RHP Cal Quantrill
RHP Cal Quantrill
Hometown: Port Hope, Ont.
B-T: L-R.
Ht: 6-3, Wt: 185
School: Stanford University.
Previous teams: Ontario Terriers, Canadian Junior National Team, Whitby Chiefs.
Coaches: Mark Marquess, Greg Hamilton, Paul Quantrill, Scott VandeValk, Clare Osborne,.
Drafted: 26th round by the New York Yankees (2013)
2016 junior season: Doctors are pleased with his recovery ... Hasn’t had any in-game pitching yet, but has been throwing bullpens Live pitching will be his next step ... Had surgery March 20, 2015 ... Has thrown private bullpen sessions for the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox among others ... Turned down chances to throw for the Phillies (who pick first and 42nd) and the Reds (who pick second and 43rd) on the basis that neither team would select him with the first pick and he would be gone by the time the second pick rolled around.
Baseball America Mock Draft 5.1 by John Manuel: 14. INDIANS: Cal Quantrill, rhp. Another tough team to pin down.
(Slot money for 14th over-all $2,973,700)
Perfect Game Scouting Service Scouting Report by Jheremy Brown: Cal Quantrill – RHP
Height/Weight: 6-3/185
Bats/Throws: L/R
Birthdate: Feb. 10, 1995
College: Stanford
Hometown: Port Hope, Ontario
Projected Draft Round: 1-1S
If I told you the last time a pitcher threw an entire season was during his freshman season, two years ago, and he’s still expected to go in the first round this June you might tilt your head slightly at the computer screen as you reread the sentence. But yet that’s exactly what holds true for Canadian born Cal Quantrill, who after three starts last spring as a sophomore, underwent Tommy John surgery and is just now making his way back, potentially in time for some pre-draft type stuff.
This isn’t totally out of left field either considering that at one point Quantrill was deemed a first overall type talent with what he’s been able to show when suited up with the Cardinals. The bloodlines have been well documented throughout the entire process as his father Paul has a 14-year resume in the big leagues which spanned a remarkable 841 games. Early in high school career the younger Quantrill was noted for his pitchability and advanced control, two areas that you’d naturally expect to be refined for a son of a 14-year veteran.
But as Cal’s senior year rolled around the velocity began to bump up rather significantly, especially when comparted to the 86-90 mph fastball he showed at the East Coast Professional showcase the prior summer. The spring of his senior year served as a precursor of things to come while at Stanford as Quantrill would regularly work in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball, showing the same feel and command that had him shooting up the draft boards in the spring of 2013.
As a freshman Quantrill was immediately inserted into the Stanford rotation and very much lived up to the hype as he logged 110 2/3 innings, going 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA, all the while showing refined command along with the ability to miss bats. The arm action remained low effort and the delivery was pure, but unlike his high school days Quantrill began showing a changeup that you could throw a plus grade on and have no qualms about doing so as the upper-70s offering featured plenty of diving life and deception.
In an ever changing baseball world where pitchers are no longer buried for undergoing Tommy John as we’ve seen with the likes of Lucas Giolito, Erick Fedde, and Jeff Hoffman, Quantrill very much appears to be next in line and while some think the Nationals could be a good fit (they drafted both Giolito and Fedde), keep your eye on a team with several first round picks such as the San Diego Padres who Brian Sakowski recently mocked him to.
ESPN’s Keith Law updated: 23. Cal Quantrill, RHP
Stanford
Previous rank: 21
Quantrill had Tommy John surgery in March 2015 but chose not to pitch this spring ahead of the draft, fueling speculation that he has some sort of agreement in place to sign with a team and thus didn’t want to put that at risk by rushing his rehab. Quantrill was a potential 1-1 (No. 1 overall) pick had he stayed healthy through the draft, and the 6-foot-3 right-hander could be huge value for some team in the late-first or early-compensatory rounds.
Baseball America Mock Draft 4.0: 8. PADRES: San Diego GM A.J. Preller has been out seeing the country as much as most scouting directors, as has his own scouting director Mark Conner. The Padres rolled very, very deep into the SEC tournament with at least five evaluators on hand, but there’s probably not an SEC fit at eight unless San Diego cuts a below-slot deal for righthanders Jordan Sheffield (Vanderbilt) or Dakota Hudson (Mississippi State). San Diego does have the money to meet the rumored $4-5 million price tag of NorCal prep righty Matt Manning. The Padres have also been linked strongly to Stanford’s Cal Quantrill, with word of a private bullpen session in recent weeks. PICK: Cal Quantrill, rhp
(Slot money for eighth over-all $3,630,900)
Baseball America Mock draft 3.0: 21. Blue Jays: Toronto hasn’t shied away from injured players in the past; they took Jeff Hoffman in the first round in 2014. While the top of the front office has changed, the team’s locale hasn’t, and Stanford’s Cal Quantrill seems like a natural fit for the Jays. He’s Canadian, his father played for (and now works for) Toronto, and he has shown potential with three pitches. Toronto could also take a shot on of the athletic prep outfielders available here. PICK: Cal Quantrill, rhp.
(Slot money for 21st over-all: $2,222,500 US).
Perfect Game Mock Draft 1.0, David Rawnsley: 19. New York Mets | Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford
The Mets have found their own not-so-secret formula for big league success: Collect as many potential No. 1 starters as possible and fill in the rest of the roster. Quantrill is a risk simply because he hasn’t pitched in over a year due to TJ surgery, however, recent history with top prospect TJ pitchers (Lucas Giolito, Erick Fedde, Jeff Hoffman) shows that this might even be a little late for Quantrill to be drafted.
