Western Michigan had not had a player selected in the first three rounds since Ryan Van De Weg (Padres) and Luke Wilcox (Yankees) in 1995. Akin put an end to that drought in 2016, when he parlayed a dominant junior campaign into a second-round selection by the Orioles. Akin obliterated the school strikeout record of former big leaguer Pat Misch, fanning 133 in 109 innings, as he pitched the Broncos to their first Mid-American Conference tournament championship by winning two games in five days to take home MVP honors.
Akin, who was one of the hardest-throwing lefty starters in the college ranks, usually pitches at 91-94 mph and peaks at 96 with late life on his fastball. Though he's not a big guy, he maintains his velocity deep into games and generates it without much effort in his delivery. There's some debate as to which is better, his low-80s slider or his tumbling changeup, but both should be at least average offerings.
Akin has three pitches and fills the strike zone, so he'll definitely be a starter going forward. He fared well against quality competition in the Cape Cod League last summer, another point in his favor.
