Carlos Zambrano

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #6 prospect in 2002
  The Cubs called up Zambrano, another precocious Latin American pitcher, the day before they promoted Juan Cruz. Zambrano struggled in one start against the Brewers, returned to Triple-A and resurfaced as a reliever in September. He reached Triple-A at 18 in 2000 and moved from the rotation to the bullpen, then reversed course last year. Zambrano has a mid-90s fastball that has gone as high as 99 and maintains its velocity for nine innings. He likes to vary his arm angle with his fastball, giving batters two different looks and achieving plenty of sink when he lowers his slot. When it's on, his slider gives him two power pitches. Lowering his arm angle gives Zambrano problems, because it flattens out his slider and costs him command. Both his slider and control need more consistency. He must refine his changeup to give him a better weapon against lefthanders. The Cubs believe Zambrano either can be a power starter or a closer, though they have yet to determine what his role will be. He'll compete for a big league job in spring training.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #5 prospect in 2001
  The Cubs have been aggressively moving their best prospects through the minors, most obviously with Zambrano. After modest success in low Class A in 1999, he opened 2000 in Double-A and was promoted to Triple-A before he turned 19. Upon reaching Iowa, he was converted from a starter to a reliever. Zambrano has a strong pitcher's body and a live, loose arm. He owns the best fastball in the system, a nasty mid-90s sinker that has reached 99 mph. He throws it from two different arm slots, making it tougher. At times, his slider is a good second pitch. Pacific Coast League managers acknowledged Zambrano's quality arm, but they couldn't understand why he was rushed to Triple-A and forced to change roles. His slider is inconsistent, his changeup is nothing special yet and his curveball is more of the get-me-over variety. He needs time to work on his control and his secondary pitches. Zambrano was switched to relief at a time when the major league bullpen was killing the Cubs. With Tom Gordon now on board as the closer, Zambrano's future may be as a starter again. He'll pitch in a rotation this year, likely in Triple-A, to get him as many innings as possible.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #11 prospect in 2001
  In their search for pitching help after trading Ruben Quevedo and getting hit by injuries, the Cubs gave Zambrano an audition in Chicago. He failed, giving up seven runs in four innings in a start against the Brewers, and returned to Iowa until the end of the PCL season. When called up again in September, he was used out of the bullpen, as he had been in Iowa in 2000. Zambrano was in the Iowa rotation all season this year and continued to show nasty stuff. His mid-90s fastball and slider are a lethal combination when they're on. He remains inconsistent as a starter, however, and his curveball and changeup still aren't refined. "He could be a guy who could come in and get a strikeout, he could come in and get a double play and he's a guy who could go long if they need to have someone eat up a lot of innings," Kimm said.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #11 prospect in 2000
  The Cubs have been even more aggressive with Zambrano than they have been with Corey Patterson, and Zambrano is nearly two years younger. He jumped from low Class A to Double-A to open 2000, then moved up to Triple-A by the end of May. "By far the best arm in the league this year," Chattanooga manager Mike Rojas said. "He will be a No. 2 or 3 starter in the majors." In need of a closer, Chicago actually converted Zambrano to a reliever in Triple-A, not the most easy of transitions for a 19-year-old. He has the stuff to do the job, throwing in the mid-90s with an easy motion, and flashing an unhittable slider at times.
• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #7 prospect in 2000
  The Cubs had a woeful bullpen at the major league level and desperately need a closer for the future. They may have one in Zambrano, who was jumped from Double-A before he turned 19 and then converted from a starter to a reliever. Managers loved Zambrano’s loose arm but questioned the wisdom of how Chicago handled him. "He’s a good prospect, but they’ve rushed him too soon," one manager said. "He throws in the mid-90s and has a great body, but he doesn’t know how to pitch at the Triple-A level." Iowa manager Dave Trembley admitted the Cubs had to run the equivalent of instructional league for Zambrano in his first month in the PCL. His numbers weren’t as pretty as his stuff. His fastball dives in the strike zone, making it difficult to drive the ball in the air against him, and Zambrano throws it from two different arm slots, making it harder to pick up. His slider is very inconsistent, but it’s very effective when it’s on.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #80 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #68 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Cubs have been even more aggressive with Zambrano than they have been with Corey Patterson, and Zambrano is nearly two years younger. He jumped from low Class A to Double-A to open 2000, then moved up to Triple-A by the end of May. "By far the best arm in the league this year," Chattanooga manager Mike Rojas said. "He will be a No. 2 or 3 starter in the majors." In need of a closer, Chicago actually converted Zambrano to a reliever in Triple-A, not the most easy of transitions for a 19-year-old. He has the stuff to do the job, throwing in the mid-90s with an easy motion, and flashing an unhittable slider at times.
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Cubs had a woeful bullpen at the major league level and desperately need a closer for the future. They may have one in Zambrano, who was jumped from Double-A before he turned 19 and then converted from a starter to a reliever. Managers loved Zambrano’s loose arm but questioned the wisdom of how Chicago handled him. "He’s a good prospect, but they’ve rushed him too soon," one manager said. "He throws in the mid-90s and has a great body, but he doesn’t know how to pitch at the Triple-A level." Iowa manager Dave Trembley admitted the Cubs had to run the equivalent of instructional league for Zambrano in his first month in the PCL. His numbers weren’t as pretty as his stuff. His fastball dives in the strike zone, making it difficult to drive the ball in the air against him, and Zambrano throws it from two different arm slots, making it harder to pick up. His slider is very inconsistent, but it’s very effective when it’s on.