Forecasting New Hampshire Fisher Cats Starting Rotation

Mandatory Credit: SportsLogos.net (http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/zihqrzo9eghdglv2cu101djgg/New_Hampshire_Fisher_Cats/2011/Cap_Logo)

LHP Starters

Jayson Aquino LHP

Jayson acquired from the Colorado Rockies in February in exchange for LHP Tyler Ybarra. Once ranked in the Rockies Top 20 Prospects, Aquino throws a 4-seam fastball, change, curve, and a sinker. His FB sits in the low 90’s and his curve is in the high 70’s. Last year, Aquino’s K/9 dropped and his BB/9 increased…..like a lot, but was able to keep up a decent ground ball rate with 1.60 GO/AO. His BB% went from 3.6% in 2012 up to 7.1% in 2014 while striking out 17.5%. He was hit hard at High-A ball and hit often (10.7 H/9).  2015 will go a long way in determining if Aquino will be a future starter or a future reliever.

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Matt Boyd LHP
Boyd is not a stranger to NH, starting 10 games there in 2014. After dominating High-A ball Boyd was called up to NH and didn’t find the same success despite maintaining a similar K/9 and BB/9 as he did in Dunedin. His FIP and BABIP both increased by more than .100 points. Balls that weren’t hit hard in High-A were mashed in Double-A, which is never a good thing for a fly ball pitcher. His H/9 almost doubled, as did his HR/9. Just like Jayson, 2015 will go along way in determining if Boyd’s road to the majors runs through the bullpen.