Zach Cates
| IP | 393 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.878 |
| WHIP | 1.504 |
| BB/9 | 4.397 |
| SO/9 | 7.489 |
- Full name Zachary A. Cates
- Born 12/17/1989 in Conway, AR
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Northeast Texas CC
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Drafted in the 3rd round (91st overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2010 (signed for $765,000).
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Undrafted out of an Arkansas high school in 2008 and bypassed again at Northeast Texas CC last year, Cates won't be overlooked a third time. He spent most of his freshman season as a catcher, standing out for his strong arm and working just seven innings on the mound. A strong fall as a pitcher landed him on follow lists, and he has steadily risen up draft boards this spring. His fastball ranges from 90-93 mph to 95-97, and there should be more consistent velocity in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. For an inexperienced pitcher, he has a relatively advanced changeup, which grades out as a better pitch than his curveball. His curve does have its moments, and he could have an easy plus fastball with two solid secondary pitches once he develops. His command and control still need work, but neither is a red flag. He's a tough competitor. Cates hasn't committed to a four-year school for 2010 and should be signable.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Scouts have fingered Cates as a future reliever since he converted from catching to pitching at Northeast Texas CC in 2010. The Padres signed him for $765,000 that year and used him as a starter to get him experience, then sent him the Cubs as part of the 2012 trade highlighted by Andrew Cashner and Anthony Rizzo. Cates had an unsightly 0-9, 7.16 season in 2012 that included a trip back to extended spring training, and the Cubs sent him back to high Class A Daytona for 2013. He returned to the rotation for the bulk of the season but finally shifted to a relief role in August and thrived, as he no longer felt pressure to pace himself and was able to pitch more aggressively. His fastball sat at 92-95 mph as a starter and reached 97 as a reliever with good downhill plane that makes him tough to elevate. He has lost the feel for a changeup he threw with aplomb as an amateur and has focused on a slider, which sits in the low 80s, in the bullpen. He'll need to locate better to challenge lefthanders more effectively if he wants to be a closer. More likely, he has a chance to be an effective set-up man. Cates is headed to Double-A Tennessee for the first time in 2014. -
Undrafted out of high school and after his first year at Northeast Texas CC, Cates moved to the mound full-time in 2010, just in time to pull down $765,000 from the Padres as a third-rounder that summer. He worked primarily as a catcher through 2009 and still is learning the finer points of his new craft. He tends to pitch away from contact and distrusts his changeup, while his delivery tends to be too mechanical and his release point too inconsistent. Cates pitches with an arm wrap in the back of his motion, but most of the time his athleticism allows him to get in position to throw his secondary stuff. Cates pitches at 91-93 mph with sinking and tailing life when he gets extension, but he leaves his fastball up and over the plate a bit too often. He tops out near 96 and does it easily, affording him a bit of natural deception. He shows some feel for a splitter/changeup, and scouts believe it can become an average pitch with more work. The Padres swapped out Cates' curveball in favor of a slider last August because he struggled to command his curve with his long arm stroke. His slider could develop into a weapon. Cates' power repertoire and inconsistent mechanics suggest a future in the bullpen, but he'll remain a starter as he advances to high Class A in 2012. -
Cates went undrafted out of Conway (Ark.) High and again after his freshman year at Northeast Texas CC, where he started out as a two-way player. He gave up catching as a sophomore and moved full-time to the mound, where he generated significant buzz leading up to the 2010 draft by showing two strong pitches and by striking out 92 batters in 69 innings. The Padres selected him 91st overall and came to terms just before the signing deadline for $765,000, more than double the slot recommendation. Cates pitches at 92-94 mph and touched 96 in instructional league. His arm action is clean, but his delivery is rudimentary and needs smoothing out. He's narrow-waisted with room to fill out and potentially add velocity. Cates shows feel for a fading Vulcan changeup that he sells with good arm speed. His curveball has farther to go but could become average in the future if thrown with more power. Even if the breaking ball doesn't develop, Cates could profile as a set-up reliever with just average command of a quality fastball and changeup. He'll be 21 this season, so he could be destined for low Class A if he pitches well in spring training.
