Randy Rosario

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #31 prospect in 2017
  The Twins signed Randy Rosario for $220,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2010 and have developed him as a starter for the bulk of his pro career, which was interrupted by Tommy John surgery in 2014. Rosario made 16 starts at high Class A Fort Myers in 2016 before the decision was made to transition the lefthander to the bullpen. Working primarily in the low 90s as a starter, Rosario's velocity climbs to as high as 97 mph in short stints, and his 86-88 mph slider flashes plus. Those two pitches are the only weapons he needs in relief, scrapping a fringy changeup. Rosario throws with a smooth, easy delivery and works quickly, attacking hitters. His strikeout rate nearly tripled after the bullpen move, going from 52 in 85 innings as a starter to 26 in 15.1 relief innings. He finished the regular season with a brief stint in Double-A Chattanooga before throwing 12.2 innings in the Arizona
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #22 prospect in 2016
  Not only did Rosario make it back from Tommy John surgery in 2015, but he showed enough in his return to be added to the 40-man roster. Aside from a three-start skid around the start of August, Rosario made up for lost time. Athletic and wiry-strong, Rosario signed for $220,000 and reminds some of a young Francisco Liriano in terms of frame. Rosario worked at 88-92 mph early in 2015 at low Class A Cedar Rapids but saw his fastball velocity climb to 90-95 mph by the Midwest League playoffs. His command got better as the season wore on as well, and his final walk rate was the best of his career. His slider flashes plus at times, giving him the ability to carve up lefties, but his changeup still lacks the proper arm speed. He continued to experiment on different changeup grips with Cedar Rapids pitching coach Henry Bonilla. Rosario's mechanics are sound and he maintains a smooth delivery depth into games. A hard worker with good mound presence and solid makeup, Rosario has allowed just three home runs through his first 191 pro innings. He should open the year in the rotation at high Class A Fort Myers.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #22 prospect in 2014
  Signed for $220,000 at age 16, Rosario already was touching 90 mph at the time of his signing in 2010. He has since bumped that up to 95 mph, pitching at 88-92 with a smooth, easy delivery when he is starting. As a reliever, he has touched 96 mph and usually sits in the 92-94 range, though he started exclusively in 2013 for Rookie-level Elizabethton. Rosario's slider has plus potential and his changeup shows signs of being an above-average pitch if he would trust it more. For now it's a clear third pitch. He has worked hard to eliminate the command issues that plagued him early in his pro career, cutting his walk rate by nearly one per nine innings (down to 3.6). However, his strikeout rate also dropped by more than two batters per nine innings (down to 7.5) from 2012. Rosario throws a heavy ball and has yet to allow a home run in 118 pro innings. He shows good mound presence and solid makeup, working hard after hours to improve his English. A move up the ladder to low Class A Cedar Rapids is next, but with a crowded rotation he could be pushed back into a swing role similar to the one fellow lefty Mason Melotakis handled for the Kernels in 2013.