The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on July 11, 2021. We take a look at Tommy Mace, a talented right-hander from Florida who has developed into a first-round prospect.
Make sure to check out all of our other MLB Draft Profiles.
Tommy Mace, Right-Handed Pitcher, Florida
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 230 lbs.
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
2018: 26G, 6GS, 5-0, 4.16 ERA, 29 ER, 66 H, 12 BB, 45 K
2019: 16G, 16GS, 8-5, 5.32 ERA, 53 ER, 91 H, 38 BB, 74 K
2020: 4G, 4GS, 3-0, 1.67 ERA, 5 ER, 21 H, 5 BB, 26 K
2021: 16G, 15GS, 6-2, 4.38 ERA, 44 ER, 91 H, 21 BB, 113 K
Scouting Grades
Fastball: 55
Slider: 50
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 50
Mace’s best pitch is his fastball, and he’s developed a four-seamer to go along with his already nasty two-seamer. His curveball is also nasty with its hard delivery and late movement. He also has a cutter, slider, and changeup, which present as average pitches.
Strengths
Mace’s best pitch is his fastball, and he throws this with confidence. Heading into last year’s MLB Draft, when Mace was projected as a second-round pick but decided to return to college, scouts viewed his two-seamer as lethal and wanted him to use it much more than the four-seamer. However, he has since developed the latter and now both are dominant pitches available for his employment. His four-seamer works well, fast, and hard up in the zone. Meanwhile, the sinking two-seamer that scouts have long loved can baffle batters and comes in at 96 mph.
Mace’s cutter should not go unnoticed. While he is primarily a ground ball pitcher rather than one that induces strikeouts, he’s no stranger to the latter, either. Particularly, his cutter is great for swings and misses, as is his slider. Sometimes, the two can be hard to distinguish from each other.
Another great pitch that Mace utilizes is his curveball. While obviously not thrown as hard or as often as his fastball, this pitch is arguably as lethal and frustrating for hitters. He throws his curve around 80 mph and can deliver it accurately, catching the plate during its drop and accounting for strikes in key situations. Additionally, Aaron Fitt of D1Baseball.com saw the spin of Mace’s curveball register at 2959 rpm in November of 2020.
Weaknesses
It’s really challenging to pick out any major complaints about Mace’s game, though there are some concerns that warrant mentioning. As mentioned, while his strikeout rate did increase in 2021, Mace is still primarily a ground ball-inducing pitcher. This isn’t terrible by any means, but strikeouts are the preferred way of retiring batters, so it will be crucial for Mace to improve his strikeout rate even more once he reaches affiliated ball.
Other nitpicky notes on Mace include that he needs to make his four-seamer less hittable (he has already shown signs of monumental improvement in this regard throughout the 2021 season) and continue to avoid walks.
Pro Comparison: Corbin Burnes
This is a very favorable comparison given how Burnes has performed in 2021, but there’s data to back it up. Perhaps most specifically is the average spin on Burnes’s curveball (2,948 rpm), which aligns tremendously with Mace’s (2,959). They also have identical repertoires as the Milwaukee Brewers hurler employs a mid-90s fastball, low-90s cutter, and low-80s curveball in addition to a reliable slider and changeup. The biggest difference, of course, is the strikeout rate. Burnes has been absolutely brilliant in this department throughout 2021 while Mace has, as mentioned, been more of a ground ball pitcher.
Draft Projection: Late First Round
Mace might be off the board within the first two dozen picks, though mid-20s might be more likely. Still, he has proven to be a talented pitcher through four years at Florida. Perhaps most important is the fact that there are no glaring concerns that could cause him to fall out of the first round. He’s a well-rounded pitcher who has the makings of someone who could succeed at the next level.
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Main Image Credit: Florida Gators
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