Carlos Salazar
| IP | 231 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.104 |
| WHIP | 1.745 |
| BB/9 | 8.299 |
| SO/9 | 10.325 |
- Full name Carlos Alex Salazar
- Born 11/23/1994 in Kerman, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Kerman
-
Drafted in the 3rd round (102nd overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2013 (signed for $625,000).
View Draft Report
Salazar has a thick, stocky build at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds with strong legs and a barrel chest. He's aggressive on the mound and practically jumps toward the plate with mechanics similar to those of Jordan Walden. Salazar has one of the best fastballs in this year's high school class, sitting in the 92-94 mph range all game and touching 97. Everything else needs work. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which has a chance to be above-average. He doesn't have a third pitch right now. He showed a slider in the fall that flashed potential, and used a curveball more this spring, but it's well below-average. He also battles his control at times. Salazar could move up the board for a team willing to be patient with his development and is considered signable away from his commitment to Fresno State.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Salazar was one of the hardest-throwing high school pitchers available in the 2013 draft, and the Braves coaxed him from his Fresno State commitment with a $625,000 bonus. After limiting Salazar to 13 innings in his pro debut, Atlanta pushed him to low Class A Rome to open 2014 and watched him struggle. He walked more than he struck out and was demoted to Rookie-level Danville, shifting to the bullpen. Salazar regained his confidence and held Appalachian League hitters to a .147 average. While his control is lacking, Salazar has the raw ability to succeed. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph, has touched 97 and shows excellent late life. Through long hours with the Braves coaches, his curveball and changeup have shown flashes of potential. Salazar lacks physical projection, though he has present strength and velocity. The development of his secondary offerings will determine whether he starts or relieves. Salazar will try Rome again in 2015. -
The Braves lured 2013 third-rounder Salazar away from a Fresno State commitment with a $625,000 bonus. The organization knew that the stocky righthander would require work and patience, but given Atlanta's track record in developing young pitchers, they felt he was worth the risk. The Braves spoon-fed Salazar during his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he showed better-than-advertised control but was hittable due to a tendency to be too fine with his pitches. Salazar's busy, unconventional mechanics have drawn comparisons with Braves reliever Jordan Walden, and he generated one of the best fastballs among prep pitchers in the 2013 draft. His heater features good, late life, sits at 92-94 mph and has touched 97. His changeup has potential, and the Braves are working on adding to his repertoire a curveball that is in early development. Salazar has strong, thick legs and a barrel chest, and from a physical standpoint, he does not have much projection remaining. He's is a prime candidate to spend 2014 at Rookie-level Danville.
Draft Prospects
-
Salazar has a thick, stocky build at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds with strong legs and a barrel chest. He's aggressive on the mound and practically jumps toward the plate with mechanics similar to those of Jordan Walden. Salazar has one of the best fastballs in this year's high school class, sitting in the 92-94 mph range all game and touching 97. Everything else needs work. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which has a chance to be above-average. He doesn't have a third pitch right now. He showed a slider in the fall that flashed potential, and used a curveball more this spring, but it's well below-average. He also battles his control at times. Salazar could move up the board for a team willing to be patient with his development and is considered signable away from his commitment to Fresno State.
