Angel Zerpa

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Zerpa signed with the Royals in July 2016 and debuted a year later in the Dominican Summer League. He spent three seasons working in various Rookie leagues, ranging from the DSL, Arizona League and Pioneer League. Then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season. So it was a bit surprising when Zerpa, a fifth-year pro with no full-season experience, was added to the Royals' 40-man roster in November 2020 to make him ineligible for the Rule 5 draft. The Royals were on to something about the Venezuelan lefthander, who has climbed steadily since then and has pitched for Kansas City in each of the past two seasons.
  
  Scouting Report: Long regarded as someone who relies more on pitchability than stuff, Zerpa now has a complete package of pitches and above-average control. He is competitive on the mound and does all the little things to be successful. Zerpa uses four- and two-seam fastballs--both of which average 94 mph. His four-seamer is thrown mostly to his glove side and shows sinking action to combat righthanded hitters. He throws both fastballs with good arm speed and sneaky life. Zerpa shows solid command of his 84 mph slider. The pitch is short and tight with downward bite and at times resembles a cutter. His changeup is a hard pitch at 87 mph, used mostly down and away to righthanded batters and is delivered with conviction.
  
  The Future: In the past, Zerpa has straddled the line between bulk reliever and back-end starter. Now, evaluators see him as more of a No. 4 starter. He'll head to spring training with a shot at earning a spot on the Royals' Opening Day roster.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #20 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Zerpa was a surprise addition to the 40-man roster just before the 2020 deadline despite never having pitched above the Rookie levels. However, the native Venezuelan proved that the Royals made a wise decision, as he moved across three levels of the minors. He finished 2021 with a single late-season start in Kansas City, pitching five innings and yielding just two unearned runs in his big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: More of a pitchability-over-stuff type, Zerpa has plenty of weapons at his disposal. A lower arm slot adds an element of deception to his arsenal and helps his pedestrian raw stuff play up. The fastball ticked up in 2021, ranging from 91-96 mph, with a four-seamer that he commands to his glove side and a two-seamer with good movement that he uses when he falls behind in the count. Zerpa’s slurvy slider is a hard pitch at 85-88 mph with late bite and sweep. His changeup sits 86-87 mph, a firm pitch that’s best when it is inducing grounders. Zerpa is a competitor and has no fear, as scouts noted that his velocity would tick up as he faced better competition.
  
  The Future: Zerpa could fill any number of roles on a big league staff. He has the look of a high-floor, back-end of the rotation or swingman type, but he’s going to have a career in the major leagues.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #26 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Royals surprisingly added Zerpa to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty has yet to pitch above the Rookie-levels, but he's pitched well so far with a 2.95 ERA in 38 career appearances, including 31 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Zerpa pitches from a lower slot with a short-armed delivery. He's a consistent strike thrower with a feel for the strike zone, particularly with his 89-94 mph fastball with plenty of sink. Zerpa commands his secondary pitches, notably a high-70s slider with sweep and a mid-80s changeup with good drop. He'll need to continue to rely on his pitchability since there's not much projection left in his body, but he gives batters a different look.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zerpa will head to spring training with the big league team before returning to the minor leagues. The hope is he becomes a lefthanded reliever.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Zerpa signed with the Royals in July 2016 and debuted a year later in the Dominican Summer League. He spent three seasons working in various Rookie leagues, ranging from the DSL, Arizona League and Pioneer League. Then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season. So it was a bit surprising when Zerpa, a fifth-year pro with no full-season experience, was added to the Royals' 40-man roster in November 2020 to make him ineligible for the Rule 5 draft. The Royals were on to something about the Venezuelan lefthander, who has climbed steadily since then and has pitched for Kansas City in each of the past two seasons.
  
  Scouting Report: Long regarded as someone who relies more on pitchability than stuff, Zerpa now has a complete package of pitches and above-average control. He is competitive on the mound and does all the little things to be successful. Zerpa uses four- and two-seam fastballs--both of which average 94 mph. His four-seamer is thrown mostly to his glove side and shows sinking action to combat righthanded hitters. He throws both fastballs with good arm speed and sneaky life. Zerpa shows solid command of his 84 mph slider. The pitch is short and tight with downward bite and at times resembles a cutter. His changeup is a hard pitch at 87 mph, used mostly down and away to righthanded batters and is delivered with conviction.
  
  The Future: In the past, Zerpa has straddled the line between bulk reliever and back-end starter. Now, evaluators see him as more of a No. 4 starter. He'll head to spring training with a shot at earning a spot on the Royals' Opening Day roster.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Zerpa signed with the Royals in July 2016 and debuted a year later in the Dominican Summer League. He spent three seasons working in various Rookie leagues, ranging from the DSL, Arizona League and Pioneer League. Then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season. So it was a bit surprising when Zerpa, a fifth-year pro with no full-season experience, was added to the Royals' 40-man roster in November 2020 to make him ineligible for the Rule 5 draft. The Royals were on to something about the Venezuelan lefthander, who has climbed steadily since then and has pitched for Kansas City in each of the past two seasons.
  
