Owen White - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 22 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 50 55 50/40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jake Boes

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 199 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Tall, lanky frame with plenty of projection remaining; sloped shoulders, sunken chest, high waist, long legs with big feet. Frame lacks definition; plenty of room to add strength through development. Could easily develop into a Matt Garza-like frame at projection. Tommy John Surgery in May, 2019.

Delivery & Mechanics: High 3/4 slot with moderate effort; impressive arm speed generated from tall-and-fall windup; good pace with slight hesitation at leg kick, yielding modest deception. Clawing arm action with a pronounced reach. Struggles with lower half timing on occasion; repeats the rest of the delivery well. Noticeably more comfortable from the wind-up. Calm, competitive presence on the mound.

Fastball: 93-95 with heavy tailing action; high sinker usage with a four-seam sprinkled in. Mixes the four-seam up in the zone, flashing riding life. Velocity bands similar with each variant. Struggles with consistent command; tends to miss glove side suggesting slight over-rotation in the legs and hips. Plus velocity plays down considering risk with the profile and command deficiencies. Grade: 55

Curveball: Slow, 77-79 offering with 12/6 action flashing sharp break, flashes plus but sits fringy currently. Slows arm and casts the pitch occasionally, especially when trying to throw it for a strike. Lacks consistent desired velocity. Spotty usage; lacks consistent feel. Big gap between what is and what could be; likely settles at solid-average long term. Grade: 50

Changeup: Primary secondary offering at 83-85; movement mimics the sinker with modest fade beneath the zone; shows advanced feel. Maintains arm speed. Additional gains necessary with the movement profile to make it a plus pitch at the highest levels; an above-average outcome most likely. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Fringe-average control with well below-average command currently; likely to raise both a grade with continued pro instruction. Fills the zone enough to start, but misses the glove consistently with each offering. Movement profiles for each pitch have mitigated some shortcomings with command. Predictable pitch sequencing. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: White is a true wildcard; prep pitching is a risky bet to begin with, but Tommy John surgery in 2019 and COVID-19 in 2020 have taken away from valuable development time. His profile could change drastically between now and the end of his 2021 campaign, and while a back-end starting role is certainly possible, the risks warrant more of a spot starter/low leverage reliever role at this point.

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


Tekoah Roby - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 21 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 50 45 55/50

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Mike Kinsela

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 3
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Roby has an athletic, solid build that is neither large or small for a starting pitching prospect, with leanness throughout that projects well in terms of added strength. He is a solid-average athlete.

Delivery & Mechanics: Roby has solid athleticism and puts it on display on the mound, with good lower half directionality and incorporation, a loose arm stroke with above-average arm speed and a clean path, as well as good present repeatability. He generates good extension over his front side and projects well given the existing traits.

Fastball: Generally in the 90-94 mph range for most of the summer/fall circuit and into the COVID-shortened spring, with reports of early-start peaks higher than that. The pitch features good sink down in the zone and plays at the letters as well given his extension. The above-average arm speed and physical projection allow us to project on the velocity somewhat, and it's not unrealistic to expect Roby to be a 92-96 mph guy. Grade: 55

Curveball: Roby's best secondary at present, thrown in the mid-upper 70's with above-average traits and bite at times, featuring good depth and late break on an 11/5 plane at it's best. He will lose it low and cast it at times, and he occasionally leaves it up when he doesn't finish spinning it out front, but the ingredients are there for a consistently above-average pitch for him long term. Grade: 50

Changeup: His 3rd pitch, per usual for most high school pitchers, he's shown some flashes of a solid-average changeup but it's comfortably more of a below-average offering at present. He has some feel for turning it over and generating fade while maintaining his arm speed, but will occasionally let his slot drift and turn the pitch very flat. With repetitions, an average pitch exists here long term. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Roby has been consistently around the plate in his prep career and had the "strike thrower" tag on the circuit, thanks in part to how well he repeats his delivery at present. There's some room for improvement in the command department, as there is for all teenage arms, but the upside of starter-level control/command does exist here. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: Roby has some of the same qualities that made current LSU starter Landon Marceaux so attractive on the circuit several years ago, given his size, some projection, repeatability, and strikes. He's not a big upside guy, in my view, though the ingredients of a backend starter do exist here-and he's likely got a little bit higher floor than the average prep arm given his strikes also.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: High


Demarcus Evans - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 20 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 55 45 50/45

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Doyle

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 265 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Round 25
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Big, strong-bodied reliever with strength present throughout. Evans showcases good arm-speed and a strong lower half. Broad shoulders and developing lower-half suggests there could be a little more velo to come.

Delivery & Mechanics: Low effort delivery. Works well down the mound. Repeats lower half well. Release point and arm slot can waver as he tires.

Fastball: Fastball is generally 92-96, touching 98. Most comfortable 93-95. Commands the pitch well at the top of the zone and armside. Has had trouble yanking the pitch when trying to spot glove-side. Doesn't work well at the bottom of the zone. Grade: 60

Curveball: Loopy curveball with some casting arm action. Not commanded as well as his other pitches. Generally a high 70s pitch. More of a "show me" offering, rather than any sort of out pitch. Grade: 45

Slider: Best secondary. Mid 80s with two-plane break. More depth than horizontal sweep. Thrown with conviction and tunnels well off the fastball with belt-high out of the zone. Shows good command of the pitch low and glove-side. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Evans shows good command of the fastball especially high and arm-side. Slider is also commanded well low glove-side. Curveball is a work in progress. Hasn't walked too many batters at the big league level, but does have a tendency to nibble a bit. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: There's a lot to like about Demarcus Evans' chances of sticking in the Rangers bullpen. He's got a big, sturdy body, a three-pitch mix that he commands well enough over an inning, and some underlying pitch data that suggests there's more in the tank. Evans will have the chance to hold down the back of Rangers games in 2021 in an effort to establish himself as a big bullpen piece moving forward.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate


Kyle Cody - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 19 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 55 45 50/45

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Danny Brackman

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 6
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Huge imposing frame. Built like an NBA forward. Strong legs with long arms and a thick torso. Decent athleticism and mobility. No projection remaining.

Delivery & Mechanics: Hybrid wind-up. Starts motion and coils deep into his back hip with a waist-high leg kick. Notable strong internal rotation and a firm heel connection utilize the lower half well, generating above average power for a long, high-3/4 arm action. Good posture, consistent downhill direction, and a medium-low effort delivery massively help repeatability for someone with such long levers. Efficient from the stretch as well.

Fastball: Sits 93-96 and tops 98. Utilizes both a 4-seam and 2-seam. Movement profiles are average on their own and blend together at times but the 2-seam typically has about half a foot more arm-side run. Both play similarly in the zone, showing an above average ability to generate weak contact but a below average ability to miss bats. Raising the 4-seam axis and lowering the 2-seam axis to create more movement differential would likely help both offerings. Grade: 55

Slider: 82-85 gyro with a low axis that creates very good depth. Velo separation and axis make the SL play like a CB at times. Works well down in the zone. Shows an above average ability to miss bats while limiting damage. Distinct movement profile results in some surprising takes and awkward swings. Could potentially raise the axis a bit and kill some more active spin to increase gyro and make a more true SL shape, though it's working well for him as is for the moment. Grade: 55

Changeup: 85-88 with decent fade. Underwhelming overall movement profile. Tunnels with FB variations well enough to justify mixing but will likely need to improve in order to become a legitimate third pitch. Lowering axis or killing some active spin could help improve the current fringe-average offering. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Above average ability to locate 4-seam up/glove-side and 2-seam arm-side. Does prioritize staying near the plate and will leave the ball in hittable areas, even in putaway situations, giving up a bit more contact than necessary. Flashes above average command with the SL and CH as well, though spotting them up isn't a regular occurrence for Cody. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Cody underwent TJS in 2018 and has steadily worked his way back to health since, making his MLB debut last season. He impressed in a depleted Rangers rotation, likely exceeding any expectations that were made considering his most advanced level of competition prior to debuting was high-A ball. Though he likely won't ever be the dominant power pitcher he looks like out there on the mound, Cody is doing everything he can to prove he's an MLB quality starter. Whether that happens or not is likely dependent on the continued refinement of his arsenal.

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


Eli White - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX OF 18 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 45 40 55 55 70

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jake Boes

Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 11 (OAK)
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Thin build near physical projection; long neck, squared shoulders, sunken chest with long arms and a trim waist. Lower half more developed than upper; sturdy base with lean but strong thighs and legs. Good athlete; overall build reminds me of Craig Counsell. Injury history includes a minor shoulder injury and an oblique injury.

