Edwin Almonte

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #23 prospect in 2003
  In an organization that should understand the value of an excellent changeup--thank you, Keith Foulke--Almonte should be well positioned. But at his age, the clock is ticking loudly. He has climbed without a hitch, leading the minors with a total of 62 saves the last two seasons. But Almonte hasn't performed well in front of big league manager Jerry Manuel, getting rocked last spring when he arrived after a heavy workload in winter ball. Almonte's fastball rarely hits 90 mph but is set up by a dynamite changeup that he almost never telegraphs. He also has a slider and generally throws strikes with all his pitches. Almonte grew up on the streets of New York, where he developed lots of mental toughness. The Sox would have been well advised to give Almonte a look last September but limited callups in a cost-cutting move. If there's not going to be a place for Almonte on the staff in 2003, the Sox should move him elsewhere. He's ready to help someone.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #11 prospect in 2002
  After three solid but nondescript seasons in the White Sox system, Almonte made his presence known with 36 saves in Double-A. Not only did he break Jerry Spradlin's Southern League record, but he also totaled the most saves ever by a Sox minor leaguer. He has a career ratio of 3.5 strikeouts for every walk while compiling a 2.90 ERA, which he lowered considerably last season. Almonte is considered a younger version of Keith Foulke. His out pitch is an excellent changeup, which he sets up by locating a fastball that occasionally hits 90 mph but is generally in the upper 80s. Growing up on the streets of New York gave him the mental toughness needed to work late innings. Plus Almonte knows how to pitch. He won't overpower hitters. His slider is a solid pitch but he must work to be able to locate it when he's behind in the count, keeping hitters from sitting on his fastball. With Foulke's salary rising, Almonte is well positioned as a closer-in-waiting. If the Sox are convinced he can do the job, they'll be tempted to listen to offers for Foulke, who is two seasons away from free agency.