Bartolo Colon

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 1997
  Colon topped the list a year ago, but arm problems for the second straight year are starting to be a cause for concern. An elbow problem that club officials hope isn’t chronic prompted a trial in the bullpen for Colon in 1996. Colon has an explosive 94-96 mph fastball, a hard breaking ball and good feel for his changeup. All three are plus pitches, and when healthy he can overpower hitters. Durability. Colon’s elbow remains a concern. He also needs better command of his fastball on both sides of the plate. Velocity alone won’t overpower big league hitters. The Indians will decide in spring training whether to use Colon as a starter or reliever in 1997. No matter what the role, he’ll fill it at Triple-A Buffalo.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 1996
  Despite not pitching after Aug. 1 because of a bone bruise in his elbow, Colon was so dominant at high Class A Kinston that he was named the Carolina League pitcher of the year and the league's top prospect. He's a comet hurtling to the big leagues. He's gone 26-8, 2.52 while giving up an average of just 6.2 hits per nine innings in his three professional seasons. Indians officials say the elbow problem was cured through rest and rehab and Colon should be 100 percent at the start of spring training. Strengths: When opposing teams discuss trades with general manager John Hart, Colon's name is always one of the first mentioned. He's the premier pitcher in a pitching-rich system. He has three quality pitches: a fastball, curveball and changeup. His fastball is his best pitch, registering in the mid-90s, and the other two pitches have the potential to be above-average. Colon has no problem throwing strikes, a rare ability for a young pitcher. He eventually should become an impact pitcher, either a No. 1 starter or a dominant closer, at the major league level. Outside of his health--and the elbow appears to be fine--there are no question marks about Colon. He can improve the consistency of his breaking pitch. He doesn't have the height of a prototype power pitcher and he lacks experience, but neither shortcoming has held him back. Assuming his elbow problem doesn't flare up in training camp, Colon will likely skip a level and begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo. He should be able to join Cleveland's rotation in 1997, if not earlier.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 1996
  Colon, the top prospect in the Carolina League last year, spent much of 1996 bothered by arm problems. When healthy, he showed a good fastball, such as in April when 76 of his 92 pitches against Harrisburg were clocked at 90 mph or better. “He’s a young kid, who when he gets a little better command of his breaking ball is going to be a special kid with a power arm,” his Canton-Akron manager Jeff Datz said. Cleveland promoted Colon to Triple-A Buffalo late in the season and converted him to relief. The Indians believe a lesser workload may put less stress on his arm and keep him healthier.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #1 prospect in 1995
  Just two years removed from the Dominican Summer League, Colon was the hardest thrower in the Carolina League, and managers were impressed by his ability to maintain his plus fastball into the late innings. Colon has exceptional control for a power pitcher. Not only does he not walk batters, but he can spot his fastball in the strike zone almost at will. He complements his heater with an improving curveball and a changeup. The CL pitcher of the year kept getting better with Kinston until a bone bruise in his pitching elbow shelved him for the last month of the season. At the time of his injury, he was leading the league in all three triple crown categories--wins, ERA and strikeouts. “I haven’t seen anyone with the stuff he’s got,” Kinston manager Gordy MacKenzie said. “He’s got an exceptional arm. He just needs to pitch. He just needs to gain experience.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 1997
• Ranked Baseball America's #15 prospect in 1996

• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  Colon topped the list a year ago, but arm problems for the second straight year are starting to be a cause for concern. An elbow problem that club officials hope isn’t chronic prompted a trial in the bullpen for Colon in 1996. Colon has an explosive 94-96 mph fastball, a hard breaking ball and good feel for his changeup. All three are plus pitches, and when healthy he can overpower hitters. Durability. Colon’s elbow remains a concern. He also needs better command of his fastball on both sides of the plate. Velocity alone won’t overpower big league hitters. The Indians will decide in spring training whether to use Colon as a starter or reliever in 1997. No matter what the role, he’ll fill it at Triple-A Buffalo.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Despite not pitching after Aug. 1 because of a bone bruise in his elbow, Colon was so dominant at high Class A Kinston that he was named the Carolina League pitcher of the year and the league's top prospect. He's a comet hurtling to the big leagues. He's gone 26-8, 2.52 while giving up an average of just 6.2 hits per nine innings in his three professional seasons. Indians officials say the elbow problem was cured through rest and rehab and Colon should be 100 percent at the start of spring training. Strengths: When opposing teams discuss trades with general manager John Hart, Colon's name is always one of the first mentioned. He's the premier pitcher in a pitching-rich system. He has three quality pitches: a fastball, curveball and changeup. His fastball is his best pitch, registering in the mid-90s, and the other two pitches have the potential to be above-average. Colon has no problem throwing strikes, a rare ability for a young pitcher. He eventually should become an impact pitcher, either a No. 1 starter or a dominant closer, at the major league level. Outside of his health--and the elbow appears to be fine--there are no question marks about Colon. He can improve the consistency of his breaking pitch. He doesn't have the height of a prototype power pitcher and he lacks experience, but neither shortcoming has held him back. Assuming his elbow problem doesn't flare up in training camp, Colon will likely skip a level and begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo. He should be able to join Cleveland's rotation in 1997, if not earlier.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Colon, the top prospect in the Carolina League last year, spent much of 1996 bothered by arm problems. When healthy, he showed a good fastball, such as in April when 76 of his 92 pitches against Harrisburg were clocked at 90 mph or better. “He’s a young kid, who when he gets a little better command of his breaking ball is going to be a special kid with a power arm,” his Canton-Akron manager Jeff Datz said. Cleveland promoted Colon to Triple-A Buffalo late in the season and converted him to relief. The Indians believe a lesser workload may put less stress on his arm and keep him healthier.
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  Just two years removed from the Dominican Summer League, Colon was the hardest thrower in the Carolina League, and managers were impressed by his ability to maintain his plus fastball into the late innings. Colon has exceptional control for a power pitcher. Not only does he not walk batters, but he can spot his fastball in the strike zone almost at will. He complements his heater with an improving curveball and a changeup. The CL pitcher of the year kept getting better with Kinston until a bone bruise in his pitching elbow shelved him for the last month of the season. At the time of his injury, he was leading the league in all three triple crown categories--wins, ERA and strikeouts. “I haven’t seen anyone with the stuff he’s got,” Kinston manager Gordy MacKenzie said. “He’s got an exceptional arm. He just needs to pitch. He just needs to gain experience.”