Edinson Volquez Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1546
ERA	4.453
WHIP	1.45
BB/9	4.279
SO/9	7.702

Full name Edinson Volquez
Born 07/03/1983 in Barahona, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 08/30/2005

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Volquez ranked as the Rangers' top prospect a year ago, but questions emerged about his ability to make adjustments after his disastrous big league stint in 2006. His career 9.20 ERA is the highest in baseball's modern era for a pitcher with at least 10 career starts. Volquez still has the electric stuff that fueled sky-high expectations a year ago, with a plus fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a plus changeup in the mid-70s. He always has been lauded for his makeup and work ethic, and he held his own in Triple-A prior to his big league callup. His curveball is erratic at best, as Volquez struggles to stay on top of it and can't throw it for strikes. He needs to do a better job of getting ahead in the count and commanding his fastball. The Rangers want him to stay on the rubber longer to give his arm a chance to catch up, allowing him to get more downhill plane on his pitches. If he can refine his curve and command, Volquez can earn a rotation spot in the spring and eventually emerge as a frontline starter. If he can't, he soon could find himself in the bullpen.
Volquez draws Pedro Martinez comparisons as much for his electric personality as his electric arm. Though he's a fierce competitor, Volquez often has a big smile on his face when he's not on the mound. He speaks English well and relates well to American players. He's not intimidated pitching in front of 20,000 passionate fans in the Dominican League, and he wasn't intimidated speaking to a group of high-ranking Rangers front-office personnel during an organization banquet. Volquez is even built like Martinez, with a wiry frame and long arms and fingers. Known as Julio Reyes and believed to be 15 1⁄2 months younger until baseball's visa crackdown, he's still advanced and mature for a 22-year old. Part of the Rangers' DVD trio, along with John Danks and Thomas Diamond, Volquez surged past the two first-round picks in 2005. He was the first to reach Double-A Frisco and remains the lone member of the group to reach the majors. He got a rude awakening in Texas, losing his first three starts and giving up six runs over two innings in three relief outings. Though he did not post overwhelming numbers in 2005, Volquez transformed himself from sleeper to top prospect. Both his fastball and changeup rate as the best in the system. His fastball explodes out of his hand and tops out at 97 mph, showing good sink and run when he throws it at 93-95. He holds his velocity late into games, throwing as high as 95 mph in the ninth inning in one outing. His changeup sometimes merits a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Volquez is aggressive and comes right after hitters. He has had little problem throwing strikes as a pro. He has a clean, repeatable delivery and lightning-quick arm action, though there's some effort in it. He isn't the most physical pitcher, but he's athletic and has added 10-15 pounds to his frame since spring training. For Volquez to stick as a front-of-the-rotation starter rather than a power reliever, he must improve his erratic breaking ball. Sometimes it shows big downward break and looks like a curveball, while other times it features more tilt and looks like a true slider. He uses it more as a third option to cross hitters up. After he missed three weeks in July and August with a strained oblique, Volquez got a callup to the big leagues as the Rangers looked for a spark. He struggled with his fastball command in Texas, and overthrowing only made the problem worse. He tends to buckle plenty of knees with his changeup early in games, but doesn't command it as well in later innings. Questions remain about Volquez' ability to reach his considerable potential, but his tantalizing package of stuff and makeup can't be overlooked. He should open 2006 with Triple-A Oklahoma but could be pitching in the Rangers rotation by the all-star break if the staff needs help--which it usually does.
Volquez earns comparisons to Pedro Martinez because he's Dominican and has long fingers, and he studies his idol on television and in video games. Formerly known as Julio Reyes, his name and birthdate (he was 151⁄2 months older than believed) came to light as part of the crackdown on visas. He's still advanced for his age and has a significant ceiling if he can hold up as a starter. Volquez has realized that even with a 90-93 mph fastball that touches 95, he can't pitch up in the strike zone. Blessed with a quick, loose arm, he always has had good life on his fastball, and he became more consistent in throwing it for strikes. His improved command stemmed from better strength, allowing him to maintain his mechanics in games and over the course of the season. Volquez also has a plus changeup and solid slider. He still gets inconsistent with his arm slot, and the Rangers want to see him maintain his stuff over a full season again. He could move up to Double-A to start 2005 with a big spring.

Minor League Top Prospects

Volquez' season of redemption had just about the perfect denouement. Banished to high Class A to begin the season because of severe command issues, he quickly righted his ship and got better as he moved up the chain. His journey culminated in a dominating turn for Oklahoma and a recall to the Rangers, where he showed flashes of promise in September. Hustled to the majors at age 22 in 2005, Volquez never has lacked for electric stuff. His fastball can light up radar guns at 97 mph, but he found more success this season pitching at 92-93 and staying ahead of batters with better location. He maintains his arm speed on a plus mid-70s changeup, giving him two weapons he can rely on. The difference for Volquez in 2007 was a reliable curveball, a pitch he struggled to stay on top of in the past. One observer thought the pitch had improved from poor to average. His enhanced curveball and more mature approach brought him closer to his ceiling as a frontline starter than he ever has been.
Volquez entered the season rated as the Rangers' No. 1 prospect, based on his mid-90s fastball and well above-average changeup. He used those pitches to finish fourth in the PCL in strikeouts (130 in 121 innings) and fifth in ERA (3.21) while limiting Triple-A hitters to a .203 average. "His arm strength is outstanding," Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "He was 94, 95 with his fastball against us. His slider was hard and he had a decent changeup. He just needs command. Right now, it's not there." Volquez, who ranked third in the PCL with 72 walks, had even more trouble locating his stuff in the majors. He has a 1-10, 9.20 record with Texas--the worst ERA in major league history for a pitcher who has made 10 starts. With the Rangers, he consistently has fallen behind hitters, gotten crushed when he has found the plate and failed to show a reliable breaking ball.
Volquez started the year rated behind two Rangers recent first-round picks, righthander Thomas Diamond and lefty John Danks. While Volquez' raw numbers weren't as impressive as the other two members of what has become known as DVD, his stuff was more impressive. Texas thought so as well, as he became the first of the trio to get a big league callup. Despite a slight frame, Volquez unleashes a mid-90s fastball with plenty of movement. He also has a two-seamer with a little less velocity and more sink and run. His changeup, already a plus offering, made even more strides during the season and can be devastating at times. His inconsistent slider is average at best, and Volquez often leaves it high in the zone. A strike-thrower who didn't issue a single walk in six of 11 starts for the Blaze, he may be around the plate too much. He gives opponents too many pitches to hit instead of toying with them when he's ahead in the count.
Volquez was the first of the DVD trio to come up from high Class A, and he made just 10 Double-A starts before the Rangers called him up to the big leagues. He pitched against Dominican winter ball teammate Daniel Cabrera of the Orioles in one of his first starts, and the Rangers see similarities between the two: plus fastballs and impressive sliders with inconsistent command. Volquez is more than two years younger than Cabrera and behind him in the development cycle--not to mention six inches shorter--but he has more aptitude for pitching. His mid-90s fastball is exceptional, and his breaking ball and changeup also can be dominant pitches when he commands them. He's aggressive and comes right after hitters. In addition to locating his pitches better, Volquez needs to smooth some of the rough edges that allowed major leaguers to tee off on him to the tune of an 11.91 ERA. For example, in one of his starts he tipped his changeup by opening his glove.