Alex Torres

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #32 prospect in 2013
  Acquired along with Sean Rodriguez and Matt Sweeney from the Angels in the August 2009 Scott Kazmir trade with the Angels, Torres had two solid seasons in the Rays system and made his big league debut in 2011. But last season was a nightmare, as his command regressed terribly and he was moved from the rotation to the bullpen so he could try to improve the consistency of his mechanics. Though he's undersized, Torres generates impressive velocity for a lefthander and flashes three pitches with the potential to be solid or better. His fastball sits in the low 90s at times and features nice sink. His cutter/slider has some bite to it, and his changeup sinks as well. Torres throws across his body, which creates deception and generates movement on his pitches but also leads to control issues. Once projected as a possible No. 3 starter, Torres has the Rays scratching their heads regarding his future. He led the Venezuelan League with 86 strikeouts in 60 innings during the offseason, but continued to fight his control by issuing 27 walks. His 2013 campaign will go a long way in determining his long-term role with Tampa Bay.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #6 prospect in 2012
  Acquired along with Sean Rodriguez and first-base prospect Matt Sweeney in the Scott Kazmir trade with the Angels in August 2009, Torres encountered a roller-coaster ride when he got to Triple-A for the first time in 2011. He gave up five earned runs in his first six starts, then 25 in his next six before posting a 2.17 ERA the rest of the way. He pitched five shutout innings against the Blue Jays to earn his first big league win in a crucial victory on Sept. 24. Torres has the potential for three plus pitches, which helped him lead the International League with 156 strikeouts and rank fourth with a 3.08 ERA. Though he's not a big guy, he generates lively low-90s fastballs with his strong lower half. He has an above-average changeup with good depth that he'll throw in any count. His curveball has the makings of a plus offering but he struggles to maintain his feel for it. Torres throws across his body, which provides movement and deception for his pitches, but it also leads to control woes when he fails to repeat his mechanics. He topped the IL with 83 walks. Provided he can harness his control and command, Torres can be a No. 3 starter. Tampa Bay's rotation is crowded, so he'll return to Durham to start 2012.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #6 prospect in 2011
  Torres may turn out to be the most valuable of the three players the Rays received from the Angels for Scott Kazmir in August 2009. Acquired along with Sean Rodriguez and third-base prospect Matt Sweeney, Torres appeared in the Futures Game and led the Southern League with 150 strikeouts in his first full season in Tampa Bay's system. Torres has a strong lower half that helps him produce lively stuff. His low-90s fastball has outstanding movement, and his changeup is just as effective. His feel for his curveball comes and goes, though it gives him a third plus pitch when he throws it for strikes. He throws across his body and almost falls over his front side--and those mechanics are a blessing and a curse. His delivery generates velocity and life but also creates problems with his control and high pitch counts. He led the SL in walks (70) as well as strikeouts. Scouts laud his competitiveness. Torres has the makings of three above-average pitches but remains a work in progress because of his inability to repeat his mechanics consistently. He could emerge as a No. 2 or 3 starter in the big leagues if he fine-tunes his control, or he could be a set-up man if he doesn't. He'll pitch in the Rays' Triple-A rotation in 2011.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #9 prospect in 2010
  The Rays acquired Torres, Sean Rodriguez and third-base prospect Matt Sweeney when they traded Scott Kazmir to the Angels last August. After spending most of his first four pro seasons in Rookie ball, Torres made a huge jump last year, winning the high Class A Calfiornia League ERA (2.74) and performing well after a promotion to Double-A. Torres rarely throws the ball straight or employs the same arm angle on consecutive pitches, keeping hitters on edge. His 89-91 mph fastball has plus movement and he does a good job of using both sides of the plate. He also throws a curveball and slider, both of which are tight, sharp breaking pitches. He's an aggressive pitcher with plenty of confidence. While most observers consider Torres to be effectively wild, he needs to improve the command of all his pitches, particularly his offspeed stuff. His changeup remains a work in progress, and refining it would give him four different offerings for hitters to think about. He's undersized and runs up high pitch counts, so there are some concerns about his durability as a starter. An offseason addition to the 40-man roster, Torres has the repertoire to be a quality big league starter. He'll likely get some more Double-A seasoning at the start of 2010, with a second-half promotion to Triple-A a possibility.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #24 prospect in 2009
