Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

After a year at Western Kentucky and a very strong sophomore season following a transfer to Indiana, Sinnard looked like he could take a huge leap forward in 2024. But when he blew out his elbow in a 2023 regional start and needed Tommy John surgery, he missed all of what should have been his junior season. He threw bullpens for clubs and the Braves, in the third round, saw enough to take a chance on him coming back to full strength. The early returns -- 72 1/3 innings and getting to High-A Rome during the regular season before 15 2/3 more in the Arizona Fall League -- are making it look like it might have been a worthwhile gamble.

Sinnard's stuff all seems to be trending in the right direction. His velocity continues to tick up, averaging 93 mph with his fastball during the regular season, then finding more in the AFL, with an average fastball around 95 and touching 98-99. His fastball has always played up with high spin rates and carry to miss bats, and he added a sinking 2-seamer late in the year. His upper-80s slider has cutter-like action; it's short and hard and it elicited close to a 35 percent miss rate at all stops last year. He has a distinct low-80s curve that he no longer uses very often, and his low-80s splitter gives him an effective offspeed offering that also misses bats.

All of his stuff comes from Sinnard's 6-foot-8 frame and high three-quarters arm slot, making it hard for hitters to pick up the ball. He tends to be around the zone, and the next step in putting TJ behind him is refining his command so he can be a starter long-term. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

After a freshman year at Western Kentucky where Sinnard pitched sparingly and poorly, he transferred to Indiana and had a huge sophomore season, with a Hoosiers record 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings to put himself firmly on the early-rounds map for 2024. But he blew out his elbow in a 2023 regional start and missed all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. He did throw bullpens for clubs leading up to the Draft and the Braves liked what they saw enough to take him in the third round.

Coming from his 6-foot-8 frame and high three-quarters arm slot, Sinnard does not give hitters a comfortable at-bat. While his fastball sat 91-93 mph before he got hurt, topping out at 96 mph, the heater played up with high spin rates and carry to get a lot of swing-and-miss. He has two distinct breaking balls: His 78-82 downer curve missed a lot of bats and his mid-80s slider with cutter action got more chases. His low-80s changeup with depth was a distant fourth pitch he didn't use frequently.

Sinnard did a nice job in 2023 in keeping his mechanics in sync despite his size and filled up the strike zone consistently. The 2025 season will be about seeing if he can get his stuff all the way back and eventually refine his command so he can reach his ceiling as dependable big league starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Sinnard logged a 7.18 ERA as a Western Kentucky freshman in 2022 before transferring to Indiana and having a spectacular sophomore year. He broke an 89-year-old Hoosiers record with 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings and looked like a potential second-rounder. Then he blew out his elbow in a NCAA regional start last June and had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season, though he began doing bullpen workouts for clubs in late May, showing enough for the Braves to take him in the third round, signing him for right around slot.

Before he got hurt, Sinnard elicited plenty of chases and empty swings with a fastball that sat at 91-93 mph and reached 96 with high spin rates and carry. Both of his breaking balls were effective, with his 78-82 mph downer curveball missing more bats and his mid-80s slider/cutter getting more chases. He sporadically showed a low-80s changeup with depth that lacked much deception.

Employing a high three-quarters arm slot with his 6-foot-8 frame, Sinnard presents an unusual look for hitters. Despite his size, he does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and pounding the strike zone. If he can regain his stuff and refine his command, he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Sinnard logged a 7.18 ERA as a Western Kentucky freshman in 2022 before transferring to Indiana and having a spectacular sophomore year. He broke an 89-year-old Hoosiers record with 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings and looked like a potential second-rounder. Then he blew out his elbow in a NCAA regional start last June and had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season, though he began doing bullpen workouts for clubs in late May.

Before he got hurt, Sinnard elicited plenty of chases and empty swings with a fastball that sat at 91-93 mph and reached 96 with high spin rates and carry. Both of his breaking balls were effective, with his 78-82 mph downer curveball missing more bats and his mid-80s slider/cutter getting more chases. He sporadically showed a low-80s changeup with depth that lacked much deception.

Employing a high three-quarters arm slot with his 6-foot-8 frame, Sinnard presents an unusual look for hitters. Despite his size, he does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and pounding the strike zone. If he can regain his stuff and refine his command, he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.

Awards

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Luke Sinnard assigned to Atlanta Braves Prospects.
	11/08/2025	National League Fall Stars placed RHP Luke Sinnard on the reserve list.
	09/10/2025	RHP Luke Sinnard assigned to Glendale Desert Dogs.
	07/22/2025	Rome Emperors activated RHP Luke Sinnard from the 7-day injured list.
	06/06/2025	Rome Emperors placed RHP Luke Sinnard on the 7-day injured list.
	05/27/2025	RHP Luke Sinnard assigned to Rome Emperors from Augusta GreenJackets.
	03/31/2025	RHP Luke Sinnard assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	08/05/2024	RHP Luke Sinnard assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/23/2024	Atlanta Braves signed RHP Luke Sinnard.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated RHP Luke Sinnard.