| 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 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2 Teams | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1.71 | ||
| 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 | |
| Career Minors | 6 Teams | 7 | 11 | 3.62 | 83 | 23 | 3 | 184.0 | 139 | 88 | 74 | 16 | 117 | 245 | 1.39 |
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.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40
Another Canadian in the Royals’ system, Cerantola was once drafted in the Ontario Hockey League. He stuck with baseball and headed to Mississippi State for college. The Royals took him in the fifth round of the 2021 Draft and he has steadily progressed as a once-wild pitcher with elite stuff. Cerantola had a 31.3% strikeout rate and a 2.78 ERA in Double-A in 2024, then jumped to Triple-A for his final 13 appearances with a nearly identical strikeout rate and a 3.77 ERA. The Royals protected him from the Rule 5 Draft after the ‘24 season by adding him to their 40-man roster.
Cerantola has good stuff, he’s just struggled to put it in the strike zone in his pro career. He’s made great strides in that regard since he was drafted, but he still walked batters at a 15.5% clip in 2024. The Royals like his power arm, though, with a fastball that has reached 99-100 mph. Cerantola uses the heater a lot, which is why it can be vulnerable to contact with average movement and vert. His plus 82-87 mph breaking ball -- he calls it a curveball -- is sharp with good break and spin, missing bats and getting chase. Cerantola reintroduced a fringe-average-to-average changeup into his arsenal recently, and although he hasn’t used the 85-87 mph offering much, it will be helpful against lefties and could help the fastball play up.
Officials have always been split on whether Cerantola should start because of his pitch mix or pitch in relief because of the lack of control. He transitioned to one-to-two-inning stints at Triple-A by the end of 2025 and seems likely to stay on that track as he reaches the big leagues. The Royals can’t have him in their bullpen if he doesn’t limit the walks, but they think highly of Cerantola, who could debut by the end of the ‘25 season.
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.
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.
| Week | Team |
|---|---|
| 08/13/2023 |
|
| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
|
03/10/2025 | Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Eric Cerantola to Omaha Storm Chasers. |
|
03/06/2025 | activated RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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11/19/2024 | Kansas City Royals selected the contract of RHP Eric Cerantola from Omaha Storm Chasers. |
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08/06/2024 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Omaha Storm Chasers from Northwest Arkansas Naturals. |
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07/28/2024 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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07/23/2024 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals transferred RHP Eric Cerantola to the Development List. |
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03/07/2024 | Kansas City Royals Prospects activated RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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02/27/2024 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Kansas City Royals. |
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09/22/2023 | Surprise Saguaros activated RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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08/29/2023 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Northwest Arkansas Naturals from Quad Cities River Bandits. |
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11/08/2022 | Quad Cities River Bandits activated RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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06/24/2022 | RHP Eric Cerantola roster status changed by Quad Cities River Bandits. |
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06/24/2022 | RHP Eric Cerantola roster status changed by Quad Cities River Bandits. |
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05/24/2022 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies. |
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04/04/2022 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals Blue. |
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09/14/2021 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to ACL Royals Blue from ACL Royals Gold. |
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09/07/2021 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to ACL Royals Gold. |
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07/24/2021 | Kansas City Royals signed RHP Eric Cerantola. |
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02/01/2021 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs. |
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02/01/2021 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs. |
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06/11/2019 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs. |
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03/07/2018 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Canada Jr. Team. |
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09/12/2017 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Ontario-Black. |
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03/21/2017 | RHP Eric Cerantola assigned to Canada Jr. Team. |
