Ricky Vanasco

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Vanasco upped his draft stock with performances at prep showcases in Florida during his draft season, leading the Rangers to take a flier on him in the 15th round and sign him for $238,000. The gamble quickly proved worth the investment when his fastball jumped way up. He impressed in the short-season Northwest League, where he ranked as the No. 10 prospect in 2019. He was impressive again at the alternate training site in 2020, but had Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2021 regular season.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Vanasco was bringing his fastball up to 99 mph while sitting in the mid 90s. He’d backed it with a powerful curveball in the mid 80s and a high-80s slider that could get to average with further development. He rounds out the arsenal with a high-80s changeup as well. Control was his biggest question pre-surgery, and he’ll need to make up time in 2022 to continue to improve that aspect of his game.
  
  The Future: Vanasco got on the mound in instructional league, including a start against Texas Christian during the team’s barnstorming tour through the Lone Star State. He should move to Double-A in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #21 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for an above-slot $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017 after he created some buzz during Florida prep showcases. He quickly impressed with a 2.38 ERA through his first three professional seasons and pitched well at the Rangers alternate training site in 2020, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament and had Tommy John surgery in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco's fastball velocity jumped to 94-98 mph in 2019 and he maintained it into 2020 after an offseason focus on adding quality weight. Once he arrived at the alternate site, he showed an 82-86 mph power curveball that remains his best offspeed pitch and a potentially average slider at 89-91 mph. He started to show the feel for an average changeup, which clocked 88-90 mph. Vanasco has the potential for four quality pitches, but he has below-average control and still needs to learn how to pitch as opposed to just throw. That comes only through reps, which he won't get until he returns from surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vanasco will miss all of 2021 recovering from surgery. He was trending toward a midrotation starter, but now must wait to see how his stuff comes back when he returns.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017, when he was a lanky and projectable but raw pitcher with a fastball that hit 93 mph. With more strength has come more velocity, as Vanasco generated buzz around the short-season Northwest League for his power arm while he was there before a late August bump to low Class A Hickory.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco has an explosive fastball, sitting in the mid-90s with the ability to reach 99 mph. It's outstanding velocity, especially for a starter, and he mostly just rode that fastball to blow away hitters when he was in the Northwest League. He shows feel to spin a curveball with good depth that serves as his most reliable secondary pitch, flashing above-average at times. The Rangers required Vanasco to throw a certain number of changeups in his starts to focus on that pitch, which is still below-average and needs more separation off his fastball but showed strides with improved sink. Vanasco can get away with mistakes at this level, but he has scatted control and needs to throw more strikes with his fastball.
  
  THE FUTURE: After emerging as a prospect in 2019, Vanasco will head to low Class A Hickory next.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #269 prospect in 2017 draft
  Vanasco had some buzz after a strong showing at the Florida Diamond Club showcase in the fall. He's a projectable, 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthander. His fastball works in the low 90s and tickles 93, but he gets his torso over his front side well, adding extension and deception to his delivery. Vanasco throws curveball, a slider, and a changeup, all of which scouts grade as below-average pitches. He has some upside given his arm strength and body, but isn't likely to be a high draft pick out of high school. Vanasco is committed to Stetson.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #10 prospect in 2019
  Vanasco came into the year as somewhat of an unknown, but his buzz was building even during extended spring training in Arizona. He took the ball on Opening Day in Spokane and then quickly proved himself too skilled for the competition. He pitched primarily with a signature fastball that sat in the mid-90s and touched the upper 90s as well. He made strides with the feel for his curveball and his changeup. Evaluators noted that his stuff was good enough to elicit swings and misses even on days where his command wasn’t at its best. The Spokane staff worked most with him on his changeup, which he never really had to throw as an amateur and was less developed than his breaking ball. He was required to throw a certain number of changeups per outing to increase his feel for the pitch, and once he did he was promoted to low Class A Hickory.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Vanasco upped his draft stock with performances at prep showcases in Florida during his draft season, leading the Rangers to take a flier on him in the 15th round and sign him for $238,000. The gamble quickly proved worth the investment when his fastball jumped way up. He impressed in the short-season Northwest League, where he ranked as the No. 10 prospect in 2019. He was impressive again at the alternate training site in 2020, but had Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2021 regular season.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Vanasco was bringing his fastball up to 99 mph while sitting in the mid 90s. He’d backed it with a powerful curveball in the mid 80s and a high-80s slider that could get to average with further development. He rounds out the arsenal with a high-80s changeup as well. Control was his biggest question pre-surgery, and he’ll need to make up time in 2022 to continue to improve that aspect of his game.
  
