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With no more minor league games, this week’s Prospect Report will look a bit different as we wait for the start of the Arizona Fall League. So after focusing on minor league hitters with traits to target yesterday, let's turn our attention to the mound.

There are a few ways we can use RoboScout’s model to identify underrated players. Sometimes it means RoboScout projects future production better than consensus or industry lists suggest. In some cases—like Tigers righthander Troy Melton or Brewers cambio specialist Logan Henderson, both RoboScout favorites over the last two years—the fantasy industry is only now catching up.

Another signal comes from underlying metrics. If a pitcher's whiff and chase rates outperformed his actual strikeout rate, that's a sign of an underrated prospect. Similarly, if his Ball% (which is more predictive of walks than walk rate itself) points to better command, RoboScout can flag him as undervalued.

With access to granular pitch data, we can dissect a pitcher’s arsenal and “Stuff” to identify traits that portend future success.

We’ve done that today. You can check out two such pitchers below, followed by a link to the rest of the story for Baseball America subscribers.

Wei-En Lin, LHP, Athletics

• FF (53%) 62

• CB (18%) 52

• CH (16%) 62

• SL (13%) 53

• Overall Ball% 31%

At just 19, Lin was already a RoboScout darling in 2025 after excelling across both Class A levels, even making two Double-A appearances. RoboScout projects him to peak as a midrotation starter with a 1.20 WHIP, 3.80 ERA and 24% strikeout rate. But because his fastball sits just 91 mph, he isn't yet universally viewed as a top prospect, and certainly not as highly as his performance suggests.

Even despite below-average velocity, the numbers under the hood justify Lin's success. All four of his pitches generate average to above-average whiff rates.

His four-seamer is especially unique. It elicited an astounding 44% chase rate with a 22% ball rate, meaning that even in the infrequent moments his fastball is out of the zone, batters can't resist swinging. Only Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan produced a higher chase rate on four-seamers thrown at least 150 times, and Lin threw over 600 fastballs in 2025. Lin's heater had an above-average whiff rate (28%) and it's aided by 6.6 feet of extension, 18 inches of IVB, 13 inches of tail and deceptive release traits, making it difficult for hitters to pick up.

Lin's 83 mph slider is another outlier. His +7.5 inches of IVB is double-plus, meaning that amount of lift occurs less than 3% of the time in the minor leagues. That would've been the 15th-highest amount of IVB among qualified big league sliders, tied with Paul Skenes and Clayton Kershaw.

For RoboScout, a teenager with this kind of arsenal qualifies as underrated. There's precent for low-velocity, high-extension fastballs with unique traits finding success in the majors, even in Lin's own organization. Fellow A's lefty Jacob Lopez sits 90-91 and threw 92.2 MLB innings with a 4.08 ERA and a 3.64 xERA. Lin should open 2026 in Double-A with a real chance to reach Oakland before turning 21.

Trey Gibson, RHP, Orioles

• FF (30%) 53

• CT (19%) 46

• CB (17%) 55

• SW (15%) 49

• SL (11%) 57

• Ball% 34%

Gibson pounds the zone at an above-average rate with a deep five-pitch mix, highlighted by three above-average pitches and a sweeper that grades out with average results yet great Stuff+ metrics.

RoboScout has been on high on Gibson all year, and the underlying metrics don't diminish that love. His above-average 94 mph fastball plays up thanks to seven feet of extension and more than 17 inches of induced vertical break. His 89 mph cutter pairs velocity with over five inches of horizontal break—a rare combination—while his 84 mph sweeper generates 16 inches of sweep, closely mirroring Luis Severino’s (133 Stuff+ per FanGraphs).

Based on performance alone, RoboScout projects a 1.19 WHIP, 3.55 ERA and 26% strikeout rate at peak. Given his underlying arsenal traits, Gibson has a strong chance to reach those

Leo De Vries Was Traded From His Dream Team—And Found New Purpose With The Athletics

Leo De Vries had dreamed of being a Padre since he was a kid.

He stayed up late in the Dominican Republic, eyes fixed on a glowing screen, watching Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. turn Petco Park into a highlight reel. That wasn’t just the team he rooted for. It was the team he belonged to.

But on trade deadline day this past July, everything changed.

Now, De Vries is acclimating to a new organization. Speaking in Spanish for his first public interview since being traded, De Vries told Baseball America "there was a lot of emotion" that came with being dealt away from his dream ball club.

Baseball America subscribers can read the full interview below.

Editor’s Picks

MLB All-Stars: Baseball America presents first-and second-team picks for the best players in MLB for 2025. Read more…

The Cord-Cutter’s Guide: For fans without cable, the MLB playoffs can be tricky to navigate. Fortunately, J.J. Cooper is here with a game plan. Read more…

Rockies, Nats Need New Approach: Big changes are needed if the Rockies and Nationals are to turn things around next year and beyond. J.J. Cooper highlights a stat that could help. Read more…

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Could Chase DeLauter make his big league debut in the postseason? It’s possible. The injured Guardians outfielder joined the team’s taxi squad ahead of the playoffs.

• If the Red Sox make any sort of deep postseason run, they may have to lean on LHP Connelly Early more than they originally envisioned. Boston left starter Lucas Giolito off its wild card roster as he deals with an elbow issue. Early, 23, went 1-2, 2.33 with 29 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

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