Alberto Tirado
| IP | 378 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.571 |
| WHIP | 1.508 |
| BB/9 | 6.452 |
| SO/9 | 9.571 |
- Full name Alberto Tirado
- Born 12/10/1994 in Nagua, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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When the Blue Jays signed Tirado for $300,000 as a 16-year-old, his fastball topped out at 91 mph. Now, Tirado pumps triple-digit heat, though he doesn't always know where the ball will go. Tirado opened 2016 as a reliever with low Class A Lakewood, spent most of May and June in extended spring training to work on his delivery, then moved into Lakewood's rotation at the end of June. He struck out at least eight batters in each of his final six starts, including 11- and 10-strikeout performances to end the season. Tirado's fastball ranges from 95-100 mph and his plus slider can be a wipeout pitch, which is how he racked up 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings in Lakewood. He has a changeup but hasn't thrown it much yet. Wildness remains Tirado's weakness. He has to keep his delivery in sync and under control to avoid racking up walks and falling behind hitters. Putting Tirado in the rotation helped give him a more regimented, scheduled routine that helped his development, but his future is likely in relief. Added to the 40-man roster in November, Tirado should jump to high Class A Clearwater's rotation in 2017. -
One of the more electric arms in the Blue Jays system, Tirado was one of the 11 pitching prospects Toronto parted with in 2015 as they completed in-season trades for the likes of David Price, Troy Tulowitzki and Make Lowe. Tirado and righthander Jimmy Cordero are products of the deal in which the Phillies traded Ben Revere north of the border. From a pure stuff standpoint, Tirado is an obvious acquisition target. He works primarily with two pitches: a mid-90s fastball that can touch triple digits and a hard mid-80s slider that can make hitters look downright silly and projects as at least a plus offering. The Phillies helped him work on his changeup in the instructional league, and Tirado will have to work to keep his delivery in sync to get the most out of his repertoire. He will return to high Class A Clearwater in 2016 and will work as a starter to help him get experience in a variety of scenarios, though his long term appears to be in the bullpen. -
Signed for $300,000, Tirado is yet another arm from the organization's big international haul in 2011. He struggled in his full-season debut last season and was demoted after two months. As a slightly built Dominican righthander with an electric arm and strike-throwing concerns, Tirado must prove that he can throw enough strikes to remain in the rotation. A plus athlete, he has a loose, quick and whippy arm and the ball explodes out of his hand with heaviness and sink. He walked 8.0 batters per nine innings in 2014, however, and his poor control stems from a long arm action, cross-body delivery and rigid lower half. Lean and athletic, Tirado has a small frame with long extremities and needs to gain strength. His fastball backed up slightly in 2014, sitting in the low 90s and touching 95 mph. His mid-80s slider shows plus potential, though he can get around on it. He was primarily a fastball/slider pitcher last season, but his changeup shows average potential and flashes better. He'll try Lansing again in 2015. -
The Jays signed Tirado for $300,000 in 2011 as part of a deep international crop. He had the highest upside of any pitcher on a deep Rookie-level Bluefield pitching staff in 2013, and he helped pitch the club to the Appalachian League playoffs. The athletic Tirado is an unrefined pitcher whom scouts can dream on because he has some of the most electric stuff in the lower minors. He has a thin, wiry build, long limbs and a loose arm that is lightning quick, and the ball explodes out his hand. His fastball sat 92-96 mph with late life and touched 98, and he is working a sinker into game action. Tirado has two sliders, the harder of which (high 80s) could become a true swing-and-miss offering that is at least plus. He can get around on his sliders, causing them to flatten. His changeup is ahead of his breaking ball, which some believe has the higher long-term ceiling and plus potential. Both offspeed pitches improved substantially in 2013. Tirado has below-average command, with a tendency to overthrow, and has trouble staying on line to the plate, rushing his delivery and lacking balance at release. Tirado has No. 2 starter upside if he can maintain his electric stuff over extended innings and refine his delivery. He has a chance to earn a spot in the low Class A Lansing rotation in 2014. -
The Blue Jays have emphasized amateur talent acquisition under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, spending heavily on the draft as well as the international market. They gave 12 international amateurs six-figure bonuses in 2011, including a $300,000 deal for Tirado. He came straight to the United States for his 2012 pro debut, pitching well in two Rookie leagues at age 17. Tirado isn't imposing on the mound, but he has long, skinny arms and plenty of projection. Toronto expected him to add velocity to a fastball that topped out at 91 mph as an amateur, and he's already working at 91-94 mph and touching 96. He commands his fastball in the lower half of the strike zone, leading to plenty of groundouts. He also does a good job of locating his solid changeup. His slider lags behind his other two pitches, and he has abandoned a curveball he threw as an amateur. Tirado is far away from the big leagues, but has the fastball, command and athleticism to be a mid-rotation starter if his secondary stuff develops. There's no need to rush him, so he probably won't make his full-season debut until 2014.
Minor League Top Prospects
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When everything clicked for Tirado this summer, he was one of the most electric arms in the short-season leagues. He has a thin, wiry build with natural strength and long arms, and he showed No. 2 starter potential. Tirado?s fastball touched 98 mph and sat at 92-94. He flashed two plus sliders: a hard, late-breaking 87-89 mph offering that he uses as a putaway pitch and a slower version in the mid-80s. His breaking stuff is ahead of his changeup, but all of his offspeed pitches lack consistency. He?s still learning his mechanics and the tempo of his delivery but improved as the summer went on. ?The biggest thing with him is getting him to pitch and not overthrow,? an opposing coach said. ?The arm is there. It?s just the delivery, because it?s a dynamite arm.? -
The Blue Jays had a strong contingent of young Dominican starting pitchers. Yeyfry del Rosario and Jario Labourt both averaged more than a strikeout per inning, but it was Tirado who made the biggest impression. Though he's not tall, Toronto looked at his skinny, athletic frame and extremely long arms when it signed him in July 2011 and saw plenty of projection that has started to come true. His fastball peaked at 91 mph when he signed, rose to 94 by the end of the year and sat at 91-94 with a high of 96 in the GCL. Tirado has plus velocity and the ability to command his fastball down in the strike zone, an unusual combination for a player his age. He flashes a solid changeup that's ahead of his slider right now, though he's getting better at staying on top of his breaking ball. He threw a curveball as an amateur that some scouts preferred to his slider, but he has scrapped the curve for now.
