Minnesota Twins: Brusdar Graterol has a chance to be special
The Minnesota Twins have a number of starting pitchers currently making noise in the Minor Leagues.
One of those pitchers is the Minnesota Twins number six ranked prospect Brusdar Graterol. The 19-year-old has a tremendous fastball and has potential through the roof. Minnesota’s Minor League system has produced José Berríos, Kyle Gibson, and Fernando Romero in recent seasons.
Graterol has a great chance to follow in their footsteps and could have a similar impact. Romero and Stephen Gonsalves have garnered the most hype amongst the Twins pitching prospects. However, it’s possible that Graterol has the best “stuff” out of all of the pitchers in the Minnesota Twins system.
A look at the numbers
The first thing that stands out about Graterol is his 70-grade fastball. He can throw in the mid-upper 90’s with ease and can touch triple digits. Graterol also throws a slider and curveball that both grade out as average along with a developing changeup. His three average or better pitches will help him advance through the system faster.
Although Graterol is young, almost three years younger than the average age in Single-A, he already shows the ability to get strikeouts. He had 45 strikeouts with a 10.1 K/9 across two levels of Rookie League during the 2017 season. On top of that, Graterol walked only 13 while pitching 40 innings last season.
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He definitely earned his opportunity to open this season playing in Single-A with Cedar Rapids. However, Graterol is doing his best to earn another promotion before the 2018 season is over. He has pitched 41 1/3 innings and has been equally as impressive during this season.
He has 51 strikeouts and only nine walks with a .944 WHIP and an impressive 11.1 K/9. Graterol has also allowed only 10 earned runs and has a spectacular 2.18 ERA.
The Twins already have Berríos, Romero, and possibly Gonsalves ticketed for their rotation as we look toward the next decade. Adding Graterol, and hopefully down the road Tyler Jay, to that group will give Minnesota a formidable starting rotation.
Next: A look at more prospects who are playing well
Graterol is well on his way to making an impact in MLB in the future. The Twins have done a great job with developing their own players and Graterol will be another in a long list of success stories.