Daily Archives: January 17, 2008

Freddy Ballestas ranked Phillies #31

Other Stuff

Baseball America always gives a scouting report online of a team’s 31st prospect, ie, the guy who just failed to make their annual prospect handbook. Ballestas, a RHP, is the Phillies choice this season

Freddy Ballestas, rhp, Phillies

Born: Oct. 4, 1986. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 180. Signed: Venezuela, 2004. Signed by: Sal Agostinelli.

A product of the Phillies’ Venezuelan academy, Ballestas has spent his first three pro seasons in his home country, posting the best numbers of his career in 2007. After working on his mechanics to have better overall balance over the rubber last offseason, he was the top pitcher in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. He led the VSL in ERA (1.26) and strikeouts (98 in 100 innings) while ranking second in wins (9-3). Ballestas’ top pitch is a 90-93 mph fastball that touches 94 and has plus late life. He improved the command of his heater last year, missing more bats as a result. He also has a slurvy breaking ball and good feel for a changeup. Though he wasn’t viewed as much more than a middle reliever when he signed, Ballestas could become more than that if he can hone his secondary pitches. Philadelphia will bring him to the United States in 2008 and he could land an assignment to low Class A if he performs well in spring training.

Sounds promising, especially if he’s bumped to Lakewood to start.

Depth Charts, LHSP

Depth Charts

We’re winding down now, working on the lefties today, and then the relievers tomorrow. I’m going to go back through all of the depth chart posts, get a sense of the responses, and then I’ll update the main depth chart at the top of the page in the next few days, so if you want to weigh in on a different position before it’s tallied, make sure to do so soon. While we’re not as strong from the left side, we’ve still got some promising arms.