Chicago Cubs

Jeremiah Estrada - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 38 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB CH Cmd/Cnt
35 30 55 40 60 40/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson


Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 6
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Lean, athletic build at 6'1", 185. Likely a little heavier than listed weight but nothing concerning. Not much physical projection here. Had some elbow injuries since draft. Former UCLA commit hurt elbow in June of 2018, rehabbed and ended up having Tommy John surgery in August of 2019. Expected to be a full go as baseball resumes. Worth tracking as sixth rounders that get a six digit signing bonus are special arms.

Delivery & Mechanics: Slower paced delivery with fast, loose arm. Showcases athleticism as he drives off back leg from high 3/4 slot. Used to work quicker but slowed himself down and now is able to repeat.

Fastball: Estrada found consistent velocity by slowing down his delivery and was touching 95 frequently before the arm injury. Pitch had some arm-side run and generated weak contact and missed bats. Grade: 55

Curveball: Inconsistent pitch with good shape and will flash plus, but it backs up at times and needs more refinement. Grade: 40

Changeup: Plus pitch with fade and depth. Feel for his changeup is rare for a kid with so few professional innings. Swing and miss pitch and one of better changeups in the system. Grade: 60

Control and Command: High octane stuff with below average to fringe command. Has moments where he completely loses himself in his delivery and can't find the plate. Nothing unusual for such a young, inexperienced arm. Control: 40 | Command: 40

Overall: Electric arm with injury question marks. High probability he's a reliever with two above average pitches that can advance quickly so Cubs can start getting some return on their high cost investment. Excited to see him in game action after shutdown. Only 17 professional innings since being drafted in 2017.

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


Trent Giambrone - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC 2B 37 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 50 50 50 55

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 27 yr
Height: 5-8
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 25
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Short and maxed out but compensates with athleticism and hustle. Looks like a 2B. Charismatic in the field and superstitious in the box. Max effort player. Fun to watch on the diamond.

Hit: Significant movement pre-pitch. Big leg kick. Uses his whole body as he loads. Takes big cuts, but quickly gets through the zone. Possesses plus bat speed. Average pitch recognition. Aggressiveness at the plate and his big swings lead to a lot of swing and miss. Grade: 40

Power: Uses his size as leverage and attacks the ball with the intent of driving it. Has the power to put the ball out regularly if he connects. Grade: 50

Field: Good reaction times at 2B. Moves well laterally but range is limited by his size. Transfers ball from glove well. High effort fielder not afraid of laying out for the ball. Fits best at 2B. Would be well below-average at SS due to range and arm. Fringe-average at 3B based on arm. Could play LF. Tool plays up because of his hustle. Grade: 50

Arm: Average arm strength. Ball lacks carry out of hand. Can make the routine throws from 2B. Grade: 50

Run: Hustles out of the box and runs with some effort. Capable of beating out grounders. Timed around 4.25 down the line from the right side. Can hit an extra gear rounding 1st and grab an extra bag. Good base stealer. Grade: 55

Overall: Older than most prospects. Diminutive in size but plays all out and looks like a big leaguer because of it. Lacks the hitting ability to be a regular on the dirt, but his other tools translate to a utility/bench role with a bit more improvement and consistency. Without that, Giambrone is a likely injury replacement.

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


Davidjohn Herz - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC LHP 36 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB SL Cmd/Cnt
35 30 60 55 35/30

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson


Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 8
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Athletic, long limbed lefty with a medium build. Room for physical growth. Tri-sport athlete that played football and basketball, could explode now that he's just focused on pitching.

Delivery & Mechanics: Left-hander with a little bit of funk, with a mid 3/4 arm slot, and a long arm swing. He throws across his body but the arm is plenty fast enough to catch up. Delivery and release create difficult angles for hitters and he's tough to square up, especially for lefties.

