Brandon Howlett - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	BOS	3B	31	35

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
35	30	40	45	50	50	40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: John Calvagno

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 21
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Sturdy and strong, particularly in the lower half. Probably 6'1"215 lbs. Nearly maxed out physically, there may be room for an additional 5-10 lbs of good weight up top. But that could mean the difference between sticking on the left side of the infield and a future at 1B/ corner OF.

Hit: He hits from an upright, closed stance. Hands are above the shoulders and the feet are shoulder width apart. Pretty quiet in the box, pre-pitch. The swing is medium in length and linear. Patient approach, has a pretty good feel for the strike zone for a young player. He gets caught in between a lot, has trouble getting around on even low-90's heat. And is often ahead on the breaking stuff. Needs to get quicker to the ball. 40/45 Grade: 40

Power: The ball comes off of his bat very well but he isn't set up to fully tap into it with his current flat swing. 45 game power, could play as much as 55 with a swing adjustment. Grade: 45

Field: Shows good hands and decent range will have to keep an eye on his conditioning.  Grade: 50

Arm: Above average arm strength and good accuracy, seems to make all of the throws pretty well. Grade: 50

Run: A below average runner, not a big part of his game. Grade: 40

Overall: Howlett is interesting, he looks great in BP. The hands are special, he really whips the bat head through the zone. Needs to get quicker to the ball and find some lift. But he gets caught in between a lot, needs to get quicker to the ball and find some lift. Assuming he does all of that, he's potentially a 2nd division regular or a short side of a platoon bat. Minus the adjustments he's likely an org guy.

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

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Brayan Bello - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	BOS	RHP	20	40

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
40	40	55	50	40	50/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: John Calvagno

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: An athletic, lean RHP. He looks shorter than his listed height, probably 6' 170 lbs. Wiry strong all over but particularly in the lower half. Some projection left. Could add an additional 10 lbs of muscle to the frame but looks destined to remain thin.

Delivery & Mechanics: 1B, 3/4, athletic, loose, quick arm. Repeats pretty well. He gets solid extension and the effort level is medium. Lots of inconsistencies with release point.

Fastball: 93-95 (96), flashed some decent life up in the zone. Could potentially reach for 98+ in one inning work. Grade: 55

Slider: Mid to upper 80's, flashes quality depth and bite. Shows put away tendencies but is inconsistent. 55 Grade: 50

Changeup: Upper 80's, will flash some solid fade and sink but infrequently. Some noticable slowing of the arm. 45 Grade: 40

Control and Command: Fringe control and below average command currently. Both could take a minor step forward due to his athleticism and his ability to repeat his mechanics. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: May have enough for a #4 or #5 SP eventually, more likely a pen arm and potentially a pretty good one.

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

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Thad Ward - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	BOS	RHP	9	45

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CT	CU	SL	Cnt/Cmd
45	40	50	45	30	60	50/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: John CaLVagno

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 182 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Listed 6'3" 182 lbs, that looks accurate. Long, lean and athletic with strong legs. Could add another 10-15 lbs of muscle, particularly up top.

Delivery & Mechanics: Sets up on the first base side of the rubber, delivering from a three quarters arm slot, Ward has a fast arm and a short arm action. He creates above-average momentum and gets a strong push off generating average extension. Slight pause prior to motion, closes off front side in sped-up leg lift to drive. Everything moves, some crossfire in his arm action and fall off post-release. Has a tendency of slinging the ball. Will rush through his delivery at times.

Fastball: Exclusively two-seam, 92-94 mph touching 96 mph with some sink and lots of horizontal movement, fastball shows heavy run, breaking in on righthanders and away from left handed hitters. Due to rushed delivery and heavy run will lead to missing armside. Generally around the zone but control over command. Grade: 50

Cutter: New pitch to Ward's repertoire in 2019. Showed improved feel for the pitch as the season progressed. Upper 80's with very good late bite. Frequently released late to RHH. Too easily layed off at times. Good variation to the heavy horizontal movement of his slider and fastball. Has been used in lieu of changeup over the last year. Grade: 45

Curveball: 12-6, High 70's, fringy, just a show me pitch Grade: 30

Slider: Low to mid 80's, low spin efficiency offering with gyro spin movement, breaks almost exclusively gloveside. Plus offering with the ability to get swings and misses, dangerous pairing with fastball, moving easy to west across the plate. Shows feel for the pitch with consistency and it's improved over his two years of pro-ball. Grade: 60

Control and Command: Sped up operation will lose release point at times. By and large around the zone, fastball's late armside run makes it difficult to command. Has good feel for his secondaries particularly his slider, and works around the zone with the pitch, while showing the ability to bury it when needed. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: Everything runs toward lefties. Could be enough here for a #4 SP but a swingman between spot starter and lower leverage innings is highest probability outcome. Two average or better pitches in his slider and fastball, and a developing third pitch in his cutter.

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

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Bryan Mata - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	BOS	RHP	6	50

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cnt/Cmd
50	50	60	55	50	40	45/40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: John Calvagno

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Filled out quite a bit from his A Ball days. Probably 6'3" 240 lbs. Still just 21, will have to keep an eye on his conditioning. Looks particularly thick in the lower half. Little to no projection remains in frame, will need to maintain conditioning.

Delivery & Mechanics: Utilizes a full wind-up, including hands over head. 1B, 3/4 to low 3/4. An arm heavy delivery and a very quick arm. Lots of effort and head whack. Gets average extension. Repeats pretty well but some inconsistencies with release point. Noticeably overthrowing fairly frequently in multiple looks.

