Eric Adler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #30 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The White Sox selected Adler in the sixth round in 2022 despite abysmal numbers in his final season at Wake Forest when he walked 25 and hit nine batters in 21.1 innings while fanning 37. Perhaps a better indication of his potential was seen in the summer of 2021 when he was one of the better relievers in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 29 in 15.2 innings. Adler made six short outings in the White Sox system before reporting for fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Adler's electric fastball was up to 98 mph in college and touched 97 at Low-A Kannapolis, with high spin rates on all of his pitches. His 80-mph curveball has medium depth with 11-to-5 shape, and his mid-80s slider has late tilt. Both breaking balls project as average pitches, but have flashed plus for some evaluators. The command and control issues surface when his hand is late and long out of the glove, and he gets behind and tries to use his body to catch up. He has a tendency to miss to his arm side and not get fully on top of his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: He'll head to one of the Class A affiliates in 2023. The White Sox pitching development group will be challenged to unlock Adler's true potential. It's major league closer-caliber stuff if it all comes together.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Control: 40

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #230 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Wake Forest Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.8
  A 6-foot-2, 190-pound righthander, Adler has been a key reliever for Wake Forest throughout his college career and was one of the better bullpen arms in the Cape Cod League during 2021. He made 15 appearances for Bourne and posted a 1.15 ERA over 15.2 innings, with 29 strikeouts (46.8 K%) and seven walks (11.3 BB%). Control has held Adler’s performance back this spring, despite arm talent that scouts love. He throws a fastball in the 94-95 mph range and has been up to 98, with high spin rates across the board. On top of a fastball in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range, Adler throws two high-spin breaking balls: an 80 mph curveball with downer shape and a mid-80s slider that gets up to 90 mph with short, cutting action. Scouts have put plus grades on the breaking stuff at times, but he’s a no-doubt reliever at the next level and his 2022 performance will raise eyebrows: an 8.86 ERA in 21.1 innings, with 37 strikeouts (33.0 K%) and 25 walks (22.3 BB%). He has potential high-leverage reliever stuff but needs to find high-leverage reliever control.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The White Sox selected Adler in the sixth round in 2022 despite abysmal numbers in his final season at Wake Forest when he walked 25 and hit nine batters in 21.1 innings while fanning 37. Perhaps a better indication of his potential was seen in the summer of 2021 when he was one of the better relievers in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 29 in 15.2 innings. Adler made six short outings in the White Sox system before reporting for fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Adler's electric fastball was up to 98 mph in college and touched 97 at Low-A Kannapolis, with high spin rates on all of his pitches. His 80-mph curveball has medium depth with 11-to-5 shape, and his mid-80s slider has late tilt. Both breaking balls project as average pitches, but have flashed plus for some evaluators. The command and control issues surface when his hand is late and long out of the glove, and he gets behind and tries to use his body to catch up. He has a tendency to miss to his arm side and not get fully on top of his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: He'll head to one of the Class A affiliates in 2023. The White Sox pitching development group will be challenged to unlock Adler's true potential. It's major league closer-caliber stuff if it all comes together.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Control: 40
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The White Sox selected Adler in the sixth round in 2022 despite abysmal numbers in his final season at Wake Forest when he walked 25 and hit nine batters in 21.1 innings while fanning 37. Perhaps a better indication of his potential was seen in the summer of 2021 when he was one of the better relievers in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 29 in 15.2 innings. Adler made six short outings in the White Sox system before reporting for fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Adler's electric fastball was up to 98 mph in college and touched 97 at Low-A Kannapolis, with high spin rates on all of his pitches. His 80-mph curveball has medium depth with 11-to-5 shape, and his mid-80s slider has late tilt. Both breaking balls project as average pitches, but have flashed plus for some evaluators. The command and control issues surface when his hand is late and long out of the glove, and he gets behind and tries to use his body to catch up. He has a tendency to miss to his arm side and not get fully on top of his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: He'll head to one of the Class A affiliates in 2023. The White Sox pitching development group will be challenged to unlock Adler's true potential. It's major league closer-caliber stuff if it all comes together.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Control: 40