Fastball: Sits 91-92 with the fastball, but the belief is he will live in the mid 90s as he develops physically. The pitch has a lot of arm-side life, and with added velocity can become a future plus pitch. Grade: 60

Slider: Sits in the mid-80s. Inconsistent shape but still generates bad swings. This can also develop into a plus pitch with more consistency. Grade: 55

Control and Command: The crossfire nature of the delivery causes the stuff to play up but it makes it that much more difficult for the young lefty to consistently throw strikes. He also has a long arm rotation. Control: 35 | Command: 30

Overall: Herz lacks feel for the changeup and because of that I project him to work out of the bullpen long term. The stuff should play up in that role, and the mechanics and delivery are better fits for short bursts. The ingredients are here for a dominant late inning relief arm with time.

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


Dakota Mekkes - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 35 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
35 30 55 50 50 40/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson


Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 275 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 10
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Big righty checks in at 6'7" and 275 pounds. Soft body that lacks projection, Mekkes has long limbs and an intense personality on the mound.

Delivery & Mechanics: Low arm slot despite frame, gives hitters an unusual look. Has limited hits and posted big strikeout numbers going back to collegiate days, and has outpitched his stuff. Added funk gives a unique look mostly due to long stride and extension.

Fastball: Fastball sits in the low 90s, does creep up into 93-95 range but jumps on hitters. Hs the illusion of rising as it gets to the plate due to arm slot and extension. Late arm side run also make it very difficult to square up. Grade: 55

Slider: Average pitch that has shown flashes. Gets groundballs and weak contact. Will miss down and use this pitch to entice hitters to chase out of the zone. Grade: 50

Changeup: Works changeup low in the zone, and it will miss down. Average pitch. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Mekkes has a difficult time throwing consistent strikes, and that's largely due to a few things. His XXL frame and low arm slot aren't things you typical find together. He gets great extension as well. Delivery has a lot of moving parts and requires some effort. When he does miss though it is down and in a spot where he won't get hurt. Control: 40 | Command: 40

Overall: Cubs are building a stable of relievers with large frames that occupy the fringes of the 40-man and Mekkes will require a 40-man spot this offseason. He will likely get added but this profile is one that will likely get nabbed in the Rule V draft if the Cubs elect to pass.

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


Yohendrick Pinango - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC OF 34 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 45 30 40 50 60

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 19 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Well filled out, Pinango has an advanced frame for his age but still possesses some explosiveness. There's a lot of unknown here but the early returns have been encouraging.

Hit: Loud, high effort swing, reminds me quite a bit of Robinson Cano's setup but louder. Swing features a tremendous amount of hand movement and also features a double load as he sets his hands twice before attacking the baseball. Not the prettiest swing but ony a SwStr rate of 13.3% shows that he can still get the bat on the ball despite the inefficiencies in his stance. His overall strikeout rate was just over 7% and he walked more than he struck out. A lot to love production wise. A testament to his strong hand-eye coordination and strikezone feel. Grade: 45

Power: Has shown more raw power in batting practice than games so far, but it's not his game. He will slap the ball the other way. His 0 homers and 51% opposite field rate detail that. He was amongst the league leaders in the DSL in doubles so he can drive the ball a bit. This will likely always be a below average skill. Grade: 30

Field: Oddly enough he didn't appear in center during his time in the DSL if you believe the box scores. With his body type I wouldn't project him as a future centerfielder anyways, despite the plus speed. Grade: 40

Arm: I admittedly don't have anything on the arm, but reports I've seen say at it's at least average. Grade: 50

Run: Plus runner. Stole 27 bases in the DSL. Slap hitter whose game is built around speed. Grade: 60

Overall: The Cubs signed Pinango out of Venezuela for $400,000 as part of their 2018 international class. Dominant in the DSL, Pinango was set to hit the states before the Covid-19 shutdown, but has been here for instructs.

