San Diego Padres: MLB Prospect Report on Joe Ross and More

Joe Ross, who the San Diego Padres took with their second pick of the 2011 draft (25th overall), has shown why he is one of the most intriguing arms in the minor leagues right now and just how much work he has ahead of him.

Making his fifth start for the Low Class A Fort Wayne Tincaps against the Cubs’ Low Class A affiliate Peoria on a brutally cold evening on Saturday, Ross was every bit the 18-year-old project that you would expect him to be.

Things started out great, with Ross hitting 95 mph on his first pitch of the game. It fell apart right after that, as he allowed five hits and three runs in the first inning. His command was all over the place and he was leaving too many pitches over the middle of the plate.

Ross did settle down a bit after that rough start, giving up just two more runs over his next four innings of work. All told, Ross gave up five earned runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts before giving way to the bullpen.

That has been the story for him at home this year, as he has given up 17 runs on 21 hits in 11.1 innings with eight walks and seven strikeouts in three starts at Parkview Field. (Ross has been much better in two starts on the road, with 13 strikeouts, two walks and five hits in 10 innings. Both stat lines are incredibly small sample sizes though.)

Despite those struggles, it was quite clear why Ross was so well-regarded coming out of high school last June.

He has an athletic, projectable frame, listed at 6’3” and 185 pounds. He has an easy delivery with a three-quarters arm slot that doesn't let him get as on top of the ball as he should, and his release point on all his pitches was inconsistent all game long. Unless you are Dylan Bundy, that's hardly surprising for an 18-year-old making his fifth career start. 

As mentioned before, his fastball reached 95 mph and was sitting between 88-93 all game long. His changeup already has good shape and it is clearly the only other pitch he feels comfortable throwing right now.

The few times Ross tried to spin a curveball in were not met with much success. He only threw a handful of them and they almost all ended up in the dirt.

Ross has tremendous potential if he can develop a breaking ball and learns to do more than just try to blow hitters away with his fastball.

Stray Observations

•Catcher Austin Hedges, San Diego’s second-round pick last year, did not have a good day with the bat. He did hit a double to the wall on a belt-high fastball that was in the middle of the plate, but his plate discipline and pitch recognition left a lot to be desired, including a three-pitch strikeout in his first at-bat with an awkward swing on a changeup that was low and in.

Behind the plate, Hedges showed soft hands and excellent receiving skills. Two runners were able to steal second thanks to high throws as he was trying to rush his delivery, but he showed a strong arm and quick pop times to second.

•Jace Peterson, the 58th pick in last year’s draft, showed tremendous athleticism and a better than expected arm at shortstop, making a play deep in the hole and throwing a strike across the diamond to first base in the eighth inning.

Offensively, he doesn’t have a lot of power potential in his swing because he uses a short, compact stroke. He had two solid hits—a single and double—to go along with a good approach at the plate.

•Peoria starting pitcher Jose Rosario showed off his power arm, hitting 95 with his fastball and commanding it well in the zone. He also featured a slider that was sitting at 85-88 mph. His command of the pitch was good, especially on a strikeout of Travis Whitmore, who had no idea what to do when he saw it.

If he is able to find consistent command of his breaking pitch, Rosario could end up being a good set up man.

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