Follow the Prospects: Holden Powell, RHP

[imref]

6'0"
189 lbs
Selected in the 3rd round of the 2020 draft out of UCLA (94th overall)
DOB: 9/9/1999

Highlights via uclabruins.com

Notes
Selected in the third round (No. 94 overall pick) of the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Washington Nationals ... At the conclusion of his true junior season, owned a career 2.26 ERA and 26 saves ... 2019 NCBWA Stopper of the Year and First Team All-American ... Second all-time in UCLA history in career saves ... Career 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings ratio ... 2018 Freshman All-American ... 2020 All-American.

Career Highlights
2019 NCBWA Stopper of the Year
Two-time All-American (2019-20)
2018 Freshman All-American
2019 All-Pac-12 Team

2020
Made eight appearances out of the bullpen for UCLA ... Had no record, three saves, a 0.00 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings ... Named a Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball ... Led the team in K/9 (19.3), saves, and ERA ... Ranked second in the Pac-12 in saves and eighth in appearances ... Allowed just three hits on the year, including just one over his final five outings ... Pitched at least one full inning in every one of his appearances, including three outings in which he was asked to get four outs or more ... Had multiple strikeouts in seven of eight appearances, including five outings with 3+ Ks ... Allowed just one extra-base hit, a double in his season debut ... Named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.

Closer of the future: https://calltothepen.com/2020/06/25/washington-nationals-holden-powell-next-home-grown-closer/

Seems there's a decent chance he's in the majors next year

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Curious if the Nats have him in the 60 man pool to get him more innings and to work with him at this stage in development.  He seems like the type they might have hoped they could push to AA for the 2d half of the season.

[HalfSmokes]

I think it depends on how you treat the 60 man- is it a fall back if the 26 man clubhouse gets Covid, or is it development

[Slateman]

I think it depends on how you treat the 60 man- is it a fall back if the 26 man clubhouse gets Covid, or is it development

It's clearly a fallback/pool of players for dealing with C-19. But that doesnt mean you cant also develop players on it.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It's clearly a fallback/pool of players for dealing with C-19. But that doesnt mean you cant also develop players on it.

article up in the 60/40 or 30 thread mentions teams are likely to take different approaches to the 60 man pool.  Non-contenders may be more likely to put lower prospects on the list to continue development even if they will not play in the majors this year.  Contenders generally may be more concerned about big league depth.  Powell is a tweener in that he's a college arm with a specific skill.  That can be a quick path to the majors.  IF a middle reliever just doesn't have it this year, and he's doing well in camp with nice stuff, do you bring him in quickly? 

[imref]

Name: Holden William Powell
Born: Sep 9, 1999 in Visalia, CA
College: UCLA
High School: Mount Whitney HS, Visalia, Calif.
Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 185 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

Selected in the third round of the 2020 draft out of UCLA, finished with a 2.26 ERA in 91 2/3 with 107 Ks, primarily as a closer.

Scouting reports:
- https://dailybruin.com/2020/06/29/scouting-report-holden-powell
- https://www.federalbaseball.com/2020/6/16/21291790/washington-nationals-2020-3rd-round-pick-holden-powell-could-be-on-the-fast-track-to-majors

[JCA-CrystalCity]

reading that daily Bruin article, he's a 2 pitch pitcher right now - Fastball and slider.  Fastball he uses to get ahead, slider for swings and misses.  Trying to develop a change up.  Has a curve he'll use against lefties, but the slider is the plus pitch.

It'll be interesting to see if the Nats use him as a starter in the minors, or maybe an opener / multi-inning guy, so he can work on his secondary stuff, or whether they like the 2 pitches so much that they try to fast-track him in the pen. 

[imref]

IIRC they drafted him with the expectation that he’d be a closer.

[Slateman]

So he's pitched one inning on May 5th and nothing else

[imref]

So he's pitched one inning on May 5th and nothing else

He’s listed as injured but no details.

[Slateman]

At this point, Im just going to assume he injured his UCL. Its too bad, this is a guy I was expecting to push pretty quickly through the farm system.

[imref]

Assigned to the FCL for a rehab assignment. Sure seems like he had TJ last year.

[Slateman]

Dude just up an vanished for a year

[imref]

Dude just up an vanished for a year

yep. teams aren't required to provide information about minor league injuries.

[Slateman]

So ... like .... still alive?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So ... like .... still alive?

he's hold'en on

[imref]

promoted to Wilmington on June 28. Has only thrown 32 innings in the last 3 years due to injuries.

[Slateman]

HE LIVES!!!

11 innings over the last month in Single A

[imref]

Promoted to Harrisburg

[Slateman]

Two inning save

[imref]

Promoted to Rochester

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Promoted to Rochester

Promoted to Rochester

making up for lost time. I'm wondering, given his draft class, if he would have been exposed to the AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft if he hadn't been bumped?

[imref]

2IP tonight, 1H, 1BB, 1K, 0ER

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nationals: Holden Powell, RHP
A third-round pick out of UCLA in 2020, Powell looked like a potential quick-moving reliever as he entered pro ball, but a pair of surgeries, including one on his shoulder in late 2021, have slowed that progress. He reached Triple-A last month and sat 94-96 mph with his four-seam fastball while also leaning heavily on a mid-80s slider. Those two pitches and his newly established health give him a shot at reaching Washington next summer or could make him a Rule 5 option this winter when he becomes first eligible.

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/prospect-sleepers-in-the-arizona-fall-league-2023?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage

[Slateman]

Trade Finnegan and call this guy up next season