Angel Baez
| IP | 313 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.227 |
| WHIP | 1.431 |
| BB/9 | 4.457 |
| SO/9 | 9.23 |
- Full name Angel Luis Baez
- Born 02/14/1991 in Juan Baron, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Baez was supposed to be next in line among the Royals' Dominican pitching pipeline before he took a step back in 2013. Blessed with one of the best arms in the system, he lost the feel for the strike zone, then lost his control, breaking his pitching hand in a fit of anger. He returned in time to show the same electric, erratic stuff in a late-season return to high Class A Wilmington and a stint in the Arizona Fall League. He struck out 19 batters in the AFL in just 13 innings, but he also walked nine and gave up 14 hits. Baez's fastball will vary from 88-98 mph depending on how well he's maintaining his delivery. His curveball and changeup both show flashes of being average, but they are inconsistent because of his control and delivery issues. After five years as a starter, Baez likely will move to the bullpen in 2014 to see if his control can improve. The Royals left him off the 40-man roster, figuring that teams will pass on his great arm in the Rule 5 draft because he hasn't proven he can throw strikes. Baez's ultimate ceiling could be late-inning reliever. -
When Baez won his Kane County debut on May 26, it ended quite a drought. He had gone 0-15, 4.90 in 43 previous pro appearances. Obviously a win-loss record doesn't tell much about a young pitcher, but his stuff is much better than his 6-20 career mark would indicate. Baez throws a heavy fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and peaks at 98. His changeup shows the potential to become an average pitch, though his curveball isn't as impressive. It's more of a slurve, and his low arm slot may work better for a slider in the long term. He did a better job of throwing strikes in 2012 but still has room for improvement, especially with his command. Scouts from other teams envision Baez becoming a late-inning reliever, but the Royals see no reason to close the door on starting yet. He'll pitch in their high Class A rotation this year.
