Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Ragsdale spent his first two years at the University of South Florida missing bats, and walking hitters, coming out of the bullpen. He then missed the 2019 season because he needed Tommy John surgery. A move to the rotation upon his return in 2020 created some serious buzz for the big right-hander, though he was only able to make four starts before the season ended.

There’s a lot to like about Ragsdale, starting with his 6-foot-8 frame that allows him to throw with a good downhill plane. He features a fastball that’s typically in the 91-95 mph range right now, but there’s room for more velocity in the future. He couples it with a curveball that flashes plus and can be a real strikeout pitch when he lands it in the strike zone. He has a changeup, but it’s a distant third pitch and will need to be developed at the next level.

Ragsdale threw a lot of strikes this spring, but is still more control than command at this point. Given that scouts only saw four outings from Ragsdale as USF’s Sunday starter, there’s very limited track record for teams to look at, but his size and arm strength, even if it ends up in the bullpen, could be enough for teams to take a chance on him in this year’s Draft.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

Ragsdale worked just 50 1/3 innings in four years at South Florida, where he began his college career as a two-way player and missed all of 2019 following Tommy John surgery. The Phillies drafted him in 2020's fourth round before trading him to the Giants for Sam Coonrod the following January. He led the Low-A West with 167 strikeouts (second in the Minors) in his 2021 pro debut, missed most of 2022 and 2023 because of thoracic outlet surgery and a forearm strain, then returned last year to top the system in strikeouts (147) and K rate (29 percent). 

Ragsdale always has stood out with his feel for spinning the ball, producing huge depth on a low-80s downer curveball that locks up both lefties and righties. He also misses a lot of bats with a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97, thanks to its armside run and the extension he creates with his 6-foot-8 frame. He also has a pair of fringy mid-80s options in a slider/cutter and a changeup with downhill plane, but he mainly concentrates on his heater and curve. 

In four years of college and his first four years as a pro, Ragsdale pitched just 318 innings, so he's less polished than expected from a pitcher who will be 27 for most of this season. He doesn't always keep his long limbs in sync and never has demonstrated consistent control and command. Durability concerns also detract from his viability as a long-term starter, though he could be valuable as a multi-inning reliever. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After spending his first two years at South Florida as a reliever and part-time first baseman, Ragsdale missed all of his third following Tommy John surgery in October 2018. He dominated in the only four starts of his college career during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, propelling him to the Phillies in the fourth round. Traded to the Giants for Sam Coonrod in January 2021, he led the Low-A West in strikeouts (167, second in the Minors) during his pro debut that year but barely pitched the next two seasons while dealing with arm issues.

Ragsdale always has exhibited feel for spinning the ball, achieving quality depth on a low-80s curveball that grades as a legitimate plus offering. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and touches 97, getting on hitters quickly because he uses his 6-foot-8 frame to create extension in his delivery. In the past, he has used an average cutter and below-average changeup that both park in the mid-80s, but he has been a two-pitch guy early in 2024.

Because he pitched just 50 1/3 innings during four years of college and 147 in his first three pro seasons, Ragsdale is much less experienced than a typical 26-year-old. His control and command waver and may never be better than fringy, so he's probably destined for the bullpen. He lost almost all of 2022 recovering from thoracic outlet surgery and much of 2023 to a forearm strain, so his durability as a starter is questionable.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

Ragsdale spent two seasons at South Florida as a reliever and part-time first baseman before missing all of his third after Tommy John surgery in October 2018. He dominated in the only four starts of his college career during the truncated 2020 college season, prompting the Phillies to draft him in the fourth round. Traded to the Giants in January 2021, he made his pro debut by leading the Low-A West in strikeouts (167, second in the Minors) and innings (113 2/3). 

Ragdale's out pitch is a low-80s curveball with power and plenty of depth when he stays on top of it with his 6-foot-8 frame and high arm slot. He sets it up with a fastball that operates at 91-95 mph and touches 97, playing better than its velocity because it gets on hitters so quickly because of the extension his big body creates. He trusts his mid-80s cutter more than a changeup with similar velocity, and he'll need to refine one of them to increase his effectiveness against left-handed hitters.  

