Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Signed by the Braves during October of the 2018-19 international period for just $35,000, Salinas blossomed into an intriguing talent who the A’s coveted as part of the prospect haul they received in the three-team Sean Murphy deal in December 2022. With injuries limiting him to just 71 2/3 innings this past season, he was sent to the Arizona Fall League for extra work, making six starts and striking out 23 batters while walking 12 in 19 innings. He reached Triple-A in 2024, but his season ended at the end of May with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Salinas is a true power arm with a fastball that touches 98 mph. His power slider is also an electric offering that generates a lot of swing-and-miss with good sinking action. He rounds out his arsenal with a crisp curveball and a developing changeup that is a clear fourth pitch.

Salinas continued to work on refining his command in the Fall League, though he still has work to do in order to prove he can stay in the zone consistently. After showing up to Minor League camp out of shape last season, it was encouraging that he arrived at his first big league camp this year appearing trimmer and more prepared. He remains in a starting role, though his high-octane arm could eventually lead him to the bullpen.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Salinas was a diamond in the rough during the 2018-19 international period, signing with the Braves for just $35,000 in October 2018. Joining the A’s as part of the prospect haul they received in the three-team Sean Murphy deal in December 2022, he was hoping to build on what was a strong campaign last year when he racked up 175 strikeouts and a 3.55 ERA in 109 innings across two levels of A-ball, but a forearm strain limited his progress.

Salinas is a prototypical power pitcher with his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. His repertoire features a fastball that can touch 99 mph and a power slider that has flashed plus and seems to be developing into a wipeout pitch. He also throws a curveball and changeup, though usage of both is mostly limited to when he’s facing left-handed hitters.

The high three-quarters delivery that Salinas utilizes requires a lot of effort and could very well be what is leading to his high walk rate throughout the Minors. The A’s plan to keep him in a starting role, though staying there for the long term is likely going to require a serious polishing of his arm slot. Given his impressive fastball-slider combo, it might not be the worst thing in the world to move him to the bullpen, where he could really stand out as a high-octane reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

The 2018-19 international signing period was a bit of an in-between stage for the Braves. They were limited to no more than $300,000 on how much they could spend on an international free agent because they had previously gone over their pool, but this was a year before penalties were set due to their signing infractions. They may have managed to find a bargain in Salinas, who signed for just $35K in October 2018, made a huge splash in his 2021 United States debut and has kept missing bats to earn a promotion from Single-A to High-A in 2022. The A’s took notice and acquired him as part of the package in the three-team deal that made Sean Murphy a Brave.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander has a power repertoire, starting with a fastball that has touched as high as 98 mph. It pairs nicely with a slider that has the makings of an eventual plus wipeout pitch, a big reason for his huge strikeout rates. He does mix in a slower curve and a changeup, with the former a bit better.

There’s a lot of effort in Salinas’ delivery, which has led to some strike-throwing issues. The Braves let the right-hander start to develop his repertoire, but don’t be surprised to see him in a bullpen one day, touching triple digits with a high-octane fastball-slider combination.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
05/01/2022

CAR Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
04/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/01/2024	Atlanta Braves claimed RHP Royber Salinas off waivers from Oakland Athletics.
	10/01/2024	Oakland Athletics recalled RHP Royber Salinas from Las Vegas Aviators.
	07/24/2024	Las Vegas Aviators placed RHP Royber Salinas on the full-season injured list.
	07/24/2024	Las Vegas Aviators placed RHP Royber Salinas on the full-season injured list.
	06/02/2024	Las Vegas Aviators placed RHP Royber Salinas on the 7-day injured list.
	05/30/2024	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Las Vegas Aviators from Midland RockHounds.
	05/12/2024	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Midland RockHounds from Las Vegas Aviators.
	05/06/2024	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Las Vegas Aviators from Midland RockHounds.
	04/05/2024	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Midland RockHounds.
	03/10/2024	Oakland Athletics optioned RHP Royber Salinas to Las Vegas Aviators.
	03/07/2024	Oakland Athletics Prospects activated RHP Royber Salinas.
	11/14/2023	Oakland Athletics selected the contract of RHP Royber Salinas from Midland RockHounds.
	09/26/2023	Midland RockHounds activated RHP Royber Salinas.
	09/22/2023	Mesa Solar Sox activated RHP Royber Salinas.
	09/13/2023	Midland RockHounds transferred RHP Royber Salinas to the Development List.
	07/28/2023	Midland RockHounds activated RHP Royber Salinas from the 7-day injured list.
	07/19/2023	Midland RockHounds sent RHP Royber Salinas on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	07/19/2023	Midland RockHounds sent RHP Royber Salinas on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	06/08/2023	Midland RockHounds placed RHP Royber Salinas on the 7-day injured list.
	04/06/2023	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Midland RockHounds.
	12/12/2022	Atlanta Braves traded RHP Freddy Tarnok, C Manny Piña, RHP Royber Salinas, 2B Esteury Ruiz and LHP Kyle Muller to Oakland Athletics for C Sean Murphy.
	12/12/2022	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Stockton Ports.
	05/03/2022	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Rome Braves from Augusta GreenJackets.
	10/22/2021	RHP Royber Salinas, and assigned to Caribes de Anzoategui.
	09/07/2021	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	06/28/2021	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to FCL Braves.
	06/28/2021	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to FCL Braves from DSL Braves.
	05/31/2019	RHP Royber Salinas assigned to DSL Braves.
	10/09/2018	Atlanta Braves signed free agent RHP Royber Salinas to a minor league contract.