Air Norv
08-09-2009, 01:56 PM
In the wake of the Peavy trade, Mat Latos has been a huge bright spot in the bull pen. Only being 21, some think he could develop into an excellent ace.
“His stuff is very similar to (Tim) Lincecum,” said Padres catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, formerly a teammate of the 2008 Cy Young Award winner. “Very good stuff.”
What sets Latos apart from most young pitchers, Black said, is that he has three out pitches.
“A lot of pitchers rely on the called strike for the (strikeout),” Black said. “But with him, there's a strikeout in all three pitches. The fastball has enough life on it. The breaking ball has enough depth on it. And the changeup has enough variance in velocity.”
Two weeks ago in Washington, Padres CEO Jeff Moorad encountered former client Adam Dunn following Latos' first major-league victory, a 6-2 win over the Nationals.
“He said, 'Hey, Jeff, that kid's the best young pitcher I've seen in years,' ” Moorad recalled. “I said, 'Is that right?' He said, 'Unbelievable. Delivery right over the top, painted both sides at 96-98 (miles per hour) all night long. I've never seen anything like that, in a young pitcher especially.'”
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/44/440650.jpg
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/08/padres-sullivan-latos-look-potential-ace25847/?padres
“His stuff is very similar to (Tim) Lincecum,” said Padres catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, formerly a teammate of the 2008 Cy Young Award winner. “Very good stuff.”
What sets Latos apart from most young pitchers, Black said, is that he has three out pitches.
“A lot of pitchers rely on the called strike for the (strikeout),” Black said. “But with him, there's a strikeout in all three pitches. The fastball has enough life on it. The breaking ball has enough depth on it. And the changeup has enough variance in velocity.”
Two weeks ago in Washington, Padres CEO Jeff Moorad encountered former client Adam Dunn following Latos' first major-league victory, a 6-2 win over the Nationals.
“He said, 'Hey, Jeff, that kid's the best young pitcher I've seen in years,' ” Moorad recalled. “I said, 'Is that right?' He said, 'Unbelievable. Delivery right over the top, painted both sides at 96-98 (miles per hour) all night long. I've never seen anything like that, in a young pitcher especially.'”
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/44/440650.jpg
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/08/padres-sullivan-latos-look-potential-ace25847/?padres