Transaction Analysis: Payton Tolle Gets the Call!

Early Thursday evening, the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle, the current top prospect in the SoxProspects rankings, will be called up to make his major league debut on Friday against Pirates ace Paul Skenes. It has been a meteoric rise this year for Tolle, who started the season with Greenville and finds himself set to make his major league debut just 13 months after he signed. Here's a full scouting report and what to expect heading into his major league debut. For a more detailed breakdown, also check out the last two episodes of the SoxProspects Podcast from August 11th and August 24th, and video from his outings on 8/10/25 and 8/22/25 on the SoxProspects Twitter. 

Payton Tolle, LHP

How acquired: 2024 Draft, 50th overall

Bonus: $2,000,000

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 250 pounds

2025 season (20 games between Greenville, Portland and Worcester): 91.2 IP, 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 133 K, 23 BB

Physical Description: Huge frame with no remaining projection. Looks all of his listed height and weight. Proportional for his size and surprisingly athletic.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot starting on the first base side of the rubber. Compact delivery that he repeats well even though it has effort. High leg kick. Really drives off his back side and gets elite extension (7.4 feet or more). Has a low release height. Arm action works, but has a slight stab behind. Comes across his body. Deceptive delivery in large part due to how close to the plate he releases the ball. Extremely difficult to pick up.

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Trade Analysis: Initial scouting reports for James Tibbs and Jose Bello

Early Sunday evening, word started to go around that the Red Sox had dealt designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in return for two major league pitchers, Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, and two prospects, outfielder James Tibbs and right-hander Jose Bello. Here are our initial scouting reports for Tibbs and Bello. Please note, these will be updated with a more complete scouting report once we have seen the players in action. 

James Tibbs, OF, High-A Northwest League 

Age: 22

Started: 2024 1st round, 13th overall

Projected initial rank: 6-8

Scouting Report

Physical Description: Medium frame. Well developed lower half. Minimal remaining projection.

Hit: Starts square and vertical with his hands high. Utilizes a leg kick timing device. Quick hands and solid bat speed. Patient approach and makes good swing decisions. Low chase rate and makes consistent contact in the zone. Sees a lot of pitches and will take a walk. Runs an above-average hard-hit rate. Better against fastballs than secondary offerings, but has shown the ability to make adjustments against off-speed and spin already. Whiff rates tick up against velocity. Groundball rate has been higher in pro ball than it was as an amateur and bears watching as he moves into the high minors. Has hit lefties well in a small sample in the low minors, but struggled at times against them as an amateur. 

Power: Above-average raw power. Power plays best on pitches middle-in to the pull side, Produces solid exit velocities. Grooved swing with a slight uppercut lends itself to driving the ball with back spin. 

Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game.

Field: Corner outfield-only profile. Likely best suited for left field given the complexities of playing right field  at Fenway Park. Has only played right field in pro ball, but did play left and first base in college.

Arm: Average arm strength. Solid enough for corner outfield. 

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Scouting Report Updates: Justin Gonzales, Jojo Ingrassia and Enddy Azocar

While updating our scouting reports is a year-round endeavor, our trip to Spring Training provides us with one-stop access to watch players from all levels of the system, including our first chances to see players who have yet to head out to a full-season affiliate. After getting this extended sample and talking to numerous trusted sources, we come back with a wealth of information from which we make substantial updates to our scouting reports. After spending the past few weeks making a ton of updates to our player pages, cataloged as always in our Scouting Log, we wanted to highlight some of the most noteworthy here on the News Page. Today, we look at some players who made substantial jumps in our season-opening rankings update based on what we learned from camp.  

Justin Gonzales, OF, Extended Spring Training

Current ranking: 20th

Physical Description: Extra-large frame that really stands out. Already looks substantially taller than his listed 6-foot-4 and correspondingly heavier than his listed 210 pounds. Not much projection remaining. Will need to work on maintaining his physique simply because of how big he is.

Hit: Starts open in a slight crouch. Pronounced leg kick and weight transfer. Good separation in swing. Long stride. Really gets his whole body into his swing and clears his hips before whipping the bat through the zone. Quick bat; shorter swing and will show solid barrel control, particularly for someone his size. Surprisingly advanced approach for his age. Very aggressive hunting fastballs early in counts. Has pretty good knowledge of the strike zone, but is still learning to recognize secondary pitches, especially spin. High variance hit-tool given he has yet to debut stateside. Potential below-average hit tool.

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Scouting Report Updates: Payton Tolle, Brady Tygart and Blake Aita

While updating our scouting reports is a year-round endeavor, our trip to Spring Training provides us with one-stop access to watch players from all levels of the system, including our first chances to see players who have yet to head out to a full-season affiliate. After getting this extended sample and talking to numerous trusted sources, we come back with a wealth of information from which we make substantial updates to our scouting reports. After spending the past few weeks making a ton of updates to our player pages, cataloged as always in our Scouting Log, we wanted to highlight some of the most noteworthy here on the News Page. Today, we look at some players who made substantial jumps in our season-opening rankings update based on what we learned from camp. 

Payton Tolle, LHP, Greenville Drive

Current ranking: 13th

Physical Description: Huge frame with minimal remaining projection. Looks all of listed height and weight.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot. High leg kick. Really drives off his back side and gets elite extension (7.4 feet or more). Has a very low release height. Arm action works, but has a slight stab behind. Very deceptive delivery in large part due to how close to the plate he releases the ball.

