Manny Banuelos

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #12 prospect in 2016
  Banuelos made his major league debut in 2015, his eighth pro season, but his progress halted after seven outings when the lefthander had bone chips removed from his left elbow. That procedure came on the heels of Banuelos missing nearly two full seasons, in 2012 and 2013, that included Tommy John surgery in August 2012. He made strides in his comeback at three levels of the Yankees system in 2014 and was Triple-A Gwinnett's best pitcher during the first half of 2015 after the Braves acquired him from New York in an offseason trade. Banuelos' fastball sat in the low 90s in 2015, and the Braves believe his velocity could return close to its previous mid-90s level once he fully recovers from his most recent procedure. The sharpness of his solid curveball and changeup should also improve, giving him three above-average pitches as well as a possible fourth if he continues to throw his recently added cutter. Despite his success in Triple-A, Banuelos needs to improve his control and command after averaging 4.3 walks per nine innings at Gwinnett. Banuelos will be 25 in 2016 and still offers hope that he can be a solid contributor to the big league rotation, possibly as a No. 4 starter. He needs to put all the injuries behind him, though.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #14 prospect in 2015
  The bad news for Banuelos entering 2014 was simple: He'd missed nearly all of the previous two seasons, first while rehabbing his elbow in an attempt to avoid Tommy John surgery, then rehabbing from actual T.J. surgery, which took place in October 2012. The good news was, even with all the lost time, he was still just 23 years old. The returns in 2014 weren't outstanding, but they definitely provided a reason for cautious optimism. Banuelos' fastball, which had peaked at 97 mph in the past, was up to 94 by the end of the year, and was steadily in the low 90s. He didn't show the same confidence or quality with his changeup and curveball. The Yankees helped Banuelos develop a hybrid slider-cutter, which he threw in the high 80s. He showed more conviction in his stuff in instructional league, and the organization will look for more command of his offspeed stuff in 2015, which he'll begin at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with the chance to take a step toward fulfilling his future as a back-end starter.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #11 prospect in 2014
  Banuelos already was a top prospect when he tore up big league camp during spring training 2011, looking big league ready. He has struggled since then, however, losing his command in 2011, then having a back problem and later elbow pain that ended his 2012 season in May. He had Tommy John surgery in October 2012 and missed all of 2013. At his best, Banuelos sports a low- to mid-90s fastball that has touched as high as 97 mph. Reports had him at 93-94 in simulated games last fall. He couples the fastball with a plus changeup with tumbling action and a sharp curveball in the mid-70s. He had control issues at the upper levels, which the Yankees had explained by his youth and by the jump in his velocity. He has yet to command the strike zone above Class A, and he broke down the only year that he pitched more than 110 innings, so durability is a real question. Banuelos didn't pitch in winter ball, so he's slated to start the 2014 season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a closely monitored workload. Now 23 and three years removed from that scintillating spring showing, he needs to prove he can throw strikes and stay healthy, but he's got time.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #8 prospect in 2013
  Banuelos was the Yankees' best southpaw prospect since Andy Pettitte. He nearly made the Yankees with a dominant performance in big league camp in 2011, but instead made a career-best 27 minor league starts as his control regressed. He began 2012 in a prospect-laden Triple-A rotation but made just six starts before getting shut down with elbow pain. He had Tommy John surgery in early October. A command-oriented pitcher when he signed, Banuelos saw his fastball touch 94 at the end of the 2009 season in relief. He maintained his velocity spike in 2010 as a starter, but has had difficulty either staying healthy or throwing strikes since. Before he got hurt, his fastball sat at 91-94 mph and touched 96, with good tailing life at the lower end of that velocity range. He also threw a sharp curveball in the upper 70s and a tumbling changeup, giving him two above-average secondary pitches at his best. He had trouble harnessing his livelier stuff and was unable to make adjustments to throw quality strikes prior to his injury. The track record for elbow reconstruction is good, and the Yankees added him to the 40-man roster in November. Banuelos will be just 23 when he returns to minor league action in 2014. If his stuff returns and he learns to command it, he could develop into a No. 2 starter.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2012