Hit: Quiet stance that crouches into load; squared; starts upright then develops a deep bend to form a wide base upon load. Quick hands yield above-average bat speed. Little wasted movement; efficient bat path; lacks pitch recognition at times, gets fooled looking and swinging both. Willing to work counts, short-stroke helps to waste pitches. Overall, a fringe-average hit tool with limited projection remaining. Grade: 45

Power: Below-average power; quick, short stroke not conducive to over-the-fence pop; leverages legs well. Most over the fence pop goes to the pull field on pitches located in the inner third. Extra base hits mostly line drives down the lines and in the gaps. Home run totals likely to scrape low double-digits across a full season. Grade: 40

Field: Above-average defender; shows innate comfort in the grass. Excellent routes; tracks and plays the wall well. High effort; does the little things well. Would profile best in a corner, but can handle any spot in the outfield. Grade: 55

Arm: Above-average arm; accurate to the bases with more than enough to play in any outfield spot. Throws are on-line but need a hop or cut-off occasionally. Recently switched to outfield; mechanics change has been seamless; sound and over-the-top. Grade: 55

Run: Double-plus runner; 3.95 home-to-first with base-stealing ability. High effort, pick-them-up-and-put-them-down strides down the line; runs like a soccer player. Stolen base threat and could put up stolen base totals well into the double digits across a full season. More than enough to leg out a hustle double or beat out the occasional slow ground ball. Grade: 70

Overall: A defense-first profile, White profiles as the ideal defensive fill-in on a competitive club. His ceiling is a second-division regular and a role he may realize on a down Texas MLB club shortly, with his power stroke hindering him from reaching average. A strong spring has bumped his hit tool a grade for me, although I still have concerns for how he handles quality spin across a full season. At his best, I could see Rajai Davis-like production across his big league career with a safe bench piece floor. Most likely, it's a second-division regular whose versatility and speed may help him elbow his way into a lineup every day on the present Rangers roster.

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


Joe Palumbo - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX LHP 17 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 55 50 45 40/30

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2013 Round 30
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Athletic build that matches listed numbers. Wide shoulders; relatively average frame. 2020 season cut short by complications from Ulcerative Colitis.

Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; tall and fall delivery. High 3/4s arm slot with moderate effort; average arm speed. Easy, repeatable delivery with minimal deception.

Fastball: 91-94, t97; solid ride with some run. Misses bats at the top of the zone and can locate it to both edges of the plate as well as the top and bottom of the zone. Starts jumping on hitters after they've seen the breaking pitches. Gets in trouble when left over the heart, squared up by good hitters. Above-average pitch, overall, just needs to stay out of the middle with it. Grade: 55

Curveball: 76-79; big, vertical 1-7 breaker that sits in the high-70s. Good depth, consistently falls off the table and gets swings and misses. Locates it well below the zone; can backdoor it and drop it in for strikes to freeze hitters, too. Mirrors the fastball well; hitters often struggle to identify it. Grade: 55

Slider: 81-82; sweeping 2-8 action with solid bite. Has a little depth to it. New pitch in 2020, sometimes leaks into the curveball's shape. Works it glove-side and below the zone for chases. Does a good job missing bats and can run it back over the plate armside for called strikes. Flattens out when left up and gives up loud contact. Grade: 50

Changeup: 85-89; solid tumble with some fade to it. Good armspeed. Hitters have trouble recognizing it out of the hand and swing over it. Feel is developing but not there yet. Locates mostly armside, but some get away. Did not throw one during his 59-pitch sample in 2020. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Works to all four quadrants, living on the edges for the most part. Happy to pitch backwards and sequences pretty well. Command comes and goes; good when it's on, but struggles to throw strikes when it's not. Loses the release and has a hard time getting it back, often missing by a wide margin. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Lefty with good stuff and on/off command. The quality and depth of the arsenal are good enough to start if he can find a way to throw enough strikes. When he's on, he's very tough to hit -- just too inconsistent. May be best suited for a bulk role out of the pen going through the lineup once.

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


Hans Crouse - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 16 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 60 55 45 40/30

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 2
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Large, lanky frame that's begun to fill out. Long legs with strong thighs, high waist, short torso. Average build with broad shoulders. Previous injuries include biceps tendonitis and surgery for bone spurs in 2019.

Delivery & Mechanics: Windup; drop and drive. Low 3/4s arm slot with moderately high effort and above-average arm speed. Awkward, herky-jerky motion that is tough to replicate but manages to repeat decently. Shorter stride, significant head-whack at finish.

Fastball: 92-97, t99; Good velocity with ride (despite low arm slot) and run plus an unconventional delivery that makes it tough for hitters to square up. Often gets whiffs in the zone and above it. Will overthrow it resulting in noncompetitive locations. Command is so-so, sometimes dotting corners, other times spiking it at 55 feet. Strong pitch with double-plus potential due to velo and movement, command and consistency hold it back. Grade: 60

Slider: 81-84; gyro-slider with solid depth and some sweep. Flashes plus, borderline double-plus at its best with hard, late movement. More consistently in the above-average range. Vertical movement helps get whiffs but he'll drop it in for a strike now and again, too. Some command issues, like the fastball, that lead to uncompetitive locations. Will manipulate it at times to look like a curveball, but not a truly separate pitch. Grade: 55

Changeup: 82-85; average tumble with some fade. Sells well with armspeed. Lacks feel for command at present, but showed improvement in 2019. Potential to get to average with more consistency and command, but not guaranteed. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Strong pitchability traits, knows how to affect a hitter's timing; likes to keep them off balance. Willingness to work backwards. Has bouts of strike throwing issues where he loses the release. Tendency to fall behind and has to come over the heart. Not very efficient. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Righty with big stuff and odd delivery that can get major league hitters out but likely from the bullpen. Delivery aside, the command is probably too erratic for him to turn over a lineup more than once despite the developing changeup. Very good fastball/slider combo would tick up even more out of the pen and give him a shot at a high-leverage role.

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


Yerry Rodriguez - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 15 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 60 45 55 60/55

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Tyler Jennings

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 198 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: High-waisted right-hander with some projection left to his frame. Broad shoulders with long levers to his body. Athletic player. Durability is a concern, as he hasn't thrown more than 73.2 innings in a single season due to elbow ailments. Has been previously suspended for a banned substance in 2017.

Delivery & Mechanics: Low effort delivery with some deception to it. Utilizes first base side of rubber and triggers operation with a moderately high leg kick. Arm slot is low three-quarters with a slingy arm action. Generates good separation between hips and shoulders once foot is down, with the arm being on time.

Fastball: Rodriguez possesses a high-octane heater that has touched 98 MPH in the past, but usually sits in the 92-96 MPH range with high spin rates. Pitch gets good ride at the top of the zone, which will help the pitch play. Fastball has good run to the pitch, as well. Furthermore, Rodriguez has excellent command of the pitch and utilizes it all around the strike zone. Gets a solid amount of swings and misses with the pitch. Likely to be a plus offering at the major league level. Grade: 60

Curveball: Rodriguez's curveball is a bit of an oddball. It's a slurvy pitch in the low-to-mid-70's with decent shape and depth to it. Much like the fastball, Rodriguez's ability to spin the ball gives the pitch high spin rates, though the curveball needs tightening up. Might be better suited in throwing a slider at the next level. Projects as Rodriguez's third pitch. Grade: 45

Changeup: The change-up projects as Rodriguez's best secondary offering. It's a low-80's pitch with good separation to the fastball and has splitter action with good fade and sink to the pitch. Maintains good arm speed with pitch and sells it well. Throws it for strikes. Likely an above-average offering at next level. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Rodriguez has never walked more than 21 batters in a season, though take that with a grain of salt due to lack of professional innings. Either way, Rodriguez commands the ball well and helps his arsenal play. Has averaged just under two walks per nine innings throughout his career. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Rodriguez has the potential to rise up the rankings with a full season under his belt. However, he will likely not be a starter at the next level, as he must refine the breaking ball. Fits the role of a potential long relief arm or low leverage profile out of the bullpen. Will be interesting to see how the stuff plays with a full season.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: High


Jonah Heim - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX C 14 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 50 40 50 60 30

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Ronny Henriquez - Scouting Report


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

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Cont/Cmd
45 40 55 55 45 50/45

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Anthony Franco

Age: 21 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Listed at 5-10, 155. Short, narrow frame. A little underdeveloped physically, could be room for a little more mass in the shoulders, but he's always going to be atypically small for a right-hander.

Delivery & Mechanics: Leans toward first base over front hip before release; that enables high 3/4 arm slot. Plus-plus arm speed; appears to hide ball well before exploding forward, leading to a little deception. Above-average athlete.

