San Diego Padres

Zayed Salinas - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD LHP/OF 37 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 17 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 IFA
RuleV: 2025

Overall: The Padres spent $800,000 on this two way prospect from Mexico. He's an impressive physical specimen, standing 6'2" and 185 pounds at 16, now 17 I'm interested to see where the frame sits now. Reports say he seems to be more advanced as a pitcher, with some pitchability and the potential for three average offerings. The fastball current straddles 90, but there's a chance it ticks up as he gets stronger. As a hitter he lacks a true standout tool, much like on the mound. Salinas is a ball of clay, with the potential for average skills across the board in whatever his future role would be.

OFP: 35
Risk: Extreme


Luis Gutierrez - Scouting Report


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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 17 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Overall: Luis Gutierrez is a Venezuelan lefty signed by the Padres as part of their 2019 J2 class. He's a pitchability arm with clean, sound mechanics and good feel for his secondaries. The undersized left-hander lives in the 80s with the fastball, touching 89 with the ability to spot the fastball inside and out. His ability to spin a breaking ball and feel for a changeup set him apart from other hurlers his age though. He should add a few ticks to the fastball as he matures, and he will need it to have a future in the rotation.

OFP: 35
Risk: Moderate


Samuel Zavala - Scouting Report


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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 16 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 178 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 IFA
RuleV: 2025

Overall: Padres signed the 6'2", 180 pound Zavala out of Venezuela for $1.2 million. Zavala is a left-handed hitter with a future up the middle projection due to his strong defensive traits. It's a contact over power offensive skill set, but the power should come as he gets stronger. He's one of the younger players in the class but also has one of the better swings, taking advantage of his quick hands.

OFP: 35
Risk: Extreme


Miguel Rondon - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 31 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 150 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2021

Overall: Rondon signed out of Venezuela as part of the Padres 2017 J2 class for a mere $75,000. At 5'11", 150 he's undersized but still gets his fastball up into the low-90s with relative ease. He's shown advanced command of his three pitch mix and gets rave reviews for his athleticism and efficient arm action. With some added velocity to pair with his above-average breaking ball, Rondon could develop into a back-end starter.

OFP: 35
Risk: High


Carlos Guarate - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 29 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 178 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2021

Overall: Guarate was signed as part of the Padres 2017 international class. The thin right-hander sits in the low 90s with his fastball that he works primarily up in the zone. His big 12-to-6 curveball plays well off of that and projects as a plus pitch down the line and as he adds mass and velocity. He will mix in an average changeup as well. He has a whippy arm action with a fast arm. His stride is inconsistent which can cause his command to waiver, but he fills up the zone.

OFP: 35
Risk: High


Charlis Aquino - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD SS 28 35

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 165 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2022

Overall: A $300,000 signing from the Padres 2018 class, Aquino is a shortstop with good defensive tools and strong insticts that should keep him up the middle, and a potential plus arm as he gets stronger. His complete lack of strength holds him back offensively and in order to become a regular he must put on mass or pitchers will simply over power him. He's an average runner, so he's likely sticking on the dirt long term.

OFP: 35
Risk: Extreme


Brayan Medina - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 14 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 18 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Overall: The Padres signed the Venezuelan righty for $700,000, which made him the top arm in their 2019 class. Medina already can get the heater into the mid-90s, and should be able to pop higher than that as he adds strength to his already sturdy frame. Medina is a good athlete that repeats his delivery very well, and reports out of instructs were encouraging about the young righty, but reports on his velo had him more in the low-90s. In addition to his fastball he also throws a slider and a changeup from a near over the top arm slot. He has a future as a potential mid-rotation arm or backend reliever.

OFP: 40
Risk: Extreme


Victor Acosta - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD SS 12 40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 17 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2020 IFA
RuleV: 2025

Overall: Acosta was the centerpiece of the Padres 2020 international class, signing for just under $2 million. The Dominican teenager is known for his defensive skills, flashing good hands, feet and arm strength at the most important position on the infield. The switch-hitter will stick at short but has some inconsistencies on offense. His strongest offensive skill is his ability to put the bat on the ball, and should grow into some power as he ages.