  The Future: Vanasco got on the mound in instructional league, including a start against Texas Christian during the team’s barnstorming tour through the Lone Star State. He should move to Double-A in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for an above-slot $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017 after he created some buzz during Florida prep showcases. He quickly impressed with a 2.38 ERA through his first three professional seasons and pitched well at the Rangers alternate training site in 2020, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament and had Tommy John surgery in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco's fastball velocity jumped to 94-98 mph in 2019 and he maintained it into 2020 after an offseason focus on adding quality weight. Once he arrived at the alternate site, he showed an 82-86 mph power curveball that remains his best offspeed pitch and a potentially average slider at 89-91 mph. He started to show the feel for an average changeup, which clocked 88-90 mph. Vanasco has the potential for four quality pitches, but he has below-average control and still needs to learn how to pitch as opposed to just throw. That comes only through reps, which he won't get until he returns from surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vanasco will miss all of 2021 recovering from surgery. He was trending toward a midrotation starter, but now must wait to see how his stuff comes back when he returns.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for an above-slot $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017 after he created some buzz during Florida prep showcases. He quickly impressed with a 2.38 ERA through his first three professional seasons and pitched well at the Rangers alternate training site in 2020, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament and had Tommy John surgery in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco's fastball velocity jumped to 94-98 mph in 2019 and he maintained it into 2020 after an offseason focus on adding quality weight. Once he arrived at the alternate site, he showed an 82-86 mph power curveball that remains his best offspeed pitch and a potentially average slider at 89-91 mph. He started to show the feel for an average changeup, which clocked 88-90 mph. Vanasco has the potential for four quality pitches, but he has below-average control and still needs to learn how to pitch as opposed to just throw. That comes only through reps, which he won't get until he returns from surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vanasco will miss all of 2021 recovering from surgery. He was trending toward a midrotation starter, but now must wait to see how his stuff comes back when he returns.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for an above-slot $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017 after he created some buzz during Florida prep showcases. He quickly impressed with a 2.38 ERA through his first three professional seasons and pitched well at the Rangers alternate training site in 2020, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament and had Tommy John surgery in September.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco's fastball velocity jumped to 94-98 mph in 2019 and he maintained it into 2020 after an offseason focus on adding quality weight. Once he arrived at the alternate site, he showed an 82-86 mph power curveball that remains his best offspeed pitch and a potentially average slider at 89-91 mph. He started to show the feel for an average changeup, which clocked 88-90 mph. Vanasco has the potential for four quality pitches, but he has below-average control and still needs to learn how to pitch as opposed to just throw. That comes only through reps, which he won't get until he returns from surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vanasco will miss all of 2021 recovering from surgery. He was trending toward a midrotation starter, but now must wait to see how his stuff comes back when he returns.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017, when he was a lanky and projectable but raw pitcher with a fastball that hit 93 mph. With more strength has come more velocity, as Vanasco generated buzz around the short-season Northwest League for his power arm while he was there before a late August bump to low Class A Hickory.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco has an explosive fastball, sitting in the mid-90s with the ability to reach 99 mph. It’s outstanding velocity, especially for a starter, and he mostly just rode that fastball to blow away hitters when he was in the Northwest League. He shows feel to spin a curveball with good depth that serves as his most reliable secondary pitch, flashing above-average at times. The Rangers required Vanasco BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High to throw a certain number of changeups in his starts to focus on that pitch, which is still below-average and needs more separation off his fastball but showed strides with improved sink. Vanasco can get away with mistakes at this level, but he has scatted control and needs to throw more strikes with his fastball.
  
  THE FUTURE: After emerging as a prospect in 2019, Vanasco will head to low Class A Hickory next.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017, when he was a lanky and projectable but raw pitcher with a fastball that hit 93 mph. With more strength has come more velocity, as Vanasco generated buzz around the short-season Northwest League for his power arm while he was there before a late August bump to low Class A Hickory.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco has an explosive fastball, sitting in the mid-90s with the ability to reach 99 mph. It's outstanding velocity, especially for a starter, and he mostly just rode that fastball to blow away hitters when he was in the Northwest League. He shows feel to spin a curveball with good depth that serves as his most reliable secondary pitch, flashing above-average at times. The Rangers required Vanasco to throw a certain number of changeups in his starts to focus on that pitch, which is still below-average and needs more separation off his fastball but showed strides with improved sink. Vanasco can get away with mistakes at this level, but he has scatted control and needs to throw more strikes with his fastball.
  
  THE FUTURE: After emerging as a prospect in 2019, Vanasco will head to low Class A Hickory next.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Vanasco came into the year as somewhat of an unknown, but his buzz was building even during extended spring training in Arizona. He took the ball on Opening Day in Spokane and then quickly proved himself too skilled for the competition. He pitched primarily with a signature fastball that sat in the mid-90s and touched the upper 90s as well. He made strides with the feel for his curveball and his changeup. Evaluators noted that his stuff was good enough to elicit swings and misses even on days where his command wasn’t at its best. The Spokane staff worked most with him on his changeup, which he never really had to throw as an amateur and was less developed than his breaking ball. He was required to throw a certain number of changeups per outing to increase his feel for the pitch, and once he did he was promoted to low Class A Hickory.