Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospects For 2017

4. Ariel Jurado, RHP

Birthdate: 1/30/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: 123 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 6.65 BB%, 20.74 K%

Much like others in the system, Jurado is a good example of a guy with across the board above-average stuff and what can happen when that stuff all ticks up a notch or two.

Jurado has always shown excellent plus command, even drawing reviews as a plus-plus control guy, and he’s kept that up as he’s added velocity and break to his pitches.

Jurado has always shown excellent plus command, even drawing reviews as a plus-plus control guy

While Jurado doesn’t have a fastball that would grade with plus velocity, the sink and movement he gets on the pitch makes it play as a plus fastball, especially with his exceptional location.

His best off speed pitch is his change, which he really works well off the fastball, especially with location, and he’s shown the ability to throw it to hitters from both sides of the plate.

While his breaking pitch had a tendency to be slurvy in the past, he sharpened up the break of the pitch in 2016 considerably, allowing the pitch to tick up to an above-average pitch as well and be a pitch he could use to miss bats in the future.

Jurado doesn’t have the size or stuff of a traditional ace-type pitcher, but he certainly has the maturity on the mound and the type of stuff that should allow him to have a better-than-average chance to reach the majors with success in the rotation.

Jurado will likely start 2017 in the high minors, whether that’s AA or AAA at just 21 years old.

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