Prospect Parade: Rapidly Rising Arms
Jaxon Wiggins, Johnny King, Braden Nett
Welcome to “Prospect Parade”, a series which aims to highlight any intriguing MiLB Prospect and Players.
This article will cover a trio of pitching prospects rising rapidly up rankings!
Jaxon Wiggins - CHC
Jaxon Wiggins is a big-bodied righty with a flamethrower of an arm who has taken AA by storm this season. He sits amongst the most prolific whiff generators in MiLB backed by an elite fastball and plus slider which he further supplements with a changeup and curveball vs LHH. Wiggins' fastball sits in the upper 90s with an above average ride from his high 3/4 slot. It does a stupendous job at inducing whiffs in the zone, however its steeper approach leaves it prone to damage. His slider exhibits tight cut-gyro movement and averaged 88-89 MPH. He commands the offering well, leading to strong whiff rates and above average chases rates. His changeup's combination of vertical and velocity separation from his fastball provides him the necessary weapon to tackle LHH. Although it is a rawer offering, it has flashed exceptional results this season. The biggest concern in Wiggins profile is his inconsistent command which continues to hamper him in starts this season. He ranks near the bottom in most conventional control proxies including Strike%, Zone%, and First Pitch Strike%, indicating that he may ultimately end up in the bullpen. Nonetheless, Wiggins has some of the most exciting stuff of all MiLB pitchers and if he can keep the walks in check, his ceiling as a starter is very tantalizing.
Johnny King - TOR
Johnny King was selected in the 3rd round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of high school and dominated the Florida Complex league out of the gate. He was rewarded with a promotion to Lo-A where his raw stuff makes him one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in MiLB. He is an athletic lefty with a prototypical starter frame and throws from a deceptive low 3/4 slot. His fastball jumps out of a 5.6' release height at 93–95 MPH with plenty of life, grading as a plus pitch. There’s room for a few more ticks as he continues to develop, which could propel it into plus-plus territory and amongst the best fastball amongst any lefty prospect. His lone breaking ball is a low 80s two-plane curveball with an uncanny ability to generate whiffs. He rounds out his arsenal with a high 80s changeup with above average run and ~10" of vertical separation from his fastball. King has showcased an improved feel for the strike zone this season, however inconsistencies lead to wasted pitches. Like all young arms, there is massive risk, however King looks like one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the lower minors.
Braden Nett - SD
Braden Nett has done wonders for his prospect stock this season on the heels of his 7 pitch mix and greatly improved Strike% and BB%. Sitting atop his arsenal is his 95-97 MPH 4-Seam fastball which flirts with triple digits. Its shallow approach from his below average vertical release helps it well at the top of the zone and leads to plenty of whiffs and chases. The next pitch in his belt is a low 90s cutter with slight cut and ride to make it a platoon neutral offering. He consistently tosses it for strikes while missing bats at a well above average rate. His final fastball is a mid 90s sinker with equal run and ride, which he utilizes against RHH early in counts. His ability to impart spin gives him plenty of breaking balls to work with, with the most notable being his +3000 RPM curveball. It sits in the upper 70s with sharp two-plane action that induces some nasty swings, especially with 2 strikes. He also tosses a pair of sliders, one with more subdued glove-side action at 84-86 MPH and the other with over 15" of sweep at 81-83 MPH. Finally, Nett rounds out his arsenal with a splitter that stumps LHH thanks to its solid run and above average vertical separation from his fastball. The biggest knock against Nett is his command, which is partially a function of his high effort delivery. He has trimmed down the walks this season and is showing improved command, however he finds himself behind in counts early. With 7 competitive offering, Nett is one of the most versatile pitching prospects in baseball and could find himself up with the Padres soon.
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Thanks for covering Wiggins after my request. The first pitch strike number is indeed very low compared to other helium pitching prospects and I had not been aware of that. I've cut him in favor of Tolle and then cut oft injured Farmelo for Schlittler. My majors club is set at OF anyway and when Schlittler is promoted by Yanks later in summer I can backfill his Minors slot with another prospect.