Cole Ragans Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

IP	23.1
ERA	1.93
WHIP	1.2
BB/9	2.7
SO/9	11.19

Full name Cole Gatlin Ragans
Born 12/12/1997 in Crawfordville, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School North Florida Christian
Debut 08/04/2022
Drafted in the 1st round (30th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2016 (signed for $2,003,400).

View Draft Report

For the third straight year, North Florida Christian High, a small school in the state capital, has a top 100 prospect. In each of the last two years, it has been a Sands brother, first Carson (No. 53 in 2014) and then Cole (No. 79 in 2015). Carson signed out of high school as a fourth-round pick to the Cubs, while Cole went on to nearby Florida State. Ragans will follow in the footsteps of one of his former teammates, as he too is committed to the Seminoles. He stands out for his overall package and advanced understanding of his craft. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, reaching 93 mph at times. His curveball is his best offspeed offering and has above-average potential. He has worked to develop his changeup, which could be an average pitch in time. Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Ragans is at his best when he uses his height to throw his fastball with a downhill plane and is spotting it low in the zone. He doesn't do that consistently yet, but his athleticism gives him a chance to improve his command as he matures.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Ragans' ascent to the big leagues was one of the best stories in the minor leagues in 2022. After being drafted in the first round in 2016 and debuting the next spring,two Tommy John surgeries and the pandemic kept him off the mound until 2021, when he also made the Futures Game. He made his major league debut on August 4 and made nine starts, working to a mark of 0-3, 5.40.

Scouting Report: After all the time recovering, it's only natural that Ragans' rust-removal process would be lengthy. More than that, the Rangers also noticed that he learned to better pace himself throughout the season in order to maintain the crispness on his stuff from Opening Day until season's end. Ragans operates with a four-pitch mix led by a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 96. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus changeup in the 82-84 mph range that he threw for plenty of strikes both in the zone and for chases. His repertoire also featured mid-70s curveball of varying quality and a new cutter in the low 90s that he can manipulate to make look like a slider with deeper break. Both the curve and the cutter project to be fringe-average to average, and the Rangers would like to see him add more power to both. He struggled a bit with fastball command down the stretch but overall showed average control.

The Future: If he continues to add more power to his mix, Ragans could carve out a career as a back-end starter. He'll likely see plenty of big league time in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Cut: 50. Control: 50
Track Record: Ragans’ season was one of the best stories in the Rangers’ system. The 2016 first-rounder missed three seasons of development thanks to the pandemic and two Tommy John surgeries, so simply getting on the mound again was a victory.

Scouting Report: As ever, Ragans’ signature pitch is a nasty changeup in the low 80s with excellent separation from his fastball. The changeup also shows excellent fading action. His fastball sits in the low 90s but peaked at 97 mph and formed a nice tunnel with his changeup. Ragans uses both a curveball and a slider, but neither is a knockout pitch. The slider is the better of the two when he needs a chase and the curveball is best used for early-count strikes. His control waned as the season went on, though some internal sources chalked that up to Ragans understandably tiring down the stretch after three seasons away.

The Future: Ragans will return to Double-A to begin 2022, when he’ll look to build more stamina. He was left off the 40-man roster and therefore was Rule 5 eligible.
Track Record: Ragans was the No. 30 overall pick in 2016, then impressed scouts the next summer in the short-season Northwest League. Scheduled to make his full-season debut in 2018, Ragans never ended up throwing an inning during the year, as he had Tommy John surgery in March. He should be on a similar timetable the Rangers had fellow lefty Joe Palumbo on for his TJ rehab.

Scouting Report: When healthy, Ragans was one of the system's top pitching prospects, pitching off a fastball that parked at 89-93 mph and hit 95. Ragans takes advantage of the high spin rate on his fastball by elevating for swing-and-miss up in the zone, then disrupts the timing of hitters with a plus changeup in the low-80s. The pitch has good speed differential off his fastball and the deception in his delivery helps that fastball/changeup combination play up even more. Ragans earned better grades on his curveball than he did in 2017, when it was a fringe-average pitch that needed tightening.

