Ramon Aguero

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #19 prospect in 2011
  When the Pirates signed Aguero, he was known as Samuel Vasquez and was 39 months younger. But when he came to the United States in 2008, officials discovered that he used a false birth certificate. He was on thin ice after a poor 2008 season, but he bounced back after moving into a full-time relief role. Aguero has the stuff, notably a fastball that peaks at 98 mph with some sink, to make a quick ascent to Pittsburgh. He raised significant questions about his health--and toughness--in 2010, when he was twice shut down with elbow ailments that proved to be false alarms and was limited to 25 appearances for the season. Doctors didn't find ligament damage in either case, including an arthrogram in early September. That is not the progress the Pirates hoped for when they added Aguero to the 40-man in the winter of 2009. The stuff is too good to ignore, though. His fastball sits consistently at 95-97 mph, but he has a hard time maintaining velocity. He has an average changeup to keep lefthanders honest, and his slider is still a work in progress but has potential. Aguero probably will have to prove himself anew in Altoona, and he'll be old for Double-A.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #17 prospect in 2010
  Aguero was known as Samuel Vasquez during his first two pro seasons in the Dominican Summer League. However, when he tried to get a visa to come to the United States in 2008, it was found that he was using a false birth certificate and was actually 39 months older than the Pirates thought. He was allowed to enter the country, but his baseball future appeared in doubt when he got pounded as a 23-year-old starter at State College. However, Aguero was the most improved Pittsburgh farmhand last season, advancing from low Class A to Double-A after becoming a full-time reliever. The hardest thrower in the system, he routinely sits at 95-97 mph with his fastball. He complements his heater with a changeup that makes him tough on lefthanders. He also has a slider, but it's fringy. Aguero's lack of an effective third pitch and his tendency to lose steam on his fastball after a few innings make him strictly a short reliever. The Pirates placed him on the 40-man roster in November, quite an accomplishment for someone who went 1-10, 6.75 in short-season ball the previous year. Aguero likely will return to Altoona to start 2010 and could make a quick ascent to the big league bullpen because Pittsburgh craves hard-throwing relievers.