Scouting Report

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

Despite having thrown just 25 innings in 2019 and 2020 combined, Melton climbed onto MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 250 in 2021 despite an uneven season thanks to his size and arm strength. An offseason of work with San Diego area pitching guru Dom Johnson, who has worked with big leaguers like Joe Musgrove, has led to a new delivery and more consistent results as the Aztecs’ Friday night starter.

The 6-foot-4 Melton has the makings of a full starting pitcher’s repertoire. He has a big fastball with good life, up to 97 mph and averaging around 93 mph, and he relies on it heavily. While his slider has been effective at missing some bats, the low-80s breaker is not a true out pitch. He has worked to develop a truer curve, though he hasn’t used it in games much. He has a changeup, but it’s often too firm.

In the past, there were concerns about the length in Melton’s arm action and the shaky command as a result. But Melton has worked to shorten that up and be much more compact, leading to much better strike-throwing. He’ll have to work on some pitch design as a pro, but his size, athleticism on the mound and new delivery should lead to interest in the top five rounds.

Video scouting report »

Typically, Draft-eligible starters for a Division I program have at least some track record. That’s really not the case with Melton, who threw just 2 2/3 innings as a freshman at San Diego State. And while he received all-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore, they came after just four starts in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In what’s been a bit of an up-and-down season, the right-hander began 2021 as the Aztecs’ Friday night starter, got moved to mid-week and pitched his way back to the weekend rotation.

The 6-foot-4 Melton has the chance to have an interesting mix of at least three pitches. He’s more arm strength than anything now, with a fastball that’s been up to 97 mph and averaging just over 93 mph this year. He backs up the heater with a solid slider, and while his changeup is a bit behind, he shows feel for it with a chance for it to eventually be a third average offering. He’s developed a newer curve that he’ll use early in counts.

Melton’s delivery and arm action will need to be tightened up at the next level, with that length leading to some command issues and making some think he might be a future reliever. On the plus side are his size, arm strength and age -- he’ll still be just 20 at the Draft -- giving him the chance to go in the top two or three rounds.

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

The Tigers drafted Melton in the fourth round in 2022 believing there was more in his big right arm than the former catcher had shown over an up-and-down career at San Diego State. That potential began to emerge in 2023, when Melton settled in behind Jackson Jobe in the High-A West Michigan rotation. He pitched beyond five innings in just two of 23 outings between West Michigan and Single-A Lakeland, but his flashes of dominance put him firmly in the pecking order of Tigers pitching prospects.

Melton’s arsenal seems like it should get more swings and misses than his 22.8 percent strikeout rate last year at West Michigan would suggest. His fastball has crept up to the mid-90s since he turned pro, and he can reach back for upper-90s when he needs it. He has a low-80s slider that he can command, and added a harder pitch that acts like a cutter. He also has a mid-to-upper-80s changeup to work off the fastball, and he's shown an upper-70s curveball for another breaking look in 2024. But after drawing a ton of ground balls in Lakeland, his fly-ball rate soared last year, comprising more than 40 percent of balls in play at West Michigan. Despite a few high-walk games, his command seemingly improved, and he drew some impressive called-strike totals down the stretch.

Melton has the look and arsenal of a future Major League starter, but he still has some refinement to do to get there. His underlying numbers at Double-A Erie this summer have been better than his more traditional stats, and he could factor into Detroit's starting depth in 2025.

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

The Tigers found one recent gem out of San Diego State when former 26th-round Draft pick Garrett Hill made his Major League debut in Detroit last July. They’d love for Melton to be their next Aztec find, though the righty is a little more projectable as a fourth-round pick from last year’s Draft with a 6-foot-4 frame and a bit more velocity. The Tigers gave Melton a pair of cameo appearances late last season at Single-A Lakeland, where his five scoreless innings with five strikeouts fueled anticipation for his first full pro season, and he's climbed from Lakeland to High-A West Michigan in that first campaign.

Melton came out of the Draft with a good starter’s arsenal, anchored by a fastball that sits in the low 90s but reached 97 mph in his pro debut last September. That fastball is now up to the mid-90s in 2023, bringing more excitement to his profile. His slider draws swings-and-misses at times but is more of a slow breaking pitch in the low 80s, and he's added an upper-80s cutter for another look. He throws an upper-80s changeup too, but the pitch can get a little firm.

The Tigers have been good at pitch design with young arms under director of pitching Gabe Ribas. Melton’s size and athleticism make him an ideal project for the group. He might take some time, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he followed former teammate Hill’s path to Detroit.

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

Thanks to his size and arm strength, Melton climbed onto MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 250 in 2021 despite an uneven season and despite having thrown just 25 innings in 2019 and 2020 combined. An offseason of work with San Diego area pitching guru Dom Johnson, who has worked with big leaguers like Joe Musgrove, led to a new delivery, more consistent results as the Aztecs’ Friday night starter and an improved Draft standing as a fourth-rounder with the Tigers.

The 6-foot-4 Melton has the makings of a full starting pitcher’s repertoire. He has a big fastball with good life, up to 97 mph and averaging around 93 mph, and he relies on it heavily. While his slider has been effective at missing some bats, the low-80s breaker is not a true out pitch. He has worked to develop a truer curve, though he hasn’t used it in games much. He has a changeup, but it’s often too firm.

In the past, there were concerns about the length in Melton’s arm action and the shaky command as a result. But Melton has worked to shorten that up and be much more compact, leading to much better strike-throwing. He’ll have to work on some pitch design as a pro, but his size, athleticism on the mound and new delivery could lead to a future Major League rotation spot.

Awards

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/25/2024	Erie SeaWolves activated RHP Troy Melton from the 7-day injured list.
	08/30/2024	Erie SeaWolves placed RHP Troy Melton on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 29, 2024.
	03/30/2024	RHP Troy Melton assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	03/08/2024	RHP Troy Melton assigned to Detroit Tigers Prospects.
	05/19/2023	RHP Troy Melton assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	05/19/2023	West Michigan Whitecaps activated RHP Troy Melton.
	08/30/2022	RHP Troy Melton assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers.
	08/04/2022	RHP Troy Melton assigned to FCL Tigers.
	08/04/2022	Detroit Tigers signed RHP Troy Melton.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated RHP Troy Melton.
	06/11/2022	RHP Troy Melton assigned to College Workout.
	02/15/2022	RHP Troy Melton and assigned to San Diego State Aztecs.
	07/02/2021	RHP Troy Melton and assigned to College Workout.
	07/02/2021	RHP Troy Melton assigned to College Workout.
	05/02/2017	C Troy Melton assigned to Canyon HS Comanches.