Ryan Clifford

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Mets liked Clifford’s bat as a potential early-round pick out of high school in the 2022 draft, but they couldn’t make the money work. He fell to the Astros in the 11th round, and since Houston had gone college-heavy with its draft class, it was able to go over slot to sign Clifford for a tick more than $1.25 million. That equates to second-round money. Making his full-season debut in 2023, Clifford hit his way to High-A in May. He was raking at hitter-happy Asheville when the Astros traded him and Drew Gilbert to the Mets for Justin Verlander--plus $35.5 million--at the trade deadline. Clifford struggled at High-A Brooklyn after the trade, hitting .188 with a 36% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Clifford combines plus raw power and strong swing decisions for his age. He hit the ball as hard as nearly any fellow 20-year-old in 2023, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 107.1 mph and one of the highest home run totals (24) among his age peers. Clifford’s approach can tend toward passivity and resulted in many deep counts, walks and strikeouts. He really struggled hitting at Brooklyn, a park notorious for suppressing lefthanded power and one where he struggled to pick the ball up because of outfield signage. Despite his large 6-foot-3 frame, Clifford is agile enough to play corner outfield, though he saw nearly as many reps at first base. His double-plus arm and throwing accuracy would be wasted if he settles at first base. He is a well below-average runner who is no threat to steal bases.
  
  The Future: Clifford’s future value is tied to his bat. If he develops plus power and on-base ability, he could hit in the middle of a big league lineup. If not, he becomes more of a 4-A hitter. Seeing him outside Brooklyn and against more advanced Double-A arms will be a fitting test in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 70
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #20 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #77 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Pro5 Baseball Academy, Apex, N.C. Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt
  Age At Draft: 19
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
  Clifford has been famous on the national scene for years, after competing with USA Baseball’s 12U and 15U national teams, as well as playing against older competition in travel ball with the Canes. A big and physical, 6-foot-3, 206-pound lefthanded hitter, Clifford is a bat-first prospect who is close to physically maxed out and will be 19 shortly after the draft. Clifford has a clean bat path and a sound approach at the plate, but he generates his power more with strength than standout bat speed, and because of that, scouts think he’ll have to excel at pitch recognition and timing to get to an above-average bat at the next level. Clifford doesn’t have standout supplemental tools: he’s a fringy runner who is just adequate in a corner outfield spot with solid arm strength. Clifford’s lengthy track record of hitting as an amateur could give teams confidence to select him among the top three rounds. If not, he’ll be draft-eligible in 2024 at Vanderbilt, where he could try and do his best JJ Bleday impression and prove his hitting chops in the SEC.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #88 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: Clifford has been famous on the national scene for years, after competing with USA Baseball&#39s 12U and 15U national teams, as well as playing against older competition in travel ball with the Canes. A big and physical, 6-foot-3, 206-pound lefthanded hitter, Clifford is a bat-first prospect who is close to physically maxed out and will be 19 shortly after the draft. Clifford has a clean bat path and a sound approach at the plate, but he generates his power more with strength than standout bat speed, and because of that, scouts think he&#39ll have to excel at pitch recognition and timing to get to an above-average bat at the next level. Clifford doesn&#39t have standout supplemental tools: he&#39s a fringy runner who is just adequate in a corner outfield spot with solid arm strength. Clifford&#39s lengthy track record of hitting as an amateur was enough for the Astros to sign him for $1,256,530 in the 11th round.