Jose Albertos Stats & Scouting Report

IP	.1
ERA	108
WHIP	15
BB/9	81
SO/9	0

Full name Jose Maria Albertos
Born 11/07/1998 in Reynoso, Mexico
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: After signing out of Mexico for $1.5 million, Albertos' track record as a pro has been checkered to say the least. He pitched just four innings in his debut season, then put together a standout campaign between the Rookie-level Arizona League and short-season Northwest League in 2017. That year gave the Cubs hope that Albertos would be their first high-end homegrown pitcher in some time.

Scouting Report: Albertos' 2018 season was disastrous. He was jumped to low Class A South Bend, where he was hit hard and showed little control. He was then sent back to Eugene, where it didn't get much better. Some scouts saw him operating with a 96-97 mph fastball, while others saw him working hard to throw a low-90s version in the zone. He still shows flashes of an above-average curveball and changeup, but his biggest problem is getting to the best versions of his pitches consistently. Evaluators inside and outside the organization saw a pitcher who needs to find some sort of harmony in his delivery. Whether that involves slowing down, getting downhill more often, finding a consistent landing point, staying balanced or a combination of all four, things need to change to help him throw strikes more often.

The Future: The 2018 season weighed on Albertos' confidence. He will need to return to low Class A in 2019. The Cubs still believe in his stuff, but there are miles to go before he comes close to realizing his ceiling.
Albertos had pitched just four innings as a pro thanks to forearm tightness in 2016, but the Cubs awaited his 2017 season as much as any of their minor leaguers. Signed for $1.5 million out of Mexico in the Cubs' loaded international class of 2015, Albertos made 12 starts overall, including in the short-season Northwest League playoffs, after one start in 2016. A clean arm action, smooth delivery and athleticism helps produce the premium fastball velocity that Albertos has shown. He dialed back a bit to 93-94 mph for most of 2017, showing the ability to hit 97 when needed, and he's hit 99 in extended spring training. His fastball has solid life as well, and he has harnessed it more, improving his control and hinting at future command. His changeup earns some plus-plus grades from scouts thanks to its action and the arm speed he uses to sell the pitch. He pitches backward at times and locates his changeup; it's his best pitch, and he trusts his fastball-changeup combination. That has inhibited the progress of his slider. He can spin a breaking ball but doesn't throw it enough for it to play to its above-average potential. Throwing his slider enough to improve his feel and consistency will be one key for Albertos in 2018. The other will be staying healthy again as he makes the jump to low Class A South Bend. He has a higher ceiling than any Cubs pitching prospect.
The Cubs have scouted Mexico aggressively in recent years, with Albertos signing for $1.5 million as part of a package of players the Cubs signed from Tijuana of the Mexican League. He made his pro debut in June 2016 with four electric innings, wowing club officials who were on-hand, but he missed the rest of the season with tightness in his forearm. Albertos was a well-regarded prospect as an amateur, but his extended spring training performance had the Cubs excited. His fastball, previously in the 92-94 mph range, jumped to 94-96 and touched 98. Moreover, Albertos' showed signs of true fastball command when healthy, throwing strikes with his heater to both sides of the plate. His changeup flashes well above-average, overmatching Rookie-level hitters and projecting as a potential 70-grade pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. His breaking ball was considered ahead of his changeup before he signed, and he has shown the ability to spin a slider. Risk for teen pitchers is always high, and the Cubs handled Albertos extremely carefully, hoping he can gain strength to handle his extreme arm speed and fastball velocity. After pitching in instructional league, Albertos is set for either a repeat of the AZL or potentially short-season Eugene.

Minor League Top Prospects

After signing with the Cubs out of Mexico in 2015 for $1.5 million, Albertos finally had an opportunity to show what he could do in 2017. The 18-year-old righthander missed all but four innings of last season due to forearm tightness, but he bounced back to throw 34.2 innings across eight starts with Eugene this year, going 2-1, 2.86. Albertos displayed an advanced feel for pitching and often overmatched hitters with his dominant fastball-changeup combo. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthander works 91-94 mph but can rear back for 96-97 mph when he needs it. His changeup is a potential 70-grade pitch on the 20-80 scale, and Albertos is unafraid to throw the pitch in any count. His breaking ball grades behind both pitches but has flashed potential in the past; development of that pitch will be key going forward. Albertos' command wavered at times, but Eugene manager Jesus Feliciano said the righthander has a strong mound presence and an eagerness to learn, both of which should serve him well as he moves through the system. "When you see kids at his age able to control his offspeed pitches, it tells you a lot," Feliciano said. "He's been capable of doing that lately."

Best Tools List

Rated Best Changeup in the Chicago Cubs in 2018

Scouting Reports

Track Record: Albertos had pitched just four innings as a pro thanks to forearm tightness in 2016, but the Cubs awaited his 2017 season as much as any of their minor leaguers. Signed for $1.5 million out of Mexico in the Cubs' loaded international class of 2015, Albertos made 12 starts overall, including in the short-season Northwest League playoffs, after one start in 2016. Scouting Report: A clean arm action, smooth delivery and athleticism helps produce the premium fastball velocity that Albertos has shown. He dialed back a bit to 93-94 mph for most of 2017, showing the ability to hit 97 when needed. His fastball has solid life as well, and he has harnessed it more, improving his control and hinting at future command. His changeup earns some plus-plus grades from scouts thanks to its action and the arm speed he uses to sell the pitch. He pitches backward at times and locates his changeup. That has inhibited the progress of his slider. He can spin a breaking ball but doesn't throw it enough. The Future: Throwing his slider enough to improve his feel and consistency will be one key for Albertos in 2018. The other will be staying healthy again as he makes the jump to low Class A South Bend.
Background: The Cubs have actively and aggressively scouted Mexico in recent years, with Albertos receiving the largest bonus among a group of signees that includes shortstop Isaac Paredes. He officially signed for $1.5 million as part of a package of players the Cubs signed from Tijuana of the Mexican League. He made his pro debut in June 2016 with four electric innings, wowing club officials, but he missed the rest of the season with tightness in his forearm. Scouting Report: Albertos was well-regarded as a prospect as an amateur, but his extended spring training performance had the Cubs excited. His fastball, generally in the 92-94 mph range earlier, jumped to 94-96 and touched 98 for the duration of his debut start. Moreover, he's shown signs of true fastball command when healthy, throwing strikes with his heater to both sides of the plate. Albertos' changeup flashes well above-average, overmatching Rookie-level hitters and projecting as a potential 70-grade pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. His breaking ball was considered ahead of his changeup before he signed, and he's shown the ability to spin a slider.

The Future: The Cubs handled Albertos extremely carefully all summer and fall, hoping he can gain strength to handle his extreme arm speed and fastball velocity. He's set for extended spring training and either a repeat of the AZL or potentially short-season Eugene.