Ratliff is a good development story, signed as an NDFA in 2017 after Royals’ scouts saw him in a small collegiate summer league after his junior year at Lenoir-Rhyne (NC) University. He played a prominent role in Lexington’s bullpen last season, notching 10 saves and striking out more than a batter per inning en route to a 1.68 ERA in the South Atlantic League. He has been similarly valuable for Wilmington in 2019, going 14 for 17 in save opportunities with a 1.50 ERA, holding hitters to a .210 average-against with more strikeouts (26) than innings pitched (24). Ratliff’s fastball sits in the 93-to-95 mph range and has touched 97 mph in the past. A firm slider and change grade as playable-to-average pitches and could be enough to make him a middle relief candidate down the road.
