Jesus Tinoco Stats & Scouting Report

IP	10
ERA	8.1
WHIP	1.8
BB/9	6.3
SO/9	8.1

Full name Jesus Rafael Tinoco
Born 04/30/1995 in San Antonio De Maturin, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 258 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 05/31/2019

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: In the five-player trade that sent Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays, Tinoco was the low-level throw-in from Toronto to the Rockies. He has pitched his way into being the one with most potential impact. He has had dominant moments as a starter but has been inconsistent. Then came his trip to the Arizona Fall League, and his role in the bullpen, where he compiled a 1.72 ERA.

Scouting Report: Tinoco's big pitch is a fastball that jumps from the 92-95 mph range when he is starting to 94-97 out of the bullpen. He is solid-average with both a curveball and slider but tends to be more comfortable with the curveball and its velocity differential. Tinoco is still working on a changeup, but if he becomes a reliever, his third pitch is more the cherry on top than the ice cream in his sundae.

The Future: The Rockies say Tinoco could still become a starter, but the 23-year-old would seem a perfect fit in the bullpen, where his power arm dominates, and his AFL success gave him a confidence boost. He is headed to Triple-A to open 2019, which would seem a good place to give him an extended look in the pen considering the mile-high altitude of Albuquerque.
Acquired along with fellow righthanders Jeff Hoffman and Miguel Castro from the Blue Jays as part of the package for Troy Tulowitzki at the 2015 trade deadline, Tinoco was considered the extra body in the deal. He always had a live arm, but the results weren't there. It all started to come together in 2017, when Tinoco at high Class A Lancaster went 11-4, 4.67 in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the minors. The Rockies reworked Tinoco's delivery and the confidence he had been lacking seemed to be adjusted, too. Tinoco features a live fastball that ranges from 93-96 mph and is complimented by a curveball and slider that both flash plus but lack consistency. His changeup further flashes above-average but is the least developed pitch in his arsenal. Tinoco's stuff is promising but he is still learning to how sequence it all in order to miss bats. He does generally throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground. Tinoco will remain a starter for now, though some like the idea of him coming out of the bullpen in late innings with a fastball that could go up a few ticks. He should see time at Double-A Hartford in 2018.
Signed by the Blue Jays out of Venezuela in 2011, Tinoco was the third pitching prospect sent to the Rockies--along with righties Jeff Hoffman and Miguel Castro--as part of the Troy Tulowitzki trade in July 2015. Tinoco made his full-season debut in 2015, beginning the year at low Class A Lansing and continuing on at low Class A Asheville after the trade. The Rockies loved Tinoco's eagerness to take the ball in the middle of a playoff hunt, and he took that attacking mindset to the mound, working quickly and pounding the zone with a heavy two-seamer at 92-95 mph. The 6-foot-4 righthander has an ideal pitcher's frame with some room for projection, and he throws with an easy delivery and loose, clean arm action. His slider is an above-average pitch when he commands it, which he still needs to do more consistently. His changeup has the makings of an effective pitch, but it needs more development as well. Tinoco is the furthest away of the three pitchers the Rockies acquired at the deadline, but he has upside as a potential No. 3 or 4 starter. He heads to high Class A Modesto in 2016.
Tinoco, a Venezuelan sinkerballer with an athletic, projectable body and present strength, has drawn comparisons to a taller version of former Jays farmhand Henderson Alvarez, now with the Marlins. Tinoco looks the part on the mound. His loose, clean arm action produces heavy two-seamers at 91-94 mph that induce plenty of groundballs. He fires his four-seamer up to 95 mph. His curveball flashes plus but is inconsistent. His solid-average changeup is his most consistent secondary weapon. He made adjustments to his delivery at Rookie-level Bluefield but still spins off to first base at times, costing him control. Tinoco has the potential to be at least a No. 4 starter and could take off once he finds a more consistent delivery and throws more strikes. He'll need a strong spring to make his full-season debut in 2015.

Minor League Top Prospects

Scouts who came to Lansing expecting to see Sean Reid-Foley pitch often came away being just as intrigued by the 20-year-old Tinoco. Rockies scouts sure noticed, because they insisted upon his inclusion in the deadline Troy Tulowitzki trade. Tinoco throws a 92-97 mph fastball that comes out of his hand free and easy, and he maintains that velocity deep into games. He throws both a two-seamer and a four-seamer. His sinker helped him keep the ball in the park and he allowed just three home runs all year. He is a strong strike-thrower. An athletic, long-limbed, 6-foot-4 righthander with a durable lower half, Tinoco scrapped a below-average curveball before the season and replaced it with a slider. That harder offering quickly become his best secondary weapon, and it could end up being a plus pitch he can throw for strikes or to tickle the dirt for swings and misses. Tinoco's changeup is not nearly as advanced as his slider but it will flash average.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Curveball in the Colorado Rockies in 2018

Career Transactions

RHP Jesus Tinoco changed number to 38.
Miami Marlins claimed RHP Jesus Tinoco off waivers from Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs designated RHP Jesus Tinoco for assignment.
Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Jesus Tinoco from Iowa Cubs.
RHP Jesus Tinoco assigned to Iowa Cubs.
Kansas City Royals traded RHP Jesus Tinoco to Chicago Cubs.
RHP Jesus Tinoco assigned to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Jesus Tinoco to a minor league contract.
Texas Rangers sent RHP Jesus Tinoco outright to Round Rock Express.
RHP Jesus Tinoco elected free agency.
Texas Rangers designated RHP Jesus Tinoco for assignment.
Texas Rangers selected the contract of RHP Jesus Tinoco from Round Rock Express.