Tommy
Mace

2021 MLB Draft: Mace, the Gators' ace, bet on himself in 2021 and looks to have won. He went undrafted in 2020, and opted to return to Gainesville rather than sign the pro offers he received, but not before retooling his arsenal. Listed at a long-levered 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Mace has a competitive on-mound persona and mid- to back-end rotation stuff. The sinker-type fastball sits in the 93-94 mph range most often, though it was up to 96 several times for this spring, leaving his hand with elite extension, measured at seven-plus feet. Mace's two-seamer features quality arm-side life, and he features a true four-seamer and cutter, too–though, that cutter appears to have morphed into a slider. Adding to his array of offspeed offerings, Mace's curveball, 78-81 mph, looked like his best secondary this spring, with tight spin that nearly scraped 3000 rpm that he proved he could manipulate for strikes when required. His power changeup further supports an impressive pitch mix that a pro organization can fully optimize. There may not be a sky-high ceiling here, but Mace also looks the part of a dependable MLB starter who can deepen any rotation.

The Gator Ace returned to Gainesville last fall after walking from money in the 2020 MLB Draft and going undrafted. With a prototype frame at 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Mace is long-bodied and athletic. He has a simple, repeatable, starter-type delivery and a quick arm from a three-quarter slot. He sat consistently at 93-94 mph and touched a handful of 96s with elite extension (7-foot+) out front and 2000-2200 rpm spin rates. Of the 18 outs he recorded in six innings pitched, 12 were from his fastball. Five other outs were via his 85-88 mph cutter. Although it had an inconsistent release point and spin rates in the 2200-2400 rpm range, it missed barrels and only two of the eight hits he allowed were from this pitch. Mace threw a total of 26 cutters with three swing/misses. His third pitch, an 80-84 mph slider, was thrown a dozen times and induced two swing/misses. Oftentimes the cutter and slider morphed into what looked like the same pitch, making them hard to distinguish. Both benders played near average for the night. During Aaron Fitt’s look this past November Mace’s best pitch was a hammer curveball at 78-81 mph that was a legitimate plus offering at times, with tight spin up to 2959 rpm. He also showed the ability to land the pitch for strikes. During my look against Tennessee Mace did not go to his curve very often, just twice from my notes at 77 and 79 mph. Both were thrown to left handed batters and both were balls as the second one missed well up in the zone. In the past Mace has also shown an 84-86 mph power changeup with big depth. It’s firm with fade and induces many ground balls, but very little swing/miss. He did not throw any changeups for me during this latest look. Overall, Mace profiles as a starting pitcher at the next level with his stuff, command, athleticism and delivery/arm action. He’s more steady than flashy and may not be the sexiest 1st rounder, but it will be hard to put 30 guys in front of him when the dust settles on July 10.

Mace returns to Gainesville to anchor what should be a dominant weekend rotation for the Gators. He’s an athletic, long bodied righty who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 215 pounds. He has a simple, repeatable, starter-type delivery and clean arm action. With a quick arm from a three-quarter slot, Mace sits consistently at 91-94 mph and touches 96 with elite extension (6.9′) out front. He mixes in both a four-seamer (particularly effective when elevated and against left-handed hitters) and a two-seamer with above-average arm-side life. Mace has also shown a plus 86-88 mph cutter with a spin rate in the 2300 rpm range and a plus 78-81 mph slurve with a spin rate in the 2500-2600 range. His fourth pitch is an 84-86 mph power changeup with big depth. It’s firm with fade and induces many ground balls, but very little swing/miss. Overall, Mace profiles as a starting pitcher at the next level with his stuff, command, athleticism and delivery/arm action and was a likely a late first-to-early second-round pick this past June, but fell due to signability.

2020 DRAFT: Mace is an athletic, long bodied righty who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 215 pounds. He has a simple, repeatable, starter-type delivery and clean arm action. With a quick arm from a three-quarter slot, Mace sits consistently at 91-94 mph and touches 96 with elite extension (6.9') out front. He mixes in both a four-seamer (particularly effective when elevated and against left-handed hitters) and a two-seamer with above-average arm-side life. He's also shown a plus 86-88 mph cutter with a spin rate in the 2300 rpm range and a plus 78-81 mph slurve with a spin rate in the 2500-2600 range. His fourth pitch is an 84-86 mph power changeup with big depth. It's firm with fade and induces many ground balls, but very little swing/miss. Overall, Mace profiles as a starting pitcher at the next level with his stuff, command, athleticism and delivery/arm action and is a likely a late first round pick.

