Michel Baez Stats & Scouting Report

IP	6
ERA	7.5
WHIP	1.5
BB/9	6
SO/9	7.5

Full name Michel Baez
Born 01/21/1996 in Havana, Cuba
Profile Ht.: 6'8" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 07/23/2019

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Fastball: 60. Slider: 30. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 30. Control: 45.

TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba’s major league, Serie Nacional, as an 18-year-old before leaving the island. He signed with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. Baez worked as a starter in the low minors, but he broke into the majors as a reliever with the Padres in 2019. Expected to take on a bigger bullpen role in 2020, Baez instead regressed and spent most of the season at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Baez is physically enormous at nearly 6-foot-8, which is both a blessing and a curse. He generates easy 94-97 mph fastballs with his natural strength but struggles to keep his big body and long limbs in sync, resulting in inconsistent mechanics and wide fluctuations in his velocity and his control. Baez’s breaking balls stalled in their development and remain well below-average pitches, leaving him to rely almost entirely on his fastball and above-average 86-88 mph changeup. He’s also had minor back or shoulder injuries every year since he signed.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven’t given up on Baez as a starter, but his breaking balls and control need to come a long way for him to stick in the rotation. If they don’t, his fastball-changeup combination gives him a chance to stick as a reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba's major league before leaving the island and signing with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. After working as a starter in the low minors, Baez made 15 relief appearances at Double-A Amarillo before receiving his first major league callup in July. He settled into the Padres bullpen and held opponents scoreless in 19 of his 24 appearances.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot-8 Baez is an imposing presence who repeats his delivery better than most pitchers his size. His plus fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99, though inconsistent mechanics cause his velocity to fluctuate. Baez's above-average mid-80s changeup plays well off his fastball and has become his primary swing-and-miss pitch, drawing whiffs nearly a third of the time he throws it. Baez's slider and curveball both stalled in their development as fringy to below-average pitches and make him a better fit in the bullpen, where his fringe-average control is less of an issue. Baez has also missed the start of every season with either a back or shoulder injury.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven't given up on Baez as a starter, but his pitch mix, control and health all point to a future in relief.
Track Record: Baez briefly played professionally in Cuba's Serie Nacional and signed with the Padres for $3 million in Dec. 2016. He thrilled in his U.S. debut in 2017 but took a step back in 2018 after missing the start of the season with a back injury.

Scouting Report: Baez is physically huge at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds. Previously an advantage, his size became a hindrance in 2018 as he struggled to repeat his delivery or stay on line to the plate. With inconsistent direction, mechanics and arm speed, Baez's fastball ranged anywhere from 90-98 mph, though it was more regularly in the 94-mph range. He struggles to locate his fastball to his gloveside, but he can elevate for swings and misses. Baez's lack of direction hurts the consistency of his 82-86 mph slider and 73-77 mph curveball, which have both flashed above-average but often play below that. While neither of his breaking balls have become regular weapons, he does have better command of an above-average 85-86 changeup.

The Future: Baez still flashes solid stuff, but not consistently enough to confidently project as a starter anymore. He'll try to regain his previous form with Double-A Amarillo.
Teams scouted Baez as a teenager in Cuba but had limited interest because of his lack of control. He pitched in the island's national 18U league and in the major league, Serie Nacional, where he posted a 5.05 ERA with more walks (16) than strikeouts (14) pitching out of the bullpen in his lone season. Baez left for the Dominican Republic and the Padres had a front row seat to his development as he began working with the same trainer as Jorge Ona and Jordy Barley, both of whom the Padres signed for seven-figure bonuses early in the 2016 international signing period. They watched as Baez progressively added more fastball velocity and began demonstrating more control, and ultimately pulled the trigger and signed him for $3 million in December, beating out the Cardinals and Astros, among others. A trapezius injury held Baez back in extended spring training in 2017, but he made his low Class A Fort Wayne debut on July 4 and immediately became the talk of the low Class A Midwest League. He allowed only 19 hits and three runs in his first 36.2 innings, with 56 strikeouts and four walks. He eventually finished with a 2.04 ERA, 98 strikeouts and 10 walks in 70.2 innings including the MWL postseason. Baez's fastball is a head-turner out of his enormous 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame. He possesses a power arm and pounds the strike zone downhill out of his high three-quarters arm slot. He holds his fastball at 94-95 mph and frequently touches 98 to grade as a plus-plus pitch. His fastball comes out easy, teasing more velocity in the tank, and he hides the ball well behind his enormous frame to create deception. At times late in his outings Baez will get around his fastball and lose his downhill plane, but his velocity and deception are enough to get swings and misses up in the zone anyway. Baez's upper-80s slider flashes above-average and is his go-to secondary pitch, but isn't yet consistent. His mid-80s changeup flashes plus with fade away from lefthanders, and he flashes a hammer 11-to-5 curveball in the upper 70s with late action. Most importantly he repeats his delivery to throw frequent strikes, perhaps too many. He allowed as many home runs as walks (eight) in the MWL regular season. Baez needs to fine-tune his fastball command and achieve a bit more consistency with his secondaries. If he does, he's a front-of-the-rotation starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

