Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Forbes headed to Louisville as a potential two-way player and saw time as a DH/outfielder as a freshman in 2023, even getting at-bats in the Cape Cod League that summer. He broke his left hand in his lone plate appearance of 2024 and didn’t bat again as a collegian after shifting his focus to the mound exclusively that spring. He joined the Cardinals starting corps as a junior, and after working around a flexor strain, he finished with a 4.42 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings for Louisville’s College World Series squad. Arizona selected him 29th overall (the pick it received for losing Christian Walker in free agency) and signed him for $3 million. 

The 6-foot-3 right-hander throws from a low three-quarters delivery that can make him difficult to read. He picked up velocity in the summer before his junior year and sat 94-96 mph throughout the spring, touching 100, with impressive carry and high spin. He has continued to sit mid 90s in workouts heading into his first full season. An 81-85 mph slider shows promising sweep running away from righties and flashes plus. He could turn it into an upper-80s cutter for something sharper in college. Forbes’ upper-80s changeup will require refinement in pro ball as he’ll need a better option than the fastball alone against lefties.

Forbes’ delivery comes with energy and verve, and while that might help his explosiveness, it’s also kept him from ever really showing average control to this point. That said, Arizona took him as an upside play considering he isn’t that deep into his time as a full-time pitcher. There could still be more development than your typical big-time college arm with the option of dominating out of the bullpen as a two-pitch righty always a fallback option.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Kentucky's top 2022 prep prospect as a power-hitting third baseman, Forbes went undrafted because of his strong commitment to Louisville. The Cardinals used him more as a DH/outfielder as a freshman before shifting gears in 2024, when an errant pitch broke his left hand in his lone plate appearance, sidelining him for a month. After working just 38 1/3 innings on the mound in his first two college seasons, he took off as a full-time pitcher in 2025 and ranked third in NCAA Division I with 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The D-backs selected him 29th overall in July and signed him for $3 million.

Forbes has explosive carry on his high-spin fastball, which averaged 94 mph last spring, ticked up with Team USA and in the Cape Cod League last summer and now sits at 94-96 with a peak of 100. He also has added more power to his slider, which now runs from 81-85 mph and can be a plus pitch at its best, and he'll occasionally turn it into an upper-80s cutter. He hasn't had much time to refine an upper-80s changeup that features plenty of fade when it's on, but it also can get too firm.

As Forbes concentrates all of his energy on pitching, the hope is that he'll be able to improve his changeup and strike-throwing. His delivery features some effort and he missed two starts in April with a flexor strain, though he recaptured his stuff when he returned and helped Louisville reach the College World Series. If everything comes together, he could fit in the front half of a big league rotation.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40 

Bowling Green (Ky.) HS has produced a big leaguer in Paul Kilgus but never has had a player drafted. That should change this July unless Forbes can't be diverted from his Louisville commitment. He's an infielder with a projectable 6-foot-3 frame and a chance for at least average tools across the board, and he intrigues clubs who place a premium on age because he won't turn 18 until a week before the Draft. 

Forbes is still raw at the plate but has the potential to hit for average and power. His hands work well in his right-handed stroke, though he tends to hit off his front foot. He already displays average raw power and should develop into at least a 20-homer threat as he matures physically. 

Presently a solid runner, Forbes likely will lose a step once he fills out. A high school shortstop, he's expected to move to third base and could be an asset there with more consistency and experience. He has enough arm to play on the left side of the infield and has been clocked up to 93 mph on the mound. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Kentucky's top 2022 prep prospect as a power-hitting third baseman, Forbes went undrafted because of his strong commitment to Louisville. The Cardinals used him more as a DH/outfielder as a freshman before shifting gears in 2024, when an errant pitch broke his left hand in his lone plate appearance, sidelining him for a month. After working just 38 1/3 innings on the mound in his first two college seasons, he took off as a full-time pitcher in 2025 and ranked third in NCAA Division I with 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Forbes has explosive carry on his high-spin fastball, which averaged 94 mph last spring, ticked up with Team USA and in the Cape Cod League last summer and now sits at 94-96 with a peak of 100. He also has added more power to his slider, which now runs from 81-85 mph and can be a plus pitch at its best, and he'll occasionally turn it into an upper-80s cutter. He hasn't had much time to refine an upper-80s changeup that features plenty of fade when it's on but also can get too firm.

As Forbes concentrates all of his energy on pitching, the hope is that he'll be able to improve his changeup and strike-throwing. His delivery features some effort and he missed two starts in April with a flexor strain, though he recaptured his stuff when he returned and helped Louisville reach the College World Series. If everything comes together, he could fit in the front half of a big league rotation.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Patrick Forbes assigned to Arizona D-backs Prospects.
	08/04/2025	ACL D-backs activated RHP Patrick Forbes.
	07/22/2025	RHP Patrick Forbes assigned to ACL D-backs.
	07/21/2025	Arizona Diamondbacks signed RHP Patrick Forbes.
	06/03/2025	RHP Patrick Forbes assigned to College Workout.
	02/05/2025	RHP Patrick Forbes assigned to Louisville Cardinals.
	04/02/2024	OF Patrick Forbes assigned to Brewster Whitecaps.
	03/12/2024	3B Patrick Forbes assigned to Louisville Cardinals.
	06/09/2023	Brewster Whitecaps activated 3B Patrick Forbes.
	03/02/2023	3B Patrick Forbes assigned to Louisville Cardinals.
	06/01/2022	3B Patrick Forbes and assigned to College Workout.