Scouting Report: Zak Kent

Where does Zak Kent factor in for the Cardinals?

A Scouting Report

The Cardinals announced last week they claimed RHP Zak Kent off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. This is the type of acquisition the Cardinals need to be making: club controlled pitching depth with some upside.

Kent was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 9th round of the 2019 draft out of the Virginia Military Institute. He pitched well enough to earn a 40-man spot after the 2022 season where he made it to Triple A. Before the start of the 2024 season, the Guardians acquired him for International Bonus Pool money.

His 2025 debut didn’t look all that impressive; he had a 4.58 ERA and 2:1 K:BB ratio in 17.2 innings. His Triple A numbers are much more impressive; in 38.0 innings, he had a 2.84 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 50 strikeouts.

The Guardians designated him for assignment after the season to open some 40-man spots. Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio worked for Cleveland when they acquired Kent, so there is something there the club likes. He’s projected as a bullpen arm for 2026, but could turn into something more.

He’s currently throwing 4 pitches:

Fastball (55 grade)
- Slightly above average velocity (92–95 mph) with decent ride.
- Plays well up in the zone but not overpowering.
- Can be effective when sequenced with his slider.
Slider (60)
- His best pitch and a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon.
- Sits 85-86 mph
- Sharp break and good velocity separation from the fastball.
- Key to his strikeout ability and why he projects as a viable MLB arm.
Curve (50)
- Sits 81–82 mph
- Offers decent vertical break but not elite spin or sharpness.
- Reliable secondary pitch, especially vs. left-handed hitters (usage jumps to ~34% vs LHH).
- More of a change-of-pace pitch than a true bat-misser; helps keep hitters off balance and steal strikes early in counts.
Changeup (45)
- Below average and inconsistent.
- Needs refinement to handle left-handed hitters effectively.
- Without improvement, limits his ceiling as a full-time starter.

The top 3 pitches will determine his long-term role with the team. If that curve becomes at least a little average, he could stick as a back of the rotation starter; while the curve has worked with lefties, it’s not a shutdown pitch. Right now though, he looks like a middle reliever; he might be able to add a tick or 2 of velocity in shorter stints and his slider plays very well with his fastball.

His role also will depend on his average command and control. He can get strikeouts, but he also gives up a lot of walks. Fixing command and control will decrease his pitch counts and allow him to stretch out as a starter, if that change gets better.

Here’s 3 comps for Kent:

Chris Stratton (Relief Pitcher)
- Profile: Mid-90s fastball, heavy slider usage, curve as secondary.
- Role: Multi-inning reliever / swingman.
- Similarity: Both rely on breaking ball quality over pure velocity; command is average, but slider drives whiffs.
Clarke Schmidt (Starting Pitcher)
- Profile: Slider-first approach with curveball and occasional changeup.
- Role: Back-end starter with bullpen fallback.
- Similarity: Slider is the best pitch; fastball is serviceable but not dominant; needs third pitch for full starter viability.
Drew Smyly (Relief Pitcher Swingman)
- Profile: Low-90s fastball, curve-heavy historically, now slider usage up.
- Role: Spot starter / long relief.
- Similarity: Mix of breaking balls to neutralize hitters; fastball plays up when sequenced well.

All 3 have their strengths and weaknesses, but I’d be happy for him to be like any of these. Stratton pitched well with the Cardinals a few years back and Kent would be a welcome addition if he’s at that point in the next 2 years.

Kent has the potential to be a useful pieces; it’ll be up to the organization to get the most out of him. Prior to last season, I would be worried, but Chaim Bloom has brought in a lot of help to work with young players.

I’ll be back soon with a scouting report of Matt Pushard, who the team picked in the Rule V Draft.