Leyson Septimo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #26 prospect in 2010
  Septimo had little success as a position player, batting .253/.312/.348 in five pro seasons and standing out mostly with his arm strength in right field. The Diamondbacks converted him to the mound after the 2007 season and have protected him on the 40-man roster after each of the last two seasons. Few lefthanders can throw as hard as Septimo, who has a 92-97 mph fastball that touches triple-digits. He has a loose arm with whip and fires the ball from a low three-quarters slot that makes it even tougher to pick up his pitches. If hitters look for his heat, Septimo can cross them up with a slider or changeup. While he has racked up 113 strikeouts in 98 innings, he understandably still is learning the nuances of pitching. He has trouble locating his pitches and getting ahead in the count, leading to too many baserunners. If he can put everything together, scouts envision him becoming a harder-throwing version of Damaso Marte. In 2010, Septimo will try to conquer Double-A after posting a 7.85 ERA there last season.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #26 prospect in 2009
  Septimo created a stir after the 2007 season, when news came out that he had been converted to the mound and was throwing in the high 90s. The Diamondbacks gambled (correctly) that no one would take him in the major league Rule 5 draft that year with such a thin record as a pitcher, but they didn't leave anything to chance after 2008, adding Septimo to the 40-man roster despite a modest first season on the mound. The reason is that everyone got a look at Septimo's powerful left arm, a rare commodity even if it's still in need of considerable polish. Septimo spent his first five years in the organization as an outfielder, and while his throws from the outfield were sometimes clocked in triple digits, he never had much success at the plate. His first season on the mound showed much more potential, though he's not a natural pitcher and still has a lot of work to on the basics of his delivery and control. But a lefthander who can throw consistently in the mid-90s will get plenty of opportunity to work through the kinks. He uses a slider as his second pitch, and that's probably all he'll need in his short relief stints. Septimo is still relatively young at 23, and the Diamondbacks think when it clicks for him, he'll get to the big leagues quickly.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #30 prospect in 2008
  Septimo never figured it out at the plate, though he wasn't completely hopeless, as so many conversion cases are. He always rated as the best outfield arm in every league he played in, so the Diamondbacks finally made the move in instructional league after the 2007 season and put him on the mound. Septimo promptly became one of the most talked-about names in advance of the major league Rule 5 draft in December, with reports he had thrown 94-96 mph in his first experience as a pitcher. Teams also had clocked his throws before games from the outfield in the triple digits in the past. Those clubs ultimately decided the gamble wasn't worth a major league roster spot for all of next season, however, and Arizona was happy to sneak him through the Rule 5 process. The decision also will be beneficial to Septimo, who clearly needs plenty of mound time and wouldn't have received it in the big leagues. He showed a plus fastball, particularly for a lefthander, but his entire repertoire is a work in progress. He's working on a slider that shows potential, though his control is a question mark. He'll work out of the bullpen to begin 2008, as a way of controlling his workload and potentially speeding him through the system. He'll likely open the season in high Class A.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #29 prospect in 2007
  While Gerardo Parra is regarded as potentially a more refined Carlos Gonzalez, Septimo is seen as a player with the same raw materials as Gonzalez who hasn't figured out how to put them together yet. Midwest League managers rated his outfield arm as the best in the league, and it's at the top of the scale. Diamondbacks officials say he could probably throw 95 mph off the mound. At the other end of the spectrum, his approach at the plate is unrefined and he has a big swing--a bad combination. He has a tendency to swing at everything, so the Diamondbacks are trying to get him to cut his swing down a bit and see more pitches. While he has some raw power, he'll be better off focusing on making contact for now. He's a good runner and has all the tools needed to play right field if his bat comes around. Septimo has a long way to go, but he'll benefit from the wealth of outfield talent in the organization. There's no need to rush him, so he can go back to low Class A where coaches and instructors will continue to polish this diamond in the rough.