Adys Portillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #28 prospect in 2014
  Portillo's career has been a series of peaks and valleys since he signed with the Padres for $2 million in July 2008, and in 2013 he dealt with his first extended bout with injuries. He suffered a lat injury at the end of spring training that cost him the entire season, save for three rehab starts at low Class A Fort Wayne in June. The Padres assigned him to the Arizona Fall League to get more work. Portillo sat at 94-96 mph with sinking action during the 2012 season, but he pitched a few ticks lower in the AFL as he eased back into a routine. Feel to pitch never has been his strong point, though his high-70s slider has become an average pitch for him. Portillo can throw a good changeup when he stays on top of the ball, though organization consensus is beginning to coalesce around the idea that his future lies in the bullpen, owing to a career walk rate of 5.3 per nine innings. If he makes the bullpen home in 2014, then Portillo could begin at Triple-A El Paso.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #9 prospect in 2013
  Four years after signing out of Venezuela for $2 million in 2008, Portillo finally had sustained success. While repeating low Class A, he slashed his walk rate (4.4 per nine innings, compared to 6.0 in 2011) and increased his pitch efficiency without sacrificing velocity. The Padres promoted him to Double-A in late July and added him to the 40-man roster in November. Portillo has added more than 50 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame since signing--mostly filling out his lower half--and now sits at 94-96 mph while touching 99 with heavy life. The quality of his breaking ball improved dramatically after he applied tweaks to his delivery in 2011 instructional league. He now stresses balance over the rubber and a quicker tempo between pitches, resulting in a more consistent arm slot. Where once he threw a traditional curveball, he learned a slider grip that he has modified to a 77-79 mph slurve. His firm mid-80s changeup features plus life when he stays on top of it. A long arm action complicates the matter of control. Portillo made big strides in 2012, though he needs to be more stingy with free passes and improve his changeup to guarantee a future in the rotation. He has a fallback option as a late-game reliever if those things don't happen. He'll open 2013 in San Antonio's rotation.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #26 prospect in 2012
  The Padres won a bidding war for Portillo, signing the 16-year-old Venezuelan for $2 million in 2008 because they loved his big arm and projectable frame. They were right about his velocity (he touched 100 mph in 2011) and physicality (he has added 40 pounds since signing), though positive results have yet to materialize. He has gone 6-26, 5.83 in 51 pro appearances while walking 124 batters in 199 innings. He struck out a career-high 10.6 batters per nine innings in low Class A last year, but he also finished with a 1.75 WHIP. Portillo sits at 94-96 mph with his riding four-seam fastball, and he holds that velocity now that he has filled out his lower half. He can dominate with just his fastball when he hits his spots, but that can be a challenge because he so often falls out of his delivery, which also inhibits his ability to command his secondary stuff. He throws a slow, rolling curveball and a floating changeup, both of which have a long way to go to qualify even as below-average. San Diego simplified Portillo's mechanics in instructional league, streamlining his deliberate windup and outfitting him with a slider/cutter to replace the curve. He should be able to do a better job of working down in the zone if he stays more on line to the plate. Portillo turns 20 in 2012 and could earn a bump to high Class A given his encouraging turn in the Venezuelan League in the offseason. The Padres love his work ethic, and if he refines a second pitch and his control he could be a future closer candidate.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #23 prospect in 2011
  Portillo touched 93 mph as a 16-year-old amateur, sparking a bidding war that the Padres ultimately won with a $2 million bonus. The early returns have been mixed, as Portillo has spent two years in short-season ball, going 3-15, 4.94 with 5.3 walks per nine innings and limited feel for his secondary pitches. On the plus side, he has gained velocity since signing and now pitches anywhere from 90-96 mph, primarily in the lower register with late life. Portillo's fastball could be a well above-average pitch, and he used it to good effect in the Northwest League in 2010, finishing fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.0) and fifth in opponent average (.241). Development of his secondary stuff is slowed by a stiff arm action and wrist wrap, which also results in poor command. Portillo threw a soft, loopy curveball during the season, so San Diego introduced him to a slider during instructional league. His changeup is ahead of his breaking ball, but it's also below-average. Portillo's maturity took a step forward in 2010, as he sped up his tempo and learned to dwell less often on bad pitches. He's athletic and fields his potion well. With a reliable second pitch, Portillo could grow into a shutdown reliever, but the potential for more exists if he can master three pitches and align that with better command. He's ready to tackle full-season ball in 2011.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #13 prospect in 2010
  While Portillo received significantly more money to sign with the Padres, he's at a similar stage in his development as Simon Castro was back in 2006. Making his pro debut in 2009, San Diego's $2 million man led the Arizona League with nine losses in 10 decisions and finished with a 5.13 ERA. Portillo's overall stuff was fine, but his control wavered and he visibly tired down the stretch. There was nothing wrong with his fastball, as he touched 93 mph in each of his 12 starts and usually pitched at 90-92. Tall and projectable with strong body control, he figures to add velocity as he learns to repeat his delivery. Portillo lacks feel for his curveball, but he'll flash a plus downer from time to time. At this stage, he has more feel for his changeup than he does for his curve. The Padres rebuilt Portillo's mechanics during the season, eliminating a pause in his delivery and adding more separation after he leaves his balance point. A bright pupil who has taken quickly to learning English, Portillo could advance rapidly when things begin to click. He'll tackle the Northwest League in 2010.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #5 prospect in 2009
