Matthew Liberatore Stats & Scouting Report

IP	86
ERA	4.4
WHIP	1.27
BB/9	2.93
SO/9	7.95

Full name Matthew Joseph Liberatore
Born 11/06/1999 in Peoria, AZ
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Mountain Ridge
Debut 05/21/2022
Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 (signed for $3,497,500).

View Draft Report

During the summer of 2017, Liberatore was an uber-projectable lefthander with great feel for three pitches that scouts could project to become plus down the line. At that time, Liberatore was sitting mostly in the upper 80s and low 90s with his fastball and had a low-70s, 12-to-6 curveball, as well as a changeup in the low to mid-80s. He performed well on the showcase circuit and with USA Baseball's 18U National team, pitching in the USA's 8-0 win over Korea in the gold medal game. During his first outing this spring, however, he was up to 96 mph with his fastball, a sharper curveball and a plus changeup. The 100-plus scouts could confidently leave that game and project three plus pitches on the prep lefthander who stood 6-foot-5. While the stuff hasn't been quite as loud for Liberatore since then, his fastball in particular hasn't held that velocity--he still has the frame and pitchability that teams can dream on, with a fairly clean and quick arm as well as makeup that scouts rave about. The Arizona commit pitches with a bulldog-like mentality on the mound but also brings a cerebral approach to what he's trying to do, with an advanced understanding of how to attack hitters and how to manipulate his pitches. During the spring, Liberatore added a low-80s slider that he showcased to a large group of evaluators at USA Baseball's National High School Invitational. The pitch is currently behind his curveball and changeup--both of which project as plus offerings--but showed some promise and he seemed confident with the offering given that he added it to his now-four-pitch mix about a week prior. While Liberatore's stuff and control isn't currently as loud as MacKenzie Gore's (the top lefthander in the 2017 draft class) was at this same point last year, the combination of his size, projection, makeup and pitchability should have him off the board early in the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Liberatore ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2018 draft but fell down the board to No. 16, where the Rays selected him and signed him to an under-slot $3.5 million. The lefthander enjoyed a strong debut in 2019, making 16 appearances for Low-A Bowling Green. In January 2020, Liberatore was traded to the Cardinals as a part of the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to the Rays. St. Louis aggressively assigned Liberatore to Triple-A in 2021 despite him having no experience above Low-A. He returned to Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and made 22 starts. Liberatore made his MLB debut on May 21 and appeared in eight games for the Cardinals.

Scouting Report: Liberatore is a tall lefthander with an athletic, slender build that should hold up to the rigors of starting. He has a simple and smooth operation, with some length to his arm action as he delivers the ball from a high three-quarters slot. He throws five different pitches, including two variations of his fastball. His four-seamer sits 93-95 mph with ride and cut. His two-seamer doesn't sink but has less ride than his fastball, with a heavy amount of late, armside run. His high-spin, mid-70s curveball is a 1-to-7 bender with over 16 inches of drop and a foot of horizontal break and is his best whiff-inducing option. His gyro slider sits 85-86 mph and gives Liberatore a chase pitch versus lefthanded hitters. His changeup is a mid-to-high-80s offering that mimics his two-seam shape, performing at a fringe-average level. Liberatore displays average control of his pitch mix but battles his command at times.

The Future: An improvement in command and execution could see Liberatore make the jump from experienced prospect to big league No. 4 starter with mid-rotation upside.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
Track Record: The top prep pitcher in the 2018 draft class, Liberatore surprisingly fell in the draft before the Rays scooped him up with the 16th overall pick. He impressed in his full-season debut at Low-A in 2019 before being traded to the Cardinals in the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay. The Cardinals aggressively pushed Liberatore to Triple-A to start the 2021 season despite the fact he was 21 years old and had never pitched above Low-A. He understandably struggled at the start of the season but improved as the year progressed and logged a 2.67 ERA in his final 10 starts.

Scouting Report: Liberatore has a well-rounded four-pitch arsenal and is polished beyond his years. His fastball velocity ranges from 89-93 mph on some days to 92-96 mph on others, but it gets carry at the top of the zone with good running life at any velocity to remain an effective pitch. Liberatore throws a trio of impressive secondaries, led by an above-average, upper-70s curveball that has hard, late snap and downer action. His curveball was his clear out pitch in previous years, but it’s arguably been surpassed by his above-average, low-80s slider with late, three-quarters tilt. His changeup gives him a fourth above-average offering as a low-80s pitch he sets up well and uses to finish off batters. Liberatore is a cerebral pitcher with a good feel for mixing his pitches and reading swings. His repeatable delivery and clean arm action from the left side portend at least above-average control.

