South Side Hit Pen Top Prospect 72: Dan Metzdorf
Overlooked: Small in stature, southpaw Metzdorf put up nice results in his first taste of pro ball. (Boston College)
Dan Metzdorf
Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
5´10´´
165 pounds
Age: 23
SSHP rank among all left-handed starting pitchers in the system: 7
Dan Metzdorf enjoyed a successful senior season in 2019 for Boston College, posting a solid 2.58 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 11 starts. In 73 innings for the Eagles, he surrendered just 56 hits (.204 OBA) and 28 walks while striking out 65.
Because of his diminutive size, and also because he doesn't have top-notch stuff, Metzdorf was expected to be drafted much later. However, Metzdorf was selected in the fifth round of this year's draft for the same reason Avery Weems was selected in the sixth — signability. Metzdorf received a $10,000 signing bonus from the White Sox, which was around $384,000 less than slot value (which aided the Sox in signing Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist).
Metzdorf, because of his better college credentials, started the season with Great Falls and acquitted himself quite nicely. In 14 starts spanning 40 innings (the White Sox don't usually extend their starters too much in their first pro seasons) for the Voyagers, he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP by ceding 44 hits (.286 OBA) and eight walks (4.8%) while striking out 36 (21.4%). Despite giving up some hits, Metzdorf limited the damage by keeping the ball down (55.1% ground ball rate) and throwing strikes.
Baseball America's scouting report says "Metzdorf's stuff isn't huge, but he's a solid strike thrower and has a fastball that sits 86-89 mostly, though he did ratchet that up to 93 late in the season. His slider and changeup are both fringe-average pitches at best." Metzdorf is definitely undersized, so questions about his durability as a starter may persist for the next couple of years as a result. He's also a year older than Weems, so if Metzdorf performs well at Kannapolis next year, he could earn a quick promotion to Winston-Salem.