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


Koen Moreno - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 33 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
35 30 55 50 40 55 45/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns


Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Tall and lean with plenty of room to fill out. Athletic; also played SS during HS. Impressive calves and leaping ability. Gym rat and hard worker who wants to get better.

Delivery & Mechanics: Quick arm. 3/4 slot from the right side. Uses his legs well and gets a good extension off the mound. Throws with some effort.

Fastball: Velocity varied widely, but mostly low-90s as an amateur. Some natural arm-side run. Locates it well away from righties. Possesses the physical projection to fill out and see a boost to his velocity. Grade: 55

Curveball: Shows an ability to spin a big breaker with 11/5 action. Solid depth. Projects as a future average pitch. Grade: 50

Slider: Show-me slider now. Still learning to control it; buried it in front of the plate on several looks. Grade: 40

Changeup: 80-84 as an amateur. Shows considerable feel given his age. Looks like his FB before its break. Pitch could be plus with time. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Around the zone but often misses high with his fastball. Does not hit his spots with regularity. Still a thrower. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Moreno could have taken a step forward prior to the 2020 draft but a cancelled spring season derailed those plans. He's a high-upside albeit very raw arm with a long lead time. He needs reps and professional coaching to become less of a thrower and more of a pitcher. He has the ingredients to remain a starter in time.

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


Jordan Nwogu - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC OF 32 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 30 55 40 50 60

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Trevor Hooth

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Body is filled out, looks every bit of that 235 pounds. Built like an NFL linebacker. He filled out the frame with lots of good weight. Has lots of tools. Extremely athletic and hard worker.

Hit: Square stance. Hands back at chest height. Stands upright, slight bend at the knees. Quiet hands through the load. Utilities a quick toe tap. Above average bat speed. Unorthodox swing: long and all upper body. Swing is top hand heavy with no stride and lower half looks completely out of sync. Shows patience and knowledge of the strike zone. Hunts and crushes fastballs. Liable to swing at offspeed and breaking pitches out of the zone. Will struggle to hit for average against professional pitching. There's a lot of pressure on the bat to develop and will be a big factor in his future role. Grade: 30

Power: Generates a lot of power through his swing. Would be a spectacle during BP because of his strength. Quick hands. Has posted exit velos as high as 110 MPH at the highest. When he finds the barrel the ball can fly all around the yard. Dead red power, struggles to find the barrel on offspeed pitches. Power is more raw than in game. Enough power and strength for 20+ HR, but pitch recognition and hit tool deficiencies hold him back for now. Grade: 55

Field: He doesn't make good reads off the bat. Struggles with efficient routes at times, which can negate his quickness. Grade: 40

Arm: His arm strength is good. His upper body appears restricted at times during the throwing motion which leads to inconsistencies in accuracy. Grade: 50

Run: Gets to top speed very quickly. The kind of speed that can help stretch singles into doubles. Sometimes over aggression can run him into unnecessary outs. Speed has yet to translate to the defensive side of things. Grade: 60

Overall: A raw, but tooled up hitter. He walked on to the Wolverines baseball team after being largely recruited as an edge rusher in football. Brings a power and speed combination to dream on. There is work to do defensively if he is to become a serviceable corner outfielder. He's a hard worker and still has polish to add to his game. The hit tool is a big question and so is the defense. He projects to a corner outfield spot, but without improvement will benefit from a universal DH.

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


Manny Rodriguez - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 31 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB Cmd/Cnt
40 40 55 60 40/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson


Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 210 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40 man

Physical Description: Short, filled out. A bit soft, but lacks significant physical projection.

Delivery & Mechanics: Exclusively from the stretch. Slowly lifts front leg and arms after coming set, before throwing momentum towards home. Simple, and repeatable despite being a bit on loose side.

