My guy SPP asked for some Tyson Hardin looks. So we’re going to delve into his last outing:
The former Mississippi State reliever is off to a great start. Hardin hasn’t allowed an earned run in 14.2 IP thus far. (You’ll see his left fielder help him keep a clean sheet here.) Hardin only logged 56 college innings:
The Brewers used their 12th-round pick on him this last draft, so I assume under-the-hood stuff had them enticed. Turning on the video, you get a good idea of what that may have been. I’m going to call Hardin a three-fastball guy right now, but that might be part semantics. Hardin throws a four-seam fastball that probably averaged 94ish mph. I spied a handful of definite sinkers. And there is an offering I’m calling a cutter here, as it’s probably around 88 mph. “Slutter,” “Cutter,” “Hard Slider,” who knows what he calls it. There’s also a distinct 83 mph breaking ball, I’m simply labeling a slider here. And Hardin tossed in a handful of changeups, all to lefties if I’m not mistaken. The breakdown went something like FBs-41% (I’m not differentiating between the 4FB and SI here but did label some obvious sinkers in the video), “CUT”-32%, SLD-22%, CHG‑5%, give or take. So Hardin probably gets labeled a three-fastball + sweeper guy. There is a three to four-speed velocity band here. Firm stuff that moves in three directions. And a change for lefties I didn’t think looked like some nothing pitch. Given the reactions of the hitters and eyeballs, I’d venture to guess his offerings have good things going on shape-wise. Hardin’s arsenal feels very in vogue/of the times.
The boxscore says Hardin threw 75 pitches, but he threw 76, 70% for strikes. He earned 12 WHIFFs, six of which earned swinging Ks, exuding a feel for finishing off these guys. Of the 13 balls in play, six were off fastballs, six off “cutters,” and one off a slider. I don’t know if it was the game plan or just the nature of this lineup, but Lansing seemed to be looking for fastballs, aggressive early, and staying away from Hardin’s slider. There were some quick outs. Seven of the 21 PAs lasted two or fewer pitches. Enough blathering. Here you go:
Hardin looks good. There’s a lot to like. Not that we saw too much of it here, but there’s potential for a lot of good sequencing and playing off these pitches. We saw some. Hardin filled up the zone well, but there’s room for more sophistication with locations and plans. Yet his stuff may allow him to bully hitters more than most. For high‑A, pretty nice all the way around and seems several avenues this could take shape. Hardin’s stuff seemed to hold up well. We saw it start to fade a smidge at the end. When we talk about a combination of really good tools and knowing how to use them well, this is the kind of high‑A arm you might think of. Is the arsenal full of elite pitches? Probably not, but pretty dang good. Is his execution and know-how elite? Probably not at this point, but decent. And of course, he’s just getting started. I can get down with a dynasty play here. The biggest box to check is that of horses. Hardin has pretty much proved nothing in this regard, and he’s not the most physical-looking pitcher. And of course, consistency over the long haul. Hardin is one to at least put on your watchlist. It seems the word is getting out, and folks are snatching him on the wire. So if you’re inclined, act quickly. Personally, Hardin feels like an if-you have-room, not a make-room-on-your-roster play for me at this point in his development.