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May 18, 2017

Eyewitness Accounts

May 18, 2017

by BP Prospect Staff

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Roniel Raudes
Dylan Cease
Luis Valdes
Ke'Bryan Hayes
Cole Tucker

Roniel Raudes


	Born: 01/16/1998 (Age: 19)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 1"	Weight: 160

Over-the-top motion. Clean arm action. Average arm speed and mild effort. Capable of repeating delivery well. Odd timing mechanism pre-pitch out of windup including body gyration and glove going over head before coming set. 1.35-1.38 to home plate.

Evaluator	Victor Filoromo
Report Date	05/15/2017
Affiliate	Salem Red Sox (High A, Red Sox)
Dates Seen	5/1/17
OFP/Risk	50/Medium
Realistic	45: Back-end of rotation
MLB ETA	2020
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	40	50	89-91	93	Sat 89-90 in early going with average command; heavy and boring pitch with arm-side run evident. Late life on fastball as game moved on. Showed better command of pitch as game moved on as well. Average command of pitch overall. Capable of slowing pitch down to get better movement and wiggle in the zone.
Curveball	45	55	75-76	77	Sharp 12-to-6 break. Above-average command and great feel for pitch. Late bite; swing and miss potential and chance to be above-average pitch.
Changeup	40	50	80-82	83	Good command; strong fade with arm speed consistently similar to that of fastball. Creating better velocity separation from fastball than in past; has the potential to be an average pitch.
Slider	35	45	83-84	85	Handful of sliders thrown in game; below-average command of pitch. Below-average depth, not much tilt on the pitch.

Raudes, a 19-year-old from Nicaragua, shows an advanced feel with his curveball and has average command of a fastball that currently sits 89-91 mph. Listed at just 160 pounds, one would expect Raudes to fill out a bit and gain some strength on the fastball. He has a clean, repeatable delivery, and has the potential to be a back-end of the rotation option.

Dylan Cease


	Born: 12/28/1995 (Age: 21)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 2"	Weight: 190

Slim, athletic build with slight projection left; starts from a semi-windup, three-quarters slot, plus arm speed, efficient motion with mild effort, clean finish, athletic deceleration; fields position well

Evaluator	Nathan Graham
Report Date	05/15/2017
Affiliate	South Bend Cubs (Low A, Cubs)
Dates Seen	5/6/17
OFP/Risk	60/High
Realistic	55 — No. 3/4 starter
MLB ETA	2019
Video	Yes

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
4-Seam FB	60	60	94-95	96	Generates velocity with plus arm speed, straight and heavy; locates well, will elevate to generate strikeouts
2-Seam FB	55	60	91-92	92	Shows arm side run and some weight, will run in on the hands of right handed hitters, trusts pitch, will throw in hitters counts
CH	45	50	79-81	81	Still developing feel, inconsistent arm speed replication, good velocity separation, showed late fade, some swing-and-miss potential
CB	40	50	71-73	74	11-to-5 movement; when right has depth and bite; inconsistent, will lose shape on occasion; lacks command

Cease is a quality starting pitching prospect. He shows four potentially major league average or better pitches. His delivery is clean with only mild effort which project plus command in the future. If the change and curve can continue to improve he could develop into a high No. 3 starter. Without that development, there is still enough in his stuff to become a valuable bullpen arm.

Luis Valdes


	Born: 01/18/1989 (Age: 28)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 0"	Weight: 190
	Primary Position: SS
	Secondary Position:

At 28 years old, effectively no projection, he is what he is. Large body, moderate fill, slight extra baggage in the stomach area.

Evaluator	Javier Barragan
Report Date	05/09/2017
Dates Seen	5/5,5/7
Affiliate	Lakeland Flying Tigers (High A, Tigers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2017	Low	45	40 — Backup Infielder	Yes

Went about his business, calm, cool and collected.

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	40	Line-drive hitter with occasional ability to lift for power, middle of the field and pull; loose hands, bat wrap, load combination of recoil and quasi-knee tuck/quasi-toe tap, average bat speed; aggressive approach, expands the zone; first live game action in three seasons. Pitch recognition 40/40
Power	30	Aggressive approach and slight lift does not allow for elevated batted balls, lacks the ability to impact the ball for high exit velo; demonstrated pull power with consistency during BP for average raw power.
Baserunning/Speed	40	Runs well, not aggressive on basepaths, not a steal threat, better underway.
Glove	60	Covers ground spatially with confidence and focus, body control, good footwork and anticipation around the bag, fields all, glove control, no rust here. Glove 60/60 Range 60/60
Arm	55	Different arm angles, on the bag, clean and controled arm action. Arm strength 50/50 Arm accuracy 60/60

After signing on March 1, 2017, these PAs were to shake off rust as Valdes' last official professional season was 2014 in Serie Nacional. His best tool is his glove, demonstrating the range, glove and arm needed to cover SS. Since his bat and speed are both below average, he slots into an emergency back-up role for a championship team.

