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Landon Sims - MLB Draft Profile

2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report for RHP Landon Sims

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Elijah Green - MLB Draft Profile

2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report & Interview with Elijah Green

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Cole Young - MLB Draft Profile
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St. Louis Cardinals

Conner Capel - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 29 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 45 55 60 55

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 5, CLE
RuleV: 2020

Physical Description: Well proportioned; broad shoulders. Athletic build. No concerns with frame, not much physical projection remaining here.

Hit: Crouched, closed stance; upper body hunches towards the plate. Keeps his hands back and bat rested on his left shoulder. Feet and knees stay tight until he loads and steps into the pitch. Feet wide at impact. Level swing that gets the ball in the air, particularly to the pull side. Average or better bat speed. Shows a solid eye, but is too aggressive at the plate. Can beat out ground balls to the left side. Needs to learn to wait for his pitch. Grade: 40

Power: He's not physical enough to drive pitches on the outer half over the left field wall consistently. There's more power here, but it would come at the price of some of his contact ability. Grade: 45

Field: Displays solid actions in the field. Gets low and keeps the ball in front of him on shallow hits. Good routes coupled with his foot speed give him above-average range. Shows good instincts. Can play all outfield positions. Grade: 55

Arm: Strong left handed arm with a low release. Shows good carry from the grass. On-target in looks. Arm fits well in RF. Grade: 60

Run: Timed 4.14 down the line from the left side. Gets out of the box quickly and has above-average straight-line speed. Grade: 55

Overall: Capel's bat lags behind his defense, namely because of his aggressiveness at the plate. He offers a realistic ceiling of a defensive substitution at the major league level, but still has some work to get there. He has the underlying ability to improve with the stick, but he's going to need to improve his approach to have any hope of regularly seeing a major league lineup. He's yet to do so. He was not added to the 40-man roster prior to the 2020 Rule V draft.

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

Brendan Donovan - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 28 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 50 40 40 40 40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 7
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Stocky, but a good baseball frame. Smaller build with long legs, is a good athlete. Moves well. Don't see much physical change here, other than just getting stronger.

Hit: Donovan is quiet in the box, minimal movement. Very simple swing with strong plate skills. Strong 13% walk rate as a professional. Relaxed trigger by simply picking up his front foot and dropping it back down. Short and quick to the ball, and keeps the bat through the zone. I have rarely seen him get fooled, and he has the type of barrel control that even when he's caught on his front foot he's able to stay behind the baseball. Grade: 50

Power: The left-handed hitting Donovan will use all fields but when he drives the ball it's more commonly to the right centerfield gap. His opposite field power is limited, he more often than not just takes what's given to him and doesn't look to drive the ball. Will slap the ball the other way. Grade: 40

Field: Two things the Cardinals develop exceptionally well. College starters and "positionless" college bats. The latter sums up Donovan perfectly. He doesn't excel at any defensive position. He spent most of his time at third in college but has played mostly second base for the Cardinals. The bat likely doesn't project for third, and even the offensive bar at second is growing. He lacks the range for second, and the bat for third. Grade: 40

Arm: He has quick hands and his quick transfer will make up for some of the lack of carry on the throwing arm. His arm would be stretched as an everyday third baseman, and he would struggle with any throw that takes his momentum elsewhere. Grade: 40

Run: Below average runner, but not base clogging slow either. It's another secondary tool that Donovan lacks. Grade: 40

Overall: Donovan's hit tool and approach will get him to the big leagues but he lacks the secondary skills to be anything more than a bench bat. Needs a little more power, or speed or arm to be an everyday option, and his inability to play shortstop has a negative effect as well. There isn't much demand for offensive minded 2B/3B utility types anymore, but Donovan has an intriguing hit tool and I want to see how it plays in the current MLB offensive climate.

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

Justin Toerner - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 27 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 50 40 60 55 55

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 28
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Small frame, lacks muscle, especially in lower half. Toerner has touched four different affiliates since getting drafted and looked like he might have had an under the radar breakout in 2019. Plays above size and can be reckless at times. Toerner was a four-year starter at Cal State Northridge and also their leadoff hitter. He's an above-average athlete, high energy tone setter.

Hit: He hits slightly crouched with legs spread wide. He puts the bat on the ball and has an advanced feel for the strike zone. Short quick swing and will take walks. Very hands oriented swing that doesn't use much of the lower half, until recently. Just throws the bat at the ball when he has to. He does struggle against velocity up in the zone, and has also struggled against lefties, which drops his hit tool a half grade. Grade: 50

Power: The power gains were very real, as Toerner found his way to eleven homers in 2019. Even hitting some out to left center, which is an impressive feet for a traditional contact oriented guy. He will let the ball travel, and will be aggressive in hitters counts. Last year at this time he might have been a 30 for game power, he's managed to jump a grade since entering the organization. Still more doubles (and triples) than a long ball threat, but he at least has the tool in his belt now and picks his spots Grade: 40

