Wilber Bucardo
| IP | 244 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.098 |
| WHIP | 1.27 |
| BB/9 | 2.508 |
| SO/9 | 5.939 |
- Full name Wilber Antonio Bucardo
- Born 11/20/1987 in Leon, Nicaragua
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Bucardo was the best pitcher on the Giants' Rookie-level Dominican Summer League club for two seasons, and his success translated to the Arizona League last year. The native Nicaraguan throws a low-90s fastball with heavy sink, giving up just one home run in 60 innings and posting a 3.14 groundout/flyout ratio. Bucardo also has a promising slider and is just beginning to throw a changeup, which he'll need against lefthanders. He pounds the strike zone and had enough polish to earn a late callup to Salem-Keizer. But Bucardo might have made his biggest contribution when he helped convince his younger brother Jorge to spurn a larger offer from the Yankees and sign with the Giants. Jorge Bucardo, who went 7-2, 1.35 in the DSL as a 17-year-old, has a similar build and repertoire as Wilber but is further along at a younger age and will be a player to watch when he makes his U.S. debut. Wilber should make his full-season debut in low Class A this year.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Bucardo spent two successful seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and was prepared to succeed in the AZL, unlike several younger Latin pitchers with similar velocity. He had the league's heaviest sinker, sitting in the low 90s and peaking at 95 mph. He yielded just one homer in 60 innings and had a 3.14 groundout/flyout ratio. Bucardo also throws a slider that has future plus potential and a four-seam fastball. He'll need to improve his rudimentary changeup to aid him against lefthanders at upper levels. "He's more fluid than when I saw him in extended spring training, and the ball comes out of his hand well," Hunter said. "His ball has a lot of life down in the zone."
