Houston Astros Top Ten Prospects For 2017
3. David Paulino, RHP
Birthdate: 2/6/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, AA, AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: 90 IP, 2.00 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 5.28 BB%, 29.44 K% (minor league stats only)
Paulino came into the 2015 season having just missed all of the 2014 season to Tommy John surgery after the Astros astutely got him in the trade for Jose Veras from the Detroit Tigers.
He got back every bit of his velocity in 2015 and showed excellent command right away after taking nearly 18 months off with the surgery and recovery time after having surgery in mid-season 2013. That increased control made many change their idea about Paulino having a limited future as a reliever.
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After never seeing above rookie ball before his surgery, Paulino opened the 2016 season in AA. The Astros handed Paulino a suspension for undisclosed team reasons in June that cost him valuable innings. Overall, if you add in his major league time, Paulino still only accumulated 97 innings in 2016, so his innings will need to be managed again in 2017.
Paulino has a fastball with elite velocity, touching near triple digits and sitting from 92-95 in games I watched in the minors. He gets excellent plane on the pitch from his 6’7 height, working low in the zone with all of his pitches.
His best pitch is very possibly his curve that has excellent depth and actually can have two separate looks – one a more looping curve, and a second a more power curve with less depth but more velocity. He was mistakenly labeled as having a slider, but he has reported that it is simply a different arm speed on his curve.
With his change playing up with his increased control and command, Paulino has essentially a four pitch mix with two plus pitches to lead the arsenal, which would quickly project him as a front line starter type. If he does end up in the bullpen, he’d be among the elite in the game.
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