Carlos Rosa Stats & Scouting Report

IP	34
ERA	3.971
WHIP	1.412
BB/9	3.971
SO/9	4.235

Full name Carlos Rosa
Born 09/21/1984 in San Francisco De Macoris, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 06/14/2008

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Royals originally included Rosa in the October 2008 trade for Mike Jacobs, but the Marlins' concerns about his elbow led to Leo Nunez taking his place. Rosa moved to the bullpen last season, and the transition didn't go as well as the Kansas City hoped. He struggled to get warmed up on short notice and went 0-3, 10.43 in May before settling into his new role over the second half of the season. He made it back up to Kansas City for another September callup, finishing the season with three straight solid outings in which he allowed one hit in six scoreless innings. Rosa's fastball continues to rank as one of the best in the system. After the move to the pen he consistently hit 94-96 mph with a good downhill angle. But Rosa needs to prove that he's more than just a one-pitch pitcher. His slider is still too inconsistent as he struggles to stay on top of it. He used his changeup more last season, but it's a fringy pitch. His lack of feel necessitated the move to the bullpen. The Royals want Rosa to serve as a big league long reliever who could eventually grow into a setup role. He'll have to refine his changeup to do so because he lacks any other weapons to keep lefthanders honest.
Royals third-base coach Luis Silverio spotted Rosa when he was the team's director of Dominican operations in 2002. At the time, Rosa was a skinny kid throwing 88-89 mph, but Silverio immediately spotted his potential and signed him for $25,000. Rosa almost became a Marlin this offseason, but Florida backed off because of the forearm strain that ended his season in August. Rosa's four-seam fastball is one of the system's best. He sits between 92-94 mph as a starter and runs it up to 96-97 as a reliever. His slider gives him a second plus pitch. He already has good control and does a nice job of pitching down in the zone, leading to lots of groundballs. Staying healthy has been a concern for Rosa, who missed the entire 2005 season after Tommy John surgery, although the Royals say he's healthy now. If he's going to be a starter, he'll have to improve his fringy changeup. He still has nights where he lacks feel for his slider. While he throws strikes, he needs to sharpen his command. The Royals have to decide whether to bring him up now as a setup man or send him back to Triple-A to hone his skills as a starter.
After an impressive spring training that prompted some consideration for Rosa to break camp with the big league club, the Royals sent him to high Class A with the intention of promoting him in June. But he needed just four starts before it became apparent he was ready for a new challenge in Double-A. He has made a full recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2004. Rosa's fastball operates at 93-95 mph and touches 97, and it seems quicker because he has such an effortless delivery. His heater has late arm-side run, and he backs it up with a sharp curveball and a changeup. Both are effective secondary pitches, though he trusts his curve more. By focusing on pitching down and away, Rosa has developed a hesitancy to work inside on hitters. More advanced hitters in Double-A took advantage and knocked him around until he made some adjustments in August. He doesn't have much feel for his slider and would be better off just scrapping it. Rosa could make the Royals out of spring training as a reliever, but likely will open 2008 in the Double-A rotation.
Rosa missed all of 2005 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but rebounded to finish fourth in the low Class A Midwest League in ERA and win the organization's minor league pitcher of the year award. Rosa features a lively fastball with late arm-side run that sits at 92 mph. He never was comfortable with a conventional circle changeup before his elbow reconstruction, so the Royals taught him a fosh changeup that's now his second-best pitch. He maintains his fastball arm speed when he throws the fosh, which arrives at 84-85 mph and has excellent late sink. His slider is a fringy third pitch. Under new general manager Dayton Moore, Kansas City now emphasizes curveballs over sliders, but pitchers like Rosa who used a slider as their only breaking pitch were allowed to continue doing so. The Royals have also smoothed out his delivery since surgery and have him landing on his toe, as opposed to his heel, and that has improved all of his offerings. Rosa will take the next step up to high Class A this year.
Next to Chris Lubanski, Rosa is the Royals' best prospect under 20. His live arm pumps 90-94 mph fastballs. The Royals project Rosa to add velocity as he matures, and he already can work his fastball to both sides of the plate. A plus slider and solid changeup, for which he shows a good feel, give him the chance to reach the majors with three above-average pitches. He's very athletic, smart and driven. He picked up English quickly and has shown the ability to retain instruction and make his own adjustments on the mound. Rosa has a good arm action but there's some effort to his delivery. Though he has added three inches and 35 pounds since signing as a 5-foot-10 135-pounder in 2001, he still must add strength to his thin frame. He also must work on controlling his emotions. His burning desire to win often leads to him getting down on himself when he struggles, but also delivers the work ethic that will help him reach the majors. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Rosa nearly jumped from high Class A in 2006 to the majors out of spring training in 2007. He has developed rapidly over the last two seasons, earning a brief big league callup in June, with the only roadblock a tender arm that caused the Royals to shut him down in mid-August as a precaution. Rosa's fastball is his best weapon, usually sitting around 93 mph and topping out at 95-96 when he needs it. He generates good downward plane with his fastball and pounds the strike zone with it. He backs it up with a late-breaking 11-to-5 curveball, a hard slider and a changeup. The changeup showed improvement and was a big reason he was more effective against lefthanders than righthanders. Though his season ended prematurely, the Royals don't believe he has any health concerns going forward because he throws with an easy motion. He has made a full recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2004.