OFP: 40
Risk: High


Esteury Ruiz - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD 2B 11 40

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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 169 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA (KC)
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Average height, thin wiry build with solid projection remaining. Boxy shoulders, short torso, with high waist and long legs.

Hit: Sets up square; deep knee bend, near toilet seat pre-pitch; hands set at moderate height behind back shoulder. Busy hands pre-load, moderate leg kick, good bat speed. Poor swing decisions, with bad late takes in two-strike counts and early aggressive swings. His actual swing path is good, and he shows the ability to adeptly drive pitches on the outer and inner halves of the strike zone. As with much of Ruiz's game, his aggression and lack of instincts negate his raw abilities. Grade: 40

Power: Plus bat speed and an optimized swing path and bat angle at the point of contact allow Ruiz to pack a punch despite only average size and strength on physical appearance alone. This is power driven by twitch which gives cause for optimism around his future power production. Power plays beyond his recent power numbers. Average game power, with the ability to unlock more should he improve his approach. Grade: 50

Field: Poor fielder with major questions around where he ends up long term. Throughout his professional career Ruiz has spent time at second, third, and left field, the latter of which most likely his final home. An extreme lack of instincts and poor hands really hinder Ruiz's ability to be even a fringe defender at any position at the MLB level. Likely limited to left field long term where you hope his plus speed plays. Grade: 30

Arm: Another area where Ruiz's physical ability is hindered by the application. He has plus arm strength but lacks the foot work to make good throws in the infield. Arm should play in left field. Grade: 50

Run: Plus runner, with strong instincts that allow him to steal an elite number of bases. Speed translates to some defensive range at second. Grade: 60

Overall: A tools over ability player with tantalizing talent. There's strong quality of contact, when he makes contact, which isn't often. Plus running that translates to lots of stolen bases, but still can't cover for his fielding inadequacies despite range. It's this struggle between talent and translating tools to abilities that defines Ruiz's game. An improvement in swing decisions at the plate could have a tremendous impact on his ability to carve out a major league role. After two years of going unprotected and unselected in the rule five draft have put Ruiz's prospect status in very cloudy territory.

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


Reggie Lawson - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 9 40

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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes


Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 2 CBB
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall, high waisted, athletic. Room to add 10-15 more pounds as he matures. Near max, high level of conditioning. Long injury history dating back to his amateur days. Missed most of 2019 following an elbow injury. Underwent PRP, but elected for Tommy John Surgery after a second shutdown in March of 2020

Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; short arm action; over the top arm slot; tall and fall delivery; exaggerated leg kick; short strider. Fast arm but lack of lower half drive puts strain on arm and shoulder.

Fastball: 92-94 mph; touches 95-96 mph; with late hop. Ride over run fastball, locates well to the upper quadrants and gloveside. Struggles to locate armside, and will often catch too much of the plate. Due to good shape and average or better velocity the pitch grades as major league average out of the pen. Grade: 50

Curveball: Overhand curveball with 12-6 shape. Low 80s velocity, can manipulate the shape to add depth or slurvy break; messed with a slider in the past. Best swing and miss pitch and his go to secondary. Can struggle to land at the bottom of the zone at times, and batters can lay off of it. That's the exception and not the norm however. Above-average curveball with functional over aesthetic value. Grade: 55

Changeup: Below average changeup with some possible projection remaining. Will show flashes of average but it's infrequently used and will at times flatten out. When he gets around the ball he can create nice run and tumble, but his lack of confidence and recent arm injury are cause for concern with his ability to pronate consistently. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Even prior to TJS Lawson's control and command were below average. He tends to hit zones more than spots. He makes it a habit of wasting pitches in pitchers counts and running his pitch count up. When he begins to miss with his fastball up it can snowball as his curveball isn't of the strike stealing variety. He tends to wear down after a single time through the lineup and his release point and mechanics begin to get sloppy manifesting in walks. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: An big arm talent that's never fully been able to master command of his raw stuff. There's enough pitchability to project a major league role if he can avoid injury for a sustained period of time. With an average fastball that could play hotter in short stints, and an above average bat missing secondary give Lawson a solid foundation for a future in the pen. If Lawson can come back to full strength and throw strikes his 40 man spot may afford him an opportunity in San Diego (or elsewhere) this season. Low leverage relief role type with a little projection remaining.

