TRACK RECORD: The top target among the Cardinals’ 2015 international signings, Seijas arrived as a pro with athleticism and a fastball that could bump the mid 90s. Five years later, not much has changed. The Cardinals added Seijas to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season but outrighted him during the 2020 season. He went unclaimed on waivers and unselected in the Rule 5 draft.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is still young enough to put everything together. He has solid arm speed and arm strength, running his fastball into the mid 90s at his best, but it’s an average pitch without any exceptional movement characteristics. His breaking ball is slurvy and his changeup is inconsistent, with both grading as fringe-average pitcher. A starter throughout his minor league career so far, Seijas' fringy control and command make a move to the bullpen likely long-term.
THE FUTURE: Seijas will try to make the jump to Double-A in 2021. He’ll need to improve his breaking ball or changeup to have a major league future, even as a reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Seijas signed for $762,500 as the headliner of the Cardinals' 2015 international class and quickly conquered the Rookie levels. He struggled with the jump to full-season ball and repeated low Class A Peoria in 2019 before earning a promotion to high Class A Palm Beach.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is undersized at 6-foot-1 but has plenty of arm strength with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. His breaking ball gets slurvy at times but flashes as an average curveball, and his changeup is a fringy but usable offering off his fastball. Seijas is still working on the mental part of the game. He often lacks a plan to set hitters up and is prone to losing his focus. He is a solid competitor who stays poised, but he needs to be more consistent with his focus and command.
THE FUTURE: Seijas has the stuff and pitch mix to project as a back-end starter or middle reliever. He'll see Double-A Springfield in 2020.
The Cardinals signed Seijas for $762,500 as the headliner of the 2015 international class and watched with glee as he moved quickly, making his U.S. debut in his first season and holding his own at Rookie-level Johnson City in 2017. Seijas sprouted from 5-foot-8 to 6-foot-1 and pitches with considerable stuff for an 18-year-old. His sinking fastball sits 92-94 mph with late life early in outings and he complements it with a curveball that flashes plus. Seijas' changeup is still raw and a focal point of his development, but it is usable off his fastball. Seijas doesn't hold his velocity well, dropping to 89-92 mph by the middle innings. His curveball is also inconsistent. Seijas throws strikes but is still learning how to get into pitchers counts quickly and set hitters up. Seijas has starter traits, but has a ways to go in terms of durability, secondary development and pitch sequencing. He is in line for an assignment to low Class A Peoria in 2018.
Seijas had a good showing when he reached the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his first domestic innings since turning pro. Only 17, Seijas displayed a three-pitch mix, and scouts saw flashes of above-average from each for his level and age. Despite his 5-foot-8 stature, one GCL manager said he looks like a basketball player on the mound-- and his father was a superb basketball player--and then the leg lifts, the torso rotates, and the velocity flows. Seijas threw 91-95 mph and that is expected to skyrocket as he matures. His composure is expected to settle at the same time, as familiarity and confidence replace the agitation of youth that came with tricky situations. Seijas has strong start to a changeup and a curveball with natural, tight spin that has the trappings of a plus pitch. He'll start at-bats with it, showing his precociousness. He could earn time at Rookie-level Johnson City in 2017.
Minor League Top Prospects
Considered by many to be the top arm available during the 2015 international signing period, Seijas signed with the Cardinals for $762,500 and got a bump to the Appy League this summer. The 6-foot-1 righthander has the rare combination of control and secondary pitches to grow into a possible mid-rotation starter. Seijas pitches off of a 91-95 mph fastball with late life and is able to command the pitch to both sides of the plate. He lacks consistency with his velocity range right now, at times sitting 93-95 and other times more in the realm of 89-92. Seijas' curveball is his best secondary pitch and flashes late sweeping shape and earns plus grades from scouts. His changeup is still developing but occasionally catches some tumble and armside movement. Consistency eludes him due to an effort-packed arm action, but he pounds the zone with all three pitches.
