Bobby Poyner

bringbackburks

New Member
Jul 21, 2005
69
Age 24 (12/1/92)
6' 205 lbs
Hits and Bats left
14th round of 2015 Draft out of University of Florida

Bobby Poyner has been putting up some sneaky good numbers between Salem and Portland this year. When he was drafted he was a fairly well regarded prospect (at least as college seniors go) who always had good control but lacked strikeout stuff. That's changed now as he's put up a k/9 of 12.6 in 47 innings between Salem and Portland while still maintaining a bb/9 of 2.1. He started and relieved at Florida and never put up numbers like this so it doesn't appear to be just the switch to a relief role. Comimg out of college his fastball was described as high 80's to low 90's, along with a curve, changeup and slider. Has anyone seen him pitch this year? Is there an increase in velocity or development of a secondary pitch that might account for his success? He's obviously miles away from helping the big club, but he'll be interesting to keep an eye on.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
4,763
Update via Fangraphs:

Red Sox prospect Bobby Poyner is equal parts hard to explain and hard to square up. The numbers he’s putting up are eye-popping. In 21 relief appearances since being promoted to Double-A Portland, Poyner has allowed just 11 hits, and one earned run, over 31 innings of work. The 24-year-old left-hander — a 14th round pick in 2015 out of the University of Florida —has walked five and fanned 41.

Gus Quattlebaum — Boston’s vice president of professional scouting — recently offered the following assessment of Poyner.

“He’s a tough one for scouts,” admitted Quattlebaum. “You see this undersized, strong, stocky left-handed pitcher, and he won’t wow you with stuff, but they can’t hit him. The swings are all late. We know the makeup — he’s a fearless strike thrower who works ahead in the count — and he’s constantly changing speeds, which allows the fastball to play up. The more you watch him, the more you like him. He’s been a big success story for us this year in player development.”

On the season, Poyner has a 1.21 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP in 52 innings between high-A and Double-A.
 

edoug

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
6,007
Not exactly the most glamorous of prospects but someone who could have a nice career in the Majors.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
4,763
Gave up a lone single in a save last night, Portland ERA now at 0.27. Last allowed multiple base runners in an inning with a pair of walks on July 17th (to start off two hitless scoreless innings), which were also the last walks he's allowed.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
4,763
The magic wears off a bit with a blown save and loss, allowing an inherited run to score then giving up 3 of his own the next inning. 4H, 2BB, 3K, 3ER in 1.1 IP, ERA all the way up to 1.05.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
4,763
Back into form, inherits men on 1st and 2nd with one out in the 8th, gets a fly out, walks one and strikes out the last. Next inning works around a leadoff double with 3 straight Ks for the save.

36 pitches over 1.2 innings, so he did have to work for it. Really curious to see if his stuff can translate at a higher level.
 

bringbackburks

New Member
Jul 21, 2005
69
Struck out the side last night after allowing the bases loaded on a couple walks and a double. ERA back under 1 at .97. Has anyone seen him this year? Still haven't found anything about an increase in velocity or the addition/improvement of a secondary pitch.

Sent from my SM-G930P using SoSH mobile app
 

bringbackburks

New Member
Jul 21, 2005
69
Poyner is in camp with the big club and has been mildly impressive so far, 3 ip 2k, 0 h, 0 bb. Cora was quoted in Friday's Herald saying that "I'm not saying he's a guy that will go up north with us but he's a guy that's opening eyes.... He's a good one."

Should be interesting to see if he can force himself into the bullpen conversation during the first half of the season. Last season's numbers combined with this spring could easily have him as one of the first lefties up.