Julio Rodriguez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #17 prospect in 2012
  Rodriguez may have been the most anonymous member of Clearwater's talented 2011 rotation, but he also posted the best numbers, leading the Florida State League with 16 wins and ranking second in ERA (2.76) and strikeouts (168). His stuff isn't as nasty as his numbers might indicate, as he lacks a present average pitch. With his big frame, Rodriguez has a limber body with long limbs that yields a herky-jerky delivery. His arm works well and his motion creates deception, and hitters at the lower levels haven't been able to square up his pitches. Inconsistent with his fastball velocity in the past, Rodriguez mostly sat at 87-90 mph last year, with natural late cut adding to his effectiveness. He has a loopy 65-72 mph curveball that induces swings and misses, along with a sharper 73-76 mph slider. He also throws a 77-78 mph changeup. When he gets downhill in delivery, Rodriguez's pitches are very tough to pick up. He tends to get under the ball and work up in the zone, which could get him into trouble against better competition. He has good control but not fine command. With his pitchability, Rodriguez has a chance to be a back-end starter, but he'll have to continue to prove himself at every level. After starring for Puerto Rico at the World Cup in October--he struck out 15 and didn't allow an earned run in nine innings--he'll will move to Double-A this season.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #25 prospect in 2011
  Rodriguez spent the majority of 2010 in low Class A, where he struck out 90 in 56 innings, but his stuff isn't as nasty as his numbers might indicate. He has a fringe-average fastball, sitting at 86-89 mph and peaking at 93, but it plays better because of Rodriguez's size. Tall with long limbs, he has a loose arm motion and gets solid extension in front of his body, which creates good plane on his pitches. He also has room for more projection in his lanky frame. Rodriguez throws two different breaking balls, a rolling curveball and a slider. The curve offers more upside, though he'll have to tighten it up to get hitters at higher levels to bite. He also throws an average changeup. Rodriguez's delivery is a little herky-jerky, which creates deception. He does a good job of repeating his mechanics and steadily has improved his command. He still can get under his fastball and leave it up in the zone at times. Rodriguez probably is headed back to Lakewood in 2011 because Clearwater's rotation is crowded, though he could earn a midseason promotion.