Fastball: Rodriguez was a bit of a surprise 40-man addition due to the mid-to-upper 90s heater and also the sinker. Incredible 55% ground ball rate in 2019. Will lean heavily on the pitch. Average command of both variations of the fastball. Has touched 99. Grade: 55

Curveball: Hard downward break, starts off up in the zone and tunnels off the fastball. Really impressive shape and depth. Comes in at the low 80's, strong hard curveball. Grade: 60

Control and Command: Rodriguez has gone through stretches in the minors where he's been battling his command, but something appeared to click in 2019 and he was added to the 40-man roster. Was dominant last year and was living on the edges with good stuff in spring of 2020. Control: 40 | Command: 40

Overall: Reliever, all the way, but a potential setup guy due to his high spin curveball and fastball and ability to keep the ball in the yard. Really stingy with the long ball the last two seasons with a bowling ball for a fastball. I'm admittedly a sucker for this type of profile. A bit of uncertainty as he was placed on the injured list late in the season with a right biceps strain.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Relief
Risk: High


Alfonso Rivas - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC 1B/OF 30 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 55 40 60 55 45

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 188 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Undersized for a first baseman, Rivas is listed at only 5'11" and 185 pounds. Athletic build with some room to add mass. Frame that shouldn't age poorly.

Hit: This is Rivas' standout tool. Simple, easily repeatable mechanics. Lowered the hands and quieted them down since college days. It's a line drive oriented swing that will spray the ball from line to line. His approach makes the overall package play to plus as he works counts and gets a pitch he will drive. Has posted plus walk rates. Great at finding the barrel. Was strong collegiate performer in Pac-12 based on hit tool. No issues with velocity. Grade: 55

Power: Below-average home run power but should be strong source of doubles. To his credit he knows his game and doesn't sell out for homers. Not typical first baseman. Lack of homer power will keep him from becoming a big league regular at first. Grade: 40

Field: Plus defender at first. Strong footwork around the bag, will pick throws in dirt. Can cover ground. Isn't a lead footed fielder. Can move around infield. Enough of an athlete that he's been spending some time in the corner outfield. Won't ever be an asset in outfield but could move out there if you needed his offense. Grade: 60

Arm: Pitched for two seasons at University of Arizona. Has drawn praise for arm strength. Has played right field while learning to play on the grass. Has more than enough arm for right. Needs to work on footwork and staying behind the ball in the outfield. Tends to drift in my limited viewings. Fine tune that with more outfield experience. Grade: 55

Run: Just enough here to play some OF in a pinch and take the extra base on a well placed hit. Not a stolen base threat. Grade: 45

Overall: It's an unusual profile but all Rivas has done since stepping foot at the University OF Arizona is hit. Hit while with the A's and they sent him to the Cubs for Tony Kemp just prior to the 2020 season. Rivas has enough here to carve out a role on a big league bench. Finds the barrel and can be a strong option against right-handed arms. The hit tool and approach are enough to get him to the majors, but are the other skills good enough to allow him to stay, that's ultimately what we need to find out.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Bench/Platoon
Risk: Moderate


Chris Clarke - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 29 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL Cmd/Cnt
40 40 50 55 50 60/55

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson


Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 212 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Monstrous 6-foot-7 frame. Filled out and strong. Broad shoulders, good lower half.

Delivery & Mechanics: Pitches from the stretch. Starts off closed and will fly open during delivery, giving left-handers a long look at the pitch. Finishes high, leaves some on the table extension wise. Repeats well for a taller arm.

Fastball: Sinker with arm-side movement and depth. Can touch 95 but lives mostly 92-93. Will work all four quadrants; not afraid to go inside. Would likely be in upper 90s consistently out of the pen as he adds arm strength. Grade: 50

Curveball: Had bigger, slower breaking ball while working out of the bullpen for USC, now it almost looks more like a slider with less depth and more horizontal movement. Throws harder breaking ball against lefties when he gets two strikes. Against righties he's more willing to throw it in non-put away counts. Commands it well Grade: 55

Slider: Less depth than curveball. Works inside to lefties primarily. Throws it for stikres. Threw it more than the curveball in the appearances I saw. Making an effort to work on the pitch and stay in the rotation long term. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Struggled throwing strikes at USC, but much more efficient in pro ball with only four walks in 23 innings. Throws strikes for having long limbs. An arm to watch as could find another level with pro development. Could get more extension and sacrifice some of the above average command for stuff. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Bullpen arm for me due to delivery. Was reliever in college, Cubs see some starter's traits and had him working three or four inning stints in Eugene. Emphasis on developing that third pitch by throwing that slider more often. Needs a changeup or cutter to limit damage lefties can potentially do. Was too advanced for short-season ball in 2019.

