Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Mid | MIN | RHP | 4 | 50 |
| 2021 | TOR | RHP | 3 | 55 |
Grades Update: Mar 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 55/50 |
Mar 2021 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 2 (NYM)
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Sturdy, physically-advanced frame with modest projection remaining throughout. Athletic build; tapered shoulders; sunken chest; long, loose arms; trim, high waist; lean and strong thighs and legs. Frame reminds me of MLB pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.
Mechanics: High 3/4 slot with moderate effort; shows torso tilt at the hips to clear the arm; clawing arm action with a modest leg kick. Plus arm speed and compact delivery yield modest deception. Simple, repeatable delivery. Fields position well. Slow to the plate at times; varies leg kick and timing from the stretch.
Fastball: Heavy usage at 92-94; riding life in the upper third of the zone. Two-seam sits in the lower band with boring action in the lower part of the zone. Often works vertically with the pitch; consistently changes eye level. Command is inconsistent; misses on the inner third get barreled. An overall above-average offering with some potential to flash plus with some continued physical gains. Grade: 55
Curveball: 73-75 flashing plus with tight, steep, vertical break. Most often shows average with 11/5 movement and slurvy action; casts it at times; shows rotation without snap. Controls it around the zone and generates swings and misses down and away to same-sided batters. Above-average potential, but likely settles at a solid average offering long-term considering current inconsistencies. Grade: 50
Changeup: 79-81; an above-average offering; deceptive; maintains arm speed causing the fastball to play up. Moves it around the zone; flashes nasty, fading action to the arm side. Good feel to both sides of the plate; tends to get flat when thrown in the upper parts of the zone. Little refinement necessary to reach projection. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Above-average control with average command; fills the zone with all his pitches and sequences well; may need to turn to offspeed more often as he reaches the upper levels. Even many misses remain in the zone; not prone to give up the free pass. Demeanor and makeup allow him to stay in counts when behind. Control: 55 | Command: 50
Overall: Woods Richardson's well-rounded arsenal lend some clues as to why the Blue Jays challenged him with a High-A assignment as an 18-year old following the trade from New York. Some gains with the fastball would raise the ceiling and are not out of the question considering the body still has some projection left. Two solid secondaries and his above-average control help mitigate reliever risk; but those attributes would even help propel him into a high-leverage role depending on the needs of the MLB club.
OFP: 50
Role: 60 - Mid-Rotation SP or Above-Average High Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
