Luis Vizcaino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #15 prospect in 2001
  The hard-throwing Vizcaino has touched down in the big leagues for parts of the last two seasons but has yet to find a way to stick. He has great ability and maddening inconsistency. He'll cruise along, then offer up a series of mistake pitches that get hammered. He often leaves the ball too high in the strike zone, and his mid-90s fastball has a tendency to straighten out. Vizcaino has shown the ability to both start and relieve in the minors, though the A's see his future in the bullpen. If he can become more consistent, he could be an imposing force in relief. He's still trying to tighten up his slider, and he has yet to come up with much of an offspeed pitch. Vizcaino is likely to spend 2001 on the bubble, bouncing between Triple-A and the majors as the need arises.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #8 prospect in 1999
  Background: Vizcaino signed as a skinny 17-year-old with a fastball in the mid-80s. He worked at the A's Dominican complex, and with improved nutrition and weight training he has continued to build his body. He has worked hard to learn English, and has proved extremely coachable and deeply motivated. Strengths: Vizcaino arrived in Arizona last spring with a 94-mph fastball, up about five mph from the previous season. The A's attribute the improvement to conditioning and better mechanics. Vizcaino is poised on the mound and does not panic in difficult situations. Weaknesses: Vizcaino has struggled hard to develop an offspeed pitch, and he has spent the winter working on a circle-change. He has also been troubled by a tendency to struggle during the early innings of his starts before righting himself and gaining his effectiveness. The Future: The A's will start Vizcaino either at Midland or Edmonton and watch how his changeup develops.

• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Background: Vizcaino signed as a skinny 17-year-old with a fastball in the mid-80s. He worked at the A's Dominican complex, and with improved nutrition and weight training he has continued to build his body. He has worked hard to learn English, and has proved extremely coachable and deeply motivated. Strengths: Vizcaino arrived in Arizona last spring with a 94-mph fastball, up about five mph from the previous season. The A's attribute the improvement to conditioning and better mechanics. Vizcaino is poised on the mound and does not panic in difficult situations. Weaknesses: Vizcaino has struggled hard to develop an offspeed pitch, and he has spent the winter working on a circle-change. He has also been troubled by a tendency to struggle during the early innings of his starts before righting himself and gaining his effectiveness. The Future: The A's will start Vizcaino either at Midland or Edmonton and watch how his changeup develops.