Jochi Ogando
| IP | 194 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.057 |
| WHIP | 1.686 |
| BB/9 | 6.17 |
| SO/9 | 7.84 |
- Full name Jochi Jose Ogando
- Born 05/27/1993 in El Cercado, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Ogando has a strong case to be considered best pure arm in the Mariners system. Now if only he could throw a strike when needed. A thick-bodied righthander with a quick arm, Ogando can carry his 92-96 mph velocity for four or five innings as a starter, and touches 99 in shorter stints. His delivery isn't smooth and it leads to issues with his well below-average control. His slider and changeup are both below-average, though his changeup will flash average on his best days. The Mariners left Ogando unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and he went unpicked. His velocity gives him a ceiling as a back-of-the-bullpen arm if he can improve his delivery and control as he heads to Double-A Jackson in 2015.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Ogando began playing baseball in 2008 and signed with the Mariners a year later as a projectable 16-year-old righthander. Prior to that, basketball had been his game of choice, which is understandable given his 6-foot-5 frame. Given his inexperience, Ogando is more thrower than pitcher at this stage, a fault Appy League observers were willing to overlook given that his fastball sits at 94-95 mph and peaks at 97. The velocity and life on his fastball confound righthanders, who batted just .217 with one homer in 115 at-bats against him. Lefties get a better look at the ball given his long arm stroke, lack of a consistent second pitch and whippy arm action. When Ogando works ahead of batters, his hard curveball and slider can function as chase pitches, but he doesn't throw his breaking stuff for strikes with any consistency or trust his changeup. He may not need that changeup if he winds up in the bullpen, as most Appy observers expected he would. He could develop into a set-up man.
