Ricky Karcher

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #23 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: In his third year as a pro, Karcher walked 30 batters in just 19 innings in Class A. Once again, his lack of control was derailing his promising career. His control is still far from even average, but Karcher figured out how to stay around the zone in 2022. It resulted in him climbing to Triple-A to serve as Louisville's closer, and he earned a spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason.
  
  Scouting Report: Karcher's a slider-first pitcher who just happens to also throw a 97-99 mph plus fastball. That's how he attacks hitters at his best. The fastball is the change of pace pitch after he's lulled them to sleep with a steady attack of 87-89 mph sliders in the strike zone. Karcher's delivery is pure high-effort reliever, and his control is below-average, but as he's realized he needs to rely on his slider, he's discovered he can control it better than his fastball and he learned that a high-80s slider will get swings and misses even if it doesn't have massive movement. Even then, he still piles up more walks than are ideal, but few hitters ever square him up. He didn't allow a home run in his final 24 outings.
  
  The Future: Karcher has come a long way in a short amount of time. He'll most likely head back to Triple-A Louisville, but he should make his MLB debut in 2023. His stuff is as good as pretty much anyone in major league bullpens, but only if he throws enough strikes to make it matter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 70. Changeup: 50. Control: 30.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #343 prospect in 2017 draft
  Karcher threw just four innings in his freshman year at Michigan because of his bottom-of-the-scale control. But a mechanical tweak he made while pitching in the Prospect League last summer paid off after he transferred to Walters State (Tenn.) JC. Karcher learned to pause on his back leg before firing off the rubber. That pause allows his arm enough time to catch up to his lower half and to be on time. With a 92-94 mph fastball, a biting 80-82 mph slider and flashes of a changeup, he has plenty of potential, although he still has a long way to go as far as developing consistency. Karcher was 7-3, 4.29 for Walters State this year, striking out 66 and walking 34 in 59 innings.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: In his third year as a pro, Karcher walked 30 batters in just 19 innings in Class A. Once again, his lack of control was derailing his promising career. His control is still far from even average, but Karcher figured out how to stay around the zone in 2022. It resulted in him climbing to Triple-A to serve as Louisville's closer, and he earned a spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason.
  
  Scouting Report: Karcher's a slider-first pitcher who just happens to also throw a 97-99 mph plus fastball. That's how he attacks hitters at his best. The fastball is the change of pace pitch after he's lulled them to sleep with a steady attack of 87-89 mph sliders in the strike zone. Karcher's delivery is pure high-effort reliever, and his control is below-average, but as he's realized he needs to rely on his slider, he's discovered he can control it better than his fastball and he learned that a high-80s slider will get swings and misses even if it doesn't have massive movement. Even then, he still piles up more walks than are ideal, but few hitters ever square him up. He didn't allow a home run in his final 24 outings.
  
  The Future: Karcher has come a long way in a short amount of time. He'll most likely head back to Triple-A Louisville, but he should make his MLB debut in 2023. His stuff is as good as pretty much anyone in major league bullpens, but only if he throws enough strikes to make it matter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 70. Changeup: 50. Control: 30.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: In his third year as a pro, Karcher walked 30 batters in just 19 innings in Class A. Once again, his lack of control was derailing his promising career. His control is still far from even average, but Karcher figured out how to stay around the zone in 2022. It resulted in him climbing to Triple-A to serve as Louisville's closer, and he earned a spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason.
  
  Scouting Report: Karcher's a slider-first pitcher who just happens to also throw a 97-99 mph plus fastball. That's how he attacks hitters at his best. The fastball is the change of pace pitch after he's lulled them to sleep with a steady attack of 87-89 mph sliders in the strike zone. Karcher's delivery is pure high-effort reliever, and his control is below-average, but as he's realized he needs to rely on his slider, he's discovered he can control it better than his fastball and he learned that a high-80s slider will get swings and misses even if it doesn't have massive movement. Even then, he still piles up more walks than are ideal, but few hitters ever square him up. He didn't allow a home run in his final 24 outings.
  
  The Future: Karcher has come a long way in a short amount of time. He'll most likely head back to Triple-A Louisville, but he should make his MLB debut in 2023. His stuff is as good as pretty much anyone in major league bullpens, but only if he throws enough strikes to make it matter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 70. Changeup: 50. Control: 30.