Bucardo is so slender that he could sleep in the barrel of a shotgun, according to farm director Fred Stanley. Club officials were curious how durable he would prove to be in his first full season, and Bucardo was a pleasant surprise, not only with the way he maintained his stuff but also with how he competed on two levels. He led the South Atlantic League in opponent average (.208) and ranked second in ERA (2.21). His lack of strength might have caught up to him in nine unimpressive late-season appearances in high Class A, but it's notable that he threw over 150 innings before his 21st birthday. Bucardo is wiry strong, and his stuff plays as a starter or reliever. He throws from several arm angles while touching 94 mph, but mostly pitching in the 88-90 range, and gets ground balls with an effective sinker. His slider is average and his changeup is haphazard, but he has a good idea of when to use it. Bucardo is a good athlete who springs off the mound when fielding his position. His older brother Wilber is also in the Giants system, but hasn't developed along the same lines.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone