| Born: 01/08/1996 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 195 |
| Mechanics |
| Body: Broad, muscular frame, thick lower half, durable innings-eater
Delivery: Mechanical, rhythmic semi-wind, double-clutch pump, slightly-turned leg kick; fairly clean out front, clean finishes, stays on line; timing will get inconsistent, occasionally runs away from his arm on off-speed pitches at present, but body and athleticism to make adjustments Arm Action: Clean, compact, stays in-line behind back hip, high three-quarter slot; average arm-speed, evident arm strength, generates velocity more from frame and drive than pure arm-speed
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| Evaluator | Adam McInturff |
| Report Date | 07/02/2016 |
| Affiliate | Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low A, Padres) |
| Dates Seen | 6/25/16 |
| OFP/Risk | 55/High |
| Realistic | 50/No. 4 Starter |
| MLB ETA | 2018 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 55 | 60 | 92-93 | 95 | Heavy pitch, late finish through the zone, projection for another tick or two of velocity; solid angle of attack, late hop helps it play it above-average, ability to generate swing-and-miss in upper quadrants
Command: Control ahead of command through starts, throws a lot of strikes, flashes frequent sequences of true command within the zone; potential to develop above-average command |
| Changeup | 50 | 60 | 84-85 | 85 | Lat, sharp split-like action, tunnels distinctly off the fastball, quality action, advanced feel to keep it around the zone, swing-and-miss potential |
| Curveball | 40 | 50 | 74-75 | 77 | Projection pitch; flashes average, large downer action and good rotation; inconsistent action, gets loopy and slow, tighter action at higher velo band, below-average at present |
| Control | 45 | 55 | Advanced ability to dissect the plate, gets ahead, easy delivery; projectable fastball command to both sides, lands the changeup for strikes, curve lags at present, flashes ability to spin it tight during best sequences |
| Overall |
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Ceiling: Middle-Rotation Starter Background: 20-year-old right-hander enjoying a breakout campaign, traded to San Diego 6/30. Very impressive stuff and results after arriving in Greensboro in late May. Carries risk as a recently-drafted prep arm pitching below Double-A with limited professional innings. Checks a lot of big league boxes with a quality mix of size, velocity, and the chance for solid control and command. He pounds the zone with velocity from a clean delivery and big-league frame. Both secondaries show swing-and-miss potential, and advanced control of secondary pitches makes him a good bet to start. |
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| Born: 08/30/1995 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 220 |
| Mechanics |
| Large body and frame, good midsection, some physical projection remaining; half windup, compact delivery, tends to rush upper half; cups hand, loses release point; effectively wild throughout, compact but messy arm action, above-average arm speed, three-quarter slot; 1.23-1.38 in stretch |
| Evaluator | Steve Givarz |
| Report Date | 07/22/2016 |
| Affiliate | Dunedin Blue Jays (High A, Blue Jays) |
| Dates Seen | 6/23/2016 |
| OFP/Risk | 55/Medium |
| Realistic | 50: League-Average Starter |
| MLB ETA | 2019 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 55 | 60 | 92-94 | 97 | Sat mostly 92-94, 95-97 for shorter spells, some sink, fringe-average movement
Movement- 45/45 |
| Curveball | 40 | 50 | 78-82 | 82 | 11-5 shape, small depth with fair action, some bite, located it moderately well |
| Slider | 45 | 55 | 84-86 | 86 | Potential above-average offering, good tilt and bite; wasn't used that often;, worked the curve more this outing; reserved to finish off righties |
| Overall |
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Reid-Foley only threw one changeup at 87, did not have feel for the pitch in warm-ups. He was effectively wild with fastball, but has fair command of pitch. Lack of much chance to evaluate the changeup makes his rotation future tougher to foresee. The overall delivery and arm-action are additional question marks as to whether they will hold up in a starting role. The package would work in the bullpen, where the heater can play up and he'd be able to get by with just the breaking balls and no change. Command- 40/50 |
