Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Neighbors put himself on the map in a big way as a sophomore at Kansas State, emerging from relative nowhere to strike out 86 batters in 48 ⅔ innings in 2023. He endured some non-arm injuries the following year that muted his Draft stock a little, but he still went to the Padres in the fourth round and signed for around slot at $600,000. Neighbors then spent his first full pro season essentially replicating his eye-popping college numbers by pitching to a 1.53 ERA and compiling 83 strikeouts in 59 innings. The Orioles acquired him as part of the massive six-player package for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano at the 2025 Trade Deadline and watched him finish the year with 12 dominant outings in his new organization.

The 6-foot-2 Neighbors looks like a potentially electric closer who could move quickly. All three of his primary pitches could be plus offerings, including a four-seam fastball that he dialed up to 97 mph after the trade. The heater gets great induced vertical break because Neighbors throws it out of a high slot, and it’s most effective when he keeps it at the top or above the zone and lets it ride above the hitter’s barrel. His mid-80s slider is a potential wipeout pitch, and his curveball is a low-80s breaker with big depth. His strikeout rate was 36.4 percent in ‘25, including 31.6 percent at Double-A.

Neighbors is energetic and fiery on the mound, having long grown comfortable pitching in high-leverage situations. He doesn't issue too many walks for a relief prospect and trusts his stuff enough to work it outside the zone, where it gets whiffs. He will be 23 in 2026 and could be pitching his way into big league consideration before long.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Neighbors put himself on the map in a big way as a sophomore at Kansas State, emerging from relative nowhere to strike out 86 batters in 48 ⅔ innings in 2023. He endured some non-arm injuries the following year that muted his Draft stock a little, but he still went to the Padres in the fourth round and signed for around slot at $600,000. Neighbors then spent his first full pro season essentially replicating his eye-popping college numbers by pitching to a 1.53 ERA and compiling 83 strikeouts in 59 innings. The Orioles acquired him as part of the massive six-player package for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano at the 2025 Trade Deadline and watched him finish the year with 12 dominant outings in his new organization.

The 6-foot-2 Neighbors looks like a potentially electric closer who could move quickly. All three of his primary pitches could be plus offerings, including a four-seam fastball that he dialed up to 97 mph after the trade. The heater gets great induced vertical break because Neighbors throws it out of a high slot, and it’s most effective when he keeps it at the top or above the zone and lets it ride above the hitter’s barrel. His mid-80s slider is a potential wipeout pitch, and his curveball is a low-80s breaker with big depth. His strikeout rate was 36.4 percent in ‘25, including 31.6 percent at Double-A.

Neighbors is energetic and fiery on the mound, having long grown comfortable pitching in high-leverage situations. He doesn't issue too many walks for a relief prospect and trusts his stuff enough to work it outside the zone, where it gets whiffs. He will be 23 in 2026 and could be pitching his way into big league consideration before long.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Like Kansas State teammate Kaelen Culpepper, Neighbors rocketed from fairly anonymous recruit to an early-round pick in the 2024 Draft, in his case as a fourth-rounder to the Padres. Though he's purely a reliever, he was considered the best bullpen prospect in the class. He wasn't as sharp this year as he was as a sophomore and missed a month with an oblique strain, but he still has the stuff to eventually fill a high-leverage role in the Majors.

Neighbors has three pitches that miss bats at exceptionally high rates. His fastball operates at 94-96 mph and reaches 99 with cutting and riding action and exceptional induced vertical break. His mid-80s slider touches 91 mph and features two-plane depth and high spin rates, generating a 63 percent swing-and-miss rate this year, and he can turn it into an upper-80s cutter that can also be nasty. His low-80s curveball has big depth as well and gives him a plus third offering.

Neighbors reminds some scouts of Craig Kimbrel with his compact, muscular frame and high-energy delivery. He's fairly athletic and repeats his mechanics well, allowing him to provide a decent amount of strikes, though his fastball gets more hittable when he doesn't locate it at the top of the zone. A potential closer who thrives on pressure situations, he shouldn't require much development time in the Minors, and the Padres have a tendency to get aggressive with their prospects too.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Like Kansas State teammate Kaelen Culpepper, Neighbors has rocketed from fairly anonymous recruit to likely pick in the early rounds of the 2024 Draft. Though he's purely a reliever, he's the best bullpen prospect in the class. He wasn't as sharp this year as he was as a sophomore and missed a month with an oblique strain, but he still has the stuff to eventually fill a high-leverage role in the Majors.

Neighbors has three pitches that miss bats at exceptionally high rates. His fastball operates at 94-96 mph and reaches 99 with cutting and riding action and exceptional induced vertical break. His mid-80s slider touches 91 mph and features two-plane depth and high spin rates, generating a 63 percent swing-and-miss rate this year, and he can turn it into an upper-80s cutter that also can be nasty. His low-80s curveball has big depth as well and gives him a plus third offering.

Neighbors reminds some scouts of Craig Kimbrel with his compact, muscular frame and high-energy delivery. He's fairly athletic and repeats his mechanics well, allowing him to provide a decent amount of strikes, though his fastball gets more hittable when he doesn't locate it at the top of the zone. A potential closer who thrives on pressure situations, he shouldn't require much development time in the Minors.

Awards

MiLB Awards All-MiLB Prospect Second Team

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Baltimore Orioles Prospects.
	02/23/2026	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	08/03/2025	Chesapeake Baysox activated RHP Tyson Neighbors.
	07/31/2025	Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to San Diego Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa.
	07/31/2025	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Chesapeake Baysox.
	06/10/2025	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
	03/27/2025	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	03/13/2025	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to San Diego Padres Prospects.
	02/23/2025	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to San Diego Padres.
	08/27/2024	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	08/05/2024	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to ACL Padres.
	07/26/2024	San Diego Padres signed RHP Tyson Neighbors.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated RHP Tyson Neighbors.
	02/02/2024	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	06/29/2023	College Workout activated RHP Tyson Neighbors.
	06/26/2023	RHP Tyson Neighbors roster status changed by USAB Stars Team.
	06/26/2023	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to USAB Stars Team.
	05/20/2023	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	02/14/2022	RHP Tyson Neighbors and assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	06/17/2020	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to PG National 8 - Orange.
	06/17/2020	RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to PG National 8 - Orange.