- Full name Aneudis Mateo
- Born 10/03/1982 in
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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For the most part, the Red Sox spend conservatively in Latin America. Top prospect Hanley Ramirez cost them just a $22,000 bonus, while intriguing lefthander Juan Cedeno signed for $30,000. Mateo is an exception, as Boston paid $400,000 to win a bidding war for him in 2000. After winning Boston's Gulf Coast League pitcher of the year award in 2002, he regressed last season. Mateo was waylaid by blister problems and elbow tendinitis. Physical condition is a key for him, as his stuff is good when he's in shape and pedestrian when he's not. At his best, Mateo has an 89-93 mph fastball with heavy sink that one club official likened to a bowling ball. He slings the ball from a low three-quarters angle that's tough on hitters. His late-breaking curveball is an effective pitch when he stays on top of it. Mateo needs to work on his changeup, his command within the strike zone and his delivery. He lands heavily on his front heel, creating recoil and stress on his shoulder that worries some scouts. The Red Sox also would like him to firm up midsection and strengthen his lower body before he arrives in spring training. Reports from the Dominican Republic were that he was working harder than ever. Mateo faces a critical year in 2004, as he'll try to reestablish himself as one of Boston's top mound prospects while pitching in Class A. -
Mateo has a friendly rivalry with Billy Simon, and followed him from the Gulf Coast League to short-season Lowell in 2002. The two are similar, though Mateo isn't as consistent or as physically mature as Simon. Boston's GCL pitcher of the year, Mateo is long and lanky, and he's tough to hit because he's deceptive and commands the strike zone. He gets good, late sink on a fastball with average velocity, and he has done a fine job of polishing his curveball. He also has a good feel for throwing a changeup and altering speeds on his fastball. At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, he's projectable and should add velocity. Though he's the most advanced of a promising crop of Dominican pitchers that also includes Juan Cedeno, Junior Frias and Denny Tussen, Mateo still will need a few years to develop.