Signed for $762,500 last summer, Seijas started the season in the Dominican Summer League, then jumped to the GCL and showed the three-pitch mix and feel for his craft to project as a starter who could advance quickly. Seijas is a good athlete with quick arm speed who pitches off a fastball that ranges from 91-95 mph. He mixes his offspeed pitches liberally, the best of which is a curveball with tight spin, good shape and depth that flashes plus. His changeup improved significantly and could develop into at average or better offering. His arm action and a tendency to overthrow hurt his fastball command, but he's generally a good strike-thrower with advanced feel to pitch for his age. Seijas lost his composure at times when things didn't go his way, but that should improve with time and maturity.
Scouting Reports
TRACK RECORD: The top target among the Cardinals’ 2015 international signings, Seijas arrived as a pro with athleticism and a fastball that could bump the mid 90s. Five years later, not much has changed. The Cardinals added Seijas to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season but outrighted him during the 2020 season. He went unclaimed on waivers and unselected in the Rule 5 draft.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is still young enough to put everything together. He has solid arm speed and arm strength, running his fastball into the mid 90s at his best, but it’s an average pitch without any exceptional movement characteristics. His breaking ball is slurvy and his changeup is inconsistent, with both grading as fringe-average pitcher. A starter throughout his minor league career so far, Seijas' fringy control and command make a move to the bullpen likely long-term.
THE FUTURE: Seijas will try to make the jump to Double-A in 2021. He’ll need to improve his breaking ball or changeup to have a major league future, even as a reliever.
TRACK RECORD: The top target among the Cardinals’ 2015 international signings, Seijas arrived as a pro with athleticism and a fastball that could bump the mid 90s. Five years later, not much has changed. The Cardinals added Seijas to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season but outrighted him during the 2020 season. He went unclaimed on waivers and unselected in the Rule 5 draft.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is still young enough to put everything together. He has solid arm speed and arm strength, running his fastball into the mid 90s at his best, but it’s an average pitch without any exceptional movement characteristics. His breaking ball is slurvy and his changeup is inconsistent, with both grading as fringe-average pitcher. A starter throughout his minor league career so far, Seijas' fringy control and command make a move to the bullpen likely long-term.
THE FUTURE: Seijas will try to make the jump to Double-A in 2021. He’ll need to improve his breaking ball or changeup to have a major league future, even as a reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Seijas signed for $762,500 as the headliner of the Cardinals’ 2015 international class and quickly conquered the Rookie levels before struggling with the jump to full-season ball. He returned to low Class A Peoria in 2019 and improved his control, earning a promotion to high Class A Palm Beach.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is undersized at 6-foot-1 but has plenty of arm strength with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. His breaking ball gets slurvy at times but flashes as an average curveball, and his changeup is a fringy but usable offering off his fastball. Seijas is still working on the mental part of the game. He often lacks a plan to set hitters up and is prone to losing his focus. He is a solid competitor who stays poised, but he needs to be more consistent with his focus and command.
THE FUTURE: Seijas has the stuff and pitch mix to project as a potential back-end starter or middle reliever. He’ll see Double-A Springfield in 2020. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
TRACK RECORD: Seijas signed for $762,500 as the headliner of the Cardinals' 2015 international class and quickly conquered the Rookie levels. He struggled with the jump to full-season ball and repeated low Class A Peoria in 2019 before earning a promotion to high Class A Palm Beach.
SCOUTING REPORT: Seijas is undersized at 6-foot-1 but has plenty of arm strength with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. His breaking ball gets slurvy at times but flashes as an average curveball, and his changeup is a fringy but usable offering off his fastball. Seijas is still working on the mental part of the game. He often lacks a plan to set hitters up and is prone to losing his focus. He is a solid competitor who stays poised, but he needs to be more consistent with his focus and command.
THE FUTURE: Seijas has the stuff and pitch mix to project as a back-end starter or middle reliever. He'll see Double-A Springfield in 2020.
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