7/1/19: Athletic, long bodied righty who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 200 pounds. Mace has a simple, repeatable, starter-type delivery and clean arm action. Although his velocity and stuff were down during both of his CNT trial appearances compared to a look at Vanderbilt earlier this year, he retired six of the seven batters he faced, pitching an ultra-efficient 17 pitches in two innings during his first appearance and another two scoreless innings against the Coastal Plain Select squad. With a quick arm and throwing from a high three-quarter slot, Mace ran his fastball up to 92 mph (most 90-91). His two-seamer showed good arm side life and he located the four-seamer up and in to LHHs. He also mixed in an 88-89 mph cutter and longer breaking 80-85 mph slurve, but it was not his usual plus-plus slider that he is known to possess. Nor did he show the power changeup that he is also known for. Overall, Mace profiles as a starting pitcher at the next level with his stuff, command, athleticism and delivery/arm action. At this point he is a late first round follow for 2020. (Seifert)

3/20/19: 6-foot-6, 205 pound, quick-armed righty with a plus-plus slider at 82-85 mph, a plus power changeup at 84-86 and a 90-93 (T94) fastball. Has a simple, repeatable delivery with clean arm action to a high three-quarter release point. Mace profiles as a starting pitcher with his stuff, command, athleticism and delivery/arm action. He's yet another early first round prospect for the 2020 draft. (Seifert)

2/27/18:6-foot-6, 205 has sloped shoulders, long arms and legs on a proportionally large frame. Works with a half circle arm swing and throws from a high 3/4 slot. Simple repeatable delivery. Fastball showed late life, commanded down in the zone at 89-92 topping at 94 mph. Showed a short hard slider that has plus potential at 79-81. Will be a high 2020 draft follow. (Freeman)

05/03/17- The Florida recruit was lights-out on Wednesday night, throwing a complete game shutout in eight innings to help advance his team to the district title game. He has a tall, projectable frame with long legs standing at 6-foot-6, 195 pounds. Had added to his frame over the past several months, but there’s still plenty of room to fill out. Mace has sped up his delivery, improved his mechanics, and lowered his arm slot a bit which has resulted in a jump in velocity. Repeats well with a balanced leg kick in his delivery and gets extension out in front. In the first inning his fastball sat 90-93, touching 94 with life along with a 77-79 mph curveball. He would sit mostly in the 90-92 range for the next three innings, while also occasionally throwing a change up at 83-84 mph. The curveball started to show more depth and shape as the game went on, throwing it for strikes in the later innings. In the fifth, sixth, and seventh he was mostly 88-90 with multiple groundouts to short along with some high fly outs. After his team took the lead in the top of the eighth, Mace came out and retired the side in order and quickly as he reached back and sat mostly 89-91, while touching 92 to end the game on a weak fly out to the right fielder. Pitched with confidence and showed the ability to gather himself well. Also made a heads up play by backing up third on an errant throw from the outfield that could have gone up the line, allowing the run to score.

10/16/16- Florida recruit. Tall, lanky build on a 6-foot-6, 185 pound frame with long legs. Has big leg kick in his delivery and gets some extension out in front. Fastball sat 86-89 mph and his curveball was 71-73 mph. At times fell off to the side, let his arm trail, which led to balls being outside the zone. The arm action from the high ¾ slot works clean and quickly. He tended to get underneath the slider at times resulting in a more slurvy action. The arm action and frame make him interesting going forward.

7/21/16- Committed to the University of Florida.

3/11/16- 6-foot-6, 185-pound Kentucky recruit with a lanky, projectable frame. Loose, easy, clean arm action out of a high ¾ arm slot throwing on a downward plane with a higher leg kick in his delivery and good extension out in front. Repeats and finishes well. Lands on line the majority of the time, occasionally can fall off to the side. Showed good composure on the mound and gathers himself well. Smart pitcher who can lock in and pound the zone. Fastball sat 86-88 mph with life and touched 89 mph a couple times. Ball jumps on the batter. Also featured a curveball that sat 72-74 mph with a ¾ break that he threw for strikes. More velocity to come especially with added strength. High follow this spring/summer.

01/18/16- 6-foot-6, 180-pound Kentucky recruit. Has a lean, wiry build. During his bullpen, Mace showed a high-3/4 arm slot and threw on a downward plane. Fastball had movement and presents the ability to jump on the batter. Has been up to 89 mph with his fastball just this past October. Projectable and should see an increase in velocity with added strength.

11/4/15- Committed to University of Kentucky.