Ruben Cardenas - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	TB	OF	23	45

Grades Update: Aug 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
45	40	40	55	45	55	45

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Aug 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 16
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Tall, physical frame. Strong build in upper body but plenty of strength throughout. Moderately long limbed. Solid corner outfielder's build. At physical peak most likely. Had a back issue in college that sapped some power and athleticism. Average athleticism. Lacks explosiveness.

Hit: Slightly open stance with bent knees and straight torso. Holds hands away from hands above knee. Uses a big, stiff leg kick without a long stride. Vertical barrel and quick hands works barrel around quickly into the hitting zone. Above average bat speed. Generates strong exit velocities. Aggressive approach and takes hard cuts. Susceptible to velocity on inner half and breaking balls down and away. Bat path tends to be middle of the zone. Grade: 40

Power: Has the bat speed, ability to generate loft and strength for above average raw power. Swing and miss will get in the way of getting to all his power in games. Grade: 55

Field: Speed gives him enough range to cover ground in the corners to be average in both spots. Route running is inconsistent and needs work. Speed and an average first step allow him to moonlight in center. Better fit in a corner. Grade: 45

Arm: More than enough carry on throws from right field. Gets behind throws. Will occasionally sail high on him and overthrows. Plus raw arm strength. Grade: 55

Run: 4.35-4.40 home-to first time. Takes long strides. Average underway. Not explosive out of the box. Average first step on steals. Not likely to be a threat on the bases long term. Grade: 45

Overall: Cardenas is a bat first corner who looks to get the ball in the air. He takes hard cuts when he sees a pitch he thinks he can drive. Before Cleveland traded him to Tampa Bay, he posted some of the best exit velocities on Cleveland's then Low-A squad. His quick hands, strength and bat speed give him above average raw power. Has some swing and miss issues, especially against fastballs inside and breaking balls away. Power and a good arm give him a chance to profile in a corner as a platoon bat against left handers and he can spell someone in centerfield in a pinch, but his arm is his best defensive asset.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: High

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Nick Bitsko - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	TB	RHP	16	45

Grades Update: Aug 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	CH	Cnt/Cmd
55	55	45	50	45	55/50

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Aug 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 1
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Teenager with a large, physical build. Well defined arms, thick, strong quads and legs. Some room to add additional strength but quite muscular and built for his age. Re-classified in the draft and graduated high school early to be eligible for the 2020 draft. Shoulder surgery on labrum winter 2020.

Mechanics: Overhead windup with mid-section leg kick. Stays stacked and well balanced with his lateral move to the plate as his arms meet his leg. Uses strong lower half well and has good torso/shoulder separation. High 3/4 delivery. Clean and repeats it well despite some moving parts thanks to having some longer limbs. Drives the ball downhill well and has very natural good arm speed.

Fastball: 92-96 with good downhill plane. Powers it down in the bottom of the zone. Should work well as a north/south offering with his arm slot and extension. Inconsistent control to arm and glove side. Arm slot should allow for a positive amount of backspin on the fastball. Some natural arm side run. Average control presently. With any added velocity and improved command, good chance to be a plus offering. Grade: 55

Curveball: 78-82 with tight, 11-6 directional shape. Very late, tight break. Better command to glove side than arm side. Looks to get outside with his release at times when he misses arm side. Needs to refine command. Potential to be a plus offering with his arm slot and tight break and good shape and spin. Grade: 55

Changeup: 85-86 and turns it over solidly. Firm with less than ideal separation from the fastball presently. Appears to be a standard two-seam changeup grip. Has some vertical movement and a little arm side run. Shows feel for the pitch but lacks impactful movement presently. Could be an average third offering with more separation and refinement. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Shows feel to hit the top and bottom of the zone with both the fastball and curveball. Struggles with control to the corners; fastball glove side and curveball inside when his hand gets outside of his curveball. Repeatable, athletic delivery and feel for his fastball and curveball give him the potential for above average control in the future with refinement. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: The shoulder surgery really throws a lot of things into doubt for Bitsko. Re-classifying was a good move for him in the first place due to his age for the 2021 class, but it might be even better for him with the surgery further cutting into his timeline. He has an impressive, physical build for a teenager, raw arm strength and speed, along with the potential for two above average pitches or better. His delivery is pretty athletic and repeatable. Shoulder injuries are almost riskier than elbow at this point, especially labrum. There's enough variance and risk in high school arms to begin with before a major surgery like this.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Backend SP #5
Risk: Extreme

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Nick Fortes - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	MIA	C	38	40

Grades Update: May 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	45	50	50	55	40

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May 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 198 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 4
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Compact catcher's frame with an athletic build. Muscular thighs and legs. Strong throughout. Physically maxed out.

Hit: Hits from an open stance in a crouch, hands up at his head, bat over the shoulder with a horizontal barrel. Very brief leg kick trigger. Works hands actively into hitting position. Short, direct swing path. Heavily upper body swing. Shows good plate discipline and control of the strike zone. Compact, upper body swing and the way the way he works his hands into hitting position gives him the ability to make late swing decisions. Good bat speed. Grade: 45

Power: Has good bat speed and strength to hit for power. Swing is geared more towards contact and line drives. Shows ability to pull the ball with authority but in limited looks, would need more loft in his swing to get to what could be average power. Grade: 50

Field: Looks like an average receiver in very limited looks but shows quickness in getting out of his crouch and quick to move to his right and left to block balls in the dirt. Active blocker with his chest rather than attempt to use the glove. Even as an average receiver, other traits give him an average grade behind the dish. Grade: 50

Arm: 1.97-2.03 pop times and above-average arm strength with good follow through and carry. Gets of out catching stance quickly. Inconsistent accuracy. Grade: 55

Run: 4.38-4.45 home-to first times. Doesn't move quickly. Runs like a catcher. Grade: 40

Overall: Fortes can make a lot of contact with the bat, has a strong arm and shows solid defensive actions behind the plate. There's feel for the barrel in his swing with his bat speed and has good raw strength, but his swing is really set for contact. There's a good floor for his skill set, an ability to control the strike zone as a hitter, make contact, put up a professional at bat and carries a strong arm behind the plate with some defensive tools to boot. There's raw power to unlock there to be more a little more, but this feels like a solid backup catcher profile as presently seen.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: Moderate

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Riley Adams - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	TOR	C	24	40

Grades Update: Mar 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	30	55	45	55	30

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Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 3
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall, lean frame. Very well filled out, remaining lean but strong; long legs. Strong, broad shoulders. Taller for a catcher with long levers. Very athletic for a backstop with his physical size and strength.

