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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Angel Rondon - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	RHP	9	45

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	CH	Ctl/Cmd
45	40	55	55	50	45/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Solidly built frame with a round butt and strong legs and long arms. Shoulders are wide and square, not a lot of room for additional weight, but some. Thighs are thick and strong. Lean and strong, overall. Longer legs and a high waist. Frame looks close to maxed out but will hold 5-10 more pounds. Not quite the ideal pitcher's build, but not far off, either. Maintains poise and composure in rough outings and when defense lets him down. Level-headedness of a starter.

Delivery & Mechanics: Starts windup angled toward the right. Deliberate pause at rock step before coiling into letter-high leg kick. Sits into glutes well which helps lower release height. Arm comes through at high 3/4s slot. Average pace with a couple of pauses mixed in. Arm action is on the longer side and drops down behind the body; hides the ball well. Moderate to high effort; low finish that falls off first base side. Very good separation at foot plant and arm is on time. Repeats pretty well. Similar from the stretch. Pace is up a tick, leg lift mostly the same. Conscious of runners, keeps good ones honest with a quick move to first.

Fastball: 91-93, T94. Not enough velo to really challenge good hitters and is most successful when he's spotting it well. Gets more whiffs than you'd expect based on velo; ball appears to jump on hitters. Higher arm slot and lower release help it play up high in the zone, likely gets good ride. Able to run it by rehabbing big leaguers when he's on. Uses it as his out pitch, dares guys to hit it at times, but still gets it by them more often than not. Loses a tick deeper into outings. Mostly maxed out frame doesn't leave much room to dream on velo increase coming. What you see is probably what you get. Grade: 55

Curveball: 78-81. Tight, vertical break at its best, loses the tightness at times and the break becomes more gradual. More depth than sweep, drops hard when it's on. Changes the shape a bit, utilizing one with tighter bite and a slightly slower version with more depth. Tunnels well off the fastball and fools hitters. Gets whiffs in and out of the zone and can freeze guys with it, too. Not afraid to drop it over the plate when behind in the count or to start an at bat; lots of confidence in the pitch. Clear best secondary pitch. Above-average more often than not with a few bangers and a few hangers mixed in. Grade: 55

Changeup: 78-79. Good separation from the fastball and average fade. More run than depth. Struggles to command it sometimes, clear third offering based on pitch profile and usage. Used predominantly against lefties. The best ones are good enough to get big whiffs with strong fade. Sells it solidly with armspeed. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Has a knack for finding edges andt has the ability to really paint corners when he's on. Around the zone often, but doesn't spot up consistently; Hitters who control the zone well make him come over the heart. Loses the release on the breaker occasionally and hangs it over the middle. Loses the feel at times and will fall behind and walk hitters. He either has it or he doesn't, for the most part. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Pitchability righty with a collection of average to above-average offerings. Not a strikeout artist, but does a good job inducing weak contact in concert with some Ks. Sequences and mixes pitches well, not afraid to work backwards. Movement profile on the fastball allows it to punch above its velocity and the secondaries flash plus. Had success in AA prior to turning 22 and looks poised to make his MLB debut in 2021. Has a chance to stick at the back of the rotation with a fairly safe floor of long relief or low-leverage work.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter / Long Relief & Low Leverage
Risk: Moderate

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Johan Oviedo - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	RHP	8	45

Grades Update: Dec 2020

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

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Trevor Hooth

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 245 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man

Physical Description: Tall, long limbs, but still a lean build. He is physically mature, there is no projection left to his frame.

Delivery & Mechanics: Standard 3/4 arm slot. Easy delivery with a whippy arm that can generate velocity. Hands start at chest height. Hands break as the knee drops out of the balance point. His wrist stays stiff through the arm circle. Leg finishes through high. He's made strides in recent years, but his long limbs still sometimes make it hard for him to repeat his mechanics. Those same long limbs help him to get really good extension towards home.

