Sammy Solis
| IP | 127 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.535 |
| WHIP | 1.394 |
| BB/9 | 3.969 |
| SO/9 | 9.638 |
- Full name Samuel Solís
- Born 08/10/1988 in Minneapolis, MN
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 251 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School San Diego
- Debut 04/30/2015
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Drafted in the 2nd round (51st overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2010 (signed for $1,000,000).
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During the majority of his tenure at USD, Solis was overshadowed by the likes of Brian Matusz and Kyle Blair. His coming-out party in 2009 never materialized due to a herniated disc in his back, which prompted him to take a medical redshirt. However, Solis, an unsigned 18th-round pick out of an Arizona high school in 2007, has bounced back to go 8-1, 2.49 in 2010. Most observers expect a pitcher of his 6-foot-5, 228-pound size to be a flamethrower, but Solis is instead a canny command, movement and control pitcher. His fastball varies from 88-92 mph and has good life up in the zone. He adds a fine changeup that dives down and away from righthanded hitters; it's his best pitch. Solis can add or subtract speed with his curveball, varying it from 72-78 mph, and at times it too is an out pitch. As Solis leaves his back injury behind, he could gain velocity and durability due to improved conditioning. A devout Catholic with a penchant for public service, Solis' family owns an AIDS orphanage in South Africa. A healthy Solis profiles solidly in the middle of a big league rotation.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Solis overcame a bevy of injuries early in his career to make his major league debut in 2015. He missed all of the 2012 season and much of 2013 after having Tommy John surgery, and further elbow problems limited him to just five games in 2014. He didn't avoid the disabled list entirely in 2015--he was sidelined for two weeks with shoulder inflammation--but he pitched effectively out of the bullpen most of the year, making most of his appearances in Washington. Formerly a starter, Solis saw his velocity tick up when working in shorter relief stints. His fastball sat in the mid-90s, touching as high as 97 mph in the big leagues. His curveball and changeup are both average offerings, and he can throw all three pitches for strikes. Solis proved to be capable of retiring both righthanders and lefthanders, and he seems to have found a home in the bullpen. If he doesn't break camp with the Nationals in 2016, he probably will be one of the first pitchers called upon when Washington needs a reliever. -
The Nationals continue to value Solis' ability and makeup, but he just cannot stay healthy. He battled back and leg injuries before missing all of 2012 and much of 2013 following Tommy John surgery. He had a strong showing in big league camp in 2014 and looked poised to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster, then tweaked his back at the end of spring training. After three rehab starts in mid-May, he strained his elbow and was out until late August. He was healthy heading into the offseason, and the Nationals hope a winter of rest will do him good. When healthy, Solis shows quality stuff, including an 89-93 mph fastball that bumps 95, a solid-average changeup and a slurvy breaking ball that flashes solid-average. He has No. 4 starter ability, but he needs to prove he can get through a full season, and he's now 26. Solis will be in big league spring training, but he's likely to open with an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. -
Staying healthy has been an issue for Solis since his college days, but his body and stuff tantalize when he is on the mound. He missed almost all of 2009 at San Diego with a herniated disc in his back, then saw his first full pro season in 2011 delayed by a quadriceps injury. He missed all of 2012 after having Tommy John surgery, but he returned to action in May and looked stronger than ever. Right before he injured his elbow, Solis had touched 96-97 mph, but his comfort zone this year was 89-93, touching 95 early in games. His fastball has natural tail and run, and he has solid command of it. His No. 2 pitch is usually his changeup, which projects as a slightly above-average to plus offering, but there are days his slurvy breaking ball can be the more effective pitch. The three-quarters breaking ball is still somewhat inconsistent, sometimes flashing solid-average but other times rating as a slightly below-average pitch. Solis has a good delivery, a physical frame and an unflappable demeanor on the mound. With a chance for three average to plus pitches from the left side, Solis has a chance to be a No. 4 starter in the majors, if he can stay healthy. He's already 25 and has not yet reached Double-A, so the Nationals figure to push him in 2014, starting with an assignment to Harrisburg. He could reach Washington by season's end. -
By visiting the AIDS orphanage his family owns in Africa, the laid-back Solis gained an uncommon sense of perspective, which has been an asset during his injury-plagued career. He missed almost all of 2009 at San Diego with a herniated disc in his back. Signed for $1 million as a 2010 second-rounder, he saw his first full pro season in 2011 delayed by a quadriceps injury. He returned to post a strong season in Class A, but after impressing in the Arizona Fall League, he felt some discomfort in his elbow, which eventually required Tommy John surgery last spring. Solis has quality stuff when healthy, starting with a 90-94 mph fastball that peaks at 96 and has late, tailing life. The depth, speed and shape of his spike curveball varies, looking like a plus downer curve at times and more like a slider at others. He has good feel for his changeup, which projects as a solid or better pitch. He throws strikes but gets in trouble when he leaves balls up in the zone. Solis was progressing well in his rehabilitation and throwing again by the fall. The Nationals expect him to begin 2013 in extended spring training, but he could see game action at high Class A Potomac or Harrisburg by June 1. He projects as a mid-rotation starter, though he must prove he can stay healthy. -
