Adalberto Mejia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #6 prospect in 2017
  The Twins acquired Mejia from the Giants just before the 2016 trade deadline, sending big league infielder Eduardo Nunez to the Bay. Signed by the Giants in 2011, Mejia moved quickly through the system, buoyed by his advanced pitching feel. A 50-game suspension for the stimulant Sibutramine slowed his progress in 2015, but he worked his way to Triple-A Sacramento in 2016 and continued on with Triple-A Rochester after the trade. Mejia throws strikes and keeps the ball low in the zone, fitting the Twins' pitching paradigm. The thick-bodied lefthander isn't overpowering. Mejia generally works 91-93 mph with his fastball, mixing in an average low-80s slider that can flash better and an above-average changeup, and he has command of all three pitches. The Twins love Mejia's even-keeled makeup and mound presence, and he's shown the ability to make adjustments on the mound when necessary. Essentially a finished product, Mejia should vie for a role in the back of the Twins' rotation immediately and projects safely as a No. 5 starter.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2016
  Because of Mejia's poise and advanced feel, the Giants always have been aggressive with promoting him, and he generally has been among the youngest pitchers in his league. His quick ascent stalled in 2015 when a 50-game suspension for the stimulant Sibutramine (a drug most often used for weight loss) forced him to miss all of April and May at Double-A Richmond. He he missed parts of two more months with shoulder tendinitis. Mejia made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, which he led with 31 innings, a workload that pushed his season total to 82. Mejia is a thick-waisted, thick-legged lefthander who does a good job of mixing three average to above-average pitches. His fastball will sit 92-95 mph at its best, though it dipped down to 88-92 at times this year. His slider flashes above-average potential with a chance to be a swing-and-miss pitch, and his changeup is reliably above-average as well. Mejia is pitch efficient at times, though his control wavered at times in 2015. It's all about consistency with Mejia, whom the Giants added to the 40-man roster in November. He has the potential to be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter, and even scouts who are less enamored see him ending up as a useful reliever. He could make his big league debut in 2016.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2015
  Signed for $350,000 in 2011, Mejia dominated the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut, showing excellent control and plus stuff. Since then, he's been firmly established as one of the more promising starting pitchers in the system. Mejia struggled to catch up to the speed of the Eastern League at Double-A Richmond over the first half of 2014 and didn't seem as competitive as coaches would like. But he regrouped and finished with a 2.01 ERA over his final seven starts. Mejia will miss the first 50 games of 2015 after being suspended for testing positive for Sibutramine, a stimulant used for weight loss that is banned in the U.S. As a big--if a little thick--lefthander with a plus fastball, and two other pitches that at least flash average, Mejia is a pitcher scouts can dream on since he repeats his delivery and has a tick above-average control. His 91-95 mph fastball was most effective in 2014 when he started relying on the two-seamer with sink and tail more often late in the season. His average 82-84 mph slider is his best secondary pitch. His curveball might need to be shelved, as too often he gets in between and makes it a loopier slider. His changeup shows more promise. It flashes average with some late sink and fade, but it's inconsistent. Mejia has always been tough on lefties, so he should at least have a role as a lefty reliever. He can be a solid No. 4 starter if he can sharpen his secondary pitches.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #4 prospect in 2014
  The Giants have to like what their $350,000 investment in Mejia could bring them. Not only was he the youngest member of high Class A San Jose's prospect-studded rotation, but at 19, he ranked as the youngest starter in the Cal League. He added 2-3 mph to his fastball--something club officials thought he could do as he matured into his body--but it's his ability to pitch that most excites them. Mejia has a loose arm and shows the ability to throw three plus pitches for strikes. He'll pitch to contact with his two-seamer, his slider has plus tilt and depth and he effectively sells his changeup. His fastball, which reaches 92-93 mph, has natural cut that sometimes causes it to veer over the plate, leaving him a bit homer-prone. Mejia improved his delivery in 2013 but at times spins off and misses arm-side. The San Jose pitching staff led the Cal League in ERA for the eighth time in 10 seasons even though the Giants lost Mejia (lat strain) and Kyle Crick (oblique) in the first week of May. They rehabbed together and pitched together in the Arizona Fall League as well. They should' form a right-left complement again at Double-A Richmond, but Mejia's advanced command and feel could allow him to reach the big leagues first.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2013