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


Trevor Megill - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 28 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL Cmd/Cnt
40 40 55 50 55 50/50

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-8
Weight: 250 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 7
RuleV: On 40 man

Physical Description: Towering 6'8" frame. 250 pound frame. Big chest and shoulders. Long legs. Has had Tommy John as well as other injuries. Cubs took him in Rule V draft and then worked out a trade with Padres to retain his rights.

Delivery & Mechanics: Simple, low effort delivery. Comes set at the waist. Long arm swing an brings opposite arm (glove) high as he delivers pitch. Big downward plane from high 3/4 delivery.

Fastball: 96 mph fastball. Gets good drive off of back leg and extension due to large frame. Perceived velocity likely higher. Looks straight. Grade: 55

Curveball: More depth than slider, slower and not as sharp of a breaking ball. Works it up in the zone; plays it off of the fastball. Grade: 50

Slider: Tight, go-to breaking ball to put away hitters. Will miss bats and the main driver behind high strikeout rate. Throws at back foot of left-handed bats. High 80s velocity. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Megill has average command which is surprising for his size and the nature of his best off-speed pitch being a chase pitch. Will fall behind in counts and have to lean on the fastball is slider isn't biting. Uses curveball to get strikes and slider to get hitters to chase. Control: 50 | Command: 50

Overall: Pretty ordinary middle reliever here despite large frame. Megill's slider and ability to throw strikes will help him hold down a spot on a pitching staff. Flyball heavy tendencies add some risk to profile.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 -Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate


Jack Patterson - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC LHP 27 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
40 40 55 55 50 45 50/50

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 32
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Short, stocky. Well built with broad shoulders and big thighs. Lacks physical projection. Relatively new to pitching. Was an accomplished soccer player growing up. Missed time in college after getting hit the head with a line drive during batting practice.

Delivery & Mechanics: Exclusively from the stretch. Starts closed off and the cross-fire delivery adds even more funk to the profile. Doesn't look like he gets great extension, but would need the data to confirm that. 3/4 arm slot. Very repeatable, efficient delivery.

Fastball: Will change it up and throw a four-seamer or a sinker. Tops out at 95 but sits around 93 with arm-side run that's difficult to barrel. Sequences very well, no obvious patterns. Had a groundball rate around 60%, and excels at keeping the ball in the park. Grade: 55

Curveball: Re-worked the pitch and altered the grip to differentiate it from the slider. Tight, late 11-to-5 break. Will throw it for a strike and appears to have a slightly higher velocity version when he throws it as a chase pitch below the zone. Grade: 55

Slider: Sits in the upper 80s. Commands the pitch well. Tighter break and lives low in the zone. Not much depth, more horizontal break. Pitch gets weak contact. Grade: 50

Changeup: Glove side run. Really good separation off of the fastball. Pitch lives in the low-80s. Average command, not much depth. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Patterson throws strikes consistently. Command of his off-speed pitches is the separater and the main reason for his dominance in the lower levels. Control: 50 | Command: 50

Overall: Patterson pitched well enough out of the bullpen the Cubs transitioned him to the rotation in the middle of the 2019 season while he was at Myrtle Beach. While I think he's a reliever long term letting him start at polish his deeper arsenal is the right move. Patterson projects as a multi-inning relief arm with enough of an arsenal to make it difficult on hitters.