The Future: Once healthy, he should be ready for low Class A Hickory.
A first-round pick, No. 30 overall, in 2016, Ragans stayed back in extended spring training before pitching in the short-season Northwest League, where he ranked as the league's top prospect. Hitters frequently find themselves off balance against Ragans, who throws off their timing with a promising fastball/changeup combination. Ragans throws his fastball at 89-93 mph and touches 95. It's solid velocity from the left side and plays up because of his fastball life, as its high spin rate allows him to get swings and misses when he elevates. Ragans fools batters with a plus changeup in the low-80s that has excellent separation off of his fastball. His curveball was more of a weapon in high school, but it's now a fringe-average pitch that's soft and sometimes loopy that he needs to tighten. Ragans creates good angle and hides the ball well in his delivery by keeping his front side closed, but he has to do a better job of repeating his mechanics because his control lags behind. Ragans has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter if he can throw more strikes. He's ready for his first full-season test with low Class A Hickory.
Aside from sharing a first name and the same employer, Ragans is physically similar to a young Cole Hamels, whom Ragans models his game after. The Rangers drafted Ragans with the 30th overall pick in 2016 and signed him for $2,003,400 after a decorated career at North Florida Christian High, which he helped lead to a Florida state 3A title in 2014. He passes up a Florida State commitment in the process. Tall and athletic, Ragans has a simple delivery and advanced feel for a three-pitch mix. His fastball sits at 89-93 mph and has touched 95. His changeup made rapid progress over the past year, to the point where it's his best offspeed pitch. It's an above-average offering he sells with the same arm speed as his fastball, so it's just a matter of him learning how and when to use it more in games. His curveball flashes average and could grade higher down the road once he stays on top if it more consistently and does a better job repeating his arm slot. Ragans needs to improve his fastball command, but he has the delivery and athleticism that bode well for his ability to improve. He earns praise for his maturity and being a student of the game. Ragans has the talent to develop into a mid-rotation starter. He should pitch in the low Class A Hickory rotation in 2017.

Draft Prospects

For the third straight year, North Florida Christian High, a small school in the state capital, has a top 100 prospect. In each of the last two years, it has been a Sands brother, first Carson (No. 53 in 2014) and then Cole (No. 79 in 2015). Carson signed out of high school as a fourth-round pick to the Cubs, while Cole went on to nearby Florida State. Ragans will follow in the footsteps of one of his former teammates, as he too is committed to the Seminoles. He stands out for his overall package and advanced understanding of his craft. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, reaching 93 mph at times. His curveball is his best offspeed offering and has above-average potential. He has worked to develop his changeup, which could be an average pitch in time. Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Ragans is at his best when he uses his height to throw his fastball with a downhill plane and is spotting it low in the zone. He doesn't do that consistently yet, but his athleticism gives him a chance to improve his command as he matures.

Minor League Top Prospects

Drafted by the Rangers with last year's 30th overall pick and Signed out of a Florida State commitment, Ragans excelled in his first full year in pro ball. The 19-year-old southpaw anchored Spokane's rotation, going 3-2, 3.61 and striking out 87 to 35 walks in 57.1 innings. In a league strong on pitching, Ragans stood out. "The swing-and-miss on his fastball is what impressed me," said Matt Hagen, Ragans' manager at Spokane. "It never got squared up that often." The 6-foot-4 lefthander typically works 90-93 mph with that fastball, touching the mid-90s. His fastball plays up due to a high spin rate and late action, which gives it the appearance of rising as it crosses the plate. Adding to the pitch's effectiveness is Ragans' delivery. Ragans closes off his front side, hiding the ball well and creating a tough angle--particularly when he pitches inside to righthanders. While advanced for his age, Ragans still needs to refine his command and cut down on the amount of deep counts he works himself into. His 79-84 mph changeup is already graded as plus by some and forms a potent one-two punch with his fastball. However, his low-70s curveball could use tightening. The pitch has a soft, loopy shape and lacks the bite needed to put away hitters at higher levels. If he can develop his breaking ball into at least an average offering, Ragans has No. 2 or No. 3 starter potential.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Ragans' ascent to the big leagues was one of the best stories in the minor leagues in 2022. After being drafted in the first round in 2016 and debuting the next spring,two Tommy John surgeries and the pandemic kept him off the mound until 2021, when he also made the Futures Game. He made his major league debut on August 4 and made nine starts, working to a mark of 0-3, 5.40.

Scouting Report: After all the time recovering, it's only natural that Ragans' rust-removal process would be lengthy. More than that, the Rangers also noticed that he learned to better pace himself throughout the season in order to maintain the crispness on his stuff from Opening Day until season's end. Ragans operates with a four-pitch mix led by a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 96. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus changeup in the 82-84 mph range that he threw for plenty of strikes both in the zone and for chases. His repertoire also featured mid-70s curveball of varying quality and a new cutter in the low 90s that he can manipulate to make look like a slider with deeper break. Both the curve and the cutter project to be fringe-average to average, and the Rangers would like to see him add more power to both. He struggled a bit with fastball command down the stretch but overall showed average control.

The Future: If he continues to add more power to his mix, Ragans could carve out a career as a back-end starter. He'll likely see plenty of big league time in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Cut: 50. Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Ragans' ascent to the big leagues was one of the best stories in the minor leagues in 2022. After being drafted in the first round in 2016 and debuting the next spring,two Tommy John surgeries and the pandemic kept him off the mound until 2021, when he also made the Futures Game. He made his major league debut on August 4 and made nine starts, working to a mark of 0-3, 5.40.

