Joe Drake pens a formal report on Elly De La Cruz - a tremendous athlete with big raw power, great speed and smooth glove.
Eric Yang - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | C | 39 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 23 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 7
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Short and well-built for the position. Thicker bottom half. Little projection remaining. Strong forearms. Plays with a smile on his face. High IQ player.
Hit: Open and upright stance but closes and gets low to get leverage on the ball. Uses his legs well. Full-body swing with a plane designed to drive the ball. Generates good bat speed. Some effort in the swing. Repeatable but tendency to over-swing. Has an idea of the zone with an average approach. Works the count. Average eye. Grade: 45
Power: Strong for his size, particularly in his forearms. Utilizes his hips well to generate some power. Possesses the bat speed and leverage necessary to drive the ball out of the park on 10-15 occasions during a season. Grade: 40
Field: Looks good behind the plate. Moves well side-to-side and gets low. Average blocker and receiver. Inexperienced framer and it shows. Gets out of a crouched stance quick. Good transferor. Strong awareness. Heady player. Requires some additional growth, but should be average behind the dish. Grade: 50
Arm: Fringe-average arm strength but is a good transferor with pop times around 2.05 seconds in limited looks. Grade: 50
Run: Moves well for his size and the position. Hustles out of the box but possesses below-average speed from the right side of the plate. Some effort. Not built for speed and will not be a base stealer. Grade: 40
Overall: All tools are average or below, but Yang is a player that grows on you with each look. He has a high baseball IQ and enjoys being on the diamond. It is a profile not to be betted against for making the big leagues albeit with little projection to impact any specific facet of the game.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
Joe Boyle - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 38 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 70 | 45 | 30/20 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: James Chipman
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Giant human. Every bit of the listed: 6' 7" 240 pounds. XL frame. Maxed out, grown man body. High waist; broad shoulders; long levers; large hands; thick, strong lower half. Solid athleticism. Moves well for his size.
Delivery & Mechanics: Stretch only; compact arm action and standard 3/4 slot with just moderate effort. Good arm speed; large leg kick and hand break yield deception; solid extension. Hip and trunk rotation leave landings closed with an open front foot. Flashes clean, athletic and well-repeated delivery, considering his size. Struggles mightily to repeat. Athleticism is present to find more consistency.
Fastball: Electric high octane fastball that sits upper-90s, regularly scraping triple digits. Predominantly flat, but it's metrically sound thanks to his arm angle and the offering's high efficiency backspin. At his best when he's simply overpowering batters in the zone and elevating the ball out of the zone as a chaser. The control is well below-average and the command is nearly bottom of the scale, sapping the grade from elite to double-plus. Grade: 70
Slider: Sits 86-91. Lacks consistent feel; shows the ability to spin the ball, but velocity and break are inconsistent. Shows a firm version around 89-91 that has short horizontal break resembling a cutter. The lower velocity band produces tighter two-plane break with modest depth. Sits well below-average; flashes fringe-average to average. Should improve and gain consistency with pro instruction. Grade: 45
Control and Command: Raw dart thrower. Well below-average control and bottom of the scale command. Stuff is powerful enough that he literally just needs to fill the zone more frequently. Misses are abundant: especially arm-side; prone to sailing pitches over the catcher. Control: 30 | Command: 20
Overall: It's easy to scoff at a high risk reliever profile with bottom of the scale command and an inconsistent slider. A smarter move would be to recognize that Joe Boyle, Kyle Boddy's Driveline team and the Cincinnati Reds could be a match made in heaven. Already armed with an elite high efficiency fastball, solid athleticism and an improved delivery, the Reds will look to build off what's right and rectify what's wrong. Should Boyle learn to find the strike zone with more consistency, there's a minimal role 40 reliever potential. For the time being, Boyle is a solid lotto ticket worth keeping an eye on.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
Danny Lantigua - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | OF | 37 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 50 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: B/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Well-built. Heavier than listed weight. Strong upper body.
Hit: Switch-hitter. Crouched and wide-based, mirror-image swing. Slight leg kick. Explosive hands. Impressive bat speed. Takes big cuts. Swing can be long at times. Aggressive. Significant swing and miss issues demonstrable by his 2018 and 2019 K-rates. Below-average approach and eye. All or nothing hitter. Grade: 30
Power: Ball explodes off the bat from the left and right side. Hits them high and far when he barrels the ball. Plus or better raw power from both sides. Approach will not allow him to get to it consistently. Big gap between raw and in-game power. Farthest HR in 2019 measured at 434 feet. Grade: 60
Field: Capable in CF, but fits best in right with his strong arm and average speed. Booted a ball in 2019 and has some work to do, but looks to be an average fielder with more reps. Grade: 50
Arm: Strong arm that profiles in RF. Grade: 60
Run: Average speed down the line. Covers enough ground in the outfield to fit in right. Grade: 50
Overall: Possesses significant power from both sides of the plate. Very much the kind of tool that can carry him but will need substantial improvement with the hit tool to consistently get to the power. A long-shot to make the majors based on the lack of hit tool.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Extreme
Noah Davis - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 36 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 50 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 50/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 11
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Fairly average frame; might be an inch shorter than list height. Sturdy but not likely to add much throughout; long arms and thicker through the waist and thighs compared to the rest of the body. Had Tommy John Surgery in March, 2018.