Field: An acrobat in centerfield, Can't tell you how many times you see a flyball hit and he's already gliding to it. Some of the best outfield instincts I've seen. He's also reckless and plays with no regard to his own health. In fact, his season ended a bit early as a result of an injury he received while diving for a baseball. The easiest plus grade I've ever handed out on defense. Toerner is the real deal on this side of the ball. Grade: 60

Arm: One of the stronger outfield arms in the system. Powerful and accurate. It's a strong thing to have. Grade: 55

Run: Above-average runner. Speed influences all aspects of his game. Can swipe a bag but the speed shows up more in the field. He covers so much ground. Grade: 55

Overall: Toerner is the definition of a fourth outfielder. Superb defense skills with just enough offense to keep you afloat until your regular centerfielder is back in the lineup. He did strikeout more in Double-A, I'm not too worried as it was his first look at some advanced arms, but that's something to monitor when baseball resumes. For this type of profile to work he has to put the bat on the ball.

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

Patrick Romeri - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 26 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 60 45 60 50

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 12
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Athletic, strong, well built. Young enough to add to the frame yet already considered to be extremely physical for his age. High risk high reward, but anytime you pay a 12th rounder six figures you need to pay attention.

Hit: Stance is slightly open, with some hand movement to stay loose and athletic in the box. Uses a toe tap for trigger, picks it up, brings it back and touches the dirt with the lead foot then attacks towards the baseball. Really strong approach, strong walk rate at nearly 12%. Linear swing, will shorten up and choke up with two strikes. Pull heavy approach will limit batting average. Grade: 40

Power: Has recorded exit velocities as high as 107 MPH; and was routinely posting high numbers on the showcase circuit and while he was with IMG. Plus raw power that's starting to show up in games. Was third in the GCL in homers during his debut. Prone to weak contact when he gets over aggressive. Grade: 60

Field: Hedging a bit because you have to do some guess work on the frame, but if he stays as lean and strong as he is he can develop into an above-average corner outfielder due to his aggressiveness out there. If he bulks up and slows down, which I assume is likely, I have him fringe average. He fits well in right field. Grade: 45

Arm: Plus arm with good carry and accuracy. Future right fielder. Grade: 60

Run: Present day Romeri is an above-average runner, but he's going to add mass to the frame which will slow him down Grade: 50

Overall: Romeri was a member of perhaps the most scouted high school team in recent history at IMG. The Cardinals liked enough of what they saw to take him in the 12th round. The tools are loud but he will go as far as the hit tool (contact ability) takes him. He's a strong athlete, with the potential to be a big league regular if he can improve his contact skills

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

Andre Pallante - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 25 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Ctl/Cmd
40 40 50 40 50 40 50/40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 203 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Accomplished college arm, performed well on the Cape and pitched for Team USA. Was very noticed despite being at UC-Irvine. Shorter right-hander with lean, athletic frame. Limited physical projection remaining.

Delivery & Mechanics: Stands tall on the mound. Feet opened towards home. Steps back to begin inverted windup. Waist high leg kick with small hitch before very long arm action. Finishes strong over plant foot when things are in sync. Can drag arm at times and upset timing. High 3/4 release.

Fastball: Lives mostly 90-91, probably lives mid 90s in relief role. Touches 95 as a starter. Fastball is the key to everything. Looks to set up hitters by going up in the zone or away, and then get them to chase with something off the plate in the outer or upper quadrants. Above-average command of the heater. Leans on the pitch heavily. Grade: 50

Curveball: His putaway pitch against left-handers. Breaks off the plate towards their back foot and he gets them to swing over the top of it. Slider has a significant amount of horizontal movement. Can look like a cutter at times because it lacks consistent depth Grade: 40

Slider: Pitch has tremendous horizontal break, utilizes it like a cutter but it has slider shape. Primarily out pitch against lefties, starting over middle and breaking off the plate inside to get them to chase. Grade: 5

Changeup: Inconsistent pitch. Minimal arm side run and fade. Knows how to sequence and will throw it against either handed hitters. Command of pitch is poor. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Pumps strikes, but necessarily not the ones you want at all times. Doesn't have loud enough stuff to live in the middle, and instead needs to live on the black, or even slightly off it. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: Not as great of a risk here because there's some polish. Pallante knows how to sequence and attack hitters at least one time through the order. Right on that line for me of long relief or starter. Must continue to pitch well off of the fastball.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 -Spot Starter/Long Relief
Risk: Moderate

Mateo Gil - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL SS 24 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 50 40 50 55 40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Slender, twitchy athlete. Lean, but toned. Has a frame to support adding muscle while still maintaining athleticism. Sturdy build, good strength for size. MLB bloodlines, good demeanor on the field. Has noticeably added to his wiry frame since entering organization. Pushed to short season ball in 2019 and performed well primarily against older competition.

