Arodys Vizcaino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #11 prospect in 2015
  Originally signed for $800,000 by the Yankees, Vizcaino made his major league debut for the Braves in 2011, but he missed the next two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, with a May 2013 setback following a second surgery to remove debris from his elbow. He's been traded three times, the latest bringing him back to the Braves from the Cubs in a deal that included Tommy La Stella and four international bonus slots also changing hands. When healthy, Vizcaino still has premium stuff that plays at the back of a bullpen in high-leverage situations. He retains two swing-and-miss offerings, with a plus-plus fastball that reached 99 mph in his September big league work and sits in the 95-98 mph range. His fastball has above-average life as well, with run and sink, and he uses it aggressively. Vizcaino's hard, mid-80s curveball also still can be a plus pitch. He's still regaining his feel for the strike zone, though, and he has had worse control out of the bullpen than he had as a starter. He occasionally uses a firm, almost vestigial changeup from his starter days. Vizcaino's durability remains his biggest issue. If he can stay off the disabled list, he should give the Braves another set-up option in front of Craig Kimbrel in 2015.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #10 prospect in 2014
  A veteran prospect, Vizcaino ranked in the Yankees' Top 10 after the 2009 season, which was cut short by a muscle strain in his back. The Yankees traded him to the Braves in the Javier Vazquez deal, and after two years--including his big league debut in 2011--he joined the Cubs in a trade that sent Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson to Atlanta. He had Tommy John surgery in March 2012 and had a long recovery, including a setback in May (surgery to remove debris in his elbow) that essentially wiped out his 2013 season as well. Vizcaino returned to the mound in August and was slated to pick up innings in the Arizona Fall League but instead threw in instructional league, both in Arizona and in the Dominican Republic. The zip on his mid-90s fastball has returned, and Vizcaino hasn't lost the snap on his plus curveball either. Before his injury, he had average control, though his fastball command needs to improve. He has a fast arm and tremendous hand speed, and both his heater and curve can elicit swings and misses thanks to their power and late action. Vizcaino remains a wild card that the Cubs believe in, even though he has yet to throw an official pitch for the organization. Scouts say he can be an impact reliever if he ever stays healthy.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #4 prospect in 2013
  After the Braves acquired him in a four-player trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the Yankees in December 2009, Vizcaino missed time the following season with a partially torn elbow ligament. He rose from high Class A to the majors in 2011, but the ligament gave out last spring and required Tommy John surgery in March that cost him the 2012 season. Atlanta parted with him and righthander Jaye Chapman in July to get Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm from the Cubs. Before he got hurt, Vizcaino was one of baseball's top pitching prospects. He had a 93-95 mph fastball that topped out at 97, and it might be his second-best pitch. The only negative about his sharp curveball was that he threw it too much. Refining his changeup and improving his fastball command were on his to-do list. Assuming Vizcaino regains full health, which is often the case with elbow reconstructions, the biggest question will be his future role. Chicago sees a potential No. 2 starter while detractors point to his injury track record, which indicates he won't hold up in a rotation even if his mechanics are fine. At worst, the Cubs think they have a closer. Chicago will handle Vizcaino, far and away their best upper-level pitching prospect, with great care. He should be able to return early in the 2013 season, but the goal is to have him ready to start for the big league club in 2014.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 2012
  Acquired from the Yankees in the December 2009 deal that sent Javier Vazquez to New York, Vizcaino partially tore an elbow ligament in his first season in the Braves system but put that behind him in 2011. He appeared in the Futures Game while rising from high Class A Lynchburg to Atlanta, moving from the rotation to the bullpen when he got to Triple-A Gwinnett. Vizcaino's fastball sits at 93-95 mph and touches 97. He also has sharp-breaking curveball that's a plus pitch but he tends to fall in love with it too much. He made impressive strides with his changeup in 2011 to give him three solid offerings. He does an excellent job of challenging hitters when he's behind in the count but needs to improve his fastball command in order to stay ahead. Given the way he responded to relieving as well as the depth of starters in Atlanta, Vizcaino could remain in the bullpen. At the same time, a potential No. 2 or 3 starter is a prized commodity. One way or the other, he'll take a prominent role with the Braves as he gains experience.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #7 prospect in 2011
