Burlington Bees: Pitching Report

Alrighty, let's dive right in...

Juan Aberu, Reliever, RHP, 6'0 170 lbs

Age: 23

Background: Signed as an International Free Agent during the Baird regime in 2003...Was a starter in his first year while he posted Odalis Perez-like numbers...Converted to a reliever in 2006 when he posted a 5.00+ ERA in Idaho Falls...Struggles with his control, and walked over a batter an inning on average...However, he gets a lot of K's and doesn't give up a lot of hits.

This year: 3 IP, 12.00 ERA, 5 K's to 1 BB...Simply gave up too many hits in his only game, but his K:BB is promising even though it's an understatement to call it a small sample size.

Henry Arias, Reliever, RHP, 6'3 201 lbs

Age: 23

Background: Signed as an International Free Agent by Baird in 2003...Has been a starter his last two years in the Arizona League and Burlington...Looked promising in 2006 when he posted a 3.57 ERA with good K numbers and low hit numbers, but struggled with command...Started last year in Burlington, but posted a 6.00 ERA as his K numbers plummeted and hits numbers skyrocketed...Converted to a reliever pitcher later that year I'm assuming

This year: 2-0, 5.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 2 K's to 2 BB's...Solid start for Arias, if he limits the hit numbers and gets more strikeouts he could be at least solid organizational filler

Joe Augustine, Starter/Reliever, RHP, 6'2 220 lbs

Age: 23

Background: Signed as an undrafted free agent...Pitcher Division III baseball...Was great in rookie-league Burlington last year, posting a 2.36 ERA with solid perphials..Might be a starter or a reliever as he has been both to start this season out, and bounced back and forth last year

This year: 1-0, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 9 K's to 4 BB's...Started out as a reliever this year and got rocked, but came back as a starter and had a solid outing...He's simply giving up too many hits, but is also getting crushed by lefties...He's given up all his runs against lefties...ouch

Anthony Bradley, Reliever, LHP, 6'3 207 lbs

Age: 22

Background: Signed as an undrafted FA last year...Dominated last year in rookie-level Burlington where he was named Pitcher of the Year...Made a relief appearence in AAA Omaha last year...His pitcher coach in college was former major leaguer, Tony Fossas...Fairly promising and it should be interesting to see what he does in more advanced leagues

This year: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 IP, 6 K's to 2 BB's...Great start for Bradley...not giving up a lot of hits and is keeping the ball on the ground...However, if he wants to make it in the higher levels he needs to K more.

Alexander Caldera, Starter, RHP, 6'3 200 lbs

Age: 22

Background: Selected in the 13th round in the 2007 draft...Had an overall outstanding season last year in rookie-level Burlington with a 3.40 ERA and great perphials...Had a two-hitter complete game last year...Started and also saved a couple of games last year...Fairly promising with four quality pitches and great control.

This year: 0-1, 1.74 ERA, 10.1 IP, 12 K's to 1 BB...Simply an outstanding start for Caldera...Had a 1-hitter last game with 8 K's in 5.0 IP...It should be interesting to see if he can replicate near this success throughout the season and in higher levels.

Edward Cegarra, Starter/Reliever, RHP, 5'11 175

Age: 19

Background: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2005...Flat out Dominated the Dominican League in 2006...Had the injury bug last year and struggled a bit as a result..He's got a low-90's FB with a potential plus pitcher with his slider...Should be an interesting year for Cegarra as he could really improve his stock...However, he's going to have to strikeout more batters as he only had 37 K's in 58 IP last year

This year: 10.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 8 K's to 1 BB...Great start for Cegarra, I think if KC put him at reliever and  let him stay there, his K numbers would go up...Not giving a lot of hits and keeping the ball on the ground.

Daniel Gutierrez, Starter, RHP, 6'1 180

Age: 21

Background: 33rd round selection in the 2005 in draft...Signed as a draft-and-follow...Failed miserably in Idaho Falls with a 6.57 ERA in 2006...Suspended in 2007 along with prospect Jason Taylor and others at the beginning... Returned in time to show some promise with the Burlington Bees...Has a fastball that runs in the low-90s and a potentially plus curve...His development as a starter might depend on his change-up, which at this point is far behind his other pitches

This year: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 13 K's to 3 BB's...Fantastic start for Gutierrez and is really building upon the dominance that he flashed last year...He might not be on my report anymore, because Wilmington might be in his future

Yensi Lopez, Reliever, RHP 6'0 160 lbs

Age: 22

Background: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2003..Played in the Arizona League in 2006 and posted average number with a 4.99 ERA and sub-par perphials...In 2007, he played on the rookie-level Burlington team, and lowered his ERA to 3.58 and nearly doubled his strikeout numbers.

This year: 3.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4 K's to 3 BB's...Pretty average start for a reliever, and is pretty unrevealing...Stay tuned.

Matthew Mitchell, Starter, RHP, 6'2 200 lbs

Age: 19

Background: The Royals' 14th round pick in 2007 and even signed over-slot!  He was sent to Arizona where he simply dominated with great K numbers and a 1.80 ERA...High-80's to Low-90's FB with a plus palmball changeup and a developing curveball...Struggled with keeping the ball down in the zone early in the season, but improved as the season progressed...This should be an interesting year for him because Arizona really wasn't a challenge...Probably the best pitching prospect  on the team right now.

This Year: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP, 5 K's to 0 BB's...Great start for Mitchell but his problems with keeping the ball down in the zone is looking like it is still around, but nonetheless, a promising start

Eduardo Paulino, Starter/Reliever, RHP, 5'11 176 lbs

Age: 22

Background: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2006...Premiered here in the States in 2007 on the rookie-level Burlington team...He had an average season with Burlington with a 4.86 ERA, but with promising perphials...Needs to up his K's

This year: 0-2, 7.71 ERA, 7.0 IP, 8 K's to 3 BB's...Flat out horrible start for Paulino as he's giving up way to many hits.

Zach Peterson, Starter, RHP, 6'1 165 lbs

Age: 23

Background: Signed as an undrafted FA in 2007...Had a great year at Idaho Falls posting nearly 10 K's per 9 innings and a 2.86 ERA...He also kept the hits and walks down...Probably will be a reliever when the season gets into full swing.

This year: 0-1, 24.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 3 K's to 1 BB...Pretty bad start for Peterson, but nothing to go crazy over given the small sample size...Will like be a reliever later this season even though he began the season with a start.

Ben Swaggerty, Reliever, LHP, 6'1 185 lbs

Age:25

Background: Signed as a undrafted free agent in 2007...Made his debut in Idaho Falls..Posted a great performance with a 3.03 ERA with 13 K's per 9 innings and low hits and walks...Did not allow a run in his last 11 appearences.

This year: 0-0, 5.79 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 K's to 4 BB's...Although Ben clearly didn't carry his momentum into this new season, but it's not a horrible start by any means, plus I wouldn't put much stock in the stats anyway given he's only pitched 4.2 innings

Top Performers:

Anthony Bradley

Alexander Caldera

Edward Cegarra

Matthew Mitchell

Daniel Gutierrez

There you have it...I wouldn't put too much stock in the stats themselves, I just wanted the opportunity to introduce the prospects before we got into the full swing of things.  Any criticisms? Any other stats you would like included on the report?