Fastball: 93-95 T98. Gets good ride through the zone, especially when thrown up. He leans on this pitch and likes to throw it inside to right handed hitters in strikeout situations. Works best up in the zone and playing off his other pitches. Grade: 50

Curveball: 73-75, generally. 12-6 break with average spin. The break isn't as sharp as it could be. He uses it as a third pitch to give a different look than the FB/SL combination he normally leans on. Grade: 45

Slider: 83-86. This is his best pitch. It garners above average spin. He'll throw it to righties or lefties and manipulates it to look more like a cutter at times. When thrown down in the zone the pitch can get some nice tilt. When he wants to vary the look, the pitch appears as a late biting cutter. Grade: 55

Changeup: Sits 87-88. Gets some fade at the bottom of the zone. He rarely uses this pitch, threw it just 17 times in his MLB debut season. Grade: 40

Control and Command: He took strides in terms of walk numbers in the small sample size in 2020. He still was all over the place, especially with his lesser used secondary pitches. Command was the main concern for him following the 2019 season, but he was competitive against MLB competition with his FB/SL combo. Still, the track record doesn't work in his favor. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: His fastball and slider will play in the big leagues as he proved in 2020. His curveball works as a third pitch to change pace. What will ultimately be the deciding factor in his role is if he can throw enough quality strikes. Even if he looked better in terms of command in 2020, he still had his share of pitches that weren't competitive. If that trend continues his job as a starter may dwindle and he may find himself in a multi inning relief role. He's still young and proven he can make strides from year to year. Improved command could see him take on a more concrete role in the back end of the rotation.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter / Long Relief & Low Leverage
Risk: Low

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Matthew Liberatore - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	LHP	7	50

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Ctl/Cmd
50	50	45	55	50	55	55/50

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Wyatt Kleinberg

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 1, TB
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: At 6'5'' 200, Liberatore provides what is widely considered to be a strong frame for a starting pitcher. Slightly lanky with a solid lower half, Liberatore offers a rare combination of plus strength potential with a large frame. He does not possess elite athleticism when it comes to explosiveness or quick twitch power generation, though he has relatively average flexibility; the lower body strength and helps make up for the deficiencies.

Delivery & Mechanics: Liberatore has a very simple, repeatable, low stress delivery. Works out of both the windup and stretch. Has a leg lift that is relatively standard in height, doing a very good job of generating force via the pointing of his right glute towards the plate prior to his drop and drive. The drop and drive does not go very far forward however, with an extension averaging around six feet. This hurts all of his pitches outside of the curveball. Despite this deficiency, he sinks well into his glutes upon plant, rotates well (on time, low stress), leading into a high 3/4 slot from a release height of around six feet. While his scap retraction and hip shoulder are nothing beyond special, his elite arm action makes up for it, allowing for the generation of plus velocity.

Fastball: Liberatore's four seam fastball, despite the solid reviews it has received across the scouting world is an average pitch at best. Coming from a six foot release height (subpar extension), at a below average spin rate of 2019 rpm, with 14.9 inches of induced vertical break, it would require near triple digit velocity to help make up for its issues. The pitch does not come in remotely near that, with an average velocity of 92.5 mph (he can touch 96-97, but it is very rare). Despite his ability to spot it pretty well, it will struggle to miss bats or generate soft contact at the big league level at a consistent rate. Grade: 45

Curveball: Liberatore's curveball is the only pitch in his arsenal that greatly benefits from his subpar extension and release traits (given total arsenal makeup). It is a solid change of pace for the left hander, coming in at an average velocity of 75.5 mph. While the slurvy 4:45 tilt does take away from its ability to get max drop (what may be ideal given his release traits), the spin rate of 2846 rpm allows for it to play plus (10.1 hmov, 14.5 vmov). He generally locates the pitch well, though it ocasionally doesn't break as sharp as would be optimal. A shift to a more vertical axis could make this pitch elite, and help bolster the slider, which comes from a similar tilt (lowering slider effectiveness). Grade: 55