(Slot money for 19th over-all: $2,378,800.)
Baseball America Mock Draft 2.0: 33-34. Cardinals: With a big bonus pool and three picks, the Cardinals could get creative with first-year scouting director Randy Flores. That would mean being aggressive with Cal Quantrill, who was a potential 1/1 pick prior to having Tommy John surgery last year. He still hasn’t pitched for Stanford this year. Physical California prep Jared Horn has athleticism and present strength and has pitched his way into the back of the first round. PICKS: Cal Quantrill, rhp, and Jared Horn, rhp.
(Slot money for 33rd over-all: $1,909,500 US).
Baseball America mock draft 1.0: 21. Blue Jays: Cal Quantrill, rhp, Stanford. Toronto took an injured college pitcher in the first round in 2014 (Jeff Hoffman), and Cal’s father Paul works for the Blue Jays. Quantrill is also a Canuck, having played for the Ontario Terriers during his prep days.
(Slot money for 21st over-all: $2,222,500 US).
Perfect Game Scouting Report: 25. Cal Quantrill, rhp, Stanford (JR)
L-R, 6-3/185, Port Hope, Ontario
Previously Drafted: Yankees ’13 (26)
Quantrill hasn’t thrown in over a year but he’s still regarded as a potential first rounder this spring when you consider what he’s shown in the past and take the bloodlines into account. The Stanford righthander made just three starts last spring before succumbing to Tommy John surgery, though he’s shown enough in previous seasons as he’s armed with an easy low-90s fastball that bumps higher, a clean arm action and a plus changeup that if healthy would probably rank as the best in the class.
Baseball America Scouting Report on top 50 prospects: 35. Cal Quantrill, rhp, Stanford
Quantrill’s father Paul pitched in the majors for parts of 14 seasons and is Canada’s all-time leader in games pitched. Quantrill grew up around big league clubhouses and starring for Canadian national teams before arriving at Stanford, after turning down the Yankees as a 26th-round pick in 2013. He made his reputation as a collegian instantly, becoming the first Cardinal freshman to start Opening Day since Mike Mussina in 1988 and leading the team to a regional victory at Indiana. He pitched in relief on one day’s rest in the regional, beating Kyle Schwarber, Sam Travis and the Hoosiers, and was the Coastal Plain League’s No. 1 prospect that summer, including a start where he flashed premium stuff against USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. However, Quantrill has made just three starts since then, all of them in 2015. He had Tommy John surgery March 20 that year and hasn’t pitched in a game since. Stanford and his family have remained mum on his return. When healthy, Quantrill pitches off an 89-94 mph fastball with sinking life and a plus changeup with similar life and action. He has thrown both a slider and curveball in the past, flashing average with a slider in the 78-80 mph range. If Quantrill doesn’t return to the mound for the Cardinal, he’ll likely throw bullpens or simulated games just before the draft, presenting a true wild card for June.
(Slot money for 35th over-all: $1,837,200).
Baseball America chat: Asked about Quantrill's progress Hudson Belinsky answered: "There are a lot of rumors circulating about Cal Quantrill. It seems unlikely that he’ll pitch in games before the draft, though it is possible. He will likely throw bullpens for teams as the draft gets close. If we’re thinking long-term, it makes more sense for him to follow a normal routine and not rush back before his body is ready."
Genes: Father Paul Quantrill, played 13 seasons in the majors 3.68 ERA, 68-78, 21 saves in 841 games with seven teams, Toronto Blue Jays, Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Padres and Marlins.
.2015 sophomore season: Was 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts before being felled by Tommy John surgery.
2014 freshmen season: First freshman pitcher to start opening day since Mike Mussina in 1988 ... 7-5, 2.68 ERA in 17 starts, which included two complete games and 98 strikeouts in 110.2 innings. Led in innings (110 2/3) and strikeouts (98) ... 2014 summer ball Morehead City Marlins (Coastal Plain): 3-0, 1.59 in four starts, nine walks, 33 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.
Honors _ 2016: One of 50 players named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List ... Earned Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Preseason Third Team All-America honors ... Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game Freshman All-American ... 2015: D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game Preseason All-America Second Team, Louisville Slugger and Baseball America Preseason All-America Third Team ... 2014: Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game Freshman All-American ... Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12, Bloomington Regional All-Tournament Team, Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian First Team.
What they are saying: "It's difficult to pick him in the first round if you have not seen him throw in a game or throw multiple bullpens," said one scouting director, "maybe a team with multiple picks would take him early. One thing I would say he has going for him is the fact there is a derth of college pitching this year." .... One scouting director predicted he could be the second or third college pitcher picked IF he comes back healthy and has a strong finih as his peak has been as good or better than all the other college pitchers at his best, but his peak was two years ago ... Tommy John wasn’t any big deal when the Blue Jays drafted Jeff Hoffman in the first round (2014) or when the Florida Marlins took Chris Leroux in the seventh round (2005)
On other lists: No. 21 on BA's mock draft ... No. 23 on MLB Pipeline (down from 20) top 100 combined list of collegians and high schoolers ... No. 24 on ESPN's Keith Law top prospect list (down from 21st) ... No. 25 on Perfect Game's top 500 combined list (up from 26th) ... No. 38 on Baseball America's top 500 combined list (up from 36th) ... PG's 4th best in the state of California ... No. 11 on D1Baseball.com's top 300 ... No. 13 on Perfect Game’s top 100 College Juniors ... No. 18 (up from 14th) on Baseball America top 100 college list ... No. 12 on John Manuel's Baseball America's top 50 juniors ... No. 1 prospect in Pac-12 according to PG, No. 2 on BA list.