  Signed out of Mexico as a command-oriented lefthander, Banuelos has seen his stuff evolve since, and it was on full display in big league camp in 2011. He struck out 14 in 13 innings while making a bid for a big league role. He instead spent the entire season in the minors, pitching a career-high 130 innings and reaching Triple-A but also leading the system with 71 walks. Banuelos beats hitters with three plus pitches when he's at his best, getting swings and misses in the strike zone like an ace. His fastball sits at 89-94 mph and touches 96. His curveball has some downer action and power, often parking at 79-80 mph, and he has good arm speed on his fading changeup. The Yankees believe Banuelos is still learning how to harness his quick arm and improved stuff, and he needs to be pitchefficient rather than going for strikeouts. He struggles at times to locate his fastball to his glove side, which made him vulnerable against righthanders, who hit .285 against him in 2011. Banuelos has shown frontline stuff and flashed true command, tantalizing yet failing to put it all together. He should make his big league debut in 2012, probably before September. He has the upside to be New York's best homegrown pitcher since Andy Pettitte.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2011
  Part of a quartet of Mexican players the Yankees signed as a group for $450,000 in 2008, Banuelos excelled in Class A as an 18-year-old in 2009. His 2010 season was delayed when he needed an appendectomy during spring training, but he pitched well after returning in June and made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, where he was the circuit's youngest pitcher. Banuelos has a quick arm, natural arm strength and sound mechanics. The ball comes out of his hand easy and he has surprising velocity for a little lefthander, sitting at 90-94 mph with his fastball and touching 95. He has excellent fastball control, even with his improved velocity, and projects to have true big league command. His changeup and curveball can be plus pitches, though they often aren't working at the same time. His changeup is more consistent and has better action, with late fade and sink at its best. Banuelos has the poise and composure to move quickly, and now he has frontline stuff. He's the best lefthander in the system by a mile. He'll spend 2011 at Double-A Trenton and must prove he can hold up after never throwing more than seven innings in a game or 108 in a season.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #6 prospect in 2010
  Just a year after signing out of Mexico, Banuelos has become the system's top lefthanded pitching prospect. He jumped from Rookie ball to low Class A as an 18-year-old and was Charleston's best starter in the first half before tiring and moving to the bullpen down the stretch. He was so good in that role he was promoted to Tampa for its playoff run. Banuelos has two potential plus pitches and pitching savvy well beyond his years. His fastball sits at 88-92 mph when he's at his best as a starter, and reached 94 mph in relief late in the season. He uses his fastball inside well and throws strikes to all quadrants of the plate. His changeup already rates as solid average after making more progress than his other pitches in 2009. The Yankees laud his mound presence, poise and makeup. While his curveball is currently fringy, Banuelos has the hand speed to add power to it and make it an average pitch in time. Some scouts who saw him sit at 86-88 mph with his fastball consider him more of a fifth starter. He's just a fair athlete and needs to improve his ability to field his position and hold runners. While other pitchers in the system have higher ceilings, Banuelos is on the fast track to becoming a No. 3 starter. He'll start 2010 in Tampa and could reach Double-A as a teenager by season's end.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #14 prospect in 2009
  The Yankees got a big leaguer out of Mexico in 2008 in Alfredo Aceves, and they also got Banuelos. They're convinced that he has as much potential as any of their young pitchers, and value him for his poise, mound presence and stuff. His arm works well, and despite his modest stature, he already shows an average fastball, at times sitting at 90-92 mph. He doesn't overthrow, using a smooth delivery to produce easy velocity and consistently throw strikes. Banuelos shows an impressive feel for changing speeds on his fastball and has the hand speed to spin a breaking ball, though his curveball needs work. His changeup is in its nascent stages. The Yankees want Banuelos to focus on commanding his four-seamer and curve, and he's expected to do so next season in low Class A. Farm director Mark Newman said he "looks like Whitey Ford out there" in terms of his demeanor and poise, as good an indication as any that Banuelos is on the fast track.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Eastern League #6 prospect in 2011
  Banuelos opened the season to fanfare after a torrid spring training in which he showed three above-average pitches and posted a 2.08 ERA in big league camp. His fastball command wasn't ready for prime time, however. He wasn't efficient enough to pitch more than six innings in any start before heading to Triple-A in August. Banuelos has excellent velocity for a lefthander, with his fastball sitting at 90-94 mph and touching 95 with regularity. Some managers and scouts thought his command suffered because he overthrew, while others thought he just lost the feel for his release point. While he averaged 4.9 walks per nine innings, several observers believed that his delivery will allow him to throw more strikes as he matures. His changeup has sinking, screwball action when it's on and was often his best secondary pitches. He can get swings and misses with a power curveball that flashes good bite.
