8. Alberto Tirado, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)
Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 177. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.
When everything clicked for Tirado this summer, he was one of the most electric arms in the short-season leagues. He has a thin, wiry build with natural strength and long arms, and he showed No. 2 starter potential.
Tirado’s fastball touched 98 mph and sat at 92-94. He flashed two plus sliders: a hard, late-breaking 87-89 mph offering that he uses as a putaway pitch and a slower version in the mid-80s. His breaking stuff is ahead of his changeup, but all of his offspeed pitches lack consistency. He’s still learning his mechanics and the tempo of his delivery but improved as the summer went on.
“The biggest thing with him is getting him to pitch and not overthrow,” an opposing coach said. “The arm is there. It’s just the delivery, because it’s a dynamite arm.”
12. Jairo Labourt, lhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)
Age: 19. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 204. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.
Labourt has a big, strong build made to handle innings, and he fits a unique profile as a big Dominican lefthander. The last southpaw countryman as tall or taller than Labourt was 6-foot-5 Marlins reliever Frank Gracesqui in 2004.
Labourt has significantly improved during his time in the system and entered the season in much better shape and with improved mechanics. He had a mid-80s fastball two years ago but now sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with run and sink. He has advanced feel for a changeup with good arm-side fade, and it could be an above-average pitch. His slider is inconsistent, as he doesn’t always get on top of it and often throws it too hard. It flashes plus at its best with 1-to-7 tilt.
Labourt’s fastball-changeup combo and potentially above-average command allow him to profile as a starter, as will a sound delivery that he repeats well. Still, some scouts think his short finish and body type would play better out of the pen.
W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
2 2 1.92 12 8 0 52 39 16 11 2 14 45 .204
16. Adonys Cardona, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)
Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 170. Signed: Venezuela, 2010.
Cardona signed for a $2.8 million, the top bonus amount on the 2010 international market and a record for a Venezuelan amateur. He has not progressed as quickly as expected, however, producing mediocre results and battling a balky elbow that got him shut down early this season. Still, there’s lightning in his arm.
Cardona has a strong, athletic build and sits 92-94 mph, hitting 98 at his best. He has advanced feel for an 80-83 mph changeup with tremendous tumble. He scrapped his curveball in favor of a mid-80s slider but has struggled to command it.
“The sky is the limit for him if everything clicks. He could be a No. 1 starter,” a pitching coach said. “It might click tomorrow and he will be in the big leagues in three years, or he might not and he might be home in three years. A tough one, but the potential is there.”
Cardona struggled to throw strikes, working from a near over-the-top arm slot that inhibits his ability to get extension. The Blue Jays are working on dropping him to a three-quarters arm slot. He’ll likely fit best in the bullpen.
W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
0 2 6.75 8 5 1 25 35 20 19 1 13 27 .327