FOB Top Prospects: #35 – Zach Eflin

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Eflin is the first player out of the chute in our Padres prospects preview. We will list the 35 top prospects, in reverse order of course. Our friends over at Grading on the Curve will be unveiling our top 15 prospects sometime in the near future. Stay tuned as we work our way all the way down to #1 Austin Hedges… I mean, Max Fried… I mean, Matt Wisler. Well, hopefully we get that all figured out by the time we get there.

Zach Eflin (RHP)

6’4″ – 200 lb.

DOB: 4/8/1994

2013 Stats: 2.73 ERA, 6.52 K/9, 2.35 BB/9, 3.40 FIP (Class A – Fort Wayne)

Twitter: @zeflin12

Scouting Video

Eflin has been rated as high as number 8 on some prospect lists so, maybe the fact that he is #35 on our list speaks to the amount of good prospects in the Padres system. Maybe it just speaks to the fact that we don’t know what we’re doing but, I guess only time will tell. Eflin showed great improvement this year at Fort Wayne and with a good year next year in the Cal League could easily move up 10 or more spots on our list. He is very young and has time to work on plenty of things that need work. The goal is to improve his curve ball to go along with his 93-MPH fastball. If Eflin is able to add a quality third pitch he projects as a starter, otherwise his power fastball and good curve could make him a great reliever in the Major Leagues.