Jose Mujica Stats & Scouting Report

IP	19.2
ERA	6.41
WHIP	1.58
BB/9	2.29
SO/9	9.61

Full name José Angel Mujica
Born 06/29/1996 in Valencia, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 249 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 09/08/2020

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Rays signed Mujica for $1 million back in 2012, and he has progressed, reaching low Class A Bowling Green in 2015 after missing most of 2014 with a foot injury. When he returned to the mound this season, he showed improved stamina and strength, and his fastball velocity took a step in the right direction. He previously sat in the low 90s, but he routinely pitched at 92-94 mph in 2015, and he hit as high as 96. His fastball plays up because of its heavy, late dive as it approaches the zone. Mujica's changeup is his bread and butter, projecting as a plus offering because of its fading action. He has feel for locating the pitch down in the strike zone. The righthander has traditionally thrown a curveball with sharp spin, but his natural three-quarters arm slot encouraged him to add a slider, which he did in 2015 instructional league. Mujica can now pitch at four speeds, and he has yet to really work on implementing a two-seam fastball. He has a clean, repeatable delivery and has a chance to develop above-average command. Mujica is far from his ceiling, having made just eight starts in full-season ball. He's poised for a challenging assignment in 2016, likely back in the Midwest League.
Deemed by many scouts to be the best international pitching prospect available in 2012, Mujica signed with the Rays for $1 million out of Carlos Guillen's academy in Venezuela and has made rapid progress despite being one of the youngest players in the organization. Expected to spend 2013 in the Dominican Summer League, Mujica showed enough maturity and development to make the jump to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he ranked as the circuit's No. 16 prospect. He's the classic teen pitching prospect, with loose actions, a live arm, a durable frame and a clean, compact delivery. He repeats his mechanics with consistency and pounds the strike zone while using both sides of the plate. His four-seam fastball sits in the low 90s and touched 94 mph in 2013, while his two-seamer is a heavy pitch that generates groundball outs. The Rays believe he has a chance to boost his velocity as he gains experience and strength. His changeup has the makings of becoming a plus pitch, and he creates deception by using the same arm speed as his fastball. Mujica also made strides in adding a more consistent curveball to his repertoire, and it shows tight spin and break. He has the potential to skyrocket on this list, but first he'll pitch for Rookie-level Princeton in 2014.
The Rays gave seven-figure bonuses to two Venezuelan pitchers last summer. Though Mujica ($1 million) signed for less than lefthander Jose Castillo ($1.55 million), Latin American scouts considered him the better prospect. A product of former all-star Carlos Guillen's academy in Venezuela, Mujica impressed scouts at a Major League Baseball showcase in the Dominican Republic in February and continued to show advanced skills prior to the July 2 signing date. Despite turning 16 just three days prior to signing, he has a fluid delivery and clean arm action. Mujica throws a heavy fastball with late life that has reached 93 mph. He does a good job of working both sides of the plate with his heater, and Tampa Bay believes he should sit in the mid-90s once his lean body gets stronger. He throws his changeup with excellent deception and consistent sink, giving it a chance to become a plus pitch. His breaking ball needs the most work, but the Rays believe it will develop because of his feel for pitching and work ethic. He'll probably make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and won't come to the United States until 2014.

Minor League Top Prospects

Some teams considered Mujica the top pitching prospect on the international market last year. The Blue Jays appeared to have the inside track on signing him, but the Rays stepped in and signed him out of Carlos Guillen?s academy for $1 million when the international signing period opened. Mujica was one of the youngest pitchers in the league, turning 17 on June 29. Mujica has a strong, durable starter?s build with loose arm action and a clean, compact delivery. He?s already able to repeat his mechanics, which is why he throws so many strikes to both sides of the plate and walked just three batters. After touching 93 mph last year, he hit 94 this year and sat at 89-92, using a mix of four-seamers and at times a heavy two-seamer. He has the projection to throw even harder in the future. Mujica?s best secondary pitch is his changeup, an above-average offering with sink that he sells by maintaining his arm speed. One of the question marks on Mujica as an amateur was that he was a bit stiff-wristed, which hampered his breaking ball, but he made strides developing the pitch from a three-quarters slurve to give it tighter break and more of a true curveball shape.

Career Transactions

Guerreros de Oaxaca placed RHP José Mujica on the reserve list.
Guerreros de Oaxaca activated RHP José Mujica from the reserve list.
Toros de Tijuana traded RHP José Mujica to Guerreros de Oaxaca.
RHP José Mujica assigned to Toros de Tijuana.
Rochester Red Wings placed RHP José Mujica on the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings placed RHP José Mujica on the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings activated RHP José Mujica from the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings placed RHP José Mujica on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 13, 2023.
RHP José Mujica assigned to Washington Nationals.
RHP José Mujica roster status changed by Washington Nationals.
RHP José Mujica assigned to Rochester Red Wings.