Fastball: 93-95 mph, tops out at 96 mph. Pitch has life up and both vertical and horizontal movement. Has shown premium bat-missing ability, even when used almost three-quarters of the time in college. Pitch plays well above its velocity. Command is a work in progress and control is only average. Has the traits that make you think he could gain velocity on his fastball in pro ball. Potential plus-to-better offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Mikey Romero, Juan Valera and Brandon Clarke

While updating our scouting reports is a year-round endeavor, our trip to Spring Training provides us with one-stop access to watch players from all levels of the system, including our first chances to see players who have yet to head out to a full-season affiliate. After getting this extended sample and talking to numerous trusted sources, we come back with a wealth of information from which we make substantial updates to our scouting reports. After spending the past few weeks making a ton of updates to our player pages, cataloged as always in our Scouting Log, we wanted to highlight some of the most noteworthy here on the News Page. Today, we look at some players who made substantial jumps in our season-opening rankings update based on what we learned from camp.

Mikey Romero, IF, Portland Sea Dogs

Current ranking: 6th

Prior ranking: 13th

Physical Description: Athletic frame with some remaining projection. Has filled out some since he signed, but looked particularly more physical in camp in 2025 after his first normal offseason, with a more filled-out lower half and stronger upper body.

Hit: Starts square with his hands high. Smooth, controlled swing. Solid-average bat speed. Limited stride. Quick hands. Makes solid contact, especially against right-handed pitchers. Struggles against left-handed pitching. Aggressive approach. Hunts fastballs early in the count and has the tendency to expand against secondary pitches, especially changeups. Needs to tighten up his chase rate and make more contact on pitches in the zone. Potential average hit tool.

Power: Showed sneaky power for his size prior to 2025, and added strength entering this season looks like it could lead to further improvement to his all-fields power. Can elevate the ball and drive it, especially to the pull side. Solid-average raw power. Average game power.

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Scouting Report Updates: Brandon Howlett, Stephen Scott, Frank German and Hudson Potts

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on the players ranked 50-53 in the current SoxProspects Rankings: Brandon Howlett, Stephen Scott, Frank German and Hudson Potts. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

50. Brandon Howlett, Third base 

Physical Description: Strong, sturdy frame. Has some projection remaining in his upper body. Looks the part.

Hit: Starts vertical and open and utilizes a high leg kick. Average bat speed. Brings hands up and down during his load, which can cause his swing to get out of sync. Will take a walk, but has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game and has posted strikeout rates over 30 percent in full-season ball. Will expand the zone against breaking balls and struggles with velocity up in the zone due to the length in his swing. Potential below-average hit tool.

Power: Plus raw power. Potential average power in-game. Strong, has the ability to drive the ball, especially to the pull side. Ability to tap into power will be tested by inconsistent hit tool.

Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game.

Field: Soft hands, below-average range. Fundamentally sound, professional defender and will make the plays on balls at him, but struggles when he has to move. Potential fringe-average defender.

Arm: Average arm strength. Not a stand-out arm, but strong and accurate enough for third base.

Career Notes: Was committed to Florida State before signing. Saw immediate gains in pitch recognition after being fitted for proper contact lenses after signing and had something of a breakout debut as a result. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2018 and 2020.

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Scouting Report Updates: 55-60 in the SoxProspects Rankings

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on the players ranked 55-60 (58th ranked prospect Wyatt Olds was featured in an earlier update) in the current SoxProspects Rankings.  These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

55. Luis De La Rosa, Right-handed pitcher 

Physical Description: Loose, athletic right-hander with room to add strength. Has already grown since signing and should continue to grow.

Mechanics: Very loose delivery with an easy arm action.

Fastball: 89-91 mph. Tops out in the low-90s. Needs to add velocity. Advanced control for someone his age, but command needs work.

Curveball: 77-79 mph. Good feel for the pitch and ability to spin it. Gets over the ball and can snap it off. Has shown the ability to throw pitch for strikes.

Changeup: 83-86 mph. On the firmer side, but has shown advanced ability to command the pitch for his age.

Slider: Reportedly also has a slider for which he has shown some feel.

Career Notes: Signed with the Royals for $147,500 when he turned 16 on July 6, 2018. Primarily played shortstop growing up, but converted to pitching shortly before signing. Was acquired as a player-to-be-named-later in the Andrew Benintendi trade. 2021 numbers are skewed heavily by a single, terrible outing (0.2 IP, 6 ER), as well as about a month missed at least in part due to rainouts on his scheduled starts.

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Scouting Report Updates: Brendan Cellucci and other 2021 Greenville relievers part two

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on the second group of relievers who spent time in Greenville last year, led by left-hander Brendan Cellucci . These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Brendan Cellucci, Left-handed pitcher 

Physical Description: Tall left-hander with a strong frame. Minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws over the top. Max-effort delivery. Very quick arm. Stiff, vertical delivery. Medium leg kick. Rigid, deceptive arm action. Keeps arm behind before coming forward. Violent head whack, is looking at third base when he releases the ball. Falls off hard to the glove side.

Fastball: 93-95 mph. Tops out at 97. Live fastball that has shown the ability to miss bats. Ball jumps on hitters. In the early stages of developing command and control, both currently well-below average. Potential plus pitch.

Curveball: 83-86 mph. Short, vertical break. Plus spin rate. At its best, shows depth and bite. Still developing consistency with the pitch. Potential above-average offering.

Changeup: 85-87 mph. Pitch shows late drop. Did not throw in outing scouted in 2021. Will flash average potential.

Career Notes: Struggled as a freshman at Tulane, but emerged as the team's closer late in his sophomore season. Pitched in 1 game in the Cape Cod League in 2018. Signed following his sophomore season to an over-slot deal. Participated in Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up.

Summation: Potential up-and-down emergency reliever. Ceiling of an MLB middle reliever. Gap between from current projection and ceiling is driven by concerns about delivery and command and control profile. Struggles to throw strikes and current command is poor. Low floor, decent chance he will not throw enough strikes to get out of the minors. Pitch data is very impressive and grades out well in models. Both fastball and breaking ball have above-average spin rates.