The Future: Liberatore has the pitchability and well-rounded arsenal to be a solid No. 3 starter. It shouldn’t be long before he makes his big league debut in 2022.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball’s 18U World Cup-winning team in 2017 and was drafted 16th overall by the Rays the following year. The Rays traded him to the Cardinals before the 2020 season in a deal that quickly became known as the Randy Arozarena trade after Arozarena became the star of the 2020 postseason.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is one of the most promising young lefties in the game. His four-pitch mix is topped by a 92-96 mph fastball that may settle into the upper end of his velocity range as he matures, and he backs it up with an assortment of quality secondaries. His upper-70s, downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch and his average slider has flashes of intrigue as well with late tilt in the low 80s. His changeup is his fourth pitch but still projects to be an potentially above-average offering. Liberatore ties his arsenal together with advanced command and control for a tall, young lefty. He repeats the delivery well with a clean arm action and should be at least an above-average strike-thrower without issue.

THE FUTURE: Liberatore has front-of-the-rotation potential but is many years from that ceiling. He will make his Cardinals organizational debut in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball's World Cup gold medal-winning 18U team in 2017, but he had to settle for a runner-up finish to friend Nolan Gorman's team in the Arizona 6A state championship. He was expected to be one of the first prep players off the board, but slid to the Rays at pick 16. He's lived up to expectations so far, though his 2019 was briefly interrupted in August by back spasms.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is notably polished for a young, 6-foot-6 lefthander. He spots his 91-95 mph fastball well (he can touch 97) and he shuffles between a slider, changeup and curveball that all are at least average now with above-average or plus potential. Liberatore's best curveballs are plusplus, high-70s downers with power and depth. His 82-84 mph slider is usually a little slurvy, but he can induce chases when he gets more tilt. He shows feel for his average changeup but uses it less than his breaking stuff.

THE FUTURE: Like Brendan McKay, Liberatore projects as a polished middle-of-the-rotation lefty. He thrives thanks to a wide assortment of pitches combined with excellent command. He's about as safe a bet as a teen pitching prospect can be, and his size and smooth delivery give him a high upside as well. The excellent pitching environment of the Florida State League is the next test.
Track Record: Liberatore started the gold medal game for USA Baseball's 18U World Cup champs and was seen as a possible top-five pick heading into the spring of 2018. After impressing early in the season he slid down draft boards when his fastball backed up late in his senior year and his control wasn't as sharp. Still, no one expected to see him fall to the 16th pick, where the Rays pounced. Scouts who saw him as a pro wondered why he fell so far, as he immediately went back to dominating hitters. In August, he posted a 0.79 ERA with only 13 hits and eight walks in 22.2 innings while he struck out 27.

Scouting Report: Liberatore lacks the near top-of-the-scale fastball of many prep first-round pitchers, but he has an above-average fastball with excellent extension, the ability to spin a breaking ball, competitiveness, a long, projectable frame and a clean delivery. Liberatore sits 92-93 mph and touches 95, but it's his plus curveball and changeup that can overwhelm hitters. His changeup is quite advanced for a high school draftee because it has excellent deception, and he has the conviction to throw it in a variety of counts. There are scouts who believe he will add a little more velocity as he matures and fills out, but his current stuff is good enough to succeed even without a jump.

The Future: Liberatore has the look of a mid-rotation starter, and if he adds strength and velocity, he could end up being a potential front-of-the-rotation stalwart. The Rays move prep pitchers slowly, so an assignment to short-season Hudson Valley would be a sign of confidence in him.