Fastball: 93-96. Works heavily up in the zone; fastball stays fairly straight and on plane. Doesn't miss a ton of bats but has a tendency to work just above the barrel for lazy fly balls. Grade: 55

Slider: Doesn't have huge length but gets decent depth. Advanced ability to locate glove-side and below the barrel. Grade: 55

Changeup: Power changeup model. Has good downward movement but plays firm and doesn't appear to consistently deceive hitters. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Solid strike-thrower for a teenager. Has shown ability to locate fastballs up and sliders down. Occasionally speeds up his delivery and overthrows but is athletic enough to develop consistency with reps. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Henriquez's fantastic numbers in Low-A in 2019 (4.50 ERA, 27.7% strikeout rate, 7.6% walk rate as a 19-year-old) were likely inflated a bit by a sheltered role. He never exceeded six innings, and only faced the middle of an opposing lineup for a third time in four of his nineteen starts. That could hint at a future as a five-and-dive starter or multi-inning reliever. Henriquez throws fairly hard, has a solid slider and should throw strikes at a league average rate. But there's probably no plus pitch here and his power changeup, despite good movement, isn't located consistently enough to fool opposing hitters.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: High


Yeferson Tineo - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX SS 46 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 17 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 145 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2021 IFA
RuleV: 2024

Overall: Tineo is a shortstop signed by the Rangers as part of the 2020 class. He's a switch-hitter that hits line drives to all fields, but lacks strength and doesn't strike the ball with authority. What he lacks in size he makes up for intangibles, and he gets praised for his defensive skills. He lacks the flair that some of the guys have in this class, but he is one of the better up the middle gloves in this international group. He was rumored to sign with teh Braves, but that fell apart and he ended up with the Rangers for $600,000.

OFP: 35
Risk: High


Danyer Cueva - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX SS 45 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Height: 6-1
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2021 IFA
RuleV: 2024

Overall: The Venezuelan prospect signed for just over $1 million as part of the 2020 class. The left-handed hitting shortstop draws praise for his contact skills and strong defensive chops that should keep him up the middle. At 6'1", 160 pounds he has a lean and athletic frame. He lacks the strength to be more than a gap hitter but there's plenty of time for the frame to develop.

OFP: 35
Risk: Exteme


Zion Bannister - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX OF 40 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 187 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Overall: Bannister has one of the more unusual entries to pro ball that we've seen. He was born in the Bahamas but then moved to Maryland and played high school baseball in the states for three seasons. Before his senior season his family moved to the Dominican Republic and then back to the Bahamas. The Rangers signed him for just under $850,000 as part of their 2019 class. He's a physical specimen with big raw power and plus speed. Severe contact and approach issues hurt the power numbers but the tools are loud. He's a right-handed hitter that also has some work to do defensively, but he's the most gifted athlete in a system full of them.

OFP: 35
Risk: Exteme


Yeison Morrobel - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX OF 34 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 17 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 IFA
RuleV: 2024

Overall: The highest priced signing of the Rangers 2020 J2 class. Morrobel is an athletic outfielder from the Dominican Republic and signed for $1.8 million. He's a centerfielder right now, but will likely shift to right field as he slows down and bulks up. It's a quick left-handed bat that could get pushed aggressively due to the mature hit tool and approach. How much power he hits for is the real question here, and if he shifts to a corner it will put more pressure on the bat.

OFP: 40
Risk: Exteme


Alex Speas - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX RHP 30 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 2
RuleV: Eligible

Overall: 75-80; Best strikeout pitch in his arsenal. Shows an advanced feel for his age, with above average horizontal and vertical movement. The 10-15 mph velo separation creates a near parachute effect with the ball just dying as it gets to the plate. Maclean is able to maintain his arm slot and arm speed throughout this pitch adding to its deception. Plus command allows him to dot the bottom of the zone consistently to create whiffs in any count.

OFP: 40
Risk: High


Luisangel Acuna - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX SS/2B 27 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 19 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Overall: The younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald, Luisangel Acuna was signed as part of the Rangers 2018 J2 class. The Venezuelan born prospect was signed for $425,000 and has a stance that nearly perfectly emulates his older brother. Has a similar leg kick, the same exceptional balance and a similar finish to his swing. Acuna has average raw power presently and while the power is not close to what his brother produces, he may have a stronger hit tool when compared to his brother at the same age. Ronald went through a physical transformation though and there's some hope that same thing may happen here. Defensively he lacks a true position, but does seem to have the skills you want in someone that will stay on the dirt. Without a growth spurt I see him as a second baseman with an average hit tool and fringy power.