Ke'Bryan Hayes


	Born: 01/28/1997 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 1"	Weight: 210
	Primary Position: 3B
	Secondary Position:

Light, quick twitch, square frame, room for muscle, appears to be 10 lbs lighter than 210.

Evaluator	Javier Barragan
Report Date	05/10/2017
Dates Seen	5/8 - 5/10
Affiliate	Bradenton Marauders (High A, Pirates)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2020	High	55	50 - Everyday Third Baseman	No

No issues, competes, even-keeled, good instincts for the game; baseball background, father is Charlie Hayes, former major leaguer of 14 seasons, brother Tyree pitched for 6 minor-league seasons.

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	60	Open stance, feet set shoulder width, knee bent, on top of plate, flat bat with light wiggle, a knack for getting the barrell to the ball, sprays ball, plus bat speed, good takes, front foot bails. Barrel contact 30/60 Pitch recognition 30/50 Box presence 30/50
Power	40	Approach more fitting for spraying line drives, no lift, added strength will give Raw power 40/50 Game power 25/35
Baserunning/Speed	50	Runs well, springy strides, aggressive on the basepaths, will steal bags, gets good leads good instincts to have future average speed play up. Dig on bunt: 3.94 SB time: 3.20 Speed 50/50
Glove	60	Reacts very well at hot corner, active feet, good first step read, body control, rangy, good pre-pitch, glove control, athleticism for other positions, too. Glove 50/60 Range 60/60 Instincts 60
Arm	55	Clean arm action and accurate, different angles, quick and controlled exchanges. Arm strength 55/55 Arm accuracy 55/60

Instinctive, confident, athletic position player with the ability to spray the ball, Hayes does a lot of things right. He holds down third exceptionally well, is aggressive on the basepaths, has bat control as well as plus bat speed. He lacks the power for third base, which might be okay for the creative and progressive Pirates, still a move off of third is likely. Depending on the team and their criteria for power at the corners, Hayes projects to be a major-league third baseman with the ability to cover other positions.

Cole Tucker


	Born: 07/03/1996 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 3"	Weight: 185
	Primary Position: SS
	Secondary Position:

XL, gangly, long limbs, lean, V-shaped torso, high waist; muscular development can lead to position change

Evaluator	Javier Barragan
Report Date	05/10/2017
Dates Seen	5/8 - 5/10
Affiliate	Bradenton Marauders (High A, Pirates)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2019	High	60	50 - Everyday Third Baseman	No

Leader, competitor, confident, mature, loves to play the game, game seems easy, smile on his face, baseball player.

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	50	Prototypical Switch hitter — line drive from right, more light from left; L - feet separated at shoulder width, upright with slight knee bend, balanced, bat at 45 degrees with light wiggle, high hands, slight bat wrap, knee lift, leaks, smooth, better than average bat speed, barrel control, spray, more lift. R - feet separated at shoulder width, upright with slight knee bend, balanced, bat at 45 degrees with light wiggle, high hands, deep load, small knee lift, near arm bar, leakage, better than average bat speed; swing can get lengthy, more swing and miss. executes plan at plate, some chase, hits where the ball is pitched, comfortable at plate. Barrel awareness 50/50 Pitch recognition 40/50 Box presence 40/50
Power	50	Approach fitted for line drives and gaps all over the field, slight uphill, room for more power and aptitude suggests more power to come. Raw power 50/60 Game power 30/45
Baserunning/Speed	50	Average raw speed, but instincts to allow tool to play up, takes healthy leads, aggressive on basepaths, at writing of this report leads all of minor league baseball with 24 steals, looks to take extra base, added weight will slow down, but instincts will play up speed then, too. Speed 60/50
Glove	60	Sure-handed, sound defensive actions, rangy, gets to balls, good instincts, high center of gravity, mobile, body is framed for third base. Glove 55/60 Range 50/55 Instincts 60
Arm	50	Low arm slot, short arm circle, some tail, ball released on front leg, on the bag, gets there in time, average arm speed and arm strength; right shoulder labrum surgery in Aug 2015. Arm strength 50/50 Arm accuracy 50/50

Charismatic leader, exudes confidence, and loves to play the game, Tucker is a switch hitter with an advanced understanding of the game. Defensive actions to stick at short, but more muscle will slot him to third base—more power to come with position change and baseball aptitude. Though with current season high of two home runs, there is huge uncertainty as mechanical and approach change would be required. Tucker projects to be a fan favorite and everyday third baseman.

Related Content: Scouting Reports, Dylan Cease, Cole Tucker, Ke\'Bryan Hayes, Eyewitness

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Short Relief: Marlins ... (05/18)

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