Draft Prospects

During the summer of 2017, Liberatore was an uber-projectable lefthander with great feel for three pitches that scouts could project to become plus down the line. At that time, Liberatore was sitting mostly in the upper 80s and low 90s with his fastball and had a low-70s, 12-to-6 curveball, as well as a changeup in the low to mid-80s. He performed well on the showcase circuit and with USA Baseball's 18U National team, pitching in the USA's 8-0 win over Korea in the gold medal game. During his first outing this spring, however, he was up to 96 mph with his fastball, a sharper curveball and a plus changeup. The 100-plus scouts could confidently leave that game and project three plus pitches on the prep lefthander who stood 6-foot-5. While the stuff hasn't been quite as loud for Liberatore since then, his fastball in particular hasn't held that velocity--he still has the frame and pitchability that teams can dream on, with a fairly clean and quick arm as well as makeup that scouts rave about. The Arizona commit pitches with a bulldog-like mentality on the mound but also brings a cerebral approach to what he's trying to do, with an advanced understanding of how to attack hitters and how to manipulate his pitches. During the spring, Liberatore added a low-80s slider that he showcased to a large group of evaluators at USA Baseball's National High School Invitational. The pitch is currently behind his curveball and changeup--both of which project as plus offerings--but showed some promise and he seemed confident with the offering given that he added it to his now-four-pitch mix about a week prior. While Liberatore's stuff and control isn't currently as loud as MacKenzie Gore's (the top lefthander in the 2017 draft class) was at this same point last year, the combination of his size, projection, makeup and pitchability should have him off the board early in the first round.

Minor League Top Prospects

Could a small velocity spike be the last box to check for Matthew Liberatore? Still just 21, Liberatore has long been regarded as a polished lefthander with mid-rotation upside. He has never had overly loud stuff, but a combination of four average to above-average pitches and strong command allowed Liberatore to succeed at every level. Quietly, though, Liberatore added a few ticks to his fastball down the stretch, touching 97 mph deep into multiple outings in late September. The velo spike was notable after Liberatore mostly sat at 90-93 mph early in the season, and he had success in his new range, posting a 3.12 ERA since Aug. 1. Liberatore’s velocity band has oscillated dating back to his amateur days, so he’ll have to prove he can maintain it. But it’s certainly an intriguing development for an arm who stood to benefit from improving his mostly average four-seamer, and he could soon slot into the middle of the Cardinals’ rotation.
Liberatore has a trio of present above-average pitches, but he is drawing as much praise for his poise as he is for his advanced offerings. Outside of dealing with some late-season back spasms, he had a nearly perfect first full pro season. “For being 19 years old, that’s pretty polished,” one scout said. “He can pitch, he’s got feel and three offerings I really liked with a chance for four.” Liberatore mixes a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. His 6-foot-5 frame and movement from the left side make it difficult for hitters to stay on top of him. He needs to improve his fastball command as he matures. Many evaluators view Liberatore as a potential mid-rotation starter with a chance to be better than that if he sharpens his command.
Liberatore built an impressive resume as an amateur, including six shutout innings for USA Baseball’s 18U national team in a gold-medal game victory over South Korea in 2017. So when Liberatore was still on the board, the Rays were elated to land him with the No. 16 overall pick in the draft this year (Baseball America ranked him No. 2 overall coming into the draft). Liberatore immediately showed why he was the top-ranked high school pitcher in the class, breezing through eight GCL starts with a 0.98 ERA before a late-August promotion to the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in a playoff start. Liberatore has a fairly loose, quick arm action that produces fastballs sitting 89-93 mph and topping out at 96 with downhill plane from his 6-foot-5 frame. He has a knack for manipulating his secondary stuff, including a plus changeup and a sharp-breaking curveball that flashes plus as well. Between his repertoire and pitchability, Liberatore has the ability to miss bats and throw strikes that could translate into a front-end starter. There are scouts who see him as one of the best young lefthanders in the minors.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Curveball in the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020
Rated Best Curveball in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Liberatore ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2018 draft but fell down the board to No. 16, where the Rays selected him and signed him to an under-slot $3.5 million. The lefthander enjoyed a strong debut in 2019, making 16 appearances for Low-A Bowling Green. In January 2020, Liberatore was traded to the Cardinals as a part of the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to the Rays. St. Louis aggressively assigned Liberatore to Triple-A in 2021 despite him having no experience above Low-A. He returned to Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and made 22 starts. Liberatore made his MLB debut on May 21 and appeared in eight games for the Cardinals.

