Front Page: Brusdar Graterol Hits 103+ MPH, Is Promoted To AAA

[John Bonnes]

In his last appearance as a AA-Pensacola Blue Wahoo, Twins #3 prospect Brusdar Graterol hit 103.8 MPH on a pitch and then was promoted to AAA-Rochester along with fellow fireballer Jorge Alcala. The move aligns with recent news that Graterol could be promotedto the Twins bullpen for their postseason run.The 20-year-old Graterol started the year as a starting pitcher and posted a 1.89 ERA with 46K in 47.2 IP, but suffered from a shoulder impingement condition in early June, and was shut down until late-July. Since his return to Pensacola, he’s been used as a reliever, throwing five innings, holding opponents to a 0.71 ERA, though he’s only struck out four batters. His outing yesterday versus Chattanooga was when he threw the 103.8 MPH pitch.

 

 

He is being joined at Rochester by Jorge Alcala. Like Graterol, Alcala also has a triple-digit fastball and started the year at AA-Pensacola as a starting pitcher, but he has posted a 5.87 ERA. He also was recently moved into a relief role and has posted a 1.69 ERA, and held opponents to a .179 batting average and struck out seven in 10.2 IP.

 

The move to Rochester gives both time to build on their move to the bullpen, while facing a higher level of competition and using the more homer-friendly major league baseball, which AAA adopted this year. Both could help the Twins bullpen for the stretch run and help the team in the playoffs. Rosters expand on September 1st, and both are eligible for the postseason roster.

 

Both would also likely shatter the previous records for “fastest pitch ever thrown by a Twins pitcher.” The top five are:

 

Juan Morillo 100.3

Trevor May 99.8

Ryan Pressly 99.0

JT Chargois 98.9

Fernando Romeo 98.7

 

 

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[Dave The Dastardly]

Where does the Portly Panamanian, aka "Senior Smoke" rank?

[Parker Hageman]

 

Where does the Portly Panamanian, aka "Senior Smoke" rank?

 

In the movie Fastball, Wade Boggs said that he faced Juan Berenguer on a day when he hit 101.5 on a radar gun. 

 

[PDX Twin]

Should I remember someone named Juan Morillo?

[SwainZag]

 

Should I remember someone named Juan Morillo?

 

He threw 2 innings in 2009 and did not do well.

[darin617]

 

Should I remember someone named Juan Morillo?

lol. Just because a guy throws heat doesn't make him a stud. Need to have control and at least 2 other pitches to be successful.

[Eris]

“Rosters expand on September 1st, and both are eligible for the postseason roster.”

 

The requirement is that both would need to be on the 40 man roster by August 31 to be eligible for the postseason roster. Currently neither are on the 40 man roster.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Can anyone comment on the other radar gun readings from this game? Those stadium ones aren't always the most accurate.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Can anyone comment on the other radar gun readings from this game? Those stadium ones aren't always the most accurate.

 

The Twins installed the Trackman system in all of their minor league facilities several years ago. That's where they get their velocity (and everything else) readings. I don't know if the scoreboards are necessarily linked to that. That said, the board said 103 and the Blue Wahoos tweet said "Actually 103.8" which is what the trackman system would have told them.

[Tom Froemming]

Here's what that looked like, if you were curious.

[drock2190]

Graterol velocity is nice and all but apparently it doesn't feel like 100+ because of his short arm action according to scouts. Makes me wonder how it will play further up the ladder.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Holy crap.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Twins installed the Trackman system in all of their minor league facilities several years ago. That's where they get their velocity (and everything else) readings. I don't know if the scoreboards are necessarily linked to that. That said, the board said 103 and the Blue Wahoos tweet said "Actually 103.8" which is what the trackman system would have told them.

I assume most baseball radar guns would produce a decimal reading, but the scoreboard could simply drop the decimal part. So having a 103.8 value doesn't necessarily imply it was from Trackman.

 

If they connected the new Trackman system to the stadium scoreboard, should they have programmed it to round 103.8 up to 104?

