Patrick Forbes

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #47 prospect in 2025 draft
  School: Louisville Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.0
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Forbes pitched primarily out of the bullpen in his first two seasons with Louisville, where he flashed big stuff but struggled to throw strikes. He moved into a full-time starter role for the first time in 2025 and leapt up draft boards after an electric first month before control issues surfaced later in the season. He posted a 4.42 ERA over 15 starts and 71.1 innings with a 36.7% strikeout rate and career-best 10.7% walk rate. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Forbes has a strong, athletic build with physicality throughout his frame. He’s a dynamic mover on the mound with an explosive delivery, a whippy arm stroke and a low three-quarters slot. Forbes’ fastball sits in the mid 90s but has been up to 100 mph with plus life through the zone. It explodes out of his hand and is at its best—and also generates the most swings and misses—in the top half of the zone. Forbes backs his heater with a mid-to-upper-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane tilt and impressive finish. He’s shown the ability to manipulate the pitch’s shape, and at times—especially against righthanded hitters—it will look like a true sweeper with plenty of sharp lateral tilt. While Forbes has a dynamic two-pitch mix, he lacks a consistent third offering and rarely throws an upper-80s changeup. His control is fringy at best, and it’s been poor in his worst looks. Forbes has reliever risk but the pure stuff to pitch in high-leverage spots if he winds up in a bullpen.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 40.
• Ranked #86 prospect in 2025 draft
  School: Louisville Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21
  
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  After logging just 9.1 innings as a freshman in 2023, Forbes struck out 32 across 29 innings in 2024. He has carried that success over to the Cape Cod League, where he has a 3.29 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. Forbes has big-time arm strength and a powerful fastball-slider duo. Both have consistently flashed plus. Forbes moves well on the mound and this spring his heater was up to 97.
  
  
• Ranked #278 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Bowling Green HS Committed/Drafted: Louisvile
  Age At Draft: 18
  Kentucky’s Mr. Baseball in 2022, Forbes hit .583 with 15 home runs this year. He dominated the competition around Bowling Green, but Bowling Green isn’t an area known for producing draftable high school players (Corey Hart is the only player from a Bowling Green high school to make it to the majors after being drafted and signing out of high school). Forbes has plus raw power, but there are more questions about his hitting ability. He has a promising swing, but he hasn’t seen much high-caliber pitching. A high school shortstop, Forbes projects as a pro third baseman with an above-average arm. Forbes is a Louisville signee. While there are teams that view him as an intriguing day two pick, others are more willing to let him face more advanced competition in the ACC and then happily pay him down the road if he proves he can pass that test.