Rafe Schlesinger

School: Miami
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.

Schlesinger is a sidearming lefthander who spent two seasons in the bullpen with Miami before moving into a starting role for the 2024 season where he posted a 5.83 ERA over 78.2 innings and 15 starts. Listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Schlesinger has a solid pitcher’s frame but creates uncomfortable at-bats and gets unique angles on hitters thanks to his lower attack angle. After pitching in the upper 80s and touching 94 in 2023, Schlesinger’s fastball velocity was up significantly in the 2024 season. He averaged 92-93 mph with his fastball and ran the pitch up to 97. It’s a two-seam fastball that features plenty of arm-side running action out of that low arm slot and should allow him to induce plenty of ground balls. His go-to secondary is a mid-80s slider with sweeping action that he has done a nice job keeping down in the zone and uses at a heavy clip against both lefties and righties. Schlesinger does throw an occasional mid-80s changeup but he often misses with the pitch to his arm side and uses it only about 5% of the time. Schlesinger took a step forward with his control this spring and managed a career-best 6.7% walk rate, which is encouraging for his future starter chances, though his lack of a confident third offering for righthanded matchups means a reliever role could still be in the cards.