Hit: Stands with feet a bit wider than shoulders, hands well positioned at the ear. Starts swing with a thigh high leg kick, weight transfers to back foot and he sits on back knee as body gently rocks back before the swing. Minimal hand load, very efficient swing. Has above-average bat speed. Quick with minimal flair. Should have no issues catching up with velocity. Makes good contact, 10% SwStrk% against older competition. A little too pull heavy, but young enough to evolve in that aspect. Propensity to shift weight early at times and get caught on front foot. Grade: 50

Power: Average raw power at present, potential to even be above-average as he adds to his frame. Power plays down in games due to lack of loft. Last run through affiliated ball saw a 45% GB%, much too high to fully tap into his raw pop. Has potential to break through the power ceiling. Has a knack for barrelling up the baseball. Stays within himself. Will take what's given to him the other way, but supposedly has begun driving the ball to right center field consistently. Grade: 40

Field: Son of former big league utility man, Benji Gil. Lack of foot speed and evolving body likely push him to second base, but hands are good enough to stay at shortstop right now. Good enough hands to make all routine plays but won't show up on the highlight reel very much. Potential to be an above-average second baseman if they make the move. Quick first step, understands angles and body positioning Grade: 50

Arm: Was sitting in the low 90s as an amateur pitching prospect despite short arm action. Lots of present arm strength here, might be the best tool. Very accurate arm and good motor. Instinctual player with advanced internal clock and awareness. Grade: 55

Run: Not a base stealing threat, looks like he should be faster than he is. Good first step but just not quick underway. Very aggressive on the bases and have to assume he will always take the extra base. Grade: 40

Overall: Gil is a guy that should surge up prospect lists as the statistical numbers improve. Sounds like an obvious statement, but power numbers are muted in some of the tough environments in the lower levels. Get him to Springfield and I think the offense will start to shine. I'm always a sucker for legacy players, odds are they've had the best coaching and diet as they've grown up. Being around a big league clubhouse can be a valuable thing, especially at such a young age. Gil is right on that fine line between second-division starter or utility man. I expect him to start playing some second base to increase versatility and could even add third to the portfolio.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Avg. Player - Bench/Utility
Risk: Moderate

Justin Williams - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 23 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 45 50 50 45

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2013 Draft - Round 2, ARI
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: High-waisted. Thick lower body. Big butt. Strong upper body. Lacks physical projection. Gets frustrated at himself when he does poorly at the plate or in the field. Mild mannered with a good baseball IQ.

Hit: Crouched and open stance. Some pre-pitch hand movement. Keeps hands high and back. Small toe tap before he steps into the pitch. Wide base at impact. Quick wrists that help generate above-average bat speed. Easy, repeatable swing that covers all parts of the plate. Good looking swing. Uses the whole field. Handles velocity away well. Has some issues with off-speed stuff down. Flashes some restraint in the box but he still needs to be more patient. Overall an average eye. Shows good bat-to-ball skills. Approach geared toward putting the ball in play. Grade: 45

Power: Plus raw power that manifests as in-game gap power. Can get ahold of a mistake and muscle it out. Ball jumps off the bat when he barrels it. Generates good bat speed, but bat path is not geared toward over the fence power. Has the underlying ability to see the grade improve with a focus on driving the ball more. Grade: 45

Field: Shows good actions in the field and makes the routine plays. Plays the ball well off the bounce. Gets good reads and jumps in the outfield. Average range that plays in LF and RF. Grade: 50

Arm: Average arm with average carry. Throws on-line to home in several looks. Routinely hits his cutoff. Not a weapon and fits best in LF. Grade: 50

Run: Slow out of the box but near average straight-line speed once he gets going. Timed between 4.26 and 4.32 down the line from the left side depending on the jump. Grade: 45

Overall: Williams saw major league action in 2018 and debuted with the Cardinals in 2020. His tools are nearly average across the board, and he projects well as a backup in LF and RF. His risk profile is primarily attributable to his injury concerns, as he has dealt with his fair share since being drafted. Williams has some room to grow, particularly with his power, but he is an older prospect and has yet to make the requisite adjustments.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Avg. Player - Bench/Platoon
Risk: Moderate

Malcom Nunez - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL 1B/3B 22 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 50 45 60 30

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Trevor Hooth

Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Very large, especially for a teenager. The upper half looks chubby. Thick lower half. Not much room to project more weight to the frame.

Hit: Square stance. Hands start about shoulder height, but they shoot up near his head during the load. Abandoned a thigh high leg kick for a toe tap trigger in 2019. At the lower levels his quick hands make up for the distance they move leading up to the actual swing itself, but they started to expose him for that at High-A. He's shown a good eye and the ability to draw walks. The biggest drawbacks are that he's pull heavy and hits a lot of groundballs. Grade: 45

Power: With his size and strength, the raw power is easily plus. However, the groundballs are killing his ability to manifest that in game. More elevation is going to be needed for his ultimate success. Grade: 50

Field: His hands and instincts are fine, but his size limits his quickness and range. Grade: 45

Arm: Though he's likely destined for first base long term, his arm might allow him to stick at third for at least a few more years. It's very strong and accurate. Grade: 60

Run: If he's not the slowest guy in the system, he's probably close. Short, lumbering strides don't help him on either side of the ball. Grade: 30

Overall: There was plenty of buzz around Nunez before he came stateside. He's already made some adjustments to make his moves more succinct, like making a leg kick into a toe tap, but there's still quite a ways to go. The biggest detractor right now is his groundball rate. Hitting grounders at an over 50% clip is suppressing his power, which will have to be his carrying tool. He's got the skills to be a big league contributor, but it's going to be very hard to get there hitting so many grounders with such little speed.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Avg. Player - Bench
Risk: Extreme

Tony Locey - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 21 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Ctl/Cmd
40 40 55 45 50 40 40/30

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 239 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Has look of durable innings eating arm. XXL frame, broad shoulders with a strong lower half. Well built throughout. Attacks hitters. Carries a reliever mentality. Not intimidated.

