MIAMI -- In Spring Training, the Marlins will get a glimpse of their future.

Promising right-hander Yorman Bazardo, added a few weeks back to the 40-man roster, will open in Major League camp with Florida. One of the organization's top prospects, Bazardo is envisioned as a future starter. Most likely his arrival date in the big leagues will be a year or two away. Much of that depends on how the 20-year-old Venezuelan develops. At his current rate, his big league future may not be far off.

 

 

Bazardo is currently pitching in the Venezuelan Winter Leagues for the Aragua Tigers, the same club as Miguel Cabrera.

 

In his first 20 games, all relief appearances, Bazardo is 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA. He's pitched in 35 innings, striking out 25 while walking seven.

 

"He's one of our top prospects," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins vice president of player development and scouting. "He's still young. He throws hard with a hard sinker."

 

The lanky Bazardo is 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds. Keeping weight on is an issue at this time, as he tends to wear down over the course of a long season. At least that is what happened last year for the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads.

 

As his body matures, he is expected to fill out and be able to hold up in the South Florida humidity.

 

"We're trying to keep weight on him," Fleming said. "As the season goes on, he tends to lose weight."

 

Bazardo has a 93-94 mph fastball, and his slider is developing to the point where it's an effective second pitch.

 

In all likelihood, Bazardo will open the season at Double-A Carolina. If he enjoys success there, he could be on the fast track to the Major Leagues. The Marlins aren't hesitant to elevate their Double-A stars. They showed that in the past, bringing up Dontrelle Willis and Cabrera from Carolina in 2003.

 

Last year, catcher/outfielder Josh Willingham also was given a shot on the Marlins, making the leap from Double-A.

 

"We see Yorman as a starter," Fleming said. "He's not really a strikeout guy. He's a contact guy, who puts the ball in play. His slider is the pitch that came on the most [in 2004]. His curveball changed to the hard slider."

 

Bazardo went 5-9 for Jupiter last season. But don't get fooled by the won/loss record. He made 25 starts and had an ERA of 3.27 in 154 1/3 innings. He had two complete games, both shutouts, while adding 95 strikeouts and 30 walks.

 

Also on Aragua, Cabrera is enjoying a strong Winter League season. Working on a limited basis, Cabrera is playing outfield and third base. In his first nine games, the 21-year-old All-Star was batting .406 (13-for-32) with two home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp

If he's as good as Miggy, we have much to look forward to :cool

Working on a limited basis, Cabrera is playing outfield and third base. In his first nine games, the 21-year-old All-Star was batting .406 (13-for-32) with two home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs.

 

 

how limited of a basis is this? 7 RBI's and 2 HR's on a limited basis in 32 AB's?

 

i love this man

Bazardo is a power pitcher, and his lack of strikeouts worries me. It'll be interesting to see how he does at AA next year.

Bazardo is a power pitcher, and his lack of strikeouts worries me.? It'll be interesting to see how he does at AA next year.

649931[/snapback]

 

 

I wouldn't worry too much yet. Strikeouts are one of the last things to develop for pitchers (once they start playing professionally), just like the HR's are the last things to develop with hitters. Look at Cabs... he hit the most home runs in his career his rookie year... and that was only 12. Hope Bazardo can gain some damn weight (he's really skinny for his height) and some more arm strength... maybe that will lift his fastball into the 95-96 MPH range, and make his slider harder. Put him on a weight gainer program.

Bazardo is a power pitcher, and his lack of strikeouts worries me.? It'll be interesting to see how he does at AA next year.

649931[/snapback]

 

 

I wouldn't worry too much yet. Strikeouts are one of the last things to develop for pitchers (once they start playing professionally), just like the HR's are the last things to develop with hitters. Look at Cabs... he hit the most home runs in his career his rookie year... and that was only 12. Hope Bazardo can gain some damn weight (he's really skinny for his height) and some more arm strength... maybe that will lift his fastball into the 95-96 MPH range, and make his slider harder. Put him on a weight gainer program.

650019[/snapback]

He can light up the radar though. In 2003 he hit 97 in the 9th inning of a shut out. I would just expect a power pitcher like him to get more strike outs at A ball. Makes me wonder if he doesn't have a lot of movement on the fastball.

Bazardo is a power pitcher, and his lack of strikeouts worries me.? It'll be interesting to see how he does at AA next year.

649931[/snapback]

 

 

I wouldn't worry too much yet. Strikeouts are one of the last things to develop for pitchers (once they start playing professionally), just like the HR's are the last things to develop with hitters. Look at Cabs... he hit the most home runs in his career his rookie year... and that was only 12. Hope Bazardo can gain some damn weight (he's really skinny for his height) and some more arm strength... maybe that will lift his fastball into the 95-96 MPH range, and make his slider harder. Put him on a weight gainer program.

650019[/snapback]

He can light up the radar though. In 2003 he hit 97 in the 9th inning of a shut out. I would just expect a power pitcher like him to get more strike outs at A ball. Makes me wonder if he doesn't have a lot of movement on the fastball.

650092[/snapback]

 

That, or maybe he doesn't have good location... right down the middle or around the middle of the plate. It could be that his fastball is so good that the hitters can only hit it weakly, but his location isn't good enough to strike them out. He's still very young, though, so I think we could see his strikeout ratio go up once he matures a bit and learns how to gain command of his pitches. Miggy went from 9 hrs in 2002 (at age 19), to 22 in 2003 (12 for the Marlins and 10 for Carolina at age 20), to 33 last year (at age 21). You could see a similar trend for Bazardo... he's only 20, so maybe next year he will have a breakout season and start striking out more batters.