The former fourth overall pick of the Rangers in 2015 who came to the Yankees as part of the Carlos Beltran (OF, Astros) deal at last year’s trade deadline, Tate made his High A debut for the Tampa Yankees on June 20 after a stint on the D.L. with a shoulder injury. In an impressive outing, he scattering three hits and allowed no runs over 5 2/3 innings of work, with a walk and five strikeouts to his credit.

Tate has a well-proportioned, athletic frame with a no windup delivery, and he has a quick arm out of a 3/4’s slot that generates some angle to the delivery. The ball really jumps out of his hand and he gets good extension out front. He pounds the strike with his plus-to double-plus fastball offering, sitting 93-to-97 mph with most readings at 95 mph. He gets good arm-side run with his two-seamer in the lower velo band, as well as late ride and life with plus movement in the strike zone with the four-seamer resting in the higher velo band. He is able to command the pitch to both sides of the plate with plus movement in the strike zone.

His slider has some projection to it, and is presently an above-average offering, with good spin action to it, and he is able to vary the spin from a short action to a slurvy look. It could become a plus offering as he develops more feel and consistency with the pitch. His changeup also can become a future plus pitch, as he already shows some feel for it, getting late fading action and replicating his fastball arm speed well.

It was an impressive start to the season for Tate, and assuming he can stay healthy, he projects to have three plus-or-better pitches in his arsenal, which are the makings of a future Role 60 number three starter at maturity.