Johnny Cueto Scouting Report
Standing at a mere 5-foot-10, Johnny Cueto doesn’t look like a big time prospect. But the 21 year old Cincinatti Reds pitching prospect is a big time prospect and more. Through his first three professional seasons, Cueto has elevated his status to one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues.
Cueto spent his first season of professional baseball in the Gulf Coast League throwing 43 unremarkable innings before being promoted to the Florida State League for just six innings. His second professional season, 2006, was split between the Low-A, Midwest League and the High-A, Florida State League. He threw a combined 138 innings, striking out 144 and walking 38. This year he has thrown at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A
The strength of Cueto’s arsenal is his ability to generate movement and locate his pitches. He throws fairly hard and with relative ease. Cueto attacks and challenges hitters from a three-quarters arm slot. He commands his pitches well on both halves of the plate and works well throughout the zone.
Cueto’s best pitch is his slider. With sharp break and quick action, Cueto has one of the best sliders in the minor leagues.
His fastball sits in the low 90s but he can reach the mid 90s from time to time. With decent movement, this pitch seems nearly unhittable when the slider is working for him.
He added a changeup to his aresenal prior to the 2006 season which really transformed him into the pitcher he is today. Primarily relying on the fastball, changeup and slider, Cueto has become a dominant pitcher with exciting, electric stuff and the stats to back it up.
For Johnny Cueto, his rise up the prospect ranks has been a quick one. He combines good stuff with a good mentality and a great approach to pitching. He works well throughout the zone. Cueto has been an effective pitcher over the last two seasons between Low-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. His minor league strikeout to walk ratio is 4.35:1 and he has allowed less than one hit per inning.
Cueto projects to be a #2/#3 starter. He will ultimately rely on good control to succeed. Questions remain about his durability because of his height. He threw 158 innings this season but began to wear down over his last 35 2/3 innings allowing 18 runs and 41 hits. Though he did strike out 45 over that time, the late season burnout is never a good thing. Ultimately, it shouldn’t be a concern for Cueto but don’t expect 200 innings out of him.
Cueto will get a shot to make the Reds out of Spring Training next year but with just 22 Triple-A innings under his belt, the Reds might elect to start him in Triple-A next year.
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