Ryan Castellani

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #12 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani's mechanics broke down in 2018 and he logged an 8.31 ERA at Triple-A in 2019 before having season-ending surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. His run of misfortune continued when he tested positive for Covid-19 before the 2020 season, but he rebounded to have a strong summer camp and earned his first major league callup. Castellani made 10 appearances (nine starts) and posted a 5.82 ERA.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani comes at hitters with a three-quarter arm slot that generates unique movement on his pitches. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96 mph with a lot of horizontal movement. His short, mid-80s slider is his best pitch and generated a 50 percent whiff rate in his debut. Castellani's mid-80s changeup was his fourth pitch in the past, but it proved effective against lefties and he increasingly went to it in the majors. He also added an upper-70s curveball that was largely ineffective against big league hitters. Consistency and throwing strikes are the challenges for Castellani moving forward. He walked more batters than he struck out in his debut and has had below-average walk rates since Double-A.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani has a shot to be a back-end starter if his control improves. Mostly likely, he fits in the bullpen.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #7 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani overcame a failed effort to become a more traditional overhand pitcher in 2018 and returned to his usual three-quarters arm slot in 2019. He got off to an impressive start at Triple-A Albuquerque but he was slowed by bone chips in his right elbow and had season-ending surgery in June. He returned to pitch in the Arizona Fall League and posted a 2.16 ERA in five starts, reaffirmed his status as one of the Rockies' better pitching prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani is an outlier who throws harder with from the three-quarters delivery than over the top. He has a three-pitch mix built around a fastball that can reach 97 mph, but he commands it best in the 91-94 mph range with heavy sink to induce ground balls. His best secondary pitch is an above-average hard slider and he also flashes a usable changeup. Castellani is a cerebral pitcher with thick, durable legs built to log innings, but his below-average command across the board makes him a likely reliever for many evaluators.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani will get a shot to pitch in the Rockies' rotation at some point in 2020. How his elbow holds up and if his command improves will determine if he starts or relieves long term.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Sent back to Double-A Hartford in 2018, Castellani struggled and finally realized he was delivering the ball too much over the top, losing the action and velocity on his pitches. By the end of the Arizona Fall League he had dropped back to a three-quarters arm slot, regaining velocity, movement and command. He allowed one run in five innings in three of his final four AFL appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Signed at age 18 out of high school, Castellani has a three-pitch mix built around a fastball that can hit 98 mph, but he sits at 93 mph. He has a curveball, but it takes a back seat to a slider that is a separator. Castellani isn't worried about pitching to contract because the sinking action on his fastball induces ground balls.
  
  The Future: Castellani can climb on the express lane to the big leagues if he builds off his success in the final weeks of the AFL. He has the competitive nature, and when he is right, his pitch assortment makes it difficult for hitters to sit on a particular pitch.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #6 prospect in 2018
  The Rockies signed Castellani for $1.1 million out of high school in 2014 and were protective of him early, limiting him to 150 innings in his first two seasons combined. They then bulked him up and turned him loose, and he's been exceptionally durable since. Castellani led the high Class A California League in innings pitched in 2016, and did the same in the Double-A Eastern League in 2017. Castellani works with a three-pitch mix with sinking action. His fastball holds serve at a steady 93 mph, and he has shown the ability to touch 97. His best secondary is a hard slider, and he also mixes in a usable changeup. All three pitches have flashed above-average at one point or another, but he runs into trouble when he isn't keeping the ball down. When right, Castellani commands both sides of the plate in the bottom half of the zone, and his strong lower half allows him to hold his stuff late in games. He is cerebral with a feel for the game that helps his stuff play up. Castellani projects as a potential workhorse in the middle-to-back of a rotation as long as he keeps the ball down. His ability to do that will be tested at Triple-A Albuquerque to open the 2018 season.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #6 prospect in 2017
