Inohan Paniagua

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #16 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Paniagua signed with the Cardinals for $160,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and moved slowly through their system. After splitting the previous season between starting and relieving, Paniagua became a full-time starter in 2022 and had a breakout season at Low-A Palm Beach. He led the Florida State League in ERA for most of the season and earned a promotion to High-A Peoria, where he made eight starts to finish his season.
  
  Scouting Report: Paniagua slings a quartet of pitches from his low three quarters slot with a smooth and effortless delivery. He has both a four-seamer and sinker that sit in the low-90s, and he alternates which one he throws depending on the situation. Paniagua pairs his fastballs with an above-average, low-to-mid-80s changeup and an average curveball in the mid-70s with two-plane break. His changeup and curveball act as his primary swing-and-miss weapons and had above-average whiff and chase rates in 2022. Paniagua shows advanced feel for sequencing, mixing in all four pitches regardless of the handedness of the opposing batter. He has average control of his entire arsenal and could tap into more velocity as he matures physically.
  
  The Future: Paniagua projects to be a back-the-rotation starter who shows batters a variety of looks. He has a chance to grow into more if he adds velocity.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Changeup 55. Control: 50.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Paniagua signed with the Cardinals for $160,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and moved slowly through their system. After splitting the previous season between starting and relieving, Paniagua became a full-time starter in 2022 and had a breakout season at Low-A Palm Beach. He led the Florida State League in ERA for most of the season and earned a promotion to High-A Peoria, where he made eight starts to finish his season.
  
  Scouting Report: Paniagua slings a quartet of pitches from his low three quarters slot with a smooth and effortless delivery. He has both a four-seamer and sinker that sit in the low-90s, and he alternates which one he throws depending on the situation. Paniagua pairs his fastballs with an above-average, low-to-mid-80s changeup and an average curveball in the mid-70s with two-plane break. His changeup and curveball act as his primary swing-and-miss weapons and had above-average whiff and chase rates in 2022. Paniagua shows advanced feel for sequencing, mixing in all four pitches regardless of the handedness of the opposing batter. He has average control of his entire arsenal and could tap into more velocity as he matures physically.
  
  The Future: Paniagua projects to be a back-the-rotation starter who shows batters a variety of looks. He has a chance to grow into more if he adds velocity.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Changeup 55. Control: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Paniagua signed with the Cardinals for $160,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and moved slowly through their system. After splitting the previous season between starting and relieving, Paniagua became a full-time starter in 2022 and had a breakout season at Low-A Palm Beach. He led the Florida State League in ERA for most of the season and earned a promotion to High-A Peoria, where he made eight starts to finish his season.
  
  Scouting Report: Paniagua slings a quartet of pitches from his low three quarters slot with a smooth and effortless delivery. He has both a four-seamer and sinker that sit in the low-90s, and he alternates which one he throws depending on the situation. Paniagua pairs his fastballs with an above-average, low-to-mid-80s changeup and an average curveball in the mid-70s with two-plane break. His changeup and curveball act as his primary swing-and-miss weapons and had above-average whiff and chase rates in 2022. Paniagua shows advanced feel for sequencing, mixing in all four pitches regardless of the handedness of the opposing batter. He has average control of his entire arsenal and could tap into more velocity as he matures physically.
  
  The Future: Paniagua projects to be a back-the-rotation starter who shows batters a variety of looks. He has a chance to grow into more if he adds velocity.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Changeup 55. Control: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in December of 2017, Paniagua had a strong showing with Palm Beach in 2021, coming out of the 2020 pandemic, making 16 appearances and spending time as a starter and reliever. Reassigned to Palm Beach out of camp this spring Paniagua has converted to starting full-time, and has made 15 starts for Palm Beach in 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: An easy and athletic operation that Paniagua repeats well. He delivers the ball from a low-three quarters slot and slings in a fastball, curveball, and changeup. His fastball sits 90-93 mph, with a sinker and four-seam variations on his fastball, using the sinker more frequently against righthanded hitters almost in lieu of his changeup in right on right matchups. He commands both fastball variants well, and uses each to setup his high quality secondaries. His changeup is a low-to-mid-80s pitch that mirrors the movement of Paniagua&#39s sinker, while his curveball is a slurvy mid-to-high-70s breaking ball with two-plane break and spin rates in 2500-2600 rpm range. He shows advanced feel for sequencing, mixing in all four pitches regardless of the handedness of the opposing batter. Paniagua has a strong mix of strikes, feel to pitch, and secondary quality that portend success as a starter long term.
  
  The Future: While Paniagua lacks the big stuff often associated with top pitching prospects, the righthander shows an advanced understanding of pitching and who he is as a pitcher. With the ability to throw strikes across his arsenal and vary looks on his fastball Paniagua has a chance to be a solid backend of the rotation innings eater.