Angel Bastardo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #16 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
  
  Adjusted Grade: 35
  
  Track Record: The Red Sox signed Bastardo for $35,000 in 2018 out of Venezuela as a raw pitcher who flashed promising traits. He began 2024 with Double-A Portland and pitched better than his ERA, striking out 26% of hitters. On June 4, he blew out his elbow and had season-ending Tommy John surgery. After the Red Sox left Bastardo unprotected for the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the Blue Jays selected him with the sixth overall pick. He did not appear in a game for the Blue Jays in 2025 and is expected to return in 2026.
  
  Scouting Report: Bastardo is an undersized righthander with big velocity and fringy strike-throwing abilities. He has an athletic operation with some effort in his arm action and throws from a three-quarters slot with a crossfire finish. Bastardo sits 95-98 mph with a four-seamer that has moderate ride but lacks deception. He upped his secondary usage with the Red Sox and throws a mid-80s changeup with good vertical separation from his fastball that he locates well and plays up to its bat-missing upside. Bastardo’s primary breaking ball is a low-to-mid-80s gyro slider he shows great feel for that missed a fair amount of bats in Double-A in 2024. The curveball, a clear fourth pitch, sat in the low 80s with downer break and is an effective strike stealer. Bastardo shows below-average control.
  
  The Future: Bastardo is a bit of a mystery. He was on a starter’s trajectory until his injury and now might be headed to the bullpen upon his return.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #22 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Bastardo signed for $35,000 in 2018 as a raw pitcher who had promising shapes to his fastball and changeup. Though his surface numbers have never been impressive, he’s made major increases in his ability to get swings and misses based on improvements of his stuff and usage. He punched out 29% of hitters in High-A and Double-A in 2023, and was nearing a promotion while striking out 26% of hitters in Portland in 2024 when he blew out, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery that will sideline him for most or all of 2025. The Red Sox left Bastardo unprotected for the Rule 5 draft and he was selected by the Blue Jays with the sixth overall pick.
  
  Scouting Report: Bastardo’s 95-98 mph four-seamer doesn’t generate as many whiffs as the velocity might suggest. Mindful thereof, the Red Sox had him tweak his usage in 2024 to further emphasize his changeup, slider and curveball. All three of those offerings sat in the low-to-mid 80s last year. Boston wanted him to boost his gyro slider to roughly 85-88 mph to gain separation from the rest of his repertoire. His 11% walk rate will need to come down to remain on a starting track.
  
  The Future: If he can throw more strikes, Bastardo has the ceiling of a No. 5 starter. Otherwise, he’s a power bullpen arm.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #27 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Red Sox identified Bastardo as a pitcher who received little instruction but had fastball life and the solid changeup shape to suggest back-of-the-rotation potential as he added physicality. The team signed him for $35,000 in 2018 as a bet on his potential. After modest early-career performance, Bastardo impressed with a four-pitch mix and 32% strikeout rate at High-A Greenville in 2023, which was fourth-highest in the South Atlantic League among pitchers with at least 80 innings. He struggled to throw strikes or miss bats upon reaching Double-A at the end of the year.
  
  Scouting Report: Bastardo generates good arm speed from his lean 6-foot-1 frame. It creates both solid velocity at 92-97 mph and three solid secondary pitches, headlined by an above-average changeup along with a viable slider and curveball. In the South Atlantic League, Bastardo’s mix generated both swings-and-misses and solid groundball totals. He still looks like he has room to fill out and add strength that would lead to improved control and command.
  
  The Future: Bastardo’s mix of four pitches could allow him to emerge as a No. 5 starter if he improves his strike-throwing. At the least, he stands a solid chance of emerging as a multi-inning reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40