Delivery & Mechanics: Works quickly from a high 3/4 arm-slot with moderate effort; mechanics are fairly simple. Small delay in the windup; hands begin near the belt buckle before coming up for hand break at the letters; will tap the glove with the ball after hand break; features an average leg kick that keeps the body balanced. Hides the ball well and repeats nicely especially in the windup but the delivery overall lacks deception.
Fastball: 92-94 with arm-side run; will also feature a two-seam with tailing action. Gets flat when left up in the zone; lacks command and will nearly abandon at points throughout a start depending on feel. Average velocity that may even go up a tick with additional strength gains and/or refinement with mechanics, but command will limit effectiveness with the pitch. Grade: 50
Curveball: Fringy but will flash average; 12/6 downward action. Movement tends to get loopy at times but will still freeze hitters for called strikes; will get hit in upper levels. Inconsistent desired velocity and spin. Improved command may help the pitch play average, but likely to settle in around fringe-average. Grade: 45
Slider: 84-87; lacks consistent shape and feel; shows a flat, horizontal break at times but will also flash good tilt with late bite; locates the pitch down in the zone well and will generate swings and misses. Shows fringe-average currently but may play average with continued pro instruction. Grade: 50
Changeup: Flashes average but sits below average; lacks command and feel; tends to bury in the dirt. When thrown as intended, it will feature fading downward movement beneath the zone. Maintains arm speed. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Shows average control and below average command; walks will come mostly on hitters' ability to lay off spin out of the zone. Stays in counts well but will pull fastball glove side and bury off-speed pitches. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: 2021 should provide an opportunity for Davis to shoot up the minor leagues. With two offerings that figure to play average, a move to relief may help his fastball/slider mix play up a tick. The concern with the profile is nothing particularly sticks out and he's yet to hit low-A as a 23-year old, leaving his floor at an organizational depth piece. The ceiling is a spot starter or long-relief arm, but more than likely it's a depth piece that will get brought up in emergency situations.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
TJ Friedl - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | OF | 35 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 55 | 45 | 60 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 25 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2016 UDFA
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Small, trim build; lacks significant strength throughout. Doesn't fill out the jersey; small arms and legs. Limited physical projection remaining. Twitchy movements; shows above-average athleticism. Ankle surgery July, 2019.
Hit: Closed stance with hands just above the letters; wide base and deep crouch. Back elbow stays down; weight favors the back foot in the stance and through the swing. Slap-hitter approach; small frame, weak top hand, and passive hips yield below-average bat speed. Uses the opposite field especially against same- sided pitching; closed off stance is not conducive to pulling the ball. Strike zone awareness and a bat path that maximizes time in the zone should help produce a fair share of walks. Proficient bunter; gets them down with good placement for hits or sacrifice. Legs will help the average, but overall it's a below-average hit tool. Grade: 40
Power: Frame and approach are not designed for power; shows a warning track power stroke in games and will hit a handful of home runs. Will stretch singles into doubles, but overall the power is well below average. Grade: 30
Field: Instinctive routes with good footwork in the field; positions his body well to prepare for throws. Nothing jumps out, but the summation of solid attributes in the field should make for an above-average defender in either corner. Grade: 55
Arm: Fringy arm; uses his body well to maximize arm strength, but throws tend to lack significant carry and will take infielders off of bases on long throws. Will not necessarily be exposed in the outfield, but the arm may profile better in left. Grade: 45
Run: Plus runner; gets to full speed by the second step by using quick, choppy strides; home-to-first times range in the 4.05-4.08 range; times go down to 3.7 on drag bunts. Incredibly aggressive on the basepaths; rounds the bags hard and will take the extra base. Times range between plus and double-plus but figure to settle in at plus long-term with stolen base totals easily in the double-digits across a full season. Grade: 60
Overall: Friedl's speed and defense carry the profile, but his frame and approach will limit his offensive potential. If he can hit fringe average or improve his power potential, the ceiling is a fourth outfielder coupled with late-game, pesky pinch- running ability. More than likely due to his limited projection remaining, it is an up- and-down emergency outfielder with some versatility in the grass.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Moderate
Jared Solomon - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 34 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 50/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: ake Boes
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 192 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 11
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Sturdy frame with room to add strength throughout. Lacks prototypical starter size; sloped shoulders with long, lanky arms; high waist with a short torso; long legs with strong thighs but lacks definition through calves and lower legs. Shows average athleticism on the mound. Right shoulder inflammation in 2019.
