A Look at San Juan’s Pitching Future
While
San Juan is surprisingly alive in the wild card hunt, the future relies mostly on how well a surplus of pitching talent develops over the next couple seasons. As of June 26, 2028:
TOP PROSPECT
Jorge Pagán – After going 18-12, 3.47 in two seasons as a teenager in A ball, the now 20-year old from Havana has emerged from an offseason in winter ball to lead the entire Great Northern League (AA) in e.r.a. this year at 1.43. He was promoted to make an emergency start in AAA this week and, despite his youth, could be the first starter on this long list to get his shot.
FORMER FIRST ROUNDERS - CURRENT STARTERS
*supplemental round
Atasuke Inoue (2028) – Taken third overall. Makes his first start as a pro this week.
Robby “Tag” Parker (2027*) – 22 year old is following up a 8-0, 2.64 season last year in A-ball with an 8-4, 3.29 campaign so far at
Santurce (AA).
Keith DuPree (2027) – A torn UCL caused DuPree to miss his first pro year but San Juan’s taking a chance on him after he fell in the first round is now paying dividends. He opened the season 4-1, 1.79 at
Kingston (A), including posting back to back 10K games, and was just promoted to Santurce (AA) for an injury replacement start.
Marcel Ousterhaut (2026) – Drafted out of high school, the 20-year old Dutchman closed out a 10-4, 2.74 season last year at
Homer (SA) and is holding his own at Kingston (A) at 5-4, 3.28.
António Ávila (2026) – Just turned 21 this month and seems to be settling down in his third year at Homer (SA). Jury is still out on him as he throws a sub-90 fastball.
FORMER FIRST ROUNDERS - CURRENT RELIEVERS
Ray Medrano (2027) – Maybe the most dominant starting pitcher in A ball last year, Medrano has recently been forced to the bullpen at Santurce (AA) where is likely better suited and has settled in with a 0.71 e.r.a. before a minor injury put him on the DL.
Gary Walker (2023*) – Obtained in a trade with
Shin Seiki before 2027, Walker has not disappointed. After going 10-6 as a starter in AA before the trade, he was moved to the bullpen by the San Juan organization where he has gone 15-6 with a 1.97 e.r.a. in a setup role and is likely to get a shot in the majors soon.
FORMER SECOND ROUNDERS - CURRENT STARTERS
Eli McKnight (2027) – The best prospect of the Coqui second rounders with an impressive repertoire of pitches, McKnight won his first start at Kingston (A) last week, giving up one run in six innings.
Barney Stone (2027) – Went 8-1, 2.96 last year at Homer (SA) and is 2-1, 2.56 this year at Kingston (A). Not elite stuff but has four solid pitches. Control is only real weakness but he has improved dramatically in that area so far this season.
Troy Hall (2027) – Mostly average stuff from a Major League point of view, Hall has been able to hold a starting role thus far in SA and A ball without much fanfare or concern.
OTHER MIDRANGE PROSPECTS
Joey Hazen (3rd-2027) – A crowded rotation at Kingston (A) has moved the former 2027 third rounder into a stopper role. It wasn’t a demotion due to performance. He was 3-4, 3.38 as a starter while going 6-5, 2.87 last year in SA. So far in relief he has given up just one run (a homer) in seven innings. He has five good pitches but scouts are split as to whether they are elite or average.
John Sullivan – The 2025 sixth rounder broke in with no-hitters in SA and A ball his first pro season but injuries have derailed his rise. Still he is 21-17, 2.87 e.r.a. as a pro.
Pete Scammell – The 23 year old Canadian was recently given a boost to three stars by OSA Scouting. He has 85 combined saves in A and AA ball and a 2.33 e.r.a. since being moved to the bullpen in 2024.
Bryan Scott – Former 2026 5th rounder got promoted to A ball at age 19 and has remained a starter there ever since, including an all-star berth in 2027. However, after a solid K/BB ratio in high school, he has struggled to find the plate as a pro, walking more than he has struck out. If he can gain more confidence challenging hitters he could prove a sleeper as batters are averaging just .188 against him this year. Still only 21.
Gerardo Juarez (26 years old, trade from Shin Seiki) – 101 career minor league saves and currently a 1.21 e.r.a. as a closer at
Santo Domingo (AAA). Did not see action in spring training but is making a move to be given a shot.
Juan “Lindo” Gonzalez – A 2027 third rounder with an uncanny ability to strike batters out with his changeup, a talent that thus far has translated from college into the pros. While it’s likely better hitters will not be as fooled, statistically so far he has lived up to his billing as a third round middle reliever and has improved drastically each month this year in A ball.
Andrés Cruz – 21 year old former WIL draftee and later free agent is 1.53 with 25 saves and 116 Ks in 94 innings the last three seasons.
José Cruz – 26 year old Spaniard and former 13th rounder who struggles to get ball over the plate but has allowed just one home run in three seasons and has been effective for minor league bullpens since 2024. Has 49 saves this year and last.
NEWEST INTERNATIONAL ADDITIONS TO WATCH:
Jesus Luna, age 20, Dominican allowed just one run in his first two starts at Homer (SA). Scouts believe he has a shot in a swingman role in the majors.
Seong–Chae Somun, age 20, is 2-0, 1.38 in his first two starts at Homer. The South Korean already has four very good pitches but will have to improve his control and movement to make it to the Show.