Tim

Cate

Cate didn’t walk anyone while allowing just three hits in the start. It’s one of the better efforts we’ve seen from the 2018 second-round pick this year, and he lowers his ERA on the season to 3.15 with a 3.54 mark in his time with the High-A Nationals. The former UConn star has also struck out 132 hitters over 131 1/3 innings, and he’s walked just 29 batters in that time frame. Cate is not a future ace, but he does have one of the best curveballs in the minors, and he locates the rest of his arsenal well enough to keep hitters honest and get ahead in counts. There’s a chance he makes his MLB debut in 2020, but the more cautious ETA has Cate pitching in the Washington rotation in the summer of 2021.

Cate, 21, walked one and struck out seven in the scoreless affair. The 65th pick of last June’s draft out of Connecticut, Cate isn’t overpowering, but he locates a low 90s fastball to all four quadrants. The fastball is fine, but what makes Cate so intriguing is one of the best curveballs you’ll see from a southpaw hurler; getting consistent plus-plus grades. The change needs work, however, and will need to get a grade or so better for Cate to end up a starter. Cate could be devastating -- particularly to lefties -- in relief, and that could be his ultimate role because of his lack of ideal size (6'0/185). The Nationals are going to see what he is as a starter, however, and he could blossom into a mid-rotation option if the third pitch does come along.