OFP: 40
Risk: High


Bayron Lora - Scouting Report


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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 18 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Overall: Lora was signed for $3.9 million out of the Dominican Republic as part of the Rangers 2019 J2 class. He's an impressive physical specimen, standing 6'4", and a solid 220 pounds, but he's likely larger than that. He's a big dude. He has immense strength with at least 70 raw, and it might even be 80 as there's a chance the big man can pop 40 homers consistently in the future. That all depends on the hit tool, and if he gets the hit tool to 40, he's a middle of the order bat. He's a bit of a free swinger and will chase breaking balls off the plate, but he's only 18. He's a very large dude, but don't mistake that for out of shape. Not the case. Below-average outfield range will push him to first base sooner or later. Lora can mash, the question is how much the hit tool will allow.

OFP: 45
Risk: Exteme


Sherten Apostel - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX 3B/1B 11 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 55 40 70 30

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jake Martin

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 UDFA (PIT)
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Extra large 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame. Gained a ton of mass from 2019 Minor League ball to 2020 Major League debut. Physical body, well built, lots of strength.

Hit: Starts in a moderately open stance with hands near back shoulder and bat tilt parallel over shoulder. Base slightly wider than shoulder width. Starts with weight in toes causing slight lean over the plate. Large leg lift back towards the plate which causes him to sort of coil into himself, causing more lean over the plate. Creates less barrel time in the zone. A little bit of front leg lockout creates a slightly upward bat path. Similar to most hitters, he generally hits pull side ground balls and line drives while he sprays fly balls more. Typically sells out for power. Has a tendency to lean over and reach for outside pitches to simply make contact. Has the ability to draw a walk. Will still swing at some pitches outside of the zone but possesses an average walk rate. Below-average strikeout rate. Not the best bat-to-ball skills but could certainly improve with age and experience. What works is that he is simply a genetic freak and he hits the ball hard. What does not work is the huge plate side lean while he swings, it severely limits the barrel time through the zone. He cheats on pitches on the inner half while sort of lunging out at pitches on the outside half of the plate. Would be better served to get his back leg down, stay more upright, and move his barrel through the zone. Grade: 40

Power: Has a lot of raw power thanks to his size and strength. Would translate more efficiently to game power if he made additional contact. His bat path takes an upward trajectory thanks to front leg lockout. He cheats on inside pitches, his legs have equal bend upon swinging, and he leans over the plate causing less barrel time in the zone. But when he hits it, he hits it a far way. Does not have good or even average speed so it is all power-related. Prototypical power hitter. Grade: 55

Field: Not a lot of range at the hot corner. After a few years, he will most likely have to shift over to first base. Pretty good comparison to Miguel Sano, strong armed corner infielder. Could be passable over there as it currently stands but probably a tick below average. Just so big, his athleticism will probably deteriorate quicker than that of his peers. Grade: 40

Arm: Strong arm. Incredible strength and power behind throws. Unfortunately, the arm will somewhat go to waste as he will most likely have to shift over to first base. Grade: 70

Run: So large, just does not move really well. His sprint speed ranked in the 17th percentile in 2020. Speed affects acumen for extra base hits and fielding. Will most likely only decrease with age. Grade: 30

Overall: Prototypical power hitting corner infielder. As it currently stands, he probably will not be even an average Major League contributor in part to his shortcomings defensively and making contact. However, he is only 21 years old and the potential is certainly there. The concerns are valid but it would not be a horrible idea to at least give him a shot and let him develop his ability even further.

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


Anderson Tejeda - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX SS 10 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 50 55 60 50

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Tyler Henninger

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/L
Acquired:
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Lean, wiry frame. High waisted with long, loose limbs. Live, athletic body. Lower body more developed than upper body. Frame has strength with room for continued development.