Casey Cobb, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Athletic right-hander with an average build. No remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the third-base side, but slides to the middle in his wind-up. Starts with his hands by his waist and brings them down and up before coming forward. Rhythmic delivery that he repeats well. Short arm action with a stab behind. Hides the ball well.

Fastball: 91-93 mph. Tops out at 94. Pitch shows late life. Solid command and control profile. Throws a lot of strikes and has already shown the ability to locate. Potential average offering.

Slider: 81-83 mph. 10-to-4 shape with depth at its best. Advanced feel and confidence in the pitch. Throws often against both right- and left-handed hitters. Can roll to the plate on occasion when he does not snap it off. Potential average offering.

Changeup: 80-83 mph. Shows late drop. Clear third pitch, primarily used against left-handed hitters. Potential fringe-average offering.

Career Notes: Before signing as an undrafted free agent, had committed to returning to Alabama in 2021 and using his extra year of eligibility for the canceled 2020 season, then planned to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Apparently missed 2016 season for unknown reasons.

Summation: Potential solid organizational swingman. Capable of pitching in short relief or multi-inning roles. Ceiling of an emergency up-and-down arm. Strong pitchability and feel. Throws strikes, works quick. Type of pitcher every organization needs.

Zach Bryant, Right-handed pitcher 

Physical Description: Right-hander with a muscular frame. No remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side of the rubber. Delivery has effort. Starts with a wide base. Lot of moving parts in delivery. Quick, live arm. Long arm action behind. Deception in delivery.

Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Pitch jumps on batters who do not seem to get a good look at it. High spin rate and shows swing-and-miss potential. Pitch has late, rising action; has shown the ability to pitch with it up in the zone. Command and control need work, as does consistency from outing to outing. Potential plus offering.

Slider: 84-86 mph. Long, 10-to-4 break, generally. Shape will vary as he adds or subtracts velocity. Will drop arm slot and get on the side of the pitch too often. Potential average offering.

Career Notes: Grew up a Red Sox fan. Entered college at 240 pounds, but lost a lot of weight and now is extremely muscular, getting into fitness enough that he maintains a personal fitness account on social media. Pitched first two seasons at Daytona Beach Community College. Acquired from the Cubs as the PTBNL from the Josh Osich trade.

Summation: Potential priority organizational reliever. Ceiling of an MLB middle-reliever. Has a pretty wide gap between what he projects as right now and his ceiling. Fastball has significant major league potential, possessing many of the traits teams look for. Hitters have a lot of trouble picking it up. Has shown the ability to throw it up in the zone. Secondary offerings lag behind and development of his slider will determine his long-term potential. Slider needs refinement and improved consistency, as it does not have the bat-missing ability of his fastball and is not a pitch hitters need to worry about right now. Intriguing player to get in the pitching development system and work with.

Oddainer Mosqueda, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Undersized left-hander with a developed lower half. Has added significant weight since signing. Minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, setting up on the third base side of the rubber. Short, compact delivery with effort that he struggles to repeat. Medium leg kick. Trunk twist and stab and hook behind. Quick arm action coming forward.

Fastball: 92-94 mph. Pitch has life and has shown bat-missing ability in the low minors. Well-below-average control and command. Potential average offering due to concerns with long-term command and control profile.

Curveball: 79-81 mph. 1-to-7 break. Feel and confidence in pitch. Does a good job snapping it off with depth. Throws often, in any count, and works it in and out of the zone. Potential above-average offering.

Changeup: 83-84 mph. On the firm side. Tends to telegraph by slowing his arm down. Potential below-average offering.

Career Notes: Pitched in the Venezuelan Development Program in winter 2017. After struggling in the rotation in 2017, has been much better in a relief role. Cut walk rate in 2019 but allowed a corresponding jump in hits. Had IL stints in 2019 of about two weeks for left biceps tendinitis and about three weeks for left shoulder impingement syndrome. Pitched for Venezuela in the 2021 Americas Olympic Qualifier.

Summation: Projects as an organizational bullpen depth. Ceiling of an up-and-down reliever. Has shown significant bat-missing ability in the low minors and steady improvement year after year. Secondary pitches and command and control need refinement. Will show intriguing spin rates on fastball and slider.

Photo Credit: Brendan Cellucci and Oddainer Mosqueda by Kelly O'Connor, Casey Cobb by SoxProspects and Zach Bryant by Jerry Coli

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

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Scouting Report Updates: Jacob Wallace and other 2021 Greenville relievers part one

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on a group of relievers who spent time in Greenville last year, led by right-hander Jacob Wallace . These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Jacob Wallace, Right-handed pitcher 

Physical Description: Average, proportional frame with minimal remaining projection. Above-average athlete.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. High-effort delivery. Quick leg kick and gets low coming forward. Long arm action behind before he whips his arm forward. Extremely quick arm. Opens chest towards the plate while arm drags behind. Lands on-line to the plate before falling off to the first base side. Deception comes from off-putting delivery.

Fastball: 96-98 mph. Pitch shows life and can be thrown up in the zone. Really jumps on hitters. Command and control need refinement. Potential plus-plus offering.

Slider: 84-86 mph. 10-to-4 shape with depth and bite. True swing-and-miss pitch with major league out pitch potential with development. Elite spin rate that has been recorded at over 3000 rpm consistently. Potential plus offering with improved consistency.

Changeup: Third pitch used on occasion with late, arm-side movement. Did not throw in outing scouted in 2021. Added the pitch after turning pro.