Slider: The slider, while possessing solid traits is set to struggle at the next level thanks to its similar profile to the curveball unless changes are made. With solid sweep (5.8 in), at good spin, the pitch plays plus. That is about the only area in which it is optimized however. Coming from a 4:15 axis with an average velocity of 80.4 mph, it is too similar in profile to the curveball to do maximum damage. The spin rate suggests that a horizontal shift in axis would make the pitch run more, differentiating itself from he curveball, making both offerings more successful in the process. While he can command it well, the pitch will never play more than slightly above average in the show if the traits on both breaking balls remain the same. 60+ potential. Grade: 50

Changeup: Liberatore's fading changeup is his second best pitch behind the curveball. At an average velocity of 85 mph with a spin rate in the 1900s, the pitch is built to run coming from its 10:15 axis. The more horizontal tilt, higher spin, and his hard pronation upon release suggest horizontal run - it delivers, running an average of 15.1 inches. His lack of a solid extension and average release height allow the pitch to get more depth than the 10.2 inches of induced vertical break suggest, making the pitch play plus. He can spot up well, though his overall command on the pitch could still improve - this would allow the pitch to play plus plus, rather than its current state (plus). Grade: 55

Control and Command: Liberatore does a very good job of locating pitches in the strike zone. The fastball is consistently thrown for strikes, though he can lose the change on occasion. The lack of extreme depth or break on the curve allows him to keep it in the zone consistently, and his feel on the slider is plus. Overall plus command. He is still honing in on his feel for the changeup, and the curveball can lose its sharpness on occasion. The overall command will only go up as the feel for the pitches does. Current 50 with easy 55 potential. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: The lack of a plus primary offering and the similarity in overall profiles of the two breaking balls are holding Liberatore back. While the latter of the two can easily be corrected, the fastball problem is one that could haunt him in the long run. A switch to a sinker would be interesting (he has the profile), though current circumstances suggest a backend of the rotation type of arm.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4-#5 Backend SP
Risk: Low

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Zack Thompson - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	LHP	6	50

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Ctl/Cmd
50	50	50	60	40	50	50/45

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Wyatt Kleinberg

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: At 6'2' 215, Thompson is pretty filled out -- in a solid position physically to succeed. All around athletic build with a strong lower half. Upper body has filled out more since his time with Kentucky. The plus athleticism and strong lower half helps him sink down in delivery. Solid mobility in shoulders, hips and groin muscles. Has a long injury history, particularly during his amateur days.

Delivery & Mechanics: Thompson has a very interesting delivery coming from the left side. He has a relatively quick leg kick that reaches about belt high at its apex. Delays his back leg sink until midway through his extension, which allows him to get very low upon plant. His plus leg strength and hip mobility help him keep the release height down; post plant (he plants very closed off, which could limit hip torque ie excess velocity), Thompson rotates his lower half well, and the plus scap retraction helps generate more force as his arm comes forward. High 3/4 slot with a very balanced follow through that helps him field the position well.

Fastball: Thompson's four seam fastball looks solid yet is nothing fantastic. Typically sitting in the low 90s, it has the ability to get up into the 96+ range. While its spin rate is subpar (2155 rpm), it still manages to get around average induced vertical break (16.5''). Despite the lack of elite traits, his unique look makes the fastball particularly effective against left handed hitters -- the 11:02 slot does help contribute to the eight inches of run on the pitch. He spots the heater well, and maintains the velocity deep into outings. Grade: 50

Curveball: Thompson's curve is the best pitch he has both on tape, and when looking at his data. The low to mid 70s velocity (avg of 74.2 mph) is a good change of pace for him, and the plus depth on the pitch shows signs of playing elite (-20.4" ivb). The plus to elite bender showcases tight break thanks to its 3090 average spin, and helps make the curve is his best counter to right handed hitters. The nature of his horizontal approach angle limit's the slider's effectiveness against righties (most dangerous against left handed hitters), so the fact that this pitch can play elite is a major player in how Thompson projects overall. The addition of a few mphs could see this pitch play as high as a 70. Grade: 60

