Cole Waites

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #18 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Waites was a hidden gem at Division II West Alabama uncovered by Giants area scout Jeff Wood, who was intrigued enough by the fireballing righthander to push for his selection. The Giants drafted Waites in the 18th round and signed him for $100,000. Waites' first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and he was limited to 13.1 innings in 2021 after having knee surgery, but he finally got a full season in 2022 and cruised up three levels of the minors before earning his first big league callup on Sept. 13.
  
  Scouting Report: Waites' hallmark is his fastball, which is not only the best in the Giants' system but one of the best in the minor leagues. The pitch averages 96 mph and touches 100 with high spin rates and excellent life through the zone. He pounds the strike zone with his heater and gets swings and misses against it by the bunch, making it an 80-grade pitch. Waites complements his fastball with a high-spin, mid-80s slider that is adept at getting whiffs both in and out of the zone. His previous shortcoming was scattershot command and control, but he improved both a tick in 2022 to below-average, enough to be playable in the major leagues.
  
  The Future: Waites is a straight reliever and could pitch in high leverage if he further improves his command and control. He'll likely bounce back and forth between Triple-A and San Francisco in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 80. Slider: 60. Control: 40

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Waites was a hidden gem at Division II West Alabama uncovered by Giants area scout Jeff Wood, who was intrigued enough by the fireballing righthander to push for his selection. The Giants drafted Waites in the 18th round and signed him for $100,000. Waites' first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and he was limited to 13.1 innings in 2021 after having knee surgery, but he finally got a full season in 2022 and cruised up three levels of the minors before earning his first big league callup on Sept. 13.
  
  Scouting Report: Waites' hallmark is his fastball, which is not only the best in the Giants' system but one of the best in the minor leagues. The pitch averages 96 mph and touches 100 with high spin rates and excellent life through the zone. He pounds the strike zone with his heater and gets swings and misses against it by the bunch, making it an 80-grade pitch. Waites complements his fastball with a high-spin, mid-80s slider that is adept at getting whiffs both in and out of the zone. His previous shortcoming was scattershot command and control, but he improved both a tick in 2022 to below-average, enough to be playable in the major leagues.
  
  The Future: Waites is a straight reliever and could pitch in high leverage if he further improves his command and control. He'll likely bounce back and forth between Triple-A and San Francisco in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 80. Slider: 60. Control: 40
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Waites was a hidden gem at Division II West Alabama uncovered by Giants area scout Jeff Wood, who was intrigued enough by the fireballing righthander to push for his selection. The Giants drafted Waites in the 18th round and signed him for $100,000. Waites' first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and he was limited to 13.1 innings in 2021 after having knee surgery, but he finally got a full season in 2022 and cruised up three levels of the minors before earning his first big league callup on Sept. 13.
  
  Scouting Report: Waites' hallmark is his fastball, which is not only the best in the Giants' system but one of the best in the minor leagues. The pitch averages 96 mph and touches 100 with high spin rates and excellent life through the zone. He pounds the strike zone with his heater and gets swings and misses against it by the bunch, making it an 80-grade pitch. Waites complements his fastball with a high-spin, mid-80s slider that is adept at getting whiffs both in and out of the zone. His previous shortcoming was scattershot command and control, but he improved both a tick in 2022 to below-average, enough to be playable in the major leagues.
  
  The Future: Waites is a straight reliever and could pitch in high leverage if he further improves his command and control. He'll likely bounce back and forth between Triple-A and San Francisco in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 80. Slider: 60. Control: 40
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Midseason Update: Without a question, Waites has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. His fastball is among the best in the system, and his slider is particularly wicked as well. That combination, along with improved command and control, has helped him advance to Double-A and emerge as a potential late-innings option with further development.