Hector Almonte

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #23 prospect in 2001
  Armed with a fastball that has reached 98 mph, Almonte has been groomed as a closer for years. He got his first taste of the big leagues late in the 1999 season but suffered through a miserable 2000. Sent back to Triple-A, he sulked and got hammered. Shoulder instability plagued him in the first half, though the strange part was that his velocity never dropped. He still needs to strengthen his shoulder capsule but there's no major structural damage. Because his fastball tends to be straight, Almonte needs to develop and trust a second pitch. The Marlins have been telling him to throw more sliders for years, but he's stubborn and lacks confidence with the pitch. Some have suggested he try a splitter, just to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. He has lost some luster in this deep organization, and Blaine Neal has passed Almonte as the top closer prospect. But there's till time to turn things around.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #14 prospect in 2000