Mason
Pelio

Cape Cod- Heading into the 2021 spring season, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound righthander was seen by the industry as a potential top two-to-three round prospect. After enduring a season-long scuffle with his command (45 walks in 65 innings) and going undrafted this summer, Pelio took his talents to the Cape, looking to regroup. It has never been a matter of fastball velocity, as he has run it into the upper-90s in the past. It has been about fastball command and a consistent breaking pitch. On this look he sat 93-94 with a heavy fastball and was up to 97. His slider remained inconsistent with little movement and both pitches found bats as he allowed six hits and three runs in four innings. Pelio really struggled the second time through a lineup when the hitters realized that there wasn't really a second pitch and they could sit dead red.

Fall reports of an improved breaking ball were the impetus to his current lofty ranking which equates to early in the 2nd round. However, on his look Pelio’s loose spinning 74-77 mph bender is the same below average quality pitch that I saw during the USA CNT Trials in July of 2019. Touching 97 mph with his fastball this past weekend at Louisville, the wide-shouldered 6-foot-3, 235 pound Pelio can throw as hard as he wants, but he is likely to fall to a round where the industry begins selecting right-handers without breaking balls. Pelio has typically thrown a better than average changeup in the past, but he did not show a consistently average one on this look. Instead his 85-87 mph change-of-pace was often elevated to his arm side. He did show quick feet and a good pickoff move, but his stuff found barrels and he lasted just 4.1 IP, allowing five runs on five hits and six walks. His stuff is better suited for consideration early in Day Two, unless a club sees a better breaking ball or Pelio learns an effective cutter/slider between now and July 12.

An athletic and loose-armed 6-foot-4, 215 pound righty, Pelio is mechanically sound with a clean arm action. Pitching from a high three-quarter slot with average effort, his fastball ranges from 90-95 mph with above average running life up in the zone and good arm-side action down in the zone. Overall, he will show better command to his arm side than glove side. His best pitch is an 81-82 mph dipping changeup thrown with fastball arm speed and located consistently down in the zone. The pitch has plus-plus future potential. His present slurve-shaped 78-82 mph breaking pitch is a work in progress, but showed a feel to spin. He fields his position well and showed quick, athletic feet on attempted pickoff moves to first base. With a competitive approach, top work ethic and a drive to be great, Pelio is also young for his class. He will be just 20-years old when draft eligible this coming June. As a freshman in 2019 he had a strong start to his college career (4-3, 3.63 ERA, 62 SO in 72 IP) then followed it up with 22 mediocre innings in 2020 going 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA, allowing 22 hits, walking 10 and striking out 19. With the development of an above average breaking pitch and continued good health, Pelio is a likely lock for the top two rounds of the 2021 draft.

Intriguing first-ever look at an athletic 6-foot-4, 215 pound loose armed righty with a plus changeup. Pelio is mechanically sound with good arm action. He pitched three innings in his CNT debut, allowing only one unearned run on one hit and a pair of walks. He followed it up with another impressive outing, pitching one shutout inning against the Coastal Plain Select squad. He fields his position well and showed quick, athletic feet on attempted pickoff moves to first base. Pitching from a high three-quarter slot with average effort, his fastball ranged from 90-94 mph with above average life. Showed better command to his armside than gloveside. His best pitch was an 81-82 mph dipping changeup thrown with fastball arm speed and located consistently down in the zone. The pitch has plus-plus future potential. His present slurve-shaped 78-82 mph breaking pitch is a work in progress, but showed a feel for spin. Pelio is young for his class and will be just 20-years old when he is draft eligible in 2021. Based on this look and a strong start to his college career in 2019 (4-3, 3.63 ERA, 62 SO in 72 IP) he has a bright future and the potential to be an early round selection in two years. (Seifert)