Zach Root Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

School: Arkansas
Root followed up what was a solid freshman season with a breakout sophomore campaign in which he pitched his way to a 3.56 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 68.1 innings. He has a funky delivery and attacks from a three-quarters slot. Root’s fastball has been up to 96-97 mph, but its shape is rather generic and it doesn’t miss a ton of bats. However, both his slider and changeup—especially the change—have consistently flashed plus and this season generated whiff rates north of 45%.
School: Fort Myers (Fla.) HS Committed/Drafted: East Carolina
Age At Draft: 18.5
An athletic and unconventional looking lefthander, Root has gotten taller and stronger over the last year or so and his stuff followed that upward trend as well this spring. After pitching in the upper 80s and touching 90 last summer and fall, Root has gotten his fastball up to 93 mph. He has also thrown a breaking ball in the mid-to-upper 70s and a changeup in the 78-80 mph range—both of which have a chance to be average pitches and flash above-average. Root is an uncomfortable at-bat for hitters, with deception in his delivery thanks to significant tilt in his leg lift and a fast arm from a three-quarter slot. There’s a bit of head whack in his finish, but in general he receives good reviews for his control. Root is committed to East Carolina but has trended in the right direction and has plenty of positive indicators.