big fastball, big frame, big-time upside — but command is the whole game
Stokes is a 6-foot-6, hard-throwing right-hander whose heater has reportedly touched 100 mph, with a sharp slider that gives him real late-inning juice; in the 2026 season at Florida State, he appeared in 18 games and struck out 25 batters in 17 2/3 innings, but a 5.60 ERA and 20 walks showed the command volatility that keeps him from being plug-and-play. He was drafted by the Rays in 2026, and the appeal is obvious: power, intimidation, and swing-and-miss stuff. The catch? He needs tighter strike-throwing to fully cash in on that ace-of-the-bullpen ceiling.