  Mejia signed for $350,000 and dominated the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2011, then showed in instructional league that he could throw strikes and change speeds. So the Giants decided to get aggressive and assign him to low Class A as an 18-year-old. Mejia gave up 11 runs over five innings in his first two starts, leading to a two-month stay in the bullpen, but he bounced back to go 4-1, 1.58 in his final six starts. With his size, loose arm and potential for three solid or better pitches. Mejia could fit in the middle of a big league rotaton. He's a flyball pitcher who works off an 89-91 mph fastball that touches 93 and should gain steam as he continues to mature. He can get outs with both of his secondary offerings, a slider that flashes good tilt and depth, and a changeup, more advanced than the slider, that he sells effectively. Mejia's ability to throw consistent strikes and keep the ball down in the zone is unusual for such a young pitcher. San Francisco doesn't need to rush him, but Mejia has earned the right to open 2013 in high Class A at age 19. He'll be part of a prospect-laden San Jose rotation that should also include Kyle Crick, Chris Stratton and Clayton Blackburn.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #26 prospect in 2012
  After spending $849,000 on international amateur bonuses in 2010, a figure that ranked 27th among the 30 organizations, the Giants doled out $750,000 for Dominican pitchers Mejia and Simon Mercedes last offseason. Mejia, who signed for $350,000, combines a projectable frame and loose arm with an advanced feel for pitching. In his pro debut, he recorded the fourth-best K-BB ratio (8.9) and sixthbest ERA (1.42) in the Dominican Summer League. He further impressed coaches who worked with him in instructional league. Though he's still growing into his body, Mejia is athletic and coordinated. For now he pitches at 87-90 mph and touches 92 with his fastball, and there's plenty of room for projection in his slender frame. He has some deception in his delivery and effectively sells his changeup. His breaking ball is still just a slurve, however. Despite his youth, Mejia is calm and confident on the mound. Though a case can be made for a full-season assignment at Augusta, San Francisco has a surplus of young pitching and probably will send him to the Arizona or Northwest League.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #10 prospect in 2013
  The youngest pitcher in the league, Mejia turned 20 in June, yet few would have guessed he was so young after watching him pitch. His season was interrupted for a month in May by a left oblique strain, Mejia returned to post a 3.02 ERA in the second half. Mejia has three pitches he can use any time. His fastball runs up to 93 mph from the left side and he pitches at 90-92. He complements the heater with a changeup and slider. He generally has a more consistent feel for his changeup, but on his good days he can command all three pitches for strikes. Scouts love Mejia?s mound presence, and he has a feel for the zone that belies his experience level. He did run into trouble at times when he had issues repeating his delivery, typically spinning off and missing spots to his arm side.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Twins acquired Mejia from the Giants just before the 2016 trade deadline, sending big league infielder Eduardo Nunez to the Bay. Signed by the Giants in 2011, Mejia moved quickly through the system, buoyed by his advanced pitching feel. A 50-game suspension for the stimulant Sibutramine slowed his progress in 2015, but he worked his way to Triple-A Sacramento in 2016 and continued on with Triple-A Rochester after the trade. Scouting Report: Mejia throws strikes and keeps the ball low in the zone, fitting the Twins' pitching paradigm. The thick-bodied lefthander isn't overpowering. Mejia generally works 91-93 mph with his fastball, mixing in an average low-80s slider that can flash better and an above-average changeup, and he has command of all three pitches. The Twins love Mejia's even-keeled makeup and mound presence, and he's shown the ability to make adjustments on the mound when necessary.
  
  The Future: Essentially a finished product, Mejia should vie for a role in the back of the Twins' rotation immediately and projects safely as a No. 5 starter.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Mejia signed for $350,000 and dominated the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2011, then showed in instructional league that he could throw strikes and change speeds. So the Giants decided to get aggressive and assign Mejia to low Class A Augusta as an 18-year-old. He gave up 11 runs over five innings in his first two starts, leading to a two-month stay in the bullpen, but bounced back to go 4-1, 1.58 in his final six starts. Scouting Report: With his size, loose arm and potential for three solid or better pitches. Mejia could fit in the middle of a big league rotaton. He's a flyball pitcher who works off an 89-91 mph fastball that touches 93 and should gain steam as he continues to mature and fill out his 6-foot-3 frame. He can get outs with both of his secondary offerings, a slider with good tilt and depth and a changeup that he sells effectively. Mejia's ability to throw consistent strikes and keep the ball down in the zone is unusual for such a young pitcher. The Future: San Francisco doesn't need to rush him, but Mejia has earned the right to open the 2013 season in high Class A at age 19. He'll be part of a prospect-laden San Jose rotation that should also include fellow Top 10 Prospects Kyle Crick, Chris Stratton and Clayton Blackburn.