LA Angels 2017 Mock Draft

Round Three, Pick 85 Selection: Daniel Ritcheson

Age: 18 years and four months

Position: Right-handed pitcher

School: Bishop Alemany High School

Height/Weight: 6″4’/200 lbs.

The Angels take pitcher number three in as many rounds, selecting prep arm Daniel Ritcheson. He has used a four-pitch arsenal to catapult up draft boards. Ritcheson is an all-around athlete, playing infield and outfield throughout his high school career along with pitching. He threw his way to a 2.90 ERA this season while striking out 72 batters. His best performance came against St. Francis High School, where he threw a complete game, striking out 12 and allowing only two hits. St. Francis was able to get a run across the plate, albeit unearned.

Ritcheson uses a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup against batters. His fastball has topped out at 89 MPH, but he has a solid frame to add muscle to. For being such a young ballplayer, he has an advanced feel for his three secondary pitches. His curveball has 12-6 motion and can come in at the low-70’s on occasion. His slider has solid motion across and downward, usually in the upper-70’s, with his changeup has a fade to it and comes in at the same speed.

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Ritcheson has also shown ability to use these pitches at the right time and truly understands the ins and outs of the game.

While he throws all of his pitches well, he does not have very good command of them. Disciplined batters were able to trust that he would throw balls and walk them, leading to 34 walks in 48.1 innings pitched this past season. This is the only thing that will keep him from the majors, as minor league batters will sit and wait for their pitch and accept a walk.

Ritcheson is truly a boom or bust prospect. If he can change his command from a liability to an advantage, his ceiling is that of a front-of-the-rotation starter. However, if he cannot fine tune his command, he may never reach The Show.