Scouting Report: Liberatore is a tall lefthander with an athletic, slender build that should hold up to the rigors of starting. He has a simple and smooth operation, with some length to his arm action as he delivers the ball from a high three-quarters slot. He throws five different pitches, including two variations of his fastball. His four-seamer sits 93-95 mph with ride and cut. His two-seamer doesn't sink but has less ride than his fastball, with a heavy amount of late, armside run. His high-spin, mid-70s curveball is a 1-to-7 bender with over 16 inches of drop and a foot of horizontal break and is his best whiff-inducing option. His gyro slider sits 85-86 mph and gives Liberatore a chase pitch versus lefthanded hitters. His changeup is a mid-to-high-80s offering that mimics his two-seam shape, performing at a fringe-average level. Liberatore displays average control of his pitch mix but battles his command at times.

The Future: An improvement in command and execution could see Liberatore make the jump from experienced prospect to big league No. 4 starter with mid-rotation upside.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Liberatore ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2018 draft but fell down the board to No. 16, where the Rays selected him and signed him to an under-slot $3.5 million. The lefthander enjoyed a strong debut in 2019, making 16 appearances for Low-A Bowling Green. In January 2020, Liberatore was traded to the Cardinals as a part of the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to the Rays. St. Louis aggressively assigned Liberatore to Triple-A in 2021 despite him having no experience above Low-A. He returned to Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and made 22 starts. Liberatore made his MLB debut on May 21 and appeared in eight games for the Cardinals.

Scouting Report: Liberatore is a tall lefthander with an athletic, slender build that should hold up to the rigors of starting. He has a simple and smooth operation, with some length to his arm action as he delivers the ball from a high three-quarters slot. He throws five different pitches, including two variations of his fastball. His four-seamer sits 93-95 mph with ride and cut. His two-seamer doesn't sink but has less ride than his fastball, with a heavy amount of late, armside run. His high-spin, mid-70s curveball is a 1-to-7 bender with over 16 inches of drop and a foot of horizontal break and is his best whiff-inducing option. His gyro slider sits 85-86 mph and gives Liberatore a chase pitch versus lefthanded hitters. His changeup is a mid-to-high-80s offering that mimics his two-seam shape, performing at a fringe-average level. Liberatore displays average control of his pitch mix but battles his command at times.

The Future: An improvement in command and execution could see Liberatore make the jump from experienced prospect to big league No. 4 starter with mid-rotation upside.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: The top prep pitcher in the 2018 draft class, Liberatore surprisingly fell in the draft before the Rays scooped him up with the 16th overall pick. He impressed in his full-season debut at Low-A in 2019 before being traded to the Cardinals in the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay. The Cardinals aggressively pushed Liberatore to Triple-A to start the 2021 season despite the fact he was 21 years old and had never pitched above Low-A. He understandably struggled at the start of the season but improved as the year progressed and logged a 2.67 ERA in his final 10 starts.

Scouting Report: Liberatore has a well-rounded four-pitch arsenal and is polished beyond his years. His fastball velocity ranges from 89-93 mph on some days to 92-96 mph on others, but it gets carry at the top of the zone with good running life at any velocity to remain an effective pitch. Liberatore throws a trio of impressive secondaries, led by an above-average, upper-70s curveball that has hard, late snap and downer action. His curveball was his clear out pitch in previous years, but it&#39s arguably been surpassed by his above-average, low-80s slider with late, three-quarters tilt. His changeup gives him a fourth above-average offering as a low-80s pitch he sets up well and uses to finish off batters. Liberatore is a cerebral pitcher with a good feel for mixing his pitches and reading swings. His repeatable delivery and clean arm action from the left side portend at least above-average control.

The Future: Liberatore has the pitchability and well-rounded arsenal to be a solid No. 3 starter. It shouldn&#39t be long before he makes his big league debut in 2022.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
Track Record: The top prep pitcher in the 2018 draft class, Liberatore surprisingly fell in the draft before the Rays scooped him up with the 16th overall pick. He impressed in his full-season debut at Low-A in 2019 before being traded to the Cardinals in the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay. The Cardinals aggressively pushed Liberatore to Triple-A to start the 2021 season despite the fact he was 21 years old and had never pitched above Low-A. He understandably struggled at the start of the season but improved as the year progressed and logged a 2.67 ERA in his final 10 starts.