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


Rafael Morel - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC SS 26 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 40 50 50 60

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 19 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Slight frame; plenty of room to fill out. Small wrists.

Hit: Slightly open stance but closes as he loads. Keeps his knees tight. Significant pre-pitch movement. Steps into the ball. Short, level swing that creates mostly line-drives. Average bat speed. Good bat-to-ball skills. Projectable swing. Grade: 45

Power: Below-average raw power. Has a nice swing and added strength will help him drive the ball more but he will not be a power threat. Grade: 40

Field: Good range at SS. Moves well laterally. Plays with bounce and shows good reactions in the field. Not afraid to charge the ball. Stays low and keeps the ball in front of him. Shows an ability to backhand the ball if necessary. Some experience at 2B and 3B in showcases. Grade: 50

Arm: Average arm strength at SS. Throws 3/4 from SS on routine plays but drops the arm when he needs to get the ball out quick. Accurate throws from SS to 1B. Quick transferer. Arm may play better at 2B. Grade: 50

Run: Plus times in the 60 yard dash as an IFA. Runs well but may lose a step as he fills out. No in-game times down the line. Grade: 60

Overall: Morel looks good in the field and has a projectable body. The lack of impact potential with the bat hinders the overall package, and he probably fits best as a backup/utility infielder.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Utility
Risk: High


Aramis Ademan - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC SS 25 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 40 55 50 45

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 22 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Slender build. Has begun to fill out and add strength. High-waisted. Athletic. Plays with bounce and swagger.

Hit: Upright, open stance. Pre-pitch sway. Small leg kick. Quick, short swing that generates mostly line drives. Above-average bat speed. Has solid pitch recognition but shows a tendency to swing and miss. Can be over-aggressive. Pulls the ball. Capable bunter but his speed holds it back from being a threat. Tool has some room to grow with a different approach and better use of his lower body. Grade: 45

Power: Average raw power but mostly gap power in-game. Does not use his lower half well and instead tries to muscle the ball; does not possess the natural strength to do so. Grade: 40

Field: Moves well to his left and right. Above-average range at SS. Quick reactions. Strong footwork. Shows a good glove and makes some flashy plays. May be a plus defender at 2B. Grade: 55

Arm: Good transferer. Makes the routine plays. Throws mostly sidearm. Average arm strength. Grade: 50

Run: Flashes average speeds down the line from the left side; in the 4.20-4.25 range. Slow out of the box. Average runner once he gets going. Takes wide turns at 1st base. Added weight may lead to decreased times. Grade: 45

Overall: Ademan's stock has taken a tumble over the last couple seasons and it is entirely attributable to his bat. The defensive ability is not in question, but he must hit to move up the ladder. He possesses more upside than his tools presently rate, but the likelihood of him impacting a major league lineup is fading.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Utility
Risk: High


Ethan Hearn - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC C 24 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 45 45 50 60 40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 6
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Strong upper body. Thick lower half. Fills out the uniform.

Hit: Upright stance. Medium leg kick. Good looking, balanced swing that generates mostly line drives. Plus bat speed. Below-average pitch recognition and tends to chase bad pitches. Over-aggressive in the box. Takes big cuts. Grade: 45

Power: Average or better raw power. Can muscle the ball out but approach hinders his ability to get to it. Grade: 45

Field: Good actions behind the plate. Moves well. Quick out of couched stance. Fringe-average receiver and framer that simply needs professional reps and coaching. Grade: 50

Arm: Strong arm. Ball is thrown on a rope. Good transferer. Pop time consistently around 1.95 during showcases. Throws need to be more on target to maximize his natural arm strength; often sailed or were buried in the dirt in looks. Grade: 60

Run: Below-average times in the 60 as an amateur. No recent looks. Grade: 40

Overall: Offers everyday upside but needs substantial development to get there. His current ability in the batter's box is limited by his approach and it showed after getting drafted.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Bench
Risk: High


Tyson Miller - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC RHP 23 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
40 40 50 45 50 40 55/50

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: On 40 man

Physical Description: Big 6'4" frame. Strong, durable build, no concerns about workload. Confident with calm demeanor on the mound.

