Braves trade Jason Grilli to Blue Jays for prospect Sean Ratcliffe

The Atlanta Braves have traded veteran relief pitcher Jason Grilli to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitching prospect Sean Ratcliffe. Here's a quick look at the newest member of the burgeoning Braves farm operation.

Sean Ratcliffe, RHP: Ratcliffe is a local talent for the Jays, drafted in the 18th round in 2013 from Ajax, Ontario. He was mainly a catcher in high school but the Jays were impressed with his arm strength and moved him to the mound full-time. He spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the Gulf Coast League, struggling with his command, but took a step forward in the Northwest League in 2015, posting a 3.60 ERA in 40 innings with a 30/16 K/BB and 36 hits allowed. He is currently in extended spring training and hasn't pitched in a 2016 regular game yet.

Ratcliffe has good size at 6-4, 200. The 21-year-old throws hard, reportedly in the low-to-mid-90s, but his secondary pitches (primarily a slider) need polish as does his overall command. His strikeout rate is rather low for a guy who throws hard, reflecting the need for sharper secondaries, but his walk rate did improve dramatically last year.

He is a Grade C prospect at this point, a live arm who may or may not become something more.

The only video I can find of Ratcliffe is from back when he was a catcher before being drafted. It does give you some idea of his arm strength.