Washington Nationals’ prospects - AFL Scouting Report: Jordan Mills

Adam McInturff of 2080 Baseball is back with the latest scouting report on the Washington Nationals’ prospects who participated in the Arizona Fall League.

We already looked at Carter Kieboom, Daniel Johnson (who was traded to Cleveland in the Yan Gomes deal), Taylor Guilbeau, Tres Barrera, and Ben Braymer.

Here’s a scouting report on Jordan Mills...

Name: Jordan Mills

Age (as of September 1, 2018): 26

Position: LH-RP

Bats/Throws: L / L

Present Role: 30

Future Role: 40 (Situational Reliever)

ETA: 2020

2018 Level: Potomac (A+), Harrisburg (AA)

• SCOUTING CONTENT - JORDAN MILLS PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT - LINK

OVERALL SUMMARY:

A no-name 28^th rounder by the Astros in 2013, Mills was released by Houston before catching on with Washington. His prospect renaissance was one of the best storylines to follow in the Nats’ farm system in 2018, as the lefty reliever proved his High-A performance was no fluke by pitching 15 appearances of 2.29 ERA ball for Double-A Harrisburg to end the season. He was sent to Fall League and competed well against high-level competition, giving hope that his smoke-and-mirrors deception approach might actually be able to work in the big leagues.

Mills has an extremely unorthodox delivery that slings the ball across his body from a sidearm slot. He hides the ball from hitters, and despite rarely cracking 90 mph with his fastball, a changeup at 78-to-80 mph helps makes the heater look quicker because of serious velocity separation. The ceiling is a situational reliever who can come in and match up with a hitter in crucial situations. Already 26-years-old, Mills profile is a fickle one. The floor could be more of a generic high-minors ‘pen arm or 4A type.

THE FUTURE:

Mills is Rule 5 eligible this off-season, so the Nationals will lose him if another club opts to try him in a LOOGY role. Barring that, he’s likely to begin the season in Harrisburg and could reach Washington at some point in 2020.