2025 Draft Prospect - #70 - LHP - Ryan Prager - TAMU

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/    - 

#70        Ryan Prager        LHP, Texas A&M

22/years old        6' 3"        200

COMMITTED  -  Texas A&M

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60 | Overall: 50

Prager worked his way into Texas A&M's weekend rotation as a freshman in 2022 but blew out his elbow, had Tommy John surgery that October and redshirted the following year. He returned in 2024 and became the ace of an Aggies team that finished second at the College World Series, pitching his way into the third round of the Draft. But when the Angels wouldn't meet his $1.5 million asking price, he decided to return to College Station for his redshirt junior season.

Prager hasn't gained velocity since high school, still averaging 90 mph and topping out at 93 with his fastball, yet college batters have been helpless against it because it comes out of a high release height with plenty of carry and he can locate it where he wants. He complements heaters up in the zone with low-80s sliders with two-plane depth, effectively changing the eye level of hitters. His low-80s changeup features similar movement and gets the most chases and swings and misses in his arsenal.

While Prager isn't overpowering, he's a classic crafty left-hander who keeps hitters off balance. He creates deception with his nearly over-the-top delivery, and his pitches play up because he mixes and commands them so well. He has a high floor as at least a back-of-the-rotation option.

1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

48. Ryan Prager – LHP

HT/WT: 6’3/200 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Texas A&M | Age: 22.8

Prager was the leader of a stout Texas A&M pitching staff in 2024, helping lead them to a College World Series final appearance, but Prager opted to forgo signing with the Angels for valuable NIL money.

Prager’s pure pitch mix is rather interesting from a metrics standpoint and there’s premium pitchability in the profile as a southpaw.

Prager’s heater isn’t overpowering, as he hovered around the 90 MPH mark in 2024, but he generates over 20 inches of vertical carry on a consistent basis with slight cutting action. The steep release hampers it slightly, though he still missed bats at a 30% clip this past spring.

The low-80s slider has lift and slight sweeping action late in the zone, flashing teeth, and very good command.

The vulcan change-up in the upper-70s has the velocity separation you want to see, plus it was his most effective pitch in terms of whiffs in 2024.

Add in advanced strike-throwing and there’s high floor clay to work with. It’s a gamble given he has a Tommy John on his resume and will be 22.8 on draft day, but he’ll be one of the more valuable seniors in 2025.

 

12/8/24

2025 Draft Prospect - LHP - Ryan Prage - TAMU

 https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-prager/11833  -

- Selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 81st pick in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft

- 2024 D1Baseball Second Team All-American

- 2024 NCBWA Second Team All-American

- 2024 Baseball America Third Team All-American

- 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team

- 2024 All-SEC Second Team

- 2024 NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist

- 2024 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List

- SEC Pitcher of the Week (5/20)

- Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week (3/12)

2024 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE)

 

Made a team-high 19 starts, which ranked second nationally, and logged a 9-1 record...Compiled a 2.95 ERA and 1.05 WHIP...Totaled a team-high 124 strikeouts, which ranks ninth all-time in program history, to only 20 walks in 97.2 innings pitched...Became the first Aggie to surpass 100 strikeouts in a single season since Dustin Saenz in 2021...Held opponents to a .226 batting average...Registered a 6.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which ranked second nationally.

 

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/2024-mlb-draft--college-s-midseason-risers -

 

Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M: A healthy return from Tommy John surgery after missing all of last season, the southpaw boasts elite pitchability from an arsenal that includes a low-90s high-riding fastball, a swing-and-miss slider, and plus changeup. Prager has walked just five batters while striking out 51 through 36.2 innings this spring. Ranking No. 193 in the preseason, he rises 95 spots to No. 98 overall, and he has firmly established himself as a top three-round draft prospect.