Helcris Olivarez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Signed for a mere $77,000 in 2016, Olivarez spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his stateside debut for Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2019. He turned in a raw but promising summer in the Pioneer League and had a big 2020 with solid showings at the alternate training site and in instructional league. Olivarez was added to the 40-man roster after the season and entered 2021 with big expectations, but he posted a 6.05 ERA for High-A Spokane.
  
  Scouting Report: Olivarez’s raw stuff is electric. He has easy fastball velocity up to 100 mph and usually sits in the high 90s. But his command is questionable and his offspeed pitches need honing, with an average changeup and a curveball that can be flat. Cleaning up and simplifying his delivery will help him achieve the release-point consistency needed to become a bonafide starter. He already creates uncomfortable at-bats from either side, but to complement his plus heat, Olivarez needs to keep a better lid on his emotions on the mound.
  
  The Future: Olivarez can be a hard-throwing back-end starter if he can learn to command his fastball. If the command doesn’t come soon, he profiles as a late-inning bullpen arm.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #11 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: . Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was relatively anonymous after signing with the Rockies for $77,000 and spending parts of three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He broke out in 2019 and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings at Rookie-level Grand Junction in his U.S. debut, albeit with a heavy dose of walks. Olivarez went to the alternate training site in 2020, turned heads in instructional league and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez may be just 20 years old, but at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he is built like a grown man. His fastball sits 94-96 mph, touches 97 and is one of the best in the Rockies’ system. His curveball is an above-average offering and is his go-to putaway pitch. His changeup flashes plus but is inconsistent. Olivarez is fully bilingual and exudes confidence on the mound. The only questions are his durability and control. He has yet to throw more than 60.2 innings in a season and is an inconsistent strike-thrower who will be stretched to reach average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez’s arm is special and he has the makeup to get the most from his abilities. He has the makings of a hard-throwing lefthanded starter if he can improve his control. 
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was little-known in the scouting community until he turned heads during extended spring training and became the buzz of the Arizona backfields. Olivarez pitched his first three seasons in the Dominican Summer League before coming stateside. He made three starts in the DSL in 2019 before moving to Rookie-level Grand Junction, where he struck out 28 percent of Pioneer League hitters.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez already has an imposing frame at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. He has a quick yet balanced delivery with a very quick arm from a low three-quarter slot with deeper plunge in back. His plus fastball sits 92-96 mph and has plenty of room to tick up as he gets stronger. His fastball plays up with life and good angle. Olivarez is still developing a breaking ball and changeup, both of which show potential but lack consistency due in part to inconsistent arm speed and finish. Olivarez has more confidence in his curveball, which has solid angle and spin when his delivery is on time, but he had more success in the Pioneer League commanding his changeup. Olivarez generates the majority of his strikeouts off his curveball, which demonstrates its potential ceiling. Olivarez's command is currently below-average, as shown by his 11.6 percent walk rate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez is a long way off but has real rotation potential if he fills out and refines his pitches and command. The Rockies will monitor his innings, and extended Spring Training is a likely starting point before a move to either short-season Boise or low Class A Asheville.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #4 prospect in 2019
  Olivarez was relatively unknown outside the Rockies' organization until his first extended spring training outing in April. That’s when serious buzz started among the backfield scouting community about the tall, projectable lefthander with a fastball touching the mid-90s. That heater is the key to Olivarez’s success. It’s a plus pitch up to 95 mph with life and good vertical movement. He has a big, projectable body, a loose arm action and tough angle. He struggles with his command at times, but shows resilience to get out of jams. "He’s got a chance to be elite,” Grand Junction manager Jake Opitz said. "A special talent.” Olivarez needs to improve his secondary stuff. He varies the length in his 73-77 mph curveball with good rotation, making it a potential plus offering in the future, but it’s a long way off. His cutting, 85-86 mph changeup lacks deception and is fringe-average.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Signed for a mere $77,000 in 2016, Olivarez spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his stateside debut for Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2019. He turned in a raw but promising summer in the Pioneer League and had a big 2020 with solid showings at the alternate training site and in instructional league. Olivarez was added to the 40-man roster after the season and entered 2021 with big expectations, but he posted a 6.05 ERA for High-A Spokane.
  
  Scouting Report: Olivarez’s raw stuff is electric. He has easy fastball velocity up to 100 mph and usually sits in the high 90s. But his command is questionable and his offspeed pitches need honing, with an average changeup and a curveball that can be flat. Cleaning up and simplifying his delivery will help him achieve the release-point consistency needed to become a bonafide starter. He already creates uncomfortable at-bats from either side, but to complement his plus heat, Olivarez needs to keep a better lid on his emotions on the mound.
  
