Ryan Clifford

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #6 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
  
  Track Record: The Astros had enough bonus pool money to sign Clifford for $1.25 million in the 11th round in 2022. The Mets acquired him along with Drew Gilbert at the 2023 trade deadline when they dealt Justin Verlander and $35.5 million to the Astros. In his first full season in the organization, Clifford hit 19 home runs, which was tied with the Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros and the Orioles’ Samuel Basallo for most in the minor leagues among 20-and-under hitters who played primarily at Double-A or higher. Clifford’s 95 walks were the most for any 20U hitter.
  
  Scouting Report: Clifford is Three True Outcomes personified. More than half his plate appearances in 2024 ended with a walk, strikeout or home run. While he has double-plus raw power, Clifford has one of the lowest swing rates in the minor leagues and can be too passive at times, especially when challenged by upper-level pitchers. He hit with two strikes nearly two-thirds of the time in 2024, with his chase rate nearly doubling in that situation. Clifford hits the ball very hard and has 30-home run upside if he learns to get out front and drive more fly balls to his pull side. He stood a little taller in the box in 2024 and did a better job hitting through the ball. He won’t ever hit for a high average, but his discerning eye will lead to above-average to plus on-base skills. Clifford is a well below-average runner who splits his time between first base and corner outfield. His speed and range are liabilities in the outfield, but his double-plus arm is a real asset. At best, he looks like he will be defensively neutral in the field.
  
  The Future: The Mets pushed Clifford to Double-A quickly in 2024 to get him out of High-A Brooklyn, which is death on lefthanded power. He turned in a top 10 OPS among Double-A regulars and should be ready to tackle Triple-A as a 21-year-old.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 70
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Mets liked Clifford’s bat as a potential early-round pick out of high school in the 2022 draft, but they couldn’t make the money work. He fell to the Astros in the 11th round, and since Houston had gone college-heavy with its draft class, it was able to go over slot to sign Clifford for a tick more than $1.25 million. That equates to second-round money. Making his full-season debut in 2023, Clifford hit his way to High-A in May. He was raking at hitter-happy Asheville when the Astros traded him and Drew Gilbert to the Mets for Justin Verlander--plus $35.5 million--at the trade deadline. Clifford struggled at High-A Brooklyn after the trade, hitting .188 with a 36% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Clifford combines plus raw power and strong swing decisions for his age. He hit the ball as hard as nearly any fellow 20-year-old in 2023, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 107.1 mph and one of the highest home run totals (24) among his age peers. Clifford’s approach can tend toward passivity and resulted in many deep counts, walks and strikeouts. He really struggled hitting at Brooklyn, a park notorious for suppressing lefthanded power and one where he struggled to pick the ball up because of outfield signage. Despite his large 6-foot-3 frame, Clifford is agile enough to play corner outfield, though he saw nearly as many reps at first base. His double-plus arm and throwing accuracy would be wasted if he settles at first base. He is a well below-average runner who is no threat to steal bases.
  
  The Future: Clifford’s future value is tied to his bat. If he develops plus power and on-base ability, he could hit in the middle of a big league lineup. If not, he becomes more of a 4-A hitter. Seeing him outside Brooklyn and against more advanced Double-A arms will be a fitting test in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 70
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #20 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #77 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Pro5 Baseball Academy, Apex, N.C. Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt
  Age At Draft: 19
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
  Clifford has been famous on the national scene for years, after competing with USA Baseball’s 12U and 15U national teams, as well as playing against older competition in travel ball with the Canes. A big and physical, 6-foot-3, 206-pound lefthanded hitter, Clifford is a bat-first prospect who is close to physically maxed out and will be 19 shortly after the draft. Clifford has a clean bat path and a sound approach at the plate, but he generates his power more with strength than standout bat speed, and because of that, scouts think he’ll have to excel at pitch recognition and timing to get to an above-average bat at the next level. Clifford doesn’t have standout supplemental tools: he’s a fringy runner who is just adequate in a corner outfield spot with solid arm strength. Clifford’s lengthy track record of hitting as an amateur could give teams confidence to select him among the top three rounds. If not, he’ll be draft-eligible in 2024 at Vanderbilt, where he could try and do his best JJ Bleday impression and prove his hitting chops in the SEC.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #88 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A decorated amateur who played on Team USA's U12 and U15 squads, Clifford played high-level travel ball and became known for his uncommon strength at a young age. While many evaluators questioned Clifford's bat speed and how his power would translate to the next level, the Astros liked his combination of plus power and hitterish traits enough to select him in the 11th round and award him their second-largest bonus of the class behind first round pick Drew Gilbert.
  
  Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect who's already close to his physical max, Clifford's standout tool is his light-tower power. He has the below-average bat-to-ball skills typical of all-or-nothing power hitters, but his discerning eye showed well in his brief professional sample, when he showed the ability to identify balls and strikes and work deep into at-bats. His power translates in-game with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 105 mph. Clifford hits the ball hard consistently, but the question is if he'll hit the ball enough or have the bat speed to continue to do so against upper-level competition. He's a below-average runner who's limited to an outfield corner with just fringe-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Clifford's profile will go as far as bat-to-ball skills and approach will take him Those factors will determine how much of his power he gets to ultimately. Clifford will return to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: Clifford has been famous on the national scene for years, after competing with USA Baseball&#39s 12U and 15U national teams, as well as playing against older competition in travel ball with the Canes. A big and physical, 6-foot-3, 206-pound lefthanded hitter, Clifford is a bat-first prospect who is close to physically maxed out and will be 19 shortly after the draft. Clifford has a clean bat path and a sound approach at the plate, but he generates his power more with strength than standout bat speed, and because of that, scouts think he&#39ll have to excel at pitch recognition and timing to get to an above-average bat at the next level. Clifford doesn&#39t have standout supplemental tools: he&#39s a fringy runner who is just adequate in a corner outfield spot with solid arm strength. Clifford&#39s lengthy track record of hitting as an amateur was enough for the Astros to sign him for $1,256,530 in the 11th round.