David Paulino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #23 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Paulino has had a frustrating career, highlighted by two elbow surgeries and an 80-game suspension after he tested positive for steroids. The Astros dealt him to the Blue Jays for Roberto Osuna.
  
  Scouting Report: At 6-foot-7, Paulino attacks hitters with downhill plane on his fastball, which sits at 91-94 mph. Paulino can reach back for more, but he doesn't throw as hard as he did a few years ago. Paulino has a knack for manipulating his secondary stuff, throwing his offspeed more than his fastball in many starts. His changeup is an above-average, swing-and-miss pitch with good separation off his fastball. His breaking ball morphs between a curveball and a slider, with the pitch most effective when he's throwing it with more power in the low 80s. Paulino's peripheral numbers were good in 2018, though his upper-level performance hasn't quite matched his stuff yet, with Paulino still needing to improve his command.
  
  The Future: Paulino's history of medical issues give him a dubious future as a starting pitcher. In September, the Blue Jays used him out of their bullpen, with Paulino having the skill set for middle relief.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #10 prospect in 2018
  Paulino only added to concerns about his durability in 2017. He missed the start of the season with a sore elbow and returned in May. But just a month later, he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a steroid. Paulino came off the suspension on the final day of the season, but was immediately put on the 60-day disabled list (partly to clear roster space) because of surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow. Paulino will be 24 when the 2018 season begins, but he's yet to prove he can hold up over a full season. Between Tommy John surgery and suspensions, he's yet to throw 100 innings in a season. When he's healthy, Paulino has a 91-94 mph fastball and a devastating, 82-84 mph plus curveball. The fastball wasn't as hard in 2017 as it's been in the past, but the curve retains its sharp 12-to-6 break and Paulino has the feel to manipulate it depending on the situation. He can make it bigger and slower or harder and sharper. His changeup also flashes plus. Paulino still has the makings of a mid-rotation starter, but he is now one positive test away from a full-season ban and he has yet to demonstrate the durability to handle a full-season starting role.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #3 prospect in 2017
  As well as Francis Martes has panned out, Paulino has a better frame and equal stuff. The Astros acquired him from the Tigers for reliever Jose Veras in July 2013. Paulino had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and never has pitched 100 innings in a season. Paulino is 6-foot-7 but unlike many young, long-limbed pitchers he has a knack for duplicating his simple, low-effort delivery. He already has above-average control, and he walked two batters or fewer in each 2016 outing. Paulino's plus fastball sits 91-96 mph with good downhill plane and adequate run and life, though it sometimes takes a while to build velocity. In some starts he'll pitch at 90-92 mph early, then touch 98 a couple of innings later. He uses both a plus 78-81 mph curveball with 12-to-6 action and depth and a fringe-average slider. His mid-80s changeup flashes plus as well. Paulino missed time in 2016 both for elbow tendinitis and a minor disciplinary issue. He should contend for a big league role--either starting or relieving--at some point in 2017, and he has frontline potential if he can prove his durability.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2016
  Paulino was a Rookie-level acquisition who had barely pitched when the Astros acquired him as the player to be named in the 2013 Jose Veras-Danry Vasquez trade. Paulino battled elbow problems as a Tiger and he missed all of 2014 with Tommy John surgery, but he returned to show two plus-plus offerings in his fullseason debut. He generates swings and misses with a 91-95 mph fastball and can sporadically reach back for 97-98. His fastball has angle as he works down in the zone consistently, occasionally elevating with a four-seamer up. Both his fastball and his high-70s, 11-to-5 curveball have excellent spin. He'll still bounce his curveball too much but when he gets it right it freezes hitters. Scouts who have seen him well grade both as at least 60s and both generate some plus-plus grades. His average changeup has sporadic sink and he maintains his arm speed, but he seems hesitant to throw it. Paulino repeats his delivery well. He projects to have at least average control and command. The biggest knock on Paulino is his lack of innings--he's a 21-yearold who's thrown 106 innings in five pro seasons. Paulino's elbow has been fine post-surgery but he needs to show he can handle a heavier workload. If he can he has No. 2 starter potential.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #5 prospect in 2016
  Top Astros prospects Paulino and Francis Martes fronted the Corpus Christi rotation. While Martes is a stocky 6-foot-1 with a power breaking ball, Paulino is tall, skinny and long-limbed with a changeup he uses to toy with hitters who are geared for the fastball. Paulino sits 91-96 mph with a fastball that has plenty of downhill plane and excellent armside run. He likes to run his fastball in on the hands of righthanded batters--they slugged just .294 against him in the TL. He baffles lefthanders with a consistently above-average changeup. His high-70s, big-breaking curveball flashes plus as well, but it's significantly less consistent and it sometimes gets too slurvy. The Astros suspended Paulino in June for a disciplinary issue. The timing of the suspension coincided with a bout of elbow tendinitis, which highlights one of Paulino's biggest obstacles to success: health.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #51 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #91 prospect in 2016

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Paulino only added to concerns about his durability in 2017. He missed the start of the season with a sore elbow and returned in May, but just a month later he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a steroid. Scouting Report: Paulino came off the suspension on the final day of the season, but was immediately put on the 60-day disabled list because of surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow. Paulino will be 24 when the 2018 season begins, but he's yet to prove he can hold up over a full season. Between Tommy John surgery and suspensions, he's yet to throw 100 innings in a season. When he's healthy, Paulino has a 91-94 mph fastball and a devastating, 82-84 mph plus curveball. The fastball wasn't as hard in 2017 as it's been in the past, but the curve retains its sharp 12-to-6 break and Paulino has the feel to manipulate it depending on the situation. He can make it bigger and slower or harder and sharper. His changeup also flashes plus. The Future: Paulino still has the makings of a mid-rotation starter, but he is now one positive test away from a full-season ban.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: As well as Francis Martes has panned out, Paulino has a better frame and equal stuff. The Astros acquired him from the Tigers for reliever Jose Veras in July 2013. Paulino had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and never has pitched 100 innings in a season. Scouting Report: Paulino is 6-foot-7 but unlike many young, long-limbed pitchers he has a knack for duplicating his simple, low-effort delivery. He already has above-average control, and he walked two or fewer in each 2016 outing. Paulino's plus fastball sits 91-96 mph with good downhill plane and adequate run and life, though it sometimes takes a while to build velocity. In some starts he'll pitch at 90-92 mph early, then touch 98 a couple of innings later. He uses both a plus 78-81 mph curveball with 12-to-6 action and depth and a fringe-average slider. His mid-80s changeup flashes plus as well.
  
  The Future: Paulino missed time in 2016 both for elbow tendinitis and a minor disciplinary issue. He should contend for a big league role--either starting or relieving--at some point in 2017, and he has frontline potential if he can prove his durability.