Luis Patino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #3 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 45.Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño's fastball sat in the mid 80s when he signed with the Padres for $130,000 in 2016, but he rapidly gained weight and strength and was touching 99 mph by the 2019 Futures Game. Patiño spent the coronavirus shutdown in 2020 working out with fellow Colombian pitcher Jose Quintana in anticipation of his major league debut. That debut came on Aug. 5, and Patiño spent the bulk of the season pitching out of the Padres' bullpen as a 20-year-old. The Rays acquired him in the trade that sent Blake Snell to San Diego after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Patiño's strong lower half and electrifying arm speed allow him to generate explosive 94-99 mph fastballs. It's a plus-plus, swing-and-miss fastball with late life up in the zone, but he overthrows it when he gets too amped up and gets wild as a result. Patiño's tilting, biting mid-80s slider is another swing-and-miss pitch at its best, but he also struggles to locate it consistently. He commands his firm changeup better than his slider and gets swings and misses over the top when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. He also has an 82-84 mph curveball he can land for strikes early in the count to give batters a different look. Patiño pitches with a lot of emotion and adrenaline. He shows above-average control when he slows down and keeps a balanced tempo.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres broke Patiño in as a reliever but still viewed him as a future starter. He has mid-to-front of the rotation potential if he can manage his energy level and control.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #2 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño weighed 150 pounds when he signed with the Padres for $130,000 in 2016. He rapidly added weight and strength and gained 10-12 mph in two years, resulting in a swift ascent up the system. Patiño began 2019 as the youngest pitcher in the high Class A California League and posted a 2.69 ERA, earning a promotion to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot Patiño pitches much bigger than his size. His quick arm, powerful legs and twitchy athleticism yield a vicious 94-95 mph fastball that touches 99 and explodes with late life through the strike zone. He can elevate his fastball for swings and misses or dot it on the corners, leaving batters largely helpless against it. Patiño's 85-88 mph slider with late, biting tilt is another plus swing-and-miss offering, and he lands his average 82-84 mph curveball early in counts to give hitters a different look. Patiño's changeup is too firm at times, but it flashes plus with late drop when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. Patiño pitches with energy and exuberance, but he generally maintains his poise and above-average control in tight situations.
  
  THE FUTURE: Patiño's stuff is that of a potential No. 2 starter. He'll head back to Double-A to start 2020.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Patino weighed 150 pounds and sat 84-87 mph during a bullpen session at a Colombian showcase in 2016, but Padres international director Chris Kemp liked the converted shortstop's loose arm and athleticism and signed him for $130,000 on July 2. Patino filled out and made rapid velocity gains even faster than imagined. Up to 192 pounds and throwing in the mid-90s, Patino made his full-season debut in 2018 with low Class A Fort Wayne and became the talk of the Midwest League. He posted a 2.16 ERA in 17 starts, touching 99 mph as an 18-year-old.
  
  Scouting Report: Patino is slightly undersized, but his stuff is huge. Loose and athletic with a chest-high leg kick, Patino sits 94-95 mph on his explosive fastball and touches 98-99. His 84-87 mph hard slider is the best in the organization, giving him two plus, power pitches he deploys aggressively. Patino is a plus athlete who repeats his delivery and alters his leg kick to further disrupt hitters timing, all while keeping above-average control of his power stuff. Patino is still finding feel for his softer offerings. His 78-80 mph curveball flashes plus but is inconsistent, and the unreliability of his mid-80s changeup led lefties to torch him for a .345/.421/.457 line.
  
  The Future: Patino's arm and athleticism excite, but there's a long way to go. He was shut down after 83.1 innings and needs to prove his durability, and he still has to find a pitch for lefties.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #4 prospect in 2019
  The high-octane Patiño struggled with his control early, but he learned to throttle down and began dominating. Patiño finished second in opponent average (.192), sixth in ERA (2.96) and seventh in WHIP (1.09) among starters with at least 60 innings as the league’s youngest pitcher on Opening Day. Patiño’s plus-plus fastball was his bedrock, checking in at 95-98 mph with explosive late life and cut action. His power slider flashed plus and his improving, mid-80s changeup began showing average as well, though both were inconsistent. Patiño’s poise at a young age impressed league observers as much as his overpowering stuff. "The way he handled (adversity), very maturely and kept attacking, that was very impressive,” Rancho Cucamonga manager Mark Kertenian said. "When you see a young pitcher as talented as he is do that, it’s neat to see.” Patiño’s command is still improving, but his pure stuff gives him front-of-the-rotation potential.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #10 prospect in 2018
  Despite being short for a righthanded starter, which often worries scouts, Patino wowed evaluators with excellent stuff and easy velocity. Patino's 2.16 ERA and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings would have led the MWL if he had qualified. At his best, Patino was unhittable. He went five or more no-hit innings three times. Righthanders hit a microscopic .140/.190/.173 against him. Patino's fastball, which sat in the mid-90s and touched 98 mph, was one of the best in the league. He keeps hitters off balance by elevating his fastball and sinking it below the zone. His slider and curveball both have plus potential. His high-80s slider has good shape and plenty of power. His changeup flashes above-average with sink and fade.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #23 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #18 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #67 prospect in 2019