  After drafting Castellani 48th overall in 2014, the Rockies came up with a $1.1 million bonus offer to lure him away from an Arizona State scholarship. They were extremely protective of his workload his first two seasons of pro ball but in 2016 allowed him to work deeper into games. He averaged nearly 6.2 innings per outing over 26 starts at high Class A Modesto en route to being named the California League's No. 1 prospect. Castellani has two prime ingredients in a two-seam fastball with 93-95 mph velocity at its best and good sinking movement and a changeup that mimics his fastball in terms of slot and action. His slider hasn't been as consistent as it needs to be, but it can be plus as well. It gives him that three-pitch mix to succeed as a starter and helped him lead the Cal League in strikeouts while remaining effective the second and third time through batting orders. Castellani has the quick arm action and a clean delivery that limits stress on his shoulder. Managers and scouts appreciate his mound presence and competitive makeup that pushes him that extra step. Castellani can get overlooked by the abundance of quality arms the Rockies have on the verge of the big leagues. He made sure he wouldn't get left behind with his Cal League performance. A potential No. 3 starter, he is headed for Double-A Hartford in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #15 prospect in 2016
  The Rockies have handled Castellani carefully since taking the Phoenix-area righthander 48th overall in 2014 and signing him away from Arizona State for $1.1 million. After 37 innings--spread across 10 starts--at short-season Tri-City in 2014, Castellani spent all of 2015 at low Class A Asheville. The Rockies had him on a strict workload, limiting him to about 50 pitches early in the season and bumping him up to 80 by June. Athletic with a tall, projectable body and repeatable mechanics, Castellani throws a two-seamer at 90-93 mph that touches 95. The pitch has good downward plane and sinking movement as long as he maintains his arm angle, and he could add velocity as he fills out. Castellani has feel for a changeup and was more consistent with it in 2015. Both his change and slider have the chance to be above-average but remain works in progress. Still just a teenager, his control is ahead of his command, but the Rockies love his fearlessness, and he's starting to gain a better understanding of pitch sequences. Castellani has No. 3 starter potential, but he is far from his ceiling. His next step will be high Class A Modesto in 2016.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #11 prospect in 2015
  Castellani signed for $1.1 million as the 48th overall pick in the 2014 draft, then held his own against older players at short-season Tri-City. He has a strong, lanky pitcher's body, a loose arm action and a balanced, clean delivery. Castellani displayed a calmness and maturity beyond his years, a fearlessness about pitching inside and good downhill angle on his fastball. His sinker is an above-average pitch at 91-93 mph with late depth. He controls but doesn't command his changeup but can keep the pitch down and throws it comfortably and willingly. He worked on his glove-side fastball command and his slider in instructional league. He's working to make that pitch tighter with a late break. Castellani could have three plus pitches and projects to be a solid No. 3 starter if he reaches his ceiling. He could start 2015 in extended spring training but should end up at low Class A Asheville, if he doesn't begin the year there.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #98 prospect in 2014 draft
  Castellani has been a known entity in scouting circles for some time, showcasing draftable stuff for the last three years and showing well at the Tournament of Stars as an underclassman. While his stuff has not progressed quite as much as scouts who saw him two years ago had hoped, he has present stuff, pitchability and an ideal pitcher's body. After touching the mid-90s early in the spring, Castellani has settled in at 88-92 mph, similar velocity to what he showed as an underclassman. His fastball plays up with downhill plane, heavy sink and arm-side run at its best. He is a strike-thrower who can locate to both sides of the plate with the potential for at least average control. He has a four-pitch mix, with both his slider and changeup flashing above-average at their best, while his curveball shows average potential. His secondary stuff has some inconsistencies and will need to be sharpened. At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds with broad shoulders and long extremities, the Arizona State commit offers a projectable physique with some present strength.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 2016
  Castellani gained 15 pounds from offseason workouts and saw his stuff jump as a result, with his two-seam fastball going from 88-93 mph to 92-95 with late sink as it comes from his three-quarters arm slot. Castellani's slider earns consistent plus grades from evaluators, while his changeup is on track to becoming a quality third pitch. With three potential plus pitches, all of which he commands, he led the Cal League in innings (168) and strikeouts (142) despite being the youngest pitcher on Opening Day. "He's kind of a clone of a Max Scherzer in the way he pitches," Visalia manager J.R. House said. "He has a really good arm (and) good stuff all the way around. He's a babe in the game and he's going to get stronger every offseason. " Castellani only got stronger as the season went on, finishing the year 3.0, 2.37 in his final seven starts. That strong finish helped solidify his reputation as a potential front-of-the rotation workhorse.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #11 prospect in 2014
