Layonel Ovalles Stats & Scouting Report

IP	38
ERA	5.92
WHIP	1.71
BB/9	6.63
SO/9	9.95

Full name Layonel Joel Ovalles
Born 06/16/2003 in Moca, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 216 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The Mets signed Ovalles out of the Dominican Republic when he was 16 in 2019. Because of the pandemic, nearly two years passed before he made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. Ovalles opened the 2022 season as a reliever in the Florida Complex League but quickly opened eyes--striking out 16 of 17 batters at one point--to become a priority prospect. In August he moved to Low-A St. Lucie, where three of his five Florida State League appearances were starts.

Scouting Report: Ovalles opened the season pitching at 89-90 mph, but his velocity climbed steadily over the summer. By the end he was sitting 94 mph and had touched 97. Ovalles unleashes three pitches from a physically mature 6-foot-3 frame and a high three-quarters arm slot. He pours in four-seam fastball strikes at an above-average rate and gets his share of swing-and-miss thanks to the cutting action on the pitch. Ovalles' 81-84 mph slider is his best whiff pitch with about a foot of sweep and late drop. He developed greater feel for his low-80s changeup the more he threw it. The 10 mph separation alone makes the pitch stand out.

The Future: Ovalles has a promising pitch mix and control. If he can hold his velocity deep into starts and succeed against more advanced competition, he has breakout potential.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The Mets signed Ovalles out of the Dominican Republic when he was 16 in 2019. Because of the pandemic, nearly two years passed before he made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. Ovalles opened the 2022 season as a reliever in the Florida Complex League but quickly opened eyes--striking out 16 of 17 batters at one point--to become a priority prospect. In August he moved to Low-A St. Lucie, where three of his five Florida State League appearances were starts.

Scouting Report: Ovalles opened the season pitching at 89-90 mph, but his velocity climbed steadily over the summer. By the end he was sitting 94 mph and had touched 97. Ovalles unleashes three pitches from a physically mature 6-foot-3 frame and a high three-quarters arm slot. He pours in four-seam fastball strikes at an above-average rate and gets his share of swing-and-miss thanks to the cutting action on the pitch. Ovalles' 81-84 mph slider is his best whiff pitch with about a foot of sweep and late drop. He developed greater feel for his low-80s changeup the more he threw it. The 10 mph separation alone makes the pitch stand out.

The Future: Ovalles has a promising pitch mix and control. If he can hold his velocity deep into starts and succeed against more advanced competition, he has breakout potential.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The Mets signed Ovalles out of the Dominican Republic when he was 16 in 2019. Because of the pandemic, nearly two years passed before he made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. Ovalles opened the 2022 season as a reliever in the Florida Complex League but quickly opened eyes--striking out 16 of 17 batters at one point--to become a priority prospect. In August he moved to Low-A St. Lucie, where three of his five Florida State League appearances were starts.

Scouting Report: Ovalles opened the season pitching at 89-90 mph, but his velocity climbed steadily over the summer. By the end he was sitting 94 mph and had touched 97. Ovalles unleashes three pitches from a physically mature 6-foot-3 frame and a high three-quarters arm slot. He pours in four-seam fastball strikes at an above-average rate and gets his share of swing-and-miss thanks to the cutting action on the pitch. Ovalles' 81-84 mph slider is his best whiff pitch with about a foot of sweep and late drop. He developed greater feel for his low-80s changeup the more he threw it. The 10 mph separation alone makes the pitch stand out.

The Future: Ovalles has a promising pitch mix and control. If he can hold his velocity deep into starts and succeed against more advanced competition, he has breakout potential.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.