Author Topic: Follow the Prospects: Tim Cate, LHP (Read 3938 times)

imref · « **on:** May 07, 2019, 02:04:02 pm »

Full Name: Timothy Alexander Cate
Age: 21 (September 30, 1997)
Birthplace: Manchester, CT
Bats/Throws: L/L Ht: 6' 0" Wt: 185
Draft: Round 2 (2018, WSH)
School: Connecticut

Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft.

Stats: http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=669420

Overview:
http://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2018/12/nats-top-prospects-no-6---lhp-tim-cate.html

Baseball America:

Quote

“Tim Cate is another guy that I got to see this year out of the 2018 draft,” Collazo said. “He had one of the better breaking balls of the entire class. His curveball is a true plus pitch. A lot of scouts won’t hesitate to put a 70-grade offering on that pitch. Cate is a college guy, but I think there is definitely some risk with him as well, similar to (Mason) Denaberg. Not in the same way. He is a smaller guy. He doesn’t have a huge frame. He’s had some injuries previously. He actually was a Tommy John guy out of high school. It was funny, he had Tommy John in high school and the Connecticut coaches saw he was playing. He is ambidextrous to where he can throw with his right hand, play the outfield and still hit for his high school team.

“So, he kind of has some freak athleticism, as well, to carry onto the mound. But he is a guy that is not going to blow you away with his fastball, but he has gotten into the mid-90s mph before when he’s healthy, which is more than enough to hold his own when you pair it with that exceptional breaking ball that he has.”

Last 4 starts at Hagerstown: 24 IP, 1.50 ERA, 4ER, 27Ks, 12HA.

For the season, 2-2, 1.62 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 39Ks, 11BBs

Slateman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2019, 02:39:06 pm »

Can we call him up and pitch him out of the pen?

Elvir Ovcina · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2019, 03:00:00 pm »

Moved up to Potomac. Will probably start tomorrow night.

Glockypoo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2019, 09:10:25 am »

Cate is quickly becoming a legit prospect.

Through 5 starts and 28 IPs at Potomac: 2.57 ERA, 27 Ks, 10 BBs, 1.14 WHIP & .214 BAA.

Still only 21 years old.

Section214 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2019, 02:04:05 pm »

Quote from: Glockypoo on July 16, 2019, 09:10:25 am

Cate is quickly becoming a legit prospect.

Through 5 starts and 28 IPs at Potomac: 2.57 ERA, 27 Ks, 10 BBs, 1.14 WHIP & .214 BAA.

Still only 21 years old.

Love to see this. Sounds like a guy that could move quickly. Anyone who has seen Cate pitch have a report on his stuff? Sounds like low-mid 90s heat with a ++breaking ball? Gotta like that.

Slateman · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2019, 03:05:49 pm »

Quote from: Section214 on July 16, 2019, 02:04:05 pm

Love to see this. Sounds like a guy that could move quickly. Anyone who has seen Cate pitch have a report on his stuff? Sounds like low-mid 90s heat with a ++breaking ball? Gotta like that.

He has a good breaking ball and that's it. His fastball is upper 80s to low 90s. It really doesn't have any movement. His change is fine, but nothing special. He's probably more of a middle reliever.

Glockypoo · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2019, 09:17:28 am »

Cate was excellent last night for Potomac: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 0 BB.

imref · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2019, 10:21:53 pm »

7 inning shutout tonight, 5 hits allowed. AFL bound?

Slateman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2019, 07:02:57 am »

Quote from: imref on August 26, 2019, 10:21:53 pm

7 inning shutout tonight, 5 hits allowed. AFL bound?

Pretty sure they will want to limit his innings

Section214 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2021, 02:19:07 pm »

Spending the season in Harrisburg -- 11 GS 56.1 IP 4.31 ERA 1.35 WHIP 49/22 K/BB.