Hit: Very slightly closed stance with even base and hands and bat up behind head. Horizontal barrel. Insider of front leg moves inward and strides slightly closed. Hands are quiet in load; occasionally shows good bat control. Slightly longer swing; creates above average bat speed. Closed stride and two-hand, short finish reminiscent of Gio Urshela of the Yankees. Long swing and tendency to chase breaking balls low and away lead to contact issues in addition to long levers. Has good command of the strike zone despite those issues chasing. Power over contact approach but ability is there to get to more contact. Grade: 30

Power: Shows natural raw strength in hands and swing throughout. Good bat speed and swings looking to do damage. Comfortable opposite field power and good pull side power that both show in game. Creates attack angles with his swing to get the ball in the air to all fields and shows ability to match plane. Able to control the barrel and puts it on the ball on mis-swings and when chasing occasionally. Grade: 55

Field: Generally quiet hands and quick to squeeze the ball. Lets the ball come to the glove. Will reach across body to catch pitches rather than move to block balls in the dirt to his right. Slow out of the crouch. Could grow into a fringe-average receiver. Grade: 45

Arm: 2.01-2.03 pop time. Good carry on throws. Accuracy needs work with some throws tailing off to the right due to footwork. Above average raw strength. Throwing arm is the carrying tool of his defense. Grade: 55

Run: 4.46-4.50 home-to-first. Runs like a 6'4 catcher. Slow out of the box and doesn't have long strides despite long legs. Speed won't be part of his value. Grade: 30

Overall: Bat first catcher with a power over hit profile. There are real swing and miss concerns due to swing length and tendency to chase. Does have a good enough approach at the plate where he'll be able to draw walks. Real questions about the hit tool and how much power he will get to in-game, but does have a real feel for the barrel and has true plus raw power to all fields. Adams has a strong arm behind the plate with the potential to grow into fringe-average skills behind the plate including receiving and blocking. A three-true outcome type hitter with a strong arm should profile enough to be a backup catcher or a below average starter.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular
Risk: High

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Tony Dibrell - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	NYM	RHP	18	40

Grades Update: Feb 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	45	50	45	55	45/40

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Feb 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 4
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Strong pitchers build. Well built in lower half, especially core area. Good overall wing span with arms and long legs. Tall, slender frame is more muscular now and at his age, only leaves room for little projection in his build

Delivery & Mechanics: Works from right side of the rubber and uses a chest high, big leg kick to create force. Leg kick forces strong hip hinges that looks like may creat balance issues trying to stay stacked as he makes his move towards the plate. Strong uses of drive leg off the rubber. Separates high above his leg as it comes down. Fast and loose arm speed, but a long arm swing out of his separation. Plant leg extends out over his front hip slightly. Starts his upward armswing too early before front foot strike. Shortening the arm swing, delaying the move upward and getting his strike foot down quicker may lead to a bump in velocity. Repeats delivery moderately well. Uses high 3/4 arm slot.

Fastball: 88-92 t94. Gets good downhill plane on the pitch thanks to high arm slot and wingspan. Inconsistent arm side run. Low spin (2100) rate. Average command of the pitch. Locates better low in the zone and more north-south. Plays up a little due to extension. Grade: 45

Curveball: 71-74. 12-6 and sometimes 11-5 shape. Late, sharp downward break. Doesn't have high spin but picks up ulgy swings and misses. Used more as a chase pitch than a pitch he can throw for a strike. Shows ability to consistently bury it low in the zone. Grade: 50

Slider: 78-80 t82. Shows good two-plane break and late tile. Leaves it up in the zone occasionally and will sometimes look like a cutter with inconsistent shape. Favors it as a third offering. Average command. Grade: 45

Changeup: 78-82 t84. Shows good run and fade. Inconsistent movement with it but flashes above average. Arm speed to sell it. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Has average fastball command and slider. Below average command with the changeup. Doesn't throw the curveball for strikes as it's more of a chase offering. Loses release point at times Generally repeats delivery well but mechanical issues lead to below average control and command that can be cleaned up. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Dibrell has a nice four pitch mix that has a good movement profile. He can change eye levels with his fastball using it north-south and his sharp, downward breaking ball that has plenty of depth. His slider flashes average and the changeup flashes above average. He has a strong starters build. Control needs to be improved and there is more in the tank with velocity, both which might be fixable with delaying upward arm movement and a shorter arm swing. It's back of the rotation starter stuff with a little more in the tank should he gain a tick on the fastball and in command.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter
Risk: Moderate

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Philip Pfeifer - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	ATL	LHP	25	40

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	50	45	50	40	45/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 28 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2015 Draft, Round 3, LAD
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Compact frame. Short, ordinary build. Short limbs. No physical projection remaining in neither frame, or for his age. Similar build to Wade Miley.

Delivery & Mechanics: Mid-section leg kick from a modified stretch. Works from middle of the rubber. Long arm swing. Lacks efficiency in lower half. Good lead leg block but doesn't get good extension or stay over the rubber well. Does not have real strong hip/torso shoulder separation. Despite long arm swing, Pfeifer does show good arm speed through his high 3/4 arm slot. Uses a slide step from his true stretch. Not much of a pickoff move but slide step will make him hard to run on. Works with a very quick tempo that seems to benefit his profile.

