Amateur Hour: Ryne Stanek

If the Red Sox are looking at Sean Manaea and he gets taken, the next best thing might be to take Ryne Stanek. There are definite similarities between the two of them. Both are college pitchers who have great stuff but are still raw as a whole and have seen their stock fall a bit this spring. Stanek’s ceiling is similar to that of Manaea’s, a number two or three starter with great stuff who could be an excellent overall pitcher with some improvements to the command of their pitches.

June 18, 2012; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) throws against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second inning of game eight of the 2012 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Stanek has a fantastic, projectable body (6’4″, 180 lbs) as a tall right-hander with a repeatable delivery. He throws into the high-mid 90’s, topping out around 97 mph with nice, sinking movement and he mixes in a curve, slider, and change. The slider, one of the tight and quick variety, has the potential to be his out pitch in the future. His change and curve need work, but if they develop, there’s no question he’ll be a great pitcher.

As there often are with pitchers who have great stuff but only one or two good pitches, there are questions of whether he’ll start in the majors. If his curve and slider do develop into even average pitches, though, he will continue to be a starter. Stanek would still be a valuable late inning reliever with his arm, but he would obviously be more valuable as a starter. His riskiness as a prospect may deter Ben Cherington though.