Alex Speas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #26 prospect in 2018
  Speas checks off a lot of traditional scouting boxes, but he's still a raw project the Rangers are working to mold. In seven starts last year with short-season Spokane, Speas posted a 10.89 ERA with more walks (17) than strikeouts (16) in 19 innings. Once he moved to the bullpen, Speas was still wild but found far more success, throwing 14.2 scoreless innings with a 29-8 K-BB mark. The move to the bullpen isn't permanent--the Rangers will likely either start him or use him in a piggyback plan for their low Class A Hickory rotation in 2018--but it's a role that fit Speas well and could be in his future. Getting more innings as a starter will benefit Speas, an outstanding athlete with long arms and legs he's working to sync up in his delivery to throw more strikes. He has good arm action and has an explosive fastball from 93-97 mph. His slider is a fringe-average pitch but it played up out of the bullpen when he threw it with more power. Speas has a changeup too but it's still in its early stages.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #8 prospect in 2017
  Speas showed his high-risk, high-reward potential in high school, flashing explosive arm speed and athleticism but looking raw at times. The Rangers, who have drafted aggressively from the Georgia prep ranks under scouting director Kip Fagg since 2010, selected him in the second round in 2016 and signed him for $1,024,900 as the No. 63 overall pick. A quick-twitch athlete with an extremely fast arm, Speas sits at 93-96 mph and can reach back for 99. His arm action is clean and the ball explodes out of his hand, finishing at the plate with good movement. He throws a power slider in the mid-80s that has the highest probability of developing into an out pitch. He's still learning to throw his changeup because he didn't need it much in high school. Getting Speas to make the mechanical adjustments to throw more strikes will be key. He tends to rush out on his front side and is still learning how to use his legs more in his delivery. His athleticism should help him make those adjustments, and he's already shown the ability to stay more online to the plate instead of spinning off since he signed. Speas likely won't move as quickly as fellow 2016 draft pick Cole Ragans, but the two should anchor the low Class A Hickory rotation in 2017.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #41 prospect in 2016 draft
  Speas is an athletic righthander with explosive raw arm strength. He has a quick tempo delivery that he's still figuring out how to control, but he shows impact stuff on the mound. His plus-plus arm speed allows him to fire mid-90s bullets with life, and scouts have seen him reach as high as 97, though there may be even more in the tank. Speas has shown a power slider thrown in the mid-80s with 10-to-4 snap and the ability to compete in the strike zone. His changeup also showed promise for some scouts who saw him this spring, and could give him a useable third offering. Despite his athleticism, Speas can sometimes struggle to find his arm slot and repeat the finish of his upper half. As a result, some scouts have seen below-par outings from Speas, leading teams to value him very differently based on when they've seen him.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #12 prospect in 2017
  The Rangers Drafted Speas 63rd overall in 2016, taking a chance on a high-upside, high-velocity prep arm out of Georgia. To the naked eye, Speas' 1-6, 6.15 stat line at Spokane this season looks ugly, but his season truly was a tale of two halves. In his seven starts to begin the year, Speas went 0-6, 10.89. However, after moving to the bullpen in the second half, Speas didn't allow an earned run in 13.2 innings, yielding just four hits and striking out 27 to eight walks. As a starter, Speas tried to incorporate all three of his pitches and pitch like a finesse pitcher instead of pitching off of his power fastball. In the process, he walked 17 in 19 innings. As a reliever, Speas exhibited more of an attacking mindset and overpowered the competition with his mid- to upper-90s fastball. The move to the bullpen is not necessarily permanent; Speas is just 19 and has shown flashes with his secondary stuff. His mid-80s breaking ball vacillates between a curveball and slider shape, but it could develop into a plus offering if Speas can throw it firmer and with more consistent command. His sparingly used changeup also showed potential as a usable third pitch. Athletic with long levers and excellent downhill angle, Speas has the physicality to start and has little trouble maintaining his velocity deep into outings. However, if he can't refine his secondary pitches, he could be destined for a late-relief role long term.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Speas showed his high-risk, high-reward potential in high school, flashing explosive arm speed and athleticism but looking raw at times. The Rangers, who have drafted aggressively from the Georgia prep ranks under scouting director Kip Fagg since 2010, selected him in the second round in 2016 and signed him for $1,024,900 as the No. 63 overall pick. Scouting Report: A quick-twitch athlete with an extremely fast arm, Speas sits at 93-96 mph and can reach back for 99. His arm action is clean and the ball explodes out of his hand, finishing at the plate with good movement. He throws a power slider in the mid-80s that has the highest probability of developing into an out pitch. He's still learning to throw his changeup because he didn't need it much in high school. Getting Speas to make the mechanical adjustments to throw more strikes will be key. He tends to rush out on his front side and is still learning how to use his legs more in his delivery. His athleticism should help him make those adjustments, and he's already shown the ability to stay more online to the plate instead of spinning off since he signed.
  
  The Future: Speas likely won't move as quickly as fellow 2016 draft pick Cole Ragans, but the two should anchor the low Class A Hickory rotation in 2017.