Track Record: Tate was a breakout star for UC Santa Barbara and the top college pitcher in the 2015 draft class. He went fourth overall to the Rangers and signed for $4.2 million before being dealt to the Yankees for Carlos Beltran. He made strides with New York and was an Eastern League all-star at Double-A Trenton when he became the top piece in the Zach Britton trade at the 2018 deadline.
Scouting Report: Tate works from a deliberate but athletic delivery, and he saw recent improvement by coming more set with his hands and allowing himself to stay tall over the rubber longer. His fastball has sinking life at 92-94 mph when he gets through it, but it flattens out at times. Likewise, his mid-80s slider and changeup have plus potential on their best days, but Tate struggles to harness them consistently.
The Future: The Orioles added Tate to the 40-man roster after the year to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He could reach a No. 4 starter ceiling with repetitions and consistent innings, but an impact set-up man in short stints is most likely.