Delivery & Mechanics: Comes from a 3/4 arm-slot with moderate effort; generates impressive arm speed from a short-arm action; slight pause after hand break yields deception. Limited extension; repeats delivery well; slot and release are inconsistent. Shows composure and poise.
Fastball: 92-94 with arm-side run; will also feature a two-seam with tailing action. Gets flat when left up in the zone; lacks command and will nearly abandon at points throughout a start depending on feel. Average velocity that may even go up a tick with additional strength gains and/or refinement with mechanics, but command will limit effectiveness with the pitch. Grade: 50
Curveball: 76-78; tight, 12/6 rotation with sharp break; gets loopy at times and lacks tight spin. Shows comfort and throws with conviction; should throw it more. Uses as get-me-over strike and chase pitch; flashes plus but sits average. Grade: 50
Slider: 82-85 with inconsistent shape and feel; will flash traditional slider tilt but also shows zero depth at times with lazy horizontal action. Inconsistent desired velocity; generates swings and misses but likely to struggle against advanced hitters. Flashes average, but sits below average currently. Grade: 40
Changeup: 87-88 with fading action falling away to left-handed hitters; slows arm at times which limits effectiveness; tends to throw from a high 3/4 slot opposed to the usual 3/4.. Uses almost exclusively against lefties; shows command but different arm slot and arm speed will cause the pitch to play below average. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Average control and below average command; shows the ability to fill the zone, but will miss the glove with all his pitches. More curveballs and a consistent slot may help command. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: There is a chance for Solomon to stick in the rotation considering his four-pitch mix but he will need to iron out his command issues to do so. At 23 with no Double-A experience, he will need some acceleration through the upper- minors to get a shot. As a bullpen arm, his fastball velocity may play up and his curve/change off-speed mix may be beneficial to weave through both righties and lefties. The ceiling is a long man or low-leverage relief option, but is more likely an up/down emergency depth piece.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
Connor Bennett - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 33 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 45/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: James Chipman
Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-9
Weight: 212 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Draft - Round 34
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Short, medium frame; boxy build. Square shoulders; soft middle; strong upper body; strong, thick lower half.
Delivery & Mechanics: Stretch only; high 3/4 slot with high effort delivery. Good arm speed. Medium leg kick, hand break and arm action yield solid deception.
Fastball: 92-95; gets on batters quick and deception pads perceived velocity. Quality plane; plays fairly straight with mild run and heavy boring action down in the zone. Works it well to both sides; trusts the pitch, will attack with it in hitter's counts. Generates ample fly ball contact. Modest velocity and movement will give him a smaller margin for error at the big league level. Average control; fringe-average command. Grade: 50
Curveball: Above average flashing plus with 11/5 action and late bite; pitch has teeth; shows ability to throw for strikes and bury for chase. Will spin occasionally when not snapped, but shape is generally as-desired. Grade: 55
Slider: 83-87 Has feel; manipulates movement well. Short slurvy breaker with depth and bite inside on RHB. Shows longer horizontal movement and tilt as a chaser out of the zone. Comfortable throwing it to both sides of the plate; willing to throw in any count and back-to-back as a put-away pitch. Fools hitters in and out of the strike zone late in counts. More consistency could yield an above-average grade but currently shows solid average. Grade: 50
Changeup: Below-average third pitch. 83-85 with downward dive and moderate fade. Modest feel; slows arm-speed a tick; lacks consistency. Enough to challenge LHB in A-ball; likely less effective as he climbs the organizational ladder. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Fringe-average control and below-average command. Classic control over command reliever profile. Aggressive strike thrower early in the count; nibbles at times with two strikes, wasting pitches looking for strikeouts. Throws a ton of sliders but avoids predictable sequencing and moves the ball around the zone well. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: A solid org soldier with a chance. Similar to seasons past, Bennett racked up an impressive 88 strikeouts, while walking 24 over 57 innings in 2019; underling his biggest deficiency (command) and attribute (ability to miss bats). A former 34th round draft pick, Bennett will enter the 2021 season as a ~24 year-old without any experience above A-ball. Obstacles aside, squint your eyes and there's legitimate big league low-leverage pop-up potential as an up and down depth piece.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Moderate
Riley O'Brien - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 32 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 55 | 55 | 45 | 40 | 45/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 8, TB
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Tall, lanky frame; trim and rail-thin; tapered shoulders with long arms; high waist with long, string-bean legs. Limited growth potential remaining; room to add significant strength throughout but not likely to add. Intimidating presence on the mound.
