Prospect Spotlight: Mike Shawaryn (BOS)

Kelly O’Connor | sittingstill.smugmug.com

Matt Linder

Shawaryn was drafted in the 5th round by the Red Sox out of the University of Maryland. The 24-year-old logged 149.1 innings with a 3.44 ERA and K/BB ratio of 132/38.  I saw him pitch in late-July against the Trenton Thunder.

The right-hander has a strong frame – listed at 6’2” and 200 lbs. – however, he does not have much physical projection remaining.  Shawaryn’s fastball sat between 89-to-90 mph and topped out at 93. He throws from a low ¾ slot, which creates slightly above average sinking action on his heater.  Due to the pitch’s two-seam run, he is able to control his fastball to the arm side, but struggles to locate the pitch to his glove side.  Shawaryn’s best off-speed offering is his slider.  He demonstrates a good feel for the pitch and an ability to manipulate its shape.  The 23-year-old can throw it harder, like a cutter at 85-to-86 mph or can throw a more traditional sweeping slider in the low-80s.  Currently, his slider is a uniplanar pitch, only breaking horizontally.  Shawaryn’s changeup is a distant third pitch.  It is too firm, sitting 83-to-84 mph.  The pitch exhibits some vertical depth at its best, but more often than not stays flat.  He displays a solid plan on the mound with his willingness to work quickly and attack the strike zone.

Despite being used as a starting pitcher during his minor league career, I believe his eventual role is in the bullpen.  Shawaryn’s slider is not sharp enough to be used as an effective strikeout pitch at the big-league level and his changeup is an unreliable offering.  The 23-year-old’s deceptive arm slot and ability to run fastballs into right handed batters will allow him to be a FV 40 middle innings reliever.

If you have any questions, comments or criticisms feel free to reach out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com