Cal Quantrill

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #10 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Quantrill starred on Canada's junior national teams and looked like a future No. 1 overall pick his freshman year at Stanford, but he had Tommy John surgery three starts into his sophomore year and missed all of his junior year too. The Padres still took him seventh overall in 2016 and gave him a full slot bonus of just under $4 million. Quantrill built back up over three pro seasons and logged 148 innings in 2018, overcoming a rocky stint at Double-A to finish strong in Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Quantrill, the son of former All-Star reliever Paul, flashes plus stuff but has yet to find consistency post-surgery. At his best Quantrill sits 93-95 with downhill angle on his fastball, with a plus changeup and a slider that has improved to average and become a swing-and-miss pitch. Other times he'll work in the low 90s with decreased changeup feel and poor command, surrendering hits en masse. Quantrill is fiercely competitive and sometimes gets frustrated with himself, affecting his ability to execute. His main issue has been locating inside, with lefties in particular punishing him for a .305/.376/.468 line in 2018.
  
  The Future: Quantrill still flashes mid-rotation potential with three quality pitches. Improving his command, composure and consistency will be key before his major league debut in 2019.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #4 prospect in 2018
  Quantrill, the son of former big league reliever Paul Quantrill, had Tommy John surgery three starts into his sophomore season at Stanford and missed all of his junior year, too. The Padres were impressed enough by his predraft bullpen sessions to draft him No. 7 overall in 2016 and sign him for just under $4 million. He delivered on that faith in 2017, cruising through the high Class A California League and reaching Double-A San Antonio. The Padres streamlined Quantrill's mechanics to help his velocity come easier, and it did in 2017. He now sits comfortably at 93-95 mph and can reach back for 97. He holds that velocity, pitches downhill and commands his fastball, making it a plus pitch. His 81-83 mph changeup is his out pitch and one of the best in the minors. He sells it with identical arm speed as his fastball, and the pitch slows suddenly just in front of the plate, drawing lunging, off-balance swings. His 81-84 mph slider flashes above-average but lacks consistency, and the Padres are focused on developing his mid-70s curveball, which is currently a below-average pitch. Quantrill throws all his pitches for strikes and has above-average command, which could get to plus as he moves further away from surgery. Quantrill's aggressiveness further helps his stuff play up, although he gets so competitive at times he lets his emotions get the best of him and he loses focus. Evaluators still see his competitive nature as a positive rather than a negative. Quantrill is a smart, self-aware individual who works hard and craves a challenge. His total package of stuff, command and mentality gives him a potential middle-to front-of-the-rotation future. Triple-A El Paso is next.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #4 prospect in 2017
  The son of former Blue Jays all-star reliever Paul Quantrill starred on Canada's 18U national team growing up in Port Hope, Ontario, and was drafted by the Yankees in the 26th round out of high school. He instead went to Stanford, where he became the first freshman pitcher to start Opening Day since Mike Mussina in 1988. Quantrill pitched just three games as a sophomore before requiring Tommy John surgery, which kept him out all of his junior season as well. Undeterred, the Padres drafted him eighth overall and signed him for $3,963,045. Quantrill displayed no ill effects from surgery once he got into the Padres system, showing a 92-96 mph fastball and diving 81-84 mph changeup that was considered the best in the 2016 draft class. His slider is his third pitch but showed vast improvement by sitting 83-84 mph with late bite and generating swings and misses to become an above-average offering. Quantrill's command remains shaky post-surgery, but he was around the strike zone with all of his pitches during his pro debut, which he spent primarily at short-season Tri-City. He possesses the poise and pitchability expected from the son of a former major leaguer, and his competitiveness earns raves. Because Quantrill hasn't pitched a full season since 2014, the Padres will manage his workload carefully in 2017 at low Class A Fort Wayne.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #38 prospect in 2016 draft
  Quantrill's father Paul pitched in the majors for parts of 14 seasons and is Canada's all-time leader in games pitched. Quantrill grew up around big league clubhouses and starring for Canadian national teams before arriving at Stanford, after turning down the Yankees as a 26th-round pick in 2013. He made his reputation as a collegian instantly, becoming the first Cardinal freshman to start Opening Day since Mike Mussina in 1988 and leading the team to a regional victory at Indiana. He pitched in relief on one day's rest in the regional, beating Kyle Schwarber, Sam Travis and the Hoosiers, and was the Coastal Plain League's No. 1 prospect that summer, including a start where he flashed premium stuff against USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. However, Quantrill has made just three starts since then, all of them in 2015. He had Tommy John surgery March 20 that year and hasn't pitched in a game since. Stanford and his family have remained mum on his return. When healthy, Quantrill pitches off an 89-94 mph fastball with sinking life and a plus changeup with similar life and action. He has thrown both a slider and curveball in the past, flashing average with a slider in the 78-80 mph range. If Quantrill doesn't return to the mound for the Cardinal, he'll likely throw bullpens or simulated games just before the draft, presenting a true wild card for June.
• Ranked #90 prospect in 2013 draft
  Quantrill has as much polish as any pitcher in the draft, no surprise for the son of former big league pitcher Paul, who spent 14 years in the big leagues. With the Canadian junior national team, Cal has gotten plenty of experience against premium competition, as the team routinely travels to Florida, Arizona and the Dominican Republic to play against pro Rookie-level pro squads. Quantrill has a slender, athletic frame at 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds, with long limbs and plenty of room to fill out. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range with late life, and he can reach back for 93 when he needs it. Most scouts think he'll eventually pitch in the mid-90s. He shows good feel for his changeup, which has plus potential. He throws two different breaking balls. Both are currently below-average, with the slider showing more promise. Quantrill is a fierce competitor with an aggressive demeanor on the mound and a good athlete who fields his position well. He is also an exceptional student, though he is considered more signable than most Stanford recruits. Like many Canadians, Quantrill is young for the class and won't be 18 until October. Don't be surprised if the Blue Jays--who employ his father as a consultant--grab Quantrill in the second or third round and buy him out of his commitment.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #15 prospect in 2018
  After entering the season as the No. 4 prospect in a loaded Padres farm system, Quantrill struggled in the Texas League for the majority of 2018. In 22 starts, the 6-foot-3 righthander posted a 5.15 ERA, .282 opponent average, 1.48 WHIP and struck out 7.77 batters per nine innings. The reports on Quantrill’s stuff, however, was still mostly encouraging, as he boasts a low- to mid-90s fastball, a plus changeup and an inconsistent slider. His changeup isn’t as impressive as it was in past years (it earned 70 grades in the past) and he continues to struggle to spin his slider consistently. Yet translating pure stuff into outs was an issue for Quantrill, who can grow easily frustrated when making too many mistakes over the middle of the plate with an inability to string together multiple solid outings.
• 
  Ranked California League #3 prospect in 2017
  Quantrill showed no ill effects from the Tommy John surgery that cost him most of 2015 and 2016. He streamlined his mechanics and sat 93-95 mph with downhill angle on his fastball, showed off his dastardly 82-84 changeup that had hitters lunging wildly and increasingly introduced a low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball into his arsenal. His slider in particular shows promise. Quantrill's physicality, athleticism and aggressiveness earned further plaudits, and there is a belief his above-average command can get to plus as he moves further away from surgery. "He's got a big league fastball. He's got the velocity and the command to make that fastball take him to the big leagues," Visalia manager Shelley Duncan said. "But he's also got that changeup and he can throw three pitches for strikes. His command overall is what makes him a big leaguer, and his pitchability is going to make him good." Quantrill possesses a fiery, competitive demeanor on the mound that further endears him to evaluators, though he is still learning to harness those emotions and not allow mistakes to let him lose focus.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #52 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #96 prospect in 2017