Delivery & Mechanics: Works quickly from a high 3/4 arm slot with high effort; straightforward mechanics; long levers and extension generate moderate deception. Falls off to first base side; noticeably more comfortable from the wind- up. Varies looks and timing to the plate to keep runners honest.
Fastball: 93-95 t97 with inconsistent arm-side run; lacks late life. Shows inconsistent command; tends to miss arm side from the stretch. Extension and downward plane generated from long levers allows the pitch to play above-average despite limited life. Grade: 55
Curveball: Above average flashing plus with 11/5 action and late bite; pitch has teeth; shows ability to throw for strikes and bury for chase. Will spin occasionally when not snapped, but shape is generally as-desired. Grade: 55
Slider: Fringy but flashes above-average; slurvy action; tends to nibble but will flash tight, late break diving away from righties; lacks consistent feel. Likely at projection. Grade: 45
Changeup: Below average; lacks consistent desired velocity; shows modest sinking movement; maintains arm speed but lacks conviction. Minimal feel; lacks fade. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Fringe-average control and below average command; capable of throwing strikes but struggles to consistently hit the glove; levers and plane hurt command; fastball/curveball show best control. Pitch sequencing can be predictable at times. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: O'Brien's size is tantalizing, but his inconsistent control and command force his floor down to an organizational depth piece. With two average-or-better offerings and considering his confrontational mound presence, a bullpen transition might make sense but would need to happen soon. There is a low leverage reliever profile there if one looks long enough, but more than likely, it's an emergency up/down arm.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
Miguel Medrano - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 31 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 45 | 45 | 60 | 60/55 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Russ Peters
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Stocky, boxy build - definitely weighs more than the listed 165 pounds. Thick lower body makes him look like a pitcher.
Delivery & Mechanics: High 3/4 arm slot, gets decent leverage and angle on pitches; strong frame, work down in the zone quite a bit.
Fastball: 91-94 mph, tops out at 95 mph with arm-side run. Commands well, fringe-average pitch, hoping for velo to tick up as he matures. Grade: 45
Curveball: 12-6 drop, flashes good spin, sometimes loosens up. Fringe-average currently, needs to improve breaking ball to stick as a starter. Grade: 45
Changeup: Medrano's best pitch; above-average currently with room to grow. Throws it for strikes; swing-and-miss pitch; keeps hitters off balance and guessing. Grade: 60
Control and Command: Strong command helps the entire arsenal play up, 2.0 BB/9 rate in 2019, above-average control currently with potential for plus during his prime. Control: 60 | Command: 55
Overall: Fairly polished pitcher. Showed good results and skills but was also 22 years-old in the Pioneer League: .230 opponent's average, 1.09 WHIP and league leading 3.13 ERA. Has yet to play full-season ball; has some swing-and-miss and one dominant pitch in the change-up. His command is also definitely an asset. He has started 36 of 41 career Minor League games; potential to be a back of the rotation starter with improvement in the breaking ball and slight uptick in velocity. Sharp money is on Medrano ending up in the bullpen as a solid long reliever or low leverage reliever.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Moderate
Mariel Bautista - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | OF | 30 | 35 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: James Chipman
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 194 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2014 IFA
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Long and lean. Wiry but strong build. Square shoulders; long limbs; high waist; flat chest; average strength with room to add muscle to the upper-body. Quick-twitch athlete. Impressive athleticism and hand eye coordination. Minor shoulder injury in 2019.