  Vizcaino ranked with Julio Teheran and Martin Perez (Rangers) as the best international amateur pitching prospects in 2007, when he signed with the Yankees for $800,000. New York traded him along with Melky Cabrera and Mike Dunn to obtain Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan from the Braves in December 2009. Vizcaino dominated low Class A hitters in 2010 but missed two months with a partially torn ligament shortly after a promotion in June. Vizcaino's fastball has good life while residing at 92-94 mph and touching 96. His best pitch, however, is a hammer curveball that he commands with precision. He made improvements with his changeup last year and is on the verge of having three plus pitches. In addition to his stuff, Atlanta was impressed with how he learned to pitch and work hard in 2010, rather than just trying to throw the ball past hitters. While he avoided surgery and returned before the end of season, he still has to answer questions about his durability. He never has pitched more than 85 innings in a season, and he also missed time in 2009 with a strained back muscle. Though Vizcaino must prove he can stay healthy, his high ceiling is undeniable. He'll open the year in high Class A at age 20, with a midseason promotion a possibility.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #3 prospect in 2010
  When the Yankees spend big money during the international summer signing season, they usually give it to position players, such as Gary Sanchez, Wily Mo Pena and Jesus Montero. Vizcaino received the largest signing bonus the club has given a pitcher in that market, signing for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. He dominated the short-season New York-Penn League last summer before a muscle strain in his back ended his season in August. Vizcaino has the most electric arm in the system outside of Andrew Brackman, and he's much more polished. Vizcaino sits at 90-94 mph with his fastball and regularly runs it up to 96. His quick arm generates easy velocity, and the ball seems to explode out of his hand. His best pitch is a hammer curveball that he throws with solid command. Club officials say his curve is second only to A.J. Burnett's in the organization. He has a sturdy, durable body. Vizcaino's changeup has improved but still grades as below average. He's raw and has plenty of work to do on subtle skills such as setting up hitters, fielding his position and holding runners. He also could have a more mature mound presence. Given Vizcaino's youth and ceiling, New York will handle him carefully. He figures to go to low Class A Charleston for 2010, starting in the first half and relieving in the second half to keep his innings from piling up.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #18 prospect in 2009
  Signed for $800,000 in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic, Vizcaino and 2008 draftee Brett Marshall have the biggest arms among New York's young pitching prospects. Vizcaino was a 6-foot, 189-pounder when he signed and he's already "stretching out," in the words of Yankees pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras. He's close to 6-foot-2 now, and has retained his electric arm speed while adding velocity. Vizcaino sits in the low 90s while touching 95 with his fastball. He also has plenty of hand speed and shows a plus curveball at times, with late break and downer action. The rest of Vizcaino's repertoire still is filling out, with a changeup and two-seam fastball on the horizon. He has a better arm than Manny Banuelos but lacks the command and polish to join him on the fast track at this time. Vizcaino is still quite raw in terms of holding runners, fielding his position and other nuances of the game. He's likely to start 2009 in extended spring training before heading to Staten Island, though if he has a strong spring, he could begin the year in Charleston with Banuelos.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2011
  One of three players the Yankees gave up in the Javier Vazquez trade in December 2009, Vizcaino partially tore an elbow ligament in his first season in the Braves system. He didn't require surgery, however, and rose quickly in 2011, starting the season in high Class A and finishing in Atlanta's bullpen. Vizcaino throws a lively 92-97 mph fastball and a knee-buckling curveball that grades out as at least a plus pitch, though some scouts would like to see him pitch off his fastball more. His changeup made significant strides, flashing as a third plus pitch at times with good fade. While Vizcaino has frontline-starter stuff, his durability to remains in question. He has worked just 286 innings in four pro seasons. The Braves moved him to the bullpen in mid-July and kept him there the rest of the year.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 2010
  After joining the Braves in the Javier Vazquez trade last winter, Vizcaino teamed with Teheran to give Rome the SAL's most devastating pair of starters in the early season. He earned a promotion a month after Teheran did, though a partially torn elbow ligament limited Vizcaino to three starts in high Class A. He avoided surgery and did return for a brief outing with Rome in September. When healthy, Vizcaino shows a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96, a hammer curveball and excellent control. His changeup continues to improve and could give him a third plus pitch. "He learned how to pitch while he was here," Rome manager Randy Ingle said. "There's a lot of electricity in his arm, but he wasn't using it properly early on. He worked hard with Zak (pitching coach Jim Czajkowski) and the light came on."
