Dimasther Delgado

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #18 prospect in 2012
  Delgado put together an impressive comeback that went underreported in 2011. He missed all of the previous season after he was involved in an automobile accident in his native Panama, resulting in a broken femur in his right leg, a torn ligament in his right knee and a broken left hand. He spent most of 2011 in the Lynchburg rotation and got stronger as the season progressed, going 5-2, 2.98 in the second half. Delgado's strength is his overall feel for pitching. He keeps hitters off balance by mixing a low-90s fastball, above-average changeup and a slow curveball. He employs a pronounced overhand delivery that gives him good leverage and movement on his pitches while creating good deception against left-handers, who batted just .204 against him last year. Delgado commands both sides of the plate with his fastball and isn't afraid to pitch inside. He has one of the better changeups in the organization, and his curveball is effective as long as he doesn't hang it. His control was unusually shaky in 2011, though it got better as the season progressed. A good all-around athlete who fields his position well, Delgado could become a middle-of-the-rotation starter. He'll move up to Double-A this year.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #18 prospect in 2011
  Delgado had an impressive full-season debut in 2009 and was slated to be part of a prospect-laden Myrtle Beach rotation last year. Instead, he was involved in a bad traffic accident in his native Panama in February that left him with a broken left hand just above his wrist, a broken femur in his right leg and a torn ligament in his right knee. He missed the entire season, though he was able to pitch during the final three weeks of instructional league. Delgado frustrates hitters by mixing a low-90s fastball and a plus changeup. He shows an advanced feel for pitching by commanding his fastball to both sides of the plate, hitting his spots and coming inside to both lefthanders and righthanders. His changeup has outstanding depth and fade, making it among the best in the organization. He has made steady improvements with his slow curveball, which still needs more definitive break. He's an above-average athlete and fielder, though he needs to improve at holding runners. A potential No. 3 starter, Delgado should be at full strength in 2011, when he'll finally make it to high Class A.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #12 prospect in 2010
  Delgado has flown under the radar, overshadowed in the Braves system by Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado (no relation) and a host of early-round draft picks. Despite the lack of exposure, Delgado has emerged as a legitimate prospect after turning in a strong full-season debut in 2009. His changeup is one of the best in the organization and he does an excellent job of mixing it with his fastball, which peaks in the low 90s. His slow curveball lags behind his other two pitches and still needs a lot of work. Delgado has an advanced feel for pitching, working both sides of the plate and throwing inside with consistency. He also has a tremendous work ethic with the drive to get the most out of his ability. He has good athleticism and fields his position well. He needs to do a better job holding runners after giving up 14 steals in 16 attempts last season. If he improves his curveball, Delgado could become a mid-rotation starter in the majors. He'll serve a similar role in high Class A in 2010.