Riley McCauley
| Evaluator: | Burke Granger |
| Report Date: | March 7th, 2018 |
| MLB Team: |
|
|
After shining in the Michigan State bullpen over the past two seasons, McCauley is now making the transition to the rotation as a junior. Serving as the Spartan closer last year, McCauley posted a 17.18 K/9 rate, to go with a 2.10 ERA and nine saves. Carrying that momentum into the Cape Cod League, McCauley earned All-Star honors by continuing to miss bats with a 15.51 K/9 rate and 1.92 ERA for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Statistically, McCauley is adjusting nicely to the rotation thus far this season. Through three starts, the right-hander has a 3.24 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just four walks in 16.2 innings. Undersized, but athletically built at 5’11” and 205 pounds, McCauley’s frame offers little by way of future projection. In short bursts, McCauley’s fastball is an above average-to-plus pitch at 92-to-94 MPH, though an AL scout disclosed that he has trouble maintaining that velocity as a starter. McCauley’s best pitch is a late-breaking low-80s slider with two-plane break and 10-to-4 movement. Though he’s able to generate swings and misses with both pitches, control has been a challenge throughout his collegiate career, evidenced by a 4.07 walks per nine innings pitched rate. These factors combined with the lack of a third offering were reasons the scout cited for projecting McCauley’s future home in a bullpen as a professional. |
