4. Ryan Castellani, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/1/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Hartford Yard Goats
2017 Stats: 27 GS, 157 1/3 IP, 4.81 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 19.4% K
Info: Sometimes the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story, and that’s definitely the case with Castellani in 2017. A wiry 6’4″ kid out of Phoenix high school when the Colorado Rockies drafted him in the 2nd round in 2014, he’s now bulked up to a solid 220-225 pounds and become a workhorse.
Sometimes the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story, and that’s definitely the case with Castellani in 2017
Castellani works with a three-pitch mix that pounds the bottom of the zone, allowing him to work through innings quickly and pile up innings, leading his league the last two years in innings pitched.
He leads that mix with a two-seam sinking fastball that sits 92-95 with 97-98 top end when he reaches back. He did sort in a four-seamer that he was working from the belt up to give a good eye-level changer, but he struggled with command of the pitch, though he kept it in the zone, often seeing it hit harder than he’d like, but to his credit, he stayed with the pitch, and by the end of the season, he was spotting it well, showing a potential weapon for him going forward.
Castellani pairs his fastballs with a plus slider that can range into the upper-80s and bump 90 MPH with wicked break. He also has a change that doesn’t give a lot of wiggle, but that he can locate very well.
With his pitch mix and frame, Castellani has the build and stuff to be a mid-rotation inning-eater with a chance to bump up to a #2 with development of his change or his four-seamer playing up further. The Colorado Rockies will likely send Castellani to AAA in 2018, and he could certainly see some big league starts by the end of the season.
3. Riley Pint, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/6/1997 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Asheville Tourists
2017 Stats: 22 GS, 93 IP, 5.42 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 13.6% BB, 18.2% K
Info: Those who have read Jeff Passan’s “The Arm” know well about Pint’s incredible velocity. That peak velocity made him the fourth overall selection in 2016 by the Colorado Rockies. It’s thus far been the only thing that has carried forward into his pro career.
Pint’s fastball still sits 95-98 typically and can touch 102, but his control has wavered on the pitch and his command of it has completely left him as a pro, which really has hurt his ability to take what should be an incredible weapon in a high-velocity fastball with good movement and get results with it.
As an amateur, Pint flashed plus grades with his slider and curve, but only his slider has even shown above-average as a pro, primarily due to control issues. His change was the pitch most varied in opinion as an amateur, and it’s definitely taken a step back as a pro.
All that said, Pint has an incredible fastball with an easy delivery, though he struggles to stay at a consistent pace through his delivery, leading to the majority of his control and command issues. It’s hard to move him down too much with the elite ability of his pitches if he could simply get that delivery ironed out.
The Colorado Rockies will hope to see Pint take at least a step forward in his control in 2018 at high-A Lancaster.
Next: #1 and #2