Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Sims entered his 2019 senior season as a Georgia high schooler with a chance to go in the top three rounds, but inconsistency with his secondary pitches and control combined with his commitment to Mississippi State left him undrafted. He was unhittable in his first two college seasons as a reliever, posting a 1.44 ERA with 13 saves, a .151 opponent average and 100 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings as the Bulldogs won their first-ever College World Series championship in 2021. This spring, he attempted the same bullpen-to-rotation transition that landed fellow CWS hero Will Bednar in the first round last July, but he blew out his elbow in his third start (while fanning 10 of the 11 Tulane hitters he faced) and required Tommy John surgery in March.

Sims' high-spin fastball sits at 94-96 mph and touches 98 with a difficult approach angle and tremendous carry up in the strike zone, resulting in outstanding swing-and-miss (38 percent) and chase (29 percent) rates on his heater last season. His tight mid-80s slider is just as hard to handle and works against both left-handers and right-handers. He didn't utilize a third offering as a reliever and didn't pitch in the fall, but he says he believes in his changeup and is looking forward to using it. 

With his strong 6-foot-2 build and strike-throwing ability, Sims is equipped to handle starting. While he does feature some spin and recoil at times in his delivery, he has shown the aptitude to control his mechanics in longer outings. He comes with a ceiling of a mid-rotation starter and the likelihood that he's a high-leverage reliever and perhaps a closer. Area scouts love his makeup and he reminds some of them of Wallace State (Ala.) CC star Craig Kimbrel, albeit with better control and a better chance to succeed in a rotation. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Sims was a killer reliever for Mississippi State's 2021 national championship team, posting a 1.44 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings, and was moving to the Bulldogs' rotation a year later when he sustained an elbow injury in his third start. The issue required Tommy John surgery for the junior, but believing in the stuff, the D-backs selected Sims with the 34th overall pick in 2022 and signed him for above-slot at $2,347,050. Sims made his Minor League debut in June and totaled 15 appearances between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Visalia.

Arizona officials note that Sims showed up for instructs with good added weight that he had lost as he worked through rehab. That adds to the belief that he'll get back to the 94-96 mph, high-spin fastball that was such a strong pitch in college after throwing closer to the low-90s in the Minors. His mid-80s wipeout slider still gets awkward swings and can play off the high heater. Sims stuck mostly to his bread-and-butter in his return, but he'll need something of a changeup as he attacks higher levels in 2024 and beyond.

Sims walked 12 batters in 24 2/3 innings last year, showing the shaky control typical of a Tommy John pitcher coming off so much missed time, and the D-backs made the decision in ’24 to move him back to the bullpen, where he thrived in college. He continues to show closer-type stuff in that role, even with some continued control questions, and in climbing to High-A, he could be in position for relief looks in The Show in 2025.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Sims headed to Mississippi State after his stock in the 2019 Draft dropped due to concerns about his secondary stuff. He was a downright dominant reliever in his second season with the Bulldogs, saving 13 games while posting a 1.44 ERA with 100 K's in 56 1/3 innings, helping lead the program to the 2021 NCAA national title. Sims was moving to the rotation (and had a 27/2 K/BB ratio) when he suffered an elbow injury in his third start and needed Tommy John surgery. The D-backs still selected him 34th overall and signed him above slot for $2,347,050.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander has been on the rehab path, and he finally made it to a Minor League mound in June. In school, collegiate batters stood little chance against his 94-96 mph fastball with high spin and fiery life up in the zone. His mid-80s wipeout slider may be even better as a pure quality pitch, and it plays well off the high heat. Sims says he believes in his changeup, but he didn't need much of one at Mississippi State, though he will in the pros.

The Georgia native walked only 7.3 percent of the batters he faced at school, and that control has Arizona believing he has a shot to be a starter. His makeup, which was on display when he became the Bulldogs' first-base coach when injured, receives raves from scouts and evaluators, and that will come in handy after the long layoff. Still, his two plus pitches would get him to the Majors quickly once he's healthy, should he slide back to relief.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Sims entered his 2019 senior season as a Georgia high schooler with a chance to go in the top three rounds, but inconsistency with his secondary pitches and control combined with his commitment to Mississippi State left him undrafted. He was unhittable in his first two college seasons as a reliever, posting a 1.44 ERA with 13 saves, a .151 average-against and 100 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings as the Bulldogs won their first College World Series championship in 2021. This spring, he attempted the same bullpen-to-rotation transition that landed fellow CWS hero Will Bednar in the first round last July, but he blew out his elbow in his third start (while fanning 10 of the 11 Tulane hitters he faced) and required Tommy John surgery in March. The D-backs saw past that injury and selected Sims 34th overall in July, signing him for $2,347,050.

Sims' high-spin fastball sits at 94-96 mph and touches 98 with a difficult approach angle and tremendous carry up in the strike zone, resulting in outstanding swing-and-miss (38 percent) and chase (29 percent) rates on his heater last season. His tight mid-80s slider is just as hard to handle and works against both lefties and righties. He didn't utilize a third offering as a reliever and didn't pitch in the fall, but he says he believes in his changeup and is looking forward to using it. 

With his strong 6-foot-2 build and strike-throwing ability, Sims is equipped to handle starting. While he does feature some spin and recoil at times in his delivery, he has shown the aptitude to control his mechanics in longer outings. He comes with a ceiling of a mid-rotation starter and the likelihood of being a high-leverage reliever and perhaps a closer. Area scouts loved his makeup and he reminded some of them of Wallace State CC (Ala.) star Craig Kimbrel, albeit with better control and a better chance to succeed in a rotation.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	06/11/2024	RHP Landon Sims assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	03/07/2024	Arizona D-backs Prospects activated RHP Landon Sims.
	07/24/2023	Visalia Rawhide activated RHP Landon Sims from the 60-day injured list.
	07/22/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Black.
	07/18/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Red.
	07/18/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Red.
	07/07/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Black.
	06/24/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Red.
	06/24/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Red.
	06/16/2023	RHP Landon Sims assigned to ACL D-backs Black.
	06/09/2023	Visalia Rawhide sent RHP Landon Sims on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs Red.
	04/06/2023	RHP Landon Sims assigned to Visalia Rawhide from ACL D-backs Black.
	04/06/2023	Visalia Rawhide placed RHP Landon Sims on the 60-day injured list.
	11/10/2022	ACL D-backs Black activated RHP Landon Sims from the 60-day injured list.
	08/01/2022	RHP Landon Sims assigned to ACL D-backs Black.
	07/26/2022	Arizona Diamondbacks signed RHP Landon Sims.
	06/11/2022	RHP Landon Sims assigned to College Workout.
	02/01/2021	RHP Landon Sims assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
	02/01/2021	RHP Landon Sims assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
	08/08/2018	RHP Landon Sims assigned to PG East.