Hit: Open stance; hands high above the letters; upright with a slight bend at the knees from a wide base. Odd pigeon-toed foot alignment in the box. Toe tap trigger on load. Quick, strong hands generate plus bat speed. Nice but inconsistent swing. Quick to and through the ball with a fluid stroke when he's locked in; swing significantly lengthens with inconsistent plane on the outer third. Linear bat path with modest loft. Aggressive approach. Occasionally caught lunging and collapsing his back side yielding awkward off-balance swings; especially against above-average or better off-speed. Handles velocity well but is exposed by chase pitches off the outer third and off-speed in the lower third of the zone. Overmatched and noticeably frustrated in 2019. Large gap between present and potential future hit tool grade. Currently a well below-average tool, Bautista has the core ingredients of a potential average hitter. Without changes to his swing, he's likely just a below-average hitter. Grade: 40
Power: Quick strong hands and plus bat speed yield impressive plus raw and loud BP. In-game power significantly plays down due to hit tool deficiencies. Shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields and pepper the gaps. Over-the- fence pop is primarily dead-pull. Another large gap between what is and what could be: currently plays well below-average; if the hit tool reaches 45 or better, there's legitimate 55 power potential. I'm not sure that comes to fruition though without a major swing overhaul. Grade: 45
Field: Capable defender. Enough instincts and attributes to play all three outfield positions, but best in CF. Athleticism and plus speed help him recover and mitigate mistakes. Adequate reads and route running. Tracks well to both sides and is solid coming in on the ball. Can get tested on occasion with balls hit over his head. Grade: 50
Arm: Average arm strength, gets enough velocity and carry; hits cutoff man with consistency. Not an asset but won't be exposed anywhere on the outfield grass. Grade: 50
Run: Home to first between 4.18-4.22. Quick first gear; long strides; reaches top speed quickly; glides when underway; impressive closing speed in CF. Wheels help take the occasional extra hustle bag and recover from missteps in the outfield. Aggressive runner: big leads; will run into outs but an overall asset on basepaths. Grade: 60
Overall: Already passed over once in the Rule V Draft, Bautista will play all of next season as a 23-year-old that hasn't logged an inning above Low-A. His impressive bat to ball and track record of on-base production failed to show in his first taste of full season ball in 2019. The window is starting to close but there's still plenty of upside. Bautista features a solid average defensive profile with plus speed, he just needs to find consistency at the plate so he can tap into his impressive plus raw power. Currently well below-average, the development of his bat will undoubtedly be the determining factor in his big league future. Should the bat evolve, there's solid role 40 potential; with a more likely role 30 depth future.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up / Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
Bryce Bonnin - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 29 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 45/30 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Likely an inch shorter than 6'2" list height; 190 lbs roughly accurate. Average frame; not ideal for a starter. Limited physical projection with minimal strength gains remaining throughout. Sloping shoulders with a short torso; high waist with somewhat thick lower half. Transferred from Arkansas after a shoulder injury in 2018.
Delivery & Mechanics: 3/4 slot has gone more high 3/4 recently; high-effort guy. Hands go over-head prior to hand break; hitter gets a good look at the ball on the reach back. Quick arm; crossfires consistently and will stiffen the front leg occasionally. Easy finish and follow through considering effort level.
Fastball: Sits 93-95 t97 with inconsistent life; 4-seam will flash riding life inside to right-handed hitters but gets flat when left up. 2-seam shows consistent tailing life; likes to use it outside to righties/inside to lefties. Fastball shows plus velocity but figures to play above average with continued pro instruction due to reliever risk. Grade: 55
Slider: Primary secondary offering; maintains arm-speed well at 84-85; shows good bite in the zone; throws for strikes and will use it for chase down in the zone. Crossfire delivery adds deception; overall a potential plus offering. Grade: 60
Changeup: Show-me offering to keep hitters honest against the fastball; maintains arm speed and flashes fading action away from left-handed hitters. Could play average, but needs continued pro instruction and more conviction; plays more fringe-average. Grade: 45
Control and Command: Fringe-average control and well below-average command; struggles with repeating delivery and crossfire will continue to hurt command; delivery presents reliever risk. Control: 45 | Command: 30
Overall: Significant reliever risk with the profile--predominantly two pitches, inconsistencies with command, mechanics, and frame would all play best in a relief role. Quickest path to MLB is out of the bullpen. Improvements with command and a consistent third pitch would help the case to stick in the rotation, but more likely a middle-relief arm with late-inning upside.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
Alfredo Rodriguez - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | SS | 28 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 60 | 60 | 50 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Russ Peters
Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Athletic, stocky, thick, well proportioned build. Grown man; no room for projection.
Hit: Wide base, slightly open stance, hands in just above the letters, bat rest right behind the helmet. Vertical pre-pitch bat waggle, big leg kick for timing, linear swing. Line drive all fields approach. Started to show an improved hard contact rate at the end of 2019; also displayed a higher walk rate but still chases outside of the zone quite a bit. Grade: 40
Power: Strictly a singles and doubles hitter - just five home-runs in more than 1500 Minor League at bats. Grade: 20
Field: Fantastic fielder; great glove, good instincts, quick first step to where the ball is going to be. Soft hands, quick and efficient transfers, ability to stick at shortstop or play all over the diamond, glove has been major league ready for years. Grade: 60
Arm: Impressive plus tool. Enough arm to play anywhere in the infield, arm strength increases overall defensive play making ability. Easily gets to balls that many cannot and shows the ability to make strong accurate throws. Grade: 60
Run: Average runner. Speed plays up a bit due to good instincts and baseball IQ. Won't eat opponents up on the basepaths but they best not take their eye off of him either. Potential to steal ten bags with a full season of at-bats. Grade: 50
Overall: Signed for $7M out of Cuba in 2016. Tremendous defender, biggest question is the bat. If he can continue to hit the ball hard to all fields, he could carve out a second division regular role. On the other hand, if the hit tool fails to come to fruition, Rodriguez will likely be nothing more than a utility or bench player. At 26 years-old there is no better time than now to make that determination.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Utility
Risk: Low
Ryan Hendrix - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 27 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 60 | 55 | 45/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: James Chipman
Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: On 40-man
Physical Description: Ideal frame. Big strong, sturdy frame. High waist; long levers. Broad shoulders; strong upper body; thick lower half. Physically maxed. Past injuries include: right elbow strain and minor neck issue.
