Cleveland Guardians Top 30 Prospects: #21 Parker Messick

With the news breaking this past Wednesday that the Cleveland Guardians had traded outfielder Will Benson to the Cincinnati Reds I had a hole to fill on my list. Number 21 was vacant, which meant considering who in my "just missed" list yet to come deserved the spot and how many deck chairs on the Titanic I felt like shuffling. There were plenty of options, but probably only one "correct" option since the only reason he didn't make the list initially was a flimsy personal issue.Without changing any of the previous order my new 21st-ranked Guardians prospect is Parker Messick, a left-handed pitcher out of Florida State selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 MLB draft. Messick, 22, played three seasons for the Seminoles and fits Cleveland's criteria as an experienced command college arm. Messick joins the Guardians organization as a highly decorated college arm having earned — among many others — 2021 ACC Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, as well as 2022 First Team All-ACC honors while putting up some truly video game-like numbers.[embed]https://twitter.com/FarmToFame_/status/1497570759631417355?s=20&t=qa5HmPPyIcjTm0J4XcgWRA[/embed]Checking in at 6 foot and 225 pounds, Messick features a four-pitch mix including a fastball that sits 89-93, a mid-to-high 70s curveball, a low 80s slider, and a changeup that is arguably his best pitch at the moment. He has an interesting low release point, lower than 3/4, but not quite side arm, that add sweep to his curveball and slider, blurring the lines between separate pitches and a slurve sometimes. The lower release point and his height can create some deception for opposing hitters which makes his changeup especially deadly.Messick rode his talents to an impressive collegiate career, totaling a 16-8 record in 48 games (32 starts) with a 3.10 ERA, and allowing 43 walks (5.2%) to 289 strikeouts (35%). In his final season with the Seminoles before the Guardians drafted him Messick started 16 games covering 98.2 innings going 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing just 18 walks (4.6%) to 144 strikeouts (36.5%). He threw 67% of his total pitches for strikes. It's easy to see why Cleveland jumped on Messick in the second round, and it'll be exciting to see what the player development department can do with him.[embed]https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1507539897799921670?s=20&t=qa5HmPPyIcjTm0J4XcgWRA[/embed]Messick not being in my original top 30 was an entirely "me" problem. I'm very wary of pitchers whose best pitch is a changeup, which isn't always wrong, but there's two major reasons why I was originally wrong with Messick. The first; his fastball is better than given credit for. The arm angle and deception help it play well above its low velocity, and pairs very well with the changeup that just falls off the table at the last moment. The second; why should I ever doubt Cleveland's pitching development? It's almost sacrilege that I would let a talent like Messick not make a top prospect list because I was concerned his best pitch currently would remain that way or not improve to new heights. No one said you're reading these because you think I'm intelligent.Pitching development progresses relatively quickly in the Guardians organization, that just seems to be the norm. As is tradition for 2022 draftees to rarely make their profession debuts in the same season with Cleveland. Messick will likely begin 2023 with Low-A Lynchburg where I expect him to continue to carve up his competition. Yes, there will be growing pains as there is with any prospect, but Messick's sparkling command and walk rates in college shouldn't suffer too much moving to the next level. With Messick unlikely to ever beat himself it'll be fun to watch the fruits of his labor from this offseason bloom. I'll be curious if the staff had him alter his delivery or release point at all, or if they squeezed an extra tick of velocity out of his fastball.The List so Far:16. Will Brennan17. Joey Cantillo18. Juan Brito19. Nate Furman20. Petey Halpin21. Will Benson22. Doug Nikhazy23. Tanner Burns24. Joe Lampe25. Isaiah Greene26. Jake Fox27. Jhonkensy Noel28. Jack Leftwich29. Trenton Denholm30. Peyton Battenfield