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Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of LSU, right-handed pitching prospect Ryan Eades transitioned to the bullpen nearly full-time in 2017, splitting the year between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester, and finishing 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 30 games (nine starts). Over 87.1 innings pitched in that span, the tall, lanky righty allowed 65 hits (6.7 H/9, .209 opponents’ batting average) and 33 walks (3.4 BB/9) while posting 67 strikeouts (6.9 K/9). After the season, the Minnesota Twins sent Eades to the Arizona Fall League to pitch for the Surprise Saguaros, where he appeared ten times (one start) and finished 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched (14 hits, three walks, 13 strikeouts).

A tall righty with great downward plane and a surprisingly deep arsenal even after his move to the bullpen, Ryan Eades has set-up man upside with potential command improvements and more consistency in off-speed execution, though he’ll likely fall back into middle relief unless he can miss more bats than he’s shown with his arsenal to date. Baseball Census saw him pitch multiple times at the AFL over the last two months; below, we’ve got a full Ryan Eades scouting report, including tool grades, game video, and projection notes.




Ryan Eades Scouting Report, Minnesota Twins — 2017

Dates observed in 2017: Arizona Fall League

TOOL (FV)
NOTES & COMMENTS
Four-Seam Fastball (55)
Generally a straight pitch sitting in the low 90s, but he’ll hum it up to 95 when he needs it. Great downward plane gives it life, but more or less straight otherwise; occasional cut to glove-side and run to arm-side with some manipulation, but inconsistent and subtle. Ball jumps out of the hand; long limbs and big stride help give illusion he’s right on top of hitters; ball will get on hitters quick even with low 90s velocity. Slight command improvements could stand to make it an even better pitch. Velocity: 92-94, T 95.
Two-Seam Fastball (50)
Modest arm-side run with some sink, most notably when it’s already down in the zone. Typically a couple miles per hour off the four-seam; more effective look here against RHH to get in on hands, but anything up in zone will flatten out and risks getting hit hard if left out over the plate. Downward plane significantly helps two-seamer here as it did with four-seamer; enough life to differentiate from four-seamer, but not significant arm-side run or fade to make it overly exceptional. Velocity: 90-92, T 93.
Curveball (40)
11-to-5 break with a big hump; throws it with good arm speed and with some feel for spin, but inconsistent execution and command. Inability to consistently throw it for a strike, or to throw it down in the zone. Will overthrow it and spike even early in counts with little command. Long arm action in back fails to catch up with body at times, leaving curveball up and out of the zone or hanging with little downward bite at the plate. Good ones are good enough to get by, bad ones get hit hard — for me, too many bad ones to work high-leverage relief right now. Velocity: 75-77, T 78.
Slider (45)
Very tight, hard slider with some cut action and velocity, but significantly more depth at its best. Hard 10-to-4 break that he’ll play with — sometimes big and sweeping early when cast out of the hand, sometimes biting harder down and late when he gets on top and out front. As with curve, good ones are good, bad ones are bad — inconsistency an issue, but current execution and future potential considered, slider grades out as a slightly better pitch here based on my views. Velocity: 82-84, T 85.
Changeup (40)
Looks like a circle change out of the hand; modest tumble with some arm-side run but not enough to consistently miss bats. Effective in small doses against LHH down and away, will draw some weak contact and ground ball outs thanks to a little bit of life and good arm action when pinpoint. Command execution is inconsistent, though, and unlikely to improve too far beyond breaking balls without significant improvement. Velocity: 81-83, T 84.
Control/Command (50/45)
Below-average command, particularly of off-speed stuff within the zone and side to side; inconsistent execution of full repertoire; lacking ideal feel for his stuff, though admittedly in relatively new relief role at AFL. With a little more development, stuff has a chance to play up and overcome command inconsistencies, but will need to power through to provide margin of error. Profile drastically improves if breaking ball command and control improve, though at his age and level, he’s likely at/near final form.
Mechanics
Tall, lanky, and long; very long arm swing on the back side gives hitters (particularly LHH) ample opportunity to pick up the ball and pitch grips extremely early. Working on first base side of the rubber with landing on line to the plate; open foot strike with consistent forward follow through (occasional fall off to first base, but insignificant). High three-quarters/nearly overhand release point up top with some height gives him exceptional downward plane to work with. Risk is in long arm action in the back; sometimes tricky for arm to catch up to body, and release point will fall out of whack at times depending on variable sets/holds particularly with runners on base.
Intangibles
Former full-time starter who worked in the bullpen for much of the year; there’s likely a workable big league future here but it may only come as an up-and-down guy in middle/long relief. Stuff needs to play up more than it did in my AFL viewings to be more optimistic about him in late innings, especially without a stronger command profile, but he’s a big, physical pitcher with a deep arsenal and that lends hope that it might still come together.




Ryan Eades Scouting Report — Minnesota Twins — 2017 Game Video




Ryan Eades Scouting Report — Notes, Analysis & Projection

Ryan Eades is a memorable guy to watch throw: with long hair, long arm action, some herky jerky stuff going on in his delivery, and a remarkably deep arsenal for a reliever , I took notice all four times I saw him pitch at the Arizona Fall League. But the more I saw him, the more cooled off on his stuff and execution; there are command issues here — particularly in off-speed execution — which will ultimately limit his relief ceiling. To boot, Eades falls short of having true wipeout stuff coming out of the ‘pen that would ideally point him to higher leverage relief innings. Ultimately, I think he’s a middle/long reliever (or perhaps a swingman, depending on how the Minnesota Twins view Ryan Eades’ long-term rotation future). The deep arsenal and raw physicality are there to push that ceiling if things somehow fall into place in the coming years, but it’s most likely Ryan Eades will become a lower leverage bullpen arm who should reach Minnesota for a stint late next year.

Overall Future Potential (Future Value): Middle relief (6th/7th inning) potential at ceiling thanks to deep arsenal and physical upside; more likely ticketed for up-and-down/long relief unless he can miss more bats (40/45)

MLB ETA: 2018




Did you like this Ryan Eades scouting report? Get more prospects here:

Minnesota Twins 2B Emmanuel Morel — CLICK HERE

Minnesota Twins OF Jean Carlos Arias — CLICK HERE

Colorado Rockies OF Steven Linkous — CLICK HERE

Chicago White Sox RHP Connor Walsh — CLICK HERE

Baltimore Orioles LHP Keegan Akin — CLICK HERE

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Bobby DeMuro

Bobby DeMuro is the founder of Baseball Census. A former college and independent league baseball player, he now watches more than 200 games a year working full time for the site. You can follow him on Twitter @BobbyDeMuro for more.

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