Slider: The slider, despite having really poor traits can still be a plus pitch if optimized, and used almost exclusively against left handed bats. At an average of 83.2 mph, it is not the fastest of slider offerings -- the lack of spin on it (2005 avg rpm) also sees it struggle to play plus in any regard. Its ability to kill lift is nothing special, though the 3.2 inches of horizontal break do allow it to do some damage. He spots the pitch pretty well, and thanks to his wide horizontal approach angle, the pitch can surprise left handed hitters. At its best, the pitch's tilt would probably be shifted even further horizontally (2:20 now has more room to shift) in order to prioritize hmov. This would make it a greater weapon against lefties -- the low spin and subpar vertical break means that it must be used situationally or against lefties only anyway. Grade: 40

Changeup: Thompson's changeup has the potential to be an average to plus pitch at the big league level. The eight mph drop off in velocity from the fastball is more than adequate, and the low spin nature of the pitch suggests that it should have elite vertical break potential. While he does manage to get ten inches of induced vertical break on the change, a further horizontal shift of the pitch's tilt could result in a plus overall offering (the 14 inches of run are already adequate if he adds more vertical break) He has very good command of the pitch, and the solid feel could make it play plus at the big league level. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Thompson is a solid strike thrower, though he does have a tendency to lose his slider and change at times in the feel department. Overall average control over the four pitch mix. Spots the fastball and curve (his two best and most consistent options) very well, though he can lose his change and slider more regularly. While his misses on the changeup are not as detrimental, the slider can be a serious issue for him; hanging the pitch at the next level very rarely results in anything other than a run up on the scoreboard for the other team. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: The lack of an elite primary offering does not help Thompson, though his ability to spot it makes up for its deficiencies. The curve plays plus to elite against both righties and lefties, and should be considered the better of his two breaking ball offerings. Changeup is overall average to plus, and the slider is really only a weapon against left handed hitters. He has a long injury history which raises concerns for me while evaluating him as a starter. If he cant stay healthy, he could become a solid high leverage reliever with a playable four pitch mix.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4-#5 Backend SP
Risk: High

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Jordan Walker - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	3B	5	50

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
50	50	45	60	50	55	50

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Ray Kinsela

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Physical monster, long-limbed with broad shoulders and tapered trunk, strength throughout body with projection for more, could wind up 6-6/240 or more, high-end physical projection.

Hit: Walker's swing has some undue length to it due to the natural length of his limbs, but perhaps more notably, he's got the high-end bat speed that allows for him to overcome that length and still have a shot at getting to velocity. The path is clean with good lag through the zone, and he showed a better approach in the spring than on the circuit last summer, leading some scouts to believe he's got a solid chance to hit. Realistically, it's a fringy hit tool projection long term, due mostly to the swing-and-miss that is present in his game and will likely continue. Grade: 45

Power: Walker's raw power is easily plus right now, and he's one of the few prospects in the minors with realistic projection for 80 raw when he's done growing. The physicality is tremendous and his strength is just now starting to show up really, considering he's on the younger side for the '20 class. With projection to make enough contact for the power to show up in an impactful way, it's within reason to see Walker's game power showing up as plus, though an average hit tool would draw even more out long term. Grade: 60

Field: A third baseman at present, Walker is a good enough athlete to be sent out there, but he's unlikely to stay there if his physical projection comes anywhere near full realization. The hands are wholly fine and the arm plays from third, though most scouts believe that he's likely to slide across the diamond to first base long term. He's seen some time in a corner outfield spot before, and given his more long-stride athleticism and arm strength, right field could be an interesting fit as well. Grade: 50

Arm: An above-average tool at present, once upon a time not too long ago, Walker was seen as a legitimate two-way prospect with high upside on the mound. He's got the arm strength to profile wherever the Cardinals prefer he play, be that third base or a corner outfield spot, and with refinements to the release quickness and continued maturation of his strength, a plus tool could be in the cards here long term. Grade: 55

Run: Walker is a supreme athlete for his size, and is capable of clocking solid-average times down the line from the right side of the plate. We've exhausted this point already, but Walker is likely to get bigger as he continues to mature just given his frame, so it's further likely that his speed dips a tick or two as he matures. He won't be a base-clogger, but he's unlikely to be an asset on the bases. Grade: 50

Overall: Walker represents one of the more high-risk, boom-or-bust prospects coming out of the 2020 draft, and St. Louis bet on the upside to be sure. His ceiling is potentially that of a 35-40 HR player with some walks and swing-and-miss while playing right field at a passable level, but the realistic outcome here is that of a right-handed hitting first baseman with big power who should hit just enough to play everyday.