Delivery & Mechanics: Full windup; above-average arm-speed; high 3/4 slot with high effort delivery. Slot generates steep downward plane; modest leg kick and hand break yield limited deception. Long levers and stride generate good extension. Loses efficiency of command when he puts too much exertion in the delivery; will occasionally fly open.
Fastball: 94-96 t98; plus velocity with below-average command. Shows hard bore and heavy sink down in the zone; predominantly straight with downward plane elsewhere. Elicits both weak contact and swing and miss. Grade: 60
Curveball: 83-85; hard power curveball with tight rotation and deep 11/5 shape at its best. Has the late break and bite necessary for it to effectively play at the big league level. Lacks consistent shape and feel; arm speed and slot will occasionally wander. Overall a potential above-average offering. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Standard power reliever, control over command profile. Spray command in and around the zone. Relies on FB velocity to overpower and bail out his lack of command. Fringe-average control and below-average command. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: Window closing on past high leverage ceiling; more realistic future is a solid second division low-leverage reliever. Should miss an impressive amount of bats and provide a bridge to the late innings.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
Joel Kuhnel - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | RHP | 26 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 60 | 50 | 45/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 280 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 11
RuleV: On 40-man
Physical Description: Tall; large frame; thick body. Strong thick lower half. Build reminiscent of one-time Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton.
Delivery & Mechanics: Has undergone some variations of starting from the stretch over the last three years. In 2020 he started with his back tilted towards the plate. Used to use the leg kick to drop down on his back leg. Leg kick will occasionally be waist high, sometimes chest high. Breaks hands as the front leg begins to sweep forward before plant. Uses a short-arm, downward arm swing. Allows him to hide the ball behind his back leg. Gets into drive leg well, creating a 90 degree angle with his knee. Shows good torso and shoulder separation. High three-quarters arm slot; efficient in rhythm; mechanics appear fluid; moderate to high effort delivery; release point wanders on occasion.
Fastball: Inconsistent velocity. Has sat 96-98 in the past; other outings yield 92-94 velo. Averaged 95.4 during his brief MLB call up this past season. Shows arm-side run; mostly flat. Modest middling spin rate. Fringe-average command. Grade: 60
Slider: Sits 84-86 with horizontal movement; lacks significant vertical drop. Inconsistent but tunneled well off his fastball. Average spin and below-average command. Grade: 50
Control and Command: Inconsistent arm slot and release point lead to erratic control and command. Fringe-average fastball command; slider command lags behind considerably. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: Profile screams power reliever. Two-pitch mix anchored by a plus fastball that has a track record of scraping upper-90s. Prototypical control over command relief arm with a solid history of missing bats. Lack of a lethal secondary pitch and below-average command make him likely better suited for a middle relief role. Overall a potential solid low leverage reliever with just moderate risk.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
Quin Cotton - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | OF | 25 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 55 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 23 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 8
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Athletic build. Short, well built and already filled out. Similar body type to Khris Davis, but a tad more athletic. A multi-sport athlete in high school.