Scouting Report: Liberatore has a well-rounded four-pitch arsenal and is polished beyond his years. His fastball velocity ranges from 89-93 mph on some days to 92-96 mph on others, but it gets carry at the top of the zone with good running life at any velocity to remain an effective pitch. Liberatore throws a trio of impressive secondaries, led by an above-average, upper-70s curveball that has hard, late snap and downer action. His curveball was his clear out pitch in previous years, but it’s arguably been surpassed by his above-average, low-80s slider with late, three-quarters tilt. His changeup gives him a fourth above-average offering as a low-80s pitch he sets up well and uses to finish off batters. Liberatore is a cerebral pitcher with a good feel for mixing his pitches and reading swings. His repeatable delivery and clean arm action from the left side portend at least above-average control.

The Future: Liberatore has the pitchability and well-rounded arsenal to be a solid No. 3 starter. It shouldn’t be long before he makes his big league debut in 2022.
Could a small velocity spike be the last box to check for Matthew Liberatore? Still just 21, Liberatore has long been regarded as a polished lefthander with mid-rotation upside. He has never had overly loud stuff, but a combination of four average to above-average pitches and strong command allowed Liberatore to succeed at every level. Quietly, though, Liberatore added a few ticks to his fastball down the stretch, touching 97 mph deep into multiple outings in late September. The velo spike was notable after Liberatore mostly sat at 90-93 mph early in the season, and he had success in his new range, posting a 3.12 ERA since Aug. 1. Liberatore’s velocity band has oscillated dating back to his amateur days, so he’ll have to prove he can maintain it. But it’s certainly an intriguing development for an arm who stood to benefit from improving his mostly average four-seamer, and he could soon slot into the middle of the Cardinals’ rotation.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball's 18U World Cup-winning team in 2017 and was drafted 16th overall by the Rays the following year. The Rays traded him to the Cardinals before the 2020 season in a deal that quickly became known as the Randy Arozarena trade after Arozarena became the star of the 2020 postseason.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is one of the most promising young lefties in the game. His four-pitch mix is topped by a 92-96 mph fastball that may settle into the upper end of his velocity range as he matures, and he backs it up with an assortment of quality secondaries. His upper-70s, downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch and his average slider has flashes of intrigue as well with late tilt in the low 80s. His changeup is his fourth pitch but still projects to be an potentially above-average offering. Liberatore ties his arsenal together with advanced command and control for a tall, young lefty. He repeats the delivery well with a clean arm action and should be at least an above-average strike-thrower without issue.

THE FUTURE: Liberatore has front-of-the-rotation potential but is many years from that ceiling. He will make his Cardinals organizational debut in 2021.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball’s 18U World Cup-winning team in 2017 and was drafted 16th overall by the Rays the following year. The Rays traded him to the Cardinals before the 2020 season in a deal that quickly became known as the Randy Arozarena trade after Arozarena became the star of the 2020 postseason.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is one of the most promising young lefties in the game. His four-pitch mix is topped by a 92-96 mph fastball that may settle into the upper end of his velocity range as he matures, and he backs it up with an assortment of quality secondaries. His upper-70s, downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch and his average slider has flashes of intrigue as well with late tilt in the low 80s. His changeup is his fourth pitch but still projects to be an potentially above-average offering. Liberatore ties his arsenal together with advanced command and control for a tall, young lefty. He repeats the delivery well with a clean arm action and should be at least an above-average strike-thrower without issue.

THE FUTURE: Liberatore has front-of-the-rotation potential but is many years from that ceiling. He will make his Cardinals organizational debut in 2021.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball’s 18U World Cup-winning team in 2017 and was drafted 16th overall by the Rays the following year. The Rays traded him to the Cardinals before the 2020 season in a deal that quickly became known as the Randy Arozarena trade after Arozarena became the star of the 2020 postseason.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is one of the most promising young lefties in the game. His four-pitch mix is topped by a 92-96 mph fastball that may settle into the upper end of his velocity range as he matures, and he backs it up with an assortment of quality secondaries. His upper-70s, downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch and his average slider has flashes of intrigue as well with late tilt in the low 80s. His changeup is his fourth pitch but still projects to be an potentially above-average offering. Liberatore ties his arsenal together with advanced command and control for a tall, young lefty. He repeats the delivery well with a clean arm action and should be at least an above-average strike-thrower without issue.

