Jake Faria

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #8 prospect in 2017
  The Rays took a shot on Faria as a projectable Southern California prep righthander in 2011, selecting him in the 10th round and signing him away from Cal State Fullerton. He broke out with an excellent 2015 season, when he ranked second in the minors with a 1.92 ERA. Faria didn't dominate in 2016 but still progressed to Triple-A and ranked eighth in the minors with 157 strikeouts. Faria's stuff isn't explosive. His game is founded upon his deception and downhill angle. His fastball works at 89-92 mph and will occasionally reach as high as 94. Faria throws his plus changeup with identical arm speed, and he's able to take off quite a bit of velocity and throw the pitch at 79-81 mph. He isn't afraid to throw his changeup in fastball counts or start hitters off with it. Faria throws two distinct, below-average breaking pitches. He has a curveball that shows longer and deeper break. It works as more of a get-me-over pitch to change hitters' eye levels and set up the rest of his arsenal. He also throws a firmer, fringy breaking ball with low-80s velocity and shorter 12-to-6 break. Faria's delivery isn't smooth but he repeats it and has passable control. Faria's advanced pitchability and deep arsenal are nearly major league ready. He projects to begin 2017 back at Triple-A Durham but could join the Rays in-season.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #8 prospect in 2016
  The Rays pried 10th-rounder Faria, a projectable, 6-foot-5 righthander from suburban Los Angeles, away from a Cal State Fullerton commitment with a $150,000 bonus in 2011. He spent three years in short-season leagues before advancing to low Class A Bowling Green in 2014 and then finishing 2015 at Double-A Montgomery, thanks to improvements to both his stuff and command. Faria produced one of the loudest pitcher seasons in the minors in 2015, going 17-4, 1.92 with a 1.04 WHIP and strikeout rate of 9.6 batters per nine innings, all of which ranked among the best in full-season ball. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, which gives him tremendous plane on all of his pitches. His fastball has touched 95 mph but routinely sits at 90-92. He also generates late sink on the pitch, making him difficult for hitters to square up. Faria's delivery has some hesitation, but he does an excellent job of repeating his mechanics. He developed outstanding feel for his changeup in 2015, and most evaluators see it as at least a plus pitch. He shows the ability to throw his curveball for strikes down in the zone, though he has yet to master consistency of the pitch. Faria profiles as a No. 4 starter, but he is close to contributing major league value after joining the 40-man roster in November. He will begin 2016 at Montgomery, with a chance to advance quickly to Triple-A Durham.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #14 prospect in 2017
  Faria earned his first big league callup after 11 starts with Durham, where he pitched off of an impressive fastball-changeup combination to great success. Faria's stuff isn't overpowering. He sits 92-94 mph with his fastball and throws a pair of fringe-average breaking balls and a plus changeup in the low 80s that is his separator. His changeup baffles even big league batters, who can't touch the pitcher whether in the zone or not. Faria also tinkered with an upper-80s cutter that showed promise during his time with Durham. Most evaluators peg Faria as a future No. 4 starter, but he's shown a habit of out-pitching his expectations and peripherals based on his deception and feel for sequencing.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Rays took a shot on Faria as a projectable Southern California prep righthander in 2011, selecting him in the 10th round and signing him away from Cal State Fullerton. He broke out with an excellent 2015 season, when he ranked second in the minors with a 1.92 ERA. Faria didn't dominate in 2016 but still progressed to Triple-A and ranked eighth in the minors with 157 strikeouts. Scouting Report: Faria's stuff isn't explosive. His game is founded upon his deception and downhill angle. His fastball works at 89-92 mph and will occasionally reach as high as 94. Faria throws his plus changeup with identical arm speed, and he's able to take off quite a bit of velocity and throw the pitch at 79-81 mph. He isn't afraid to throw his changeup in fastball counts or start hitters off with it. Faria throws two distinct, below-average breaking pitches. He has a curveball that shows longer and deeper break. It works as more of a get-me-over pitch to change hitters' eye levels and set up the rest of his arsenal. He also throws a firmer, fringy breaking ball with low-80s velocity and shorter 12-to-6 break. Faria's delivery isn't smooth but he repeats it and has passable control.
  
  The Future: Faria's advanced pitchability and deep arsenal are nearly major league ready. He projects to begin 2017 back at Triple-A Durham but could join the Rays in-season.