Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40
Thiel is one of the more projectable and most improved high school pitchers in the Midwest. The 6-foot-7 left-hander topped out at 88 mph during East Coast Pro tryout last summer and failed to make the team, but he has added about 5 mph to his fastball this spring. While many scouts believe he'd be best served by attending Ohio State and adding more strength and polish, there are enough interested teams that he may not get to Columbus.
Thiel now reaches 94 mph early in games and operates at 89-91 mph throughout his starts, imparting carry and armside run on his heater. He gets good depth on a curveball that reaches the upper 70s and owns a slider with more power and horizontal action but less consistency. He also demonstrates feel for a changeup that parks around 80 mph and drops at the plate.
After gaining significant strength during the last year, Thiel now carries 230 pounds on his tall frame and still has room to add more. He uses his size to create extension and angle that add deception. He throws more strikes than most teenage southpaws his size and projects to develop average control and command.