  The Future: Olivarez can be a hard-throwing back-end starter if he can learn to command his fastball. If the command doesn’t come soon, he profiles as a late-inning bullpen arm.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: . Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was relatively anonymous after signing with the Rockies for $77,000 and spending parts of three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He broke out in 2019 and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings at Rookie-level Grand Junction in his U.S. debut, albeit with a heavy dose of walks. Olivarez went to the alternate training site in 2020, turned heads in instructional league and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez may be just 20 years old, but at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he is built like a grown man. His fastball sits 94-96 mph, touches 97 and is one of the best in the Rockies' system. His curveball is an above-average offering and is his go-to putaway pitch. His changeup flashes plus but is inconsistent. Olivarez is fully bilingual and exudes confidence on the mound. The only questions are his durability and control. He has yet to throw more than 60.2 innings in a season and is an inconsistent strike-thrower who will be stretched to reach average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez's arm is special and he has the makeup to get the most from his abilities. He has the makings of a hard-throwing lefthanded starter if he can improve his control. 
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: . Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was relatively anonymous after signing with the Rockies for $77,000 and spending parts of three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He broke out in 2019 and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings at Rookie-level Grand Junction in his U.S. debut, albeit with a heavy dose of walks. Olivarez went to the alternate training site in 2020, turned heads in instructional league and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez may be just 20 years old, but at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he is built like a grown man. His fastball sits 94-96 mph, touches 97 and is one of the best in the Rockies’ system. His curveball is an above-average offering and is his go-to putaway pitch. His changeup flashes plus but is inconsistent. Olivarez is fully bilingual and exudes confidence on the mound. The only questions are his durability and control. He has yet to throw more than 60.2 innings in a season and is an inconsistent strike-thrower who will be stretched to reach average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez’s arm is special and he has the makeup to get the most from his abilities. He has the makings of a hard-throwing lefthanded starter if he can improve his control. 
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: . Changeup: 50. Curveball: 55. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was relatively anonymous after signing with the Rockies for $77,000 and spending parts of three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He broke out in 2019 and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings at Rookie-level Grand Junction in his U.S. debut, albeit with a heavy dose of walks. Olivarez went to the alternate training site in 2020, turned heads in instructional league and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez may be just 20 years old, but at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he is built like a grown man. His fastball sits 94-96 mph, touches 97 and is one of the best in the Rockies’ system. His curveball is an above-average offering and is his go-to putaway pitch. His changeup flashes plus but is inconsistent. Olivarez is fully bilingual and exudes confidence on the mound. The only questions are his durability and control. He has yet to throw more than 60.2 innings in a season and is an inconsistent strike-thrower who will be stretched to reach average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez’s arm is special and he has the makeup to get the most from his abilities. He has the makings of a hard-throwing lefthanded starter if he can improve his control. 
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was little-known in the scouting community until he turned heads during extended spring training and became the buzz of the Arizona backfields. Olivarez pitched his first three seasons in the Dominican Summer League before coming stateside. He made three starts in the DSL in 2019 before moving to Rookie-level Grand Junction, where he struck out 28 percent of Pioneer League hitters.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez already has an imposing frame at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. He has a quick yet balanced delivery with a very quick arm from a low three-quarter slot with deeper plunge in back. His plus fastball sits 92-96 mph and has plenty of room to tick up as he gets stronger. His fastball plays up with life and good angle. Olivarez is still developing a breaking ball and changeup, both of which show potential but lack consistency due in part to inconsistent arm speed and finish. Olivarez has more confidence in his curveball, which has solid angle and spin when his delivery is on time, but he had more success in the Pioneer League commanding his changeup. Olivarez generates the majority of his strikeouts off his curveball, which demonstrates its potential ceiling. Olivarez’s command is currently below-average, as shown by his 11.6 percent walk rate. FUTURE: Olivarez is a long way off but has real rotation potential if he fills out and refines his pitches and command. The Rockies will monitor his innings, and extended Spring Training is a likely starting point before a move to either short-season Boise or low Class A Asheville.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Olivarez was little-known in the scouting community until he turned heads during extended spring training and became the buzz of the Arizona backfields. Olivarez pitched his first three seasons in the Dominican Summer League before coming stateside. He made three starts in the DSL in 2019 before moving to Rookie-level Grand Junction, where he struck out 28 percent of Pioneer League hitters.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Olivarez already has an imposing frame at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. He has a quick yet balanced delivery with a very quick arm from a low three-quarter slot with deeper plunge in back. His plus fastball sits 92-96 mph and has plenty of room to tick up as he gets stronger. His fastball plays up with life and good angle. Olivarez is still developing a breaking ball and changeup, both of which show potential but lack consistency due in part to inconsistent arm speed and finish. Olivarez has more confidence in his curveball, which has solid angle and spin when his delivery is on time, but he had more success in the Pioneer League commanding his changeup. Olivarez generates the majority of his strikeouts off his curveball, which demonstrates its potential ceiling. Olivarez's command is currently below-average, as shown by his 11.6 percent walk rate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Olivarez is a long way off but has real rotation potential if he fills out and refines his pitches and command. The Rockies will monitor his innings, and extended Spring Training is a likely starting point before a move to either short-season Boise or low Class A Asheville.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Olivarez was relatively unknown outside the Rockies' organization until his first extended spring training outing in April. That’s when serious buzz started among the backfield scouting community about the tall, projectable lefthander with a fastball touching the mid-90s. That heater is the key to Olivarez’s success. It’s a plus pitch up to 95 mph with life and good vertical movement. He has a big, projectable body, a loose arm action and tough angle. He struggles with his command at times, but shows resilience to get out of jams. "He’s got a chance to be elite,” Grand Junction manager Jake Opitz said. "A special talent.” Olivarez needs to improve his secondary stuff. He varies the length in his 73-77 mph curveball with good rotation, making it a potential plus offering in the future, but it’s a long way off. His cutting, 85-86 mph changeup lacks deception and is fringe-average.