Fastball: 89-93, runs up to 95. Fills up the zone with the pitch. Good at working east-west and north-south. Despite not having much height or long levers he does manage to get good plane with the heater. Does not have much extension with his delivery but his fastball does appear to get on hitters faster than his velocity might suggest, possibly due to his tempo and arm speed. Has to work on the black of the plate to miss bats and avoid the barrel. Very hittable pitch when in the zone. Comfortable locating all over the zone. Pitches off the fastball. No real movement. Grade: 50

Curveball: 76-78 with 1-6 movement. Good, downward break but depth can be inconsistent. Usually introduces the offering more consistently later in outings. He can steal strikes with it and induce weak contact. Lower-usage third offering that flashes average. Arm action slows down at times to throw it, but big break lets him get away with it at times. Grade: 45

Slider: 78-81. 2-7 shape with good, two plane action. Has sharp, late tilt and often gets hitters to swing over it. Will miss up at times with it but has enough movement to get away with occasionally. Tunnels well with the fastball. Best pitch in his arsenal and isn't afraid to double up on it. Grade: 50

Changeup: 83-85 with powerful, vertical action. Doesn't show horizontal movement. His overall arm speed gives him the ability to sell the pitch. Below-average command of the pitch and below average characteristics overall. May be occasional offering to keep left handers honest but needs better control Grade: 40

Control and Command: Fills up the strike zone and has good fastball command. Control over command profile. Long arm swing and moderate-effort delivery lacking efficiency reduces ability to show average command. Does not need to throw the slider for strikes for it to be effective as it plays well off the fastball, which as noted, he does have good command of. Below-average control of the changeup and average command of his curveball. Better control as a starter than as a reliever in 2019 after switching to the rotation. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Pfeifer moved into the rotation from the bullpen in 2019 and got stretched out as a 27 year old in High-A, moving up to Double-A and ended up in the bullpen briefly in Triple-A late in the year. His fastball command and slider were too advanced for High-A to get a good read, where he had a 17 strikeout game in eight innings. Up at Double-A, he managed to hold 91-93 with his fastball in starts as he got stretched out. Command, plane, arm speed and tempo help him get swings and misses with the pitch, when he locates it on the black, despite the average velocity. The slider plays very well as he pitches off his fastball with good, two-plane break. He can use the curveball effectively in spots as a third pitch but is mostly a two pitch arm that profiles as a spot starter or a multi-inning reliever. His slider gives him a real weapon as a reliever that works against left and right handed hitters. He could use some tweaks to his delivery to become more efficient. His overall success depends on his newfound velocity holding up to 93 consistently and the command of his fastball.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Victor Vodnik - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	ATL	RHP	17	40

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	60	50	45	45/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 14
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Short, stocky, athletic build. Powerful legs. Has added some good strength since being drafted. No significant room left for good size to be added to his frame.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber with left leg step towards first from the windup. Slight pelvis and upper half tilt towards the hitter moving into a drop and drive motion where he gets into his drive leg strongly. Uses drop into his lower half to hide the ball well. Uses long arm swing out of drive as he pushes force up through his upper half. Shoulders and upper body shift towards first base side to unwind force up his body and allows him to create a high 3/4 arm slot that's about as high as you can get without being a true over the top release. Uses a slide step with same motion from the stretch. Gets good extension on his delivery for his lack of length in legs or wing spn in arms. High arm slot allows him to get good plane on his pitches. Falls off towards first base side often thanks to the effort in his delivery, especially with the tilt needed in his shoulders and upper half to create his high arm slot. Loses release point at times due to effort. Reliever delivery.

Fastball: 93-95 t98. The late, great John Calvagno caught him at 100 in April of 2019. Velocity has reportedly bounced around. Was 91-94 pre-draft and then sat around 93-95. Jumps out of his hand. Gets good plane on it thanks to his arm slot. Inconsistent command. Extension on his delivery appears to make it play above its velocity at times. Misses bats at the top of the zone and in it. Above-average spin and has some arm side run to it. Doesn't need to locate it to be an effective pitch. Grade: 60

Slider: Falls off the table late. Inconsistent shape but more drop than sweep, but sharp action that dives under bats. Good at tunneling with the fastball. Right handers have a hard time laying off on the outer half. Not afraid to front-door it to right handers. Gets swing and misses from left handers with it finishing at their feet. Inconsistent control and below-average spin. Grade: 50

Changeup: 86-88. Power, vertical change. Arm speed slows when he throws the pitch. Very noticeable 'hump' in pitch with late drop. Low-usage third offering that flashes average with good fade, but lacks the arm speed, confidence and separation from fastball at present. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Control over command profile. Misses both arm side and down to the glove side with the fastball often due to efforted follow through when he loses his release point. Misses around the zone enough to be effective. Better command of the fastball working north-south due to the arm slot. Fringe-average command of secondaries. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: A rare prep-arm that's been mostly used as a reliever out of the draft, the Braves used Vodnik in multi-inning stints in 2019 up to four innings out of the pen. He made one start where he went five innings in 2019. The effort in his delivery, particularly how his upper half shifts to create his arm slot that causes him to fall off to the first base side make him a better fit for the bullpen. The fastball and slider are enough of weapons to profile as a reliever who can get swings and misses in high leverage spots thanks to the velocity and tunneling of the two offerings. He doesn't need above-average command of either thanks to the fastball velocity and late, sharp movement of his slider. Too firm changeup with slower arm speed need to be improved upon if there is a chance to start long term, but ultimately his delivery, and subsequently, command, should keep him in the bullpen, where he could be an effective leverage option. Power profile that could move fast with average control.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Julio Robaina - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	LHP	31	35

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	CH	Cont/Cmd
35	30	45	55	45	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Short, athletic frame. Strong shoulders and lower half. Solid build for size but no project left to add anything to it. Relief innings type frame but athleticism to log back end starter type innings.

Delivery & Mechanics: Clean, repeatable delivery. Over the top arm slot. Works from left side of the rubber. MIdsection leg kick. Gets solid extension for his frame. Good shoulder-torso separation. Uses slide step from the stretch.

