Octavio Dotel
| IP | 951 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.776 |
| WHIP | 1.238 |
| BB/9 | 3.899 |
| SO/9 | 10.817 |
- Full name Octavio Eduardo Dotel
- Born 11/25/1973 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Liceo Eansino Afuera
- Debut 06/26/1999
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: After Dotel struggled with his control throughout 1997, the Mets considered switching him to the bullpen last season. It was fortunate they didn't. Dotel blossomed into the Mets' best starting prospect in 1998, leading the high minors with 200 strikeouts. Strengths: Dotel has scary raw stuff. His fastball is in the 92-94 mph range with good life and can reach 96 mph. His best pitch is a hard curveball that he has trouble controlling if he lets it get too big. Dotel also throws a sharp slider. Weaknesses: Dotel has never been able to throw a changeup even as a show pitch. Physicallly, he's severely loose and double-jointed, which undoubtedly accounts for much of his ability but also worries the Mets because of the threat of injury and instability in his shoulder and elbow. The Future: With their win-now attitude, the Mets will probably not give Dotel an early shot at a rotation spot this spring, though he would provide a contrast to the finesse righthanders currently in New York.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The only repeater from last year's IL Top 10, Dotel moves up a spot from No. 5 after what almost certainly was his last Triple-A test. In his 13 starts before becoming a key ingredient in the Mets rotation, Dotel baffled hitters with his mid-90s fastball and developing curveball and slider. "He's very conveniently wild," Louisville manager Gary Allenson said. "He'll throw two on the black and then one at your head. Not on purpose. He'd just let it go and that's where it would end up."