Fastball: Miller lives on the edges of the strikezone. He can alter the shape of his fastball depending on the situation. Can sink it or cut it, the former mostly inside against lefties. Won't blow the pitch by you but thrives on weak contact. Four-seamer and sinker both averaged 93 during his two big league appearances and his cutter was at 86. Will use the cutter and sinker more against lefties but work the traditional four seam at or above the letters against righties. His ability to locate pushes the grade up a bit here. Grade: 50

Curveball: It's a power curveball for Miller that comes in around 82, and has similar characteristics to the slider, with more vertical drop. Will use it against either handed bats and will try to sneak it in and steal strikes early in the at bat. Grade: 45

Slider: His slider and cutter share many similarities, but his cutter is just a tighter version of the slider without the depth. They both come in at similar velocity bands (85-86), but you'll see the cutter against lefties and the traditional slider against righties. The cutter is the primary weapon against lefties and is designed to be put in play. The slider is more when he needs the whiff. Grade: 50

Changeup: Tries to bury the changeup when he uses it but will miss up and over the plate at times. He didn't throw the changeup at all in his big league sample last year, but there are no unique characteristics about the pitch. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Miller is more of a control and command over stuff guy, living on the edges. He's not going to miss bats over the plate, so he either has to convince you to chase or get you out with weak contact in the zone. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: Miller is a high-floor back-end rotation/relief arm. He's toeing the line between starter and swing-man now, but I'd give Miller a chance to start because he has strong command of his fastball. He was hit hard in Triple-A in 2019, but most pitchers were. He also made his big league debut last year getting into two games.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter/Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate


Justin Steele - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC LHP 21 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
40 40 55 55 40 45/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2014 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: On 40 man

Physical Description: Big and physical. Sturdy bottom half. Shows some emotion on the mound.

Delivery & Mechanics: 3/4 slot from the left side. Easy and repeatable motion. Gets a good extension.

Fastball: Mostly 92-95. Easy velocity; may play up in relief. Likes to elevate it and generates a lot of swing and miss when doing so. Throws it often and uses it when he needs a strike. Has some room to grow if he becomes more efficient with his spin rates. Grade: 55

Curveball: 76-80. Slow bender. Downer. Shows great shape. Grows confident with the pitch as the game goes on and particularly uses it to put away lefties. Locates it well to the outer half of the plate. Flashes plus. Grade: 55

Changeup: Shows feel but does not throw it often. Keeps the pitch down and displays a tendency to bury it in the dirt. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Control is ahead of command. Inconsistently hits his spots but is mostly around the zone. Fastball often misses up. Buries his secondaries when he misses. Command comes and goes depending on his confidence on the mound. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Flashes a starter's repertoire. When Steele is in a rhythm he looks like a starter, but he is 25 and yet to pitch above AA. He has already had Tommy John surgery and his inconsistency and lack of feel in 2019 may have been a remnant of it. Steele flashes two above-average or better pitches, which bodes well for a reliever floor. If he can regain his pre-TJ form and stay healthy, there's back-end potential. Gotten some reports of a newly developed slider while at the alternate site and instructs. Very high spin offering sitting around 2740-2950 RPM and has supposedly topped 3000 RPM. Definitely worth monitoring.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate


Ronnier Quintero - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC C 21 45

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 45 50 40 60 45

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jake Kerns

Age: 18 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Strong upper body. Thick lower half. Body has filled out substantially since first becoming a prospect in Venezuela. Maxed out.