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| Born: 07/27/1995 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 230 |
| Mechanics |
| Big, sturdy frame, thick throughout, high waist, long legs, broad shoulders with slope, moderate hunch; quick rock, stiffness with some effort into leg kick, keeps his posture through significant collapse on back leg; long arm action, deep circle, downhill with front-side extension to high three-quarter slot, will drop to true three-quarter, mild drag, average arm speed, gets late to slot; long stride, gets low, does not leverage height, release point a good 9-10 inches below standing height, firm strike with stress on front knee and groin; mild recoil, generally clean finish; struggles to repeat with balance, will get offline early, lacks fluidity, control-over-command profile; fast worker, up-tempo cadence, quick from stretch, 1.19-1.30 |
| Evaluator | Wilson Karaman |
| Report Date | 07/22/2016 |
| Affiliate | Visalia Rawhide (High A, D-backs) |
| Dates Seen | 7/7/16 |
| OFP/Risk | 50/High |
| Realistic | 45 – Back-End/Swingman |
| MLB ETA | 2018 |
| Video | Yes |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| FB | 50 | 55 | 89-92 | 93 | Two-way action, natural mild cut, two-seam variant with solid run, late sink to get under barrels, manipulates movement; sneaky life, extension gets it on hitters quick; above-average control, advanced for age, around the zone, pitch will leak out and over, lacks velocity to elevate and miss bats, fringe-average command to glove side, below-average to arm side |
| CH | 40 | 50 | 84-86 | 86 | Straight change, firm, mild late fade, limited tumble, not a bat-misser; quality arm speed, off-barrel contact, ground ball pitch, below-average present command, feel to project it up |
| SL | 40 | 45 | 80-82 | 82 | Rounder shape, lacks bite, will roll it in the zone,mild chase utility; long wrists, limited present feel to snap it off consistently |
| Overall |
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A prep arm taken in the eighth round in 2013, Keller has been the youngest pitcher in the Cal League for most of the season. His sturdy frame has more durability risk than most on account of a higher-stress motion with a long, low stride that generates out-sized tension and stress on his landing leg. The delivery in general, and arm action in particular, has plenty of length. Coupled with some stiffness in his actions, it leaves the fine command profile behind his advanced control, and it's likely to stay that way. His extension out front helps his average velocity play up, and late-if-limited action with the heater and change make him difficult to square down in the zone. He lacks a put-away pitch and will need to max out the development of his slider in order to hit his no. 4 starter ceiling. |
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| Born: 03/09/1998 (Age: 18) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 160 |
| Mechanics |
| Extremely athletic, fluid delivery, tilt/pause gives deception; gets extension and plane, balanced; mild stab, high-three-quarters arm slot, outstanding arm speed; ability to finish out front, strong, mature lower half, some room to fill out upper body and possibly grow; height not an issue |
| Evaluator | Will Siskel |
| Report Date | 07/26/2016 |
| Affiliate | Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low A, Padres) |
| Dates Seen | 07/20/2016, 07/25/2016 |
| OFP/Risk | 70/Moderate |
| Realistic | 60 – No. 3 Starter |
| MLB ETA | 2019 |
| Video | Yes |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 65 | 80 | 93-96 | 97 | Gets impressive downhill plane; plays up with plus life, plus run with sink at times, tails into zone, effort at 97 is as leisurely as lower sitting velo; can regularly hit 97; already works both sides, attacks, not afraid to get aggressive and challenge inside; can reach back for elite velocity, confirmed reports up to 99; keeps it on a leash (92-94) early in games; low 4 FB command mainly due to inconsistent finish out front; prone to leaving it center-cut, leading to hard contact, causing the plus-plus raw offering to play down.