Delivery & Mechanics: Basic drop and drive mechanics. Long, but quick arm stroke. Will overthrow at times and fall off hard towards the first base side. Long arm action creates timing issues. Can make it difficult to sync up delivery consistently.

Fastball: Heavy reliance on fastball. Sits 92-95, and has touched 97. Pitch lacks horizontal movement but a high arm slot puts an emphasis on the downward plane. Pitch gets an above-average amount of ground balls when he's able to keep it low in the zone. Grade: 55

Curveball: 11-to-5 shape when he stays on top of it, but it can blend together with slider. Curveball features more depth, but it lacks refinement. Grade: 45

Slider: His put away secondary against right-handed bats. Pitch gets swing and misses as well as generates weak contact. Average command but inconsistent shape, at times it can look too similar to the curveball. Grade: 50

Changeup: Low-to-mid 80s offering that he will use against lefties. Below average pitch. No reason to make the move yet but have to imagine if he does move to bullpen this pitch goes bye-bye. Would really accelerate the timeline if he did move to the bullpen Grade: 40

Control and Command: Will always battle himself here. Has always walked too many guys, did so at Georgia and had too many walks during his professional debut. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Locey has the frame to start, and I'd imagine he will go back to that role once baseball resumes. He lacks the third pitch to be anything other than a backend starter, but the ingredients are here to be a late inning reliever with his fastball/slider combo. Love how he attacks hitters. No fear on the mound. Was used as a reliever after the draft to keep innings down, but will return in a starters role when baseball resumes.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 -Spot Starter/Long Relief
Risk: High

Alec Burleson - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 20 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 50 45 40 50 40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 212 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 2C
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Was also a left-handed starter in college. Sat 87-90, was a two-way player for East Carolina and also the Collegiate National team. Was announced as an outfielder by the Cardinals and won't pitch. Could see some time at first base? Really likeable with an upbeat personality. Plays smaller than he is. Hit over power profile looking to close the gap between his raw power and game power.

Hit: Hit over power profile with a flat left-handed swing. Above-average bat speed with a strong feel for the barrel. Strong eye and will rarely chase, but lefties with a sweeping slider give him fits. Will get swing happy at times, but he covers the plate well. Battles. Line drives from line to line, will take what's given to him, and serve a line drive into left. Above-average hitter against right-handers. Likely platoon issues drop him half a grade. Grade: 50

Power: Above-average raw power but the overall tool plays down in games. Will sacrifice power to make more contact. As is, he's a doubles hitter more than masher. Fringe-average power grade, but another grade worth of raw pop. Grade: 45

Field: Strong defender at first with good hands and actions. Was announced as an outfielder by the Cardinals, but of course didn't see game action. Pitched and played first base while with East Carolina, and I haven't seen him in the outfield. Fair to make an assumption based on size and speed that he's likely below-average. Grade: 40

Arm: Had a strong arm while playing first, and obviously was a pitcher as well. Haven't seen him make any throws from the outfield though, which is an entirely different motion Grade: 50

Run: Good enough athlete with enough speed and instincts to play the outfield in my opinion, just won't be viewed as a positive asset out there. Grade: 40

Overall: Burleson is a big league contributor that can become a big league regular if he finds another gear on offense. It wouldn't be unusual for him to become better offensively now that he's not focusing on pitching. As of now he's a bench bat, and he could work his way to the strong side of a platoon or an everyday role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Avg. Player - Bench/Platoon Role
Risk: Moderate

Ian Bedell - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 19 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB CH Ctl/Cmd
40 40 50 55 45 60/50

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 198 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: A young for the class college junior as a result of enrolling at Mizzou early, Bedell has some room for possible growth in the frame. He's a good athlete that fields his position well. Was all set to be the University of Missouri's Friday night starter before the shutdown. Pitched well at the Cape and performed very well, winning the 2019 Pitcher of the Year award. Good chance in a normal season he's off the board much earlier than the fourth round. Grew up a fan of the Cardinals, that may or may not have played a part in him signing after slipping to the fourth round.

Delivery & Mechanics: Easy, repeatable mechanics allow him to throw strikes and go deep in starts. Starts with glove high, and drops it down to the belt as he begins his windup. He shifts his weight to his back foot, and sits back into his rear end before driving up and over the plant foot. He's a short-strider with a cross-fire delivery, but those issues haven't stopped him so far. It's a quick arm and he utilizes it from a standard high 3/4 slot.

