Pedro Strop Stats & Scouting Report

IP	7
ERA	5.14
WHIP	1.14
BB/9	2.57
SO/9	12.86

Full name Pedro Angel Strop
Born 06/13/1985 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 08/28/2009

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Strop originally signed with the Rockies as a shortstop, but they moved him to the mound after he hit just .212 with 231 strikeouts in 221 games over four pro seasons. He averaged 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full year as a pitcher at high Class A Modesto in 2007, though his season was cut short by elbow tendinitis. His violent delivery puts stress on his arm, and he was limited to just seven innings in 2008 because of a stress fracture in his elbow. The Rockies designated him for assignment that fall, and the Rangers signed him to a minor league deal. He had a rough April in Triple-A last year, so Texas sent him down to Frisco to work on throwing more strikes. He improved each month and eventually earned a late-season cup of coffee in the majors, where four of his seven one-inning outings were perfect. Strop's three-pitch arsenal is explosive. His fastball sits at 94-96 mph and touches 98. He has developed an 87-mph splitter that can be unhittable when it's on, and he throws a power slider in the mid-80s. Strop is a gifted athlete who fields his position well. He still needs to fine-tune his command, and his mechanics make him an injury risk and make it more difficult for him to throw strikes, but his progress in 2009 was encouraging. He'll compete for a big league bullpen job this spring.
Signed as a shortstop, Strop hit .212 with 231 strikeouts in 221 games in his first four pro seasons, playing just four games above the short-season level. Noting his live arm, the Rockies moved him to the mound prior to the 2006 season. After successfully sneaking him through the Rule 5 draft that year, they protected him on their 40-man roster after the 2007 season. Having pitched just 81 pro innings, Strop has a fresh arm that delivers power stuff. His fastball ranges from 92-96 mph, while his slider runs from 85-88 mph. He can make hitters look silly with his splitter, giving him three swing-and-miss pitches. He has adapted quickly to the nuances of pitching, most likely because of the feel for the game he showed at shortstop, and remains an elite fielder. Strop needs to polish his mechanics and throw more strikes. He'll open up too soon and also cock his arm like a catcher and use a dart-throwing motion. He has made some adjustments to lengthen his delivery. He's still learning to keep his emotions in check. Strop figures to start 2008 in Double-A and can reach Colorado later in the year. Along with Manny Corpas and Casey Weathers, he gives the Rockies three strong closer options for the future.
Originally signed as a shortstop for $50,000, Strop (pronounced Strope) batted just .236 in 753 at-bats and never made it above low Class A in four years. The Rockies finally tired of his struggles with the bat before last season, converting him to the mound. When they left him off their 40-man roster this offseason, several clubs targeted Strop in the major league Rule 5 draft because of his power arm, but there were no takers based on his limited pitching experience. He produces easy velocity with a quick arm action, dialing his fastball up to 93-95 mph with good late life. He also flashes a plus slider, though he doesn't command it consistently. His slider sits in the low 80s, and he needs to stay on top of it more to maintain its tilt and depth. Strop's mechanics are still somewhat raw, but the Rockies consider the flaws in his delivery to be correctable. He won't be rushed and will open 2007 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Rockies grew tired of Strop's struggles with the bat, and after he hit .212/.277/.299 in four seasons as an infielder, they decided a career change was in order. They moved him to the mound this year, and he immediately took to pitching. He dominated the Pioneer League in 11 appearances and continued to impress after a promotion to low Class A. As with many converted position players, arm strength is Strop's forte. He threw 93-95 mph in spring training and has good control of his fastball, though he leans too heavily on the pitch. He also has a low-80s slider but must stay on top of it more often so it doesn't flatten out, making him vulnerable to home runs. "I'd try to start him next year to add some pitchability to his plus stuff," Kotchman said. "If not, you know you have a solid reliever."