Pedro Araujo
| IP | 28 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 8.357 |
| WHIP | 1.786 |
| BB/9 | 6.107 |
| SO/9 | 9.321 |
- Full name Pedro Araújo
- Born 07/02/1993 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 03/31/2018
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: A late-bloomer who was never exactly on the fast track, Araujo signed with the Cubs for $100,000 as a 17-year-old in 2011 and didn't make it out of the Dominican Summer League until 2014. He wasn't in full-season ball until 2016, and he made one appearance in Double-A in 2017 before the Orioles took him in the Rule 5 draft. He made 20 appearances for Baltimore and struck out a batter per inning in his major league debut in 2018, but he struggled with his command suffering a season-ending elbow injury in mid-June.
Scouting Report: Araujo features a low-90s fastball that tops out at 95 mph with sink and was able to get swinging strikes in the big leagues on both his slider and changeup. Opposing hitters whiffed on 33.9 percent of his pitches, but he pitched his way into bad counts. His command, while no better than average, wasn't an issue as much as a lack of conviction at a level far advanced than what he was used to.
The Future: The Orioles kept Araujo around in the hopes that he can be a useful middle reliever once his Rule 5 roster restrictions expire. He will be back in the Orioles' bullpen in 2019.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Cubs signed Araujo, a Dominican righthander, for $100,000 in 2011, but he still has yet to reach full-season ball in five pro seasons--but he has potential. He has a physical, 6-foot-3 frame, a short stride and a low-90s fastball that he throws to set up a solid curveball and a changeup. Araujo throws a high percentage of strikes and had a nearly 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the NWL. Thanks to a heavy fastball that is difficult to elevate, he can both miss bats and keep the ball in the park. However, Araujo been used strictly as a reliever since debuting in the U.S. in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2014 following three years in the Dominican Summer League.