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 45.Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño's fastball sat in the mid 80s when he signed with the Padres for $130,000 in 2016, but he rapidly gained weight and strength and was touching 99 mph by the 2019 Futures Game. Patiño spent the coronavirus shutdown in 2020 working out with fellow Colombian pitcher Jose Quintana in anticipation of his major league debut. That debut came on Aug. 5, and Patiño spent the bulk of the season pitching out of the Padres' bullpen as a 20-year-old. The Rays acquired him in the trade that sent Blake Snell to San Diego after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Patiño's strong lower half and electrifying arm speed allow him to generate explosive 94-99 mph fastballs. It's a plus-plus, swing-and-miss fastball with late life up in the zone, but he overthrows it when he gets too amped up and gets wild as a result. Patiño's tilting, biting mid-80s slider is another swing-and-miss pitch at its best, but he also struggles to locate it consistently. He commands his firm changeup better than his slider and gets swings and misses over the top when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. He also has an 82-84 mph curveball he can land for strikes early in the count to give batters a different look. Patiño pitches with a lot of emotion and adrenaline. He shows above-average control when he slows down and keeps a balanced tempo.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres broke Patiño in as a reliever but still viewed him as a future starter. He has mid-to-front of the rotation potential if he can manage his energy level and control.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 45.Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño's fastball sat in the mid 80s when he signed with the Padres for $130,000 in 2016, but he rapidly gained weight and strength and was touching 99 mph by the 2019 Futures Game. Patiño spent the coronavirus shutdown in 2020 working out with fellow Colombian pitcher Jose Quintana in anticipation of his major league debut. That debut came on Aug. 5, and Patiño spent the bulk of the season pitching out of the Padres' bullpen as a 20-year-old. The Rays acquired him in the trade that sent Blake Snell to San Diego after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Patiño's strong lower half and electrifying arm speed allow him to generate explosive 94-99 mph fastballs. It's a plus-plus, swing-and-miss fastball with late life up in the zone, but he overthrows it when he gets too amped up and gets wild as a result. Patiño's tilting, biting mid-80s slider is another swing-and-miss pitch at its best, but he also struggles to locate it consistently. He commands his firm changeup better than his slider and gets swings and misses over the top when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. He also has an 82-84 mph curveball he can land for strikes early in the count to give batters a different look. Patiño pitches with a lot of emotion and adrenaline. He shows above-average control when he slows down and keeps a balanced tempo.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres broke Patiño in as a reliever but still viewed him as a future starter. He has mid-to-front of the rotation potential if he can manage his energy level and control.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño weighed 150 pounds when he signed for $130,000 in 2016. He rapidly added weight and strength and gained 10-12 mph in two years, resulting in a swift ascent up the system. Patiño began 2019 as the youngest pitcher in the high Class A California League and posted a 2.69 ERA, earning a promotion to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot Patiño pitches much bigger than his size. His quick arm, powerful legs and twitchy athleticism yield a vicious 94-95 mph fastball that touches 99 and explodes with late life through the zone. He can elevate it for swings and misses or dot it on the corners, leaving batters largely helpless against it. Patiño’s 85-88 mph slider with late, biting tilt is another plus swing-and-miss offering, and he lands his average 82-84 mph curveball early in counts to give hitters a different look. Patiño’s changeup is too firm at times, but it flashes plus with late drop when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. Patiño pitches with energy and exuberance, but he generally maintains his poise and above-average control in tight situations.
  
  THE FUTURE: Patiño’s stuff is that of a potential No. 2 starter. He’ll head back to Double-A to start 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Patiño weighed 150 pounds when he signed with the Padres for $130,000 in 2016. He rapidly added weight and strength and gained 10-12 mph in two years, resulting in a swift ascent up the system. Patiño began 2019 as the youngest pitcher in the high Class A California League and posted a 2.69 ERA, earning a promotion to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot Patiño pitches much bigger than his size. His quick arm, powerful legs and twitchy athleticism yield a vicious 94-95 mph fastball that touches 99 and explodes with late life through the strike zone. He can elevate his fastball for swings and misses or dot it on the corners, leaving batters largely helpless against it. Patiño's 85-88 mph slider with late, biting tilt is another plus swing-and-miss offering, and he lands his average 82-84 mph curveball early in counts to give hitters a different look. Patiño's changeup is too firm at times, but it flashes plus with late drop when he dials it back to 85-87 mph. Patiño pitches with energy and exuberance, but he generally maintains his poise and above-average control in tight situations.
  
  THE FUTURE: Patiño's stuff is that of a potential No. 2 starter. He'll head back to Double-A to start 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The high-octane Patiño struggled with his control early, but he learned to throttle down and began dominating. Patiño finished second in opponent average (.192), sixth in ERA (2.96) and seventh in WHIP (1.09) among starters with at least 60 innings as the league’s youngest pitcher on Opening Day. Patiño’s plus-plus fastball was his bedrock, checking in at 95-98 mph with explosive late life and cut action. His power slider flashed plus and his improving, mid-80s changeup began showing average as well, though both were inconsistent. Patiño’s poise at a young age impressed league observers as much as his overpowering stuff. "The way he handled (adversity), very maturely and kept attacking, that was very impressive,” Rancho Cucamonga manager Mark Kertenian said. "When you see a young pitcher as talented as he is do that, it’s neat to see.” Patiño’s command is still improving, but his pure stuff gives him front-of-the-rotation potential.