Track Record: The shortened 2020 draft has proved to be an exceptional one for the Braves, who drafted Shuster in the first round at No. 25 overall as well as Jesse Franklin, Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder. Strider and Elder have already established themselves as big leaguers just two years later. Shuster could be knocking on the door after a strong overall season in the upper minors.
Scouting Report: Shuster has impressive feel for a solid three-pitch mix, which includes a fastball, changeup and slider. During his final college season at Wake Forest, Shuster showed improved fastball velocity and was touching 96-97 mph, but that velocity has never fully carried over to pro ball. In 2022, Shuster sat around 90-92 mph with solid carry and cut, with a max velocity around 94-95. His changeup remains his best offering and his go-to secondary, a plus pitch that averages around 80 mph. The pitch continues to generate whiffs at a high rate, as well as ugly swings as it falls below the zone. Shuster's changeup features double-digit velocity separation from his fastball. Shuster tried throwing his slider harder during the 2022 season, and Braves officials were happy with the progress of the pitch--which sat in the 82-87 mph range--though external scouts view it as a fringy pitch that will play up with good command. Shuster is an above-average strike-thrower with a career minor league walk rate of 6.8%. In 2022 he threw all three of his pitches for strikes more than 64% of the time.
The Future: Shuster's upside and ceiling are limited if he cannot rediscover the power he showed in flashes as an amateur, but he's also one of the most probable big leaguers in the system, with back-end starter or middle reliever upside.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 Slider: 45 Changeup: 60 Control: 55
