2015 Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospect #7: Roberto Osuna

It is that time of year, where the team here at Jays Journal once again discusses the Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects. We have compiled our Top 20. Basically, we wanted to create the most all-inclusive Blue Jays prospect ranking out there.

So, we took a mixed approach to our rankings. Not only did we take a ranking from each member of our writing staff, but we also figured in the rankings from other publications as well, including MLB.com, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and Minor League Ball.

Number 7 on the list is a still raw but high ceiling talent. He is attempting to be the first Mexican player to play for the Blue Jays since ol’ Esteban Loiza. I present to you Roberto Osuna.

Name: Roberto Osuna
Position: Starting Pitcher
Date of Birth: February 7, 1995 in Juan Jose Rios, Sinaloa, MX
Acquired: Signed as an international non-drafted free agent on 08/03/2011 ($1,500,000 USD)
High School: Unknown
College: None
Height/Weight: 6’2″/230 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R

Awards and Accomplishments:

2014 Jays Journal #3 prospect
2014 MLB.com #93 ranked prospect

Stats and Analysis:

Osuna is still a definite work in progress. His peripheral stats are ok but if you look deeper you can see the front of the rotation stuff that has the Blue Jays taking their time with the recently turned 20 year old. After a 1 game shot for the Gulf Coast League Jays he was moved to the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida state league where his ERA was a rather unsightly 6.55. As our astute readers know the ERA was only a 7 game preview due to his coming back from Tommy John surgery. His K/9 was up to 12.3/9 but his walk rate was still a rather high 3.7/9.

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The season was just one of getting back on the mound and trying to harness the prime stuff that had made him a 16 year old International free agent signing. His fastball is high 90’s lively and his 12:6 curveball is coming along great. Given that he has always been one of, if not the youngest pitcher on his team or the league itself he is developing quite nicely.

Outlook and ETA

His BABIP in Florida was a rather unsightly .446 and his WHIP was 1.68. Surely not numbers that most would preclude as high prospect worthy but how good do you expect a 20 year old to truly be at this stage that isn’t Steven Strasburg or Felix Hernandez? Look for him to continue plying his trade in the FSL with a promotion to High A Lansing or even AA New Hampshire. If he can refine his control and learn to pitch better from the stretch this is not out of the realm of possibility.

He only has just under 130 total innings on his resume TOTAL over his 4+ minor league seasons. This is the first season we should truly get to see what Osuna has learned and if he has the baseball smarts to put it in effect in game situations.

He has a true 3/4 arm action and has a tendency to whip his lower arm back right before throwing which could be why he had TJ surgery in the first place. If he can tighten up his stretch and use more of his body while he addresses the plate it could go a long way to transforming him from thrower to pitcher.

If he realizes his potential and harnesses his command you could see him getting some big league innings in the bullpen in late 2016.