Juan Pablo Oramas

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #18 prospect in 2014
  Oramas pitched for Double-A San Antonio's Texas League champions in both 2011 and 2013, sandwiching those playoff runs around Tommy John surgery in 2012. He announced his return to full health by making 12 starts for the Missions in 2013 and going 3-2, 3.07 with a 4.0 SO/BB ratio, then dealing 12 scoreless innings in the playoffs. The Padres non-tendered Oramas following the 2012 season to make room for other players on the 40-man roster, though they subsequently re-signed him to a minor league deal for 2013. The reason San Diego has made such a great effort to retain Oramas is because he projects to have three major league pitches with a feel to deploy them for maximum impact. Short and stout, he locates an 89-92 mph fastball all over the strike zone with a fearless demeanor, hiding the ball until the last instant and varying his arm angle. His curveball features tight rotation and average power, while he doesn't hesitate to lean on his fading changeup when he has feel for it. Oramas returned to the familiar surroundings of the Mexican Pacific League in October 2013 as he prepares to audition for the big league club. Making or not making the rotation might have more to do with inventory than ability, seeing as Oramas will be competing for innings with veterans such as Andrew Cashner, Josh Johnson, Ian Kennedy, Cory Luebke, Tyson Ross and a host of prospect hopefuls.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #26 prospect in 2013
  Signed out of Mexico at age 16, Oramas made slow progress early in his career before vaulting into the big league picture with a strong 2011 season at Double-A, prompting San Diego to add the 21-year-old to its 40-man roster following the season. That status proved to be short-lived, however. He showed up at 2012 spring training worn down from a winter spent pitching in the Mexican Pacific League, where he had logged nine starts for Hermosillo. His balky elbow required Tommy John surgery in mid-June after he ran up a 6.37 ERA through eight Double-A starts. Though his stuff played down a half-grade in 2012, Oramas when healthy has three pitches that grade as average to a tick above. He sits 89-92 mph and bumps 94, working both sides of the plate and occasionally dropping down versus lefties. The Padres like his aggressive, fearless pitching style, which coupled with strong command, helps his curve and changeup play up. To make room on the 40-man for other players, San Diego nontendered Oramas in November, subsequently re-signing him to a minor league deal a month later. He racked up 157 innings (counting the playoffs) in the MPL from 2009-11, so his injury rehab at least gives him a respite from pitching year-round.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #12 prospect in 2012
  Signed out of Mexico at age 16, Oramas spent two years in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and another in the Mexican League, where he finished second with a 2.31 ERA as a teenager in 2009, before ever playing in the United States. He didn't wait long to make his mark, coming within two outs of pitching a perfect game for Lake Elsinore in just his fourth U.S. start. Held back in extended spring training with a back injury in 2011, he didn't throw his first pitch for San Antonio until May 21, but he rounded into form quickly. Among Texas League pitchers with at least 100 innings, Oramas ranked fourth in K-BB ratio (3.6) and WHIP (1.21). His stuff grades out as average to a tick above across the board, and he hides the ball well, locates his pitches and varies arm slots to induce swings and misses. Oramas touches 94 mph with his fastball but typically sits at 89-92 and works both sides of the plate, occasionally dropping his arm slot versus lefthanders. He flashes tight rotation on a mid-70s curveball and more often shows feel for a low-80s changeup with fade. Both secondary pitches have average potential. While nothing about Oramas' repertoire screams future star, he commands three pitches and could pitch at the back of a big league rotation. The Padres added him to the 40-man roster in November. An assignment to the high altitude of Tucson in 2012 could stir memories of his summer in the Mexican League.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #17 prospect in 2011
  The Padres signed the 16-year-old Oramas following the 2006 season, but he spent his first two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and another in the Mexican League prior to making his U.S. debut last year. San Diego loaned the stocky lefty to Mexico City in 2009 to challenge him with an assignment at high altitude and in a competitive environment where the average player was 29 years old. Oramas passed with flying colors, finishing second in the Mexican League ERA race (2.31), fourth in strikeouts (89) and first in opponent average (.219). San Diego deemed him ready for high Class A coming out of spring training, and sent him there when a rotation spot opened at the beginning of May. In his fourth start for Lake Elsinore, he came within two outs of pitching the third perfect game in the California League's 69-year history. Oramas throws three pitches for strikes and benefits from natural deception in his delivery and late life to his fastball. He sits at 89-91 mph and touches plus at 94, though he tends to throw uphill and would benefit from better extension and plane to his delivery. His average curveball features biting, downward action, while his changeup shows average potential. The Padres backed off Oramas' workload in the second half of the season because he threw a combined 157 innings in 2009 between the Mexican League, the Mexican Pacific League and Caribbean Series. San Diego allotted just 50 innings for him this winter. Oramas works hard, picks things up quickly and could continue to climb to the big leagues at a rapid pace. Expect him to start in Double-A.