Alex Rao

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #27 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Rao was an effective piece out of the bullpen for a Notre Dame team that upset top-seeded Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional in 2022, and he finished the season with a 3-1, 3.83 mark with 57 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47 innings. The Phillies selected him in the eighth round of the 2022 draft, and Rao made three scoreless appearances after signing between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Rao has an effective three-pitch mix, with a plus fastball that sat in the mid 90s in 2022 and topped out above 98 mph. It's a high-spin offering with good riding life up in the zone that proved to be an effective bat-misser. His best pitch is a mid-80s split-changeup that the organization believes can be a wipeout offering. It's at its best when Rao uses it down in the zone. He rounds out his mix with an infrequently used mid-80s slider that is a below-average offering. Rao has below-average control that likely led to him falling to the eighth round in the draft.
  
  The Future: With two plus pitches, Rao has a chance to move quickly through the system, but he'll have to throw more consistent strikes. He should start the 2023 season at High-A Jersey Shore, and could prove to be an effective middle reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Slider: 40. Control: 40.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #274 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Notre Dame Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 22.7
  After making four starts for Notre Dame during the 2020 coronavirus-shortened season, Rao has spent the last two years as a key member of the Irish’s bullpen. He’s looking to be a quality senior sign this year as a reliever with a plus 93-96 mph fastball that will touch 98. Rao’s four-seamer has excellent life up in the zone. He also throws a plus mid-80s split-change that pairs excellently with his fastball. If he keeps it down in the zone, it’s nearly impossible to lift. Rao doesn’t throw enough strikes and his slider is below-average, but Rao has two plus pitches that are effective to both lefties and righties because he works with a north-south approach. He should get a shot to show it can work in a pro bullpen.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Rao was an effective piece out of the bullpen for a Notre Dame team that upset top-seeded Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional in 2022, and he finished the season with a 3-1, 3.83 mark with 57 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47 innings. The Phillies selected him in the eighth round of the 2022 draft, and Rao made three scoreless appearances after signing between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Rao has an effective three-pitch mix, with a plus fastball that sat in the mid 90s in 2022 and topped out above 98 mph. It's a high-spin offering with good riding life up in the zone that proved to be an effective bat-misser. His best pitch is a mid-80s split-changeup that the organization believes can be a wipeout offering. It's at its best when Rao uses it down in the zone. He rounds out his mix with an infrequently used mid-80s slider that is a below-average offering. Rao has below-average control that likely led to him falling to the eighth round in the draft.
  
  The Future: With two plus pitches, Rao has a chance to move quickly through the system, but he'll have to throw more consistent strikes. He should start the 2023 season at High-A Jersey Shore, and could prove to be an effective middle reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Slider: 40. Control: 40.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Rao was an effective piece out of the bullpen for a Notre Dame team that upset top-seeded Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional in 2022, and he finished the season with a 3-1, 3.83 mark with 57 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47 innings. The Phillies selected him in the eighth round of the 2022 draft, and Rao made three scoreless appearances after signing between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Clearwater.
  
  Scouting Report: Rao has an effective three-pitch mix, with a plus fastball that sat in the mid 90s in 2022 and topped out above 98 mph. It's a high-spin offering with good riding life up in the zone that proved to be an effective bat-misser. His best pitch is a mid-80s split-changeup that the organization believes can be a wipeout offering. It's at its best when Rao uses it down in the zone. He rounds out his mix with an infrequently used mid-80s slider that is a below-average offering. Rao has below-average control that likely led to him falling to the eighth round in the draft.
  
  The Future: With two plus pitches, Rao has a chance to move quickly through the system, but he'll have to throw more consistent strikes. He should start the 2023 season at High-A Jersey Shore, and could prove to be an effective middle reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Slider: 40. Control: 40.