  Castellani was Arizona's top prep pitcher for much of his high school career, and the Rockies signed him for $1.1 million as the 48th overall selection. While the Rockies stocked Rookie-level Grand Junction with college draft picks such as Harrison Musgrave and Sam Howard, they sent Castellani to the NWL, and he held his own against older competition. Castellani allowed one or no earned runs in six of his 10 starts and after slipping a bit in August, he rebounded with two strong starts to finish. He has a good pitcher's body, his arm works and he profiles as an innings-eating, back-end starter. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has touched 95 mph in the past. Castellani pitches downhill and his fastball has good sink at its best. He competes well with his sinker, his changeup has some tumble, and he throws both a slider and curve, which often blend into a slurve. Encouragingly, he threw plenty of strikes in his debut, and managers liked how he competed.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani's mechanics broke down in 2018 and he logged an 8.31 ERA at Triple-A in 2019 before having season-ending surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. His run of misfortune continued when he tested positive for Covid-19 before the 2020 season, but he rebounded to have a strong summer camp and earned his first major league callup. Castellani made 10 appearances (nine starts) and posted a 5.82 ERA.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani comes at hitters with a three-quarter arm slot that generates unique movement on his pitches. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96 mph with a lot of horizontal movement. His short, mid-80s slider is his best pitch and generated a 50 percent whiff rate in his debut. Castellani's mid-80s changeup was his fourth pitch in the past, but it proved effective against lefties and he increasingly went to it in the majors. He also added an upper-70s curveball that was largely ineffective against big league hitters. Consistency and throwing strikes are the challenges for Castellani moving forward. He walked more batters than he struck out in his debut and has had below-average walk rates since Double-A.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani has a shot to be a back-end starter if his control improves. Mostly likely, he fits in the bullpen.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani's mechanics broke down in 2018 and he logged an 8.31 ERA at Triple-A in 2019 before having season-ending surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. His run of misfortune continued when he tested positive for Covid-19 before the 2020 season, but he rebounded to have a strong summer camp and earned his first major league callup. Castellani made 10 appearances (nine starts) and posted a 5.82 ERA.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani comes at hitters with a three-quarter arm slot that generates unique movement on his pitches. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96 mph with a lot of horizontal movement. His short, mid-80s slider is his best pitch and generated a 50 percent whiff rate in his debut. Castellani's mid-80s changeup was his fourth pitch in the past, but it proved effective against lefties and he increasingly went to it in the majors. He also added an upper-70s curveball that was largely ineffective against big league hitters. Consistency and throwing strikes are the challenges for Castellani moving forward. He walked more batters than he struck out in his debut and has had below-average walk rates since Double-A.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani has a shot to be a back-end starter if his control improves. Mostly likely, he fits in the bullpen.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani overcame a failed effort to become a more traditional overhand pitcher in 2018 and returned to his usual three-quarters arm slot in 2019. He got off to an impressive start at Triple-A Albuquerque but he was slowed by bone chips in his right elbow and had season-ending surgery in June. He returned to pitch in the Arizona Fall League and posted a 2.16 ERA in five starts, reaffirmed his status as one of the Rockies’ better pitching prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani is an outlier who throws harder with from the three-quarters delivery than over the top. He has a three-pitch mix built around a fastball that can reach 97 mph, but he commands it best in the 91-94 mph range with heavy sink to induce ground balls. His best secondary pitch is an above-average hard slider and he also flashes a usable changeup. Castellani is a cerebral pitcher with thick, durable legs built to log innings, but his below-average command across the board makes him a likely reliever for many evaluators.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani will get a shot to pitch in the Rockies’ rotation at some point in 2020. How his elbow holds up and if his command improves will determine if he starts or relieves long term.