Gabe Molina

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #10 prospect in 1999
  Background: Molina is a short, squat, short-armed righthander with a history of elbow problems. But somehow he has emerged as the leading closer candidate in the Orioles system. Strengths: Molina has a lightning quick arm and a 92-94 mph fastball. He has always had a hard-breaking slider but made great strides in controlling the pitch and spotting it where he wants. Molina has used both pitches to strike out 227 hitters in 183 minor league innings. Weaknesses: The stigmas of size and draft status are real in professional baseball up to a point. Molina's role will definitely be in the bullpen, as he has not developed an effective offspeed pitch and has never started a game as a professional. The Future: If he can continue to throw strikes with his two quality pitches, Molina has a shot to make the Orioles bullpen out of spring training as a set-up man. His stuff is unlikely to get any better, so his ability to make the mental adjustments to pitching at the major league level will determine Molina's eventual role.