Jackson Ferris - 1/24/24

A closer look at the Dodgers newly acquired left-handed pitcher

Prospect Spotlight 🔦

Jackson Ferris – Age: 19 – B/T: L/L, 6’4” 195 – Dodgers (High-A)

• Born: 1/15/2004 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Draft: 2022, Chicago Cubs, Round: 2, Overall Pick: 47

• High School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

In my last Prospect Spotlight, I wrote up Michael Busch, the Dodgers 2019 first-round pick who has mashed in the upper levels of the minor leagues for the past two years. In that post, I speculated that he would get traded at the deadline, given that he was blocked at multiple spots in the Dodgers’ lineup. Well, it didn’t take to the deadline for Busch to get traded, as the Dodgers packaged him and Yency Almonte in a trade with the Cubs, getting Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope in return. Today, let’s take a look at the primary piece the Dodgers received in this trade, Jackson Ferris.

From a physical perspective, Ferris has a prototypical pitcher’s frame. He stands at 6’4’’, 195 pounds, with broad shoulders and an athletic frame. Ferris’s body control on the mound has improved since his amateur days, and I expect it to continue to improve as he grows into his body. He has a unique delivery, with a long, plunging arm circle, and a near over the top arm angle, thrown from a slightly below average release height. Ferris gets a fair amount of extension, which combined with his deep back leg drop, allows for his release height to be somewhat lower than expected given his height. His stride is largely on line, and lands with an open front foot, which I suspect causes some command issues. He gets a good amount of hip shoulder separation and rotates well, which allows him to sit in the mid-90s. Overall, it is a solid set of mechanics, though it’s worth paying attention to see if the Dodgers shorten up his arm action.