The titanic Baez took a step back after looking like a future No. 1 starter a year ago, but even with his regression still delivered a 2.91 ERA and earned a promotion to Double-A. Baez had issues with his alignment and direction to the plate—throwing too across his body—and his stuff and command suffered as a result. He struggled to throw strikes to his glove side or land his breaking ball consistently, and his fastball velocity fluctuated greatly, ranging from 90 to 97 mph. Even so, Baez flashed the ability to ramp fastball up to the upper 90s and land both an above-average slider and solid changeup at his best. That was enough of a taste to keep observers intrigued in Baez as a possible mid-rotation starter or closer. “That’s electric stuff,” Inland Empire manager Ryan Barba said. “Once he starts to get that command on a consistent basis, and you’ve seen he has it, when he gets rolling that’s a tough at-bat.”
Despite his 6-foot-8 size and his fastball velocity, Baez was relatively unheralded in Cuba but got on the radar of Padres international scouting director Chris Kemp in the spring of 2016. San Diego spent $3 million to outbid the Astros and Cardinals, among others, and streamlined Baez's mechanics and offerings under pitching coordinator Mark Prior. Baez dazzled in his full-season debut and drew raves for his plus-plus fastball up to 97 mph, a changeup and slider that flash plus and a curveball with 11-to-5 shape. Baez is the rare pitcher taller than 6-foot-5 with sterling mechanics. His delivery is easy to repeat and he stays tall and online to the plate, enabling him to throw consistent strikes. Baez almost throws too many strikes, and he gave up eight home runs, which was as many walks as he had in 58.2 innings. He has tremendous feel for his four pitches and gets great angle on his fastball, enabling him to strike out 12.6 batters per nine innings.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Fastball in the San Diego Padres in 2018

Scouting Reports

BA Grade: 40/Medium

Track Record: Baez briefly pitched in Serie Nacional, Cuba&#39s major league, as a teenager and signed with the Padres for $3 million in 2016 after he left the island. He reached the majors in 2019 and became a part of the Padres bullpen, but he regressed in 2020 and had Tommy John surgery during 2021 spring training. He returned to the mound in April with rehab appearances at Low-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio.

Scouting Report: Baez is physically huge at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds and possesses the high-octane stuff expected from a pitcher his size. His fastball sits 95-96 and touches 99 mph, although his inconsistent mechanics cause his velocity to fluctaute. His mid-80s changeup is an above-average pitch that plays well off his fastball. Baez&#39s slider and curveball are both well below-average pitches and he struggles to keep his long limbs in sync, resulting in fringe-average control. He is also injury-prone and has missed time every season due to shoulder, back or elbow injuries.

The Future: Baez will fit in the Padres bullpen with his fastball and changeup. He could be back there during the 2022 season.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 30. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 30. Control: 45.

TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba's major league, Serie Nacional, as an 18-year-old before leaving the island. He signed with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. Baez worked as a starter in the low minors, but he broke into the majors as a reliever with the Padres in 2019. Expected to take on a bigger bullpen role in 2020, Baez instead regressed and spent most of the season at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Baez is physically enormous at nearly 6-foot-8, which is both a blessing and a curse. He generates easy 94-97 mph fastballs with his natural strength but struggles to keep his big body and long limbs in sync, resulting in inconsistent mechanics and wide fluctuations in his velocity and his control. Baez's breaking balls stalled in their development and remain well below-average pitches, leaving him to rely almost entirely on his fastball and above-average 86-88 mph changeup. He's also had minor back or shoulder injuries every year since he signed.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven't given up on Baez as a starter, but his breaking balls and control need to come a long way for him to stick in the rotation. If they don't, his fastball-changeup combination gives him a chance to stick as a reliever.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 30. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 30. Control: 45.

TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba’s major league, Serie Nacional, as an 18-year-old before leaving the island. He signed with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. Baez worked as a starter in the low minors, but he broke into the majors as a reliever with the Padres in 2019. Expected to take on a bigger bullpen role in 2020, Baez instead regressed and spent most of the season at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Baez is physically enormous at nearly 6-foot-8, which is both a blessing and a curse. He generates easy 94-97 mph fastballs with his natural strength but struggles to keep his big body and long limbs in sync, resulting in inconsistent mechanics and wide fluctuations in his velocity and his control. Baez’s breaking balls stalled in their development and remain well below-average pitches, leaving him to rely almost entirely on his fastball and above-average 86-88 mph changeup. He’s also had minor back or shoulder injuries every year since he signed.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven’t given up on Baez as a starter, but his breaking balls and control need to come a long way for him to stick in the rotation. If they don’t, his fastball-changeup combination gives him a chance to stick as a reliever.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 30. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 30. Control: 45.

TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba’s major league, Serie Nacional, as an 18-year-old before leaving the island. He signed with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. Baez worked as a starter in the low minors, but he broke into the majors as a reliever with the Padres in 2019. Expected to take on a bigger bullpen role in 2020, Baez instead regressed and spent most of the season at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Baez is physically enormous at nearly 6-foot-8, which is both a blessing and a curse. He generates easy 94-97 mph fastballs with his natural strength but struggles to keep his big body and long limbs in sync, resulting in inconsistent mechanics and wide fluctuations in his velocity and his control. Baez’s breaking balls stalled in their development and remain well below-average pitches, leaving him to rely almost entirely on his fastball and above-average 86-88 mph changeup. He’s also had minor back or shoulder injuries every year since he signed.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven’t given up on Baez as a starter, but his breaking balls and control need to come a long way for him to stick in the rotation. If they don’t, his fastball-changeup combination gives him a chance to stick as a reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba’s major league before leaving the island and singing with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. After starting in the low minors, Baez made 15 relief appearances at Double-A Amarillo before receiving his first major league callup in July. He settled into the Padres bullpen and held opponents scoreless in 19 of his 24 appearances.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot-8 Baez is an imposing presence who repeats his delivery better than most pitchers his size. His plus fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99, though inconsistent mechanics cause his velocity to fluctuate. Baez’s above-average mid-80s changeup plays well off his fastball and has become his primary swing-and-miss pitch, drawing whiffs nearly a third of the time he throws it. Baez’s slider and curveball both stalled in their development as fringy to below-average pitches and make him a better fit in the bullpen, where his fringe-average control is less of an issue. Baez has also missed the start of every season with either a back or shoulder injury.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven’t given up on Baez as a starter, but his pitch mix, control and health all point to a future in relief.
TRACK RECORD: Baez briefly pitched in Cuba's major league before leaving the island and signing with the Padres for $3 million in December 2016. After working as a starter in the low minors, Baez made 15 relief appearances at Double-A Amarillo before receiving his first major league callup in July. He settled into the Padres bullpen and held opponents scoreless in 19 of his 24 appearances.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot-8 Baez is an imposing presence who repeats his delivery better than most pitchers his size. His plus fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99, though inconsistent mechanics cause his velocity to fluctuate. Baez's above-average mid-80s changeup plays well off his fastball and has become his primary swing-and-miss pitch, drawing whiffs nearly a third of the time he throws it. Baez's slider and curveball both stalled in their development as fringy to below-average pitches and make him a better fit in the bullpen, where his fringe-average control is less of an issue. Baez has also missed the start of every season with either a back or shoulder injury.

THE FUTURE: The Padres haven't given up on Baez as a starter, but his pitch mix, control and health all point to a future in relief.
Baez’s fastball has dropped from 94-98 mph to 91-95, and his curveball and slider have both gone backwards. He missed the start of the season with a minor back injury, but the reason for the decline of his stuff is mechanical. Baez is throwing across his body more, and both his arm speed and direction to the plate have suffered as a result. Still, he’s posted a 2.97 ERA in the California League, and there is a sense he is just a mechanical tweak away from returning to top form.
Track Record: The Padres signed Baez for $3 million in December 2016, encouraged by the strides the 6-foot-8 Cuban made while training in the Dominican Republic after he struggled to throw strikes as a teenager. A trapezius injury held Baez back in extended spring training, but he made his low Class A Fort Wayne debut on July 4 and recorded a 2.04 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 10 walks in 70.2 innings, including the Midwest League postseason. Scouting Report: Baez possesses a power arm and pounds the the strike zone downhill out of his high three-quarters arm slot. He holds his fastball at 94-95 mph and frequently touches 98 to grade as a plus-plus pitch. His fastball comes out easy, and he hides the ball well behind his enormous frame. Baez's upper-80s slider flashes plus but isn't yet consistent. His mid-80s changeup flashes plus with fade away from lefthanders, and he flashes a hammer 11-to-5 curveball in the upper 70s. Most importantly he repeats his delivery to throw frequent strikes, perhaps too many. He allowed as many home runs as walks (eight) in the MWL regular season. The Future: Baez needs to fine-tune his fastball command and achieve more consistency with his secondaries. If he does, he's a front-of-the-rotation starter.