>>Cate followed up his 5-1, 2.73 freshman year by going 4-3, 3.33 with 102 strikeouts and 31 walks in 75.2 innings as a sophomore this spring. He threw five scoreless innings with Team USA after his freshman year, then assumed a more prominent role this summer, posting a 0.75 ERA and leading the team with 20 strikeouts against just four walks in 12 innings over five relief appearances. Not overly physical at 6-foot, 187 pounds, Cate is wiry, loose and very athletic, with a clean over-the-top arm slot. He pitched comfortably at 90-92 and bumped 93 this summer, and he has the ability to change planes effectively with his heater. His calling card is a wipeout power curve at 81-83 with devastating 12-to-6 depth, and he has a rare ability to throw it for a strike or use it as a chase. It comes out of the same high tunnel as his fastball and then spins into the zone with tight rotation, giving hitters fits. His changeup garners plenty of plus grades, and some scouts project it as a 65 to 70 offering. Team USA pitching coach Troy Buckley worked hard with Cate on developing his changeup, and he made real strides with it as the summer progressed. It’s a firm changeup at 84-86 — harder than it was in the spring — but he has learned to throw it for strikes consistently with good fade. The emergence of that third pitch to go along with a solid-average fastball and at least a plus curveball gives Cate the arsenal to stick as a starter in pro ball, assuming he can withstand the workload physically.<<