Fastball: Sits 92-97 mph, up to 98 mph at his peak velocity. Heavy fastball, works downhill with run and sink. Mata pitches around the zone but it's a control over command profile. His movement makes his command a struggle. More horizontal movement profile than vertical, struggled to command the pitch consistently in alternate site outings this summer. Mata could probably reach for 100+ in shorter outings, or at least push 99. Grade: 60

Curveball: 10-5, high 70's hook with above average depth and bite when he gets on top of it. Can throw for strike or bury. Grade: 55

Slider: Upper 80's, late, sharp breaking at times but is inconsistent. Has potential to be a put away pitch with more refinement. New to his arsenal, didn't throw a slider while in A-Ball in 2017. Grade: 50

Changeup: Mid 80's change, looks firm and fringy but does play up some due to his ridiculous arm speed. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Solid control when he pitches within himself. Often releases late when he's trying to throw a pitch through a building. Below average command. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Mata has a very quick arm. He's been young for the level all the way up. Just 21 and in the high minors, so pitchability could take another step forward. There might be enough here for a #4 SP, or perhaps a high leverage reliever. Not sure how well sinkers play in today's MLB, so that might be an adjustment we see.

OFP:50
Role:50-Backend SP or High Leverage Reliever
Risk:Moderate

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Triston Casas - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	BOS	1B	1	55

Grades Update: Dec 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
55	60	55	70	50	60	40

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Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: John Calvagno

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 238 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 1
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Improved conditioning in 2020, looked toned and chiseled at the alternate site, 6'5" 240 lbs and is particularly strong in the lower half. He's nearly maxed out physically but reverse projection and improved conditioning leaves room for another 5-10 pounds of good weight in the upper body.

Hit: Closed, slight crouch, chokes up slightly. hands at his chest, quiet. Slight rocking as he raises his hands and back elbow at coil. Utilizes a small leg kick at launch. Nice fluid, easy swing. The bat stays in the zone for a long time. Hits the ball where it's pitched. Patient. When he did expand his zone it was typically chasing spin from a lefty. His two-strike swing has a more extreme crouch and minimal load. Long levers will struggle with spin. Overall above average tracking and bat to ball skills. Grade: 55

Power: Strong hands and quick wrists lead to above average bat speed with lift. The ball explodes off of his barrel. Capable of hitting the ball out to all fields in any park. Elite strength, has the ability to drive balls to his pull-side even in shortened two-strike approach setup. Grade: 70

Field: First base only player but shows very good hands and feet around the bag, solid range for now but that will worsen over time. Played some third base at the alternate site but is highly unlikely to play there outside of a roster pinch. Grade: 50

Arm: Reportedly sat low 90's on the mound in high school. During a previous observation a play on a foul ball in the stands, sticks out, made the catch in foul grounds and fired a missile to third base to try to nab a base runner who attempted to tag up on the play. Grade: 60

Run: Relatively light on his feet for a big man but not a runner. Grade: 40

Overall: Casas has the potential to be an impact bat at the highest level for a long time. The carrying tool is his plus or better raw power, that's already surfaced in game and at the alternate site this summer. He has a more well rounded skillset than what you often see in a masher, with good bat to ball skills and a polished approach. Early on his career it's possible he sits vs the more difficult lefties.

OFP: 55
Role: 60 - Above-Average Player / Occasional All-Star
Risk: Moderate

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Grant Lavigne - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	COL	1B	17	35

Grades Update: Nov 2020

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
35	30	45	45	50	30	30

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Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: John Calvagno

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Lavigne is long, broad shouldered and well put together. Stands 6-foot-4 220 pounds as listed and it looks accurate. He's close to maxed out physically but there may be room for an additional 5-10 pounds of good weight, particularly up top.

Hit: Moderate crouch, slightly open stance. Feet are shoulder width apart and the hands are above the shoulders. Pretty quiet in the box pre-pitch. He contracts and expands creating moderate load. The swing is on the long side and linear with above average bat speed. The ball comes off the bat pretty well when he squares it, which wasn't often. The bulk of the contact is down and to right center/left center. The approach is patient early in counts though I have seen him expand with two strikes, fishing for spin. Work to do with pitch recognition. Grade: 45

Power: Flashed substantial in game pop as an amateur and during his time in rookie ball. In game production came to a screeching halt in 2019. Posted a .091 ISO in Asheville in, and never looked fully comfortable at the plate. The raw power he shows in batting practice is plus but he's not set up to tap into it. Lavigne might be a candidate for a swing change, but his passivity at the plate sees him passing on pitches he could drive. Grade: 45

Field: An average first base profile, with clean receiving and the ability to stretch for outs. Right handed throwing isn't ideal for the position, and the body could get worse, but has handled first base well professionally. Grade: 50

Arm: Below average arm but shouldn't be stretched too thin at first base. Doesn't get much zip or on-line carry. Did play some third base and outfield in high school but max velocity throws were 77 mph. Grade: 30

Run: Big bodied station to station mover poor runner overall. Not an asset on the base paths. Grade: 30

Overall: I was excited to see Lavigne in the hitters haven that is Asheville in 2019. I observed Lavigne over 50 at bats that summer. He's big and imposing with above average bat speed and occasionally the ball would really explode off of his bat. Too often though it was soft grounders and liners, hence the .091 ISO. The raw tools are here to really impact a baseball but he'll have to do so consistently to make it as a first base only player. Swing change candidate with a heavily passive plate approach.

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

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