  Scouting Report: Long regarded as someone who relies more on pitchability than stuff, Zerpa now has a complete package of pitches and above-average control. He is competitive on the mound and does all the little things to be successful. Zerpa uses four- and two-seam fastballs--both of which average 94 mph. His four-seamer is thrown mostly to his glove side and shows sinking action to combat righthanded hitters. He throws both fastballs with good arm speed and sneaky life. Zerpa shows solid command of his 84 mph slider. The pitch is short and tight with downward bite and at times resembles a cutter. His changeup is a hard pitch at 87 mph, used mostly down and away to righthanded batters and is delivered with conviction.
  
  The Future: In the past, Zerpa has straddled the line between bulk reliever and back-end starter. Now, evaluators see him as more of a No. 4 starter. He'll head to spring training with a shot at earning a spot on the Royals' Opening Day roster.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Zerpa was a surprise addition to the 40-man roster just before the 2020 deadline despite never having pitched above the Rookie levels. However, the native Venezuelan proved that the Royals made a wise decision, as he moved across three levels of the minors. He finished 2021 with a single late-season start in Kansas City, pitching five innings and yielding just two unearned runs in his big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: More of a pitchability-over-stuff type, Zerpa has plenty of weapons at his disposal. A lower arm slot adds an element of deception to his arsenal and helps his pedestrian raw stuff play up. The fastball ticked up in 2021, ranging from 91-96 mph, with a four-seamer that he commands to his glove side and a two-seamer with good movement that he uses when he falls behind in the count. Zerpa&#39s slurvy slider is a hard pitch at 85-88 mph with late bite and sweep. His changeup sits 86-87 mph, a firm pitch that&#39s best when it is inducing grounders. Zerpa is a competitor and has no fear, as scouts noted that his velocity would tick up as he faced better competition.
  
  The Future: Zerpa could fill any number of roles on a big league staff. He has the look of a high-floor, back-end of the rotation or swingman type, but he&#39s going to have a career in the major leagues.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Zerpa was a surprise addition to the 40-man roster just before the 2020 deadline despite never having pitched above the Rookie levels. However, the native Venezuelan proved that the Royals made a wise decision, as he moved across three levels of the minors. He finished 2021 with a single late-season start in Kansas City, pitching five innings and yielding just two unearned runs in his big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: More of a pitchability-over-stuff type, Zerpa has plenty of weapons at his disposal. A lower arm slot adds an element of deception to his arsenal and helps his pedestrian raw stuff play up. The fastball ticked up in 2021, ranging from 91-96 mph, with a four-seamer that he commands to his glove side and a two-seamer with good movement that he uses when he falls behind in the count. Zerpa’s slurvy slider is a hard pitch at 85-88 mph with late bite and sweep. His changeup sits 86-87 mph, a firm pitch that’s best when it is inducing grounders. Zerpa is a competitor and has no fear, as scouts noted that his velocity would tick up as he faced better competition.
  
  The Future: Zerpa could fill any number of roles on a big league staff. He has the look of a high-floor, back-end of the rotation or swingman type, but he’s going to have a career in the major leagues.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Royals surprisingly added Zerpa to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty has yet to pitch above the Rookie-levels, but he's pitched well so far with a 2.95 ERA in 38 career appearances, including 31 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Zerpa pitches from a lower slot with a short-armed delivery. He's a consistent strike thrower with a feel for the strike zone, particularly with his 89-94 mph fastball with plenty of sink. Zerpa commands his secondary pitches, notably a high-70s slider with sweep and a mid-80s changeup with good drop. He'll need to continue to rely on his pitchability since there's not much projection left in his body, but he gives batters a different look.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zerpa will head to spring training with the big league team before returning to the minor leagues. The hope is he becomes a lefthanded reliever.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Royals surprisingly added Zerpa to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty has yet to pitch above the Rookie-levels, but he's pitched well so far with a 2.95 ERA in 38 career appearances, including 31 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Zerpa pitches from a lower slot with a short-armed delivery. He's a consistent strike thrower with a feel for the strike zone, particularly with his 89-94 mph fastball with plenty of sink. Zerpa commands his secondary pitches, notably a high-70s slider with sweep and a mid-80s changeup with good drop. He'll need to continue to rely on his pitchability since there's not much projection left in his body, but he gives batters a different look.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zerpa will head to spring training with the big league team before returning to the minor leagues. The hope is he becomes a lefthanded reliever.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Royals surprisingly added Zerpa to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty has yet to pitch above the Rookie-levels, but he's pitched well so far with a 2.95 ERA in 38 career appearances, including 31 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Zerpa pitches from a lower slot with a short-armed delivery. He's a consistent strike thrower with a feel for the strike zone, particularly with his 89-94 mph fastball with plenty of sink. Zerpa commands his secondary pitches, notably a high-70s slider with sweep and a mid-80s changeup with good drop. He'll need to continue to rely on his pitchability since there's not much projection left in his body, but he gives batters a different look.
  
  THE FUTURE: Zerpa will head to spring training with the big league team before returning to the minor leagues. The hope is he becomes a lefthanded reliever.