Brian Fuentes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #20 prospect in 2003
  Fuentes was part of the Jeff Cirillo trade with Seattle. He was a conventional over-the-top pitcher whose career was headed nowhere until the Mariners had him drop to a much lower arm slot in 2001. Fuentes' motion is now similar to a Frisbee thrower's, giving him excellent deception. He has a consistent 90 mph fastball, impressive velocity for a submariner. He throws a slider that he can run in on righthanders. Control is a problem when Fuentes doesn't get regular work, but if he pitches four times a week he's usually fine. He can hold his own against righties, allowing managers the luxury of using him as more than just a lefty specialist. Fuentes should be the primary southpaw in the Colorado bullpen this year.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #18 prospect in 2002
  While Denny Stark was the most important player the Rockies received from the Mariners for Jeff Cirillo, veteran Jose Paniagua and Fuentes should bolster the Colorado bullpen. Fuentes stalled in the Seattle system when he had shoulder problems at Double-A in 1999, but a switch to a low three-quarters delivery the following season got him going again. His best pitch is his changeup, and his fastball and slider qualify as average. He mixes the three pitches well, though he's going to have to throw more strikes and work ahead in the count more often in the majors, especially in Coors Field. Lefthanders batted just .188 with 26 strikeouts in 64 at-bats against Fuentes in 2001, and righties didn't do much better at .206 and 54 whiffs in 141 at-bats. Adding Fuentes allowed the Rockies to trade Mike Myers to the Diamondbacks for prospects Jack Cust and J.D. Closser. Adding Fuentes allowed the Rockies to trade Mike Myers to the Diamondbacks for prospects Jack Cust and J.D. Closser. Fuentes should replace Myers as Colorado's lefty specialist this year.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #15 prospect in 2001
  A draft-and-follow signing in 1996, Fuentes ranked eighth on the Mariners prospect list two years ago, but his stock slipped after a disappointing 1999 season. He was off to another rough start at New Haven last year when a change in his mechanics turned everything around. Fuentes has always thrown with a funky delivery that helped him post a lot of strikeouts because it was deceptive. But he couldn't repeat it consistently and it may have contributed to shoulder problems in '99. In the middle of 2000 the Mariners got him to drop to a low three-quarters delivery. The results were dramatic. Over his last seven starts, Fuentes went 3-2, 2.39, allowing 31 hits and 12 walks in 49 innings while striking out 61. The run began with a complete-game two-hitter in which he struck out 14 and walked none. Fuentes throws an average fastball and slider and a plus changeup. If he can stay consistent with his new delivery, he'll force his way to Seattle before long.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #9 prospect in 1999
  Background: A draft-and-follow signed by the Mariners in 1996, Fuentes was added to the 40-man roster this offseason. He has proven durable over the last two seasons after missing much of his first season with a tender arm. Strengths: Fuentes has posted impressive strikeout numbers in large measure because of a funky arm action that deceives hitters. His fastball is average in velocity but has late life and seems much faster because of the deception. Fuentes changes speeds well and throws a good changeup. Weaknesses: For a big guy, Fuentes doesn't throw very hard, so he must continue to outfox batters as he climbs. He must also improve his curveball and his command of all three pitches. His walk-to-strikeout ratio took a big hit last year, which is a concern. The Future: Fuentes might be back in Lancaster at the start of the 1999 season, which could give the JetHawks a strong rotation for Class A. With a strong training camp he could open in Double-A.