Adonys Cardona
| IP | 153.0 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.94 |
| WHIP | 1.817 |
| BB/9 | 6.1 |
| SO/9 | 8.5 |
- Full name Adonys Jose Cardona
- Born 01/16/1994 in La Sabana, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Cardona signed in July 2010 for $2.8 million, a record for a Venezuelan pitcher and the second-highest bonus for an international free agent in Blue Jays history. He made his pro debut last June in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he was the second-youngest regular starting pitcher. Cardona's fastball sat at 89-91 mph when he signed and picked up 2-3 mph last summer. His ideal, projectable pitcher's frame has scouts thinking that he could continue to add velocity. Cardona's No. 2 pitch is a changeup that keeps hitters off balance because he throws it with good arm speed. He also has a curveball that needs plenty of work. Cardona threw straight over the top when he turned pro, but Toronto has worked on lowering his arm slot to closer to three-quarters. That slot is easier for him to repeat, and he can still keep the ball down in the zone with plenty of zip on his pitches. There's effort in his delivery, which along with his lack of a breaking ball eventually could land him in the bullpen. It's still too early for that decision, though. Cardona will be 18 this year, so he'll likely open in extended spring training before reporting to Vancouver in June. -
Cardona signed with the Blue Jays in early July for $2.8 million--the highest bonus ever given to a Venezuelan pitcher and the second-highest in franchise history. He had an ideal, projectable frame for a 16-year-old at 6-foot- 4 and 170 pounds. His fastball already sits at 89-91 mph and can touch 93, giving plenty of reason to think he'll sit in the mid-90s down the road. Cardona has plenty of work to do with his secondary stuff. He has shown feel for a changeup that has some sink. It's a better pitch than his curveball, which shows depth at times but lacks consistency and grades as below-average. There's some effort in his delivery as well. Though Cardona is far from a finished product, time is on his side and his upside is significant. He'll probably make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2011 and not come to the United States until 2012.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Cardona signed for a $2.8 million, the top bonus amount on the 2010 international market and a record for a Venezuelan amateur. He has not progressed as quickly as expected, however, producing mediocre results and battling a balky elbow that got him shut down early this season. Still, there?s lightning in his arm. Cardona has a strong, athletic build and sits 92-94 mph, hitting 98 at his best. He has advanced feel for an 80-83 mph changeup with tremendous tumble. He scrapped his curveball in favor of a mid-80s slider but has struggled to command it. ?The sky is the limit for him if everything clicks. He could be a No. 1 starter,? a pitching coach said. ?It might click tomorrow and he will be in the big leagues in three years, or he might not and he might be home in three years. A tough one, but the potential is there.? Cardona struggled to throw strikes, working from a near over-the-top arm slot that inhibits his ability to get extension. The Blue Jays are working on dropping him to a three-quarters arm slot. He?ll likely fit best in the bullpen. -
Cardona signed with the Blue Jays for $2.8 million, a record for a Venezuelan amateur and the highest bonus on the international amateur market in 2010. After touching 93 mph as an amateur, Cardona hit 94 during instructional league last fall and ran his fastball up to 95 this summer. He sits in the low 90s and has the physical projection to add more velocity as he continues to fill out his long, lean frame. Cardona stands out for his fastball as well as his changeup, which is advanced for his age and keeps hitters off balance. International scouts' primary concerns with Cardona were his below-average curveball and the effort in his delivery, both of which he still needs to address.