Fastball: Features two distinct fastballs that travel at similar velocity bands. The two-seamer gets good arm side run, and his four seamer carries well up in the zone. Can miss bats with either version, but the four seamer up is the primary weapon for that. Starts off at 92-93 early in his starts. In the later innings the velocity slips to 89-91, so that's something to track. Grade: 50

Curveball: Curveball is his primary secondary. Pitch has good depth and late snap. In addition to missing bats it's difficult to square up, resulting in weak contact. Will bury it and get hitters to swing over the top. Generally around 80-81 MPH. Grade: 55

Changeup: Changeup has good fade, and sits around 81-83. The arm-speed replicates the fastball but he just needs to improve his command to get it to an average grade. Grade: 45

Control and Command: While he lacks a plus pitch, he makes up for it with plus control. Pounds the strike zone with the fastball and curveball. The changeup command is fringe. Will hit the glove with the first two offerings. Working in, out, up and down. Control: 60 | Command: 50

Overall: Bedell was riding the wave heading into this spring, then the shutdown happened. Bedell was looking to build on a fantastic summer at the cape and solidify himself as a day one draft prospect. If he threw a few ticks harder he's a potential first rounder, but he has youth on his side in addition to the plus control. Bedell has a likely outcome as a back of the rotation starter, but that comes with bulking up and fine tuning the change.

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

Seth Elledge - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 18 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB SL Ctl/Cmd
40 40 55 55 45/40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 4, SEA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Tall, intimidating force on the mound. High-waisted. Thick core and quads.

Delivery & Mechanics: Stands tall on the mound, knees slightly bent. Pitches from the stretch. 3/4 slot. Falls off toward 1B. Cross-body release.

Fastball: Sits 92-94; averaged 93.3 in limited 2020 action. Two-seamer with some late arm-side run. Has below-average vertical and horizontal movement which leads to it getting hit too frequently, particularly against lefties. He hides it well against right handers. Keeps it around the zone, but gets hit hard when he isn't locating it. Made up 65% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 55

Slider: Sits 82-84; averaged 83.2 in limited 2020 action. Solid depth; shows above-average vertical movement. Takes several forms; at times it's slurvy and other times it has cutter action.. Pitch plays down due to his inability to consistently hit his spots. Made up 35% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Control is ahead of command. He spots his fastball well in and around the zone, but his control of the slider is inconsistent. It often misses down, which has led to too high of a BB rate over the last several seasons. Control decreases as his confidence declines. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Elledge is a two pitch reliever who debuted in 2020 with limited success. Neither of his pitches are plus, and there are concerns about his ability to put batters away at the major league level. There are some concerning underlying splits over the last two seasons, calling into question his ultimate upside. It's a low-leverage relief profile, but he still has some work to do to avoid being stuck at the AAA level.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Relief
Risk: Low

Luken Baker - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL 1B 17 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 50 60 40 50 20

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 265 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 2C
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Large, thick human, built like an offensive lineman. Likely heavier than the listed 265. College career derailed by injuries, but has remained healthy since getting drafted. Big chest and waist, strong forearms. Massive tree trunk legs. Makes the bat look small in his hands. No doubt first base/DH only profile.

Hit: Starts slightly open with hands high. Hands constantly moving, bat almost touches his lower back while he keeps the hands ready. Has a thigh high leg kick, with average to slightly above-average bat speed. Strong approach, will work counts and take walks. Steady 10% walk rate at each level. Makes contact at a strong rate. Grade: 50

Power: Easy plus raw power, but it plays down a tick in games due to a linear swing that makes it difficult for him to consistently put the ball in the air. Has spent his career in extreme pitcher parks to this point, that will change when baseball resumes. Average in game pop. Swing made more for doubles. Good enough hit and power tools to remain interesting despite other limitations. Grade: 60

Field: DH or 1B profile all the way. Stock jumps up if DH comes to National League full time. Grade: 40

Arm: Average velocity with good accuracy. Baker used to pitch while at TCU. Grade: 50

Run: Bottom of the scale runner. Base clogger. Grade: 20

Overall: Baker is a launch angle tweak away from unlocking 30+ homer power consistently. Unfortunately for him that's proven to be an extremely difficult task for most hitters to change. The bat needs to reach full potential because Baker lacks the secondary skills to help prop up the profile. Without a change he likely falls into a lefty masher role off the bench. Had a strong ending to the 2019 season power wise, maybe some of that sticks long term?

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Avg. Player - Bench/Platoon Role
Risk: Moderate

Kodi Whitley - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 16 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB SL CH Ctl/Cmd
40 40 55 50 55 50/45

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 27
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: High waisted, with lean lower half and broad shoulders. Athletic, flexible frame. Delivery requires some effort and flexibility. D-III draft pick that has battled back from TJ and made the climb through the minors, touching four levels in 2019 before making his big league debut it 2020 after a bout with Covid-19.

