Santo Manzanillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #26 prospect in 2013
  When Manzanillo dislocated his shoulder and injured his scapula in a serious auto accident in the Dominican Republic after the 2011 season, he appeared to make a speedy recovery and was active in spring training. He told Milwaukee's training staff that his shoulder felt fine, but as it turned out, that wasn't the case. It quickly became evident he wasn't the same pitcher who had a breakout season in 2011. The Brewers pulled the plug after 12 mostly dreadful relief outings in Double-A, sending Manzanillo to Arizona to rehab a strained right rotator cuff. He returned to the mound in mid-August but didn't pitch well in the minors or the Arizona Fall League. Before he got hurt, Manzanillo regularly threw in the mid-90s and topped out at 99 mph, but his fastball velocity diminished significantly in 2012. His formerly mid-80s slider also lost some power, and his control diminished as well. He also throws a changeup that has become more effective. If Manzanillo can get back to where he was in 2011, he could help Milwaukee as a set-up man and perhaps even as a closer.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #11 prospect in 2012
  When the Brewers signed Manzanillo two months shy of his 17th birthday, he was a raw pitcher with a good arm who had no idea where the ball was going. He walked a stunning 47 batters in 16 innings in his 2006 pro debut and didn't total more strikeouts than walks until 2008. He blew out his elbow and missed the entire 2009 season following Tommy John surgery, then continued to struggle with his control the next year. He finally harnessed his stuff under the tutelage of Brevard County pitching coach Fred Dabney and flourished last year. Manzanillo's lively fastball explodes on hitters, regularly arriving at 94-96 mph and peaking at 99. He has a second power pitch in his mid-80s slider, though it has more cut than bite and is no more than an average offering. His changeup is actually more effective than his slider, because hitters have to gear up to hit his fastball. If Manzanillo can continue to improve his control and command like he has over the past year, he could become a set-up man for Milwaukee in the near future. He was added to the 40-man roster in November, but later that month his status for the spring was clouded when he dislocated his right shoulder in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic. He also fractured his right scapula and is expected to miss spring training.