Fastball: 89-92. Works well north-south with high arm slot. Fringe-average spin despite arm angle to create effective spin axis. Fringe average command. Grade: 45

Curveball: 12-6 hook. Plays well off the fastball. Above average spin. Throws from a slower arm speed. Consistent shape, spin and ability to throw for a strike consistently makes it an above average offering. Grade: 55

Changeup: Flashes average with good arm speed, fade. Below average command. Inconsistent look. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Below average command. Throws curveball for strikes consistently more than any of his offerings. Hits the zone north and south better than the corners. Repeatable delivery and athletic build point to ability to get to average command. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Type of arm the Astros have success with. Fringe-average fastball that plays better than its velocity and spin and a high spin curveball that plays well off of it. Projectable changeup. Shorter stature with an athletic frame that has no significant projection left. Not entirely unlike Framber Valdez, who grew into more velocity. Back end starter or multi inning type use with improved command and a little added velocity.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High

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Nivaldo Rodriguez - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	15	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	40	55	50	40	60/55

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 214 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Short stature with solidly built lower half. Doesn't stand out physically but has an athletic build that allows him to repeat his delivery. Gets the most from his body.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber. Midsection leg kick. Stays stacked in move towards the plate. Gets good push from drive leg. Average extension with strike foot. Uses spinal tilt to create a high 3/4 arm slot, transferring power up his body effectively. Repeatable, simple delivery.

Fastball: 91-94. Gets decent plane on the pitch due to arm slot despite size. Good armside run. Below average spin. Average command with the offering overall. Has to locate it to be effective due to velo and low spin. Will get him hit hard if he leaves it over the plate. Grade: 40

Curveball: 81-84. Power type curve. Has good over the top shape with a power break. Above average spin that Houston typically covets and does well with. Mostly consistent shape. Will occasionally get outside of the pitch and it will spin from 11-5 shape. Has a tendency to leave the pitch up in the zone at times, but an effective pitch down and above average command of it overall. Grade: 55

Slider: 88-89. More vertical drop that horizontal sweep. Sometimes has cutter like movement. Throws it hard and tunnels well with fastball. Effective low in the zone, down and in to left handers and away to right handers. Fringe-average command with the pitch. Below average spin. Grade: 50

Changeup: 80-82. Average vertical break, but not significant fade. Minimal horizontal movement. Has arm speed to sell the pitch. Movement profile makes it a show me pitch to lefties that will be a below average fourth offering. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Throws strikes with all four pitches. Lives in the zone a little too much. Above average command. Has a repeatable, low effort delivery that suggests he'll avoid issues with free passes. Needs above average command of the fastball to make it playable but controls his two breaking balls well enough to not have a fastball-heavy arsenal. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Below average fastball and changeup put his ceiling as a starter in question. Curveball is a swing and miss weapon and slider is an average offering. Throws everything for strikes and repeats his delivery enough to profile as a starter but needs exceptional command of fastball for it to play. If he utilizes curveball and slider effectively, limiting his fastball usage, he can provide some back end starter value. Could get a mile an hour or two bump as a reliever with the fastball and utilize his curveball as an out pitch in that role. Could profile best as a multi inning reliever.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Bubba Thompson - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	TEX	OF	25	40

Grades Update: Mar 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	30	55	55	60	70

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Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Lean, athletic build. Strong in upper half in chest and arms with projectable frame with room for strength. A bit high waisted. Slightly long levers. Dual-sport athlete. Was a highly sought-after QB recruit in high school with multiple Division I offers.

Hit: Even stance and slightly wider base. Hands out front with vertical barrel. Long stride forward with a low leg kick. Generally has an aggressive approach at the plate but has shown the ability to walk. Will chase all over the place. Struggles to pick up spin. Hands and upper body seem disconnected from his lower half in his swings. Often gets out front and chases. Lacks feel for contact. Swings hard and generates impactful, impressive bat speed. Pitch recognition issues and aggressive approach make it questionable that he's going to make consistent, quality contact. Grade: 30

Power: Ball jumps off of his bat when he makes contact. Bat speed and frame for power. Drives the ball well to his pull side. Swing is more even without much loft right now. Not enough contact to get to it, but plus raw power in the tank. Grade: 55

Field: Speed allows him to cover a lot of ground. Range in the outfield is plus. His speed makes up for late reads and subpar routes. Speedy and athletic enough to make tougher catches. Grade: 55

Arm: Easy, good carry on his throws. Very loose arm. As a Division I quarterback recruit, has a strong arm that will fit in any outfield spot. Gets his body behind his throws. Grade: 60

Run: 4.07-4.10 home-to-first. Impact speed. Gets out of the box quickly. Knows how to use it on the bases. Pitchers are aware he's at first and his speed is distracting to them. Grade: 70

Overall: Thompson is an ultra-projectable, high-upside athlete with little feel for contact and picking up spin. His power, speed and arm are all loud tools that give him star potential, but it depends on how far his hit tool can come. Without development in pitch recognition, a less aggressive approach and helping his lower half get more in-sync in his swing, there's going to be a lot of tantalizing potential in Thompson's game that just doesn't show up consistently enough. He has 30/30 type potential with good outfield defense and you always want to bet on a premium athlete like Thompson, but the strikeouts and lack of ability to make contact likely hold him back. He's young and raw enough still to hold out for improvements.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: Extreme

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Jonah Heim - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	TEX	C	14	45

Grades Update: Mar 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
45	40	50	40	50	60	30

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Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2013 Round 4 (BAL)
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Long, thin build. Long legs and a long torso. Taller than your average backtop. Maxed out frame that should have more than enough bulk to handle the rigors of catching. Well defined arms.

Hit: Even stance and base with high hands tilted barrel. Not a lot of wasted movement in swing. Works the bat around, quick through the zone. Quick, adjustable hands. Strides closed and appears to cut himself from some extension in his swing. Some pull side power but better at driving the ball to the opposite field due to this. Has bat control and ability to adjust to velocity, breaking stuff and location with the bat. Should make plenty of solid contact. Repeats swing well from left side with same setup. Grade: 50

Power: Has the frame and strength for average raw power and is able to barrel balls. Closed stride and tendency to swing down or use a line drive swing limits power. Would need a bit of a swing change to create more loft in his swing or open his stance a little, which he had in the minors but has shifted since. Closed stride seems to help cut down on swing length and gets him more direct to the ball; helpful with having long levers. Would have above-average game power for a catcher with swing changes but below average in-game right now. Grade: 40

Field: Solid receiver. Catches everything around the plate. Sometimes will use long arms to attempt to grab pitches low and away rather than block. Long legs might prevent him from getting up quickly to get to potential wild pitches that run high. Appears to be better framing up and down in the zone instead of east and west. Doesn't really steal many strikes but won't cost any strikes with his receiving. Grade: 50

Arm: 1.97-2.02. Strong arm and slightly above average accuracy. Long legs don't appear to be an issue in his work to throw down to the bases. Keeps throws up. Grade: 60

Run: 4.35-4.42 from the left side to first. Not a strong runner. Doesn't have long strides despite long legs. Below to well below average speed either way. Grade: 30

Overall: Between the hit tool and defense, I strongly considered giving him a 50. I'm not sure he'll have the contact authority or power to make a ton of offensive impact outside of a decent average that might be BABIP dependent. He'll put up good at bats, draw some walks and won't strike out. A swing change to unlock more raw power that he might have could lead to more strikeouts with his long arms, so the trade off might be somewhat even. He'll provide value defensively and could be a fringe-average starter.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: Low

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Lake Bachar - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	SD	RHP	19	40

Grades Update: Mar 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	40	45	50	45	45/40

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Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 219 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 5
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Average pitchers build. Stockier, solid, fully filled out frame. Physically mature. Strong, thicker lower half. Sturdy enough to handle ML starters innings. Builds reminiscent of Bryan Shaw. College punter before focusing on baseball his senior year. Solid athlete.

Delivery & Mechanics: Tilted start from near middle side of rubber. MIdsection high leg kick into his motion. Stays well balanced and stacked over the middle. Gets into lower half well to create good hip hinge. Internal rotation and good lead leg block. Long arm swing rotates up and around. Generally solid hip/shoulder separation. Appears somewhat stiff in overall actions in his gather and lower half, and not flexible or loose. 3/4 arm slot. Loses release point at time and will occasionally fall off to first base side.

Fastball: 89-94 with late arm-side run and rise. More effective used up in the zone. Better at locating it north/south than east/west. Fringe-average command. Hittable when left in the zone. Grade: 40

Curveball: 79-83 with downward spike movement. Flashes average; tends to favor slider but has discernable shape from it. Grade: 45

Slider: 82-87 with inconsistent shape at times. Has late, two-plane break at times and will look appear like a cutter at times with less vertical break. Potential to be an above average offering with good spin and more consistency. Grade: 50

Changeup: 81-85 with good, vertical fade. Flashes average, occasionally with some arm side run and others more fade. Puts it together occasionally and can miss bats and keep left handers honest. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Has a loose arm, but long arm swing and some stiffness in delivery creates issues repeating it. Inconsistent control and command. Control is good for a pitcher with his level of inexperience to baseball and pitching-only but relief command so far. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: For how new Bachar still is to pitching, he shows good secondaries that can get hitters out. He lacks some flexibility in his delivery and repeating which looks like it hinders his command. He shows a good, live and loose arm. He has the body type to hold up to starters inning and flashes all average to above average secondaries that could be part of a backend starters arsenal, but he could get a tick up on his fastball and slider in a bullpen role where his command would be less of an issue and his fastball could see a jump into average to above average velocity.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Long Relief / Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Conner Menez - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	SF	LHP	23	40

Grades Update: Apr 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	50	50	45	45	45/40

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Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 206 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2016 Round 14
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall, slender frame. Long legs, high-waisted. Medium build with some room to still add weight, if he can. Long levered and deceptively athletic.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber and tilts his back slightly to the plate in his leg life and gather. Hides the ball behind his body well as he extends. Strides off towards the first base side. Gets good extension in his delivery, which is cross body. Tends to fall off at the end with some effort. Uses drive leg well and gets good hip/shoulder separation. Hiding the ball behind his body, his extension and arm slot give his delivery some deception.

Fastball: 88-92 and hits 94. Gets slightly above average spin and plays above its below average velocity thanks to its spin and extension. Competes for swinging strikes in the zone in the low-90s. Average control of the pitch. Grade: 50

Curveball: 79-82 tops out at 84. His cross body delivery and 3/4 arm slot gives it a 1-7 type shape rather than typical vertical downward movement. It cuts across the plate and in on right handers and away on lefties. Low spin. Average to fringe average command. Direction can make it hard for hitters to get on unless he leaves it up. Grade: 50

Slider: 83-85 with 2-8 direction to the hitter. Looks like a harder version of his curveball but shares similar horizontal break as fastball, making it easier to tunnel. Middling spin and fringe average command Grade: 45

Changeup: 81-83. Good arm speed to sell the pitch and vertical fade. Lacks horizontal movement. Keeps his fastball off right handers effectively. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Menez's cross body delivery creates control issues though he repeats his delivery decently. Some effort to the delivery and has caused him to fall off to the third base side at times. Has struggled with walks in the minors. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Menez has four fringe-average to average pitches and a deceptive delivery that helps him get more swings and misses than pitches with his stuff and velocity normally would. He doesn't locate all that effectively but lives on the fringes of the zone. There is some effort to his delivery that does appear to affect his control, but he manages to miss bats and compete thanks to that deception. Menez has the build and stuff of a back end starter but the command might limit him to a long-relief or a spot starter role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Logan Wyatt - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	SF	1B	21	40

Grades Update: Apr 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	45	55	40	45	30

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Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Big, burly build. Long legs and levers. Tall target at first base. Athletic for size. Strong throughout his frame. Already physically filled out without any room left for adding to his frame.

Hit: Even base and slightly open stance. Moderate leg lift as a timing mechanism into his load. Moderate weight transfer. Smooth, adjustable swing. Takes hard cuts. Good bat control and keeps his head on the ball. Shows good rotation in swing, letting his hips lead his hands. Comfortable letting the ball travel and driving it the other way with strength in his hands and wrists. Stays through the ball on his swings. Able to pull hands in on inside pitches. Patient approach at the plate. Has a chance to have an average hit tool. Grade: 45

Power: Easy bat speed with quick, strong hands and wrists. Creates a good vertical bat angle with a load to get the ball in the air. Has power to his pull side and to the opposite field. Shows ability to match plane. Should hit enough to get to above average raw power. Grade: 55

Field: Moves fairly well around the bag. Sets up a good target. Inconsistent hands fielding. Grade: 40

Arm: No looks at throwing arm other than flips to first, which were on-time, accurate and led the pitchers well. Didn't have any issues getting the ball there from distance with a flip. Got the ball out of his glove quickly without rushing. Grade: 45

Run: 4.35-4.45 home-to-first times. Can use long legs to extend himself on runs down the line but not a strong runner out of the box. Grade: 30

Overall: It's a high bar to clear to hit enough to profile as above average, or even average, at first base. Wyatt has the hit tool, strength, swing and power to be a good major league hitter, though the bat might end up being a little light as a first baseman. Wyatt is a big, burly ballplayer who really doesn't profile at another position so he has to hit to make an impact and play first. He shouldn't have a problem clearing the wall in right in San Francisco or driving the ball to the gap in the opposite field there. Being average as a hitter at first base without defensive value or speed makes it hard to profile as above average, though there's a good chance Wyatt can hit enough to do it if things break right.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Platoon or Bench
Risk: Moderate

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Ben Rortvedt - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	MIN	C	24	40

Grades Update: Apr 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	40	40	50	55	30

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Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 23 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 2
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Compact frame with wiry strength. Solid build for a catcher despite not having a bigger durable type frame. Muscular upper body, arms and forearms. Solid base. Good overall athlete.

Hit: Crouched, slightly open stance. Small toe tap for timing and a very short stride. Compact swing and quick hands. Swing is mostly flat and he slaps the ball the other way. Has a mature approach at the plate. Shows ability to work counts and lets the ball travel deep, which is when he hits the ball the other way. Swing-happy approach is related to his bat-to-ball skills. Grade: 40

Power: Doesn't have electric bat speed but swings hard. Has strength for average to above average raw power. Has a sweet spot where he gets good vertical bat angle low and in, showing he can match plane, but not consistent in his swing. Flat, compact swing and approach not geared for in-game results of his raw power. Grade: 40

Field: Uses the one-leg approach behind the plate but will adjust with runners on at times. Quick, agile behind the plate. Average blocker but has good receiving skills. Quick, quiet glove. His glove might be his ticket to the majors. Grade: 50

Arm: 1.89-2.02 pop times. Quick arm. Occasionally pulls his throws or gets them in too low. Quick to get out of the crouch but accuracy is inconsistent. Average arm strength and pop time that works enough in a backup role. Grade: 55

Run: 4.45-4.50 home-to-first times. Seems to get out of the box fairly well and has quick feet for a catcher but isn't a good runner on the bases. Grade: 30

Overall: Rortvedt's defense gives him a solid base of skills to work with as a potential future major league backstop. He has the strength for more power than he's hit for in the minors and has the contact ability to get to it, along with a solid approach and good pitch recognition. His current swing just doesn't produce much power and he lacks bat speed and over swings at times. He seems like a better bet to be a high-contact bat with good defensive skills, which is a good base for a major league backup catcher. If he ever gets to more power he could play a bigger role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench
Risk: Moderate

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Edwar Colina - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	MIN	RHP	22	40

Grades Update: Apr 2021

OFP	Role	FB	SL	CH	Ctr/Cmd
40	40	60	55	40	45/40

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Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 23 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Shorter, stockier build. Big, broad shoulders and muscular upper body. Thick lower half. Big, physical frame with no projection left. Incredibly thick, powerful build in his frame.

Delivery & Mechanics: Work from the first base side of the mound with a slow rock and fire motion. Mid-section leg kick to gather. Used to have a small back turn in his delivery but the Twins have appeared to eliminate that with him, keeping his shoulders more straight line to the plate. Good use of powerful lower half. 3/4 arm slot. Shorter arm swing. Some effort to the delivery and falls off to the first base side at times, but has a gifted, fast and powerful arm capable of creating easy velocity.

Fastball: 94-96, tops 98-100. Early in starts he sits 97-99 and touches 100 but usually settles in by the third inning at 94-96 and still touches 97. Natural sink that bores in on right handles and tails down and away from left handers. Creates grounders when located lower in the zone. Below average command of the pitch and will miss high and runs off too far to the right. Slightly above average spin. Pure velocity and sink make it a plus pitch easily though it's an even better pitch in shorter stints. Grade: 60

Slider: 82-85, tops 88. Like the fastball it's a powerful slider early in games, sitting 86-88 but settles in around 82-85 a few innings in. Nasty, two plane break with 10-5 shape. Good vertical and sweeping movement. Swing and miss pitch. Fringe-average command. Can throw it for a strike at times. Grade: 55

Changeup: 86-88, tops 90. More power early in outings like his other offerings. Vertical movement. Arm speed is consistent. Can get a little too much armside run at times. Behind his other offerings and doesn't throw it much. More of a show-me pitch right now but does have powerful fade. Grade: 40

Control and Command: There is some effort to his delivery, making him fall off to first base at times and lose his release point. He pulls fastballs at times and will spike sliders. His fastball and changeup will take off with too much armside run at times. Everything he throws moves enough to get strikes if he starts off in the zone. Reliever command and stuff. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Colina can really overpower hitters. He did throw a no-hitter in the minors. His stuff is electric no matter how long he pitches but he is overpowering and eye opening early in outings. The effort in his delivery, command and control issues, and real lack of a third pitch make him a better bet for the back end of the bullpen. He has the stuff and velocity for a back end reliever type, but he'll still need better command to be more consistently trusted in that role. Given that his stuff 'settles' a little bit later in his outings, command, and lack of a third pitch, it doesn't seem like a great bet he'll be able to turn over a lineup more than once with enough consistency to start long term. It's worth a shot to see if he can.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: High

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Carlos Sanabria - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	KC	RHP	29	40

Grades Update: May 2021

OFP	Role	FB	SL	CH	Ctr/Cmd
40	40	55	45	50	40/30

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May 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2014 IFA (HOU)
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Slender build in a small frame. Wiry limbs. Good wingspan for size. Solid lower half. Still some room for good weight but might be physically maxed out at his age. Solid athleticism.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works from near the middle of the order with a lead leg step back and back leg tap on the mound. Slow, disconnected start. Uses high leg kick and gathers momentum. Upper body/spinal tilt with chest leg kick. Breaks hands high and gives the hitter a little bit of a look at the ball before hiding it again behind his back leg as he sinks well into his back leg. Not long limbed, so doesn't get much extension in his delivery or from front leg. Connects fast. Uses a high 3/4 arm slot. Doesn't really work all energy up through his body to create the high arm slot. Back leg comes disconnected from rubber a bit early. Repeats a somewhat maxed-out delivery fairly well.

Fastball: 91-95, tops out at 97.Some small arm side action. Moderate spin. Mostly straight fastball without much movement. Arm slot allows him to get good plane on it and drive it done despite his size. Able to work downhill. Average command. Arm angle and downhill plane help it play up slightly above average spin and velocity. Grade: 55

Slider: 82-85. Late vertical drop. Has better horizontal movement than vertical, but breaks vertically late enough and has enough tilt to dive under bats. Fringe average control of it. Grade: 45

Changeup: 84-87. Shows good arm speed. Not enough separation from the fastball. Shows consistently good fade and occasionally has good armside run to it. Tough on left handers when it runs away. Average command. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Some effort to the delivery and loses release point at time. Inconsistent with repeating delivery and maxed out effort in delivery gives him spotty control at best. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Sanabria is fairly athletic and works well to drive the ball down and have an effective fastball despite his size. He doesn't quite get all the effort out of his body and delivery because of lack of extension with longer arms and not staying over the rubber as long. His fastball plays above its velocity and average movement at times and his slider can miss bats. The changeup has enough promise to it to work well against left handers. His control and command hold him back the most. He can work in a relief role with three pitches, though none are good enough to be comfortable with him in high leverage work. The changeup might allow him to fill in as a spot starter at times two times through the order. He's need to improve his control to serve as a consistent sixth starter or more.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Bulk Reliever
Risk: Medium

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Yermin Mercedes - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	CHW	C/DH	13	40

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	50	60	30	45	30

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 28 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2011 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Thick, beefy build but with plenty of strength. Powerful arms, forearms and big hands. Big throughout frame in chest, mid-section and thighs. Big feet.

Hit: Even, moderate length stance. Crouches over slightly so shoulders sit even with his knees. Heavy leg kick and weight transfer. Quick hands and bat. Wild bat waggle pre-load but quick hands get the bat and barrel through the zone well. Balanced swing despite heavy weight transfer. Cuts down on approach with two strikes with no leg kick but uses strong hands and rotation to drive the ball. Does a good job letting his hips lead his hands. Patient hitter that crushes mistakes and shows good pitch recognition. Grade: 50

Power: Big leg kick and heavy weight transfer. Swings with the intent to hurt baseballs. Strong hands and arms and good attack angles to create loft and backspin. Swing gets grooved at times. Heavy pull side power but can use his hands to drive the ball the other day. Only thing that are better than the tanks he hits are his bat flips. Grade: 60

Field: Switches stances behind the plate. Will set up with right knee back and left knee further out front, and will also use the one leg out stretch setup. Inconsistent receiver at best. Will present well occasionally but often stabs at pitches and lose strikes. Gets crossed up or mishandles pitches often, even on fastballs. Has trouble squeezing breaking balls. Lazy blocker. Prefers to use his glove to block balls in the dirt rather than his body. Essentially an emergency option as a backstop. Grade: 30

Arm: 2.10-2.13 pop time. Above average arm strength but slow transfer and underwhelming footwork. Pure arm strength keeps his arm fringe-average but without it, his arm would be bottom of the scale. Slow mechanics hold him back from showcasing his strong arm consistently. Grade: 45

Run: 4.45 home to first time. Big feet and thick lower half don't give him good strides. Below average runner that won't be a factor on the bases. Hits the ball far so he doesn't have to run. Speed for a DH or catcher without enough quickness to handle work behind the dish. Grade: 30

Overall: Everything about Mercedes is a fun player to know and watch minus his defense and base running. He's got the personality and profile of a fan favorite. He can hit a little, takes big daddy hacks, drop major tanks (and bat flips to go with it) and is reportedly a great dresser and dancer. If he's catching for your team, something bad happened. Evan Gattis type profile with a slightly better hit tool, but trade the wild beard for the clothes, dancing, personality and bat flips.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: Moderate

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Jonathan Stiever - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	CHW	RHP	7	45

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Ctr/Cmd
45	40	50	50	55	40	50/45

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 5
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Muscular, athletic build. Medium sized frame that is mostly filled out. Strong in chest and lower half. Appears to have shorter wingspan and legs despite 6-2 height and frame. Athleticism as a high school football player apparent in actions on the mound.

Delivery & Mechanics: Starts from first base side of the rubber with moderate midsection leg kick. Uses leg kick to drive into lower half with good drive into his back half and push leg. Stays stacked well as he moves forward. Gets strike foot down quickly. Drops arm it down behind his back leg before swinging back up and through his 3/4 arm slot. Doesn't get particularly long extension with his legs but drives energy up his body well once he gets his strike foot down quick. Upper back/spinal tilt helps shoulder/hip separation and allows him to work force up to his arm and creates his high 3/4 arm slot. Uses leg kick from the stretch. Has a tendency to lose arm slot at times.

Fastball: Ran 89-93 early in 2019 and then sat 92-95 and topped out at 96 further into the season. Delivery and arm slot allows him to work it downhill well. Locates it consistently in the zone and gets swings and misses with it in the zone. Shows comfort and confidence in working it in all four quadrants of the zone. Has moderate armside run to it. Average spin. Needs consistent mid-90s velocity, command, and good sequencing for maximum effectiveness. Grade: 50

Curveball: 76-80 with power break. Starts out with 12 direction but breaks sharp and tight. Good command of the pitch. Gets swings and misses in the middle of the zone and below it. Manipulates speed and power to change how much vertical break it gets, sometimes slower and dropping deeper. Average spin. Occasionally high arm slot. Grade: 50

Slider: 83-85 with 2-7 shape. Loses shape at times where it doesn't get enough horizontal tilt and hangs in the zone. At it's best, the two plane break dives under bats and comes from the same arm slot as his fastball. Hard pitch for right handers to handle when he has the shape consistent. Blends with his curveball a little at times. Bat missing pitch in the minors but struggled to get consistent shape in brief MLB experience in 2020. Grade: 55

Changeup: 82-85 with some sink and fade. Inconsistent movement. Lacks arm speed for deception. Low usage fourth offering that profiles best as a show-me pitch to left handers. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Control over command total profile. Can throw everything for a strike. Above average fastball and curveball command. Slider and changeup fall behind in command in that order. Shows ability to work north/south as well as east/west with slider and armside running fastball. Should avoid major issues with free passes. Lack of command but good control would leave him homer-prone. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Has three average to above average offerings and generally avoids free passes. His fastball velocity has waned. His fastball velocity and command will be a big driver of his success. With average spin, up and down velocity, it could leave him with home run issues. His two breaking balls are both effective swing and miss issues but both could improve with more consistent shape. Pitch mix and velo dips might make him a better fit in the bullpen in potential mulit-inning stints. Could work as a back end type starter if fastball velocity holds better and tightens up his changeup.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Low

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Jordan Humphreys - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	CLE	RHP	50	35

Grades Update: Nov 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Ctr/Cmd
35	30	50	55	45	40	50/45

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Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 223 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Draft - Round 18, NYM
RuleV: On 40-man

Physical Description: Physical upper-body build. Strong in the chest and arms. High waist and somewhat long-limbed. Build is that of a Major League starter. TJ Surgery 8/27/17.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber. Uses a quick front foot step towards first and rocks into a mid-section high leg kick. Stays stacked over the middle and creates good leverage from his drive leg. Long arm swing. Shows ability to get extension in his delivery and stays over the rubber. Solid shoulder/torso separation Uses a high 3/4 arm slot. Appears from older outings to have an inefficient deceleration.

Fastball: Runs 91-94 and will hit 95. Reportedly a pitch with high spin and movement backs it up, showing late 'rise' and using an arm angle to create the kind of spin axis that would produce high spin rates. Humphreys uses that characteristic by working the pitch well high in the zone. His heater doesn't have much in the way of horizontal movement but it does show that late, vertical 'rise' and runs above hitters bats. Above average command of the pitch, the spin and ride helps it play above average velocity. However, after Tommy John surgery and setbacks from it, those characteristics aren't yet back for the pitch. Grade: 50

Curveball: 77-79. Good, sharp, downward action. 11-5 shape with good depth. He gets consistent vertical drop on the pitch and was adept at throwing it for strikes before TJ. Works it to drop in on the hands of left handers and down and away from right handed hitters. Can throw it for a strike or get swings and misses. Like the fastball, arm slot backs ability to create good sprin axis needed to produce efficient spin on the pitch, backing up reports. Grade: 55

Slider: Newer pitch developed post TJ. Late, downward break. Pre-TJ it appeared he had a slider that looked like it had inconsistent shape with vertical drop, but occasionally mistaken for a cutter. Not a traditional arm slot for a slider but Humprheys shows feel for spin on his curveball and had good command of his other offerings pre-TJ. Limited views on this pitch combined with track record for other breaking stuff and waiting to see prior stuff 'comeback' from TJ leave it with a fringe-average look for now. Grade: 45

Changeup: 81-83. Inconsistently used offering. Mostly showed good vertical drop, but less consistent arm side run. Able to use it to get under bats of left handers. Like the rest of his arsenal, pre-TJ command was average enough to make it a useable pitch that needs improvement. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Prior to TJ, Humphreys' command is what made his arsenal play up. Showed above average consistent comment with the fastball and with the curveball. DId not command the changeup as well as the other two pitches, but enough to give it fringe-average status. Most effective command comes from working north/south with the fastball and curveball, less so glove/arm sides. Unknown overall command of the slider. Avoids walks. Post-TJ surgery, plus complications and limited looks after getting back on the mound are a question mark on pre-TJ abilities. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Prior to his injury, Humphreys looked on track to profile as a back of the rotation arm. He had two above average pitches that he commanded well, and a fringe-average third offering that he showed control with. He avoided walks and showed the feel for spin and knew how to make his stuff work, and where. He has the build to start and a moderately effortless delivery. His arm slot is consistent with creating a good spin axis on his heater and bender, which work well together. It's reminiscent of current Tribe reliever James Karinchak. Karinchak had a high 3/4 arm slot in college with a high spin heater and curve. Cleveland raised his arm slot when he got into the system, which took some effort with his postural shift and gives him command issues at times. I don't think Humphreys would have that problem because of his low effort in keeping his center of gravity balanced. Even if Cleveland doesn't look to raise Humphreys' arm slot, the fastball and curveball can tunnel well together with the release point and spin. If the spin and command can return once he's back on the mound, it can help him profile well as a reliever, which might even tick up his velocity. He could be used as a multi-inning relief option too. Adding the slider could help his arsenal remain in the rotation. Pre-TJ he had more than enough command to start. Limited looks post TJ make it more difficult where his future is. He had complications after the surgery, which make the comeback more challenging.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High

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