#10 - RHP Michael McGreevy
Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Sinker: 50 | Sweeper: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Curveball: 45 | Command: 60 | Overall: 45
Background:
McGreevy was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2021 draft out of UC Santa Barbara, selected 18th overall as one of the most polished college arms in the class. McGreevy is a quality athlete with fluid, repeatable mechanics that allow him to stay in rhythm on the mound. He quickly climbed the minor league ladder early in his pro career, relying on advanced command and pitchability. However, in 2022 and 2023, his arsenal didn’t translate well against upper-level hitters, as he struggled to manage contact quality and limit damage within the zone.
Scouting Report:
Ahead of the 2024 season, McGreevy made some much-needed adjustments to his arsenal. He added 5–6 inches of sweep to his slider, transforming it from a two-plane shape into a true sweeper—giving him far more effectiveness against righties. The pitch showed a night-and-day improvement over his previous slider and now grades as a legitimate plus offering, one he leans on heavily in right-on-right matchups.
He also introduced a cutter, giving his mix a new option and helping bridge the gap between his more profound east-west profile. While the cutter’s performance in a vacuum leaves something to be desired, it’s had a clear positive impact on the rest of his arsenal, particularly in lefty matchups where he takes a more kitchen-sink approach.
His four-seam fastball, which averages 92–93 MPH (T96) with a below-average movement profile, showed noticeable improvement in execution at the top rail of the zone—particularly against lefties, where it became a more reliable swing-and-miss/putaway option. McGreevy also showed improved sequencing and more deliberate pitch usage based on handedness in 2024.
He still fares better against righties, but the progress he’s made allows him to hold his own against left-handed hitters—an area that had previously been one of his biggest vulnerabilities.
McGreevy’s sinker remains his bread-and-butter, generating elite ground-ball rates and serving as a go-to pitch vs. righties, paired with the revamped slider. Those two pitches made up 77% of his usage in those matchups.
He also mixes in a curveball and changeup—almost exclusively against lefties—both of which could use improvements in movement and feel. The changeup, in particular, mirrors his sinker too closely in shape and lacks sufficient velocity separation, making it easier for hitters to adjust to. Adding more depth and dialing back sinker usage in favor of a reworked changeup could improve his results in those matchups. He could also benefit from using the curveball more frequently in called-strike counts.
Future:
McGreevy is never going to overpower hitters, and the lack of true swing-and-miss stuff does limit his ceiling. But with a much-improved breaking ball, the addition of a cutter, and more advanced sequencing, he’s certainly raised his floor. He now looks the part as a future innings-eating back-of-the-rotation starter.
