Grant Shepardson made a concerted effort to bolster his physical strength during the offseason. His commitment has yielded impressive results this spring.
The Colorado high school right-handed pitcher diligently added approximately 15 pounds, enhancing his physicality. This additional muscle mass has translated into enhanced fastball velocity, consistently clocking in the mid-90s throughout the season. It also has bolstered his endurance, enabling Shepardson to maintain velocity throughout games and aiding in his post-start recovery.
Shepardson’s offseason improvements haven’t gone unnoticed by scouts. The heightened buzz surrounding his fastball, coupled with his standout performance this spring and evident potential on the mound, has propelled him up MLB draft boards in recent months. Scouts consider Shepardson a potential top-five-round pick in July’s draft.
“It’s helped me get on the radar,” said Shepardson on his velo increase. “When you start popping numbers like that, it definitely catches an eye for most people. Once you get on the radar, you have people come watch you and see what you’re about. You then have to show them that you aren’t just a thrower but also a pitcher.”
Shepardson is a 6-foot-2, 196-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, slider, curveball and changeup from an easy and low-effort delivery.
The righty relies on his fastball and slider combination. His four-seam fastball sits 93-96 mph and touches 98 mph. His slider is his go-to strikeout pitch and tunnels well off his fastball. He has gained a feel for it over the last year and has developed it into a true put-away offering.
Shepardson’s curveball was the first off-speed pitch he developed. It serves as a get-me-over pitch he uses early in counts for a strike. He also mixes in a Vulcan changeup, which has greatly improved over the last year.
“My biggest strength is being able to control the game on my end,” Shepardson said. “I think one of my strong suites is when I face some adversity in games, I don’t let it get to me. I’m good at keeping my composure and keeping my focus even if an inning isn’t going my way. Staying mature and controlling what I can control on the mound is my biggest asset right now.”
Shepardson is athletic and has a strong pitch mix. Scouts rave about Shepardson’s overall potential and believe he has the skill set to start in pro ball. His goal is to continue to tighten up his pitch mix and refine his command.
“The biggest thing I am trying to work on is my overall command,” Shepardson said. “I’m pretty known for filling up the zone and throwing a lot of strikes, but to get bigger and better hitters out, you have to be able to command all your pitches whenever and wherever you want. That is what I’ve been trying to focus on.”
Shepardson has generated a ton of buzz this spring for the draft, giving him two strong options this summer. In addition to his status as a pro prospect, Shepardson is a San Francisco commit.
Shepardson’s brother, Blake, is a junior at San Francisco after pitching his first two years at NCAA Division II Regis. Shepardson describes his brother as “the most influential guy” in his baseball career.
If he elects to honor his commitment to San Francisco, Shepardson is eager to play with his brother and develop under the watch of the Dons’ coaching staff.
“San Francisco, I love the city and the location of the campus,” Shepardson said. “Ultimately, what led me there was the coaching staff. They were the first staff to treat me as a baseball player and person. You talk to other coaches, and they see you as a dollar sign or a guy that is going to win them games. That was the first staff that I really built a personable connection with. Having a stronger connection with them led to my decision. They also have a good plan for my development in the future.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