THE FUTURE: Liberatore has front-of-the-rotation potential but is many years from that ceiling. He will make his Cardinals organizational debut in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball’s World Cup gold medal-winning 18U team in 2017, but he had to settle for a runner-up finish to friend Nolan Gorman’s team in the Arizona 6A state championship. He was expected to be one of the first prep players off the board, but slid to the Rays at pick 16. He’s lived up to expectations so far, though his 2019 was briefly interrupted in August by back spasms.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is notably polished for a young, 6-foot-6 lefthander. He spots his 91-95 mph fastball well (he can touch 97) and he shuffles between a slider, changeup and curveball that all are at least average now with above-average or plus potential. Liberatore’s best curveballs are plusplus, high-70s downers with power and depth. His 82-84 mph slider is usually a little slurvy, but he can induce chases when he gets more tilt. He shows feel for his average changeup but uses it less than his breaking stuff.

THE FUTURE: Like Brendan McKay, Liberatore projects as a polished middle-of-the-rotation lefty. He thrives thanks to a wide assortment of pitches combined with excellent command. He’s about as safe a bet as a teen pitching prospect can be, and his size and smooth delivery give him a high upside as well. The excellent pitching environment of the Florida State League is the next test.
TRACK RECORD: Liberatore was the ace of USA Baseball's World Cup gold medal-winning 18U team in 2017, but he had to settle for a runner-up finish to friend Nolan Gorman's team in the Arizona 6A state championship. He was expected to be one of the first prep players off the board, but slid to the Rays at pick 16. He's lived up to expectations so far, though his 2019 was briefly interrupted in August by back spasms.

SCOUTING REPORT: Liberatore is notably polished for a young, 6-foot-6 lefthander. He spots his 91-95 mph fastball well (he can touch 97) and he shuffles between a slider, changeup and curveball that all are at least average now with above-average or plus potential. Liberatore's best curveballs are plusplus, high-70s downers with power and depth. His 82-84 mph slider is usually a little slurvy, but he can induce chases when he gets more tilt. He shows feel for his average changeup but uses it less than his breaking stuff.

THE FUTURE: Like Brendan McKay, Liberatore projects as a polished middle-of-the-rotation lefty. He thrives thanks to a wide assortment of pitches combined with excellent command. He's about as safe a bet as a teen pitching prospect can be, and his size and smooth delivery give him a high upside as well. The excellent pitching environment of the Florida State League is the next test.
Liberatore has a trio of present above-average pitches, but he is drawing as much praise for his poise as he is for his advanced offerings. Outside of dealing with some late-season back spasms, he had a nearly perfect first full pro season. “For being 19 years old, that’s pretty polished,” one scout said. “He can pitch, he’s got feel and three offerings I really liked with a chance for four.” Liberatore mixes a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. His 6-foot-5 frame and movement from the left side make it difficult for hitters to stay on top of him. He needs to improve his fastball command as he matures. Many evaluators view Liberatore as a potential mid-rotation starter with a chance to be better than that if he sharpens his command.
Track Record: Liberatore started the gold medal game for USA Baseball’s 18U World Cup champs and was seen as a possible top-five pick. He slid down draft boards in 2018, however, when his fastball backed up late in his senior year and his control wasn’t as sharp. Still, no one expected to see him fall to the 16th pick, where the Rays pounced. Scouting Report: Liberatore lacks the near top-of-the-scale fastball of many prep first-round pitchers, but he has an above-average fastball with excellent extension, the ability to spin a breaking ball, competitiveness, a long, projectable frame and a clean delivery. Liberatore sits 92-93 mph and touches 95, but it’s his plus curveball and changeup that can overwhelm hitters. His changeup is quite advanced for a high school draftee because it has excellent deception, and he has the conviction to throw it in a variety of counts. The Future: Liberatore has the look of a mid-rotation starter, and if he adds strength and velocity, he could end up being a potential front-of-the-rotation stalwart. The Rays move prep pitchers slowly, so an assignment to short-season Hudson Valley would be a sign of confidence in him.
Liberatore entered the draft as the No. 2 player on the Baseball America 500, but slid to the 16th pick in the draft. Even so, Liberatore possesses an advanced four-pitch mix fronted by a low-90s fastball that has peaked at 96 mph. He added a slider prior to this year’s National High School Invitational to round out the arsenal. He joins McKay and fellow 2018 draftee Shane McClanahan—as well as big leaguer Blake Snell—as part of a pack of talented lefties in the system.