60ft6in – Pitcher Scouting Reports

Wandy Rodriguez / LHP / starter

Rodriguez is a simple three-pitch pitcher. He throws a big curve between 72-78 mph, a straight changeup in the low-80s, and a straight fastball in the upper-80s. Wandy was a member of the 2007 Caribbean Series champion Aguilas Cibaenas. 6/24/11

[fastball(86-94), curve(72-80), changeup(80-86)]



Brett Myers / RHP / starter

Myers throws moving fastballs and a hard overhand curve, and relies on this combination most of the time. It can be a dominant duo of pitches if he is getting ahead with the fastball to set up the big breaker. During his career, Myers has switched between throwing a splitter and a changeup as his off-speed pitch. As a starting pitcher, he uses his changeup most of the time, but will mix in a split when he's going for a strikeout. Myers also throws a slider, a pitch that can resemble more of a cutter when he throws it inside to LHs. As a closer in 2007, Myers piled up Ks and threw 95 mph. As a starter, he'll usually pitch around 89-92 mph.

Myers is known as one of the biggest idiots in baseball. He is a D-Bag in every sense of the word and the Astros are already regretting the contract they gave to this clown. 8/13/11

[fastball(86-91), curve(74-77), slider(81-87), changeup(81-83), splitter(85-86)]

J.A. Happ / LHP / starter

Happ shows some promise. He is six-feet tall, left-handed, and throws a 90 mph fastball. He has consistently posted good minor league numbers and looks like he might translate it to the major league level. Happ owns a tight slider that he uses often. He likes to try and go inside to RHs with it, burying it at their ankles, or throw it away from LHs. Happ will also show an improving changeup to RHs and mix in a very slow curveball. 9/17/10 CSJ

[fastball(87-93), slider(80-85), changeup(75-82), curve(73-79)]

Bud Norris / RHP / starter

Norris has a great arm. He can pump his fastball into the upper-90s and throw his slider at 90 mph. Unfortunately, to this point in his career, he's had trouble getting out of his own way. Control is not his strong suit, posting walk rates over four per nine innings in his first two major league seasons. Norris uses a changeup as his third pitch, and will seldomly flip a curveball as his fourth. Norris was the 2009 PCL Pitcher of the Year. 5/15/11

[fastball(90-97), slider(83-91), changeup(82-86), curve(79)]

Wilton Lopez / RHP / reliever

Lopez is a right-handed relief pitcher from Leon, Nicaragua. Lopez has great control, rarely walking a batter. He uses a good 2-seamer and combines it with a standard slider and changeup. Nothing in his arsenal is rated as a plus pitch, but again, it's his control that makes him successful. 8/14/11

[fastball(90-94), changeup(83-86), slider(83-84)]

Brandon Lyon / RHP / reliever

Lyon owns a varied repertoire for a reliever. He has a hard, moving fastball that can touch the mid-90s at times. His second pitch is a big overhand curve that buckles knees. He'll also show a cutter to both sides of the plate and a straight changeup to LHs, giving him four quality pitches. 5/15/11

[fastball(88-93), cutter( 89-91), curve(75-79), changeup(80-81)]

Fernando Abad / LHP / reliever

Abad is a junk-balling left-hander with a high major league walk rate. He throws tons of soft changeups to RHs and sweeping curves to LHs. The Dominican would rather walk a batter than give in with his 90 mph BP fastball. 5/15/11

[fastball(87-94), curve(75-79), changeup(72-81)]

Henry Villar / RHP / reliever

Villar shows an excellent changeup. El cambio takes a dive about 3/4 of the way to home plate and looks baffling. His fastball velocity leaves something to be desired, and his slider hangs something scary. Henry is only 23 years old, and still has time to refine his repertoire. 9/17/10 CSJ

[fastball(89-92), changeup(84-86), slider(80-83)]

Wesley Wright / LHP / reliever

Wesley is a young lefty the Astros selected in the December 2007 Rule 5 draft. He has a live arm that produces a low-90s fastball and sweeping slider. He has shown me a slow curveball as well. Wesley produced good K totals in 2008, but still needs to work on his control. 10/24/08 CSJ

[fastball(90-93), slider(82-86), curve(77-78), changeup]

Kyle Weiland / RHP / starter - reliever

Weiland is a kid from Notre Dame that has quickly risen through the Red Sox farm system. His stuff is less than dominating, but he gets good movement on his fastball and can mix in two quality breaking pitches. Weiland was ejected in his first major league game. 9/7/11

[2-seam fastball(90-94), slider(85-87), curve(77-78), changeup]

Alberto Arias / RHP / reliever

Alberto Arias throws a moving 90 mph fastball and a hard breaking curve. I have not seen an offspeed pitch from Arias. 6/23/08 CSJ

[fastball(91-94), curve(80-83)]

Zach Duke / LHP / starter

Duke has a full four pitch repertoire, and uses all of his pitches often. He throws a moving fastball around 90 mph that doesn't overpower hitters. Duke has a straight changeup, unafraid to throw it to both RHs and LHs. The curveball is a standard big breaker, and the lefty also mixes in sweeping sliders. He'll vary his slider anywhere between 77-85 mph, using it both as a chase pitch for LHs and a bust pitch for RHs. 7/30/08 CSJ

[fastball(86-91), curve(71-76), slider(77-85), changeup(80-84)]

Livan Hernandez / RHP / starter

Livan has regressed to a low-80s fastball and slurvey breaking pitches. He starts with his fastball, a pitch that gets some sink and tail, but is very hittable. Then Livan will flip up multiple sliders in the 70s and a curveball that he varies considerably. The curve can be anywhere between 60 to 70 mph. Livan's fourth pitch is a changeup that he'll throw to LHs or RHs. He gives up tons of hits but can pitch deep into ballgames when going well. 8/13/11

[fastball(80-86), slider(75-81), curve(60-70), changeup(74-78)]

Ryan Rowland-Smith / LHP / starter - reliever

Rowland "Dash" Smith deals a full four-pitch repertoire and none of his stuff looks overly impressive. He has an average, upper-80s fastball that he spots well. Ryan owns a big, slow curveball, that he can drop in for strikes, or get swings and misses with. R-Smith will often mix in a changeup to both RHs and LHs. His fourth pitch is a standard slider.

Rowland-Smith is from one of the most famous athletic families in Australia. His father is a sports trainer known as The Sandhill Warrior, and his sister is a professional surfer. 8/18/09 CSJ

[fastball(86-92), curve(68-74), changeup(78-83), slider(77-80)]

Enerio Del Rosario / RHP / reliever

[fastball(88-92), slider(80-84), changeup(87)]

Sergio Escalona / LHP / reliever

[fastball(89-91), curve(77-80), changeup(79-81)]

Jose Valdez / RHP / reliever

[fastball(93-94), splitter(77-86)]