Drafted in the 1st round (29th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013 (signed for $1,755,800).
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The 99th overall pick in 2010, Stanek turned down the Mariners to attend Arkansas, and as a sophomore he helped the Razorbacks reach the College World Series, beating two-time defending champion South Carolina. He touched 97 mph with his fastball in that outing while mixing in both curveballs and sliders and a changeup here and there. He entered 2013 with high expectations and started slowly before finding his form. His fastball ranges from 92-98 mph, with long levers and twitchy athleticism that help him generate arm speed. His slider has real power in the 84-87 mph range when it's right, and he has improved the feel for his changeup. Stanek doesn't have the prettiest mechanics as he has adjusted to try to throw more strikes, shortening his stride to help him stay on top of the ball. Scouts also believe he lacks deception because he doesn't get consistent swings and misses with his fastball or slider despite elite velocity. He's averaged less than 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings over more than 218 college innings. A tweak here or there could unlock Stanek's frontline potential, but other scouts see him as a future closer or set-up man in the Daniel Bard mold.
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Stanek has been on the prospect scene for some time now. He was a third round pick out of high school before choosing to enroll at Arkansas, where he helped the Razorbacks reach the College World Series as a rotation stalwart as a sophomore. The Rays took Stanek in 2013 and aimed to develop him as a starter, taking a chance on his potent fastball-slider combo. Stanek struggled with command in the minors, however, and made the transition to the bullpen in 2016. As a reliever, Stanek pitches in the upper 90s with his fastball and he's touched triple digits. He also throws a vertical slider at 87-90 mph evaluators grade as an above-average to plus pitch, and he's continued to work on his low-90s changeup, though that doesn't project as a significant part of his arsenal going forward. Stanek has a long arm swing and his timing isn't always quite right, but when his stuff is at its best, it's good enough to get the best hitters out. The righthander's performance wasn't overwhelmingly positive in his first exposure to the bullpen, but he still projects as a late-inning reliever who could break into the majors in 2017.
The 29th overall pick in 2013 after a solid college career at Arkansas, Stanek's pro career did not begin until a month into the 2014 season because a hip injury required surgical intervention. He also missed more than a month between mid-July and late August 2014 with shoulder fatigue before he returned to action and pitched well in instructional league. Possessing a quirky three-quarters delivery, Stanek is a power pitcher with a loose arm that can generate natural sink to his pitches. His fastball sits at 93-94 mph and touches 97. His slider also is a plus offering, residing in the mid-80s and topping out at 88. He shows confidence in his below-average changeup by mixing it consistently at any time in the count. Stanek is working on staying on top of the ball and improving his command after pitching up in the zone too often last season. Some teams project Stanek as a reliever, but the Rays will continue to develop him as a starter with back-end potential in the rotation. Stanek faces a likely 2015 assignment to high Class A Charlotte.
A Mariners third-round pick in 2010 out of a Kansas high school, Stanek opted to attend Arkansas, where as a sophomore he led the Razorbacks to the College World Series and as a junior earned second-team All-America recognition. The Rays took him with the 29th overall pick following a college career when he went 22-8, 2.55, including a stellar 10-2, 1.39 showing in 16 starts in 2013. After signing for $1,755,800, Stanek did not pitch due to a lingering hip injury, which required mid-December surgery and clouds his availability for 2014. When healthy, Stanek is a true power pitcher with poise and mound presence who generates plus arm speed. His fastball sits in the 92-98 mph range, and he mixes it with a plus, hard slider that sits at 84-87 mph. He also flashed a curveball and changeup in college, displaying good feel for the latter offering. Stanek throws from a three-quarters arm slot but needs to stay on top of the ball in order to maximize his pitches. Scouts said he may need to tweak his mechanics in order to accomplish that goal. While some think he might be a back-end reliever down the road, Stanek should begin the 2014 campaign in the rotation of either low Class A Bowling Green or high Class A Charlotte.
Draft Prospects
The 99th overall pick in 2010, Stanek turned down the Mariners to attend Arkansas, and as a sophomore he helped the Razorbacks reach the College World Series, beating two-time defending champion South Carolina. He touched 97 mph with his fastball in that outing while mixing in both curveballs and sliders and a changeup here and there. He entered 2013 with high expectations and started slowly before finding his form. His fastball ranges from 92-98 mph, with long levers and twitchy athleticism that help him generate arm speed. His slider has real power in the 84-87 mph range when it's right, and he has improved the feel for his changeup. Stanek doesn't have the prettiest mechanics as he has adjusted to try to throw more strikes, shortening his stride to help him stay on top of the ball. Scouts also believe he lacks deception because he doesn't get consistent swings and misses with his fastball or slider despite elite velocity. He's averaged less than 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings over more than 218 college innings. A tweak here or there could unlock Stanek's frontline potential, but other scouts see him as a future closer or set-up man in the Daniel Bard mold.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Fastball in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018
Rated Best Fastball in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014
Career Transactions
RHP Ryne Stanek elected free agency.
New York Mets activated RHP Ryne Stanek.
New York Mets activated RHP Ryne Stanek.
Seattle Mariners traded RHP Ryne Stanek to New York Mets for OF Rhylan Thomas.
Houston Astros activated RHP Ryne Stanek from the bereavement list.
Houston Astros placed RHP Ryne Stanek on the bereavement list.
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