Michael Mercado Stats & Scouting Report

IP	13
ERA	11.08
WHIP	1.92
BB/9	6.23
SO/9	6.92

Full name David Michael Mercado
Born 04/15/1999 in Greenville, SC
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 160 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Westview
Drafted in the 2nd round (40th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 (signed for $2,132,400).

View Draft Report

Mercado was a late-riser in a deep southern California class and became a prime attraction by April. Lanky and projectable at 6-foot-5, 165 pounds, Mercado saw his velocity shoot up and he began sitting 90-91 mph and touching 94 in the spring. He also showcased a groundball-inducing two-seamer at 88 mph, a curveball that flashed plus and an above-average cutter. Where Mercado stands out most is his ability to command his four-pitch arsenal in a way that is rare for a prep. He spots his fastball at will, can manipulate the shape and power of his curveball and is smart enough to rely on his two-seamer for quick groundouts when he isn't feeling his best. Mercado's top-flight combination of size, stuff, and feel to pitch have catapulted him into supplemental first-round consideration. He is committed to Stanford and expected to be a costly sign.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Mercado, who was known as Michael Mercado when drafted but has since asked to be called David, was one of Stanford's top signees in its 2017 recruiting class. The Rays, however, picked him 40th overall and paid him which made for an easier decision to go pro.

Scouting Report: Mercado has yet to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame and his arm can be a little late catching up to his lower half. But he has solid present stuff with a 91-94 mph fastball that shows solid sink. Mercado doesn't have much life when he leaves the fastball up. Mercado's curveball gets slurvy and slow at times, but he'll tighten it up into a sharper 77-78 mph pitch that dives across the strike zone with 2-to-8 movement. His low-80s changeup shows promise to be an above-average pitch although he lacks consistency. His hard cutter plays well off the fastball and could develop into an above-average pitch.

The Future: Mercado is nowhere close to being a finished product, but the Rays slow-and-steady development plan for pitchers will avoid throwing him too far over his head. The hope is that he can gain weight and strength that will pay off in firmer stuff. He already shows average control.
Mercado was one of the most polished and projectable high school pitchers in the 2017 draft, signing for an above-slot $2.132 million bonus to pass up a commitment to Stanford as the 40th overall pick. Scouts rave about Mercado's control for such a young pitcher. In high school, his four-seam fastball increased to the low 90s during his senior year and touched 94. His two-seam fastball sits in the 87-89 mph range and generates ground balls. He mixes in a sharp curveball that flashes plus potential, as well as a solid-average cutter/slider, and is working on adding a circle changeup that he still lacks confidence in. Tall, thin and gangly, Mercado is more coordinated than he would appear, and repeats his delivery well. He needs to keep building strength, which could increase his velocity. He also needs to incorporate his lower half more consistently, and finish each pitch to get as much movement as possible and reduce the chance of injury. The Rays tend to move their high school pitchers slowly, and Mercado is a candidate for that track. A potential middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues, Mercado could see low Class A Bowling Green at some point in 2018.

Draft Prospects

Mercado was a late-riser in a deep southern California class and became a prime attraction by April. Lanky and projectable at 6-foot-5, 165 pounds, Mercado saw his velocity shoot up and he began sitting 90-91 mph and touching 94 in the spring. He also showcased a groundball-inducing two-seamer at 88 mph, a curveball that flashed plus and an above-average cutter. Where Mercado stands out most is his ability to command his four-pitch arsenal in a way that is rare for a prep. He spots his fastball at will, can manipulate the shape and power of his curveball and is smart enough to rely on his two-seamer for quick groundouts when he isn't feeling his best. Mercado's top-flight combination of size, stuff, and feel to pitch have catapulted him into supplemental first-round consideration. He is committed to Stanford and expected to be a costly sign.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Rays paid $2,132,400 to sign Mercado for well above slot with the No. 40 overall pick in the draft. He pitched well in his pro debut--he held the opposition scoreless in six of his eight outings--though the Rays never let him pitch past the third inning. Mercado has good body control for a tall, gangly teenager, which helps him repeat his delivery and fill up the strike zone. He has good command of a fastball that sits at 89-92 mph and can reach 94. It's not a power fastball, but with how much space he has to fill out his frame, he could throw harder in the next few years. Mercado also throws a curveball that flashes plus and a good cutter, along with a circle changeup he hasn't thrown much yet.