- Full name Austin Cates
- Born 05/20/2003 in
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
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Drafted in the 7th round (217th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 (signed for $222,500).
View Draft Report
School: UNLV
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age at Draft: 21.2
Cates spent two seasons with JC of Southern Nevada before transferring to UNLV for the 2024 season where he racked up 107 strikeouts in 14 starts and 90.1 innings. A 6-foot-1 righthander, Cates sits around 89-91 mph with his fastball but has touched 95 at peak. The pitch has below-average pure velocity but above-average riding life and he does a nice job establishing the zone with the pitch. His best offering is a low-80s changeup with significant vertical separation from the fastball thanks to tremendous tumbling action and despite that movement, he also showed a tremendous ability to spot in the pitch in the zone and generate chases below it. Cates also has a slider around 80 mph but the fastball/changeup has been his go-to duo. Despite underwhelming velocity, Cates’ changeup quality and strong 3.9% walk rate should make him an appealing draft day target at some point.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: UNLV Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Cates spent two seasons with JC of Southern Nevada before transferring to UNLV for the 2024 season where he racked up 107 strikeouts in 14 starts and 90.1 innings. A 6-foot-1 righthander, Cates sits around 89-91 mph with his fastball but has touched 95 at peak. The pitch has below-average pure velocity but above-average riding life and he does a nice job establishing the zone with the pitch. His best offering is a low-80s changeup with significant vertical separation from the fastball thanks to tremendous tumbling action and despite that movement, he also showed a tremendous ability to spot in the pitch in the zone and generate chases below it. Cates also has a slider around 80 mph but the fastball/changeup has been his go-to duo. Despite underwhelming velocity, Cates’ changeup quality and strong 3.9% walk rate should make him an appealing draft day target at some point.
