The 2025 Major League Baseball draft is now underway. The New York Yankees will await their pick at the 39th slot. The Yankees could go with a pitcher in the first round, and Patrick Forbes could be the name they call.
The Yankees have various routes of selection and various gaps to close within their farm system. Selecting a pitcher as your first choice is never a bad thing, and will always equip you with future arms or market collateral.
In this case, the Yankees are not exactly in the “first round.” They’ll be in the competitive balance round. This will delay their selection, with 38 selections ahead of them. Any hope for a top-ranked positional player may be slim.
If pivoting to a pitcher, right-handed pitcher Patrick Forbes may be ideal. There are various reasons and projections for selecting Forbes, based on his abilities and profile. Forbes could be shaped into any pitching capacity for the Yankees long-term.
Patrick Forbes Could Be a Good Development Project for the Yankees
When referring to “development project”, this does not mean the player is on the lesser side of progress. This means the club could polish and shape this player where they’d like him to fit in.
For example, in 2014, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano. Romano was a college starter and was given a starting role in the minor leagues. Evaluators understood his abilities and intended to pivot to reliever as soon as practical.
Romano went from starting pitcher to a closer option, and this became the fate of his career. Evaluators understood the trouble with long outings and the vulnerability that came with it.
In this case, Forbes showed out well as a starter for Louisville, and he was a dependable Friday arm. His contributions led Louisville on a competitive pathway in the NCAA. While evaluating Forbes, his physicality, and his metrics, there are some attributes in him that fit a late-game reliever.
The Yankees Could Develop a Closer in the Long Run
Although Forbes was a trusted starting pitcher for Louisville, he only worked 109 2/3 innings in three seasons, which is approximately 33 innings per season. As a professional starter, he’ll be up to approximately 60-72 innings.
His arm hasn’t been tested to that capacity as of yet, and he’s capable of doing that. However, his overall profile shows success as a closer as well.
Aside from innings of work, Forbes is a strikeout machine. The right-handed pitcher recorded his collegiate career-high this season, striking out 117 hitters in 71 1/3 innings of work. His total college career strikeouts are 159 with only 64 walks in 109 2/3 innings.
Repertoire and Offerings
His ability to shut the door on hitters is evident, and that’s due to his well-used repertoire. Forbes works a three-pitch mix, which is also closer-built. His four-seam fastball sits between 93-96 mph, touching up to 100 mph.
The fastball is flat and apprehensive, appearing to rise on batters, causing chase in the upper zone. He also has a sharp breaking slider, which is his put-away option. This sits mid-80s with plus capabilities.
Forbes throws an upper-80s changeup that works low with fade and decreases 10-13 mph in velocity. The right-hander’s three pitch options can satisfy both roles, and equip him to be successful.
Forbes’ physicality is intriguing as well. His overall body has developed and will continue to develop into a pro-type. His delivery is very violent, one of a closer. The intensity on each pitch, along with his velocity rang,e could limit his innings.
Forbes would be a good first-round fit for the Yankees and could be a possible selection if available.
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