Joey Estes

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #16 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The A’s acquired Estes from the Braves in the March 2022 Matt Olson trade, less than a year after the righty broke out for Low-A Augusta. He has proven a steady and durable option since arriving in Oakland’s system. Estes climbed the minors and made his big league debut at 21 years old.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes made modifications to both his delivery and arsenal in 2023. He attacks hitters in an athletic, aggressive manner with a funky release. The A’s worked with Estes to better leverage the ball and move down the mound more efficiently. The changes reduced the amount of horizontal break on his 93 mph fastball, which previously had nearly equal ride and run, but the pitch is still an above-average offering that he trusts in every quadrant of the zone. He also introduced two variants of his slider--a low-80s sweeper and a separate, slightly slower breaker with more depth that is sometimes classified as a curveball. He also added a mid-80s cutter to go along with his solid-average changeup. Estes’ delivery has historically raised reliever risk, but he continues to throw enough strikes to remain on a starter track. Now, he needs those strikes to start missing more bats. He yielded below-average in-zone whiff rates on all his secondaries, furthering concerns he lacks a true swing-and-miss offering.
  
  The Future: Estes shows a deep arsenal, competitiveness and pitchability, but the lack of whiffs limits his ceiling to a back-of-the-rotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #22 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Braves bought Estes out of a Long Beach State commitment in 2019 for $497,500. He experienced a breakout season two years later, striking out 32.1% of batters over 99 innings with Low-A Augusta. The A's acquired Estes as part of the Matt Olson trade and sent him to High-A Lansing for his age-20 season in 2022, when he posted a 4.55 ERA and struck out 92 batters in 91 innings as one of the youngest pitchers at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes attacks hitters with athleticism, arm speed and a competitive mentality. He has three solid pitches, albeit without an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 92-94 mph fastball has nearly equal amounts of carry and run, boring in on righthanded batters but with enough vertical break to play at the top of the strike zone. His mid-80s slider has late bite, but he sometimes struggles to stay on top of it. Estes also throws a mid-80s changeup with good hand speed that tunnels well with the fastball but is still inconsistent. Estes is generally around the strike zone, but can rush his delivery at times and his command wavers as a result. The A's worked with Estes in instructs to move down the mound a bit more efficiently.
  
  The Future: There's some reliever risk because of the delivery, but Estes is still quite young and has thrown enough strikes to continue to move up the ladder in the rotation. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #14 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Estes ranked as the No. 239 prospect in the 2019 class, but the Braves managed to sign him in the 16th round with a $497,500 bonus. He’s a competitive pitcher who was one of the better Low-A arms in the minors as a 19-year-old, finishing sixth with 99 innings and fourth with 127 strikeouts at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes works quickly on the mound and comes right at hitters with a solid, if unspectacular, three-pitch mix. His fastball gets up to 96-97 mph and typically sits in the 91-95 mph range, with standout riding life up in the zone and a flat approach angle. Estes also throws a low-80s slider with 8 o’clock tilt and an 83-86 mph changeup that he shows confidence in already. Both secondary offerings made progress this season, but neither flashes more than above-average at times, with most evaluators favoring the slider over the changeup for now. Estes’ best skill is his feel for filling up the zone. He gets ahead in counts frequently, though as he climbs the minor league ladder he’ll need to do a better job finishing off hitters with quality chase pitches. Despite his strike throwing and three-pitch mix, some scouts believe he profiles best as a reliever, with a bit of effort in his delivery.
  
  The Future: Estes likely could have been promoted to Rome in 2021 given his performance. He should begin the 2022 season there, where he’ll continue to be exceptionally young for the level.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #239 prospect in 2019 draft
  Estes emerged from tiny Paraclete (Lancaster, Calif.) High to make the Area Code Games and represent California in the States Play series at Globe Life Park last summer. He kept evaluators making the long drive to the Antelope Valley this spring with an uptick in his velocity. Estes is slightly undersized as a 6-foot-1 righthander but has a strong frame. His fastball sits 90-91 mph and touches 93 mph, and he backs it up with a slurvy breaking ball that could turn into an average slider as he adds strength. Estes has a mature body that lacks projection, but his two-pitch mix projects well in a bullpen. He is committed to Long Beach State but is considered signable.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #5 prospect in 2021
  Although Estes’ season ended prematurely when he went on the injured list Sept. 9, he still had a breakthrough year and shot onto the prospect scene. The 19-year-old righthander had no trouble with Low-A in his full-season debut, impressing league managers with a three-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that sat 93-94 mph, and he could continue to add velocity as he matures. He worked in the offseason on improving his changeup and has gained confidence in it while turning it into a solid pitch. He has enough confidence in his average to above-average slider that he will throw it in any count. Estes worked deliberately, pounding the strike zone and posting 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 2.6 walks per nine. “The biggest thing for me was his mentality,” Augusta broadcaster Rylan Kobre said. “Obviously the changeup is nice . . . but he goes at guys. He’s a bulldog.”