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Castellani overcame a failed effort to become a more traditional overhand pitcher in 2018 and returned to his usual three-quarters arm slot in 2019. He got off to an impressive start at Triple-A Albuquerque but he was slowed by bone chips in his right elbow and had season-ending surgery in June. He returned to pitch in the Arizona Fall League and posted a 2.16 ERA in five starts, reaffirmed his status as one of the Rockies' better pitching prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castellani is an outlier who throws harder with from the three-quarters delivery than over the top. He has a three-pitch mix built around a fastball that can reach 97 mph, but he commands it best in the 91-94 mph range with heavy sink to induce ground balls. His best secondary pitch is an above-average hard slider and he also flashes a usable changeup. Castellani is a cerebral pitcher with thick, durable legs built to log innings, but his below-average command across the board makes him a likely reliever for many evaluators.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castellani will get a shot to pitch in the Rockies' rotation at some point in 2020. How his elbow holds up and if his command improves will determine if he starts or relieves long term.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Castellani got hit hard in big league spring training and has spent the year in a funk. In a repeat season at Double-A, Castellani’s control has regressed, his strikeout rate has plummeted, and his command has been below-average across the board. Still, as a young, physical righthander with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and an above-average slider, there is optimism Castellani has a future in the major leagues, possibly as a reliever if his command continues to stall.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Castellani for $1.1 million out of high school and were protective of him early, limiting him to 150 innings in his first two seasons combined. They then bulked him up and turned him loose, and he's been exceptionally durable since. Castellani led the high Class A California League in innings pitched in 2016, and did the same in the Double-A Eastern League in 2017. Scouting Report: Castellani works with a three-pitch mix with sinking action. His fastball holds serve at a steady 93 mph, and he has shown the ability to touch 97. His best secondary is a hard slider, and he also mixes in a usable changeup. All three pitches have flashed above-average at one point or another, but he runs into trouble when he isn't keeping the ball down. When right, Castellani commands both sides of the plate in the bottom half of the zone, and his strong lower half allows him to hold his stuff late in games. He is cerebral with a feel for the game that helps his stuff play up. The Future: Castellani projects as a potential workhorse in the middle-to-back of a rotation as long as he keeps the ball down. His ability to do that will be tested at Triple-A Albuquerque to open the 2018 season.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: After drafting Castellani 48th overall in 2014, the Rockies came up with a $1.1 million bonus offer to lure him away from an Arizona State scholarship. They were extremely protective of his workload his first two seasons of pro ball but in 2016 allowed him to work deeper into games. He averaged nearly 6.2 innings per outing over 26 starts at high Class A Modesto en route to being named the California League's No. 1 prospect. Scouting Report: Castellani has two prime ingredients in a two-seam fastball with 93-95 mph velocity at its best and good sinking movement and a changeup that mimics his fastball in terms of slot and action. His slider hasn't been as consistent as it needs to be, but it can be plus as well. It gives him that three-pitch mix to succeed as a starter and helped him lead the Cal League in strikeouts while remaining effective the second and third time through batting orders. Castellani has the quick arm action and a clean delivery that limits stress on his shoulder. Managers and scouts appreciate his mound presence and competitive makeup that pushes him that extra step.
  
  The Future: Castellani can get overlooked by the abundance of quality arms the Rockies have on the verge of the big leagues. He made sure he wouldn't get left behind with his Cal League performance. A potential No. 3 starter, he is headed for Double-A Hartford in 2017.
• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  The Rockies have handled Castellani carefully since taking the Phoenix-area righthander 48th overall in 2014 and signing him away from Arizona State for $1.1 million. After 37 innings--spread across 10 starts--at short-season Tri-City in 2014, Castellani spent all of 2015 at low Class A Asheville. The Rockies had him on a strict workload, limiting him to about 50 pitches early in the season and bumping him up to 80 by June. Athletic with a tall, projectable body and repeatable mechanics, Castellani throws a two-seamer at 90-93 mph that touches 95. The pitch has good downward plane and sinking movement as long as he maintains his arm angle, and he could add velocity as he fills out. Castellani has feel for a changeup and was more consistent with it in 2015. Both his change and slider have the chance to be above-average but remain works in progress. Still just a teenager, his control is ahead of his command, but the Rockies love his fearlessness, and he's starting to gain a better understanding of pitch sequences. Castellani has No. 3 starter potential, but he is far from his ceiling. His next step will be high Class A Modesto in 2016.