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

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Masyn Winn - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	STL	SS/RHP	4	50

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
50	50	55	50	55	60	60

FB	CB	CH	Ctr/Cmd
70	60	50	55/45

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Ray Kinsela

Age: 19 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 2
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Compact, athletic build filled with extreme twitch and good present strength. Should add some strength as body matures, but isn't a plus physical projection guy due to general size of frame.

Hit: Hands work extremely well in swing, gets barrel on plane early and shows good lag through zone, plus-plus bat speed with present impact to gaps and good frequency of hard contact, footspeed allows for higher projection of hit tool, approach needs to be cleaned up a bit, will expand zone and generally is an aggressive hitter. Aptitude and potential adjustments give him an above-average hit tool ceiling. Grade: 55

Power: Present fringe raw to pull side, impacts the ball hard consistently and has the bat speed and strength projection to see above-average raw power in the future. Can backspin balls with authority up both gaps and turn on balls, launching them out pull-side. Continued refinement of hit tool and overall approach along with projected strength gains gives him legitimate power ceiling. Grade: 50

Field: Extremely athletic and twitchy middle infielder, light on his feet with elite first step in any direction, combines that athleticism with good feel for infield defense, above-average hands with a weapon of an arm. Athleticism allows his projection to pretty much anywhere on the diamond, should stay up the middle (SS-2B-CF) with ease. Grade: 55

Arm: Howitzer. Winn is capable of running his fastball on the mound up to 98 mph and that arm strength plays across the diamond. Likely won't play as a two-way big leaguer with a 70 arm, but that's the raw arm strength grade. Variance is present here as a two way player, this is likely a 60 grade tool in practice; as a positional player only, it could be a 70. Grade: 60

Run: Elite athleticism with plus-plus speed, rare twitch is on display down the line and on the bases, capable of sub-4 second times down the line from the right side, speed plays consistently in game in the 70 range presently, likely ends up plus long-term with physical maturation. Grade: 60

Delivery & Mechanics: Uptempo, aggressive delivery with high-end athleticism on display and 80 arm speed standing way out. Moderate effort through release and over front side, has the athleticism and overall traits to start, likely a reliever given probability of two-way development.

Fastball: Works anywhere from 93-98 mph with solid-average arm side life, pitch plays as velocity would indicate, excellent carry through the zone, overpowering pitch when controlled on the amateur circuit, dynamic upside as a pitch, will play plus-plus or potentially better out of the bullpen. Grade: 70

Curveball: Thrown in the upper 70's and can reach the other side of 80 mph, 11/5 shape with powerful, sharp downward bite, best ones are a half-tick better than plus, some evaluators project the pitch to plus-plus, will stick with plus as the projection grade. Grade: 60

Changeup: Presently his third best pitch, used somewhat infrequently as an amateur, thrown in the 81-84 mph range with feel for turning it over, generates solid fade, athleticism allows for projection here, best ones flash solid-average at present. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Throws strikes, but effort in delivery and overall looseness within the zone, dominated with looser command due to pure overpowering nature of his stuff on the amateur circuit, projects to have enough command for late innings role. Control: 55 | Command: 45

Overall: Winn presents tremendous upside as a two-way player who was drafted and will be developed as such. Rare tools and athleticism positionally, overpowering stuff on the mound with aptitude for both. Pigeonholed upside is likely a touch better as a positional player, overall upside as a two-way is that of an All-Star. The longer he spends as a two-way player the less likely he his to max out as a pitcher or hitter.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular/#4-#5 Backend SP
Risk: Extreme

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