Edwin Escobar Stats & Scouting Report

IP	46.1
ERA	4.86
WHIP	1.58
BB/9	6.41
SO/9	9.13

Full name Edwin Jose Escobar
Born 04/22/1992 in La Boyera, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: L
Debut 08/27/2014

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Originally signed by the Rangers, Escobar was traded to San Francisco so Texas could keep Rule 5 draft pick Ben Snyder back in 2010. Four-plus years later, the Giants traded Escobar shortly before the trade deadline as the primary piece for Jake Peavy. Escobar rebounded from a tough start at Triple-A Fresno to produce a number of solid starts at Triple-A Pawtucket, throwing particularly well in the postseason. He sits in the low 90s but runs his fastball up to 95 mph with the potential to get swings and misses on his slider--his best secondary pitch--and changeup. Escobar sometimes favors secondary offerings over his fastball, so he has a mix that suggests either a future as back-end starter or reliever, potentially a matchup arm, given his dominance against Triple-A lefties (.200/.244/.230 with 25 percent strikeouts) and struggles against righties. His crossfire delivery also affords deception versus lefthanders. Escobar could provide a lefthanded bullpen option early in 2015 or he could offer pitching depth (or trade value) at Pawtucket.
Escobar has multiple cousins and relatives in professional baseball, from Kelvim and Alcides Escobar to Yankees farmhand Jose Campos. The Giants tried to sign Escobar as a teenager out of Venezuela, but his family had connections to the Rangers and he signed with them. The Giants finally got Escobar when the Rangers picked Giants lefty Ben Snyder in the Rule 5 draft, then traded Escobar to the Giants to keep Snyder in the spring of 2010. He was the only member of high Class A San Jose's prospect-laden rotation to earn a promotion to Double-A Richmond in 2013, and his numbers only got better from there. Escobar always had size and strength, but he got himself in better condition and made an adjustment to raise his elbow in his delivery, allowing him to locate his 92-93 mph fastball, and for the first time, throw a dependable breaking ball. He gained confidence in his slider and it's a plus offering at times that he can throw early in the count or as a put-away pitch. His changeup also ranges from average to plus, and he held righthanded hitters to a .222 average. Escobar has a durable arm and likes to throw a lot between starts, so a bullpen role isn't out of the question. He was pitching in that role in the Venezuelan League, but his three-pitch mix offers too much potential as a starter. He figures to start 2014 at Triple-A Fresno.
The Giants loved "Esky" Escobar's size and arm action as a teenager in Venezuela, and they didn't toss their scouting reports after he signed with the Rangers. In the spring of 2010, Texas couldn't keep Rule 5 pick Ben Snyder on its big league roster, so rather than take Snyder back, San Francisco suggested a trade for Escobar, whom they were ecstatic to bring into the system. The solidly-built lefthander got hit hard at lower levels for Texas but Giants officials noted that he hadn't allowed many homers, he still struck out better than a batter per inning, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio remained excellent. Although it took a year and a half, Escobar made the leap forward that San Francisco envisioned in low Class A last season, using cleaner mechanics and better conditioning to throw 92-93 mph--a jump from the 88 mph he threw in short-season ball the previous summer--and develop a viable changeup. That K-BB ratio (122-32) looked better than ever, and he ranked third in the South Atlantic League in ERA (2.96) and WHIP (1.17). Escobar's curve is more of a slurve and it'll have to get better as he advances. That'll be a project for pitching coach Steve Kline at San Jose.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Giants felt they?d found a gem in Escobar, who cost them just Rule 5 pick Ben Snyder in April 2010, and he continued his rapid rise through the system by tearing through the Cal League and reaching Double-A in July. He ranked among the Cal?s top five in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP (1.14) at the time of his promotion. Escobar shows promising stuff and know-how. He pitches at 89-92 mph with his fastball but can reach back for 94 when he?s going for a strikeout. He has an outstanding feel for changing speeds with his fastball, able to get outs by backing it down to 86 mph on occasion. His tight curveball acts as a strikeout pitch, particularly against lefthanded hitters, and he shows feel for using his fading changeup. Escobar did run into trouble when he dropped his arm slot at times, causing his pitches to flatten out. His command of his curveball wasn?t always consistent, but on his best days he could throw all three of pitches for strikes and would use them in any count.