Alex Claudio Stats & Scouting Report

IP	27.2
ERA	4.55
WHIP	1.3
BB/9	2.28
SO/9	5.86

Full name Alexander Claudio
Born 01/31/1992 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Isabel Flores
Debut 08/13/2014
Drafted in the 27th round (826th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2010.

View Draft Report

Claudio is a string bean at 6-foot-3 and 160 pounds, but scouts see projection in his build. He has a quiet, controlled delivery and currently sits 84-85 mph, touching 87. His changeup is a decent pitch now, while his curveball is a little loopy and needs to be tightened up. If Claudio puts some meat on his bones and the added strength shows up on the mound, he could have a chance.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Claudio is a sidearm reliever whose fastball sits just 83-87 mph with good armside run and sink, but he still manages to strike out more than a batter per inning because of his devastating, double-plus changeup. He maintains his arm speed on his changeup, which is indistinguishable from the fastball out of his hand but travels at 66-69 mph, with late dive and tailing action that gives hitters fits. He will backdoor a slow, slurvy slider on occasion as well, but his changeup is his money maker. With long arms and legs that fly around, Claudio has deception that makes it tough for hitters to pick up the ball, and he's a consistent strike-thrower. In short stints, that works, and he should be a solid middle reliever for the Rangers in 2015.
When Claudio signed with the Rangers as a 27th-round flier out of high school in 2010, he was a long-limbed, extremely skinny lefty with a fastball that maxed out at 87 mph. While the velocity hasn't ramped up, he's changed his arm slot and developed a Bugs Bunny changeup to become a legitimate prospect. A pure reliever, Claudio made his full-season debut in 2013 at low Class A Hickory and pitched so well that the Rangers skipped him in the second half to Double-A Frisco, where he didn't miss a beat. He throws just 82-87 mph with good tail, and he's now a siderarmer with plenty of deception caused by arms and legs flying at the hitter. Claudio's high-60s changeup is a devastating pitch, a plus-plus weapon with sink, fade and screwball-type action that gets hitters caught out in front routinely. He maintains his arm speed on his changeup and gets tremendous separation from his fastball, which plays up because hitters have to stay back for his changeup. Claudio's slurvy 72-76 mph slider gives hitters another look, but his changeup is his bread and butter. It's a repertoire that leads to plenty of strikeouts and a near 3-to-1 groundout/airout rate. Claudio's ceiling is low and his fastball leaves little margin for error, but he has a chance to work as a middle reliever.

Minor League Top Prospects

Myrtle Beach was loaded with future big leaguers, and in Claudio's case the future already arrived. The Rangers shuttled him from Myrtle Beach to Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock before calling him to the Texas bullpen in August, where he was averaging more than a strikeout an inning. Scouts see Claudio as a possible situational lefty reliever because of his sidearm delivery, mid-80s velocity and quality secondary pitches. He throws a plus changeup that batters can't touch, and Lynchburg manager Luis Salazar also raved about Claudio's high-70s slider. "He's deceptive," Potomac manager Tripp Keister said. "He has a funky delivery and a nice changeup. He's done really well in the big leagues, which doesn't surprise any of us."

Best Tools List

Rated Best Changeup in the Texas Rangers in 2014

Career Transactions

Diablos Rojos del Mexico activated LHP Alex Claudio from the reserve list.
Diablos Rojos del Mexico placed LHP Alex Claudio on the reserve list.
Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Alex Claudio outright to Nashville Sounds.
Nashville Sounds activated LHP Alex Claudio.
Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Alex Claudio outright to Nashville Sounds.
Milwaukee Brewers designated LHP Alex Claudio for assignment.
Milwaukee Brewers optioned LHP Alex Claudio to Nashville Sounds.
Milwaukee Brewers optioned LHP Alex Claudio to Nashville Sounds.
Nashville Sounds activated LHP Alex Claudio.
Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of LHP Alex Claudio from Nashville Sounds.
Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of LHP Alex Claudio from Nashville Sounds.
Puerto Rico activated LHP Alex Claudio.
LHP Alex Claudio assigned to Nashville Sounds.
LHP Alex Claudio roster status changed by Milwaukee Brewers.
Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent LHP Alex Claudio to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.