Robert
Fortenberry

The LHP got the opening day start for the Coyotes, and helped them secure their first win of the season. The Mississippi State commit has always really been able to pitch, and he pitches predominantly with the fastball. He sits in the 90-91 mph range most of the time, and he has big ASR on his fastball. He sometimes runs into command issues with the pitch, but when he is getting glove side with the fastball, he is really tough to square up. He throws two different breaking pitches, with the slider being the better of the two. He throws it in the upper 70’s and it tunnels well off the fastball. He can get s/m in and out of the zone with the pitch. He throws a low 70’s curveball that he uses to steal strikes as well. Fortenberry has pitched a lot of big innings for Weatherford, and I expect he will be one of the catalysts as the year plays out.

5-foot-11, 157-pounds, long limbed frame. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke. Fastball sat 79-81 mph. His curveball was inconsistent but showed 1-7 shape on one at 67 mph, and a slower one that rolled in at 62 mph.

Fortenberry is a young arm that college coaches will want to follow closely throughout the spring and summer. He has a projectable, long-limbed frame at 5-foot-11, 168-pounds, with broad shoulders. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a medium arm stroke and a tall and fall delivery. Shows good feel for three pitches with his fastball sitting 80-82 mph. Can spin his curveball for a strike at 64-65 mph with 1/7 shape and depth in the zone. Changeup has good arm side depth at 74-77. All three pitches come from the same window and he repeats his delivery.