The Texas Rangers selected RHP Dillon Tate out of UC Santa Barbara with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Tate stands 6'2" and weighs 185 lbs, using that strength to routinely pump fastballs past opposing hitters. Here's MLB.com's scouting report of the hurler:
Noting Tate's projectable frame and easy arm action when he was working in the upper 80s as a high school senior in 2012, scouts figured he could make a big velocity jump after moving on to UC Santa Barbara. He pitched just three innings as a freshman before taking that huge step forward in 2014, putting him in position to become the first Gaucho ever drafted in the top two rounds. His stock took another leap in 2015 as Santa Barbara's ace, becoming the best college arm in the Draft class.
Tate showed the best stuff in the U.S. collegiate national team's stellar bullpen during the summer. He pairs a 92-98 mph fastball with a sharp 86-87 mph slider. He mixes in a fringy curveball and his changeup has the chance to be above-average as well. Tate missed more bats in 2015 than he had previously.
Though there's considerable effort in Tate's delivery, it also provides deception, and he's proven to scouts this year he can start, with his athleticism translating into durability.
His coach at UCSB, Andrew Checketts, also raves about the talented righty.
"Dillon is a wonderful kid," he said. "From a baseball standpoint, he has come from almost nothing into one of the top pitchers in the country. His work habits have allowed him to blossom into a premier right-hander, and the fact that he's attained this success is not a surprise whatsoever."
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