  Torres opened 2008 with his third straight assignment to the Arizona League, but after he allowed a total of four runs in four starts, the Angels deemed him ready to jump to high Class A. He more than held his own, considering his age (20) and how hitter-friendly the California League is, recording a pair of double-digit strikeout performances in August. Torres is undersized, but he can keep hitters guessing by varying his arm angle. He also can crank his fastball up to the low 90s, though he's more effective when it buzzes in around 89-90 mph and generates tons of groundouts. Torres backs up his fastball with a curveball that features tight spin. He needs to do a better job of throwing his curve for strikes. He lacks a third pitch at this point, and Los Angeles had him focus on his changeup during instructional league. The change would give him a needed weapon against lefthanders, who hit .339/.435/.441 against him in the Cal League. It would make sense for Torres to open 2009 back in Rancho Cucamonga, but don't be surprised if he reaches Double-A later in the year. He has one of the best lefty arms in the system.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #12 prospect in 2010
  Torres reminds some scouts of Gio Gonzalez. Both are little lefthanders with big stuff, and they both led the SL in strikeouts (Gonzalez in 2007 with 185, and Torres this year with 150). They both also were involved in major trades while in the minors, with Gonzalez getting swapped three times (in packages for Jim Thome, Freddy Garcia and Nick Swisher) and Torres heading from the Angels to the Rays in the Scott Kazmir deal last year. A 2010 Futures Gamer, Torres strides across his body and catapults over his front side, creating plus life on his low-90s fastball. Managers rated his changeup the best in the league, and he sells it well with good arm speed. His curveball is a plus pitch when he's on. The downside of Torres' delivery is that it leads to problems with command. He led the SL in walks (70) in addition to whiffs, was more hittable than he should have been and averaged barely five innings per start because he ran up high pitch counts. If he can add some polish, though, he could have as many as three plus pitches and become a No. 2 starter.
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  Ranked California League #14 prospect in 2009
  Torres breezed through the Cal League, winning his last five starts and the ERA title (2.74), and advanced to Double-A before the Angels traded him to the Rays as part of their payment for Scott Kazmir. Tampa Bay was looking to save money on Kazmir's salary, and they were able to deal a lefthander with quality stuff and pick up another as part of the package in return. Torres creates good angles with his pitches, the best of which is a low-90s fastball. His curveball and slider both have sharp break and the potential to become plus offerings. He needs to command all of his pitches better, and he's still refining his changeup. "He's now throwing a two-seamer we haven't seen before," Inland Empire manager Carlos Subero said. "He's aggressive and confident, and has all the intangibles. Torres is effectively wild, but he's learning to establish his offspeed stuff and slider."

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Acquired with Sean Rodriguez and minor league first baseman Matt Sweeney in the Scott Kazmir trade with the Angels in August 2009, Torres encountered a roller-coaster ride when he got to Triple-A for the first time in 2011. He gave up five earned runs in his first six starts, then 25 in his next six before posting a 2.17 ERA the rest of the way. He pitched five shutout innings against the Blue Jays to earn his first big league win in a crucial victory on Sept. 24.
  
  Scouting Report: Torres has the potential for three plus pitches, which helped him lead the International League with 156 strikeouts and rank fourth with a 3.08 ERA last season. Though he's not a big guy, he generates lively low-90s fastballs with his strong lower half. He has an above-average changeup with good depth that he'll throw in any count. His curveball has the makings of a plus offering but he struggles to maintain his feel for it. Torres throws across his body, which provides movement and deception for his pitches, but it also leads to control woes when he fails to repeat his mechanics. He topped the IL with 83 walks.
  
  The Future: Provided he can harness his control and command, Torres can be a No. 3 starter. Tampa Bay's rotation is crowded, so he'll return to Durham to start 2012.