Esmailin Caridad

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #29 prospect in 2011
  Like Alfonso Soriano, Caridad is a Dominican who began his pro career with Japan's Hiroshima Carp and played briefly in the Japanese majors before using a technicality to become a free agent. The Cubs signed Caridad in December 2007 for $175,000 and an invitation to big league camp. He reached the big leagues at the end of his second U.S. season, earning manager Lou Piniella's trust by not allowing a run in 11 September outings. Caridad made Chicago's Opening Day roster last April, but made just four appearances before going on the disabled list with elbow problems. He avoided surgery, but Cardidad wasted most of the year with two stints on the DL, pitching just 16 innings between the majors and rehab assignments. When healthy, he can reach 96 mph with his fastball, though he's more effective pitching in the low 90s with more sink. While he's undersized, he generates velocity with arm speed and smooth mechanics rather than an abundance of effort. He relies mainly on his fastball and his command, because his slurvy breaking ball is average at best and his changeup is fringy. If he can put his elbow problems behind him, Caridad will get another opportunity to make Chicago's bullpen in spring training.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #22 prospect in 2010
  Like Alfonso Soriano, Caridad signed with Japan's Hiroshima Carp out of the Dominican Republic and played briefly in the Japanese majors before becoming a free agent on a technicality. The Cubs beat out other U.S. clubs for Caridad during the 2007 offseason, thanks to a $175,000 bonus, an invitation to big league camp and a visit from general manager Jim Hendry during his trip to the team's Dominican complex. Caridad paid quick dividends, reaching the big leagues last August and winning manager Lou Piniella's trust by not allowing a run in 11 September appearances. A starter in the minors, Caridad was more effective in shorter stints as a reliever in the majors. Though he's just 5-foot-10, his quick arm and smooth mechanics allow him to throw his fastball in the low 90s with some sink. He can reach 96 mph, but his heater tends to flatten out when he throws harder. His curveball morphs between an average pitch and a slurve, and his changeup has some splitter action but is fringy. Chicago envisioned him as a reliever all along but started him in the minors to give him innings to work on his secondary pitches. He attacks hitters and throws strikes, though his delivery lacks deception. Caridad's strong finish in 2009 helps him stand out amidst the Cubs' slew of bullpen candidates and enhances his chances of making their Opening Day roster.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #22 prospect in 2009
  Caridad originally turned pro with Japan's Hiroshima Carp. He made two brief appearances in the Japanese majors in 2007 and spent most of that year at the Carp's academy in the Dominican, where Cubs scout Jose Serra spotted him. A technicality made Caridad a free agent, and Chicago won him over with a $175,000 bonus, an invitation to big league camp and a visit from Jim Hendry during the general manager's trip to the Cubs' Dominican base. Caridad has a quick arm and one of the better fastballs in the system, a low-90s heater that tops out at 96 mph. It induces more groundouts than strikeouts because it flattens out at times and he lacks deception in his delivery. On the other hand, his smooth mechanics give him terrific control. The rest of Caridad's arsenal is ordinary: an average three-quarters breaking ball and a fringy changeup with some splitter action. Some clubs officials project Caridad as a starter, but it's more likely that his ultimate role will be as a reliever or swingman. After a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, he's ready for Triple-A and could get his first taste of the big leagues in 2009.