Hit: Slightly closed stance. Brief toe tap as his timing mechanism. Active hands pre-load. Was a moderate leg kick, short strider in college. Closed stance and stride helps with hip hinge, showing backside to the pitcher before he clears his hips through and hands. Clears hips ahead of hands pretty well but it looks like his hands can get a little too far out front against breaking stuff. Shows some issues with recognizing breaking pitches. Little less wasted hand motion as a pro in 2019 than in college where his hands got very loopy with the bat. Quick to the ball with the bat and a solid amount of plate coverage in zone. Despite potential issues tracking off-speed stuff in a brief pro debut, shows a good idea of the strike zone. Mostly flat bat path but allows him to make contact to all fields. Good use of hands, average bat speed and control of the strike zone. Grade: 50
Power: Contact oriented approach yields modest power. Has shown power to the opposite field and lets the ball travel deep when he makes hard contact to the opposite field. Bat path is fairly flat and needs more loft if he's going to tap into above average raw power. Having the leg kick/stride in college and back to the toe tap now could be the difference in him trying to tap into power. His swing looks a lot more consistent with the toe tap than it did the leg kick. The strength on his follow-through is there for power, but lacks the loft and approach for power. Could do more to be more rotational to get into raw pop. Grade: 45
Field: Reads and routes in centerfield are average. Uses speed well to make up on routes occasionally. Probably best suited defensively as a corner but should be able to handle center with his speed. Grade: 50
Arm: Not many chances with the arm, but showed more air under throws than you'd like. Fielders were more prone to cut his throws rather than let them go through, but that could have been more of a situation than the throw. Throws didn't show carry through on a line. Arm likely exposed in CF or RF; would be ok in LF. Grade: 40
Run: Clocks around 4.25 from home-to-first, giving him above-average speed. Doesn't take big strides but takes efficient steps and stays off his heels. Runs with front forward when stealing but can be more straight up at other times. Aggressive runner that lacks instincts: prone to running into outs - caught stealing 50% of the time in 2019. Grade: 55
Overall: Average hit tool with solid strike zone recognition and above average speed are Cotton's best tools. He can hit the ball hard, but underlying potentially above average raw power will be the separator in his role. Has above average speed but hasn't effectively used it yet. Average tools across the board with good speed give him a fourth outfielder profile. Potential to carry a good average if breaking ball recognition improves and some swing changes to add more loft could unlock more power that could elevate him to an average regular. Swing was much better with toe tap than leg kick, so he may need a new adjustment and change in swing plane/bat path to get to the power. If the power never grows better than below average despite extension in swing and ability to drive the ball to the opposite field, there's enough there to carve out a role as a bench outfielder at the major league level.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: High
Debby Santana - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | 3B | 24 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 | 40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Tall lean frame, mostly in legs. Not a very wide frame, so there's a little room for physical projection but not a ton. Wiry strength that carries a lot of his physical attributes.
Hit: Compact base, even stance. Barrel over back shoulder. Active hands pre- load. Quick leg kick pre-load timing mechanism. His hands drift backwards behind his back shoulder while getting to launch position. Leg kick opens his body up to clear his hips, but moves hands down and back into his weight transfer creates a hitch. He has quick hands and creates a fast, whippy swing, however. The quick wrists and bat speed are evident. Breaking stuff gets him out front early. Bat speed will allow him to make hard contact when he makes. Aggressive approach is also going to make it hard for him to take advantage of that bat speed. Grade: 40
Power: Impressive double-plus raw; BP contact is loud and long. Plays down significantly in-game because of hit tool deficiencies. Hard contact is mostly line drives and ground-balls during games. He'll need some swing changes to get the ball in the air more. Too tall in his swing; would help to drop his bat pre-load to work under the ball a little more. That could help to quell what looks like the hitch with his hands in his swing and help him create some loft. Impressive raw exit velo's (average 93mph; max 112mph) paint a picture of power locked somewhere in those strong hacks he takes. Grade: 60
Field: There's extremely limited video on Santana. While relying on official scoring calls in the minor leagues without context, we do know Santana is credited with 40 errors in 97 games played in the rookie league complexes at third base. Even though it's not great to rely on those kinds of numbers to paint a picture, even half of those errors are not great. He's already played some first base, so there's a good bet third base isn't his future defensive home. Grade: 40
Arm: Impressive arm strength that would play at third-base or the outfield. Strong fairly accurate arm - the majority of his errors were of the fielding variety. Grade: 60
Run: Santana has a pretty tall, lean frame but doesn't seem to run like someone who has a lean frame. He doesn't get great jumps out of the box. Speed likely won't be a tool that does much for his value. Grade: 40
Overall: At age 20, Santana has yet to play a baseball game outside of the Dominican or Goodyear, Arizona. He could be in Dayton in 2021 if there's a minor league season, but his approach and swing at the plate could get him exposed there. Add in a year off (he wasn't at the Reds alternate training site) and there's going to be more growing pains. 35-40 home run power sits in his swing but he needs a swing change, better work with his hands into his load and a better approach to get to that power. A good arm might be all that works for him in the field, so his best shot at any kind of big league future is finding a way to get to that home run power in game.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: Extreme
Michel Triana - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | 1B | 23 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 45 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 30 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Russ Peters
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Imposing size, tall with a large frame, broad shoulders, thick, strong upper and lower body.