Solis, whose family owns an AIDS orphanage in Africa, has a good sense of perspective that served him well when he missed almost all of 2009 with a herniated disc in his back. Signed for $1 million in August 2010, he injured his quadriceps last spring and didn't begin his first full pro season until May 30. He found his groove after a midseason promotion to high Class A, where he allowed seven earned runs over his final six starts. Solis has a physical build, clean delivery and easy arm action. He pitches at 90-94 mph and tops out at 96 with his fastball, which has late tailing life. The depth, speed and shape of his spike curveball can vary, from a plus curve with true downer break at times to more of a slider at others. He has good feel for his changeup, which projects as a solid or better pitch. He throws strikes but gets in trouble when he leaves balls up in the zone. Solis will advance to Double-A in 2012 and could push for a spot in the big league rotation the following season. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter. -
Solis missed nearly all of 2009 because of a herniated disc in his back, but he rebounded to go 9-2, 3.42 with 92 strikeouts in 92 innings as a redshirt sophomore at San Diego last spring. The 51st overall selection in the 2010 draft, he signed two days before the Aug. 16 deadline for $1 million. He impressed against older competition in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 3.80 ERA in 24 innings. His family owns an AIDS orphanage in Africa. With a big, physical frame and an easy arm action, Solis projects as a mid-rotation workhorse. He has good command and feel for his three-pitch mix, highlighted by a plus changeup that he throws with good arm speed and deception. He pitched at 88-92 mph with late life on his fastball last spring, then sat at 91-92 in the fall and topped out at 94. Solid adds and subtracts from a knucklecurve that ranges from 74-81 mph. It's a true downer with good depth when he stays on top of it. Some scouts think his three-quarters to low-three-quarters arm slot is better suited for a slider. A polished strike-thrower with an unflappable mound demeanor, Solis figures to jump to high Class A to start his first full pro season and could reach Double-A in the second half. He could arrive in Washington by 2012.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Solis missed almost all of the 2009 college season with a herniated disc in his back, but rebounded to earn a $1 million bonus as a second-round pick a year later. A quadriceps strain and elbow inflammation sidelined him for parts of 2011, but he earned a promotion to Potomac in July and was effective in 10 starts. As a lefty who mixes a 90-93 mph fastball with an average slider and changeup, Solis has the stuff to stick in a big league rotation. His stuff plays up because he has good feel for pitching. He throws strikes, works both sides of the plate and gets plenty of groundouts thanks to good sink on his fastball.
Scouting Reports
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Background: By visiting the AIDS orphanage his family owns in Africa, the laid-back Solis gained an uncommon sense of perspective, which has been an asset during his injury-plagued career. He missed almost all of 2009 at San Diego with a herniated disc in his back. Signed for $1 million as a 2010 second-rounder, he saw his first full pro season in 2011 delayed by a quadriceps injury. He returned to post a strong season in Class A, but after impressing in the Arizona Fall League, he felt some discomfort in his elbow, which eventually required Tommy John surgery last spring. Scouting Report: Solis has quality stuff when healthy, starting with a 90-94 mph fastball that peaks at 96 and has late, tailing life. The depth, speed and shape of his spike curveball varies, looking like a plus downer curve at times and more like a slider at others. He has good feel for his changeup, which projects as a solid or better pitch. He throws strikes but gets in trouble when he leaves balls up in the zone. The Future: Solis was progressing well in his rehabilitation and throwing again by the fall. The Nationals expect him to begin 2013 in extended spring training, but he could see game action at high Class A Potomac or Harrisburg by June 1. He projects as a mid-rotation starter, though he must prove he can stay healthy. -
Background: Solis, whose family owns an AIDS orphanage in Africa, has a good sense of perspective that served him well when he missed almost all of 2009 with a herniated disc in his back. He recovered to throw 92 quality innings for San Diego in 2010, pushing himself back up draft boards. Signed for $1 million that August, he injured his quadriceps last spring and didn't begin his first full pro season until May 30. He found his groove after a midseason promotion to high Class A, where he allowed seven earned runs over his final six starts. Scouting Report: Solis has a physical build, clean delivery and easy arm action. He added velocity in 2011 and at his best pitches at 90-94 mph with his fastball, which has late tailing life. His four-seamer tops out at 96. The depth, speed and shape of his spike curveball can vary, from a plus curve with true downer break at times to more of a slider at others. He has good feel for his changeup, which projects as a solid or better pitch. He throws strikes but gets in trouble when he leaves balls up in the zone. The Future: Solis will advance to Double-A in 2012 and could push for a spot in the big league rotation the following season. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter.
