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Juan De Paula | Rank: 19 (Preseason: 19)
Team: Augusta GreenJackets (A) ETA: 2021
Position: RHP Age: 21 DOB: 09/22/1997
Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6' 3" Weight: 165 lb.
Signed: July 2, 2014 - SEA
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

De Paula signed with the Mariners for $175,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, then spent two years in Rookie ball before going to the Yankees along with right-hander Jio Orozco in an August 2016 deal for Ben Gamel. He spent the next two seasons in the short-season New York-Penn League, ranking second in opponent average (.191) in 2017 and fashioning a 13 2/3-inning hitless streak last summer. After the Giants acquired him with Abiatal Avelino in a trade for Andrew McCutchen in August, he made his full-season debut by striking out nine in five innings in low Class A.

De Paula is still in the early stages of his development, succeeding mainly thanks to his fastball. He has added velocity as he has gotten stronger, with his heater rising from the upper 80s when he entered pro ball to now ranging from 92-97 mph, and his 6-foot-3 frame still has room for more muscle. He uses his size and high-three-quarters delivery to throw on a steep downhill plane, making it tough for hitters to lift his fastball.

While he has the potential for a solid three-pitch repertoire, De Paula lacks consistency with his curveball and changeup, with the latter a bit more reliable. His control is also a work in progress, though he does a nice job of working the bottom of the strike zone with his heater. He has a ceiling as a No. 4 starter if he makes the necessary improvements and also could develop into a fastball-heavy reliever.

Adrian_05 wrote:

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DE PAULA, 21, started last season with the Class-A Staten Island Yankees before being acquired by the San Francisco Giants in the Andrew McCutchen trade. He was then assigned to the Class-A Augusta GreenJackets. The 6-3, 165 lb. right-handed pitcher held a 1.72 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 27 walks over 52.1 innings of work in 2018. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native holds a career 13-14 record and a 2.47 ERA over 48 Minor League games.

HANSON, 26, hit .252 with 17 doubles, five triples, and eight home runs across 110 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2018. The 6-0, 170 lb. switch-hitting infielder has a career .238 batting average with 27 doubles, eight triples, 12 home runs, and 51 RBI over 243 games.

LAW, 28, had a 7.43 ERA across 13.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and eight walks for the San Francisco Giants in 2018. Over the last three seasons with the big league team, the 6-3, 215 lb. right-handed pitcher has a 9-3 record with a 3.83 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 105.2 innings.

MLB.com scouting report snippet: "De Paula could have three solid or better pitches once he's fully developed. He shows the aptitude to move his fastball around the strike zone and continues to add velocity he fills out his skinny 6-foot-3 frame. He presently works at 92-97 mph after sitting in the upper 80s when he turned pro.

De Paula also displays the ability to spin a curveball and deceive hitters with his changeup. His secondary pitches and his control lack consistency, as they do with most young pitchers, but the ingredients are there for a No. 4 or 5 starter. If his fastball takes off as he matures physically, he could be more than that."

Schad wrote:That's a whole lot of not a hell of a lot. On one hand, you'd expect more for a player who has been league-average or better in four consecutive seasons. On the other, Pillar's been grading out progressively worse as a defensive CF, and he's a consistently below-average hitter; there aren't that many teams in dire need of that skillset.