Riley O’Brien Stats & Scouting Report

IP	8
ERA	11.25
WHIP	2.63
BB/9	9
SO/9	12.38

Full name Riley Chun-Young O'Brien
Born 02/06/1995 in Seattle, WA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School College Of Idaho
Debut 09/28/2021
Drafted in the 8th round (229th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 (signed for $7,500).

View Draft Report

After two years at Everett (Wash.) CC, O'Brien headed to NAIA College of Idaho and pitched two seasons before becoming the highest draft pick in school history. The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder didn't allow a home run as a senior during a 3-4, 2.15 season, striking out 81 in 67 innings while working both out of the bullpen and the rotation. He's touched 95 mph and pitches at 89-93 at his best with some looseness in his arm portending more velocity to come. He's showed the ability to spin a solid-average breaking ball as well with both a slider and a curveball in his repertoire. He's a good athlete.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: An astute pick as a $7,500 seventh-rounder out of the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, O'Brien has a long track record of success in the minors, although his 2019 season ended early because of a sore elbow. The Reds picked him up from the Rays in a trade for lefthander Cody Reed after Reed was designated for assignment.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien's 91-95 mph fastball is above-average and flashes plus. He can elevate for swings and misses and tops out at 97. His slider flashes plus as well, but it's erratic. O'Brien's control has been fringe-average, but his command is below-average. His changeup has never really developed.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's time as a starter may be running out. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason, but the cancelled 2020 minor league season means he'll enter 2021 as a 25-year-old who has yet to pitch in Triple-A. O'Brien's future is likely as an up-and-down reliever who hopes to blossom into a middle-innings option.
TRACK RECORD: O'Brien pitched two years in junior college before becoming the highest-drafted player ever picked out of NAIA College of Idaho. He quickly pitched his way out of high Class A Charlotte and was putting together a successful season with Double-A Montgomery when he was shut down in late July with a sore elbow.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien is the epitome of a lanky, long-armed pitcher. He has a loose arm as well, which means his 91-95 mph plus fastball (he brushes 97) and his big-breaking plus slider gives him two swing-and-miss pitches. What he doesn't have yet is the control to fully take advantage of them. O'Brien's slider can be dastardly, but he has a tendency to snap off 58-footers that land in the batter's box for lefty's. His catchers have to be nimble and stay alert. O'Brien has shown some feel for a below-average changeup. His stuff is good enough to retire MLB hitters, but his below-average control needs to improve and that's where his long arms, and long takeaway in the back of his delivery makes it more difficult.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's fringy control and fastball/slider combination may eventually lead to the bullpen, but there's no reason to do so just yet. In each of the past two seasons, O'Brien has earned quick promotions. He'll likely return to Montgomery with a chance to move up to Triple-A Durham before long.

