McCade
Brown

2021 MLB Draft: The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Brown lacks polish, but has immense upside with his size and stuff. He can sit in the low 90s with high spin while also snapping off hammers with super tight spin into the low 80s that racks up swings and misses. His delivery can get out of sync, though it's an easy operation. The swing-and-miss stuff is evident in his stat line as he allowed a stingy 35 hits and struck out 97 in 61 innings, but walked 43. He threw a combined 6.2 innings between his freshman and sophomore campaigns (the latter being shortened by COVID-19 of course) and logged another 22 innings last summer, so his 61 innings this year was a big jump in work load and additional experience may be all he needs to tap into his potential.

Saturday’s start against the Huskers was not the best performance I’ve seen over the past three-plus years from Brown, but it was good to see him adjust to the circumstances and grind out five innings of two-run, five-hit baseball. With a more consistent release point on his breaking ball than his fastball, he turned to his 78-80 mph curveball as his main weapon, pitching off of it after the second inning. Its super tight spin (2700-2800+ rpm on this look and have seen 3000+ in the past) caused fits for Nebraska as Brown racked up eight strikeouts, increasing his season totals to 92 in 58 IP. His upper and lower halves were out of sync when he threw his fastball and it never touched more than 93 on my radar gun. His decreased velocity was also a bit surprising as it typically sits more in the mid-90s. It may have been due to Brown being off time with his easy delivery, but he has already far exceeded his inning total from both his freshman and sophomore years combined. Also, his 2020 summer was limited to just 22 IP for some reason as he wasn’t allowed to build up much arm strength, something a late-blooming prospect like him sorely needed. Despite the sub-par stuff on this look, Brown remains a top three round prospect and is likely to receive a bump up even higher in the draft due to his top-level spin analytics by the clubs who lean in that direction.

While at Indiana, Brown has continued to develop into a top round college prospect for the 2021 draft. However, his lofty ranking is more indicative of his potential than his present polish. To date in his college career Brown has allowed six hits and walked 13 in 6.2 career innings for the Hoosiers. During a look last fall, Brown ran his fastball up to 92 with an easy delivery and loose arm. With a 3000+ breaking ball spin rate he’s also a TrackMan darling with elite spin rates as Prep Baseball Report posted in June. This summer he dominated the competition in the Kernals Collegiate League with a 0.93 ERA, allowing five hits while walking 11 and striking out 50 in just 22.1 IP. Some of those numbers are due to the competition level, while most of it is due to his overpowering stuff, specifically his breaking ball and lively fastball. During a look in mid-July, Brown hammered away for repeated swing/miss with his tight 80-82 curveball. He also sat 92-93 (T95) mph with his high-spin fastball during his 53 pitch start. His change-of-pace is a work-in-progress and he did not throw any on this look, other than in warm ups between innings. In the past he has dropped his hand down and away from his normal release point and thrown the pitch in the 86-87 mph range. A useable changeup is crucial to his development and with just a 50-pitch limit it will be challenging. This pitch limit is likely to slow his development, but it is designed to protect his health. Regardless, the arrow is pointing up for this talented arm and a limited look is better than no look.

Honored as 1st Team All-State (Illinois) during his senior year of high school, Brown has continued to develop into a Top 50 college prospect for the 2021 draft. However, that lofty ranking is more indicative of his potential than his present polish. To date in his college career Brown has allowed six hits and walked 13 in 6.2 career innings for the Hoosiers. During a look last fall, Brown ran his fastball up to 92 with an easy delivery and loose arm. With a 3000+ breaking ball spin rate he’s also a TrackMan darling with elite spin rates as we posted in June. This summer he’s off to dominating start with a whopping 22 strikeouts in 8 IP, allowing just two hits and no runs. Some of those numbers are due to the competition level, while most of it is due to his overpowering stuff, specifically his breaking ball and lively fastball. During my latest look on July 10, Brown hammered away for repeated swing/miss with his tight 80-82 curveball. He also sat 92-93 (T95) mph with his high-spin fastball during his three-inning, 53 pitch start. His change-of-pace is a work-in-progress and he did not throw any on this look. In the past he has dropped his hand down and away from his normal release point and thrown the pitch in the 86-87 mph range. A useable changeup is crucial to his development and with just a 50-pitch limit it will be challenging. This pitch limit is likely to slow his development, but it is designed to protect his health. Regardless, the arrow is pointing up for this talented arm and a limited look is better than no look.

9/15/19: The Hoosiers ran out several athletic bodied, loose armed righties to the bump with the highest ceiling belonging to 2021 draft eligible McCade Brown. At 6-foot-6, 200 pounds with elite spin rates near 3000 rpm, his fastball plays above its 89-92 mph velocity. Combined with a quick arm, the ease in which he delivers the ball to the plate and his feel to spin a tight breaking ball at 80-82 mph, Brown has early round potential in 2021with continued development.

3.16.18 - Indiana commit. 6-foot-6, 190-pound, long, lean, projectable, right-handed pitcher. Started on the mound for Normal West and showed a significant spike in velocity since last summer. Rocker step wind up, coiled at balance point, works slightly across his body and toe lands open. Slightly shorter arm action than seen in the past, works loose and quick from a high ¾ slot. Fastball jumps out of his hand, command was spotty, works straight with life through the hitting zone; sat mostly 89-90 mph, touching 91 (last August topped at 87 mph) in the first inning. Settled in at 87-89 mph for the majority of the outing. Curveball, inconsistent feel and shape, when at it’s best works 10/4 with depth, sat 71-74 mph. Did not see a changeup in game. Overall, inconsistent results in his first outing of the year, but highly-intriguing right-handed pitcher, given his frame, arm action and uptick in velocity.

Verbally committed to Indiana.

6-foot-5, 185-pound, lanky, right-handed pitcher, highly-projectable frame. On the mound, long, loose, athletic arm action, generates arm speed, high ¾ slot, easy effort. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, lands toe-open. Fastball, mostly straight, flashed run, commanded, 85-87 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, 71-72. Changeup, sink action, down in the zone, 76-77. One of the top unsigned senior arms in Illinois.

6.6.17 - 6-foot-5, 185-pound, long, lean, projectable right-handed pitcher. Loose arm and projects for more velocity with continued physical development. Rocker step delivery, works with rhythm, stays on-line with home plate and lands square. Arm works quick and out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball, late, arm-side-run action, thrown for strikes and sat 83-84, touching 86 mph. Also, mixed in a slider with, 11/5 action, sharp, tight spin at times, ranged between 65-70 mph. Changeup played at 70-73 mph. 

2.26.17 - 6-foot-5, 185-pound, lanky, athletic right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm slot with short arm action and quick arm speed. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes falling off the mound. Fastball has life, flashed late run, controlled the zone, clocked at 84-86 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, thrown with near fastball arm speed, clocked at 67-69 mph.  Changeup, had feel for, flashed arm side run and fade, clocked at 69-73 mph.