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


Anderson Espinoza - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 7 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Cnt/Cmd
45 40 60 60 50 45/40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2014 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Medium size frame; lean with average muscle mass. Wide shoulders and back with long arms and big hands. Pronounced glutes and thick thighs. Athletic and mobile. Frame is mostly filled out, but there's some room in the shoulder girdle/chest for good weight. Tommy John Surgery in 2017 and second Tommy John Surgery to fix ruptured graft (the "new UCL") in 2019. Has not thrown a professional pitch since 8/31/2016.

Delivery & Mechanics: Abbreviated windup; Angled to 3rd base side, small rocker step before leg kick to the letters. Torso and hips coil moderately, showing numbers to the hitter. Long arm stroke drops down behind body and comes through at 3/4s slot; moderately low finish. Above-average separation, arm typically on time. Moderate effort operation. Nearly identical from stretch.

Fastball: 94-97; Good ride and good run, really bites armside. Induces pop-ups and whiffs. Hitters struggle to square it up. Jumps out of his hand. Struggles to locate at times, usually missing high. Grade: 60

Curveball: 78-80; Tight spin, big, sharp vertical break; 11-5 shape. Hammer. Tunnels and mirrors the fastball well which helps it play up. Flashes double plus. Out pitch. Buries it well and gets hitters out in front and swinging through it. Tries to drop it in for a strike at times, but those tend to be loopier and give up contact. Grade: 60

Changeup: Some fade with solid tumble. Sells very well with armspeed and has solid separation. Hitters struggle to identify and swing over it, often looking bad. Primarily used against lefties. Locates pretty well down and armside, just out of the zone. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Typically around the zone, but a little wild. Issues locating the fastball at times. Pounds the curve low, gloveside but a few get away here and there. Good feel for change release and location. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: To address the enormous elephant in the room first: Espinoza hasn't pitched in a game that counts since August of 2016 due to multiple TJ surgeries. While he was truly electric the last time we saw him on the mound, that was 4+ years ago at this point. A source that saw him at 2020 instructs noted that despite sitting 93-97, he looked rusty and lacked feel and the pedestrian data we saw backed that up full force. That's not unexpected for a pitcher who has missed so much time, but we can't assume that he'll return to form at this point.

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


Justin Lange - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD RHP 6 45

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CT SL CH Cnt/Cmd
45 40 60 50 55 45 45/40

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Doyle

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 1
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Long levers, lean and super-athletic 6-foot-4 frame that has added very good weight since draft date. Prototype starters frame. Controls his body well and still has room to add 10-15 pounds of good weight. Bluechip quarterback frame.

Delivery & Mechanics: Clean arm action from a vertical slot. Still finding a consistent release point. Stays in his backside well and rides the mound generating impressive extension down the bump. Arm action can get a little long in the back.

Fastball: Lange's athleticism really helps the fastball pop. It's a mid-to-high 90s offering that really explodes at the plate thanks to an extremely vertical release and above average spin rate. Lange is still learning to command the pitch, but it's raw capabilities are easy plus, likely double-plus if he learns to spot it. Grade: 60

Cutter: Lange gets natural cut on his fastball and has recently taken to supinating a bit and throwing a natural cutter. It's average right now, but has the potential to be more as he learns how to actually "pitch". Grade: 50

Slider: Gyroscopic breaking ball with good two-plane tilt. Late break. Pitch is streaky. At times he's dotting the pitch at the knees, other times he's getting under the pitch seeing it sail or spiking it glove-side. Like the rest of his package, Lange's very green. It'll take time. Grade: 55

Changeup: Lange is still finding a feel for his changeup. It wasn't one of his primary offerings in high school, though those that have seen him throw it in side bullpens have been impressed by his ability to separate off his fastball and induce some fading action. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Lange is still reasonably new to pitching full-time so command is spotty. He hasn't pitched in many showcases or lengthy outings against premier competition, so there's still a lot to learn about Lange's future profile. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Lange took his body from soft and long to chiseled and athletic in the nine months leading up to draft day. He's a rock solid, long-levered body that pro scouts drool over. But Lange is extremely raw. His mechanics are a work in progress and he's still learning how to repeat his delivery. Control and command will likely dictate whether this kid can stay a starter, but if that improves, the ceiling is substantial.

