Ezequiel Astacio

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #2 prospect in 2005
  When the Astros traded Billy Wagner last winter, Astacio ranked as the third-most important player they got from the Phillies, behind Taylor Buchholz and Brandon Duckworth. A year later, he looks like the best part of the deal. His stuff jumped dramatically as he led the Texas League in innings and strikeouts. Astacio now has the best fastball in the system. Its velocity has increased from 85-90 in 2002 to 88-93 in 2003 to 90-95 mph in 2004, and it has more sink now as well. His curveball is harder and has more bite, and he picked up a splitter that works well as a change of pace. He has three plus pitches at times and commands all of them. Because his curveball is a hard downer, Astacio ultimately may be better served by a true changeup than relying on his splitter. He sometimes loses his focus on the mound. Astacio rode his momentum through the offseason, when he was named rookie of the year in the Dominican Winter League. He'll probably begin 2005 back in Round Rock, now Houston's Triple-A affiliate, but could help Houston as a starter or reliever later in the season.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #15 prospect in 2004
  Taylor Buchholz and Brandon Duckworth were the centerpieces of the Billy Wagner trade with Philadelphia, but the Astros got a third potential starter in the deal with Astacio. After filling out in the offseason and adding 3 mph to his fastball, he led the Florida State League and the Phillies system with 15 wins in 2003. Astacio throws strikes with all three of his pitches: an 88-93 mph fastball, a curveball that's average now and has plus potential, and a changeup. He needs to become more consistent with his curve and learn to use his changeup better. He'll abandon it for stretches, then rely on it too much. While Astacio is stingy with walks, he's hittable because he catches too much of the strike zone and doesn't pitch inside enough. He's intelligent and should be able to make those adjustments. There's also room for more projection with his long, loose arm. Headed for Double-A, he projects as a No. 5 starter or middle reliever.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #19 prospect in 2002
  Astacio made his U.S. debut last year after tuning up his live, young arm in the Dominican Summer League. His impressive performance earned him recognition as the Gulf Coast League's No. 8 prospect. Astacio flirts with mid-90s velocity already, sitting at 93 mph, and he has a sharp curveball to boot. He has a projectable 6-foot-3, 156-pound frame with long, loose actions and an understanding of how to pitch. The Phillies' underrated Dominican program just keeps producing quality arms. They already are raving about 18-year-old right hander Elizardo Ramirez, who went 10-1, 1.26 in the DSL last summer. Astacio could make the leap to Lakewood this year, like Yoel Hernandez did from the GCL in 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #9 prospect in 2005
  Considered the third-best player the Astros received when they traded Billy Wagner to the Phillies, Astacio has since far surpassed Taylor Buchholz and Brandon Duckworth. His stuff took a huge jump forward in 2004 and he maintained it this season. Astacio now works with a 92-94 mph fastball with nice sink, a splitter that can be unhittable and a hard breaking ball. When everything is working, he has three plus pitches. He can maintain the velocity on his fastball into the late innings. Though he has a good delivery, Astacio battles the command of his secondary stuff and his feel for pitching at times. Overcoming that is his biggest need in making the transition to the majors, where he was inconsistent in four stints this season.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #8 prospect in 2004
  The league leader in strikeouts, Astacio seemed like a different pitcher from the one acquired from the Phillies in the Billy Wagner deal. He hadn't struck out more than 100 in a season since the Phillies signed him in 1998, but he nearly reached 200 this year. Astacio knows how to use his three pitches that are at least average: a 90-93 mph fastball with good sink, a sharp curveball that some managers called a slider, and a changeup with split-finger action. The changeup helped him hold lefthanded hitters to a .248 average and .343 slugging percentage. In contrast, righthanded hitters slugged .381 against him.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #8 prospect in 2001
  Astacio came to the United States after three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He impressed managers with his long arm action, ability to throw three pitches for strikes and outstanding mound presence. Astacio has above-average velocity (90-92 mph) and movement on his fastball, and his changeup showed improvement. He's also projectable at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #80 prospect in 2005

• December, 2000 Scouting Report
  Astacio came to the United States after three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He impressed managers with his long arm action, ability to throw three pitches for strikes and outstanding mound presence. Astacio has above-average velocity (90-92 mph) and movement on his fastball, and his changeup showed improvement. He's also projectable at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds.