- Full name Gabe Gaeckle
- Born 09/28/2004 in Aptos, CA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Aptos (Calif.) HS
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Drafted in the 20th round (588th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.
View Draft Report
School: Aptos (Calif.) HS Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 18.8
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
Undersized high school righthanders who have already had Tommy John surgery tend not to be popular in the draft, but Gaeckle is an exception. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound righthander impressed with his elite arm speed and loud stuff on the summer showcase circuit, and he kept it up by going 8-0, 0.59 with 117 strikeouts and nine walks in 59.1 innings this spring for Aptos (Calif.) High. Gaeckle has some of the best arm speed in the draft class and present stuff despite his size. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with ride at the top of the zone and projects to be a plus pitch. He pairs his heater with a high-spin, upper-70s curveball with 11-to-5 shape and hard biting action that generates ugly swings below the zone and projects to be another plus offering. He primarily throws his fastball and curveball and will need to develop his mid-80s changeup. Gaeckle has some effort in his delivery and, despite his low walk totals, is more effectively wild than a good strikethrower. He needs to get crisper with his command and control in order to avoid a move to the bullpen. Gaeckle’s size, delivery and injury history make him a likely reliever, but his arm strength still has teams interested as high as the second or third round. He is committed to Arkansas.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Arkansas. Drafted: Reds ’23 (20)
Age At Draft: 21.8
Lauded for his high-end stuff and advanced strike-throwing ability, Gaeckle has shown off both in the first half of the 2024 season. A bulldog on the mound, Gaeckle is perpetually in attack mode and overpowers hitters with his fastball that tops out at 98. He has big-time arm speed and also features a hammer curveball that has eclipsed 3,000 RPMs, while flashing huge depth and downward bite. To round out his arsenal, Gaeckle throws a sharp power slider that has the makings of a potential plus pitch. He seems destined to make the jump into the rotation next year, where he will get the chance to sell teams on his ability to start. -
School: Aptos (Calif.) HS Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 18.8
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
Undersized high school righthanders who have already had Tommy John surgery tend not to be popular in the draft, but Gaeckle is an exception. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound righthander impressed with his elite arm speed and loud stuff on the summer showcase circuit, and he kept it up by going 8-0, 0.59 with 117 strikeouts and nine walks in 59.1 innings this spring for Aptos (Calif.) High. Gaeckle has some of the best arm speed in the draft class and present stuff despite his size. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with ride at the top of the zone and projects to be a plus pitch. He pairs his heater with a high-spin, upper-70s curveball with 11-to-5 shape and hard biting action that generates ugly swings below the zone and projects to be another plus offering. He primarily throws his fastball and curveball and will need to develop his mid-80s changeup. Gaeckle has some effort in his delivery and, despite his low walk totals, is more effectively wild than a good strikethrower. He needs to get crisper with his command and control in order to avoid a move to the bullpen. Gaeckle’s size, delivery and injury history make him a likely reliever, but his arm strength still has teams interested as high as the second or third round. He is committed to Arkansas.
