8/14/14

MMs Top 25: #17 RHSP Marcos Molina




#17 RHSP Marcos Molina (LR: N/A)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 188 lb
Age: 19
Acquired: 2012 International Signing, Dominican Republic

2014: (SS-A) 5-2, 1.78 ERA, 55.2 IP, 9.9 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 0.898 WHIP
2013: (R) 4-3, 4.39 ERA, 53.1 IP, 7.3 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 1.312 WHIP

2012: (DSL) 5-2, 3.58 ERA, 55.1 IP, 6.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.120 WHIP

    In reality Molina and Rosario should be both tied for this 17th spot. Both were international signings by Sandy Alderson in 2012 and both of them are having breakout seasons in 2014. Molina has been especially good with the Brooklyn Cyclones leading the league in K's and WHIP while holding the #2 spot for ERA.

     Molina was placed on the map last year by Baseball America who listed him as #10 on their list due to his athleticism and physical projectability. While many believed Mr. Jason Parks ranking was quite pre-mature considering his lackluster stats in the Gulf Coast and Dominican Summer Leagues, the overall scouting report caught some eyes.

     Molina's fastball ranges between 92-94 MPH with a max of 96 and, as with many of the Mets recent SP prospects, he has a plus change-up that is well beyond his years. Molina's also has 2 breaking balls currently; One is a curveball that has sloppy slurve like movement to it currently. He'll have to tighten up the spin on it or else it'll end up being scrapped when he reaches higher minor league levels. The other breaking pitch is a slider that has shown to the be the better of the two. He throws it hard, reaching 86-87 mph on the radar gun, with excellent two plane movement much like Matt Harvey's slide piece.

     Currently, Molina has a max effort delivery which is better suited to the bullpen. The amount of energy he expends disallows him the ability to hold his velocity deep into games. Reports have him starting games at 95/96mph but down to 91/92 by the 3rd inning on most nights. He also doesn't repeat his arm speed between his fastball and his breaking pitches. Sometimes he will slow his arm speed down which will tip off the breaking pitch to hitters.

     Just like with Rosario, Molina is still very young and not without his major flaws which is what makes him a high risk, high reward prospect. While conquering the NY-Penn League is an important 1st step, we have learn from countless occasions that even Brooklyn stats need to be taken with a grain of salt. Both Molina and Rosario will have chances to shoot up the list rapidly as they slowly progress through the lower minors. We very well could be looking at the next #1 and #2 prospects in the system by the end of next year.

Ceiling: Dominating #2 MLB SP
Floor: Flames out due to an arm injury from the max effort delivery 

6 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Nice, Chris.

We always see how young guys tend to add some velocity as they age. Hopefully, he will do so, so that he can achieve the same velocity as currently but without max effort. He certainly has pitched well this year.

Anonymous said...

THE HAIR....THAT GLORIOUS HAIR!

MOAR HAIR = MOAR TALENT

just look at DeGrom and Mejia

Mack Ade said...

God, I've seen so many of these go through Brooklyn...

we'll see...

Anonymous said...

@Mack

Exactly!

That's why they are ranked in the mid teens and not in the Top 10's as others have done.

Anonymous said...

Ridiculous. Your logic is very flawed.

Anonymous said...

Jason Parks wrote that for Baseball Prospectus