Joan Gregorio

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #22 prospect in 2018
  Tall pitchers often take longer to develop, but Gregorio is running out of time to develop for the Giants. The Rookie-level Arizona League ERA leader in 2011 at the time drew comparisons with Ubaldo Jimenez because of his size and stuff. The 6-foot-7 Gregorio's development since then has been slowed by his struggles to maintain a consistent release point, which has led to a series of control struggles. Gregorio also got in his own way in 2017 when he blew his chance at a September callup by being suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing steroid. He made up for lost time with a stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he was roughed up for 10 earned runs in 15.1 innings. Gregorio was granted a fourth option year, which gives him one more chance to develop his control and consistency in the minors. Gregorio still has a 91-95 mph above-average fastball and an above-average slider. Time is running out for Gregorio as a starter, and considering his ticking minor league options clock, it wouldn't be surprising to see him try relieving at some point in 2018.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2017
  Gregorio signed as an "older" 18-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, yet Giants had to be patient as he filled out his massive 6-foot-7 frame and learned how to repeat his delivery. He cruised through an assignment at Double-A Richmond in 2016 to earn a May promotion to Triple-A Sacramento, where he ran up a 5.28 ERA in 21 starts at age 24. Even as he struggled every fifth day, Gregorio impressed at times. He ranges from 90-93 mph as he mixes two- and four-seam fastball. He struggles to locate to his glove side but is comfortable locating arm side. Gregorio has shown improved feel, and he creates plenty of angle on his fastball with his long limbs. His best secondary pitch is an average 82-85 mph slider. His below-average 85-86 mph changeup took a big step forward in 2016 when he started to show conviction in throwing it. He showed improved maturity in his pitch selection by sticking with a pitch even if it's getting hit and sharpening it during the game. Scouts are split on Gregorio's future role. His age, wavering control and the Giants' crowded Triple-A rotation all hint at a move to the bullpen.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #18 prospect in 2016
  The Giants have patiently watched Gregorio develop from a skinny 6-foot-7 and 180 pounds when he signed in March 2010 to a more thick-legged, but still long-limbed, 230 pounds. The Giants had him pitch out of the bullpen at Double-A Richmond for the first half of 2015, a precursor to what may be his future role, but he was equally successful in a move back to the rotation in mid-July. San Francisco had to shut Gregorio down in 2014 to work on his delivery because his release point wandered, but he cleaned up his pitching motion to the point where his control and command now project as fringe-average. He has an above-average four-seam fastball that sits at 93-95 mph out of the bullpen and 92-94 as a starter. He also mixes in a low-90s sinker. He has tightened up and added velocity to his slider, turning it into an 83-86 mph weapon that also projects as a plus offering with excellent depth. His changeup is a usable but fringe-average offering as well. Early in the 2015 season, Gregorio relied too much on his offspeed offerings, but he pitched off the fastball more effectively later. In the long term, his delivery and struggles to stay healthy (he's had oblique, back and blister issues in the past) means he probably ends up in the bullpen with a power fastball/slider combo--but the Giants will keep giving him chances to start.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #15 prospect in 2015
  Gregorio announced his arrival in the U.S. by leading the Rookie-level Arizona League in ERA in 2011. The pro game since then has been more of a struggle, which continued in 2014, when he had an at times impressive but frustrating season. He had two disabled list stints at high Class A San Jose: one mostly to work on his delivery rather than any specific ailment and a second for an actual back injury. He returned to action with low Class A Augusta, pitching inconsistently and finishing strong with 10 strikeouts in his season finale. Gregorio's plus 91-95 mph fastball and 83-85 mph slider that flashes plus are enough to carve up hitters on his best nights. But his slider comes and goes, his changeup is a wellbelow average offering and he's just started to develop trust into throwing his secondary stuff. His control is below-average. More importantly for the Giants, they want to see Gregorio bring more competitive fire to his starts. He'll head back to San Jose for a second try in 2015. He has a likely future as a setup man, but the pieces are there to be a mid-rotation starter if he can improve his secondary offerings and control.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #17 prospect in 2014
  Gregorio could be Ubaldo Jimenez's mirror image. They're both tall, impossibly skinny and all of those long levers in their delivery seldom appear under control. Gregorio might not have the 99 mph fastball that Jimenez brought to the big leagues, but his power arm has few peers in the Giants system. After a couple of rough years in short-season ball when he struggled to maintain consistent mechanics, Gregorio showed enough flashes at low Class A Augusta in 2013 to firm up his prospect status. Limited to 14 games because of an oblique injury and a recurring blister issue, he nevertheless struck out 84 and walked just 17 in 70 innings for the GreenJackets. Despite pitching from different arm slots, he managed to stay around the strike zone with a 92-94 mph fastball and show good feel for a changeup.His sweeping slider is his best offspeed pitch and is particularly uncomfortable for righthanders. Gregorio gives you a unique look, and he's not an easy at-bat.Combine that with his health issues and he's a better bet to contribute as a reliever in the big leagues.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #18 prospect in 2011
  With his gangly body and inconsistent low-three-quarters delivery, Gregorio doesn't look very impressive on first glance. But he was successful in getting AZL batters out, posting a league-best 2.32 ERA. Gregorio needs to add strength to his 6-foot-7, 180-pound frame, which would give a boost to his fastball, which averages 90 mph but sometimes hits 94. The pitch has life and he's able to throw it for strikes at the top and bottom of the zone. He also throws a breaking ball that he commands well--"The best thing he does is he can spin the ball," Caldwell said--and is starting to use his changeup more often. Gregorio is very competitive and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. With more fastball velocity, he also could become an effective set-up man.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Gregorio signed as an "older" 18-year-old amateur out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, yet the Giants had to be patient as he filled out his massive 6-foot-7 frame and learned how to repeat his delivery. He cruised through an assignment at Double-A Richmond in 2016 to earn a May promotion to Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit a speed bump as he ran up a 5.28 ERA in 21 starts at age 24. Scouting Report: Even as he struggled every fifth day, Gregorio impressed at times. He ranges from 90-93 mph as he mixes two- and four-seam fastballs. He struggles to locate to his glove side but is comfortable locating armside. Gregorio has shown improved feel, and he creates plenty of angle on his fastball with his long limbs. His best secondary pitch is an average 82-85 mph slider. His below-average 85-86 mph changeup took a big step forward in 2016 when he started to show conviction in throwing it. He showed improved maturity in his pitch selection by sticking with a pitch even if it's getting hit and sharpening it during the game.
  
  The Future: Scouts are split on Gregorio's future role. His age, wavering control and the Giants' crowded Triple-A rotation all hint at a move to the bullpen, but he's shown flashes of starter potential as well.