RHP Tucker Biven (@LouisvilleBSB) is one of the top college relievers in this year's Draft. After a solid Freshman year in which he took on a meaningful role, he took a step forward last year and worked a 3.82 ERA with 40 Ks to 10 BB across 35.1 IP. Biven had a strong summer that was spent between the Cape and Team USA. On the Cape, he pitched his way to a 3.97 ERA with 16 Ks to 5 BB in 11.1 IP. Give him a lot of credit for returning to the CCBL after his stint with USA, something that has become increasingly rare for arms.

At 6'1" and 210-lbs, Biven has an athletic build with a strong lower-half. Compact, explosive delivery that becomes more up-tempo after his initial side step. Abbreviated, slightly stabby arm stroke and attacks from a three-quarters (closer to high-3/4 than true 3/4) slot with plus arm speed. Good lead leg block. Biven's athleticism stands out, moves really well.

Biven's fastball sits in the 92-94 range, but has been up to 95/96 with bowling ball sink and some ASR. Plenty of heavy, late dive to it with arm-side life. Key for Biven is keeping it down in the bottom 1/3 of the zone, which is where it's most effective and generates most of its whiffs. Relies on it heavily and in '24 threw it 72% of the time and generated a 27% miss rate with it. Command of it has gotten better year-over-year, would say it's right about average. 50 offering for me.

He supplements his FB with a mid-to-upper-80s SL that he uses mostly against RHH. Has flashed above-average with sharp (at times) two-plane tilt. Shape of it varies, will sometimes take on that two-plane action with more sweep than depth. At others, will have that true hard gyro look. Feel for it is there, and he's comfortable throwing it in any count and has shown the ability to land it for strikes. Sometimes will leave it up. 33% whiff rate last season.

Biven rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used CB and CH. The former is a mid-70s offering that will occasionally flash a bigger shape with some downward bite, while the latter sits in the mid-80s and is the better of the two. Biven turned over a few really good cambios last spring that displayed fade to the arm-side and late tumble. This would be the pitch I'd hone in on to give him a viable third offering.

Biven will again be the Cardinals' closer and profiles as a reliever in pro ball. Strike-throwing has gotten better as time has gone on, which has been encouraging, and he has a solid two-pitch foundation to build on in his FB and SL. 5th-8th round type this July.