Born05/22/1975 in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic
ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Saladin's age was revised upward from 23 to 26 before the 2002 season, so the Astros sent him to Double-A to see how he'd respond. Managers rated him the top relief prospect in the Texas League, ahead of his set-up man, Santiago Ramirez. Houston re-signed him as a minor league free agent after the season ended and immediately put him on the 40-man roster. A converted infielder who moved to the mound in 1997, Saladin pumps 93-95 mph fastballs by hitters. He sometimes makes mistakes up in the zone, but Double-A hitters couldn't take advantage. His second pitch is a hard, big-breaking slider, but he doesn't always throw it for strikes. Despite his success, he's not as aggressive as a typical closer. If Saladin develops consistency and command, he won't spend much time in Triple-A this year.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Reliever in the Texas League in 2002
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