LOOK: Rays' Brent Honeywell breaks out his screwball during AFL Fall Stars Game
Honeywell is Tampa Bay's top pitching prospect
The World Series may be over, but there is still baseball being played out in Arizona. The Arizona Fall League, which features many of the game's best prospects, is playing its annual Fall Stars Game on Saturday night. Here's the MLB.com stream.
Rays right-hander Brent Honeywell got the start for the West team, and he stuck out five in two scoreless innings. He also broke out his screwball. To the action footage:
@mikeaxisa bruh pic.twitter.com/oI4GXObYnN
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) November 6, 2016
The screwball moves basically like a reverse curveball. It has that same big overhand break, except it fades to the pitcher's arm side rather than the glove side. Here is Honeywell's screwball grip:
#Rays' Brent Honeywell putting on a show in @MLBazFallLeague Fall Stars Game. K's 5 of 1st 6 batters. Watch live: https://t.co/k3UrjyKNLcpic.twitter.com/gt9OA0CB7P
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 6, 2016
Yep, that sure is funky. You don't see many grips like that.
The screwball isn't just a gimmick for Honeywell either. It's a legitimate pitch he uses regularly. MLB.com ranks Honeywell as Tampa Bay's second best prospect. Here's a snippet of their scouting report, emphasis mine:
His velocity has steadily increased over the past few years to the point where he now operates in the low 90s and can reach back for a few more ticks as needed, and scouts believe he could add even more velocity as he grows into his lean and athletic frame. Honeywell's outstanding screwball represents his best secondary offering and is anything but a novelty, as he's adept at using his advanced arsenal to set up the pitch. He also mixes in an above-average changeup and serviceable curveball.
Honeywell, 21, had a 2.34 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 115 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this past season. He's one of the top pitching prospects in the game and looks to be another in a long line of quality Rays pitchers.
