Career Notes: Grew up in Methuen, Massachusetts, grew up a Red Sox fan and starred at Methuen High before becoming the closer at UConn. Pitched for Bourne in the 2018 Cape Cod League, where he was named the co-recipient of the John Claffey New England Top Prospect Award and was named a CCBL All-Star. Was acquired late in the 2020 season, so club did not have him report to the Alternate Training Site. Participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League.

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Scouting Report Updates: 2022 IFA Signings and other offseason acquisitions

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on a few players he entered the system this offseason, including the Red Sox three biggest international signees, an intriguing minor league free agent signee and two Minor League Rule 5 picks. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Roberto Ramos, First Base 

Physical Description: Large, powerful frame. Strong upper body and thick lower half. Filled out, no remaining projection. Fringy athlete.

Hit: Loose hands with an extreme uppercut path. Length in swing causes him to struggle with velocity and leads to a lot of swing-and-miss. Solid bat speed, but struggles to recognize secondary pitches, especially against left-handed pitchers. Takes advantage of mistake pitches with authority. Really struggles against left-handed pitchers. Platoon profile, potential below-average hit tool if limited to facing primarily right-handed pitchers.

Power: Elite raw power. In-game power is limited by an inconsistent hit tool. Has the ability to muscle balls out even when he does not make consistent contact. Power plays best against right-handed pitchers.

Run: 20 speed. Not a part of his game. Base-clogger.

Field: Limited to first base. Below-average glove, limited range. Potential below-average defender.

Arm: Average arm. Adequate for first base.

Career Notes: Born and raised in Mexico, moved to California prior to his junior high school season. Undrafted out of high school. Selected in the 16th round in 2014 after spending one season in junior college. Won the 2018 California League Home Run Derby. Signed with the LG Twins of the KBO for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

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Scouting Report Updates: Jay Groome, Brandon Walter, Chase Shugart and Dylan Spacke

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on four starting pitchers from last years Greenville Drive, headlined by left-handed pitchers Jay Groome and Brandon Walter. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Jay Groome, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Very large pitcher's frame. Wide, mature upper body and filled-out lower half. Looks all of his listed height and weight. Below-average athlete. Height is imposing on the mound. Body will need maintenance and bears watching as he matures; has had problems maintaining his conditioning. How his body develops will depend on how much work he puts in off the field.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side from the wind-up. Medium-effort delivery. Utilizes a high leg lift and is upright and stiff. Arm action includes a stab behind. Hides the ball briefly when he brings it behind his back and then again behind his head as he comes forward. Delivery is inconsistent and has gotten stiffer as his athleticism and coordination have regressed. Has trouble getting his arm in sync with the rest of his delivery. Has a tendency to open up his front side early while his arm lags behind and comes through late. When arm is out ahead, will miss up to the glove side; when it drags behind, tends to miss arm-side.

Fastball: Sits 90-92 mph. Tops out at 94 mph. Will come out at 92-94 mph, but settles in after an inning or two at 90-92. Prior to his elbow injury, would sit 92-94 mph and could dial it up to the 94-96 mph range. Since returning from Tommy John surgery, has yet to consistently show that velocity. At its best, the pitch gets on hitters quickly and has life. Still needs to show the ability to hold velocity deeper into games. Even at diminished velocity, pitch has shown swing-and-miss potential when commanded. Potential to develop into an average offering with refined command.

Curveball: 78-80 mph. 1-to-7 shape. At its best, shows depth and late finish. Feel comes and goes. When he has it working, can either throw in the zone or bury down and out of the zone to induce swinging strikes. At its best pre-surgery, it showed plus potential, but feel and consistency have not returned. Now projects as an average-to-better offering.

Changeup: 79-82 mph. Throws with deceptive arm speed the majority of the time. Shows late drop. Has shown the ability to pull the string on it and serves as an effective pitch against righties, to whom he almost exclusively throws it. Has improved and now shows as much or more potential than curveball. Did not throw much in high school or in 2016. Began to incorporate it more in 2017 as a work-in-progress as he tried to develop feel. Since return from surgery, pitch has steadily improved and he has shown more feel for it. Potential average-to-better offering.

Slider: 82-87 mph. Short, horizontal movement. Has become more comfortable with it during the 2021 season. Inconsistent shape and feel. Has shown a willingness to throw it to both right- and left-handed hitters. First threw the pitch at 2020 Fall Instructional League; pitch has come a long way since then but is still a work in progress. Potential fringe-average offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Freddy Valdez, Jhostynxon Garcia and more from the FCL and DSL

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on a group of players who spent last year in the FCL and DSL. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Freddy Valdez, Outfielder

Physical Description: Tall, sturdy frame. Physical for his age and likely to get bigger as he matures.

Hit: Starts crouched and open. Leg lift timing device. Handsy swing that is not very pretty. Swing has significant holes that pitchers can exploit. Lacks feel for hit and is still in the early stages of developing an approach. Average bat control, below-average pitch recognition. Wide range of outcomes and a lot of development remaining, but right now projects for a well below-average hit tool.

Power: Plus raw power. Can impact the baseball, especially to the pull side. How his game power actualizes will depend on how his contact skills develop and how he is able to handle velocity.

Run: Fringe-average speed. Likely to lose speed as he matures given his size.

Field: Corner-only profile. Needs to work on his reads. Not the most instinctual defender. Potential to develop into a fringe-average corner outfielder.

Arm: Average arm. Strength grade varies depending on source.

Career Notes: Signed with the Mets for $1.45 million during the 2018/19 signing period. Acquired as a player-to-be-named-later from the Mets in the Andrew Benintendi trade.

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Scouting Report Updates: 2021 Salem relievers

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on a group of relievers who ended last year in Low-A Salem. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Devon Roedahl, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Sturdy frame with no remaining projection. Looks listed height and weight.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side of the rubber. Jerky delivery with a head whack. Stiff arm action with a long arm swing behind. Arm action varies at times depending on the pitch he is throwing.

Fastball: 91-93 mph. Pitch shows some life up in the zone. Throws strikes, solid command profile. Not a true bat-missing option. Most effective when sequenced correctly in conjunction with his slider and splitter. Potential average offering.

Split-Finger Fastball: 83-85 mph. Shows late dive when at its best. Has confidence and feel in the pitch. Will throw in any count to both righties and lefties. Will shorten arm action and telegraph on occasion. Potential average offering.

Slider: 82-85 mph. Short, vertical break. Has shown the ability to miss bats against low-minors hitters when age-advanced for the level. Will be tested by more advanced bats. Potential below-average offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: High-minors depth arms

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on a group of high-minors relievers. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Rio Gomez, Left-handed pitcher 

Physical Description: Average frame with minimal remaining projection. Solid athlete.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side of the rubber. Compact delivery. High leg kick. Short arm action behind. Hides the ball very well and repeats delivery. Quick to the plate.

Fastball: 88-90 mph. Pitch shows sink. Throws strikes and keeps the ball down. Solid command and control profile. Has struggled to miss bats against more advanced hitters. Potential fringe-average offering.

Slider: 80-82 mph. 1-to-7 shape. Pitch shows depth. Can snap it off in the zone or bury it down and out. Potential average pitch.

Changeup: 83-84 mph. Throws with deceptive arm speed. Pitch shows late drop. Potential below-average offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Wilkelman Gonzalez, Chih-Jung Liu and more low-minors starters

For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports, starting today with starting pitchers from last year's Salem Red Sox. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Wilkelman Gonzalez, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Slightly undersized frame. Sturdy lower half with remaining projection in his upper body. Not that tall, looks heavier than listed weight of 167 pounds. Solid athlete.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Some effort in delivery. Does not use a wind-up. Loose, quick arm. Rotational delivery. High leg kick. Stiff arm action with a slight stab behind. Front side deception. Arm action is a little violent and can get out of sync from the rest of his delivery at times.

Fastball: 92-95 mph. Tops out at 97 mph. Live arm. Velocity drops considerably the deeper he works into games. Will come out 95-97 mph and eventually settle in at 92-94 mph, topping out at 95 mph, by the third inning. Fastball has shown bat-missing ability even in the zone. Pitch shows all types of movement: life, tail, cut, and sink. Variety of movement is a result of him being very raw and still learning how to pitch. Command and control are works in progress. Has flashed the ability to locate on occasions, but is wild at present. Will often yank the pitch to the glove side when his arm gets out ahead of the rest of his delivery. Potential plus offering with refinement.

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Scouting Report Updates: Alex Binelas and David Hamilton

Less than an hour before MLB's owners locked out the players, the Red Sox announced they had acquired outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., third baseman Alex Binelas and shortstop David Hamilton for outfielder Hunter Renfroe. 

The deal brings a reunion with Bradley after he left in free agency following the 2020 season. Bradley was the Red Sox' 2011 first-round pick out of South Carolina and was a key contributor during his eight years on the team, making one All-Star Team and winning one Gold Glove. Bradley really struggled at the plate with Milwaukee in 2021, hitting .163/.236/.261, but did play his usual standout defense. Bradley is due $9.5 million in 2022 and has a substantial buyout of $8 million in 2023 if his $12 million mutual option isn't picked up. Given his performance, the Bradley deal is an overpay, so in return for taking it on, as well as sending back Renfroe, the Red Sox received two prospects. 

Alex Binelas was the Brewers' third-round pick in this year's draft out of Louisville. Binelas had an up-and-down spring with Louisville, hitting .256/.344/.621 with 19 home runs and 51 strikeouts to 21 walks, and saw his draft stock fall after once being seen as a potential first-round pick. Breaking his season down further, he hit .145/.247/.274 in 62 at-bats in the first 16 games of the season, then hit .308/.395/.782 with 18 home runs in his final 133 at-bats of the season. After signing with the Brewers, Binelas was very impressive in Low-A after a brief stint in the Arizona Complex League. With the Carolina Mudcats, Binelas hit .314/.379/.636 with 9 home runs in 132 plate appearances.  

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Scouting Report Update: Seabold to make MLB debut

On Saturday, right-hander Connor Seabold will make his major league debut for the Red Sox, just over a year after he came to the organization in a trade from Philadelphia along with Nick Pivetta in exchange for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. 

Seabold was supposed to be part of the organization's dramatically improved high-minors pitching depth at the beginning of the year, but the same injury bug that got Bryan Mata (Tommy John surgery) during spring training and Tanner Houck (flexor muscle) and Thaddeus Ward (Tommy John surgery) bit him as well. After pitching at the Alternate Training Site in April, he began the minor league season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation and did not make his official season debut until a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League in mid-July. Seabold finally made his first start for Triple-A Worcester on July 23, and in eight starts, he has a 3.67 ERA in 41 2/3 innings, striking out 44 hitters and walking 13.

In preparation to watch Seabold get his first taste of The Show tonight, read up on his freshly updated scouting report below, courtesy of our Director of Scouting, Ian Cundall!

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Scouting Report Update: Jarren Duran gets The Call

Early Wednesday evening, Joe McDonald from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette broke that Jarren Duran wasn't in the lineup for the Worcester Red Sox because he was on his way to New York to make his Major League debut. Duran is in the midst of the best season of his professional career, hitting .270/.365/.561 with 15 home runs and 13 steals in 219 plate appearances in Triple-A. He also spent a few weeks with Team USA helping them qualify for the Olympics, and was one of the standout performers at the Qualifier. 

