Noel Vela Stats & Scouting Report

IP	255
ERA	4.376
WHIP	1.584
BB/9	5.753
SO/9	10.694

Full name Noel Vela
Born 12/21/1998 in Mission, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Veterans Memorial
Drafted in the 28th round (828th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2017 (signed for $125,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him and signed him for $125,000 as a 28th-rounder in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two full professional seasons in the rookie levels, came back from the coronavirus shutdown in top shape and finally ventured into full-season ball in 2021. He impressed as one of the breakout pitchers in the Padres system and continued his ascent in 2022, rising to Double-A while pitching a career-high 109.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Vela's fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains as a pro to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command remains raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates his heater. Vela's curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and has been among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Vela has below-average control because he tends to rush his delivery, but his stuff plays against hitters on both sides of the plate.

The Future: Vela appeared out of the bullpen in roughly half his appearances after his promotion to San Antonio. Without improvement of his command and control, Vela might have to settle for a middle relief role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.
Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him in the 28th round in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two professional seasons in the Rookie levels and came back from the coronavirus shutdown in tip-top shape. Finally sent out to full-season ball in 2021, Vela posted a 3.90 ERA and averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings as he climbed from Low-A to High-A.

Scouting Report: Vela’s fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command is still raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates it. Vela’s curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and is among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Even with below-average control, Vela’s arsenal plays against hitters on both sides of the plate. He limited lefties to a .135 batting average and righties to a .216 average in his full-season debut.

The Future: Vela is likely to settle into a middle relief role, but the Padres are in no hurry to pigeonhole him. He’ll see Double-A San Antonio in 2022.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him and signed him for $125,000 as a 28th-rounder in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two full professional seasons in the rookie levels, came back from the coronavirus shutdown in top shape and finally ventured into full-season ball in 2021. He impressed as one of the breakout pitchers in the Padres system and continued his ascent in 2022, rising to Double-A while pitching a career-high 109.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Vela's fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains as a pro to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command remains raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates his heater. Vela's curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and has been among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Vela has below-average control because he tends to rush his delivery, but his stuff plays against hitters on both sides of the plate.

The Future: Vela appeared out of the bullpen in roughly half his appearances after his promotion to San Antonio. Without improvement of his command and control, Vela might have to settle for a middle relief role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him and signed him for $125,000 as a 28th-rounder in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two full professional seasons in the rookie levels, came back from the coronavirus shutdown in top shape and finally ventured into full-season ball in 2021. He impressed as one of the breakout pitchers in the Padres system and continued his ascent in 2022, rising to Double-A while pitching a career-high 109.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Vela's fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains as a pro to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command remains raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates his heater. Vela's curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and has been among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Vela has below-average control because he tends to rush his delivery, but his stuff plays against hitters on both sides of the plate.

The Future: Vela appeared out of the bullpen in roughly half his appearances after his promotion to San Antonio. Without improvement of his command and control, Vela might have to settle for a middle relief role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him in the 28th round in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two professional seasons in the Rookie levels and came back from the coronavirus shutdown in tip-top shape. Finally sent out to full-season ball in 2021, Vela posted a 3.90 ERA and averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings as he climbed from Low-A to High-A.

Scouting Report: Vela&#39s fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command is still raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates it. Vela&#39s curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and is among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Even with below-average control, Vela&#39s arsenal plays against hitters on both sides of the plate. He limited lefties to a .135 batting average and righties to a .216 average in his full-season debut.

The Future: Vela is likely to settle into a middle relief role, but the Padres are in no hurry to pigeonhole him. He&#39ll see Double-A San Antonio in 2022.
Track Record: Vela drew little attention in high school and was committed to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, but the Padres took a chance on him in the 28th round in 2017. The late-blooming Vela spent his first two professional seasons in the Rookie levels and came back from the coronavirus shutdown in tip-top shape. Finally sent out to full-season ball in 2021, Vela posted a 3.90 ERA and averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings as he climbed from Low-A to High-A.

Scouting Report: Vela’s fastball has ticked up from the added strength gains to become an above-average weapon. His four-seamer now sits 91-95 mph and plays up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His fastball command is still raw, but he gets swings and misses when he locates it. Vela’s curveball with 1-to-7 break flashes plus and is among the best curves in the system, while others prefer his deceptive, side-spinning changeup that shows above-average potential. Even with below-average control, Vela’s arsenal plays against hitters on both sides of the plate. He limited lefties to a .135 batting average and righties to a .216 average in his full-season debut.

The Future: Vela is likely to settle into a middle relief role, but the Padres are in no hurry to pigeonhole him. He’ll see Double-A San Antonio in 2022.