Randall Delgado

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2012
  Delgado was an unsung hero in Atlanta's unsuccessful playoff drive. After making a pair of emergency starts early in the year, he allowed a total of seven earned runs in five September starts. Unheralded when he signed at age 16 out of Panama, he has progressed faster than expected because his maturity and coachability allow him to make quick adjustments. Delgado maintain a 92-94 mph fastball but struggles at times to command the pitch. His best offering is a plus curveball with sharp downward bite, and he also has a solid changeup. He has a smooth, quick delivery and does a good job of using the same arm speed with all of his pitches. Delgado tends to lose some deception when his arm action gets long. Despite his strong frame, he doesn't have an abundance of athleticism and doesn't handle the bat well, particularly in terms of bunting. The Braves believe Delgado is ready to join the back of their rotation to open the 2012 season, though spending some more time in Triple-A to hone his fastball command could be beneficial as well. He profiles as an eventual No. 3 starter with a ceiling of a No. 2.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2011
  Signed as an unheralded 16-year-old from Panama, Delgado has moved rapidly due to his maturity and repertoire. He led the Carolina League in strikeouts (120) last year despite getting promoted in mid-July, and he topped the system with 162 whiffs overall. He's similar to Julio Teheran in that he's a slender fireballer who reached Double-A well ahead of schedule. Delgado pounds the strike zone and challenges hitters. His fastball resides at 92-96 mph, and he mixes it well with a plus curveball and solid changeup. His curve has good downward bite, and his changeup shows impressive deception. Delgado struggled with his control in 2009 until altering his mechanics and mindset in July, leading to an impressive second half. When he got to Mississippi last summer, he had some problems leaving pitches thigh-high. He again adapted, improving his ability to throw his fastball down in the zone and on both sides of the plate. If not for Teheran's presence, Delgado would receive more hype. By making significant adjustments the past two seasons, he has shown he could pitch in the front half of a major league rotation. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he'll open 2011 in Double-A with the chance to advance quickly to Triple-A if he continues his rapid progress.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #7 prospect in 2010
  Delgado was advanced enough for his age for the Braves to skip him to the Rookie-level Appalachian League (over the Gulf Coast League) in his first season in the U.S. He had a tale of two seasons in his introduction to full-season ball. He never hung his head while going 1-8, 5.45 in his first 16 starts at Rome. After improving his control, he dominated at times and finished second in the system with 141 strikeouts in 124 innings. Delgado throws on a sharp, downhill plane that helps produce electric stuff and allows him to overpower hitters with all three of his pitches at times. His explosive fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 96 mph, and his projectable frame could get stronger, giving him more velocity. His curveball and changeup improved once he made progress with his control. While Delgado threw more strikes in the second half of 2009, he still needs to upgrade his ability to command his pitches. He works up in the strike zone too often. His curve and changeup are potential plus pitches but still require more consistency. One of the youngest pitchers on a prospect-laden roster last season, Delgado made the greatest strides of any of Rome's pitchers. He'll open the 2010 season as a 20-year-old starter in high Class A and could move quickly if he continues to refine his command.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2009
  The Braves broke from their traditional pattern when they assigned Delgado to Danville instead of the Gulf Coast League in his first season in the United States in 2008. He continued his smooth progression since signing as a 16-year-old out of Panama, dominating in extended spring training and pitching well in the Appalachian League. The addition of strength and maturity to his tall, projectable frame has resulted in an increase in velocity over the past year. His fastball has improved from 89-91 mph to 90-93, topping out at 94. He shows a good feel for his changeup and curveball, both of which show above-average promise. He's still working on his secondary offerings and his control and command. He ranked second in the Appy League in both strikeouts (81 in 69 innings) and walks (30) last season. Delgado gets excellent leverage in his easy, repeatable delivery, throwing on a sharp downhill plane from a high three-quarters slot. He also hides the ball well, creating deception. Though still somewhat raw, Delgado quietly is developing into one of the premier pitching prospects in the system. He'll pitch in the low Class A Rome rotation in 2009.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #7 prospect in 2011
  The Braves find more prospects in Panama than anyone, and Delgado could be their greatest success story. He was Atlanta's most effective big league starter down the stretch, posting a 2.52 ERA in five September starts. Delgado is a good athlete with clean mechanics. He uses the same arm speed on all of his pitches, making it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball. His fastball sits at 92-93 mph and tops out at 97, his curveball gives him a second plus pitch and his changeup is a solid though inconsistent third offering. While Delgado has three quality pitches, he hasn't dominated as much as his stuff might suggest. His fastball command still needs improvement if he's to become a mid-rotation starter. He mixes his pitches well, but some scouts would like him use his fastball more.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #6 prospect in 2010
  Delgado is similar to Teheran, in that he's a slender fireballer with potential plus secondary pitches who earned a trip to Double-A ahead of schedule. Though he left Myrtle Beach in mid-July, he led the CL in strikeouts (120) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.2). "Delgado has very good stuff, maybe not quite the same command as Teheran, but he's just a bit behind," Lynchburg manager Pat Kelly said. "He throws around 94 and has a pretty good feel for his breaking pitch. That's potentially a plus pitch for him." Delgado's fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. He has good downward bite on his curveball and deception with his changeup. He has improved his command and consistency, though he battled his control at times in Double-A.
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  Ranked National League #6 prospect in 2008
  That the Braves skipped Delgado over the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League this summer--where the organization's teenage arms usually spend their first summers--speaks to how highly they regard the 18-year-old Panamanian. He sat at 89-91 mph last season in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, but when his velocity crept to 92-94 in extended spring training, Atlanta made the decision to assign him to Danville. Delgado easily handled the jump, ranking second in the league in strikeouts (81 in 69 innings) and ninth in ERA (3.13). At 6-foot-3 and with an easy throwing motion, Delgado generates downward plane from his high three-quarters arm slot. He stays over the rubber well, allowing him to leverage the ball down in the zone. He flashes an above-average curveball at times, but it's inconsistent, as is his changeup. He'll also need to tighten his overall command as he moves up, as his 30 walks were second-most in the league.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #46 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #35 prospect in 2011

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background:: Delgado was an unsung hero in Atlanta's unsuccessful playoff drive. After making a pair of emergency starts early in the year, he allowed a total of seven earned runs in five September starts. Unheralded when he signed at age 16 out of Panama, he has progressed faster than expected because his maturity and coachability allow him to make quick adjustments. Scouting Report: Delgado maintain a 92-94 mph fastball but struggles at times to command the pitch. His best offering is a plus curveball with sharp downward bite, and he also has a solid changeup. He has a smooth, quick delivery and does a good job of using the same arm speed with all of his pitches. Delgado tends to lose some deception when his arm action gets long. Despite his strong frame, he doesn't have an abundance of athleticism and doesn't handle the bat well, particularly in terms of bunting. The Future: The Braves believe Delgado is ready to join the back of their rotation to open the 2012 season, though spending some more time in Triple-A to hone his fastball command could be beneficial as well. He profiles as an eventual No. 3 starter with a ceiling of a No. 2.