Evan Dempsey

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Evaluate sustained performance with level and age context
• Review role fit, health, roster status, and organization need

SCOUT REPORT

Six big leaguers have come out of Florida Gulf Coast University, none bigger than Chris Sale, a first-round pick back in 2010. Since then, only eight Eagles have been taken in the top 10 rounds, with Justin Henschel going in the seventh round a year ago to the Reds most recently. Dempsey, who has been a productive two-way player since he set foot on campus, has a chance to become the first FGCU product to go in the top five rounds since 2023, most likely as a pitcher. Dempsey's athleticism definitely plays on the mound with an intriguing combination of an electric fastball and a pair of breaking balls as his go-tos nearly all of the time. He's been sitting around 92-94 mph more often than not, touching 95 at times. His velocity has been down a touch with fatigue from double duty as an outfielder playing a part and leading evaluators to believe there's a few ticks to come when he focuses on pitching only. He gets elite spin rates north of 3,000 rpm with his breaking stuff, leading with an 80-82 mph curve that has 11-to-5 shape and misses bats when it's on. He can change his arm slot at times to get on top, something that will have to be addressed at the next level because good hitters will pick that up. He also spins a harder slider, and while he's shown a fringy changeup, he doesn't use it much. He's been a solid strike-thrower. At the plate, Dempsey has a good feel for hitting from the left side of the plate, taking professional at-bats, working counts and making a ton of contact, though he's yet to show much impact. There's more ceiling with him on the mound, reminding some of a Luke Weaver-type, who should get a chance to start out of the gate, but could eventually land in the bullpen.