Roberto Osuna

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2015
  Osuna returned from Tommy John surgery in the second half of the season and was handled carefully upon his return, averaging less than three innings per start with the longest of his eight starts registering 4 1/3 innings. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League to get additional innings. While Osuna's fastball was not quite as firm this summer as before his injury, his heater still sat at 91-93 mph, touching 95 and could bump up a tick to its previous standards the further away from the surgery he gets. He has a loose, quick arm and throws very easily with a wrist wrap in the back. His top secondary offering is a changeup with plus potential that he has feel for. The consistency of his breaking ball will be a developmental point of emphasis, as it has flashed at least plus but consistently plays below that. Even though Osuna has routinely been one of the youngest players at each level, he has routinely missed bats, striking out 11.0 per nine in his career. His strikeout rate (12.3) would have easily led the Florida State League if he had enough innings to qualify--admittedly he was roughly 90 innings short. The organization is working on getting more life to Osuna's fastball, which can play straight. Osuna will likely have a chance to move up to Double-A at some point in 2015.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2014
  A heralded amateur who starred at international tournaments and showed mid-90s velocity as a 15-year-old, Osuna signed with the Blue Jays for $1.5 million in 2011. The nephew of former big league reliever Antonio Osuna, Roberto entered 2013 as the youngest player in the low Class A Midwest League and got off to a tremendous start, striking out 35 percent of hitters with a 7.8 SO/BB ratio, before missing a month with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He returned to make five starts but had Tommy John surgery in July. Osuna showed a 92-96 mph fastball featuring plus life from a quick, loose arm action with minimal effort. He has feel for a plus changeup. His slider, which has heavy two-plane break, has been inconsistent but shows plus potential. He has an advanced feel for pitching and showed the potential for plus control. With a large frame and burly build, Osuna's physique warrants monitoring, but he has responded well to instruction, shedding a significant amount of weight entering the 2013 season and getting significantly stronger in his lower half and core. In the wake of Tommy John surgery, Osuna's age buoys his prospect status. He could see some 2014 action, but it would be limited. Osuna, who profiles as a No. 3 starter, should be healthy for 2015, when he will be 20.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #4 prospect in 2013
  The nephew of Antonio Osuna, a major league reliever for 11 seasons, Roberto attracted attention by popping 94 mph with his fastball as a 15-year-old at an international tournament in 2010. He made his pro debut at age 16 in the Mexican League with the Mexico City Red Devils, who sold his rights to Toronto in August 2011 for $1.5 million. Osuna turned in a strong U.S. debut as a 17-year-old, fanning 49 in 44 innings and holding his own against much older hitters in the short-season Northwest League. Osuna doesn't have the same projection as fellow Mexican righthander Luis Heredia, whom the Pirates signed in 2010 for $2.6 million, but scouts say their stuff is similar. Osuna has a plus fastball that ranges from 91-96 mph, with the ability to add and subtract from it as needed. His changeup is a plus pitch, and he's still seeking a consistent grip and release point for his slurvy slider. Some scouts had concerns about Osuna's thick frame, but he has done a good job of keeping his conditioning in check. He has a clean delivery and enough athleticism to maintain at least average command. With his moxie and feel for pitching, Osuna may advance more quickly than expected. The Blue Jays have no reason to rush the potential No. 3 starter, however, and he'll spend 2013 in low Class A Lansing.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #30 prospect in 2012
  Osuna is the nephew of Antonio Osuna, who spent 11 years in the big leagues as a reliever. Roberto pitched for Mexico at the Pan American 16-and-under championships in October 2010 and ran his fastball up to 94 mph--as a 15-year-old. Afterward, he signed with the Mexico City Red Devils of the Mexican League and made his pro debut at age 16. The Blue Jays purchased his rights from the Red Devils in August for a reported $1.5 million. Some scouts believe his stuff is comparable to that of Luis Heredia, whom the Pirates signed in 2010 for a Mexican-record $2.6 million, but Osuna doesn't have the same projection. He already has a thick frame and will have to stay on top of his conditioning. Osuna has a quick arm that produces fastballs that range from 88-94 mph. For a youngster, he has good feel for a curveball, though it can get slurvy at times. He also shows some aptitude for throwing a changeup. Osuna has the look of a possible No. 3 starter, though he's a long-term project. He'll make his U.S. debut in the Gulf Coast League this summer.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked American League #8 prospect in 2012
  The nephew of former big league reliever Antonio Osuna, Roberto has toed the rubber in three different countries in the past two seasons. He made 13 appearances in the Mexican League before the Blue Jays purchased his rights from Mexico City for $1.5 million in August 2011. Toronto then aggressively pushed Osuna to Bluefield in June and then short-season Vancouver in July, where he struck out 13 over five innings in his Canadians debut. Osuna already weights in at 230 pounds at age 17, about 70 pounds heftier than his uncle at a similar age. While he may not have projection remaining, he has advanced control and feel for pitching. He sits 91-92 mph and reaches 95 with his fastball, and his plus changeup is difficult to hit because he locates it down in the zone with good arm speed. "He can really pitch," Johns said. "Here's a 17-year-old throwing 3-2 changeups with the bases loaded. He's throwing his fastball to both sides too, up, down. He just never got rattled." Developing Osuna's slurvy breaking ball will be a point of emphasis going forward. Even with a fringy breaking pitch, his pitchability could make him a mid-rotation starter.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The nephew of Antonio Osuna, a major league reliever for 11 seasons, Roberto attracted attention by popping 94 mph with his fastball as a 15-year-old in 2010. He made his pro debut at age 16 with the Mexico City Red Devils, who sold his rights to Toronto in August 2011 for $1.5 million. Osuna turned in a strong U.S. debut as a 17-year-old, holding his own against much older hitters in the short-season Northwest League. Scouting Report: Osuna doesn't have the same projection as fellow Mexican righthander Luis Heredia, whom the Pirates signed in 2010 for $2.6 million, but scouts believe their stuff is similar. Osuna has a plus fastball that ranges from 91-96 mph, not to mention the ability to add and subtract from it as needed. His changeup is a plus pitch, but he's still seeking a consistent grip and release point for his slurvy slider. There was concern about Osuna's thick frame, but he has done a good job of keeping his conditioning in check. He has a clean delivery and enough athleticism to maintain at least average command. The Future: With his moxie and pitchability, Osuna may advanced more quickly than expected. The Blue Jays have no reason to rush the potential No. 3 starter, however, and he'll spend 2013 in low Class A.