Matt Canterino - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 MIN RHP 7 50

Grades Update: Apr 2021
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Ctr/Cmd
50 50 60 55 55 50 50/45

Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Danny Brackman

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 222 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Medium thick frame. Strong legs with big quads. Upper body has room to develop. Very good mobility and athleticism despite awkward posture.

Delivery & Mechanics: Unique motion. In wind-up starts square and takes a quick gather and turn to begin motion. Pumps arms out from body in sync with medium leg kick to engage hips and core. Sinks very deep into drive leg while reaching back into a long arm action. Good extension, an over-the-top slot, and a low release height creates a very deceptive look and efficient mechanical sequencing helps repeatability regardless of what it looks like. Good consistency out of the stretch as well.

Fastball: Typically sits 93-96 but was recently up to 99 in a short ST outing. Borderline elite 4-seam movement with true vertical axis. Average raw spin but release height, axis, and spin efficiency give one of the lower VAAs in all of baseball. Movement is awesome and plays exceptionally at the top of the zone and the deception in the delivery makes it difficult to pick up when it's left over the plate. Canterino's velo gains will be the determinant factor on overall pitch ceiling. Grade: 60

Curveball: 78-81 breaker with 12-6 action. Vertical nature of the FB helps the CB play up despite average underlying metrics. Good feel for his release lets Canterino utilize the CB both to steal strikes early in the count as well as to put hitters away late. Above average ability to change eye levels and keep hitters off balance. Continuing to hone consistency could eventually make the CB a legit plus offering. Grade: 55

Slider: Firm at 85-87 and up to 90. Cutter-ish plane with heavy gyro and sharp glove-side movement. Tunnels very well with other offerings. Not much separation from FB at times but late movement helps miss barrels and generate weak contact. Grade: 55

Changeup: Mid-80s with good fade and sink. Good velocity separation from FB and movement mirrors SL profile well. Can flatten out though release and arm speed make it hard for hitters to see out of the hand. Has improved over the past year but Canterino still relies primarily on the FB and breaking ball combo. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Has an above average feel with the FB and is more or less average with his secondaries in terms of staying around the zone. Can get the FB up above bats regularly and will paint to the glove-side. Release inconsistencies do cause some bad misses but generally commands the fastball well. Flashes an above average feel with spin but totally different profiles between SL and CB causes some occasional command issues. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Canterino has the stuff to start, though his unique mechanics and delivery bring up some important questions. He's generally done a good job answering them by providing workhorse stamina and limiting free passes while missing bats at a high level. He could likely be an impact relief arm with his vertical FB and CB combo, yet the work he's put in since going pro indicates he has a legitimate chance at remaining a starter. If the current FB velo gains hold and he continues to develop his secondaries, Canterino could provide some of the best upside in the system.

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