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #6 prospect in 2010
  Banuelos, 19, was limited to 15 starts in 2010 due to an early season appendectomy, but was impressive in seven AFL games plus a start against Montgomery in the Rising Stars game. He finished strongly by giving up only one run in his last nine innings, and ended with a 3.60 ERA. Despite his 5-foot-10, 155-pound size, the lefty from Mexico has a fastball up to 95 mph as well as a plus changeup and a good curveball. He worked on mixing his pitches better while in Arizona. He also improved his ability to pitch inside to hitters. Banuelos just needs to throw more consistent strikes and stay healthy next season.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #9 prospect in 2009
  Banuelos is from the same mold as Martin Perez: a young, hard-throwing lefthander with beyond-his-years pitchability. Banuelos doesn't throw quite as hard but does a solid job of working both sides of the plate with a 90-92 mph fastball that touches 95. He also throws a curveball that has good depth but is inconsistent. He has a well-above-average changeup and is working on a two-seam fastball to run back in on lefthanders. Banuelos is mechanically sound and has a loose arm and clean delivery, hiding the ball well from a three-quarters arm slot. He needs to address the finer aspects of pitching, including holding runners and fielding his position. "He's the most impressive pitcher I've had at this level since Phil Hughes five years ago," Tyson said. "For me, he's a front-end starter in the big leagues, and you don't have too many guys like that come through here."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #29 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #41 prospect in 2011

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: In an organization long known for lefthanded aces, Banuelos was the best southpaw prospect since Andy Pettitte. He nearly made the Yankees with a dominant performance in big league camp in 2011, but instead made a career-best 27 minor league starts as his control regressed. He began 2012 in a prospect-laden Triple-A rotation but made just six starts before getting shut down with elbow pain. He had Tommy John surgery in early October. Scouting Report: A command-oriented pitcher when he signed, Banuelos saw his fastball touch 94 at the end of the 2009 season in relief. He maintained his velocity spike in 2010 as a starter, but has had difficulty either staying healthy or throwing strikes since. Before he got hurt, his fastball sat at 91-94 mph and touched 96, with good tailing life at the lower end of that velocity range. He also threw a sharp curveball in the upper 70s and a tumbling changeup, giving him two above-average secondary pitches at his best. He had trouble harnessing his livelier stuff and was unable to make adjustments to throw quality strikes prior to his injury. The Future: The track record for elbow reconstruction is good, and Banuelos will be just 23 when he returns to minor league action in 2014. If his stuff returns and he learns to command it, he could develop into a No. 2 starter.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed out of Mexico as a command-oriented lefthander, Banuelos has seen his stuff evolve since, and it was on full display in big league camp in 2011. He struck out 14 in 13 innings while making a bid for a big league role. He instead spent the entire season in the minors, pitching a career-high 130 innings and reaching Triple-A but also leading the system with 71 walks. Scouting Report: Banuelos beats hitters with three plus pitches when he's at his best, getting swings and misses in the strike zone like an ace. His fastball sits at 89-94 mph and touches 96. His curveball has some downer action and power, often parking at 79-80 mph, and he has good arm speed on his fading changeup. The Yankees believe Banuelos is still learning how to harness his quick arm and improved stuff, and he needs to be pitch-efficient rather than going for strikeouts. He struggles at times to locate his fastball to his glove side, which made him vulnerable against righthanders, who hit .285 against him in 2011. The Future: Banuelos has shown frontline stuff and flashed true command, tantalizing yet failing to put it all together. He should make his big league debut in 2012. He has the upside to be New York's best homegrown pitcher since Andy Pettitte.
• August, 2010 Scouting Report
  Banuelos, 19, was limited to 15 starts in 2010 due to an early season appendectomy, but was impressive in seven AFL games plus a start against Montgomery in the Rising Stars game. He finished strongly by giving up only one run in his last nine innings, and ended with a 3.60 ERA. Despite his 5-foot-10, 155-pound size, the lefty from Mexico has a fastball up to 95 mph as well as a plus changeup and a good curveball. He worked on mixing his pitches better while in Arizona. He also improved his ability to pitch inside to hitters. Banuelos just needs to throw more consistent strikes and stay healthy next season.