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Quantrill remains pitching at 90-95 mph and his slider has jumped to become a consistent strikeout weapon, but his changeup has regressed and his fastball command remains shoddy. Quantrill’s main problem is too many too many hittable pitches over the plate, and challenging batters with his fastball inside is a target area for development. Quantrill has had hot stretches where he still shows mid-to-front of the rotation potential, but consistency has eluded him.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Quantrill, the son of former big league reliever Paul, had Tommy John surgery three starts into his sophomore season at Stanford and missed all of his junior year, too. The Padres were impressed enough by his predraft bullpen sessions to draft him No. 7 overall in 2016 and sign him for just under $4 million. He delivered on that faith in 2017, cruising through the high Class A California League and reaching Double-A San Antonio. Scouting Report: The Padres streamlined Quantrill's mechanics to help his velocity come easier, and it did in 2017. He now sits comfortably at 93-95 mph and can reach back for 97. He holds that velocity, pitches downhill and commands his fastball, making it a plus pitch. His 81-83 mph changeup is his out pitch and one of the best in the minors. He sells it with identical arm speed as his fastball, and the pitch slows suddenly just in front of the plate. His 81-84 mph slider flashes above-average but lacks consistency, and the Padres are focused on developing his mid-70s curveball. Quantrill throws all his pitches for strikes and has above-average command. The Future: Quantrill's aggressiveness further helps his stuff play up and gives him a potential middle-to front-of-the-rotation future. Triple-A El Paso is next.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The son of former Blue Jays all-star reliever Paul Quantrill was drafted by the Yankees in the 26th round out of high school. He instead went to Stanford, where he became the first freshman pitcher to start Opening Day since Mike Mussina in 1988. Quantrill pitched just three games as a sophomore before requiring Tommy John surgery, which kept him out all of his junior season as well. Undeterred, the Padres drafted him eighth overall and signed him for $3,963,045. Scouting Report: Quantrill displayed no ill effects from surgery once he got into the Padres' system, showing a 92-96 mph fastball and diving 81-84 mph changeup that was considered the best in the 2016 draft class. His slider showed vast improvement by sitting 83-84 mph with late bite to become an above-average offering. Quantrill's command remains shaky post-surgery, but he was around the strike zone with all of his pitches during his pro debut. He possesses the poise and pitchability expected from the son of a former major leaguer, and his competitiveness earns raves.
  
  The Future: Quantrill hasn't pitched a full season since 2014, so the Padres will manage his workload carefully in 2017 at low Class A Fort Wayne.