  The consensus No. 2 pitching prospect during the 2008 international signing period-- behind only Athletics righthander Michael Inoa--Portillo signed for $2 million in July. It was the highest bonus ever for a Venezuelan until the Reds signed outfielder Yorman Rodriguez for $2.5 million a month later. A wiry 6-foot-3, Portillo boasts plus arm strength and a classic pitcher's frame and projectability. He already pitches at 90-92 mph and touched 95 in Dominican instructional league. He has shown a feel for a changeup that has above-average potential. The Padres value Portillo's polish, clean mechanics and mound presence. Portillo didn't draw uniformly high marks among international scouts for his command, with the chief criticism being that he was wild in the zone during bullpen sessions. His downer curveball also failed to impress scouts last summer, earning below-average grades, but San Diego is optimistic about its development. Portillo is just 17, so he has plenty of time to develop. The Padres won't rush him, but he's a strong candidate to forego the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and begin his pro career in the Arizona League.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Midwest League #18 prospect in 2012
  Portillo ability to reach 93 mph as a 16-year-old earned him a $2 million bonus in 2008, but he delivered little but velocity in his first three years as a pro. He went a combined 6-26, 5.83 and posted a 7.11 ERA at Fort Wayne in 2011. He finally started making some progress while continuing to dazzle radar guns this year, meriting a promotion to Double-A in late July. Portillo threw 95-98 mph while winning the MWL all-star game and usually operates from 93-99 with a heavy fastball that hitters struggle to square up. He'll throw some plus curveballs, though at times his breaking ball is just a get-me-over pitch without much power. His changeup is even more inconsistent. Though he made some strides in 2012, Portillo remains more pitcher than thrower and got pounded in Double-A. While he cut his MWL walk rate from 6.0 a year ago to 4.4, his control are command are still below average, in part because his delivery and arm action aren't particularly clean. He has the ultimate ceiling of a No. 1 starter but many scouts believe he has too many obstacles to overcome to get there and will wind up as a late-inning reliever.
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  Ranked Northwest League #9 prospect in 2010
  The keystone of the Padres' extravagant 2008 international signing class, Portillo signed for $2 million--a record for a Venezuelan pitcher. He spent the beginning of this year in extended spring training before tackling the NWL as an 18-year-old. Portillo's fastball fluctuates, sitting at 90-93 mph in some games and 94-96 in others, but there's no denying his arm strength. His arm action can get stiff and he has a wrist wrap, both of which hinder his ability to throw strikes and develop his secondary pitches. He throws a slow, loopy curveball and a changeup, and both pitches need a lot of work. His biggest steps forward this year came with maturity and the mental aspects of pitching. He worked on getting into a better rhythm and focusing on executing his next pitch, rather than sulking if he threw a bad pitch.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #7 prospect in 2009
  Portillo received one of the larger contracts during the 2008 international signing period, and his $2 million bonus set a record for a Venezuelan amateur until Reds outfielder Yorman Rodriguez signed for $2.5 million a month later. Portillo made his pro debut this summer as a 17-year-old. He led the AZL with nine losses in 10 decisions, and he struggled with his control and tired toward the end of the season. Nevertheless, his potential was obvious. Portillo's fastball sits at 91-92 mph and touches 93. He should be able to add more velocity as he cleans up and learns to repeat his delivery. Both his curveball and changeup should become average pitches or better. Portillo has a tall, projectable frame. He has very good body control, which Padres pitching coach Jimmy Jones believes eventually will translate into improved mechanics. "We'll see a completely different guy when he's 20," Jones said.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Four years after signing out of Venezuela for $2 million in 2008, Portillo finally had sustained success. Repeating low Class A, he slashed his walk rate and increased his efficiency without sacrificing velocity. The Padres promoted him to Double-A in July and added him to the 40-man roster in November. Scouting Report: Portillo has boasted huge arm strength from the day he signed. He has added more than 50 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame since then--mostly filling out his lower half--and now sits at 94-96 mph while touching 99 with heavy life. The quality of his breaking ball improved dramatically after he tweaked his delivery in 2011 instructional league. He now stresses balance over the rubber and a quicker tempo between pitches, resulting in a more consistent arm slot. Where once he threw a traditional curveball, he learned a slider grip that he has modified to a 77-79 mph slurve. Portillo's firm mid-80s changeup features plus life when he stays on top of it. A long arm action complicates the matter of control. The Future: Portillo needs to be more stingy with free passes and improve his changeup to guarantee a future in the rotation. He has a fallback option as a late-game reliever if those things don't happen. He'll open 2013 in San Antonio's rotation.