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #3 prospect in 2009
  Vizcaino was the centerpiece of the Yankees' 2007 international crop, and his $800,000 bonus was the highest given to any pitcher on the international market that year. He dominated much older competition in the NY-P as an 18-year-old this summer. Vizcaino isn't tall, but he has plenty of projection thanks to a loose, electric arm and a clean delivery. He already pitches at 90-94 mph and touches 96, and it's easy to see him throwing harder. "Even the breaking ball comes out of his hand easy. It's a downer at 77-79, and it looks like there's a lot more in there," Jamestown manager Andy Haines said. "He has a pretty good feel for pitching, and he's a strike-thrower." Vizcaino could have a plus curveball to go with a plus-plus fastball down the road, but he'll need to develop his changeup to thrive in a starting role. He also needs to improve his mound presence, as he tends to get rattled with runners on base, affecting his control.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #11 prospect in 2008
  Vizcaino was the focal point of the Yankees' international scouting efforts in 2007, signing for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic. The bonus was the highest among pitchers on the international market last year. His fastball sat at 89-91 mph when he signed and jumped to 91-95 mph this summer during his pro debut. Vizcaino has a quick arm and minimal effort in his delivery, leading New York to believe his fastball velocity could increase even more. On top of throwing hard, he also features a plus curveball with medium late break and depth. The Yankees hope he'll be able to develop a changeup so they can use him as a starter. Vizcaino throws strikes but needs to improve his fastball command within the zone in order to succeed at higher levels. He's well ahead of the learning curve for a 17-year-old, however.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #83 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #69 prospect in 2010

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: After the Braves acquired him in a four-player trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the Yankees in December 2009, Vizcaino missed time the following season with a partially torn elbow ligament. He rose from high Class A to the majors in 2011, but the ligament gave out last spring and required Tommy John surgery in March that cost him the 2012 season. Atlanta parted with him and righthander Jaye Chapman in July to get Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm from the Cubs. Scouting Report: Before he got hurt, Vizcaino was one of baseball's top pitching prospects. He had a 93-95 mph fastball that topped out at 97, and it might be his second-best pitch. The only negative about his sharp curveball was that he threw it too much. Refining his changeup and improving his fastball command were on his to-do list. Assuming Vizcaino regains full health, the biggest question will be his future role. Chicago sees a potential No. 2 starter while his detractors think his track record indicates that he won't hold up in a rotation, even if his mechanics are fine. At worst, the Cubs think they have a closer. The Future: Chicago will handle Vizcaino, far and away their best upper-level pitching prospect, with great care. He should be able to return early in the 2013 season, but the goal is to have him ready to start for the big league club in 2014.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background:: Acquired from the Yankees in the December 2009 deal that sent Javier Vazquez to New York, Vizcaino partially tore an elbow ligament in his first season in the Braves system but put that behind him in 2011. He appeared in the Futures Game while rising from high Class A Lynchburg to Atlanta, moving from the rotation to the bullpen when he got to Triple-A Gwinnett. Scouting Report: Vizcaino's fastball sits at 93-95 mph and touches 97. He also has sharp-breaking curveball that's a plus pitch but he tends to fall in love with it too much. He made impressive strides with his changeup in 2011 to give him three solid offerings. He does an excellent job of challenging hitters when he's behind in the count but needs to improve his fastball command in order to stay ahead. The Future: Given how he responded to relieving, plus the depth of starters in Atlanta, Vizcaino could remain in the bullpen. However, a potential No. 2 or 3 starter is a prized commodity. Either way, he'll take a prominent role with the Braves as he gains experience.