Sean Reid-Foley

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Reid-Foley struggled through a rough 2017 season, with inconsistent stuff from start to start and fastball command that would frequently escape him. He opened 2018 repeating Double-A New Hampshire and looked much improved. He reached Triple-A by May and then Toronto in August for his major league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: The Blue Jays stressed to Reid-Foley the importance of fastball command--especially down and away--and he showed signs of improvement in that area. He has a plus fastball that sits 92-95 mph and reaches 97 mph. The quality of his slider was more consistent in 2018. It's a plus weapon he can bury as a chase pitch away from righthanded hitters or get empty swings when he throws it to the back foot of lefties. He throws an average curveball that sometimes blends with his slider. Reid-Foley switched the way he gripped his changeup in spring training, and at times it showed good action and deception with average potential. Despite unorthodox mechanics, he has been durable.
  
  The Future: Reid-Foley has the plus stuff to miss bats and potentially develop into a No. 3 or 4 starter, though he will have to continue to improve his fastball command to get there. He should be able to compete for a job in Toronto's starting rotation to open 2019.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #11 prospect in 2018
  After Reid-Foley took a step forward in 2016, he struggled in 2017 in the Double-A Eastern League, where he struggled with fastball command, inconsistent stuff and gave up too much hard contact. Despite his struggles, Reid-Foley still flashes average to plus stuff across the board. Reid-Foley's fastball parks at 91-94 mph with good movement and reaches 97. His best secondary pitch depends on the day. Usually either his curveball or slider are working for him. When they're right, they're average pitches, though they sometimes disappeared on him and contributed to his struggles. His changeup flashed average at times too. Reid-Foley must improve his fastball command, which is complicated because of his mechanics and arm action. That leads several scouts to think his future is in the bullpen, though the Blue Jays plan to keep Reid-Foley as a starter. Reid-Foley has the repertoire to project as a back-end starter, though his stuff could tick up in short stints if he's moved to a relief role, with a chance to get to Toronto by the end of 2018.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #4 prospect in 2017
  Reid-Foley is close to becoming the second big leaguer ever born in Guam. He would join John Hattig, who got 24 at-bats in 2006 for Toronto. Reid-Foley's older brother David, a converted catcher, pitched in the Dodgers system and taught his younger brother a curveball last offseason, helping him have a breakout 2016 season. The only flaw was an elbow flare-up in August that prompted the Jays to shut him down. The Jays knew Reid-Foley had power stuff, which he maintained and improved in 2016 with the strides he made with his upper-70s curveball, which now rivals his slider as his best secondary pitch. At times both play as plus, though his mid-80s slider was less consistent than it had been in the past. Sent back to low Class A to start the season, Reid-Foley streamlined his leg kick in his delivery, which improved his direction to the plate, resulting in more command of his 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He threw harder in 2015 but has better command now while retaining good angle to the plate and solid life. His changeup, his fourth pitch, shows average potential if he can commit to it. Reid-Foley and Conner Greene should front the rotation at Double-A New Hampshire at some point in 2017. Greene's stuff is more electric, but Reid-Foley's strides in commanding his plus stuff gives him the edge as a potential future No. 2 starter.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #5 prospect in 2016
  Born in Guam while his father, a chief warrant officer in the Coast Guard, was stationed there, Reid-Foley grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. His older brother David, a converted catcher signed as a nondrafted free agent, pitches in the Dodgers system. The younger Reid-Foley fell in the draft after being projected as a first-rounder and signed for $1.128,800. He finished his first full season in high Class A. The ball comes out of Reid-Foley's hand with life, power and angle to the plate. His fastball has touched 97 mph and often sits 92-95, and at his best he can pitch to both sides of the plate. He has the athleticism to repeat his delivery, which is more drop-anddrive than the average pitcher. He loses command of the strike zone and gives up big innings when his arm is too late at foot strike; his arm drags and he loses his release point. His slider flashes above-average as well with depth and low-80s power when he's on time. His changeup lags behind, and he hasn't shown the ability to make corrections on the mound himself. From his Jacksonville background to his intense demeanor and power repertoire, Reid-Foley evokes comparisons to Jonathan Papelbon. The Blue Jays intend to develop him as a starter, returning him to high Class A Dunedin to start 2016, but he fits the closer profile well.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #10 prospect in 2015
  Reid-Foley was part of a standout group of prep arms in Florida in 2014. After a strong summer in 2013 on the showcase circuit, he showed consistent velocity throughout the spring--until his final outing before the draft at state's high school all-star game in Sebring, which drove down his draft stock. Reid-Foley has the stuff to profile as a mid-rotation starter and possesses a large, durable build with broad shoulders and a physical lower half. He has a quick arm that produces a fastball that sits 91-95 mph and touches 97 with downhill plane, and he has natural deception to his delivery. His top secondary offering is his slider, which has above-average potential. Reid-Foley's changeup is a point of emphasis, but it shows at least average potential. He has thrown a curveball that flashed average, but did not throw it last spring or summer. His delivery has a long stride and allows him to get extension out front, but he has a high elbow in the back that some scouts aren't fond of. Since Reid-Foley has present stuff he could vie for a rotation spot in low Class A, but the organization more commonly sends its premium high school arms to a short-season stop first.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #19 prospect in 2014 draft