Hit: Natural LHH, became full-time switch hitter in '19. From the left side, slightly closed stance with hands at the letters. Upright body with feet shoulder width apart. Body crouches during load. Active hand load with major hitch. Large leg kick timing mechanism. As RHH, slightly open stance with hands at the head. Upright body with feet shoulder width apart, maintains body position better. Active hand load and sizable leg kick. Less movement as RHH. Above-average bat speed with upper cut path. Pull-side approach, hits off front side well. Hits ball hard when contact is made. Aggressive hitter, can turn into a free swinger. Has length in swing. Well below-average bat to ball skills with approach for power not contact. Lots of swing and miss both in and out of zone. Struggles with offspeed. Better hitter from the left side. Needs approach change to make contact more often. Grade: 40

Power: Plus raw power, contact issues make game power play closer to average. Ball jumps off bat when squared up. Ability to drive ball out to all parts of the field. Bat speed and natural loft in swing indicates possible above-average power. Needs to make contact more to fully tap into it. Grade: 50

Field: Solid defender that makes the routine play. Confident hands, catches the ball well. Shows athletic actions and good body control. Ability to move both ways well. Good footwork, keeps body moving towards bag. Shows ability to make highlight reel play. Grade: 55

Arm: Good throwing mechanics, loose arm action. Exceptional arm strength with easy carry through the bag. On target most of the time. Can throw on the run and from different arm angles. Decent transfer, can get slow at times. Easily playable up the middle, would even play at 3B. Grade: 60

Run: Average out of the box with good acceleration. Can lack hustle out of the box at times. Athletic actions with smooth strides. Not a burner, but shows the ability to steal bases. Can go 1st to 3rd. Aggressive on the bases. Needs to improve instincts, will take unnecessary chances. Grade: 50

Overall: Tejeda has a lot of tools that can stand out at different times. His lowest graded tool is his hit tool due to the lack of consistent contact. A swing that gets long at times combined with a free swinger approach has led to a concerning amount of whiffs. When he does make contact, the ball is usually hit hard. He shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields and has the potential to provide quality power for a middle infielder. If he wants to have a chance at cracking a lineup consistently, he will need to improve his approach and make contact more often. With the glove, Tejeda has shown he has the actions, footwork, and hands to play a quality SS. He moves well both ways and catches whatever he gets to. He possesses a plus, borderline double-plus, arm that could play all round the dirt. It has on-line carry and is on target a majority of the time. He is a solid runner who shows athletic actions and has the ability to steal a base, but needs to get smarter on the bases. Overall, he is likely a below-average player, who has a chance to become an average player if he improves his contact ability.

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


Maximo Acosta - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 TEX 2B 9 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 50 40 45 55 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 18 yr
Height: 5-9
Weight: 187 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Short armed athletic build. Lower half is stockier. Small forearms. Frame has room to add significant strength but could also put on bad weight in the middle without putting in work. Signed for $1.65 million out of Venezuela, Acosta turned heads with a strong showing at instructs against older pitching.

Hit: Acosta has a simplistic swing, easy to repeat mechanics. Starts upright with a wide base, little to no movement. Keeps weight firmly planted on back leg, with thigh high leg kick and an aggressive, but controlled swing with violent, one-handed finish. Supreme contact skills drive the profile, and Acosta covers the plate extremely well. Will alter his swing plane based on pitch type, and handles fastballs up in the zone extremely well. It will be difficult to sneak a fastball in the zone by him. Has issues with recognizing spin, but that's not anything unusual for a prospect his age. Potential future plus tool if he adds strength. Grade: 50

Power: The power is developing, but Acosta will drive the ball with authority when he finds the barrel. Power plays down due to his aggressive, contact-oriented approach, but as he gets stronger this can be an average tool due to how good the overall hit tool is. Standing at only 5'9", Acosta can still drive the ball when he sits on his back leg. Gap power now, can top out as an average tool down the line. Grade: 40

Field: I don't have much on his defensive skills, but his future home will depend on the frame. If he fills out like I believe he will he won't be long for shortstop. His lack of footspeed and potentially limited range make him a decent fit at the keystone. Reports say he's an instinctual shortstop but physical limitations and a crowded organizational depth chart make him a better fit for second, or perhaps even left field. The hands are good enough, but again, all depends on frame. Grade: 45

Arm: Acosta has an above-average arm. The arm will allow him to play anywhere on the diamond. Grade: 55

Run: Source at 2019 instructs had consistent below average run times, but as his body changes it wouldn't surprise me to see him evolve into an average runner with time. Grade: 40

Overall: Acosta is a still developing prospect that has drawn some rave reviews from big names in the industry in the past. I'm operating on information from 2019 instructs here, and based off of that he has the look of a hit over power second baseman, with a chance to hit near the top of the lineup due to his bat-to-ball ability. With no present plus skills there's a better chance than not he ends up as a utility man more than anything, but the foundation is here for Acosta to become a future big league regular.

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