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: An astute pick as a $7,500 seventh-rounder out of the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, O'Brien has a long track record of success in the minors, although his 2019 season ended early because of a sore elbow. The Reds picked him up from the Rays in a trade for lefthander Cody Reed after Reed was designated for assignment.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien's 91-95 mph fastball is above-average and flashes plus. He can elevate for swings and misses and tops out at 97. His slider flashes plus as well, but it's erratic. O'Brien's control has been fringe-average, but his command is below-average. His changeup has never really developed.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's time as a starter may be running out. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason, but the cancelled 2020 minor league season means he'll enter 2021 as a 25-year-old who has yet to pitch in Triple-A. O'Brien's future is likely as an up-and-down reliever who hopes to blossom into a middle-innings option.
TRACK RECORD: An astute pick as a $7,500 seventh-rounder out of the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, O'Brien has a long track record of success in the minors, although his 2019 season ended early because of a sore elbow. The Reds picked him up from the Rays in a trade for lefthander Cody Reed after Reed was designated for assignment.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien's 91-95 mph fastball is above-average and flashes plus. He can elevate for swings and misses and tops out at 97. His slider flashes plus as well, but it's erratic. O'Brien's control has been fringe-average, but his command is below-average. His changeup has never really developed.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's time as a starter may be running out. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason, but the cancelled 2020 minor league season means he'll enter 2021 as a 25-year-old who has yet to pitch in Triple-A. O'Brien's future is likely as an up-and-down reliever who hopes to blossom into a middle-innings option.
TRACK RECORD: An astute pick as a $7,500 seventh-rounder out of the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, O'Brien has a long track record of success in the minors, although his 2019 season ended early because of a sore elbow. The Reds picked him up from the Rays in a trade for lefthander Cody Reed after Reed was designated for assignment.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien's 91-95 mph fastball is above-average and flashes plus. He can elevate for swings and misses and tops out at 97. His slider flashes plus as well, but it's erratic. O'Brien's control has been fringe-average, but his command is below-average. His changeup has never really developed.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's time as a starter may be running out. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason, but the cancelled 2020 minor league season means he'll enter 2021 as a 25-year-old who has yet to pitch in Triple-A. O'Brien's future is likely as an up-and-down reliever who hopes to blossom into a middle-innings option.
TRACK RECORD: O’Brien pitched two years in junior college before becoming the highest-drafted player ever picked out of NAIA College of Idaho. He quickly pitched his way out of high Class A Charlotte and was putting together a successful season with Double-A Montgomery when he was shut down in late July with a sore elbow.

SCOUTING REPORT: O’Brien is the epitome of a lanky, long-armed pitcher. He has a loose arm as well, which means his 91-95 mph plus fastball (he brushes 97) and his big-breaking plus slider gives him two swing-and-miss pitches. What he doesn’t have yet is the control to fully take advantage of them. O’Brien’s slider can be dastardly, but he has a tendency to snap off 58-footers that land in the batter’s box for lefty’s. BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 50 Risk: High His catchers have to be nimble and stay alert. O’Brien has shown some feel for a below-average changeup. His stuff is good enough to retire MLB hitters, but his below-average control needs to improve and that’s where his long arms, and long takeaway in the back of his delivery makes it more difficult.

THE FUTURE: O’Brien’s fringy control and fastball/slider combination may eventually lead to the bullpen, but there’s no reason to do so just yet. In each of the past two seasons, O’Brien has earned quick promotions. He’ll likely return to Montgomery with a chance to move up to Triple-A Durham before long.
TRACK RECORD: O'Brien pitched two years in junior college before becoming the highest-drafted player ever picked out of NAIA College of Idaho. He quickly pitched his way out of high Class A Charlotte and was putting together a successful season with Double-A Montgomery when he was shut down in late July with a sore elbow.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien is the epitome of a lanky, long-armed pitcher. He has a loose arm as well, which means his 91-95 mph plus fastball (he brushes 97) and his big-breaking plus slider gives him two swing-and-miss pitches. What he doesn't have yet is the control to fully take advantage of them. O'Brien's slider can be dastardly, but he has a tendency to snap off 58-footers that land in the batter's box for lefty's. His catchers have to be nimble and stay alert. O'Brien has shown some feel for a below-average changeup. His stuff is good enough to retire MLB hitters, but his below-average control needs to improve and that's where his long arms, and long takeaway in the back of his delivery makes it more difficult.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's fringy control and fastball/slider combination may eventually lead to the bullpen, but there's no reason to do so just yet. In each of the past two seasons, O'Brien has earned quick promotions. He'll likely return to Montgomery with a chance to move up to Triple-A Durham before long.

Career Transactions

St. Louis Cardinals recalled RHP Riley O'Brien from Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned RHP Riley O'Brien to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals activated RHP Riley O'Brien from the 60-day injured list.
St. Louis Cardinals sent RHP Riley O'Brien on a rehab assignment to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals sent RHP Riley O'Brien on a rehab assignment to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals transferred RHP Riley O'Brien from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right forearm flexor strain.
St. Louis Cardinals placed RHP Riley O'Brien on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 29, 2024. Right forearm flexor strain.
RHP Riley O'Brien roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
Seattle Mariners invited non-roster RHP Riley O'Brien to spring training.