Slateman · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2021, 05:32:28 pm »

Convert him to a reliever

Kevrock · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2021, 10:26:21 am »

Ranked Washington Nationals #8 prospect in 2021
Fastball: 45. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 55
TRACK RECORD: The lefthanded Cate had Tommy John surgery in high school but was so eager to continue playing that he pitched with his right arm. He went on to set UConn’s career strikeout record and was drafted in the second round, No. 65 overall, by the Nationals in 2018. Cate went out and won the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award in 2019, then spent 2020 at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cate is undersized but has shown moxie at each level he’s pitched. He maintains a consistent effort level and has a smooth delivery. By moving the ball to all quadrants of the strike zone, he’s able to stay away from hitters’ barrels. That’s important because his fastball is a fringy offering that lives in the 89-90 mph range. It plays up some with his ability to cut and sink it. Cate’s curveball is his signature pitch as a hammer in the low 80s that he has an exceptional feel to command. His changeup made great strides at the alternate site and began flashing above-average. Cate is an excellent strike-thrower who can locate his pitches to both sides of the plate.

THE FUTURE: Cate is set to see the upper minors in 2021. He has a shot to make it as a back-of-the-rotation lefthander.

wj73 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2021, 09:02:02 am »

Saw Cate in HBG last night. He did not have a particularly good game. 3.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 BB, 7 Ks.

His control was not good. He was all over the place, including 2 wild pitches.

I didn’t realize his fast ball was so slow - 89-90.

I thought maybe he was just having an off night last night, but then saw that he’s 2-9, with an ERA approaching 6. He did not look like the guy who won the Nationals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019. In fairness, the defense did not help him last night. There were two errors behind him, and a couple of other plays that were just sloppy.

When I saw him in Hagerstown in 2019, I seem to remember that they pronounced his last name as “kah-tay”. But last night he was announced as “kate”, rhyming with “gate”. I wonder which it is.

Slateman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2021, 09:58:57 am »

Quote from: Slateman on July 14, 2021, 05:32:28 pm

Convert him to a reliever

.

imref · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2022, 01:00:23 am »

Now pitching at High-A Wilmington and putting up very good numbers: Tonight: 6IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 4Ks. For the season: 2.72 ERA / 1.07 WHIP in 7 starts, 36.1 IP, 42Ks, 9BBs

He struggled at AA last year, hopefully he can work his way back. up.

imref · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2022, 10:47:13 pm »

7IP, 3H, 0ER, 2BB, 8Ks tonight, ERA down to 2.28

Hope to see him in Harrisburg soon.

Smithian · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2022, 09:56:34 am »

He's old for his level and pitching at a lower league than he did last year. Odd he isn't a reliever yet.

I'm not sure if they think he is still has some ability as a starter or just needed arms in High A and he fit the bill.

imref · « **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2022, 10:08:58 am »

Quote from: Smithian on June 25, 2022, 09:56:34 am

He's old for his level and pitching at a lower league than he did last year. Odd he isn't a reliever yet.

I'm not sure if they think he is still has some ability as a starter or just needed arms in High A and he fit the bill.

he didn't pitch well last year at Harrisburg and got demoted, hopefully he's turned things around.

Section214 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2022, 11:28:03 am »

Probably time to get him back up to Harrisburg where he belongs. Give him another half-season there and if he still can't make it there, he's a reliever.

imref · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2022, 02:31:08 am »

Promoted to Harrisburg

Section214 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2022, 09:56:35 am »

3.0 IP 9 H 6 ER in his AA re-debut.

Slateman · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2022, 10:05:03 am »

He's 24. He hasnt really shown anything that would indicate hes a rotation mainstay. They really need to put him in the pen.

imref · « **Reply #22 on:** July 27, 2022, 03:10:42 pm »

5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 3K last night, 2 first inning solo shots were all the damage he allowed.

imref · « **Reply #23 on:** September 07, 2022, 12:33:26 pm »

AA isn't going well - 4⅓ IP, 6H, 8R, 8ER, 3BB, 3K, 2HR, HBP last night. 2-4, 7.04 ERA, 1.652 WHIP in 9 starts since he got promoted.

Slateman · « **Reply #24 on:** September 07, 2022, 12:50:47 pm »

R-E-L-I-E-V-E-R