Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ATL | RHP | 31 | 35 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40/30 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 5
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Former two-way high school player with above average athleticism. Prototypical pitcher frame with projectable body. Tall and lean through his core. Lower half is still developing but he's worked to get bigger there. Carries his current body weight well. Has put on almost 30 pounds since his first year of JUCO ball.
Delivery & Mechanics: Command and control issues stem primarily from mechanical flaws through his release. While the delivery is repeatable, there is some effort here. Good balance point from the stretch but could stand to get lower through his delivery. 3/4 arm slot with some slight cross body action. Is too tall through his release and follow through. Finishes with a slight trail off to the first base side. To be more consistent, needs to work on driving down through his front side.
Fastball: Live arm. Ball jumps out of his hand. Sits consistently 92-95 but has touched 97. In a relief role it's easy to envision him sitting 95+. Can generate swings and misses due to some modest movement. Has tendency to miss spots leaving him vulnerable to hard contact. Control and command are both lacking, something that is a theme throughout his repertoire. Grade: 45
Curveball: 76-79 MPH that is more loopy than the slider. Inconsistent work in progress that he brought back into his arsenal in 2019. Thrown primarily to the outer half on righties and rarely used against lefties. More of a show me pitch than an effective one at this point. Grade: 40
Slider: 85-89 MPH with some 2-7 tilt. Sets up well off the fastball. Potential plus offering. Currently his best pitch and could be what allows him to flourish in a bullpen role. Can throw it for a strike early in the count. Uses it more against righties than lefties but comfortable throwing it in any count. Grade: 50
Changeup: 82-85 MPH but rarely used. Doesn't have enough confidence to throw it consistently. Will likely lag far behind other offerings throughout his career. Grade: 30
Control and Command: Command and control are below average right now. Can be effectively wild but is generally inconsistent throwing strikes. Will get hitters in an 0-2 hole and then fill up the count. Most of his control issues are self-inflicted due to mechanical issues in his delivery. Mound presence needs a lot of polish. Wears emotions on his sleeve and lacks poise. Control: 40 | Command: 30
Overall: Riley was seen as somewhat of a steal when the Braves got him in the 5th Round of the 2018 draft but control issues have plagued him early in his career. Appropriately nicknamed <93>Nuke<94> after Tim Robbins character in Bull Durham, Riley has an electric arm but has yet to harness it enough to be effective. He registered more walks (46) than strikeouts (41) in 2019 and had an unsightly 7.32 ERA. A complete overhaul of his mechanics might be a bridge too far, but some tweaks need to be made to help his command play. The fastball and slider combo boost his profile as a reliever and a full-time move to the bullpen is probably his best chance to make it to the big leagues. He does have some pedigree as his dad P.J. was drafted by the Astros in the 1989 draft but his mound presence and mechanics will need a lot of work in order for him to be a legitimate prospect.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
