Ronald Uviedo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #18 prospect in 2009
  The Pirates signed Uviedo after he was released by the Mariners out of the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in 2005. He made his domestic debut in 2007 as the closer at State College, then had a breakout year in 2008 and won a spot on the 40-man roster. Uviedo is rail-thin, but his fastball reaches 95 mph and sits at 91-93 with good movement. He also has a good, hard slider, though it puts quite a bit of torque on his arm, which is a concern. The Pirates asked him to work on his changeup and it became an average offering by the end of last season. Uviedo is an extreme fly-ball pitcher, working up in the zone with his fastball, so he's susceptible to home runs. Further improving his changeup is imperative because it would give him a pitch to induce more groundballs. He has good control and doesn't beat himself with walks. Uviedo will start 2009 back in high Class A, where he ended 2008, and could get to the majors quickly as a reliever.