Duran's promotion comes with the Red Sox entering a pivotal stretch as they look to secure their position at the top of the American League East. The Red Sox have received inconsistent play from their third outfielder this year and the team will look to Duran to take an everyday spot, likely pushing Kiké Hernández into the infield primarily. The Red Sox will need to make room on the 40-man roster for Duran as well as the active roster, with the designation for assignment of a member of the bullpen the most likely move.

Here is an updated scouting report for the newest member of the Boston Red Sox. 

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Scouting Report Updates: Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, Eduard Bazardo and Raynel Espinal

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update highlights four right-handed pitchers that impressed at Major League Spring Training or were with Worcester to start the Triple-A season. SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Garrett Whitlock, Right-handed pitcher

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 and gets elite extension. Short arm action behind, hides the ball. Delivery is a little stiff, but he repeats it well.

Fastball: 94-97 mph. Tops out at 99 mph. Throws both a four-seam and a sinker, primarily relying on the sinker. Pitch shows heavy sink and jumps on hitters due to his extension towards the plate. Sinker induces a lot of groundballs. Velocity jumped after Tommy John surgery from prior 90-93, T95 range. Potential plus offering.

Changeup: 82-84 mph. Throws with circle grip. Pitch has improved drastically since joining the Red Sox, reportedly due to conversations with Matt Andriese during spring training in 2021. Now is his primary secondary. Pitch shows heavy drop and fade and will fall off the table at his best. Used to throw harder at 86-88 mph. Potential plus offering.

Slider: 82-85 mph. True slider with vertical shape. Has continued working on development of the pitch with Red Sox staff in 2021. Sometimes will throw even harder in the 86-88 mph range. Pitch has shown the ability to miss bats at the highest levels. Does not have much horizontal movement. Potential above-average offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Flores, Van Belle, and more

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update highlights seven prospects that participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League and are expected to open the season in Greenville or Salem.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Antoni Flores, Shortstop

 

Physical Description: Already physically developed for his age. Was noticeably thicker during the 2019 season, to the point that it limited his mobility and quick-twitch athleticism, and looked even less athletic during the 2020 Fall Instructional League. Declining athleticism has become a significant problem. Lacks definition, needs to get stronger.

Hit: Starts square and utilizes a leg kick. Loose at the plate. Good bat angle. Average bat speed. Bat will take some time to develop. Approach needs work. Needs to improve pitch recognition. Will shorten up with two strikes. Struggled against more advanced pitching in an aggressive assignment to the New York-Penn League in 2019. Was unable to catch up to velocity, especially up in the zone, and was overly aggressive early in counts, leading to a lot of weak contact. Potential below-average hit tool.

Power: Will show fringe-average raw power in batting practice. Could take some time to translate in game action. Power is primarily to the pull side at present, but could develop all-fields power in the future. Could stand to add some loft to his swing.

Run: Well-below-average speed. Will not be a threat to steal bases, but could grab a few due to strong baserunning instincts. Speed dropped a half grade in 2019 and another grade in 2020. Will need to put work into taking care of his body to prevent further decrease.

Field: Soft hands, fluid actions in the field. Strong instincts for his age. Reads the game well; rarely lets the ball play him. Plays defense with some flair. Range decreased in 2019 as he lost some of his athleticism, raising questions about whether he will stick at shortstop long-term. Played only second base during 2020 Fall Instructional League. Potential to develop into an above-average defender.

Arm: Plus arm strength. Capable of making all the throws necessary from the left side of the infield. Solid carry.

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Scouting Report Updates: Bonaci, Northcut, and a quartet of arms

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update is headlined by shortstop prospect Brainer Bonaci. Only 18 years old, Bonaci turned heads at the Fall Instructional League, competing and having success with many other players several years his senior.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Brainer Bonaci, Shortstop

 

Physical Description: Physically mature, but small frame. Athletic build and strong lower half. Has some remaining projection even after adding 40 pounds since signing.

Hit: Strong contact skills and feel at the plate for his age. Average bat speed, shows above-average barrel control. Swing is short and direct to the ball. Potential average hit tool at least.

Power: Average raw power. Sneaky power for his size and has shown the ability to drive the ball in the DSL. Projects for below-average in-game power.

Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game. Plays faster than his speed grade due to athleticism and instincts.

Field: Average defensive profile. Fluid in the field. Hands work. Average range at present, but this could become an area of concern based on how he physically matures. Has primarily played shortstop early in his pro career, but has also seen time at third base.

Arm: Plus arm. Plenty for the left side of the infield.

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Scouting Report Updates: Blaze Jordan, Chris Murphy, and a trio of teenage arms

The latest SoxProspects scouting report update features 2020 third-round pick Blaze Jordan, left-handed starter Chris Murphy, as well as three young hurlers in the lower levels of the minor league system--Wilkelman Gonzalez, Juan Daniel Encarnacion, and Gabriel Jackson.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Chris Murphy, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Athletic frame with some remaining projection. Looks bigger than listed. Average lower half, medium build.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber. Takes two small steps before a medium leg kick. Drives towards the plate with a big stride and gets plus extension. Left leg kicks up on follow-through, can tend to fall off towards third base post-delivery. Quick, compact arm action. Slight arm hook with some effort behind. Does not consistently finish delivery and can lose release point at times.

Fastball: 90-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Works all over the zone. Command needs work. Especially to the glove side. Much more comfortable locating arm-side at present. May have over-relied on his fastball in college. Potential average pitch.

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Scouting Report Updates: Brayan Bello, Nick Decker and more

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update features five prospects who participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League and who are projected to open the season in either Greenville or Salem.

Brayan Bello

Physical Description: Athletic right-hander with remaining projection. On the skinny side at present.

Mechanics: Loose, quick arm. Throws from a mid-three-quarters arm slot and lands soft and closed on his front side. Could do a better job incorporating his lower half in his delivery. Gets good extension.

Fastball: 93-96 mph. Tops out at 98 mph. Below-average command at present. Tends to crossfire the pitch. Average spin rate. Shows tail down in the zone and some ride when up in the zone. Velocity has steadily increased over his career, from 91-93 mph during the Fall Instructional League in 2018. Will mix in a two-seam fastball on occasion at 92-94 mph. Potential plus offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Gilberto Jimenez, Nick Yorke and Eduard Bazardo

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update features three prospects who participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League and who have now been invited to Major League Spring Training. Nick Yorke and Eduard Bazardo have been at Spring Training since the start, but Gilberto Jimenez was only recently added. 

Gilberto Jimenez, Outfield

Physical Description: Extremely loose and athletic. Standout athleticism. Some projection in his frame. Lower half is filled out. Has transformed his body since signing; once on the skinny side, is now strong and physical.

Hit: Potential average hit tool from the left side and plus hit tool from the right-side. Plus bat speed and very quick hands. Unusually advanced contact skills. Started hitting from the left side in Fall 2017. Has already made strides with his left-handed swing, but it is still a work in progress. Starts open in a crouch and utilizes a toe tap timing device. Does a much better job now of incorporating his lower half and staying in the box and on the ball longer than he did earlier in his career. These changes, along with his added strength, allow him to make more pronounced contact, especially to the pull side. Still willing to drop a bunt down for a base hit if the defense will not guard against that. Swing is more fluid from the right side of the plate, which is his natural side. Starts squarer and more vertical. Barrel stays in the zone longer and he generates more hard contact. Approach and pitch recognition are raw, but strikeout rates are very low due to advanced bat-to-ball skills. At 2020 Fall Instructs, he built on changes to left-handed swing first implemented during 2019 Fall Instructs, starting with a wider base and using a more pronounced weight transfer to better incorporate his lower half. In 2019 with Lowell, he tended to slap at the ball, looking to put it in play rather than drive it, and failed to effectively incorporate his lower half.

Power: Will show above-average raw power from the right side and fringe-average raw from the left. Below-average in-game power potential right now, but added strength plus improvements with his left-handed swing give him a chance for more. Added strength has really helped him to tap into his power and hit the ball harder. Need to see it translate in-game, as his swing is still more designed for hard line drives in the gaps than over-the-fence power. As recently as 2019 in Lowell generated concerningly low exit velocities, but improvements are alleviating those concerns.

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Scouting Report Updates: Triston Casas, Jeisson Rosario and Hudson Potts

The latest SoxProspects scouting report update features three prospects who participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League and who have now been invited to Major League Spring Training. Triston Casas and Hudson Potts have yet to make their Spring debuts, but Jeisson Rosario had made several appearances before he injured himself while chasing a fly ball against the Minnesota Twins.

Triston Casas, First-base

Physical Description: Strong, imposing frame. Thick, fully developed lower half. Some remaining projection in his upper body, but strong already. Will have to work to maintain body and athleticism. Very long limbs. Has done a good job with conditioning early in his career, showing up to 2020 Alternate Training Site with a more toned physique.

Hit: Starts slightly open in a slight crouch. Quiet pre-pitch. Utilizes a leg lift timing device and gets his foot down in time. Easy load, hips really fire through. Plus bat speed; whips the bat through the zone. Smooth, fluid swing, especially given his size. Strong feel for hit for a high school draftee. Utilizes all fields. Will always have some swing-and-miss and holes in his swing. Has shown willingness to try adjustments to swing and to abandon them if they are not working. Has clear two-strike approach in which he widens his stance and chokes up on the bat. Potential to develop strong plate discipline skills in the future. Needs to continue to refine approach and pitch recognition, but has the potential to develop an above-average hit tool.

Power: Plus-plus raw power. Easy all-fields power, but power plays best to the pull side. Has the ideal combination of size, strength, and bat speed for a power hitter. Ball really jumps off his bat. Drives the ball with backspin. How power actualizes will depend on development of hit tool, but can project for at least plus in-game power at his peak and potentially more.

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Scouting Report Updates: Jorge Rodriguez, Durbin Feltman, and more

Our next group of scouting report updates is pitcher-heavy, headlined by SP Top 30 prospects Jorge Rodriguez and Durbin Feltman, as well as Taiwanese pitcher Chih-Jung Liu and 2020 fifth-round pick, Shane Drohan.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by our scouting team, led by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Jorge Rodriguez, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Small-framed left-hander with some projection remaining.

Mechanics: Starts open with his glove low, then brings it above his head. Medium-to-high leg kick. Brings leg across his body for torque.

Fastball: 88-92 mph. Good movement and advanced control for his age. Not an overpowering offering, but plays up due to deception and has a high spin rate. Average potential.

Curveball: Excellent spin rate. Average potential.

Changeup: Average potential.

Career Notes: Had the best performance of any pitcher for the GCL Red Sox in 2019, earning a season-end promotion to Lowell. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020, but did not pitch in game action in 2020.

Summation: On the smaller side, but shows promise. Has major league potential with his excellent control profile and spin rates, needs added velocity and further development of his fastball and curveball to reach full potential. Excellent pitchability for his age.

Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.

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Scouting Report Updates: Ronaldo Hernandez and Nick Sogard

On Wednesday, the Red Sox traded left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs and right-handed pitcher Chris Mazza to the Tampa Bay Rays in return for catcher Roberto Hernandez and infielder Nick Sogard. That the Red Sox were able to get a prospect in Hernandez, who debuted at #14 in the SoxProspects rankings, and a solid minor league depth infielder in Sogard for two pitchers the club had recently designated for assignment was a shrewd piece of business by Chaim Bloom and the front office. Hernandez was once a top 100 prospect according to several publications, but he struggled in 2019. He is still very interesting though and continues to bolster the Red Sox catching depth. The deal also shows how much the Red Sox' pitching depth has improved, as the club felt comfortable dealing two pitchers who clearly had value to other teams. 

