Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Forcucci flew under the radar as a southern California prepster but emerged as UC San Diego's Friday-night starter by the end of his freshman season. He continued to improve and generated first-round buzz when he dominated in his first five starts last spring, only to blow out his elbow in March and have Tommy John surgery three months later. The Astros still made him the highest-drafted pitcher in Triton history and paid him an over-slot $997,500 in the third round.

Forcucci's fastball sits as 92-95 mph and touches 97 with a nasty combination of low-release height, carry and armside run. His mid-80s slider also grades as a plus pitch at times with tight spin and nice depth. He also mixes in a fading upper-80s changeup that's too firm and a fringy upper-70s curveball.

With a simple delivery that he repeats well, Forcucci provided strikes throughout his college career and posted a 37/6 K/BB ratio in 25 innings before he got hurt as a junior. He probably won't make his pro debut until late in the 2025 season, but once he regains his stuff and feel, he could move quickly. He's a potential mid-rotation starter with a strong mound presence and a higher floor than most of Houston's mound prospects.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Unheralded as a southern California high schooler, Forcucci headed to UC San Diego and steadily improved throughout his college career. He created first-round buzz with five strong starts to open the 2024 season, but his elbow gave out in mid-March and he had Tommy John surgery three months later. The Astros still made him the highest-drafted pitcher in Tritons history, popping him in the third round and signed him for an over-slot $997,500.

College hitters couldn't touch Forcucci's fastball this spring, when it operated at 92-95 mph and touched 97 with a combination of low release height, carry and armside run. His mid-80s slider also showed signs of becoming a plus pitch with tight spin and good depth. Those are his two main weapons, and he'll also mix in a decent-if-firm upper-80s changeup with fade and a fringy upper-70s curveball.

With a simple delivery that he repeats easily, Forcucci pounded the zone more than ever in 2024 and posted a 37/6 K/BB ratio in 25 innings before he got hurt. Though he won't make his pro debut until late in 2025, he has mid-rotation starter potential. Once he regains his stuff and feel, he could advance quickly.

Video scouting report »

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

Forcucci wasn’t much of a prospect coming out of San Marco High School, so he headed south to pitch at UC San Diego. He stepped right into the weekend rotation on Sundays as a freshman, eventually taking over the Friday night role. He spent most of the 2023 season as a starter as well, though he also pitched out of the Tritons' bullpen, showing good stuff and projectability. He was off to a very strong start as the No. 1 starter but was sidelined for an extended period after his fifth start of the spring.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander has gained a few ticks velocity-wise since his freshman year, when he was averaging just under 91 mph with his fastball. In 2023, his heater averaged around 93 mph and touched 96-97 with plus life, something that continued at the start of his junior year. It's a pitch that rides and runs at the top of the zone. His mid-80s slider misses a lot of bats and features late turn. He’ll throw an occasional slower curve early in counts, and while he doesn’t use it much, he’s shown feel for a solid changeup as well.

Scouts love Forcucci’s delivery as much as his stuff, with repeatable mechanics and an ability to throw strikes. The one question about the projectable right-hander concerns his durability. He’s averaged around only four innings per outing during his two years at San Diego, and after impressing scouts early this fall, he had to shut down a planned outing because of back spasms. Missing time this spring hasn’t helped answer those questions, as Forcucci still hasn’t shown he can pitch deeper into games routinely.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/06/2025	FCL Astros activated RHP Ryan Forcucci from the 60-day injured list.
	03/18/2025	FCL Astros placed RHP Ryan Forcucci on the 60-day injured list.
	08/05/2024	RHP Ryan Forcucci assigned to FCL Astros.
	07/27/2024	Houston Astros signed RHP Ryan Forcucci.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated RHP Ryan Forcucci.
	02/15/2023	RHP Ryan Forcucci assigned to UC San Diego Tritons.
	03/14/2022	RHP Ryan Forcucci and assigned to UC San Diego Tritons.