Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto – RHP Reds – Signed as an 18-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2004, Cueto has impressed during each season since debuting in professional ball. The right-hander made his debut with the Gulf Coast Red Sox in 2005 and acquitted himself nicely, showing good command and an above average strikeout rate while moving between the rotation and the bullpen. A late season promotion to High-A Sarasota was meant to challenge Cueto, and he gave up two runs in six innings over two appearances after the move.
Moved back to Single-A Dayton to start the 2006 campaign, Cueto started striking out more batters and his ERA headed south as a result. His strikeout rate jumped from 8.08 K/9 the previous season to 9.67 for Dayton, all while still showing an excellent want rate. The result was a 2.59 ERA and more than five strikeouts per every walk (82/15 K/BB). A mid-season promotion back to Sarasota ensued, and Cueto continued looking like a very intriguing prospect. Opposing batters still weren't getting to him very often and his strikeout rate remained near one per inning. That his walk rate almost doubled was of concern, but it was an encouraging set of results.
Back at Sarasota to start this season, Cueto continued to show excellent results. In 78 1/3 innings over 14 starts before being promoted, the right-hander had a 3.33 ERA to go with a 72/21 K/BB ratio and just three homers allowed. Cueto had struggled with the long ball at times in previous seasons, but he's worked hard to limit mistakes up in the zone and it appeared to be paying off. That Sarasota is a pitcher's park certainly helped, but Double-A Chattanooga would prove a better test. In three starts since being promoted to the Southern League, Cueto has given up just one run while striking out 27 batters in 19 innings of work. He also had the opportunity to make a fill-in start for Triple-A Louisville, giving up two runs in five innings against a mediocre Charlotte lineup.
Cueto's overall numbers are impressive, but his recent streak of starts better highlights just how well he's pitching. Since the start of May, Cueto has an 80/10 K/BB and a 2.36 ERA while going at least six innings in 9-of-13 starts. Even more importantly, Cueto's recent streak is fully backed by his scouting report. The right-hander has excellent command of a low-to-mid-90s heater that can touch 96-97. He continues to make progress with his slider, and it's now a plus pitch. Former Reds starter Mario Soto taught Cueto a changeup before the 2006 campaign, and he continues to refine that pitch as well. It could be a third plus pitch in time, giving Cueto considerable potential.
The biggest negative with Cueto is his size, as he's listed at just 5'11" tall. That he's put on some weight prior to the season should help his durability and I'm typically not as worried about diminutive pitchers as most, so it's not something that knocks Cueto's prospect status down much. Still just 21-years-old, Cueto will likely finish the season out at Double-A. A late season promotion to Triple-A could happen if he keeps dominating, but it's more likely he'll see Louisville next spring. That means a mid-season promotion to the majors next season is a real possibility. Cueto doesn't have the elite fastball or breaking pitch to consider him a future ace, but both pitches grade out as above average and that his command is excellent means he could be a No. 2 starter.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/fea...&article=28515
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
another great young pitcher...things are really looking good for a change down on the farm
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
What pitches does Johnny C. throw?
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
degenerate10
What pitches does Johnny C. throw?
It's in the article. A fastball that sits 92-95 and can touch 96-97, a plus-slider, and a changeup that is becoming a plus-pitch.
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
would like to see him live...
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Seems like that entire article was written with the help of thebaseballcube who still doesnt know that the GCL Reds are not the GCL Red Sox. Cueto never pitched for the GCL Red Sox. He pitched for the GCL Reds, but thebaseballcube.com doesn't seem to know the difference. Johnny also didn't recieve a late promotion in his first season, he was a fill in when the Sarasota Reds needed one due to an injury and since the two teams share teh same complex they can do it with ease. It happens all the time.
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
His strikeout rate jumped from 8.08 K/9 the previous season to 9.67 for Dayton, all while still showing an excellent want rate.
You love to see a good want rate out of a pitcher Cueto's age.
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
superdude, maybe you can help me out here. What would be a good want rate for a pitcher that is 21?
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
I like this comment "The right-hander has excellent command of a low-to-mid-90s heater that can touch 96-97." Then they come back with this doosey "Cueto doesn't have the elite fastball"....WHAT!!!
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
icehole3
I like this comment "The right-hander has excellent command of a low-to-mid-90s heater that can touch 96-97." Then they come back with this doosey "Cueto doesn't have the elite fastball"....WHAT!!!
Not to defend a second rate website that clearly has no editor, but 96 or 97 doesn't necessarily equate to elite if its a non-moving fastball.
Hitters will drive 97 MPH fastballs into the bleachers, but 97 MPH fastballs that rise or sink or cut....those are elite.
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dougdirt
superdude, maybe you can help me out here. What would be a good want rate for a pitcher that is 21?
OK. Maybe I'm denser than I thought, but when I read that line in the article pasted above, I was certain "want rate" was a typo as I'd never heard of this before. Is "want rate" really a stat, and if so, what the heck does it mean?
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
I like this comment "The right-hander has excellent command of a low-to-mid-90s heater that can touch 96-97." Then they come back with this doosey "Cueto doesn't have the elite fastball"....WHAT!!!
Cueto's really short, so it may have something to do with a lack of downward plane. That's still heat though no matter where it's coming from.
Quote:
Is "want rate" really a stat, and if so, what the heck does it mean?
Oh yea. A lot of teams are really getting into want rate. It's a formula based on many complex and scientific variables that will give you a ballpark figure of how much a player actually wants to reach his potential. It's way over our heads. ;)
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Joseph
Not to defend a second rate website that clearly has no editor, but 96 or 97 doesn't necessarily equate to elite if its a non-moving fastball.
Hitters will drive 97 MPH fastballs into the bleachers, but 97 MPH fastballs that rise or sink or cut....those are elite.
To some extent yes. A lot of it depends on both location and what his fastball sits at. If you are consistantly throwing and locating 92-93 MPH fastballs and dial up a 96 MPH fastball you are going to blow it by people. The problem is when you sit on a certain MPH and never come off it, a la Todd Coffey.
Re: Rotoworld on Johnny Cueto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Superdude
Cueto's really short, so it may have something to do with a lack of downward plane. That's still heat though no matter where it's coming from.
Oh yea. A lot of teams are really getting into want rate. It's a formula based on many complex and scientific variables that will give you a ballpark figure of how much a player actually wants to reach his potential. It's way over our heads. ;)
http://icanhascheezburger.files.word...o-not-want.jpg