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


Ryan Weathers - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD LHP 5 50

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
50 50 55 55 50 60/50

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Tyler Henninger

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/L
Acquired: 2018 Round 1
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Sturdy, heavyset frame. Heavy through the mid-section. Overall body strength. Sneaky athletic. Some future strength gains possible. Going to need to watch weight in the future.

Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; tall and fall. Low 3/4 arm slot with above average arm speed and moderate effort in delivery. Some deception due to quick arm and unconventional finish. Claws behind the back during short arm path. Average extension, short stride but extra reach during finish. Fluid and simple movements are repeated well.

Fastball: Recent velocity jump. Now sits 92-95 mph. Can run it up 97 mph. Good ride through the zone. Shows ability to locate, in the zone frequently. Works well when elevated. Hittable when velocity is down. Needs to prove he can sustain velocity throughout a season, but shows potential to be an above average pitch. Grade: 55

Slider: Sits 85-88 mph. Big sweeping, frisbee-like action. Tough to barrel when sharp. Flattens out occasionally, becomes hittable when it does. Good velocity. Moves in and out well. Shows potential to be an out pitch that is usable versus both RHH and LHH. Grade: 55

Changeup: Sits 82-85 mph. Heavy arm side fade. Good arm speed deception. Causes hitters to get out front. In the zone frequently, shows good command. Keeps ball low in the zone, stays mostly arm-side. Rarely uses versus LHH. Shows feel but needs to use more often. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Advanced control for his age. In the zone with all three pitches. Repeats delivery well, ability to throw strikes with ease. Works ahead frequently, rarely walks hitters. Shows ability to hit spots with all three pitches. FB command is above average, offspeed command could be slightly refined. Control: 60 | Command: 50

Overall: Weathers is a competitor who shows good pitchability. He sequences all three pitches well and throws strikes with all of them. His fastball velocity shot up in '20 after a year where he saw it dramatically decrease during the '19 season. Being able to sustain the velocity is vital to his fastball success. When it is up, he shows good ride through the zone and has the ability to get whiffs with good control of the pitch. His slider shows the potential to be an out pitch with the big frisbee-like movement that is tough to barrel when on. Occasionally it will lose all vertical movement and become hittable. Maintaining the shape will drive the pitch success. The changeup has good deception and gets a lot of hitters out front. He did not use it much in '19 or at all in his MLB debut. Becoming more comfortable with the pitch could give him three average or better offerings. Weathers has big league bloodlines and it shows in his mature approach to attack hitters. Maintaining fastball velocity is the key to him unlocking his full potential, but he looks like a backend starting pitcher with above average control and three average to better offerings.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Backend SP
Risk: Moderate


Luis Campusano - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD C 4 50

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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jake Boes

Age: 22 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 232 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 2
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Compact, sturdy frame; lower-half more developed than upper. Thick neck, sloping shoulders. Room to add strength in the arms; strong torso with modest projection left. Tapered lower half with a high waist; thick, strong thighs, and lean calves. Appears 15-20 under list weight. At projection, could be a Maldonado-like frame. Injury history includes a concussion and wrist injury.

Hit: Simple setup off the plate; upright and open with hands near the ear. Squared hips with feet outside of shoulder-width to form a wide base. Modest leg kick that closes the stance; hands stay forward through load with a high finish. Shows strike zone awareness in the upper third of the zone; struggles on pitches beneath the zone, especially spin. Aggressive approach within the zone; tends to overswing, causing fouls or misses on pitches that should be driven. Unafraid to swing early in counts. Steep bat path and strong legs yield plus bat speed. Recent adjustments with hands and stance may help power but hinder strikeouts. Overall, an average hit tool that may need to revert some adjustments mechanically to reach its potential. Grade: 50

Power: Above-average raw that shows average in-game. Looks to do damage consistently; power favors the pull field but will sneak one over opposite-field on occasion. Struggles with spin may hinder power numbers in the pro ranks; continued strength in upper body may help. A gap hitter that can scrape 20 home runs if given everyday reps across a full season. Grade: 50

