2012 Futures Game Notes: Pitchers

August 5, 2012

 

Yordano Ventura, RHP (KC) - Small kid with big time arm strength.  Ventura showed elite arm strength topping out at 100mph with his fastball. His best offspeed pitch was his change-up.  With great arm speed, his change-up has a chance to be a plus offering.  He wasn’t able to locate his slider, but it is definitely a usable pitch.  His change-up allows him to remain a starter long-term. Very impressive showing.

Jose Fernandez, RHP (MIA) - Fernandez was very impressive.  He worked his fastball from 96-98 and pounded the ball down in the zone.  He also threw a hard slider (83-85mph) with late tilt and depth. Love the attitude that he pitches with. Potential ace in the making.

Bruce Rondon, RHP (DET) - Rondon threw four pitches, all fastballs.  103, 100, 99, 99.  Best arm strength of any pitcher.  He has a little flair and cockiness about him that would fit the mold of a big league closer. 

Danny Hultzen, LHP (SEA) - Polished arm.  Moved the ball in and out.  Commanded all three of his pitches.  Solid stuff, but not overpowering.  Fastball was 91-94, slider 78-79, and change-up 81-84.  Knows how to pitch.  Not the highest ceiling of the pitcher’s in this game, but has a high floor.

Tyler Skaggs, LHP (ARZ) - Long, lean, and loose.  Pitches with angle.  Uses tall frame to his advantage.  Solid stuff.  Fastball worked from 91-93.  Curveball (73-74) with 11-5 break is his best swing and miss pitch.  Looks big league ready. 

Dylan Bundy, RHP (BAL) - Bundy looked like he was going through the motions during his inning of work.  Delivery is simple and very repeatable.  He throws four pitches for strikes. Fastball from 92-96, curveball 77-78, slider 85-86, and change-up 84-85.   Even on a bad day, Bundy showed front-line starter ability.

Jameson Taillon, RHP (PIT) - Big strong with power stuff.  He worked his fastball from 96-98 and a hard breaking ball at 82-85mph.  He gets around his breaking ball at times, causing more side break than down.  Didn’t command his breaking ball that well.  There is some effort in the delivery, but the stuff is top of the charts.  If he can command it consistently he has a chance to be really good.

Taijuan Walker, RHP (SEA) - Loose and athletic.  Smooth repeatable delivery. Fluid and under control delivery.  Commanded his fastball down in the zone.  Power stuff.  Fastball- 94-97 and curveball- 75-78 both grade out as plus offerings.  Has a chance to be special.

Alex Meyer, RHP (WAS) -  Big time arm strength.  Ran the fastball up to 99mph.  Ball exploded on the hitters.  He threw one slider that had hard late downward bite to it. It was maybe the most impressive single pitch of the game.   At 6’9”, Meyer throws with some serious angle.  Faced just two batters, but was very impressive. 

Zack Wheeler, RHP (NYM) -  Easy velo.  Ball just jumps out of his hand.  Ran the fastball up to 97.  Showed a good hard slider at 88mph with depth and tilt.

Chris Reed, LHP (LAD) -  Struggled to throw strikes.  A lot of moving parts in the delivery which causes his command issues.  Fastball worked from 87-93.  Command issues could push Reed to the bullpen.

Gerrit Cole, RHP (PIT) -  Cole showed why he was drafted #1 overall in 2011.  He touched 100mph with his fastball to go with a wipeout change-up and hard slider.  No one will ever question his stuff.  Cole runs into problems when he loses his arm angle causing his fastball and slider to flatten out and become very hittable. 

Jake Odorizzi, RHP (KC) -  If Royals fans think that Odorizzi is a savior, they are mistaken.  He has a chance to be a solid middle of the rotation type starter, but he just doesn’t have frontline stuff.  Good stuff, just not great.  Still plenty of value.

Kyle Lotzkar, RHP (CIN) -  Quick arm.  Solid fastball (93-94)-slider (82-83) combination.  Looked more like a reliever than a starter.