Follow the Prospects: James Bourque, RHP

[imref]

Drafted 2014 (14th round)
6'4", 190
Born July 9, 1993
Pitched at Michigan

Stats:
http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=630263#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL

Added to the 40 man roster in 2018

https://www.federalbaseball.com/2018/12/18/18145611/washington-nationals-prospect-james-bourque-transitioning-to-bullpen-getting-added-to-40-man-roster

Bourque, 25, and a 2014 14th Round pick out of the University of Michigan, finished the 2018 campaign, his first working exclusively in relief, with a 2.16 ERA, a 2.76 FIP, 12 walks (3.24 BB/9), and 52 Ks (14.04 K/9) in 33 1⁄3 innings pitched for Class-A Potomac, and a stingy 0.92 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 14 walks (6.41 K/9), and 24 Ks (10.98 K/9) in 19 2⁄3 IP at Double-A Harrisburg.

Scouting Report from 10/13/18

NOTES FROM THE FIELD, INSTRUCTS:

Tall, lanky frame with sloped shoulders. Built like Tyler Clippard.
Upbeat semi-windup; funky moving parts, hops at the hitter with closed front side. H3/4 slot. Deceptive relief-only delivery.
FB 92-96 (94); Above-avg velo, consistent mid-90s; 4sm grip with late ride up in the zone; control over command type.
CH 86-88; Firm split-like changeup, throws at armspeed and gets late dive despite limited velocity separation.
SL 80-83; Playable/fringy pitch, consistent short shape. Shows more to RHH.
FB/CH two primary pitches, can stay around zone with both. Aggressive competitor, intense mound presence, battles.
SUMMARY: Moved to bullpen and became a prospect, breakout name in Nationals system coming off a big 2018. Profiles as middle reliever, the type that provides depth by being optioned up/down. Close to ML ready.

[Squab]

Sounds kind of Tyler Clippard-ish, excited to see him in spring.

[bluestreak]

Go Blue!

[Elvir Ovcina]

Sounds kind of Tyler Clippard-ish, excited to see him in spring.

Maybe, but Clippard had much better stuff than that when he was 25.  I've never seen Bourque, but 94 plus a "change" that's only 6 mph off the fastball and a show-me slider is awfully fringy in the majors.  Good hitters will just sit on the fastball and foul the rest of it off.   Maybe it plays better in the era of guys trying to hit it out on every swing, but if you're going to be fastball-change in the majors without huge velocity, normally it had better be a heck of a change, more like 12-15 ticks off with movement (again, Clippard). 

I hope it plays up well, though.  Maybe he gets a little more control, maybe he manages to take a tick or two off the change.  Small things can really matter.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Telling that the positive report says fringe middle reliever
Clip was a set up and closer.

[imref]

Free agent in 2020, now in the Cubs’ system. Locking this