Scouting Report: After all the time recovering, it's only natural that Ragans' rust-removal process would be lengthy. More than that, the Rangers also noticed that he learned to better pace himself throughout the season in order to maintain the crispness on his stuff from Opening Day until season's end. Ragans operates with a four-pitch mix led by a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 96. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus changeup in the 82-84 mph range that he threw for plenty of strikes both in the zone and for chases. His repertoire also featured mid-70s curveball of varying quality and a new cutter in the low 90s that he can manipulate to make look like a slider with deeper break. Both the curve and the cutter project to be fringe-average to average, and the Rangers would like to see him add more power to both. He struggled a bit with fastball command down the stretch but overall showed average control.

The Future: If he continues to add more power to his mix, Ragans could carve out a career as a back-end starter. He'll likely see plenty of big league time in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Cut: 50. Control: 50
BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record:: Ragans&#39 season was one of the best stories in the Rangers&#39 system. The 2016 first-rounder missed three seasons of development thanks to the pandemic and two Tommy John surgeries, so simply getting on the mound again was a victory.

Scouting Report: As ever, Ragans&#39 signature pitch is a nasty changeup in the low 80s with excellent separation from his fastball. The changeup also shows excellent fading action. His fastball sits in the low 90s but peaked at 97 mph and formed a nice tunnel with his changeup. Ragans uses both a curveball and a slider, but neither is a knockout pitch. The slider is the better of the two when he needs a chase and the curveball is best used for early-count strikes. His control waned as the season went on, though some internal sources chalked that up to Ragans understandably tiring down the stretch after three seasons away.

The Future: Ragans will return to Double-A to begin 2022, when he&#39ll look to build more stamina. He was left off the 40-man roster and therefore was Rule 5 eligible.
Track Record: Ragans’ season was one of the best stories in the Rangers’ system. The 2016 first-rounder missed three seasons of development thanks to the pandemic and two Tommy John surgeries, so simply getting on the mound again was a victory.

Scouting Report: As ever, Ragans’ signature pitch is a nasty changeup in the low 80s with excellent separation from his fastball. The changeup also shows excellent fading action. His fastball sits in the low 90s but peaked at 97 mph and formed a nice tunnel with his changeup. Ragans uses both a curveball and a slider, but neither is a knockout pitch. The slider is the better of the two when he needs a chase and the curveball is best used for early-count strikes. His control waned as the season went on, though some internal sources chalked that up to Ragans understandably tiring down the stretch after three seasons away.

The Future: Ragans will return to Double-A to begin 2022, when he’ll look to build more stamina. He was left off the 40-man roster and therefore was Rule 5 eligible.
Track Record: A first-round pick, No. 30 overall, in 2016, Ragans stayed back in extended spring training in 2017 before pitching in the short-season Northwest League, where he ranked as the league's top prospect. Scouting Report: Hitters frequently find themselves off balance against Ragans, who throws off their timing with a promising fastball/changeup combination. He throws his fastball at 89-93 mph and touches 95 with solid velocity from the left side. Ragans' fastball plays up because of its life, and his high spin rate allows him to get swinging strikes when he elevates. He fools batters with a plus changeup in the low 80s that has excellent separation off of his fastball. His curveball was more of a weapon in high school, but it's now a fringe-average pitch that's soft and sometimes loopy that he needs to tighten. Ragans creates good angle and hides the ball well in his delivery by keeping his front side closed, but he has to do a better job of repeating his mechanics because his control lags behind. The Future: Ragans has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter if he can throw more strikes. He's ready for his first full-season test at low Class A Hickory.
Background: Aside from sharing a first name and the same employer, Ragans is physically similar to a young Cole Hamels, the player Ragans models his game after. The Rangers drafted Ragans with the No. 30 overall pick in 2016 and signed him for $2,003,400 after a decorated career at North Florida Christian High, which he helped lead to a Florida state 3A title in 2014. Scouting Report: Tall and athletic, Ragans has a simple delivery and advanced feel for a three-pitch mix. His fastball sits at 89-93 mph and has touched 95. His changeup has made rapid progress over the past year, to the point where it's his best present offspeed pitch. It's an above-average offering that he sells with the same arm speed as his fastball, so it's just a matter of him learning how and when to use it more in games. His curveball flashes average and could grade higher down the road once he stays on top if it more consistently and does a better job repeating his arm slot. Ragans needs to improve his fastball command, but he has the delivery and athleticism that bode well for his ability to improve. He earns praise for his maturity and being a student of the game.

The Future: Ragans has the talent to develop into a mid-rotation starter. He should pitch in the low Class A Hickory rotation in 2017.