Field: Fringe-average defensive catcher; nothing about the tool sticks out, but culmination of skills makes for a useable glove behind the plate. Soft hands; smooth and agile movements. Main struggles are due to blocking; struggles to surround pitches in the dirt. Passed balls and wild pitches too common for the MLB level, but could be cleaned up with continued pro instruction. Grade: 45

Arm: Pop times vary in the 2.0-2.05 range; average arm; good strength, shows ability to throw from the knees if necessary. Accuracy is inconsistent; with most mistakes missing vertically. Times are between average and above-average but likely settles in at a solid-average long-term considering the accuracy concerns. Grade: 50

Run: Once well-below average but has recently improved to below average. Home to first times once in the 4.5 range but has become more agile with recent weight loss. Not a threat to steal on the bases, but no longer the base-clogger he once was and may be able to leg out the occasional infield hit. Grade: 40

Overall: While Campusano lacks some of the defensive prowess that a typical backup profile would possess, his hit-first approach with solid-average power makes his ceiling higher than some of his counterparts. Campusano reached the MLB level in 2020 after never seeing a game above High-A. He could use some more time in the minors to further refine his approach and tighten up his defense, but there are the makings of a hit-first everyday profile long-term.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular
Risk: Moderate


Robert Hassell III - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD OF 3 55

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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2020 Round 1
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Slender frame that makes him appear smaller than his actual height. Sleek and athletic, positive projectable build, with little worry about bad weight as he ages.

Hit: Sets up square to the pitcher, hands by back shoulder, deep bend in knees. Utilizes a moderate leg kick that closes off front side at load. Short, compact stroke, capable of generating whippy bat speed, and subsequently hard contact. Little issue adjusted barrel to hit balls in all four quadrants. Shows an innate ability to hit breaking balls, and is rarely fooled by offspeed. Arguably the best hit tool projection in the 2020 draft. Plus hit with projection remaining. Grade: 60

Power: Average power projection, primarily due to bat speed and physical projection, will show power in games. Doesn't sell out for power and rarely takes aggressive swings. The possibility for above average or even plus power is there, but it might come at the expense of Hassell's approach. But he should comfortably produce average homer run production with lots of doubles. Grade: 50

Field: Above average fielder capable of handling all three outfield positions. May end up in right field long term, but should stay in centerfield in the short term with a 50/50 shot he stays there. Runs efficient routes, makes all the routine plays and doesn't try to do too much. Grade: 55

Arm: Forner two way star as an amateur and that arm talent translates to the outfield. Good online carry with plenty of arm strength to keep runners honest. Plus arm with strength and accuracy. Grade: 60

Run: Above average runner that gets a second gear when underway. Enough range and makeup speed to cover all three outfield positions, though his speed is above average for a corner it's likely only average for center. Grade: 55

Overall: Depending upon your definition of five tool player Hassell might fit the bill. Strong across the board Hassell's standout tool his his advanced hitting and bat to ball skills. It is upon this foundational skill that all of his other abilities support. Hassell the finished product could be anything from top of the order run producing centerfielder to middle of the order corner outfield star. There's still a long way till Hassel debuts, but his minor league time could be accelerated by his polished skill set.

OFP: 55
Role: 60 - Above-Average Regular; Occasional All-Star
Risk: High


CJ Abrams - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD SS 2 55

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
55 60 60 45 55 45 80

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Tyler Henninger

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 1
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Tall and lanky with a trim, wiry build. Extremely live, athletic body. Lots of fast twitch. Long, thin waist with long legs. Plenty of room to develop and add strength.

Hit: Slightly open stance, hands at the letters. Body upright with feet shoulder width apart. Small hand load with hitch. Leg kick timing mechanism varies in size; sometimes sizeable, sometimes minimal. Above average bat speed with a linear path. Easy swing with bat control. Pull-side approach, but shows ability to go to all fields. Above average bat to ball skills, rarely whiffs in the zone. Exceptional hand eye coordination, fouls off tough pitches with two-strikes. Calm demeanor at the plate. Mature approach, ability to take close pitches and recognizes spin well. Natural gifted hitter who is a tough out. Grade: 60

Power: Average raw power. Needs more strength to utilize it in game. Shows ability to drive ball. Mostly pull-side currently. Hits off front side well, produces natural loft. Bat speed and loft indicate future power potential. Speed leads to lots of XBH. Added strength will help long ball, should lead to at least fringy power, if not more. Grade: 45

