Forrest Whitley, Alamo Heights High School (Texas)
Position: RHP
Ht/Wt: 6’7/220
B/T: Right/Right
DOB: 9/15/1997
As for the pitcher who drew my attention following last year’s Perfect Game All-American Classic and Under Armour All-America Game, that was Texas righty Forrest Whitley.
Whitley stood out at the game as one of the largest competitors in attendance, listed at 6’7 and 250 lbs. His body was soft and looked like it would be high maintenance, which was the only negative I saw in his brief, one inning outing.
However, Whitley completely transformed his body this spring, firming up his frame and now weighing around 220 lbs. His fastball has been consistently in the low-to-mid 90s and features a good amount of life, running in on righties.
Whitley’s primary breaking ball is a curve that reaches the low 80s and features plenty of bite. He also has a changeup that he doesn’t need at the high school level but could develop into a third usable pitch.
While Whitley is generally considered a mid-to-first round talent, there are questions about his signability. His father reportedly sent a letter to teams expressing his son’s disinterest in turning pro. It could take $3 million to sign him, so the Dodgers (with nearly $10 million to spend this year) could go over-slot with him at Nos. 20 or 32.
