Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | STL | RHP | 49 | 35 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Ctl/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 30 | 50/40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Matt Thompson
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-6
Weight: 231 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 7
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Fully developed collegiate arm that has the frame to start and eat innings. Good, strong lower half. Any physical projection in the body would lean in the negative direction.
Delivery & Mechanics: His windup is a bit of a flashback to simpler times, with the windmill type arm swing that you see in the black and white highlights. He begins with a long stride back and the delivery really slows down, but then its a quick leg kick. The arm action is long, but still quick. It's a straight over the top release, which allows him to stay on top of the baseball and land over his front leg. The long stride and mechanics generate good extension. He struggled throwing strikes in college and as a result didn't see the mound that much. Cardinals took a shot on the untapped potential.
Fastball: Sits 91-94; likely nudges a bit higher in short stints. Heavy downward plane due to six-foot-six frame and aforementioned extreme over the top arm slot. Works more north-to-south rather than east-to-west and provides hitters with a unique look. As a reliever only I'd bump this up a half grade. Grade: 40
Curveball: Lives in the low-80s. It's a high spin offering that plays very well off of the fastball and with the over the top arm slot. Curveball has good depth. Will throw it for strikes. 12-to-6 break. Tunnels well off of the fastball up in the zone. Grade: 50
Changeup: Not a strong pitch, likely gets shelved if he goes to the bullpen. Slows the arm down considerably and the tradeoff is modest arm side run. Grade: 30
Control and Command: Command and control have both improved since he left UCLA. Those very same struggles limited his appearances in college, but perhaps the organization has found something as he's been able to throw strikes more consistently despite the high effort motion. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: Ralston enters the stable of college arms that the organization hoards. His pitch data isn't as promising as some of the other recent college arms, so I have him ranked behind them. He's likely a two-pitch reliever that could move quickly when baseball resumes. Hopefully a switch to the bullpen unlocks a tick or three on the fastball. I see why the organization took a flyer here, as he has the frame, big breaking ball and high release point that they covet.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Low
