Eduard Bazardo

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #17 prospect in 2018
  Though he spent parts of three seasons in the Dominican Summer League, the undersized Bazardo has seen improved performances since coming stateside. While posting a 2.36 ERA and striking out over a batter per inning, Bazardo was promoted to low class A Greenville, where he continued to shine in five starts in the South Atlantic League. Although a starter in the Red Sox organization, his profile fits more of a bullpen role in the future. His fastball tops out 95 mph, and he creates deception with a high arm slot. His primary weapon is his slider, which sits comfortably in the upper 70s. The offering features big shape with a slurve break that generates swings and misses. Bazardo's biggest improvement was limiting his walks per nine innings from 3.79 in 2017 to 1.09 in the New York-Penn League in 2018. As he improves his command, he should fit into the bullpen as a two-pitch righthander with a wipe-out breaking ball.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bazardo signed for $8,000 as an undersized 18-year-old in Venezuela. Though he always featured a potentially plus breaking ball with huge spin rates, and he has been a consistently excellent late-innings performer as a pro, he was left unprotected and went undrafted in the 2019 Rule 5 draft. During the shutdown, Bazardo stayed at the Red Sox's Dominican academy, where he added 10 pounds and emerged at instructional league with a fastball that ticked up from the low 90s to hold at 94-97 mph.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bazardo always featured excellent arm speed, the ability to spin the ball and a willingness to attack the strike zone. He started his pro career as a fastball/curveball pitcher who struggled against lefthanded hitters, but the addition of a slider helped him even his splits. He profiled as a depth reliever before his velocity bump allowed his fastball to tick up a grade or two. He's also started developing a splitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bazardo probably profiles as a mid-innings reliever, but his four-pitch mix and command give him a chance as a swingman or an opener. His addition to the 40-man roster reflects the possibility he could reach the big leagues in 2021.