Thatcher
Hurd

Currently carrying a 6.59 ERA, Hurd is not having the type of season that was forecast in the preseason. Brought into the game as a reliever during game two of the series, the power righthander showed a high-spin (2450 rpm) fastball up to 95 mph. His heater also spun very efficiently giving him 21+” of induced vertical break (IVB) for some swing-and-miss up in the zone. Hurd also showed two hard and high-spin breaking balls with a 84-85 mph slider (2700+ rpm) and a power curve at 80 and a 3000+ rpm spin rate. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righty struggled to locate any of the pitches and faced just four batters, walking one and allowing one hit. While his spin data is very analytic-friendly, his performance data isn’t as enticing. Hurd does not currently have an offering that he consistently throws for strikes or one that consistently misses bats. To date this spring he has thrown his fastball for a strike 62% of the time which ranks in the 43rd percentile. He also throws it over the heart of the plate at a 36.6% clip which slots him into the 42nd percentile. With all of that stated the draft is not solely about a half season of performance data. Hurd still has the “stuff” worthy of an early-to-mid Day Three selection.

Norcal ProCase

Body: 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. Long body with visible strength/size gains in lower body and still plenty of room in his upper body to fill out.

Delivery: Simple, starts in modified stretch position, small rocker step toward 1B line, easy knee lift with good hand/feet rhythm. Clean on the backside, maintains good body control throughout the delivery, lands with stability which provides him the ability to maintain a consistent release point with all four pitches. High-3/4 slot. 

FB: Pitched comfortably in the 90-91 mph range, topping out at 93 mph on a couple of occasions. His average speed of 91.1 was the highest among the pitchers at the ProCase. Average spin rate of 2312 on the heater, ranking third among the pitchers. Average inverted break of 10.9, indicating his ability to get angle on the fastball and pitch down in the zone. Average horizontal break of 15.1 was third highest. Flashed arm side movement that can make RHHs a little uncomfortable.

CB: Utilized as a sneaky pitch to keep hitters off the fastball and set up the slider, he threw it with feel in the 74-75 mph range (threw two of them). 11/6 type shape, averaged 2796 spin rate w/max of 2850 rpm.

SL: Hurd's best pitch (75-77 mph), not only has high spin rate on this pitch (average 2802) but also throws it with feel and ability to locate it in strikeout situations. Top spin rate was 2887 and that number is sure to get the attention of the MLB industry. Negative inverted break of -5.8 for his breaking balls, reflecting the short quick bite late in the zone that gets swings and misses.

CHG: Threw just one of them (84 mph) and like his other pitches, it came out easy and he flashed feel of the pitch. Much lower spin (1673) than his fastball, resulting in some downward movement at the plate. Enough decrease in velocity off the fastball and with his ability to repeat the delivery and consistency of his release point, this pitch has a chance to be the quality third pitch of a starter.

Summary: Results of his four competitive ABs were F7 (Blake Burke), 1B (Davis Diaz), K (Aaron Parker), K (Jake Sapien). Both Ks came via the slider. The ability to finish hitters with the slider will give him the ability to pitch for strikeouts. The fastball, while firm and still with future velocity gains, will need more life through and in the zone. The entire repertoire suggests that a future as a starter is entirely possible. The challenge will be developing the type of arm stamina for that role. Through high school and travel ball he's not been utilized as such. It stands to reason that if he develops into an offensive contributor in college then he's going to be used on the mound in relief situations. If the bat doesn't come along, it's entirely possible we see him drafted as a pitcher in the 2024 draft.

vs Berkeley HS - UCLA commit; Lean and lanky, at 6-foot-4 195-pounds, Hurd has the look that resembles a pitcher more than a catcher but absolutely possesses the traits behind the plate that put him among the most talented defensive backstops in the 2021 class in the state. The arm is a plus tool, with velocities on warm-up throws ranging 83-86 mph in this game. Now, the 86 was with a little bit of a shuffle start and not right from popping up and throwing. His low time was 1.94 and there is every reason to project him to be a consistent 1.90-1.95 thrower and occasionally quicker than that. Feel for receiving on the glove side is good and he works really well below the low pitch. Conversely, as good as he is on the low pitch, he occasionally is late on the high pitch. He has the agility and skills to be an excellent blocker of BIDs and also plays bunts in front of the plate very well. There are occasional lapses of concentration and he will also unnecessarily rush throws on steal attempts (hurried and fumbled an exchange in his game). Offensively is where he will have to make strides to gain on his catching peers in the class. Was often late and lost the barrel on pitches middle away, while getting around pitches middle/in. Physically he has the size to grow into a strong man but the feel for the bat needs to show up on a much more consistent basis. There were fastballs for him to hit in positive counts and has to show more ability to get to those pitches.

