Scouting Report: Foley’s signature is unquestionably his plus fastball, which has regained its upper-90s velocity since surgery. Despite premium velocity, hitters timed Foley’s four-seam fastball fairly well in the minors, and he worked with the Tigers to add a two-seamer to his repertoire. The pitch features heavy arm-side run and sink, but he’s still learning to command the pitch’s heavy movement. The two fastball variations played off of each other, allowing his four-seam to play up as a swing-and-miss pitch when elevated. He has gained more confidence in his tight mid-80s slider, which missed bats at a high rate in 2021. He works primarily with a sinker-slider mix, looking to drive weak ground ball contact at a high rate. He’ll mix in a split-changeup that misses bats even as he’s gaining feel for the pitch.
The Future: For Foley, the biggest question will be his health. If he’s able to maintain longevity, the Tigers should have a dependable relief option for years to come.
