Maikel Cleto

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #27 prospect in 2013
  Originally signed by the Mets, Cleto went to the Mariners in a three-team trade that also sent Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle and J.J Putz to New York in December 2008, then came to the Cardinals prior to the 2011 season in exchange for Brendan Ryan. The hulking righthander has pitched briefly in St. Louis in each of the last two seasons, showing just enough raw power to intrigue and just enough inconsistency to merit a return to the minors. He posted the best K-BB ratio (3.0) of his career in 2012, he also had his worst ERA (5.37) since pitching for high Class A High Desert, one of the minors' toughest pitcher's parks. Heat is Cleto's game. He has hit 102 mph as a starter in the past and has topped 100 mph several times. Recast as a full-time reliever last year, he kept the velocity and maintained more consistency with his flamboyant, max-effort delivery. His fastball sits from 95-99 mph and he complements it with an exaggerated, mid-80s slider that can slip away from him at times. His changeup is more of a 91-mph sinker that he uses judiciously. Cleto is destined to open 2013 back in Triple-A, but the strides he made with his control have him in line for another big league promotion.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #14 prospect in 2012
  Cleto made his major league debut last June, six months after St. Louis acquired him from Seattle in exchange for Brendan Ryan. Originally signed by the Mets, he became a Mariner in a threeteam, 12-player deal that sent Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle and J.J. Putz to New York in December 2008. The Cardinals traded for Cleto because they coveted his raw velocity. The strapping righty had a flamboyant delivery and a habit of flying open or falling to the side of the mound in an attempt to increase his velocity. By getting him to keep his front shoulder closed and, in the words of pitching coordinator Dyar Miller, "throw more like a Ferris Wheel than merry-go-round," Cleto pitched more under control in 2011 without sacrificing heat. In one May start, Cleto hit 102 mph and topped 100 a dozen times, per the opponent's radar gun. The Cardinals had him hitting 101. His fastball sits at 95-99 mph with late life, though he leaves it over the middle of the plate too often. He also throws a big-breaking, mid-80s slider that he also struggles to harness. What he calls his changeup is more of a 90-92 mph two-seam fastball that doesn't have enough separation from his four-seamer. Cleto has spent most of his pro career as a starter, but his lack of fine control or command and an offspeed pitch makes it likely that his long-term role will be as a fire-breathing reliever. He figures to open 2012 in Triple-A and be on call if St. Louis needs help in either role.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #16 prospect in 2011
  After signing Ryan Theriot to take over at shortstop, the Cardinals sent Brendan Ryan to the Mariners for Cleto. It was Cleto's second trade in two years, as he came to the Mariners from the Mets as part of the 12-player, three-team trade that sent J.J. Putz to New York and Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle from Cleveland. Cleto has a live arm, but his below-average control and lack of command prevent him from getting the most out of his stuff. His fastball sits at 94-98 mph and touches 100 with explosive life. He can blow his heater by hitters, but focuses on velocity at the expense of throwing quality strikes. Overthrowing causes him to fall off the mound toward first base and miss to that side of the plate. The Mariners tried to point Cleto more to the plate with his delivery, having him focus on maintaining a rhythm and getting better extension out front. His curveball and changeup are both below-average pitches but show flashes of being at least average. His curve has tight downward action, almost like a slider. Cleto made progress with his delivery and maturity in the Arizona Fall League, but his future role is likely as a power arm in the bullpen. He may continue to start in Double-A this year so he can get more innings to work on his deficiencies.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #32 prospect in 2010
  One of seven players acquired by the Mariners in the December 2008 three-team trade that sent J.J. Putz to the Mets, Cleto fires mid-90s fastballs and struck out nearly a batter per inning as a starter in low Class A as a 20-year-old last season. That sort of profile typically warrants a ranking in a Top 30. Cleto's case is a bit different, however, in that he essentially lost a year of development time between an investigation into his identity and an oblique strain. He stayed behind in the Dominican Republic until June, when his identity was verified and he got a work visa for entry into the United States. A physical righthander with a slinging arm action, Cleto sits comfortably at 92-94 mph with his fastball, maxes out at 96 and holds his velocity deep into starts. He shows advanced control of his fastball, which has sinking life down in the zone. He's still developing his secondary stuff, which is made more difficult by the way he dramatically slows down his delivery when not throwing heat. Cleto's slurvy, high-70s breaking ball features inconsistent rotation, and he shows little faith in his below-average changeup. Seattle wants Cleto to focus on getting a more balanced delivery for improved command and feel for his secondary stuff, but he didn't have ample time to implement it in 2009. He could head to high Class A in 2010, this time with a full spring training under his belt.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #16 prospect in 2009
  Cleto has the highest ceiling of the three prospects the Mariners acquired from the Mets in the three-team, 12-player deal at the Winter Meetings that sent J.J. Putz, Sean Green and Jeremy Reed to New York. Managers rated Cleto's fastball as the best in the low Class A South Atlantic League last year, when he topped out at 100 mph. Unlike many young, hard throwers, he has an idea of where the ball is going. "Anyone who throws 91-98 (mph) and a ton of strikes, you have to pay attention," one scout said. Cleto has a strong body that allowed him to log 141 innings as a teenager in 2008, and Mets officials raved about his work ethic. However, he's far from a finished product. His slurvy breaking ball and changeup need to get a lot better if he's going to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. His delivery can be a little violent at times, too. He's erratic in terms of results, showing no-hit stuff one day and the inability to get out of the first inning the next. He also led the South Atlantic League with 25 wild pitches. Cleto should start his Mariners career in high Class A.