Jairo Labourt
| IP | 6 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.5 |
| WHIP | 1.833 |
| BB/9 | 10.5 |
| SO/9 | 6 |
- Full name Jairo Snaider Labourt
- Born 03/07/1994 in Loma De Cabrera, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 234 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- Debut 09/01/2017
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Blue Jays traded nearly everything not nailed down during their push to the playoffs in 2015, and Labourt went to the Tigers with fellow lefthanders Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd in exchange for ace David Price, who was brilliant for the Blue Jays before signing a megadeal with the Red Sox in the offseason. Labourt earned a spot in the 2015 Futures Game with the Blue Jays but has struggled since changing organizations. He still throws his fastball in the low-to-mid-90s with sinking life and couples it with a slider that gets swings and misses, but an exaggerated arm swing hampered his command and control greatly with high Class A Lakeland. He issued 70 walks in 87.1 innings while striking out 81, and was moved to the bullpen in an attempt to rebuild his confidence. There still might be hope for Labourt if he can harness his arsenal--he still held hitters to a .202 average--and the Tigers still believe he has an outside chance at returning to the rotation. He is likely to return to Lakeland in 2017 to work on re-establishing himself and rebuilding confidence. -
Labourt signed with the Blue Jays for $350,000 in 2011, pitched in the 2015 Futures Game in July, then later that month went to the Tigers along with fellow lefties Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd in the David Price trade. Labourt has a strong, physical build with a lively fastball that sits in the low-90s and can touch 95 mph. His sharp slider flashes above-average, sometimes creating more depth and tilt, sometimes shortening up with cutter-like action that makes it less effective. He throws a changeup too, though it's his third pitch and is usually below-average, though it could get better if he throws it more frequently. The problem for Labourt is that he doesn't get into enough counts to be able to work on his secondary pitches because he can't control his fastball and constantly falls behind hitters. That poor control got him lit up in 2015 and could lead him to the bullpen if he can't figure out how to throw more strikes. -
A $350,000 signing in 2011, Labourt has improved his body and his stuff significantly since then. He had a strong season in 2013 and began the 2014 campaign at low Class A Lansing, but he didn't last past April as wildness prompted a demotion to extended spring training. He returned to form at short-season Vancouver and led the Northwest League with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He offers a three-pitch mix that could allow him to profile as a starter, but his below-average control will have to improve. Labourt's fastball/slider combo could make a quicker impact out of the bullpen. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95 with two-seam sink and armside run. His slider is his top secondary offering and shows above-average potential, varying between cutter-like shape in the upper 80s and truer slider tilt in the mid-80s. While his changeup has flashed solid-average potential, it will need continued development. Labourt's delivery has improved, and he has shed bad weight and has a solid, athletic body, making him the rare physical Dominican lefthander. He likely will return to Lansing in 2015. -
Labourt, who signed for $350,000 as a 17-year-old in 2011, has improved as much as any pitcher in the system since he signed, giving him the chance to fulfill a rare profile, as there have just been four Dominican lefthanders 6-foot-4 or taller in major league history, and none with more than 20 major league starts. Labourt, who had a mid-80s fastball when he signed, has a quick arm and now sits 90-93 mph with his fastball, touching 95. He gets good extension out front, downhill plane and above-average sink, projecting to produce ground balls at an above-average rate. He has a large frame and strong build to handle innings, repeats his delivery well and projects to have above-average control. He has firmed up his body and improved his mechanics since signing. He has advanced feel for a changeup that he can throw to lefthanded hitters and projects as plus. His 82-85 mph slider is inconsistent, as he tends to get on the side of it and throw it too hard, but it shows plus potential. Labourt, who has the ceiling of a No. 3 starter, will likely pitch at Lansing in 2014. -
Another product of Toronto's aggressive international spending in 2011, Labourt signed for $350,000 on his 17th birthday. A skinny 185-pounder when he signed, he already has added 20 pounds and has more room to add strength on his broad-shouldered frame. His fastball velocity has increased as well, sitting at 88-92 mph last summer and in the low 90s during instructional league, topping out at 94. He pitches mostly with his fastball at this point, though he shows feel for a curveball when needed. His changeup is a work in progress. Labourt still has a long way to go in refining the consistency of his pitches and learning to command them. He needs to do a better job of repeating his delivery and holding runners. He has the upside of a mid-rotation starter but won't be ready for full-season ball until 2014.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Labourt led the league in ERA (1.77), strikeouts per nine innings (10.45) and opponent average (.188), then after the season he dominated in the playoffs, beating Spokane in a first-round series clincher. The rare Dominican power lefthander, Labourt relied on his mid-90s fastball, which at his best he can locate inside (he also hit eight batters). He pitched aggressively with his fastball, using it to dominate righthanders to the tune of a .171/.286/.202 line. Some NWL observers want to see how Labourt responds to batters who can turn around his fastball, but he did not allow a home run in the NWL. He also has a solid changeup, which he uses to keep batters off-balance, and a clean arm action. His breaking ball remains a work in progress. Labourt had wild streaks and at times showed an unwillingness to back down. "He's got big leaguer written all over him," Boise manager Gary Van Tol said. -
Labourt has a big, strong build made to handle innings, and he fits a unique profile as a big Dominican lefthander. The last southpaw countryman as tall or taller than Labourt was 6-foot-5 Marlins reliever Frank Gracesqui in 2004. Labourt has significantly improved during his time in the system and entered the season in much better shape and with improved mechanics. He had a mid-80s fastball two years ago but now sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with run and sink. He has advanced feel for a changeup with good arm-side fade, and it could be an above-average pitch. His slider is inconsistent, as he doesn?t always get on top of it and often throws it too hard. It flashes plus at its best with 1-to-7 tilt. Labourt?s fastball-changeup combo and potentially above-average command allow him to profile as a starter, as will a sound delivery that he repeats well. Still, some scouts think his short finish and body type would play better out of the pen.