Far less experienced than a typical pitcher who spent four years in college, Ragsdale still lacks consistency. His control and command fluctuate and though he misses bats, he also gets hit hard when he doesn't locate his pitches. He offers intriguing inside but projects more as a two-pitch, multi-inning reliever than a starter in the long run. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Ragsdale spent his first two seasons at South Florida doubling as a reliever and part-time first baseman, then missed all of his third following Tommy John surgery in October 2018. He made the only four starts of his college career during the shortened 2020 season, parlaying 10 strikeouts in four innings against No. 1-ranked Florida into going to the Phillies in the fourth round of the five-round Draft. He went to Philadelphia's instructional league camp but made his pro debut with the Giants this year after getting traded for Sam Coonrod in January.

Ragsdale's biggest weapon is his curveball, which features plenty of power (low 80s) and depth coming out of his 6-foot-8 frame when he stays on top of it. It's a more consistent plus pitch than his fastball, which sits at 91-95 mph and touches 97 and gets on hitters quickly thanks to the extension his huge frame creates. He used a mid-80s cutter more than a changeup in college, and he'll have to develop the latter pitch to get pro left-handers out.

Because he pitched just 50 1/3 innings in four years at South Florida, Ragsdale has less mound experience than the typical 23-year-old. He's a tough at-bat for hitters when he's on, but his control and command fluctuate and he gets hit when he doesn’t locate his pitches well. Though he has obvious upside, he might be more reliever than starter in the long run.

Ragsdale spent his first two years at the University of South Florida missing bats, and walking hitters, coming out of the bullpen. He then missed the 2019 season because he needed Tommy John surgery. A move to the rotation upon his return in 2020 created some serious buzz for the big right-hander, though he was only able to make four starts before the season ended. The Phillies were able to add him to the organization for a well-below-slot bonus of $225K in the fourth round of the '20 Draft.

There’s a lot to like about Ragsdale, starting with his 6-foot-8 frame that allows him to throw with a good downhill plane. He features a fastball that’s typically in the 91-95 mph range right now, but there’s room for more velocity in the future. He couples it with a curveball that flashes plus and can be a real strikeout pitch when he lands it in the strike zone. He has a changeup, but it’s a distant third pitch and will need to be developed at the next level.

Ragsdale threw a lot of strikes this spring, but is still more control than command at this point. There's not a lot of post-surgery track record to go on, but Ragsdale's size and arm strength are intriguing, even if he ends up in the bullpen.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/09/2025	San Francisco Giants optioned RHP Carson Ragsdale to Sacramento River Cats.
	03/09/2025	Sacramento River Cats activated RHP Carson Ragsdale.
	11/19/2024	San Francisco Giants selected the contract of RHP Carson Ragsdale from Sacramento River Cats.
	06/25/2024	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Sacramento River Cats from Richmond Flying Squirrels.
	04/02/2024	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Richmond Flying Squirrels from Eugene Emeralds.
	03/24/2024	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to San Francisco Giants.
	03/07/2024	San Francisco Giants Prospects activated RHP Carson Ragsdale.
	09/18/2023	Eugene Emeralds activated RHP Carson Ragsdale from the 7-day injured list.
	05/30/2023	Eugene Emeralds placed RHP Carson Ragsdale on the 7-day injured list.
	04/04/2023	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Eugene Emeralds.
	11/08/2022	San Jose Giants activated RHP Carson Ragsdale from the 60-day injured list.
	11/08/2022	San Jose Giants activated RHP Carson Ragsdale from the 60-day injured list.
	07/07/2022	San Jose Giants sent RHP Carson Ragsdale on a rehab assignment to ACL Giants Black.
	07/07/2022	San Jose Giants sent RHP Carson Ragsdale on a rehab assignment to ACL Giants Black.
	04/08/2022	San Jose Giants placed RHP Carson Ragsdale on the 60-day injured list.
	02/12/2021	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to San Jose Giants.
	01/09/2021	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Augusta GreenJackets.
	01/09/2021	San Francisco Giants traded RHP Sam Coonrod to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Carson Ragsdale.
	01/09/2021	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Augusta GreenJackets.
	06/25/2020	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to Williamsport Crosscutters.
	06/19/2020	Philadelphia Phillies signed RHP Carson Ragsdale.
	03/05/2019	RHP Carson Ragsdale assigned to University of South Florida Bulls.