Hit: Slightly open stance from the left side, hands back, close to the body and just above letters, wide base, swing not overly long but has some swing and miss which shows his inexperience with pro velocity and spin, average bat speed, handsy swing, not overly complicated, does not sell out for power, patient approach, showed plate discipline in brief stint with Villa Clara of the Cuban National Series as an 18 year old, yet to really be tested by pitchers, large gap in current and potential hit tool, hit tool will likely decide how quickly and whether or not he becomes a big leaguer. Grade: 45
Power: Impressive, plus raw power, enough for the Reds to spring for a $1.3 million signing bonus, line drive approach, linear swing, needs to add some loft to reach power potential. Grade: 55
Field: listed at 1B on Reds Fall Instructional League roster, moves well for a big guy with decent footwork, soft hands, still working on ability to pick tough throws, can work himself into an average defender with consistent work at 1B, could possibly end up in LF but likely more suited for 1B. Grade: 50
Arm: Enough arm to play at either corner infield or corner outfield slot but nothing flashy, solid average. Grade: 50
Run: well below average runner, may slow down further depending on physical development. Grade: 30
Overall: Size, strength and plate discipline to be an OPS asset as well as an average defender at first, lack of defensive versatility puts more pressure on the bat, needs to work on making better contact versus more advanced pitching and velo, needs to develop hit tool to reach full potential, may be a hit or power profile rather than a hit and power profile, excited to see what he can do in his stateside debut.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: High
Jackson Miller - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | C | 22 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round CBB
RuleV: 2025
Physical Description: Well-built and just an overall good body with some projection. Has room for additional upper body strength. An athletic kid, particularly for a catcher. Shows an innate ability to hustle and appears to enjoy himself on the field.
Hit: Wide stance. Minimal pre-pitch movement. Small leg kick. Good approach. Swing is fluid and bat quickly gets through the zone. Average bat speed. Level swing generates line drive contact. Average pitch recognition and shows solid- average feel for the zone. Displays an ability to go the opposite way and up the middle. Grade: 45
Power: Not a ton of loft off the bat. Present gap power. Has room to fill out and add strength. Swing plane and bat speed give hope for growth in the tool. Likely settles in as a 10-15 HR hitter. Grade: 40
Field: Athleticism behind the dish is his best trait. Moves well which helps him show average blocking ability. Good reaction time. Adequate receiver. Inexperienced and below-average framer but no reason to believe he cannot improve with time. Grade: 50
Arm: Average arm. Good transferor. Flashes plus pop times from behind the plate. Needs to work on his accuracy on throws to 2B; ball was often off target and/or short-hopped during looks. Grade: 50
Run: Moves well for a catcher. Consistently near average times down the line. Showed average times in the 60 as an amateur. Hustles out of the box. Present average runner but tool may decline with additional bulk/strength. Will not be a base stealer. Grade: 50
Overall: Lacks experience behind the plate but can stick there. Athleticism helps the profile and points toward future growth. Can squint and see more upside than most high school catchers but is extremely raw. A long lead time is expected.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: High
Wendell Marrero - Scouting Report
Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CIN | OF | 21 | 45 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 45 | 55 | 40 | 55 | 40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 11
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Tall, but stockier build. Strongly built upper body including forearms and shoulder. Some room left to add to frame, but only slightly. Present strength is evident with current build.
Hit: Compact base, even stance. Barrel over back shoulder. Active hands pre-load. Quick leg kick pre-load timing mechanism. His hands drift backwards behind his back shoulder while getting to launch position. Leg kick opens his body up to clear his hips, but moves hands down and back into his weight transfer creates a hitch. He has quick hands and creates a fast, whippy swing, however. The quick wrists and bat speed are evident. Breaking stuff gets him out front early. Bat speed will allow him to make hard contact when he makes. Aggressive approach is also going to make it hard for him to take advantage of that bat speed. Grade: 45
Power: Bat speed and ability to create good attack angle with the upper body is there for good power. Generated solid exit velos in Perfect Game events as an amateur (92 mph). Has the strength for above-average raw power. Grade: 55
Field: Not a totally fluid runner in the field, especially with footwork. Current build and footwork will likely keep him in the corner outfield. Grade: 40
Arm: Gets behind throws and shows a good throwing motion. Got up to 89-90 on throws from the outfield in Perfect Game showcases, which should give him an above average arm that could work in right field. Grade: 55
Run: Footwork is raw and doesn't get it going out of the box initially. A 6.88 60 yard dash in Perfect Game showcase and feet can get outside his hips a little. Speed will not be a huge part of his game as a professional, especially if he fills out a little more. Grade: 40
Overall: There are some ingredients for Marrero to hit and had above-average power. Could carry a decent arm in the outfield. He does take aggressive swings, but has above average bat speed. Adjustments to lower half could unlock some of that power and help his swing more to help his hit tool out. The quiet hands, ability to get the barrel through the zone, and bat speed give him the start of a potentially interesting hit tool. Going to be a corner type that will rely on the hit/power to carry him, but he's a ways away from being able to show that he can. Reminds me some of a slightly taller, left handed hitting only Melky Cabrera in terms of potential hit/power plus the build and having a good arm. Was a good hitter with good but not great power and only defensive tool. Likely won't steal bases like Cabrera did early in his career though.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: Extreme