Ryan Sloan

School: York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.
Commit/Drafted: Wake Forest
Age At Draft: 18.5
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

Sloan is a large and physical righthander with a powerful 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and loud stuff to match. He was a consistent high-level performer throughout the 2023 high school showcase circuit and his fastball velocity has trended up over the last 12 months. He touched 96 mph last summer and got up to 99 this spring for his suburban Chicago high school. He throws one of the best fastballs by prep pitchers in this year’s draft. Sloan pitches from a three-quarters arm slot and should have a consistently plus fastball that sits in the mid 90s and gets into the triple digits in the near future. In addition to his fastball, Sloan has a pair of quality secondary pitches. His best is an 80-85 mph slider with sweeping shape and high spin rates in the 2,500 to 2,600 rpm range. His slider looked even sharper this spring. The pitch has been his most consistent swing-and-miss offering and has the power and break to be consistently plus. He’s also shown a mid-to-high-80s changeup that could be a weapon against lefthanded hitters and features solid armside fade and tumble that gives him a third above-average or better offering. Sloan has impressive feel to land each of his three pitches and projects for at least average control. He’s committed to Wake Forest but has a chance to become a first-round pick when draft day rolls around.