Grant
Sunstrom

The former Future Gamer and Louisiana Tech recruit may not have had his sharpest stuff last Monday against Dutchtown, but competitors find ways to win — and that’s exactly what Sunstrom did on Opening Day for the Cubs. Even without his “A” arsenal, he was effective enough to secure the victory, working four innings while allowing three hits and two earned runs with zero walks and four strikeouts. The stat line reflects what he’s always done well: compete in the zone and avoid free passes. Sunstrom presents a unique and uncomfortable look, particularly for right-handed hitters. He hides the ball extremely well with a cross-fire delivery that creates deception and angle, making his stuff play up. His 83-86 mph fastball showed heavy run with occasional ride through the zone, generating weak ground-ball contact when located down. He complemented it with a 76-78 mph slider that flashed big sweep across the plate and mixed in a 79-80 mph changeup to keep hitters honest. It may not have been a dominant outing, but it was a mature one. Even on a night when everything wasn’t crisp, Sunstrom’s deception, pitchability, and ability to attack the strike zone were more than enough to get the job done.