Yordano Ventura

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 2014
  Signed for just $28,000 as a short 17-year-old with a high-80s fastball but excellent arm speed, Ventura was touching 100 mph just two years later. His fastball hasn't gained velocity since then, but it comes easier now. Where he once threw with a max-effort delivery, now he tickles triple digits with a natural, easy motion. As Ventura showed in three late-season big league starts, he has one of the best arms in baseball. His fastball sat at 97 mph in those three starts, topping out at 102. Ventura's fastball is a true 80 pitch, but his development as a starter has taken off now that he's refined his curveball into a second plus pitch. It's a tight 12-to-6 breaking ball that he can throw for strikes or bury. Ventura has improved the movement on his changeup to the point where it's an average pitch now that it has late fade. He pitches with a speedy tempo that fits his power approach and does a good job of holding runners. The only remaining red flags with Ventura are his command and his short stature. Ventura throws strikes, but he doesn't always hit his spots. His lack of size leads some scouts to be concerned about his durability, but Ventura threw 150 innings in 2013, and he's been healthy throughout his minor league career. He's ready to battle for a job in the Royals rotation.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2013
  Signed for $28,000 as a 17-year-old with a mid-80s fastball, Ventura quickly blossomed into one of the hardest throwers in the organization. Slated to return to low Class A in 2012, he earned a spot at high Class A during spring training, then merited a Double-A promotion and Futures Game appearance at midseason. Nicknamed "Lil' Pedro" because of his combination of size and velocity, Ventura has a fastball that sits at 94-97 mph and reaches 102. He can throw his curveball for strikes by taking a little off it, or use it as a chase pitch by breaking it off harder. It's a true downer curve that should end up as a plus pitch if he continues to refine it. His changeup has more deception than movement, and he needs to show more trust in it. Ventura still is working to improve his command and control. Some scouts worry that his fastball will lack effectiveness at higher levels because his size doesn't give him much angle or downward plane. Despite Ventura's small stature, Kansas City hopes he can fill one of the holes in their big league rotation, perhaps as soon as mid-2013. His stuff makes him a safe bet to at least be a power reliever.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2012
  Ventura is the rare sub-6-foot pitcher who can reach triple digits on the radar gun. Signed for $28,000 out of the Dominican Republic at age 17, he has added nearly 10 mph to his fastball since then as he's gained weight and cleaned up his delivery. While Ventura can throw 100 mph, he's better off when he stops worrying about the radar gun, something that has been a problem for him. When he's trying to throw hard, his delivery becomes much messier with plenty of effort, leading him to spin off the mound and recoil at the end of his follow-through. When he relaxes and throws eaiser, he stays more in line to the plate. Then he locates his 94-97 mph fastball much better and his curveball shows plus potential rather than becoming the flat spinner he shows when he's overthrowing. His fastball has good late life. Ventura's 79-83 mph changeup is his third-best pitch, but it has late fade and almost unfair separation from his heater. He generally throws strikes but his lack of command leads to his stuff getting hit harder than it should. Ventura has the upside of a frontline starter, though he could wind up in the bullpen if he can't clean up his mechanics. He responds well to being challenged, and the Royals will push him to high Class A at age 20 this season.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #12 prospect in 2011
  There are a lot of impressive pitching prospects in the Royals system, and none of them throws as hard as consistently as Ventura, the top pitching prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League last summer. Signed for only $28,000 in 2008 as a 17-year-old who threw 87-89 mph, he has significantly boosted his velocity as he has gained 20 pounds and refined his delivery. He has touched 100 mph on several occasions, hits 98 almost every time out and sits at 94-97. What's most surprising is that he generates that heat from such a small frame, a tribute to his excellent arm speed. His stuff, size and arm slots have prompted comparisons to Neftali Feliz and even the patron saint of small righthanders: Pedro Martinez. Ventura's curveball was very erratic during his U.S. debut in 2010, but after some further instruction during instructional league, he showed improved feel for it. Some scouts project it as a plus pitch, and his promising changeup could develop into at least an average offering. Ventura's delivery is relatively clean and conventional. He hasn't made it past the AZL yet, so he has a lot of development remaining.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #10 prospect in 2013
  Ventura completed the climb from $28,000 signee in 2008 to major leaguer in mid-September, earning a callup to Kansas City after making a playoff start with Omaha, which went on to win the PCL and Triple-A national championships. Ventura made significant progress during the season, though he still remained a little too hittable while struggling at times to control the plate. Still, Ventura?s stuff is undeniable. His fastball regularly sits in the upper 90s and hits 101 mph, and he holds his velocity deep into outings despite his light frame. Scouts like his curveball as his better secondary pitch, and his changeup has sinking life, though it?s firm in the upper 80s. If he can?t throw consistent quality strikes as a starter, Ventura?s big fastball could mean a future impact role in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Texas League #3 prospect in 2013
  In essence, the TL was merely a refresher course for Ventura, who debuted with Northwest Arkansas immediately after the 2012 Futures Game. However, he didn?t stay long in 2013, as the Royals promoted him to Triple-A Omaha after his June 1 start. Given the Royals? improved organizational depth and last winter?s acquisition of James Shields and Wade Davis, Kansas City could afford to take it slowly with Ventura, who looks like a real scouting coup. He signed for $28,000 as a 17-year-old. Ventura?s portfolio impresses for a pitcher in the Roy Oswalt mold. That is, he?s a shorter righthanded starter with a big arm. Ventura was a box-office attraction simply because he lit up the stadium radar gun, reaching as high as 100 mph. But he was far more effective working 95-96 and commanding the ball to keep the walks in check. He also showed a feel for a changeup, a pitch that will serve him well if he is to stay on a starter?s track. His curveball peaks in the low 80s and befuddles batters looking for the heater. Ventura also held runners and fielded his position well. Like many hard-throwers, Ventura had a tendency to work deep counts and exhaust his allotted pitch count, leaving open the possibility that his future role may be as a power reliever. ?I still see him being a starter,? Northwest Arkansas manager Brian Poldberg said. Ventura went on to enjoy a strong year in Triple-A and made his first big league start in September.
