Drake Fellows

DRAKE FELLOWS, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: March 6, 1998
Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 216
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Drafted: 6th Round, 173rd Overall, 2020 (Padres)
How Acquired: Trade (from Padres for Joe Musgrove)
College: Vanderbilt University
Agent: N/A
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
In three years at Vanderbilt, Fellows went 23-9, 3.85, mostly as a starter.  He had a 1.23 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9.  He throws a sinking fastball that sits at 89-92 mph and reaches 94, but he doesn’t command it well.  He has an excellent slider and fringy change, which could indicate a future in the bullpen.  Fellows was a San Diego draftee, but he bears a similarity to some of the pitchers the Pirates drafted in 2020; he may have a higher than usual ceiling for his draft round if some issues can be addressed successfully.  The Padres traded Fellows to the Pirates in the deal for Joe Musgrove before he ever appeared with them.

2020
DNP

2021
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 5.6 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 9.82 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 3.2 IP, 14.7 BB/9, 9.8 K/9

Fellows was hurt at the start of the season, then went to the FCL at the end of June.  He pitched reasonably well in three games, then moved up to Bradenton.  He made two relief appearances there, with the second one going very badly.  He ended up having Tommy John surgery in August.

2022
INJURED

Fellows spent the entire season on the injured list following the surgery.

Fellows looked intriguing when the Pirates acquired him, but the injuries haven’t cooperated.  He’s still waiting to start his pro career.  Based on the timing, it seemed possible that Fellows could have been ready for spring 2023, but he started the season on the 60-day injured list.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $260,000
MiLB Debut: 2021
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2026
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2023
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 11, 2020: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 6th round, 173rd overall pick; signed on July 12.
January 19, 2021: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Hudson Head, Omar Cruz and David Bednar to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joe Musgrove in a three-team deal; Endy Rodriguez sent from the New York Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Joey Lucchesi sent from the San Diego Padres to the New York Mets.