Scouting Report

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

Carela created some buzz by pushing his fastball to 96 mph shortly after signing with the Yankees for $335,000 in July 2018, but he hasn't picked up any additional velocity since. He now leans heavily on his slider and it helped him record a 3.71 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A in 2024, his first full season in the White Sox system. They picked him up in a 2023 Trade Deadline deal for Keynan Middleton and added him to their 40-man roster last November. He was on track to reach the big leagues this year but instead will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery in March.

The Yankees specialize in teaching pitchers to throw sweeping sliders, and Carela's low-80s version induces plenty of chases, though it does get pounded when he doesn't locate it down in the zone. He uses his slider more than his two-seam fastball, which usually ranges from 92-94 mph and generates a lot of weak groundball contact with its sink. He also mixes in a cutter and an occasional fading changeup, both of which arrive in the mid-80s.

Carela has the athleticism to repeat his delivery and provide consistent strikes. If he can improve his command and develop a second better-than-average pitch, he could become a No. 4 starter. If not, he has a future as a slider-happy reliever.

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

Carela's fastball touched 96 mph shortly after he signed with the Yankees for $335,000 in July 2018, but it hasn't added any velocity since. He logged a 6.90 ERA in his first two pro seasons before improving his slider, which has allowed him to successfully navigate both Class A levels the last two years. The White Sox acquired him in an August trade for Keynan Middleton.

The Yankees love sweeping sliders, and Carela picked up a solid low-80s version that he can turn into a more traditional slide piece in the mid-80s. He falls in love with his sweeper too much and will have to use his 91-96 mph two-seam fastball with sink more often against more advanced hitters. His upper-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup are average offerings.

Carela is athletic and has a clean delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to throw consistent strikes. If he can refine his command and find a second better-than-average pitch, he could slot in the back of a rotation. Otherwise, he'll probably wind up as a slider-happy middle reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

The Yankees zeroed in on Carela in the Dominican Republic because of his projectability, and his fastball jumped from the upper 80s to the low 90s just before he signed for $335,000 in July 2018. He touched 96 mph during the Dominican Summer League that fall, but he posted a 6.90 ERA in his first two pro seasons. He finally found success when he threw more strikes in Single-A last year, though his control regressed following a promotion to High-A in August. 

Carela employs two versions of a fastball, ranging from 90-96 mph with a sinking two-seamer and a riding four-seamer. He also has two sliders: a low-80s sweeper that the Yankees favor and a traditional slide piece with tighter break in the mid-80s. The sweeper has more upside than any of his pitches, though he falls in love with it too much. 

Carela's mid-80s changeup lags behind the rest of his pitches and could use more life and velocity separation from his fastball. One of the more athletic pitchers in the system, he has a clean arm action and should be able to locate his offerings better than he has. His ability to improve his control and command will determine whether he becomes a No. 4 starter vs. a slider-happy reliever. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Carela's projectability was one of his best attributes as a Dominican amateur and he began to deliver on it even before he officially turned pro in July 2018. His fastball topped out in the upper 80s that spring before popping some 92s shortly before he signed for $335,000, and he reached 96 during the Dominican instructional league that fall. He logged a 6.90 ERA in his first two pro seasons sandwiched around the 2020 shutdown, then took a leap forward in Single-A this year.

Carela generally works from 90-96 mph with a riding four-seamer and a sinking two-seamer. He has a traditional slider with tighter break in the mid-80s and a sweeper in the low 80s that the Yankees preach to their pitchers, The latter shows signs of becoming a plus pitch but he relies on it too heavily at the expense of his fastball and changeup.

A work in progress, Carela needs to add some life and velocity separation to his mid-80s cambio. With his clean arm action, he should throw more strikes than he has early in his pro career. More strength would help him add more power to his stuff and maintain it deeper into games, bolstering his chances of becoming a No. 4 starter.

Awards

SAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/23/2023

FSL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
06/12/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/06/2025	ACL White Sox activated RHP Juan Carela.
	04/19/2025	ACL White Sox placed RHP Juan Carela on the full-season injured list.
	04/19/2025	Chicago White Sox signed free agent RHP Juan Carela to a minor league contract.
	04/19/2025	RHP Juan Carela assigned to ACL White Sox.
	04/10/2025	Chicago White Sox released RHP Juan Carela.
	04/10/2025	Birmingham Barons released RHP Juan Carela.
	03/23/2025	Birmingham Barons placed RHP Juan Carela on the full-season injured list.
	03/07/2025	Chicago White Sox optioned RHP Juan Carela to Birmingham Barons.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Juan Carela.
	11/19/2024	Chicago White Sox selected the contract of RHP Juan Carela from Birmingham Barons.
	08/06/2024	RHP Juan Carela assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem Dash.
	07/19/2024	Winston-Salem Dash activated RHP Juan Carela.
	07/09/2024	Winston-Salem Dash transferred RHP Juan Carela to the Development List.
	08/01/2023	Chicago White Sox traded RHP Keynan Middleton to New York Yankees for RHP Juan Carela.
	08/01/2023	RHP Juan Carela assigned to Winston-Salem Dash.
	08/04/2022	RHP Juan Carela assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Tampa Tarpons.
	08/07/2021	RHP Juan Carela assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
	07/24/2019	RHP Juan Carela assigned to GCL Yankees East from GCL Yankees West.
	07/23/2019	RHP Juan Carela assigned to GCL Yankees West from GCL Yankees East.
	06/24/2019	RHP Juan Carela assigned to GCL Yankees East from DSL Yankees.
	05/31/2019	RHP Juan Carela assigned to DSL Yankees.
	07/02/2018	New York Yankees signed free agent RHP Juan Carela to a minor league contract.