Field: Solid defender who will make routine play and more. Elite speed allows for exceptional range. Moves well both ways. Soft hands, good fluidity. Catches the ball. Solid footwork with good, athletic actions. Maintains body control throughout movements. Has the ability to make highlight-reel play. Speed and athleticism would stand out in CF. Grade: 55

Arm: Fringy arm. Most times on target. Lacks ideal carry at times, ball will sink. Could improve mechanics. Quick transfer and release but tends to push/ short arm the ball. Playable at short but better suited for 2B or CF. Grade: 45

Run: Rare speed. Quick out of the box with exceptional acceleration. Easy green-light guy. A threat to run immediately when on base. Will steal third easily. Type of speed that makes defense rush, INF singles are not uncommon. Will take extra base, especially with doubles and triples. Grade: 80

Overall: Abrams is a freak athlete that has plenty of growth ahead. At just 18 years old he has shown the potential to be a plus hitter due to his above average bat speed and exceptional hand eye coordination. He is a tough out that rarely misses the ball when it's in the zone. Still growing into his body, the power will come as he fills out and adds strength. That combined with the natural loft and bat speed should lead to at least fringe average power. His speed is a true weapon. Once on base, he is a threat to go at any time. He shows good feel for stealing bases and should rack up high totals in the department. It also allows him to take extra bases and beat out INF singles easily, as well. From a fielding perspective, Abrams shows good actions. The speed helps add range and pairs nicely with good hands and footwork. The arm is fringy at best. It is still playable at SS, but not one I would rely on, as it lacks the ideal carry. His mechanics need improvement to prevent him from pushing the ball. There are talks of him moving to CF, which is where the arm would be better suited and the speed would be utilized more. I think he can stick at short, but I would not be against a move to the outfield. His athleticism should allow him to transition easily. Overall, Abrams has a lot of high grading tools that still need development time, but show signs of a quality big league player. He could wind up being an above average regular who is an occasional all-star.

OFP: 55
Role: 60 - Above-Average Regular; Occasional All-Star
Risk: High


MacKenzie Gore - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD LHP 1 60

Grades Update: Mar 2021
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
60 70 60 55 50 55 60/55

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: James Chipman

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 197 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2017 Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Ideal pitcher's frame. Athletic, wiry build. Average torso; high waist with broad shoulders that slope and long levers. Average core; strong sturdy lower half. Impressive athlete with excellent coordination and fluid actions. Fierce competitor; wants the ball. Strong work ethic and advanced feel for the game.

Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; drop and drive operation. High 3/4 arm slot with near elite arm speed from a low effort delivery. Average stride; above-average extension. Extension and arm speed pad perceived velocity. Huge exaggerated letter-high leg kick and deep hand break generate plus deception. Works downhill with fluid, athletic motions. Clean well repeated mechanics despite having a rather long arm path and complex deployment. Consistent, well balanced, online landings. Tunnels the entire arsenal exceptionally well.

Fastball: Sits 92-94 t96 with flashes of plus command. Explodes out of the hand. Fills the zone; flashes the ability to work all four quads. Manipulates velo and movement well. Shows exceptional riding life in the upper third; heavy sink in the lower half; occasional cut on the edges of the plate. Frame and high slot generate steep downward plane. Misses are predominantly glove-side and low in the zone. Extension, arm speed and deception pad the overall grade. Grade: 60

Curveball: Sits 77-80 with tight rotation, hard bite and big 1/7 action. Advanced feel; works it to both sides of the plate regardless of handedness of batter; comfortable pitching backwards. Steals strikes with it early in the count and utilizes it as a bat missing, put-away pitch. Hangers are rare. Lives on the edges; will backfoot RHB and backdoor LHB; occasionally spikes it beneath the zone for chase. Grade: 55

Slider: Sits 84-88; consistency and shape wavers. Upper velo band yields more horizontal action than depth, with occasional tilt. Lower velo band shows sweepy action more reminiscent of a slurve. Can spot it for strikes and get swing and miss to less advanced hitters. Overall a fringy wrinkle in the arsenal with average potential. Grade: 50