Delivery & Mechanics: Comes set at his neck. Flexes his back leg and sits on his glutes as he begins with an exaggerated drop and drive delivery. Delivery requires balance and flexibility. Sizeable effort with a vertical, over-the-top arm slot. Some added deception as he hides the ball extremely well.

Fastball: Fastball averaged 93.8 MPH during his big league debut, up from what I saw from him in the AFL where he was sitting 92-93. Works fastball up in the zone to play off of delivery. Shortened his arm action and that accounts for the uptick in velocity. Gets some awkward swings. Grade: 55

Slider: Unlike the changeup which will be featured against both lefties and righties, Whitley will use the slider against right-handers. His game is throwing it just off the plate to get a whiff. He will start the pitch in the zone and let the late break do the work. Very much a chase pitch. Shape profile is inconsistent. Needs to figure out how to locate it better. Grade: 50

Changeup: Leans on this pitch heavily, one third of all pitches thrown in the small big league sample were changeups. He lets gravity do most of the work, the pitch features good depth and just drops off the table. Has little horizontal movement. Works very well with his vertical arm slot. More consistent command would make it a plus pitch. Not quite there. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Can effectively put the fastball where he wants, but he's not as fine with the slider and changeup. Will hit the glove with the heater but its fringy command with the secondaries. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Whitley touched four affiliates in 2019 before ending his season in the AFL and on the 40-man roster. He's an organizational development win as a late round pick from a D-III school. He's got three big league quality pitches and throws enough strikes to potentially sneak into a late inning bullpen role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Relief
Risk: Low

Trejyn Fletcher - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 15 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 40 55 50 55 60

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 2
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Strong, proportional, athletic frame with a thick lower half and lean upper body. Broad shoulders. Looks every bit of the listed 6'2, 200. Not much projectability as the frame and fairly maxed out. Room for some good weight through the chest, shoulder girdle and arms; legs might be at peak already. Live, twitchy body. Looks like an NFL wide receiver.

Hit: Upright stance with minor knee bend. Sets up square. Hands sit low and tight to the body at the rear bicep. Moderate leg lift for timing mechanism with moderate coil. Hands are pretty quiet, just sliding back a few inches before attacking. Swing is built to lift the ball and do damage when he makes contact. Steps in the bucket at times. Above-average bat speed. Aggressive; Needs to refine pitch selection. Plenty of swing and miss at the moment, but the Cardinals were confident enough to challenge him with an advanced rookie ball assignment. Coming from the northeast, lack of track record and limited reps vs high-level pitching leave him raw at the plate, but he showed well against 1st-round arms during the showcase circuit. Grade: 40

Power: Strong frame, quick bat, and lofted swing path are built for over the fence pop. Exit velocities up to mid-90s as a prep. Raw power slots in somewhere between above-average and plus depending on how much more he fills out. Easy pull side power with enough to get to all fields in game, but less often. Speed will help him stretch extra bases easily on balls in the gaps. Grade: 55

Field: Solid actions and decent feel in limited looks. Not smooth, but fine. Could use some polish. Very athletic with plenty of makeup speed which should give him a good shot to stick in center even if his reads aren't ideal. Will easily profile in a corner if the instincts aren't enough for center. Plenty of arm for right. Grade: 50

Arm: Touched low 90s on the mound. Firm carry on a line from the outfield. Loses accuracy when he overthrows but the ball gets there in a hurry; uncorks a few. Gets his powerful body into throws. Can spot it up at 3rd from right, but maybe not consistently. Plenty of arm to profile at all 3 outfield positions. Accuracy keeps him from a plus grade. Grade: 55

Run: Clocked a 6.66 60, but might have better times in the tank. Great athlete that could easily fit in on the football field or basketball court. Explosive; runs well and is aggressive on the bases, potential stolen base threat. Should maintain the speed if he doesn't fill out too much. Grade: 60

Overall: High-ceiling, low-floor athlete who will need to learn how to hit in pro ball. He has all the physical tools you could ever dream of, but lacks polish and experience against high-level competition as a prep from Maine who reclassed to enter the draft early. The Cardinals challenged him early with an advanced rookie league assignment, but he struggled mightily with contact. Range of outcomes run the gamut from org depth all the way up to all star. Hit tool development will drive the profile.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Regular - Bench
Risk: Extreme

Junior Fernandez - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 13 45

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB SL CH Ctl/Cmd
45 40 50 50 60 40/30

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2014 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Strong, solidly built frame. Maxed out. Long, muscled legs. High waist. Thick upper half, but not fat. Very broad, muscled shoulders. Narrow hips. Midsection might be a touch soft. You might be able to tack on a little more weight to the quads. Noticeably thicker than 2019, but not good weight. Athletic enough. Live arm.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works exclusively from the stretch. High effort delivery. Quick leg lift starts the motion; arm action, which starts low at hips, is very quick and simple. Sits into the glutes a little before driving to the plate. Finishes moderately high. Occasionally uses a bigger leg kick and pause to throw off hitters' timing. Very deliberate between pitches when stressed.

