Ryan Zeferjahn

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #19 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Zeferjahn has been a high-profile arm since his high school days, though he preferred to attend Kansas. Zeferjahn spent the last three years in the Jayhawks' rotation, punching out over 11 hitters per nine innings over his last two seasons. A blister on his nail limited his ability to throw his breaking ball once he arrived in short-season Lowell, yet he still struck out 12.7 batters per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite quality stuff, Zeferjahn was still viewed as relatively raw for a college pitcher coming out of the draft due to command and consistency issues. His arm action created some concern due to depth in back, which impacted his timing. Primarily featuring a two-seamer, scouts believed Zeferjahn would be a better fit if he utilized his mid-to-high-90s four-seamer. Zeferjahn also has the makings of a potentially plus slider, but had a harder time getting to it due to erratic command and high pitch counts. Zeferjahn has had a harder time developing a usable changeup. His ability to spin the ball gives the Sox confidence that he'll have at least one solid secondary offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zeferjahn will likely open 2020 in low Class A Greenville, with the need for pitch development resulting in a more deliberate development track than some college starters.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #57 prospect in 2019 draft
  Coming out of high school in 2016, Zeferjahn was the clear third wheel in one of the best high school pitching classes in Kansas history. While Riley Pint and Joey Wentz were both Day 1 picks out of high school, Zeferjahn made what looks to be a wise choice by heading to college. Over the intervening three years, he's filled out his once rail-thin frame, adding an inch in height and 25 pounds in weight since arriving at Kansas. He's also added 3-4 mph to his fastball and significantly improved his changeup and slider while pitching for the Jayhawks. Zeferjahn has one of the better fastballs in this year's draft class, sitting 94-95 mph but ranging anywhere from 92-97 mph with consistent plus life. At times, he will flash both a plus slider and plus changeup, so on the perfect day he can show three plus pitches, which is a true rarity for this year's class. As of early May, Zeferjahn had already amassed three games with at least 10 strikeouts, including an impressive 14-strikeout performance against Texas. However, the lack of consistency in all three of his offerings is why he's not going to hear his name called early in the first round. Two weeks before striking out 14 against the Longhorns, he walked seven hitters in six innings against Baylor. Zeferjahn's arm slot wanders from a very low three-quarter slot to almost completely over the top. Sometimes he sticks with a consistent arm slot for an entire outing, but other times it changes from inning to inning. Zeferjahn can also get a little east-west in his delivery at times as well. His slider's shape varies with his arm slot, but no matter where it comes from, it has both depth and tilt. If Zeferjahn was consistently dotting the zone with his varying release points, scouts would be less worried. Instead, his below-average control has long been a problem. He has shown some improvement, but as a junior, he's still walking 4.7 batters per nine innings. Zeferjahn's eventual landing spot could be in the bullpen as a power reliever, but whoever drafts him will most likely see if he can improve his control enough to start, at least initially. He has one of the higher ceilings among this year's college pitchers, which could be enticing in a class lacking high-ceiling college arms.