Area Code Tryouts - Under Class Notebook

vs Clayton Valley HS - UCLA commit; younger brother of 2020 LHP Logan Hurd (LMU commit). He's a LONG and LANKY catcher with a lot of agility to go along with a live and loose arm. He's got a ways to go as an offensive player and there are also some technical adjustments to make behind the plate but his tools and talents are outstanding. He LIKES to throw and though his pop throws (79 mph) were often a little wild (tends to yank it a bit), the one in-game chance he had at a baserunner showed what he can do. The throw was a bit of a small short-hop but was on the bag and the release was quick (2.03). Good backpicker as well. As for his bocking, his agility and energy for the position help him. He's long and tall and that can be a challenge for catchers. Hurd let a couple get through him but he also executed an excellent and run-saving block later in game as he shifted toward the left-hand batters box. As a receiver he showed calm and soft hands with quiet and relaxed presentation. Good legs in his mechanics, gets out of the squat well and without difficulty. He's young and can still improve and given the tools he has, he's got a chance to rate with the top defensive catchers in his class. Offensively the swing gets big and his timing will have to improve. Still a ways from physical maturity so there is a lot of growth and development ahead of him as an offensive player. Has enough bat speed and is aggressive.

vs Foothill - Hurd, a UCLA commit, is a tall, lean, and lanky kid. Hasplenty of room to fill out and when he does he will be an imposing figure. Athletic for hissize and moves well and works hard behind home plate. Clocked him anywhere from2.05 to 2.12 on throws in between innings. Needs work on his receiving skills. Droppedmore balls than you’d like to see, but that should be an easy fix for him. Arm is goodand should only get better. Accuracy is good too. At the plate he has a wide stanceand gets low into his legs. His hand load is simple and he has a big leg kick. Wouldlike to see him get on plane a little better as he is very uphill with his lower half andswing right now. He got his swing off in game and was just missing pitches. Showed hehad good bat speed and also controlled the zone well. The bat is behind his catchingas of now, but he is young and as he matures and figures out his body he could bescary good as all the tools are there for him. Hurd is an exciting player to follow thenext couple years.

7/14-7/15/18: Large, lean and long frame with budding muscles; very projectable both on the mound and in the field. Offensively uses a balanced stance with high hands and a high back elbow; swing is very compact showing explosive hands while having loft in swing to all fields. Power showed up in games (88mph exit velo) with long 2B that 1-hopped LCF wall and in BP with regular ability to drive ball into gaps and over fence to pull side. Defense showed up both at workouts and in game with very quick release and arm that flashed above average; in game caught stealing (1.97 Pop) on pitch down and away showing urgency in throw and accuracy to put it on the bag. On mound Hurd works with a high front knee and hands going up on his knee. Showed a very quick, compact arm with high back elbow before mid-3/4 release and uses legs well to get down the hill showing strong extensions. FB 83-85 with life at the plate and ability to run it arm side off the plate or up through the zone. Really attacked hitters with pitch and getting under the RHH hands. CHG 75 with small sink off the fastball plane; similar tunnel as FB with late action. CB 69 small 11-to-5 shape with short breaking depth in pitch. Really didn't have to use off-speed in outing as was dominant with FB and used excellent pickoff move to keep baserunners close. Impressive 2-way player to follow.

PBR N CA Underclass Games Trials - Uncommitted. Long strong and lean 6-foot-2 185-pound catcher/pitcher with a body that stands out now and should continue to serve him well. One of Northern California's top 2021 catchers, potentially one of top in the state. He stole the show in regard to catcher tools at the underclass trials showcase. Throwing a low pop time of 1.94 while showing 80 mph velocity was impressive and speaks to his opportunity to develop into an elite catch/throw prospect. Offensively he recorded an exit speed of 81 mph and certainly projects to have power to the pull side. Loose lively swing with good extension, power comes out easily and naturally. Can work to be more consistently short to the ball and to drive the ball in the middle of the field more regularly.