Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CLE | RHP | 6 | 50 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 45 | 45/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Joe Drake
Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Well built, muscled frame that matches his listed height and weight. Lean; big, strong thighs and a pronounced butt; shoulders are broad and the muscle can be seen through the jersey. Long legs and high waist. Very athletic build that wouldn't look out of place in another sport.
Delivery & Mechanics: Windup; Uses deliberate pace outside of a sharp, athletic leg kick that nearly comes to the shoulder. Easy movements, in control throughout. Throws from a med-high 3/4 slot. Moderate, but controlled effort and good arm speed. Long, winding arm action that shows the ball early. Good extension. Follows through in a controlled fashion, ready to field. Very similar from the stretch. Pays very little attention to runners, will get eaten alive by experienced base thieves.
Fastball: 93-96, T99. Arm slot lends itself to a little ride and a little run. Plays very well at the top of the zone getting plenty of whiffs. Able to find the edge on both sides of the plate but mostly trying to throw it by guys. Throws it early and often; Goes to the top of the zone when looking for a strikeout. Grade: 60
Curveball: 74-76. Big time 11 to 5 movement with hard bite. Can start it at the letters and still bury it in the dirt. Tunnels very well off the fastball and gives hitters fits. Inconsistent. Meatball when it gets loopy. Saw more loopy than tight. Grade: 50
Slider: 80-86. Harder version of the curve featuring nearly the same shape. Plays well off the fastball. Can throw it for a strike or bury for whiffs, but has a tendency to spike it gloveside here and there. Loses the bite at times and loops into the zone where it gets squared up, but not too often. A true weapon that can steal strikes or put guys away. Grade: 60
Changeup: Sits 87. More drop than armside run, almost straight down. Used sparingly. Good arm speed and spots it down and away to lefties where they swing through it. Grade: 45
Control and Command: A surefire control over command guy. He's firing his stuff at the zone and letting the velocity and movement do the work rather than location. That said, he can occasionally spot it up on the edge of either side of the plate -- just a few more middle/middle fastballs than you'd like. Misses often enough to pose serious relief risk. He will have to clean it up in order to remain a starter. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: Espino's electric right arm produces pure filth, but he struggles to harness it enough to find the strike zone with regularity. The stuff alone is good enough for mid-rotation or better upside. He features a full arsenal with a fastball that really pops along with two average or better breakers, plus a changeup that shows promise. The walks and mistakes will be punished more as he faces better competition and pose a legitimate threat to his success. Repertoire would be a nightmare out of the pen, but still might be too wild to be an elite guy there. The talent is there for Espino but needs substantial refinement.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4 or #5 SP / High Leverage Reliever
Risk: High