For a more detailed breakdown of the trade, check out the next episode of the SoxProspects Podcast, coming this Monday! If you're interested in hearing the podcast before Monday, please consider supporting us on Patreon, where we will be releasing the episode this weekend. 

Here are our initial reports on Hernandez and Sogard, 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 the players in person.

Roberto Hernandez

Physical Description: Thick, mature frame. Sturdy catcher's build.

Hit: Starts open and utilizes a short leg kick timing device. Loads high and keeps his hands up throughout. Will not swing-and-miss often, but rarely walks and his approach needs work. Can be overly aggressive and has trouble recognizing spin. Has had issues with timing in the past. Potential below-average hit tool.

Power: Plus raw power. Can really impact the baseball, especially up in the zone. Power is mainly to the pull side; every home run in his career prior to being acquired by the Red Sox was to left or left-center. Ability to tap into raw power will depend on how his hit tool develops. Potential average in-game power.

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

Field: Does not move well behind the plate. Framing and receiving need a lot of work. Potential fringe-average glove.

Arm: Plus-plus arm. Does a good job controlling the running game. Arm is a weapon.

Career Notes: Acquired from the Rays in February 2021 with Nick Sogard for Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza. Spent much of 2020 traveling with the Rays on the taxi squad. Was added to the Rays 40-man roster in November 2019. Was an infielder before signing with the Rays, moving behind the plate after signing.

Summation: Potential bat-first backup catcher, but has a wide range of outcomes and has everyday upside. Power and arm are carrying tools, but questions about his approach and hit tool and defensive profile cloud his future projection. Type of defensive profile that could really benefit from robot umps. If he can even develop into a fringe-average defender with a below-average hit tool, could be an everyday player given his power and arm.

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Nick Sogard
Scouting report: Switch-hitter with minimal remaining projection. Strong contact skills. Really knows the strike zone and has an advanced approach. No power projection. Soft hands, solid instincts in the field. Should be able to stay at shortstop and also play second base and third base. Advanced feel for the game and strong instincts. Cousin of MLB veteran infielder Eric Sogard and nephew of former major leaguers Steve and Dave Sax. Projects as a solid organizational player.

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

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Scouting Report Update: Josh Winckowski

On Thursday, the Red Sox traded Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals in a three-way trade that also involved the New York Mets. In return, the Red Sox received outfielder Franchy Cordero and two PTBNL from the Royals and RHP Josh Winckowski and a PTBNL from the Mets. For a detailed breakdown of the trade, check out the latest episode of the SoxProspects Podcast. The only prospect we know about so far is Winckowski, who was only just acquired by the Mets in January as part of the Steven Matz trade. Winckowski slots in at 32 in the current SoxProspects Rankings, and it was announced on Friday that he got a Non-Roster Invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Here is our initial report on Winckwoski, compiled from data and reports as well as our scouting sources across the game. Please note that the report will be updated after we have seen him in person.

Physical Description: Tall, sturdy frame. Minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot. Delivery is on the stiff side and lacks fluidity. Arm gets out of sync with his delivery and he does not effectively utilize his hips and lower body.

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Scouting Report Updates: Frank German and Jose Adames

Over the last week, the Red Sox a pair of new minor league pitchers for whom we've posted new scouting reports. First, signed right-handed reliever Jose Adames to a minor league contract. Adames last pitched in rookie ball for the Reds in 2019 and we project him to go to Salem. A few days later, as part of acquiring veteran reliever Adam Ottavino from the Yankees, the club also obtained right-hander Frank German and cash considerations. German was the Yankees' 2018 fourth-round pick out of North Florida, and slots in at twenty-seventh in the SoxProspects Rankings. We project him to start in Portland. 

Here are our initial reports on the pair, 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.

Frank German

Physical Description: Athletic right-hander who has filled out considerably over the last few years. Minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot. Long arm action with lots of moving parts. Slight trunk twist before coming forward. Effort in delivery. Has had trouble repeating delivery over longer outings.

Fastball: 93-97 mph. Tops out at 98 mph. Below-average command. Velocity has increased in pro ball and now routinely sits mid-90s. Potential plus-to-better offering.

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Scouting Report Updates: Jay Groome, Aldo Ramirez and more from Fall Instructs

The latest SoxProspects scouting report update features a pair of top 15 pitching prospects in Jay Groome and Aldo Ramirez, as well as three other players who participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League. 

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by our scouting team, led by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall. 

Jay Groome, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Very large pitcher's frame. Wide, mature upper body and filled-out lower half. Looks all of his listed height and weight. Average athlete. Height is imposing on the mound. Body will need maintenance and bears watching as he matures; has already had problems maintaining his conditioning. How his body develops will depend on how much work he puts in off the field both in-season and during the offseason. Came back from Tommy John surgery in late 2019 in excellent shape, visibly slimmed down, but returned to the mound in 2020 in noticeably worse shape.

Mechanics: Medium-effort delivery. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the third base side from the wind-up. Starts with his feet close together and slightly pointed towards the on-deck circle on the first-base side. Utilizes a high leg lift and is upright and stiff. Hides the ball briefly when he brings it behind his back and then again behind his head as he comes forward. Delivery is inconsistent and has gotten noticeably stiffer as his athleticism and coordination have regressed. Has trouble getting his arm in sync with the rest of his delivery. Has a tendency to open up his front side early while his arm lags behind and comes through late. When arm is out ahead, will miss up to the glove side; when it drags behind, tends to miss arm-side.

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