  In 2013, just three Florida prep pitchers went in the top 10 rounds. This year three could go in the first round, and Reid-Foley could be the first. He showed consistent velocity on the showcase circuit and had one of the top outings at East Coast Pro last summer, and he has built on that this spring, showing the makings of a mid-rotation starter. In a recent outing he sat 92-95 mph, touching 97. He throws his fastball with his fingers held together, giving the offering above-average glove-side run. His mid-80s slider is an above-average offering, though he can get on the side of the pitch. He also has feel for a changeup with at least average potential. His fourth offering was a curveball that he used in the summer, flashing average, though he shelved the pitch as his breaking balls began to run together. Reid-Foley is a natural strike-thrower who pounds the zone and mixes his pitches well, and evaluators lauded his competitiveness. Some scouts don't like the way his arm works in the back, but he is able to repeat his delivery. At 6-foot-2, 216-pounds, the Florida State signee has a large frame and a strong, durable build made to handle innings.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2016
  Reid-Foley had a breakout 2016 season in which the righthander ranked sixth in the minors with a .190 opponent average. Reid-Foley's first two seasons were filled with walks--he averaged 6.1 free passes per nine innings--but mechanical tweaks have led to great improvement. He is in better shape now and owes better control to changes to his leg kick and better direction to the plate. His delivery is now cleaner and easier to repeat, resulting in a consistent release point and better command. His stuff lost none of its bite. Reid-Foley's fastball has been clocked up to 97 mph with tail and sink, and his curveball has flashed plus. He still needs to improve his currently below-average changeup, while his slider is unremarkable.
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  Ranked Florida State League #8 prospect in 2016
  Reid-Foley finished 2015 at Dunedin walking 24 in 33 innings but started 2016 back in low Class A with the Blue Jays' new front office aiming to slow players' development track a bit. He responded well, coming into camp in better shape and smoothing out some rougher edges of his mechanics. The only blemish was a bout of elbow soreness that ended his season in August. With less effort in his delivery, Reid-Foley was able to throw more strikes with a heavy 92-94 mph fastball that he could bump to 96 when needed. The pitch jumps on hitters and helps set up his two distinct breaking balls, a harder slider and curveball with good shape. Both are at least average and often better. His improved control and ability to finish hitters with his breaking stuff allowed him to rank in the top 10 in the minors in WHIP (1.01) and opponent average (.190). The only blemish on Reid-Foley's season was a late bout of elbow soreness that shut him down after his Aug. 10 start.
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  Ranked Midwest League #10 prospect in 2015
  In a game now dripping with velocity, Reid-Foley throws hard enough to get noticed. It's not just that he sits 93-95 mph and touches 98, it's that he does it with such an easy delivery that looks like he's just getting loose. Furthermore, he gets excellent extension that adds to the perceived velocity. For a pitcher who walked 6.1 batters per nine innings in the MWL, Reid-Foley's control is not as bad as the numbers indicate. He will locate within the strike zone for innings at a time, but his delivery has multiple steps before he reaches his release point, which costs him control because he has not yet developed the ability to self-diagnose and correct flaws. Reid-Foley begins his delivery with a pronounced knee bend, then he turns, repositions his plant foot on the rubber and then begins his takeaway. When he loses his timing, he tends to walk batters in bunches. Reid-Foley has a stout lower half and easy delivery that would seem to indicate durability. His slider flashes above-average potential but is inconsistent and his changeup is fringy.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #8 prospect in 2014
  Reid-Foley had first-round buzz heading into the draft, but the Blue Jays were able to get him in the second round and sign him for $1,128,800. Toronto restricted his workload, allowing him to throw more than three innings in only one of his nine appearances, but he did enough to make an impression around the league. Reid-Foley's arm action concerns some scouts, but he repeats his delivery and throws strikes. He attacks hitters aggressively with a lively fastball that sits 92-95 mph and can reach 97. He throws an out-pitch in his tight mid-80s slider, an above-average offering when he stays on top of the ball, though he does get around it at times. He hasn't needed his changeup much yet, but he shows feel to develop it into at least an average pitch. With three average to plus pitches and solid strike-throwing ability, he has the makings of a potential mid-rotation starter or better.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #75 prospect in 2017

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Reid-Foley is close to becoming the second big leaguer ever born in Guam. He would join John Hattig, who got 24 at-bats in 2006 for Toronto. Reid-Foley's older brother David pitched in the Dodgers system and taught his younger brother a curveball last offseason, helping him have a breakout 2016 season. The only flaw was an elbow flare-up in August that prompted the Jays to shut him down. Scouting Report: The Jays knew Reid-Foley had power stuff, which he maintained and improved in 2016 with the strides he made with his upper-70s curveball, which now rivals his slider as his best secondary pitch. At times both play as plus, though his mid-80s slider was less consistent than it had been in the past. Sent back to low Class A to start the season, Reid-Foley streamlined his leg kick in his delivery, which improved his direction to the plate, resulting in more command of his 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He threw harder in 2015 but has better command now while retaining good angle to the plate and solid life. His changeup, his fourth pitch, shows average potential. The Future: Reid-Foley and Conner Greene should front the rotation at Double-A New Hampshire at some point in 2017. Greene's stuff is more electric, but Reid-Foley's strides in commanding his plus stuff gives him the edge as a potential future No. 2 starter.