Changeup: Underutilized. Sits 82-85. Inconsistent but shows exceptional feel; maintains arm speed; tunneled well off FB with optimal velocity separation. Late tumble with moderate fade. Challenges same sided batters; tough against RHB. Elicits both swing and miss and weak contact. Should develop into an above-average offering with further pro instruction. Development will likely influence his future role. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Athleticism and unique but well repeated mechanics yield flashes of exceptional command. A confident strike thrower with plus control and above-average command at his best, Gore simply needs more consistency. He gets into grooves where he fills the zone, attacks and rarely wastes pitches. Occasional valleys where he loses feel for secondaires and struggles to find the zone. Overall an advanced feel for pitching; he attacks all four quads; shows confidence pitching backwards; avoids predictable sequencing; not afraid to attack inside or up in the zone. Lives in or around the zone; misses are predominately glove side and low. Enough positive traits to project consistent above-average command. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Gore has size, athleticism, flashes of command and a deep arsenal of potential above-average or better offerings - the blueprint for an impact level frontline SP. The development of his command and improved consistency of his secondaries will be paramount for him to reach his ceiling. One of baseball's best pitching prospects, Gore should eat plenty of innings and miss plenty of bats - a welcomed addition to an already stacked Padres rotation.

OFP: 60
Role: 70 - Impact Frontline SP
Risk: High


Beau Philip - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 ATL SS 34 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 30 60 60 60

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Anthony Franco

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Narrow, skinny build; doesn't have a ton of room for projection in the shoulders or lower half. Average athleticism.

Hit: Open stance, bat rests just above back shoulder; leg kick as timing mechanism. Short levers limit swing length, help him handle velocity despite fringe-average bat speed. Below-average bat control, some stiffness in swing. Doesn't make much authoritative contact. Average plate discipline. Grade: 40

Power: Lack of physicality leads to well below-average raw power. Flat bat path geared for low-angle contact. Grade: 30

Field: Despite not being a flashy athlete, very polished at shortstop. Light on his feet, moves well laterally. Good infield actions and hands. Should have no trouble sticking at shortstop, although he figures to log time throughout the infield on the way up the minor-league ladder in preparation for eventual utility role. Grade: 60

Arm: Has more than enough arm strength to stick at shortstop. Capable of making throws from deep in the hole. Grade: 60

Run: Has posted plus home-to-first times; have previously clocked him at 4.21 seconds, on par with Delino DeShields Jr. and Garrett Hampson. Grade: 60

Overall: Philip's second-round draft pedigree is a bit misleading, as he signed for well below slot. On talent, he fit more in the third to fourth round mix. He probably doesn't have the offensive tools to be a regular, as he lacks power and doesn't have the bat control to make a fantastic amount of contact. Philip's a very good defensive infielder who fits as a future glove-first utility type at the back end of a roster.

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


Joshua Mears - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SD OF 10 40

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

Mar 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Doyle

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired:
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Big, strong-bodied outfielder with big forearms and tree-trunk lower half. Mears has a ton of raw physical strength and better athleticism than his height-weight profile might suggest. Corner outfield profile.

Hit: Mears makes most of his money punishing fastballs, though he's certainly no stranger to pummeling hanging breaking balls. He's a dead-pull hitter most of the time and struggling to get extended on pitches he's late on. Pitch recognition has been an issue in his young career as he's been susceptible to striking out on advanced breaking balls. Grade: 40

Power: Plus raw power with sell-out juice to his pull side. Gets to it in-games, though still learning to induce loft on the baseball. The power ceiling is substantial, though he's still learning how to use it all on the field. Grade: 55

Field: Fringy defender who's destined for a corner outfielder. Grade: 45

Arm: Very good arm strength with plenty of carry. Some tail up the line when making throws home from right field. Above average tool. Grade: 55

Run: Some lumber in his step though more athletic than he probably gets credit for. The body likely will age into a below average runner at his peak, but for now there's some value on the basepaths and he isn't a liability in a corner. Grade: 45

Overall: Mears is a very physical, broad-body outfielder who moves relatively well for his hulking size. He's destined for a corner at the next level where there will be a good bit of pressure on his power to buoy his value at the big league level. He's a fastball ambush hitter right now, though he's reportedly seen growth in plate discipline and pitch identification at the complex for San Diego.

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