The Baltimore Orioles have the second pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. They should use that selection on Asa Lacy.
At this point, the top three selections in the 2020 MLB Draft are expected to be some combination of Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, and Asa Lacy. Torkelson is widely expected to be the first overall selection of the Tigers, with Martin then expected to be taken by the Orioles with the second pick, and Lacy falling to the Marlins with the third selection.
However, the Orioles have a distinct need for pitching in the farm system. Grayson Rodriguez appears to be a future top of the rotation arm, and DL Hall has electric stuff, but has yet to truly harness it. Finding another possible top of the rotation arm to pair with Rodriguez should be a priority for Baltimore.
Enter Lacy. He is considered to be the top pitching prospect in the draft, ranking just ahead of Emerson Hancock. Both pitchers are considered future top of the rotation starters, but Lacy, being left handed, gets the nod.
A look at his arsenal shows why Lacy is so highly regarded. He is armed with a four pitch arsenal, with his fastball, change, and slider all rating as plus offerings. The fastball has increased velocity during his college career, to the point where the heater sits in the mid 90s, topping out at 97 MPH. His hard slider is a strikeout pitch, with excellent movement. Lacy’s change has excellent fading movement, although it is somewhat inconsistent. His curve is another above average pitch, with solid downward movement, even if that is also inconsistent.
There is also a bit of deception in his delivery. Lacy throws from a three quarters arm slot, which can be a bit difficult to pick up. That delivery can be a bit of a problem however, as not only is there a lot of effort in his delivery, but there are times when he struggles to repeat his mechanics. This causes Lacy to have occasional lapses of control during his outings.
As is the case with any prospect, there is a degree of risk with Lacy. His delivery could lead to injury down the line, and his occasional command issues could push him to the bullpen. But he is also a left handed pitcher with excellent velocity and can generate whiffs even if he is missing his spots. For a team that is lacking high end pitching talent in the minors, such as the Orioles, Lacy is well worth the risk.
The Baltimore Orioles need to add to a thin crop of pitching prospects. Asa Lacy would add another top tier arm to their system.