Eric Cerantola
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 5" 225LBS | Age: 24
Draft: 2021 | Rd: 5, #139, Kansas City Royals | Mississippi State
MLB Pipeline Rank
ROYALS: No. 29 |
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 1 1 3.77 13 0 0 14.1 20 1.47
Career Minors 7 11 3.62 83 23 3 184 245 1.39
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 13 1-1 3.77 14.1 20 1.47
Career Minors 83 7-11 3.62 184 245 1.39
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Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2021 2 Teams Minors 0 0 1.93 4 2 0 4.2 1 1 1 0 7 9 1.71
2021 ACL Royals Gold ACL ROK 0 0 4.50 2 1 0 2.0 1 1 1 0 4 4 2.50
2021 ACL Royals Blue ACL ROK 0 0 0.00 2 1 0 2.2 0 0 0 0 3 5 1.13
2021 2 Teams ROK 0 0 1.93 4 2 0 4.2 1 1 1 0 7 9 1.71
2022 2 Teams Minors 1 3 5.34 10 10 0 30.1 35 20 18 5 14 36 1.62
2022 Columbia Fireflies CAR A 1 2 5.48 7 7 0 21.1 24 14 13 4 6 29 1.41
2022 Quad Cities River Bandits MID A+ 0 1 5.00 3 3 0 9.0 11 6 5 1 8 7 2.11
2023 2 Teams Minors 3 4 3.66 32 4 2 76.1 55 35 31 3 46 99 1.32
2023 Quad Cities River Bandits MID A+ 3 3 4.04 29 2 1 62.1 46 31 28 3 41 80 1.40
2023 Northwest Arkansas Naturals TEX AA 0 1 1.93 3 2 1 14.0 9 4 3 0 5 19 1.00
2024 2 Teams Minors 3 4 2.97 37 7 1 72.2 48 32 24 8 50 101 1.35
2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals TEX AA 2 3 2.78 24 7 1 58.1 35 26 18 5 42 81 1.32
2024 Omaha Storm Chasers INT AAA 1 1 3.77 13 0 0 14.1 13 6 6 3 8 20 1.47
Omaha Storm Chasers INT AAA 1 1 3.77 13 0 0 14.1 13 6 6 3 8 20 1.47
Northwest Arkansas Naturals TEX AA 2 4 2.61 27 9 2 72.1 44 30 21 5 47 100 1.26
Quad Cities River Bandits MID A+ 3 4 4.16 32 5 1 71.1 57 37 33 4 49 87 1.49
Columbia Fireflies CAR A 1 2 5.48 7 7 0 21.1 24 14 13 4 6 29 1.41

Scouting Report

Draft

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

An eighth-round pick in the 2016 Ontario Hockey League draft, Ceranatola was the top Canadian pitching prospect in the 2018 Draft but slid to the Rays in the 30th round because of signability and headed to Mississippi State. After pitching sparingly in his first two years with the Bulldogs, he created first-round buzz by showcasing perhaps better stuff than any college pitcher anywhere last fall. But he pitched himself out of Mississippi State's rotation a month into the 2021 season, barely saw action afterward and was left off the College World Series roster of the eventual national champions. 

During fall practice, Cerantola pushed his electric fastball to 98 mph and his curveball up to 87 with an astounding 3300 rpm. He averaged 95 mph and hit 100 with his heater this spring, but he struggled to throw it for strikes and it got hit when he dialed it back to find the zone. His curve remained devastating if not quite as powerful. 

Though Cerantola doesn't use his third pitch much, he does show some feel for a low-80s changeup with fade. But he can't succeed in the rotation if he can't dramatically improve his control and command, and the effort and stiffness in his delivery make it difficult to do so. He has frontline starter upside but comes with a lot of reliever risk and Mississippi State didn't trust him in high-leverage situations. 


2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Cerantola has been drafted three times -- twice in the MLB Draft and once in the 2016 Ontario Hockey League Draft. The Oakville, Ontario, native stuck with baseball and went to Mississippi State, where he brought elite stuff but struggled so much with command that the Bulldogs left him off their College World Series roster in 2021. That year, the Royals took him in the fifth round and simply focused on his control. He took a step forward in ‘23 with High-A Quad Cities and then Double-A Northwest Arkansas; in 32 games (four starts) across 76 1/3 innings, Cerantola posted a 3.66 ERA with a 29.6 percent strikeout rate and batters hit just .199 against him. He followed up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.

Cerantola has great stuff, it’s just been a matter of it finding the strike zone. His fastball has been 94-97 mph while reaching 99 at times in 2024. His curveball is hard at 82-85 mph and sharp, and a mid-80s slider has been just as effective at eliciting high swing-and-miss rates at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His changeup is average and getting better, and it was notable that he held lefties to a .479 OPS in 2023. Cerantola has a big body at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and he has trouble repeating his delivery at times.

The difference between the pitcher the Royals drafted in 2021 and the Cerantola that performed in ‘23 is massive. He still had a 13.8 percent walk rate in 2023, which is by no means the end goal, and it moved up to 16.3 percent back in the Texas League this summer. But after good results last year, he has the confidence to keep improving. He’s a reliever projection because of that wildness, and the Royals have promoted him to Triple-A Omaha to see how the stuff plays at the Minors' top level.


2018

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

There is no question that Noah Naylor is the top prospect from Canada in this year's Draft class, separating himself from the pack. Cerantola is No. 2, and the top pitching prospect north of the border, with interested teams looking at his upside potential more than what he brings to the table now. Cerantola's now stuff isn't bad, it's just raw.

He was up to 93 mph with his fastball this spring and presently sits in the 90-91 mph range. With a 6-foot-6 frame that should take on good weight and strength, it's easy to dream on more velocity in the future. His secondary stuff needs work, but he'll show a solid mid-70s curveball at times with good depth at times and has shown some feel for his changeup. He does use his size well and throws downhill.

A solid athlete, he repeats his delivery which should help him improve his control. Canada has produced some very good pitching talent over the years, most recently in the first round with Mike Soroka in 2015 and last year with second-rounder Landon Leach. Cerantola isn't quite in that neck of the woods, but there's enough ceiling to perhaps entice a team to sign him away from his commitment to Mississippi State.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
11/19/2024 Kansas City Royals selected the contract of RHP Eric Cerantola from Omaha Storm Chasers.
08/06/2024 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Omaha Storm Chasers from Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
07/28/2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated RHP Eric Cerantola.
07/23/2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals transferred RHP Eric Cerantola to the Development List.
03/07/2024 Kansas City Royals Prospects activated RHP Eric Cerantola.
02/27/2024 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Kansas City Royals.
09/22/2023 Surprise Saguaros activated RHP Eric Cerantola.
08/29/2023 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Northwest Arkansas Naturals from Quad Cities River Bandits.
11/08/2022 Quad Cities River Bandits activated RHP Eric Cerantola.
06/24/2022 RHP Eric Cerantola roster status changed by Quad Cities River Bandits.
06/24/2022 RHP Eric Cerantola roster status changed by Quad Cities River Bandits.
05/24/2022 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies.
04/04/2022 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals Blue.
09/14/2021 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to ACL Royals Blue from ACL Royals Gold.
09/07/2021 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to ACL Royals Gold.
07/24/2021 Kansas City Royals signed RHP Eric Cerantola.
02/01/2021 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
02/01/2021 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
06/11/2019 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
03/07/2018 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Canada Jr. Team.
09/12/2017 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Ontario-Black.
03/21/2017 RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Canada Jr. Team.