Hit: Upright stance. Keeps his weight on his back foot. Big leg kick while loading. Balanced swing that creates mostly line drives off the bat. Above-average bat speed. Demonstrates an ability to use the whole field. Significant gap between present and future hit tool but has the underlying ability to be an average hitter with further growth Grade: 45

Power: Plus raw power. Mostly pull side. Uses his legs well in getting to it. Natural loft off the bat. Grade: 50

Field: Gets out of crouched stance quickly. Fluid athlete behind the plate. Average receiver. No experience with pitch framing. Possesses the tools to be average in time but needs significant in-game reps. Grade: 40

Arm: Strong arm with significant carry to 2B. Pop times at or around 1.90 seconds during instructs. Quick transfer. Throws on target to 2B in limited looks. Grade: 60

Run: Moves well for his size but is a present below-average runner. Tool will decline with added weight/bulk. Grade: 45

Overall: Quintero boasts some of the more impressive physical tools in the system. He carries a significant gap between his present and his future ability, which is to be expected of teenagers. Amateur catchers are notorious for their long lead times and Quintero will be no different, but the end result may be an average or better starting catcher that can make an impact on both sides of the ball.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Bench/Utility
Risk: High


Yovanny Cruz - Scouting Report


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

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB SL CH Cmd/Cnt
45 40 50 55 45 45/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Trevor Hooth

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Thick lower half. Filled out frame well prior to the 2019 season, looks bigger than his listed weight. Long limbs. Not much projection remaining on the frame.

Delivery & Mechanics: Simple motions leading to and over hand delivery. Low effort delivery with easy mechanics. Quick arm. Short strider, legs could be more involved. The movements are repeatable. Command issues stemming from inconsistent release point.

Fastball: 92-96 T99. Works to both sides of the plate. Can create whiffs, but mostly creates ground balls. Utilizes a sinker heavy approach. Grade: 50

Slider: Good depth. Plays above average right now. Can get slurvy at times. Not afraid to put it on the backfoot of a LHH. Plays off of sinker as primary secondary offering. Will garner plenty of whiffs. Grade: 55

Changeup: Uses it as a strikeout pitch against RHH. Gets nice fade. Very deceptive off the hard sinker. Can create whiffs. Can play average when working with the rest of the arsenal. Clear third pitch. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Walks a lot of batters. Misses low and in the dirt quite a bit. Tries and struggles to place sinkers on the corner. Seems to lose focus for a stretch of batters, which takes a toll on control. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: The walk numbers in a short stint of 2019 don't reflect well on his ability to locate. He's not wild, but tends to bury pitches and miss when trying to clip corners. It was rare to see a pitch get away from him. Sinker heavy approach results in a lot of groundballs. Creates whiffs with a slider and changeup. Despite the velocity his best chance to make an impact is in a rotation with three potential average or better pitches.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter
Risk: High


Andy Weber - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CHC SS/2B 19 45

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 50 45 50 50 55

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Lean, athletic frame. Room to add 10-15 pounds of mass. Plays hard, will be fan favorite.

Hit: Moderate load, still able to get around on fastballs due to above-average bat speed. Little to none movement pre-pitch movement, just a slight rock. Level, line drive oriented swing that utilizes all fields. Finds the barrel frequently. Grade: 50

Power: Power isn't his game but that doesn't mean he doesn't have any. Sneaky pull-side power, but led the organization with 36 doubles. Will make loud contact. Grade: 45

Field: Second baseman at the University of Virginia, has been able to play an average shortstop as a professional. Has enough arm to stick on left side. Good hands and feet. Instinctual player. Seemingly in the right spot more often than not. Leader on the infield, whether he's at short or second. Grade: 50

Arm: Good, accurate arm. Good enough to stick at short. Grade: 50

Run: Above-average runner. Doesn't run often; but can swipe a bag. Grade: 55

Overall: A strong contact profile with enough speed and power and is good enough defensively to hold a big league job for several seasons. Solid role player that could very well exceed expectation due to plate skills and strong secondary skills.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below Average Player - Utility
Risk: Moderate