Justin Slaten

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #28 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: After three seasons at New Mexico, including the final two in the rotation, Slaten was drafted by the Rangers in the third round in 2019. He signed for $575,000, then spent his first pro season between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and short-season Spokane. Slaten dealt with elbow fatigue in 2022, then reached Triple-A in 2023. The Mets chose Slaten in the 2023 Rule 5 draft, then traded him to the Red Sox for lefthander Ryan Ammons and cash.
  
  Scouting Report: Following an excellent stint in the Arizona Fall League, Slaten was one of the buzziest names leading up to the Rule 5 draft. After a command-plagued season in 2022, Slaten straightened out his strike-throwing in 2023. He cut his walk rate from 19.5% in 2022 to 8.5% in 2023. The improved control resulted in much better results at Double-A Frisco and earned him a late-season promotion to Triple-A. Slaten is a pure reliever who mixes four pitches with plenty of power across his arsenal. His four-seamer sits between 95-97 mph with ride and at times cut. He pairs his four-seam primarily with a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates heavy rates of swings-and-misses in and out of the zone. His cutter is his third pitch but is an effective weapon as a bridge between his fastball and slider. His cutter sits 89-91 mph. He’ll also mix in a low-80s, two-plane curveball from time to time.
  
  The Future: Slaten will get a chance in spring training to earn a spot the Red Sox’s bullpen. He has a ceiling as a solid middle reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 30 | Slider: 60 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #129 prospect in 2019 draft
  The 6-foot-4 Slaten has thrived in the Friday night role with the Lobos after a rocky sophomore year, posting a 2.72 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 34 walks in 76 innings as a junior. He mostly uses a two-pitch mix, starting with a low-90s fastball that touches 95 mph, but his fastball command can waver at times. Slaten's best secondary pitch is an average to tick above-average slider in the 79-83 mph range. His curveball has good shape, and he has a below-average changeup. Slaten delivers his pitches from an upright, high three-quarter delivery that features some funkiness and deception. Although he'll likely begin his career as a starter, Slaten fits the profile of a reliever in pro ball, where he'll be able to further refine his fastball/slider combination. Slaten could be drafted early on Day 2.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Slowly but surely, the Rangers have seen Slaten round into the form they expected when they selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. When he's right, his fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and is complemented by one of the breaking balls from a righthander in the system. His changeup needs further development, but he found success in July with 34 strikeouts and just four walks in 20.1 innings.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The 6-foot-4 Slaten has thrived in the Friday night role with the Lobos after a rocky sophomore year, posting a 2.72 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 34 walks in 76 innings as a junior. He mostly uses a two-pitch mix, starting with a low-90s fastball that touches 95 mph, but his fastball command can waver at times. Slaten's best secondary pitch is an average to tick above-average slider in the 79-83 mph range. His curveball has good shape, and he has a below-average changeup. Slaten delivers his pitches from an upright, high three-quarter delivery that features some funkiness and deception. Although he'll likely begin his career as a starter, Slaten fits the profile of a reliever in pro ball, where he'll be able to further refine his fastball/slider combination. Slaten could be drafted early on Day 2.