• Ranked #149 prospect in 2016 draft
  In most years, Zeferjahn would easily the top Kansas high school prospect. But this year he's a distant third to Riley Pint and Joey Wentz. Zeferhan may not have Pint's triple-digit fastball but he has significant upside of his own. An athletic, tall righthander with height (6-foot-4) with size 15 feet, Zeferjahn carries plenty of future potential in his wide shoulders. Zeferjahn's secondary stuff hasn't caught up to his fastball yet, but that's understandable for a young righthander who has room to grow and mature. His breaking ball varies from a power slider to a sweepier slurve depending on the outing or the inning, but he already pitches off of a low-90s fastball that touches 95. The Kansas signee may need a little more time in the low minors than some of his fellow potential high school draftees, but the upside of a potential mid-rotation starter makes him one of the better arms in this year's draft class.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Zeferjahn has been a high-profile arm since his high school days, though he preferred to attend Kansas. Zeferjahn spent the last three years in the Jayhawks’ rotation, punching out over 11 hitters per nine innings over his last two seasons. A blister on his nail limited his ability to throw his breaking ball once he arrived in short-season Lowell, yet he still struck out 12.7 batters per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite quality stuff, Zeferjahn was still viewed as relatively raw for a college pitcher coming out of the draft due to command and consistency issues. His arm action created some concern due to depth in back, which impacted his timing. Primarily featuring a two-seamer, scouts believed Zeferjahn would be a better fit if he utilized his mid-to-high-90s four-seamer. Zeferjahn also has the makings of a potentially plus slider, but had a harder time getting to it due to erratic command and high pitch counts. Zeferjahn has had a harder time developing a usable changeup. His ability to spin the ball gives the Sox confidence that he’ll have at least one solid secondary offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zeferjahn will likely open 2020 in low Class A Greenville, with the need for pitch development resulting in a more deliberate development track than some college starters. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Zeferjahn has been a high-profile arm since his high school days, though he preferred to attend Kansas. Zeferjahn spent the last three years in the Jayhawks' rotation, punching out over 11 hitters per nine innings over his last two seasons. A blister on his nail limited his ability to throw his breaking ball once he arrived in short-season Lowell, yet he still struck out 12.7 batters per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite quality stuff, Zeferjahn was still viewed as relatively raw for a college pitcher coming out of the draft due to command and consistency issues. His arm action created some concern due to depth in back, which impacted his timing. Primarily featuring a two-seamer, scouts believed Zeferjahn would be a better fit if he utilized his mid-to-high-90s four-seamer. Zeferjahn also has the makings of a potentially plus slider, but had a harder time getting to it due to erratic command and high pitch counts. Zeferjahn has had a harder time developing a usable changeup. His ability to spin the ball gives the Sox confidence that he'll have at least one solid secondary offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zeferjahn will likely open 2020 in low Class A Greenville, with the need for pitch development resulting in a more deliberate development track than some college starters.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Coming out of high school in 2016, Zeferjahn was the clear third wheel in one of the best high school pitching classes in Kansas history. While Riley Pint and Joey Wentz were both Day 1 picks out of high school, Zeferjahn made what looks to be a wise choice by heading to college. Over the intervening three years, he's filled out his once rail-thin frame, adding an inch in height and 25 pounds in weight since arriving at Kansas. He's also added 3-4 mph to his fastball and significantly improved his changeup and slider while pitching for the Jayhawks. Zeferjahn has one of the better fastballs in this year's draft class, sitting 94-95 mph but ranging anywhere from 92-97 mph with consistent plus life. At times, he will flash both a plus slider and plus changeup, so on the perfect day he can show three plus pitches, which is a true rarity for this year's class. As of early May, Zeferjahn had already amassed three games with at least 10 strikeouts, including an impressive 14-strikeout performance against Texas. However, the lack of consistency in all three of his offerings is why he's not going to hear his name called early in the first round. Two weeks before striking out 14 against the Longhorns, he walked seven hitters in six innings against Baylor. Zeferjahn's arm slot wanders from a very low three-quarter slot to almost completely over the top. Sometimes he sticks with a consistent arm slot for an entire outing, but other times it changes from inning to inning. Zeferjahn can also get a little east-west in his delivery at times as well. His slider's shape varies with his arm slot, but no matter where it comes from, it has both depth and tilt. If Zeferjahn was consistently dotting the zone with his varying release points, scouts would be less worried. Instead, his below-average control has long been a problem. He has shown some improvement, but as a junior, he's still walking 4.7 batters per nine innings. Zeferjahn's eventual landing spot could be in the bullpen as a power reliever, but whoever drafts him will most likely see if he can improve his control enough to start, at least initially. He has one of the higher ceilings among this year's college pitchers, which could be enticing in a class lacking high-ceiling college arms.