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  Ranked Carolina League #8 prospect in 2012
  Ventura handed Bundy his first loss as a pro on June 2, striking out six in five shutout innings of a 1-0 victory. Ventura was at his best that day, showing off a 93-98 mph fastball, a 12-to-6 hammer curveball and an effective changeup. He doesn't always command his electric stuff and still lacks consistency. Though he lacks size and scouts wonder he can be effective as a long-term starter, Ventura carries his fastball velocity late into games. How well he can command his fastball and refine his secondary pitches will determine whether he remains in the rotation. He often racks up high pitch counts and needs to use his changeup more often.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #2 prospect in 2010
  Ventura was the biggest surprise among the league's pitching prospects. When the Royals signed him prior to the 2009 season, he weighed just 140 pounds and his fastball topped out at 89 mph. After pitching last year and early this season in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, he arrived in Arizona in June with another 20 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame and much more velocity on his fastball. Ventura's lively fastball is his lone plus pitch right now, but it's special. He usually works at 94-96 mph, and there were multiple reports late in the season that his heater hit triple digits. His curveball is still a work in progress, and with his arm speed it should become at least an average pitch, if not better. He also has a promising changeup but is reluctant to use it in games because he can just throw his fastball by hitters. He operates out of a three-quarters delivery that is fairly clean and he repeats well.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #26 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for $28,000 as a 17-year-old with a mid-80s fastball, Ventura quickly blossomed into one of the hardest throwers in the organization. Slated to return to low Class A in 2012, he earned a spot at high Class A during spring training, then merited a Double-A promotion and Futures Game appearance at midseason. Scouting Report: Nicknamed "Lil' Pedro"because of his combination of size and velocity, Ventura has a fastball that sits at 94-97 mph and reaches 102. He can throw his curveball for strikes by taking a little off it, or use it as a chase pitch by breaking it off harder. It's a true downer curve that should end up as a plus pitch if he continues to refine it. His changeup has more deception than movement, and he needs to show more trust in it. Ventura still is working to improve his command and control. Some scouts worry that his fastball will lack effectiveness at higher levels because his size doesn't give him much angle or downward plane. The Future: Despite his small stature, Kansas City hopes Ventura can fill one of the holes in their big league rotation, perhaps as soon as mid-2013. His stuff makes him a safe bet to at least be a power reliever.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Ventura is the rare sub-6-foot pitcher who can reach triple digits on the radar gun. Signed for $28,000 out of the Dominican Republic at age 17, he has added nearly 10 mph to his fastball since then as he's gained weight and cleaned up his delivery. Scouting Report: While Ventura can throw 100 mph, he's better off when he stops worrying about the radar gun, something that has been a problem for him. When he's trying to throw hard, his delivery becomes much messier with plenty of effort, leading him to spin off the mound and recoil at the end of his follow-through. When he relaxes and throws eaiser, he stays more in line to the plate which leads to improved control. Then he locates his 94-97 mph fastball much better, and his curveball shows plus potential rather than becoming the flat spinner he shows when he's overthrowing. His fastball has good late life. Ventura's 79-83 mph changeup is his third-best pitch, but it has late fade and almost unfair separation from his heater. He generally throw strikes, but his lack of command leads to his stuff getting hit harder than it should. The Future: Ventura has the upside of a frontline starter, though he could wind up in the bullpen if he can't clean up his mechanics. He responds well to being challenged, and the Royals will push him to high Class A at age 20 this season.