In searching through mlb.com’s lists of top 30 prospects, I came across a name I was not expecting: Rayan Gonzalez (Harrisonburg 2009), who pitched in High-A Modesto in the California League in 2014. He did well enough that he was named the 21st prospect in the Colorado Rockies’ system!
Here is what his scouting report says:
When a pitcher has a nice stretch where he doesn’t give up any home runs, it’s nice to see. When he goes two straight seasons without yielding a long ball, as Gonzalez did in 2013 and 2014, you sit up and take notice.
The Bethune-Cookman product has filled out his 6-foot-3 frame, providing a menacing presence on the mound. He’ll throw his fastball up to 95 mph, sitting in the 92-93 mph range, but it plays up because of its plus late action, almost like a cutter. It’s a straight downhill fastball that helped him generate a 3.30 groundout-to-airout ratio in 2014. He’ll mix in a big breaking ball – sometimes it’s a curveball, sometimes it has a late slurvy action to it – and it can be a swing-and-mix pitch as well. He’ll toss in a developing changeup.
Gonzalez still needs to refine his command, though he fared well when he stepped in as a closer in 2014. With more strikes, he could hold that job in the big leagues, too.
It’s true- Rayan has thrown 110 innings in two years without giving up a single home run, and at the same time, striking out 134 opponents!
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