Fastball: Sits 94-96, T98, averages 2130 spin rate. Sinker with below average sink and run. Just looking to run it by hitters, rearing back and firing. Struggles to locate it and is really just trying to hit the zone rather than spots. Pummeled when left over the plate. Spikes it too often. Sat closer to 97 in 2019, but appears to have dialed back the velocity a couple ticks in order to help with command; effect appears limited. Its biggest value is setting up the secondaries. Poor movement profile and lack of command make it play down. Needs optimization. Grade: 50

Slider: 86-88. Gyro-slider with solid depth. Location issues from time to time, but shape and bite are pretty consistent. Will spike it here and there. Tunnels well with the fastball and gets whiffs at a high rate. Hitters rarely make contact when he buries it. Usage dropped significantly in 2020. Would benefit from using it more. Grade: 50

Changeup: Averages 86. Fades it very well. Decent armside run and it really drops off the table. Above-average depth. Sells it well, hitters don't see it coming. Uses it early and often and hitters still struggle to make contact. Occasionally loses it up, but does a pretty good job working it down and off the plate arm-side. Unquestionably his best pitch, would play up even more if hitters feared the fastball. Grade: 60

Control and Command: Both control and command are major issues for him. Doesn't throw to spots, just hoping to hit the zone. Uncorks wild pitches too often and is good for at least one spiked pitch per outing. Better command of the secondaries; able to keep them down more often than not. Often falls behind in counts. Needs to throw more strikes in general. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Young, flame-throwing right-handed reliever with major control issues. Runs the fastball up to 98, but subpar movement profile and inability to locate limit its effectiveness. Plus changeup is his best offering and he features an average slider as well. Lack of command will keep him from working high-leverage innings as noted by his very limited usage on a thin team in 2020. Has the pure stuff of an elite back of the bullpen arm, but more likely ends up in middle relief if the command doesn't improve and the fastball isn't optimized.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Low-leverage reliever
Risk: Moderate

Edmundo Sosa - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL SS 14 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 45 55 55 50

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2012 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Average height. Thicker lower half. Strong hands. Filled out. Has some flare to his game.

Hit: Low, crouched and slightly open stance. Pre-pitch bat bounce. Keeps his hands and weight back. Moderate leg kick as he steps into the pitch that allows him to drive the ball. Average or better bat speed. Inconsistent swing plane. Breaking balls can give him trouble down in the zone. Overly aggressive at the plate but shows good bat-to-ball skills. Uses the whole field. Fringe-average eye and has begun to show an ability to lay off bad pitches; still won't take many walks. Grade: 45

Power: Average raw power that has begun to show up during games. Leg kick helped unlock the power. Possesses enough strength and bat speed to hit the ball out at the next level but will not be a true power threat. Needs to cut down on his aggressiveness to see improvement in the grade. Grade: 45

Field: Moves well in the field. Has some lateral quickness, and overcomes average range at SS with quick reactions and good instincts. Soft hands and a mistake-free fielder when he wants to be. Has some experience with 2B in limited big league appearances and has taken reps at 3B in Springfield. Grade: 55

Arm: Strong enough arm from SS to stick. Shows good carry. Quick transfers. Throws regularly on target at 1B and 2B in looks. Fits at 3B and could play up at 2B. Grade: 55

Run: Timed 4.26 down the line from the right side on several occasions. Hustles out of the box. Has not shown a consistent ability to steal at the minor league level and will not be a threat in the big leagues. Grade: 50

Overall: Sosa has become a better hitter over the last several years as he unlocked some of his power potential. He has limited MLB experience, but should be able to stick over the next couple seasons. He's a slick fielder with multi-positional ability, which gives him a realistic floor of a utility infielder. Whether he is any more than that will hinge on further growth with the stick.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Regular - Bench/Utility
Risk: Moderate

Jhon Torres - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL OF 12 45

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 50 55 45 55 40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 199 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA, CLE
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Big, long frame that looks the listed 6'4. Long limbs, strong legs, round butt. Wide shoulders, underdeveloped upper half; plenty of room for good weight up top. Given his youth, wouldn't be surprised to see him add significant weight. Current frame reminds me of Jose Martinez; lanky but not skinny; average athleticism.

Hit: Sets up tall and balanced with moderate knee bend. Slightly wide base; lead foot turned in with the heel off the ground, slightly open. Little rock to the setup. Hands sit behind the earflap and are very active. Loads with a big leg kick that travels above the waist; moderate coil. Hands don't drift far before swing, swing cuts down steeply into the zone, but lifts the ball more often than you'd guess - maybe even too often. Quick bat but the swing feels a touch long due to the long levers. Some swing and miss up in the zone, as expected given swing path, and will get fooled by spin, but not excessively. Solid feel for the zone and manages to get the bat on the ball often. Knack for timing up the ball; tendency to get pull heavy. Grade: 50

Power: Above-average bat speed and big frame make for easy plus raw. Lifts the ball surprisingly well right now but may struggle against better competition due to the steep, downward swing plane. Launches to the pull side and plenty in the tank for all-fields power. Potential for massive power bat if he maxes out the frame and hit tool, but should get to above-average at the least. Grade: 55