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Braves bought Estes out of a Long Beach State commitment in 2019 for $497,500. He experienced a breakout season two years later, striking out 32.1% of batters over 99 innings with Low-A Augusta. The A's acquired Estes as part of the Matt Olson trade and sent him to High-A Lansing for his age-20 season in 2022, when he posted a 4.55 ERA and struck out 92 batters in 91 innings as one of the youngest pitchers at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes attacks hitters with athleticism, arm speed and a competitive mentality. He has three solid pitches, albeit without an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 92-94 mph fastball has nearly equal amounts of carry and run, boring in on righthanded batters but with enough vertical break to play at the top of the strike zone. His mid-80s slider has late bite, but he sometimes struggles to stay on top of it. Estes also throws a mid-80s changeup with good hand speed that tunnels well with the fastball but is still inconsistent. Estes is generally around the strike zone, but can rush his delivery at times and his command wavers as a result. The A's worked with Estes in instructs to move down the mound a bit more efficiently.
  
  The Future: There's some reliever risk because of the delivery, but Estes is still quite young and has thrown enough strikes to continue to move up the ladder in the rotation. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Braves bought Estes out of a Long Beach State commitment in 2019 for $497,500. He experienced a breakout season two years later, striking out 32.1% of batters over 99 innings with Low-A Augusta. The A's acquired Estes as part of the Matt Olson trade and sent him to High-A Lansing for his age-20 season in 2022, when he posted a 4.55 ERA and struck out 92 batters in 91 innings as one of the youngest pitchers at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes attacks hitters with athleticism, arm speed and a competitive mentality. He has three solid pitches, albeit without an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 92-94 mph fastball has nearly equal amounts of carry and run, boring in on righthanded batters but with enough vertical break to play at the top of the strike zone. His mid-80s slider has late bite, but he sometimes struggles to stay on top of it. Estes also throws a mid-80s changeup with good hand speed that tunnels well with the fastball but is still inconsistent. Estes is generally around the strike zone, but can rush his delivery at times and his command wavers as a result. The A's worked with Estes in instructs to move down the mound a bit more efficiently.
  
  The Future: There's some reliever risk because of the delivery, but Estes is still quite young and has thrown enough strikes to continue to move up the ladder in the rotation. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record:: Estes ranked as the No. 239 prospect in the 2019 class, but the Braves managed to sign him in the 16th round with a $497,500 bonus. He&#39s a competitive pitcher who was one of the better Low-A arms in the minors as a 19-year-old, finishing sixth with 99 innings and fourth with 127 strikeouts at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes works quickly on the mound and comes right at hitters with a solid, if unspectacular, three-pitch mix. His fastball gets up to 96-97 mph and typically sits in the 91-95 mph range, with standout riding life up in the zone and a flat approach angle. Estes also throws a low-80s slider with 8 o&#39clock tilt and an 83-86 mph changeup that he shows confidence in already. Both secondary offerings made progress this season, but neither flashes more than above-average at times, with most evaluators favoring the slider over the changeup for now. Estes&#39 best skill is his feel for filling up the zone. He gets ahead in counts frequently, though as he climbs the minor league ladder he&#39ll need to do a better job finishing off hitters with quality chase pitches. Despite his strike throwing and three-pitch mix, some scouts believe he profiles best as a reliever, with a bit of effort in his delivery.
  
  The Future: Estes likely could have been promoted to Rome in 2021 given his performance. He should begin the 2022 season there, where he&#39ll continue to be exceptionally young for the level.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Estes ranked as the No. 239 prospect in the 2019 class, but the Braves managed to sign him in the 16th round with a $497,500 bonus. He’s a competitive pitcher who was one of the better Low-A arms in the minors as a 19-year-old, finishing sixth with 99 innings and fourth with 127 strikeouts at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Estes works quickly on the mound and comes right at hitters with a solid, if unspectacular, three-pitch mix. His fastball gets up to 96-97 mph and typically sits in the 91-95 mph range, with standout riding life up in the zone and a flat approach angle. Estes also throws a low-80s slider with 8 o’clock tilt and an 83-86 mph changeup that he shows confidence in already. Both secondary offerings made progress this season, but neither flashes more than above-average at times, with most evaluators favoring the slider over the changeup for now. Estes’ best skill is his feel for filling up the zone. He gets ahead in counts frequently, though as he climbs the minor league ladder he’ll need to do a better job finishing off hitters with quality chase pitches. Despite his strike throwing and three-pitch mix, some scouts believe he profiles best as a reliever, with a bit of effort in his delivery.
  
  The Future: Estes likely could have been promoted to Rome in 2021 given his performance. He should begin the 2022 season there, where he’ll continue to be exceptionally young for the level.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Although Estes’ season ended prematurely when he went on the injured list Sept. 9, he still had a breakthrough year and shot onto the prospect scene. The 19-year-old righthander had no trouble with Low-A in his full-season debut, impressing league managers with a three-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that sat 93-94 mph, and he could continue to add velocity as he matures. He worked in the offseason on improving his changeup and has gained confidence in it while turning it into a solid pitch. He has enough confidence in his average to above-average slider that he will throw it in any count. Estes worked deliberately, pounding the strike zone and posting 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 2.6 walks per nine. “The biggest thing for me was his mentality,” Augusta broadcaster Rylan Kobre said. “Obviously the changeup is nice . . . but he goes at guys. He’s a bulldog.”
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Drafted in the 16th round out of high school in 2019, Estes was one of the younger pitchers in Low-A, and he was an impressive strike thrower over 13 starts, with a 2.98 ERA, 79 strikeouts (11.2 K/9) and 16 walks (2.3 BB/9). He throws a three-pitch mix with a fastball that could be a future plus offering, and a solid slider and changeup. Estes is undersized and has some stiffness in his delivery, but it's hard to not like his advanced feel for pitching.