Strike-throwing ability present at 18 years old with projection for additional velocity, athleticism and fluid motion suggests further advances in command given age; will use higher end velocity as he moves up levels. |
| Changeup | 45 | 65 | 80-82 | 83 | Big velo separation; downhill with plus fade and serious tumble; replicates arm speed; natural deception from motion; can get firm and on top of it; flashed 60+ repeatedly but inconsistent offering at present; can dream on grip consistency, arm speed, athleticism, and deception; advanced feel for the pitch, long fingers; innate feel for pitch; already flashes as a legitimate major-league out pitch. |
| Curveball | 40 | 60 | 74-75 | Effortless ability to spin it in warmups, natural pitch; 11-5 break from high-three-quarters slot; tight spin, does not roll; shape still evolving, some show true 11-5, others feature more horizontal movement and tilt; very good depth, inconsistent and will get around it and overthrow at present, developing approach, attempting to work backwards with the pitch; flashed plus multiple times in first viewing; can spot it low and away to right-handed hitters, chase pitch; occasional out-of-zone command. |
| Overall |
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Espinoza combines pure athletic projection and advanced feel, all while at the age of a current high school senior. He shows the characteristics of a starter, with distinct routines and a slow heartbeat, and projects remarkable poise, remaining unfazed by performance adversity and the twists and turns of a game. The floor for the command looks to be average, and he already demonstrates an advanced feel for pitching, along with the ability to make adjustments between and during starts. He also has a plus glove/range and can hold runners. It's an unmatched combination of repertoire and athleticism at age and level, with an elite fastball and both secondaries projecting to plus or better with experience and reps. This is a front-line, first-division starter future with makeup to complement the pure projection; he shows everything you want to see in an elite pitching prospect at a remarkably young age. |
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| Born: 01/07/1997 (Age: 19) | |
| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| Height: 5' 9" | Weight: 160 |
| Primary Position: 2B | |
| Secondary Position: SS | |
| Physical/Health |
| Small, compact frame, lean, sturdy lower half, broad torso and shoulders; may gain strength, build should remain lean |
| Evaluator | Adam Hayes |
| Report Date | 07/04/2016 |
| Dates Seen | 6/14-16/16 |
| Affiliate | Gwinnett Braves (AAA, Braves) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2018 | Medium | 60 | 50/Regular Middle Infielder | Yes |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 60 | Switch-hitter; high leg kick, hands drift, bat wrap; hits with front foot load, throws hands, direct bat path, slap approach; swing variation with no kick, less weight transfer, generates more authority; high-contact, all-fields approach; high finish limits out-of-box speed; will expand zone, can extend at-bats, walk totals will be limited by aggressive approach |
| Power | 30 | Some pull-side power, limited carry and loft to middle and opposite fields; in-game power limited by approach, slap approach; can drive the gaps, speed to create extra bases |
| Baserunning/Speed | 60 | 4.14 home-to-first from the left side, high finish, plays up underway; some hesitancy to challenge pitchers at present, capable of accumulating stolen bases |
| Glove | 60 | Recent conversion from short to second, range is plus on the right side, responsive glove with quick actions |
| Arm | 55 | Accurate arm that shows above-average, crisp throws from right side, bounced some longer relays and double play turns |
| Overall |
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Albies is a young middle infielder with plus hit, glove, and run tools. An international signing from Curacao, he has been promoted aggressively above his age. He's a switch-hitter, and the hit tool flashes plus with variation to the swing. His default swing is geared to a high-contact, slap approach, though he will simplify and attack the ball aggressively from time to time. The game power is tied to which approach takes hold; it is limited, though there's more pop than the frame suggests. His speed will lead to extra bases and the capacity to steal plenty of bases, though there is present hesitancy to utilize it. He recently moved from short to second, where the glove is an asset with plus range. The arm profiles better at the keystone, though there is enough to profile at short. He's an exciting player with a future starting middle-infield contributor projection. |
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| Born: 07/20/1994 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 215 |
| Primary Position: CF | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Muscular frame and chest; impressive athlete, has struggled with injuries this season; missed three weeks with a dislocated right kneecap, has also missed time with a concussion; fresh off DL in viewings |
| Evaluator | Steve Givarz |
| Report Date | 07/22/2016 |
| Dates Seen | 6/23-6/25/2016, 6/27/2016 |
| Affiliate | Dunedin Blue Jays (High A, Blue Jays) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2018 | Moderate | 55 | 50, League-Average Starter | No |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 55 | Open stance, even, pelvic load with knee tuck, hand load times consistently with lower half; plus bat speed, line-drive stroke, rusty timing off the DL, still squared up some balls, aggressive approach |
| Power | 40 | Below-average raw, flat swing, swing lacks plane to lift balls; strength to generate some carry; should play to full utility at peak given strong hit tool and speed to help extend basehits. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 70 | Double-plus runner, 4.12 home-to-first, potential weapon on the basepaths |
| Glove | 55 | Speed really plays in center, covers the grass well, good reads; routes lack consistent efficiency, uses speed to help cover mistakes. |
| Arm | 50 | Average arm strength, gets to cutoff men quickly, not a true weapon, effective throwing to bases, lacks carry to the plate |
| Overall |
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Alford is a potential lead-off hitter at the big league level. The tools for hitting success are there, even though he has struggled with injuries and timing this year. |
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