Juan Cedeno

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #17 prospect in 2005
  Cedeno's signature moment remains blowing away Joe Mauer in two instructional league at-bats in 2002, but he was rarely that dominant last season. He still has one of the best fastballs in the system, sitting at 92-93 mph and pushing 95-96. He's not big but generates plenty of arm speed and could have even more velocity left in his tank. He also has developed a two-seam version of his fastball that has nice life. For a lefty with that kind of heat, Cedeno is far too hittable. He can't put batters away because he doesn't have reliable secondary pitches, and when he gets in jams he just throws as hard as he can. His curveball and changeup show signs of coming around, but he needs to trust them more. Cedeno had a groin pull early last year but never has had any arm problems. He can be frustrating, but few southpaws can match his sheer arm strength. The Red Sox hope he'll figure out how to pitch this year, when he'll probably return to high Class A to open the season. Because his tools currently outstrip his skills, he's also a candidate to get traded, and other teams have shown interest.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #9 prospect in 2004
  Cedeno came to the United States in 2002 and made an impression in instructional league, where he blew away Minnesota's Joe Mauer in two at-bats. In his first full season last year, he had a 10.29 ERA in April and a 2.48 mark afterward. He allowed three or fewer earned runs in 18 of his last 19 outings. Cedeno has the best fastball in the system. He sat at 92- 93 mph and touched 95 last summer, and reportedly hit 97 this winter in the Dominican League. He resembles countryman Pedro Martinez with a small, thin body, big hands and quick arm. He spins his curveball well and it could give him a second plus pitch. He's competitive and confident. He needs to understand that less can be more. Cedeno is enthralled with his fastball and overthrows it. He tries to hit 100 mph while the Red Sox want him to be content at 92-93 with more strikes and life. His changeup lags behind his heater and curve. Cedeno's velocity, approach and stuff may fit better in the bullpen in the long term. He'll remain in the rotation this year in high Class A.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #23 prospect in 2003
  In general, Twins farmhands, who also train in Fort Myers, Fla., dominated their Red Sox counterparts in instructional league. One of Boston's few highlights came when Cedeno blew away Joe Mauer, one of the game's best prospects, in two different confrontations. By the end of instructional league, Cedeno was touching 95 mph and had made major strides with his curveball. A wiry 6-foot-1 athlete with huge hands and long fingers that impart a good deal of spin on his pitches, he physically resembles fellow Dominican Pedro Martinez. Cedeno's whippy arm action allows him to generate his velocity. He has huge feet and is still growing, so there's a lot of projectability to him. He needs a lot of time to develop his pitches and his command--both throwing strikes and spotting his pitches within the zone--but he's certainly intriguing.