Trade Deadline: Prospect Scouting Reports

July 27^th

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Trade: Tyler Clippard to the New York Mets; Casey Meisner to the Oakland Athletics

Prospect(s):

Casey Meisner – RHP – A third round pick out of a Texas high school, Meisner is still all about projection and dreaming on potential. He is 6’7” and still listed under 200 lbs., but he has a fastball that can work into the mid 90s with downward plane to go with a cross body delivery that allows it to play up even more than the velocity would suggest. He has a slurvy curve that is still average at best but has good shape to it. His change is lacking behind his other two pitches, but it must improve if he is going to become a long term starter. He is still just 20 years old and in High-A ball and has lowered his career ERA under 3 thanks to an excellent start to the 2015 season.

Trade: Troy Tulowitzki and Latroy Hawkins to the Toronto Blue Jay; Jose Reyes, Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman, and Jesus Tinoco to the Colorado Rockies

Prospect(s):

Miguel Castro – RHP – After struggling as the Blue Jays closer to start the year, the 20-year old is back in the minor leagues and working on stretching back out to a starter’s work load. Now that he is with the Rockies, Castro will be interesting to follow and see if they decide to make him a reliever or starter. He has a massive fastball that makes him the type of pitcher that can be a big league reliever now, but his secondary pieces are still works in progress. If his changeup can improve to a consistent above average pitch and his slider can become merely average, he could become a very good starter.

Jeff Hoffman – RHP – At one point in 2014, Hoffman was in consideration for the number one overall pick in the draft and the better college pitcher than even Carlos Rodon. An elbow injury requiring Tommy John Surgery caused him to fall to ninth in the draft. He has a fastball that can regularly touch 98 and a curve that was among the best in the 2014 draft class. He also has a changeup that is above average while showing command for all three pitches. If he remains healthy and continues to fine tune his change, Hoffman, already at Double-A, could be an impact starter as early as 2016.

Jesus Tinoco – RHP – In his first year of full season ball, Tinoco’s stock rests on his stuff rather than his numbers. He has struck out less than eight per nine and has a pro ERA over four, but he has a four seam fastball that can sit 95 and a two seamer that works up to 94 with plenty of sink. His slider is inconsistent, but has moments of being a well above average pitch. He also has a change he is working on refining. Given he is still 20 and in A ball, it is too early to start projecting how his pitches will work in the thin air of Colorado, but he has already built a reputation of a heavy ground ball pitcher.