Field: Reads off the bat aren't always good and can get turned around, but athletic enough to recover. Average speed and athleticism limit his range and are likely to take a step back as the body matures. Will need to develop good instincts. A classic power bat/corner outfield defensive profile with risk for 1B if he fills out too much. Grade: 45

Arm: Ball carries well with solid accuracy. Doesn't always get in position to make strong throw, but ball still carries off the back foot. Plenty of arm for right and might be plus based on arm strength alone. Grade: 55

Run: Clocked 4.56 H-1st. Lumbers a bit already and likely to lose a step if he adds any more weight. Won't clog the bases, but not an asset on them either. Not a stolen base threat. Enough speed to give him adequate range in corner outfield for now, but not a lock to maintain it. Grade: 40

Overall: Big, projectable frame that oozes power. Looks like a classic power corner outfield profile with solid contact skills and fringe-average athleticism. There's a chance he outgrows his ability to stick in a corner, but there's plenty of bat to play at 1B, if necessary. Struggled with aggressive assignment to A-ball at 19, but demolished advanced rookie league. Strong chance to be a middle of the lineup producer with a decent glove; floor is a bench bat whose raw power doesn't play in game at the top level.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Regular - Bench/Platoon
Risk: High

Elehuris Montero - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL 3B 11 45

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 55 45 55 40

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Trevor Hooth

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Has some length to him. Frame is filled out nicely, not much more room to project anything more to come.

Hit: Square stance. Front heel is off the ground pre-load. Hands start up by head. Utilizes toe tap to trigger swing. It's a long swing, but quick hands help to even that out. His hand-eye coordination helps him to find the barrel well when he gets his pitch. He will expand the strike zone which leads to a lot of swing and miss. His aggressiveness has been his downfall because he tends to jump at pitches only for a breaking ball to fall under his bat, or hit a weak grounder. That said he showed a much better ability to hit prior to an injury marred 2019. Grade: 40

Power: There is plus raw power with him. His quick hands and size lend itself to some big power. He showed that in game in 2018, but in an injury filled 2019 found him pressing at the plate and that in game power went in the wrong direction. His over the fence pop is largely to his pull side. He can drive one to the opposite field occasionally, but he's much more comfortable hunting an inside pitch to turn on. The power is still there, but aggression and pitch selection are an issue since reaching the AA level Grade: 55

Field: His movements at third are limited by his quickness. His hands are decent enough to play third, though he may be better suited for a transition to first base long term. Grade: 45

Arm: He has a very strong arm that will help his case to remain a third baseman long term. What holds it back from being a plus tool is the accuracy of it. If he reins it in a bit, it's a plus arm. Grade: 55

Run: Below average runner. His speed won't limit him when he finds a gap, but steals will be rare. Defensively it's his quickness that limits his range. Grade: 40

Overall: A big 2018 that saw Montero winning the Midwest League MVP was followed up by injuries and struggles at the AA level in 2019. A lost 2020 puts him in kind of a weird spot where there is a lot to prove in 2021. His aggressiveness in 2019 was much more than previous years, and very well could've been connected to his two IL stints that season. When he worked counts and got pitches to hit, his plate skills were very good and he showed that he could contribute to a big league lineup.

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

Tink Hence - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 STL RHP 10 45

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB CH Ctl/Cmd
45 40 60 60 45 60/55

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Ray Kinsela

Age: 18 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round CBB
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Medium-framed right-handed starter with lean, wiry build at present. Long limbs with good physical projection, will need to add strength/bulk to body for sake of durability in starter role.

Delivery & Mechanics: Clean and easy operation overall, athleticism stands out, moves freely and efficiently down the slope with good direction in lower half and plus arm action. Whip to arm stroke with plus arm speed, that paired with physical projection give him long term upside, starter traits overall in terms of operation.

Fastball: Works in the 90-95 mph range now with velocity tapering off in later innings of starts, physical projection and arm speed give this pitch particularly high ceiling, easy out of hand with good metrics and carry through the zone, plus future as a starter. Grade: 60

Curveball: Thrown mostly in the upper-70's, good tunnel off of fastball, stays on top of pitch well and generates 11/5 shape, thrown with conviction and plus bite at times, some inconsistencies to shape and release at times, easy to project plus long term here. Grade: 60

Changeup: Third pitch at present, used more sparingly as an amateur, thrown a tick or two to either side of 80 mph, arm action and athleticism allows to project on this pitch in particular, has feel for turning pitch over, has ceiling of solid-average pitch, longer ways to go with this one. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Ease of operation and athleticism overall allows for him to pound the strike zone, ceiling of plus command here given youth and present traits. Long term may fall shy of plus command, will always be a strike-thrower and has the command components to project out as a starter. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Lean-bodied, young, projectable right-handed starter with flashes of plus fastball, plus curveball, and command. Body needs to mature and strength needs to be added along with the usual refinements to profile needed. Lack of present physical durability and 3rd pitch limit ceiling a bit, but the upside here remains high.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter/Long Relief
Risk: High