Prospect Previews: Relievers
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Let me say at the onset, the Rangers will tell you over and over again that
they want their best arms starting. There is perhaps an exception every now
and again, but that's generally true. So one way of looking at the guys on
this list is that it consists of guys who aren't good enough to start.
Guys who come up as relievers rarely amount to a whole lot in the big
leagues. Most of the time the top relievers see the pen only after they reach
the majors (Mo Rivera, Billy Wagner, Eric Gagne, Jonathan Papelbon, Joe
Nathan, Brad Lidge, Jason Isringhausen, Eddie Guardado etc.).
Yes, I know that Coco Cordero, Huston Street and Todd Jones were relievers
from they day they turned pro. I'm not saying that there are no exceptions to
the rule, but overall minor league relievers are about the least likely
players to ever make a significant impact in the big leagues.
Accordingly, I don't get too excited about right-handed relievers who post
pretty good numbers in the minors. I'm looking for guys who -- for some
reason or other -- have a reasonably good chance to contribute in the majors
someday. And that means that they project as a LOOGY ('lefty one out guy') or
there is a chance that they might become starters some day.
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5) Beau Jones (LH) -- 6'1", 200 lbs. (2007 Trade) -- DOB: 8 / 25 / 1986
Jones was a supplemental first rounder for Atlanta in 2005 and embarked on an
uneven career as a starter in the Braves system until he was traded to Texas
in July, 2007 and reported for duty at Class-A Clinton.
He flourished in the MWL over the final month of the 2007 season and then
opened 2008 in Bakersfield where he outstanding, especially when he moved to
the bullpen.
In 13 relief appearances for the Blaze last summer, Jones posted a 1.11 ERA
and held the opposition to a .202 batting average (after getting hit at a
.286 rate in four starts), and he held Cal League lefties to a .216 / .286 /
.255 line.
Jones then moved on to Frisco for the final month of the year and held both
lefties and righties to a .200 batting average while fanning a batter an
inning. He had control problems against righties, but managed to more or
less keep lefties from doing any damage (.200 / .250 / .333).
Jones can bring a fastball in the 90-93 range and has a hard curve that is
tough on lefties.
2009 Projection: I anticipate that Jones will return to Frisco's bullpen on
opening day 2009, but if he continues to mow down lefties in the manner he
did last year, he could emerge as a viable LOOGY ('lefty one out guy') for
the Rangers at some point in 2009.
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4) Pedro Strop (RH) -- 6'0", 175 lbs. (FA 2008) -- DOB: 6 / 13 / 1985
The Rangers signed this former shortstop-turned- pitcher almost the minute he
became a free agent this fall.
Strop's third season as a pitcher ended in April after just seven appearances
when he suffered a stress fracture in the tip of his elbow. The previous
season, he was shut down in early August with elbow tendonitis after fanning
an incredible 12.35 per nine in 54.1 innings of work at Advanced-A Modesto.
When he's healthy, Strop is pretty interesting. He deals a 94ish fastball
with a lot of armside run, a power slider at 84-86 mph and a nasty splitter
(see the fourth pitch in the video). His mechanics are bizarre: his arm
action can be incredibly short -- Baseball America referred to it as a
"dart-throwing" motion -- but the Rockies worked on lengthening it and you
can see that from time to time in his video.
His arm speed is crazy.
2009 Projection: I would expect to see Strop open the season as Frisco's
closer, assuming he's healthy and makes it through the Rule 5 draft. He's got
the sort of arm that could land him in Arlington next summer.
===============================================================================
3) Fabio Castillo (RH) -- 6'1", 190 lbs. (2005 Int'l FA) -- D.O.B. 2 / 19 /
1989
I'm sort of cheating here because, even though he spent almost all of the
2008 season in the Clinton bullpen, the Rangers still see Castillo as a
starter at some point in the future.
Castillo's numbers don't match up with his stuff and his potential. A year
ago, Castillo was ranked as the Northwest League's number five prospect. This
year, he struggled in the Midwest League. But the Rangers weren't as
disappointed by his performance (5.48 ERA in 90.1 innings of work including
seven starts and 29 relief appearances).
Rick Adair told me last month that he was happy with the work that the 19
year old Castillo did in Clinton and made a point to praise his maturity,
saying that he became a team leader for the Lumberkings.
At his best, Castillo deals a 92-95 mph fastball with a ton of life ("boring
action" according to a NWL scout who followed him in 2007; "plus-plus late
life" according to another) and a hard slider that sits 83 and tops out at 86
mph.
2009 Projection: I suspect that the Rangers used 2008 as more of a learning
experience for Castillo than anything else. Having put 90 innings under his
belt last year, I think you'll probably see him return to Class-A -- in
Hickory this time -- where he'll spend the bulk of the season in their
rotation. He could be the top breakout star in the system in 2009. His stuff
is that good.
===============================================================================
2) Joseph Ortiz (LH) -- 5'7", 175 lbs. (Int'l F.A., 2007) -- D.O.B. 8 / 13 /
1990
After seeing just one appearance from this little guy in the AZL, the Rangers
aggressively sent the 17 year old to Clinton and he responded by dominating
hitters who were -- on average -- five years his senior.
In 23 Midwest League appearances spanning 32 innings, Ortiz posted a 1.97 ERA
and held the opposition to a .204 batting average. His splits were almost
dead even.
Ortiz brings a 90-92 mph fastball and a plus slider that breaks in hard on
the hands or right-handed hitters. He also flashes a useable change. Ortiz --
who Rick Adair describes as "a compelling guy who energizes people around
him" -- is extremely aggressive and confident on the mound and off of it.
2009 Projection: Ortiz is so young, it's hard to say what he can or can't
become, but when anyone that young has that sort of success at a full-season
level, you stand up and take notice. Adair doesn't think that Ortiz will
eventually become a starter, so I would expect him to break camp with
Bakersfield and pitch out of their bullpen at the beginning of the year.
===============================================================================
1) Corey Young (LH) -- 6'2", 185 lbs. (2008 12th Rounder) -- DOB: 12 / 30 /
1986
Young was Seton Hall's ace this spring, fanning 78 in 74.1 innings spanning
11 starts and earning first team All Big East honors. Scouts projected him as
a 7th to 12th rounder and the Rangers found him still on the board when their
pick came up in the 12th.
Young signed quickly and reported to Spokane where he was assigned to the
bullpen and put up some outstanding numbers, saving seven games in ten
chances, posting a 2.79 ERA and racking up 34 strikeouts while walking 14 in
29 innings.
His peripherals were even better than his core numbers. He held the
opposition to a .185 batting average and lefties simply had no chance,
hitting .105 / .244 / .132 against the New Jersey native. His combo of a
10.55 K/9 and 3.23 G/F ratio is rare and valuable.
The lefty brings a heavy 89-91 mph sinking fastball that runs in on the hands
of lefties, a solid 11-5 bender and a good change.
2009 Projection: Young should move fast and figures to become the Rangers'
LOOGY within the next couple of years. Among the relievers in the system, I
project Young as the most likely to contribute to the major league club in
spite of the fact that he's still four full-season levels away from
Arlington. An opening day assignment to Bakersfield is possible and I
practically expect him to see Frisco by the end of the year.
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