 

Not trying to be conspiratorial, just curious about the setup. Obviously he is throwing hard, no one disputes that!

[Doug Y]

Players are definitely thrower harder in the last 15 years, because of better training techniques and an emphasis on velocity, but radar gun readings from 15 years ago can't be compared to today. 

 

There used to be fast radar guns, that would take the highest velocity and slow radar guns that would measure the slowest speed or the speed "over the plate," and then radar guns that would avg those 2 speeds. Teams, scouts, and stadiums could all be using different radar guns. A player might throw 90 at the Metrodome, and 95 in Fenway.

 

Now the trackman and statcats data is all the "fast gun" speeds. The fastest speed of the pitch. This makes it seem like everyone is throwing harder today compared to past players.

[travkro]

Does anyone else wonder why Graterol's K/9 isn't higher with his velocity and his slider? 

[laloesch]

 

In his last appearance as a AA-Pensacola Blue Wahoo, Twins #3 prospect Brusdar Graterol hit 103.8 MPH on a pitch and then was promoted to AAA-Rochester along with fellow fireballer Jorge Alcala. The move aligns with recent news that Graterol could be promotedto the Twins bullpen for their postseason run.The 20-year-old Graterol started the year as a starting pitcher and posted a 1.89 ERA with 46K in 47.2 IP, but suffered from a shoulder impingement condition in early June, and was shut down until late-July. Since his return to Pensacola, he’s been used as a reliever, throwing five innings, holding opponents to a 0.71 ERA, though he’s only struck out four batters. His outing yesterday versus Chattanooga was when he threw the 103.8 MPH pitch.
 

Click here to view the article

 

 

Wow!

[jkcarew]

 

Does anyone else wonder why Graterol's K/9 isn't higher with his velocity and his slider? 

Really good question, right? Has to be lack of command of one or both. I guess we'll find out...or hopefully not !

[howieramone2]

If Graterol comes up to see the Big City and to meet his future teammates, I have no problem with that. I can see giving him throw away innings. Anything more than that, we have others more ready to perform in a playoff situation.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2019 by howieramone2

[Dantes929]

 

Really good question, right? Has to be lack of command of one or both. I guess we'll find out...or hopefully not !

His walk rate in the minors has been a very respectable 2.7.    I care more about run prevention and he has been very good at that.    I have been on his bandwagon for a while now.   I really hope he lives up to the hype keeping in mind every one gives up runs..   

[MMMordabito]

 

If Graterol comes up to see the Big City and to meet his future teammates, I have no problem with that. I can see giving him throw away innings. Anything more than that, we have others more ready to perform in a playoff situation.

 

That blows my expectations then .... I was expecting 7 shutout innings in game 7 of the World Series from Dobnak and six up/ six down via strike out from Graterol to finish it off ... Arraez can take care of the single run against Kershaw with a perfectly placed inside-the-park home run in the top of the 9th

 

Anything less, and I'm never watching the Twins again.

[kenbuddha]

 

That blows my expectations then .... I was expecting 7 shutout innings in game 7 of the World Series from Dobnak and six up/ six down via strike out from Graterol to finish it off ... Arraez can take care of the single run against Kershaw with a perfectly placed inside-the-park home run in the top of the 9th

 

Anything less, and I'm never watching the Twins again.

ditto.

[SwainZag]

 

Does anyone else wonder why Graterol's K/9 isn't higher with his velocity and his slider?  

 

 

He's only 20.  Really this is only his 3rd year in the system after his very short 2015 and missing 2016, he's still learning how to pitch.  The stat I like is how few HR he has given up.  7 in his minor league career 208 IP.  

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

Does anyone else wonder why Graterol's K/9 isn't higher with his velocity and his slider? 

 

I've never watched him pitch, but if I had access, I'd like to see the horizontal movement on his fastball and location of the same. Then how it compares to the horizontal/vertical movement of his off-speed offering. 

 

I agree with Swain though, he's really young, with limited reps, adjusting to the bullpen, and probably needs to see some pitch design work.

 

All that said....I'm excited (please don't be Jim Hoey, please don't be Jim Hoey...)