Scouting Report Updates: Garrett Whitlock, Tyreque Reed and Kaleb Ort

On Thursday, the Red Sox made three additions to the organization in the Rule 5 Draft. In the Major League phase, they selected right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock from the New York Yankees. Whitlock, who debuted at number 30 in the SoxProspects rankings, will need to stay on the major league roster for the entire 2021 season. In the Minor League phase, they selected first baseman Tyreque Reed from the Texas Rangers and Kaleb Ort from the Yankees—the third year in a row the Red Sox have taken a Yankee in the minor league phase. Reed and Ort do not have any roster restrictions going forward. Reed is likely ticketed for A-ball, while Ort will be looking to establish a role in the Triple-A Worcester bullpen.

Here are our initial reports on the trio, compiled from data and reports as well as our scouting sources across the game. Please note that these reports will be updated after we have seen these players in person.

Garrett Whitlock
Physical Description: Tall, sturdy frame. Looks the part of a prototypical starting pitcher. Little-to-no remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Does not use a windup. Starts tall and gets well-above-average extension towards home plate. Really uses his size well in his delivery. Short arm action behind, hides the ball. Delivery is a little stiff, but he repeats it well.

Fastball: 90-93 mph. Tops out at 95 mph. Throws both a four-seam and a sinker, primarily relying on the sinker. Pitch shows heavy sink and jumps on hitters due to the extension he gets. Sinker induces a lot of groundballs. Needs to show more bat-missing ability with either pitch against more advanced hitters. Potential average offering.

Slider: 77-82 mph. Slurvy breaking ball with two-plane break. Potential average offering.

Changeup: 81-85 mph. Third pitch at the moment, but will show late drop when at its best. Can turn it over on occasion. Potential fringe-average offering.

Career Notes: Played for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League after his freshman year at UAB. Missed time during his sophomore season with food poisoning and a back strain. Signed an above-slot bonus as a draft-eligible sophomore after being selected in the 18th round. Tore his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2019. Began throwing in January 2020 and by the summer was throwing close to his normal velocity. Selected in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

Summation: Potential emergency swingman type, capable of starting or relieving. Future potential is hard to nail down as he has yet to retake the mound in a competitive game situation since his surgery, so it is not clear whether his stuff and command have come fully back. Fastball/slider combination should play in a bulk inning bullpen role at least, but he will need to develop his changeup more and show the ability to miss more bats to stick as a starter long-term.

Tyreque Reed
Physical Description: Thick, stocky build. Very strong and physical. No remaining projection.

Hit: Starts square and utilizes a leg kick timing device. Swing is relatively short and he has some feel for the strike zone. He does have swing-and-miss in his game and will have to show he can handle more advanced pitching after struggling in High A to start 2019. Velocity, especially up in the zone, is a challenge for him. Will have to show he can hit pitches in that area as he moves up the ladder.

Power: Plus-plus raw power. Power is more strength-based, but has shown the ability to impact the ball to all fields. How his power plays will depend on how his hit tool develops. Plus power potential.

Run: Well below-average speed. Not a part of his game.

Field: Below-average defensive profile. Lacks athleticism and fluidity. Profiles best at first base, but played a little bit in the corner outfield in 2017 after signing.

Arm: Average arm strength.

Career Notes: Led NJCAA Division II in batting average, slugging and on-base percentage in 2017. Was committed to Mississippi State, but the Rangers drafted and signed him. Started the 2019 season in High A, but was recalled to extended spring training on May 15. After a little over a month, reported to Low A and performed much better at a level at which he had spent the previous season.

Summation: Projects as an organizational depth bat. Has one carrying tool in his power, but does not project to add much defensive value and there are serious questions about how his hit tool will play against more advanced pitching.

Kaleb Ort
Scouting Report: Tall right-hander with a mature frame. No remaining projection. Relief-only delivery with considerable effort. Fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph. Fastball has shown the ability to miss bats. Command and control need work. Primary secondary is a slider. Tore his UCL in high school but rehabbed the injury and did not have surgery. Signed with the Diamondbacks in 2016 out of the independent Frontier League. Was cut in training camp and went back to the Frontier League briefly before signing with the Yankees in May 2017 at age 25. Potential organizational reliever.

Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.

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