What To Expect From Scouting Reports (Free Prospect Report)
I unveiled plans Monday for offseason Braves prospect coverage for the newsletter and website, featuring two full scouting reports per day, three days a week from Nov. 16 to Dec. 23. As a finale of the coverage, I will send an ebook that organizes every report and includes feature posts for easy access as a holiday thank you.
All of this will be for premium subscribers. For those who have followed my work throughout the season, you already have an idea of what the scouting reports will look like. For those who are new to the newsletter or considering upgrading your subscription for this coverage, I’m going to provide a free report today to give you an idea of what to expect from this project.
As a reminder, on Friday, I will offer a refresher on scouting terms, the scale and what I look for when I evaluate players. Hopefully this will help prepare everyone for the information coming your way over the next month.
Consider the following report a free preview. This is a real report that will be part of the coverage. Remember all grades are potential, not present.
Ricky DeVito
Born: 8/21/1998 (22)
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Position: Pitcher
Acquired: Drafted in 8th round, 2019 (Seton Hall)
2020 News: Instructs invite.
FB: 55
Sits 90-94, touches 96. Fringe-average command. Above-average sink and run when he gets on top of the pitch. Utilizes three-quarters slot to get arm-side run when located down and away. Above-average life when hitting 94-96 with run and sink. Struggles commanding glove-side. Pitch is flat and hittable when missing up or on plate. Above-average grade is based on 94-96 with life in short bursts.
CH: 50+
Mid-80s velo. Fringe-average command. Higher potential of the two secondaries. Classic change that fades and sinks arm-side when turned over. Flashes above-average when he gets extension and turns it over. Replicates arm action and fade comes late on fastball path. Potential to be 55 but needs to gain more consistent feel. Will occasionally cast the pitch and slow actions, or it sometimes comes out of the hand firm.
CB: 50
Low-80s velo. Below-average command. Earns an average-potential grade because of surprising downward depth despite arm slot. Solid-average depth with downward tilt when thrown well. Lacks consistent feel to snap off multiple average breakers in a row. Will occasionally get on the side of it or lose tight spin. Lacks effective bite to consistently miss bats, but enough to get it over for early count strikes.
Command: 45
Stronger feel for arm-side of plate. Present limited effectiveness working around the zone. Moving parts to delivery produce some inconsistency in commanding arsenal. Toning down the motion and finding a consistent release could bump grade to average. Currently not strong enough command to start long-term.
Physical/Mechanics: Athletic pitcher’s frame with length. Ideal size and athleticism in upper and lower halves. Is filling out a solid upper half. Athleticism helps him repeat moving parts in delivery, but he can get out of sync. Three-quarters arm slot with above-average extension when in sync. Average tempo. Can cut himself off and lose extension, especially on secondaries. Compact at leg kick, stays somewhat closed during stride. Will sometimes open early. Inconsistent finish.
Overall: 35+
Role: Up/down reliever
ETA: 2023
Comments: DeVito is an athletic right-hander with length and arm strength. He gets into the mid-90s with running life from a three-quarters slot that creates some angle against right-handed batters. He pairs the fastball with a changeup that flashes above based on replication and late movement, and it’s a pitch that can develop into a go-to secondary with more refinement. DeVito adds a usable curveball that profiles as a change-of-pace offering, perhaps for early strikes. The concern is a delivery that forces DeVito to rely on athleticism to get in sync, which occasionally means an inconsistent release and spotty command. Between fringe command and stuff that’s good enough for the majors but lacks big swing-and-miss potential, DeVito tracks as a reliever. If he maxes out his grades, it’s middle relief.