Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40 

After posting an 0.41 ERA as a sophomore in 2022, Denton encored this spring by helping Oral Roberts become just the third No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series since the playoff field expanded to 16 four-team regionals in 1999. He tied for the NCAA Division I lead with a school-record 15 saves, closed out all three wins at the Stillwater Regional to earn MVP honors there and picked up a super-regional victory over Oregon. The Summit League pitcher of the year, he's the Golden Eagles' best pitching prospect since 2013 first-rounder Chi Chi Gonzalez. 

Denton attacks with two pitches that move in opposite directions and work against both left-handers and right-handers. His fastball sits at 93-95 mph and reaches 99, approaching the plate on a flat angle before veering toward the right. His low-80s slider is a slightly better offering that breaks toward the left and also features good depth. 

Denton occasionally will unveil an upper-80s changeup, but he's mainly a two-pitch guy who racks up a lot of empty swings and weak ground balls with his fastball and slider. He's athletic and repeatedly fills the strike zone while working from a nearly sidearm slot that provides deception. While he's purely a reliever, he's one of the best in this Draft. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40 

Denton put himself on the map as a college reliever when he posted a 0.41 ERA as a sophomore for Oral Roberts in 2022. He then tied for the NCAA Division I lead with a school-record 15 saves and helped the Golden Eagles become just the third No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series. He was named the Stillwater Regional MVP for his efforts, and the Summit League pitcher of the year landed in the sixth round and received an over-slot $500,000 bonus from the Rockies. He’s the type of reliever who could move quickly, though he was slowed out of the gate in his first full season as he stayed behind to strengthen his shoulder before being sent out.

A 6-foot-3 right-hander, Denton relies heavily on two above-average pitches that move in opposite directions that work against hitters on both sides of the plate. His fastball tops out at 99 mph and typically sits in the 93-95 mph range, coming to the plate on a flat angle before veering right. He complements the heater with a low-80s slider that’s a tick better than his fastball. It breaks left and features good depth.

Denton does have an upper-80s changeup that he’ll use on occasion, but he’s mostly a fastball-slider guy who misses bats and gets weak contact on the ground with those two offerings. He’s athletic on the mound and finds the strike zone consistently working from a lower, almost sidearm slot that adds funk and deception. Assuming Denton remains healthy, he should be able to climb the Rockies’ ladder rapidly.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40 

After posting an 0.41 ERA as a sophomore in 2022, Denton encored this spring by helping Oral Roberts become just the third No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series since the playoff field expanded to 16 four-team regionals in 1999. He tied for the NCAA Division I lead with a school-record 15 saves, closed out all three wins at the Stillwater Regional to earn MVP honors there and picked up a super-regional victory over Oregon. The Summit League pitcher of the year, he was the Golden Eagles' best pitching prospect since 2013 first-rounder Chi Chi Gonzalez and got an over-slot bonus of $500,000 as the Rockies’ sixth-round pick.

Denton attacks with two pitches that move in opposite directions and work against both left-handers and right-handers. His fastball sits at 93-95 mph and reaches 99, approaching the plate on a flat angle before veering toward the right. His low-80s slider is a slightly better offering that breaks toward the left and also features good depth. 

Denton occasionally will unveil an upper-80s changeup, but he's mainly a two-pitch guy who racks up a lot of empty swings and weak ground balls with his fastball and slider. He's athletic and repeatedly fills the strike zone while working from a nearly sidearm slot that provides deception. While he's purely a reliever, he was one of the best in this Draft and should move quickly through the Rockies system.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/20/2024	RHP Cade Denton assigned to Spokane Indians from Fresno Grizzlies.
	05/21/2024	RHP Cade Denton assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from ACL Rockies.
	04/02/2024	RHP Cade Denton assigned to ACL Rockies from Fresno Grizzlies.
	03/07/2024	Colorado Rockies Prospects activated RHP Cade Denton.
	08/29/2023	RHP Cade Denton assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from ACL Rockies.
	08/01/2023	RHP Cade Denton assigned to ACL Rockies.
	07/17/2023	Colorado Rockies signed RHP Cade Denton.