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Where Did This Guy Come From? Carlos Rosa

Carlosrosa_medium 

Carlos Rosa was signed by the Royals in 2001, out of the Dominican Republic. He made his North American debut in 2002, posting a 6.19 ERA with a 11/12 K/BB in 32 innings in the Gulf Coast League, allowing 52 hits. Terrible numbers, obviously, but he was just 17 years old. At that point, he couldn't rate higher than a Grade C, a very young kid with a live arm and projectability, but with no otherwise distinguishing features.

He returned tor rookie ball in 2003, this time for the Arizona League Royals as Kansas City switched their spring training operation (and associated complex league team) to Arizona. He pitched better, with a 3.63 ERA and a 54/18 K/BB in 69 innings, with 79 hits allowed. He'd still rate as a Grade C prospect, making some progress but with much to prove at higher levels.

Rosa made eight starts for Burlington in the Midwest League in 2004, going 0-5, 4.67 with a 23/17 K/BB in 35 innings with 41 hits allowed. He blew out his elbow, having Tommy John surgery and missing all of 2005 on rehab.

He came back fully healthy in 2006, going 8-6, 2.53 with a 102/54 K/BB in 139 innings for Burlington, 121 hits allowed, followed by a 7.15 ERA but a 13/4 K/BB in 11 innings for High Desert in the Cal League. I saw him pitch for Burlington, and was impressed with his 90-93 MPH sinking fastball. His slider and changeup also showed promise, and his command was solid. I gave him a Grade C+ in the 2007 book, writing that I had "some intuitive optimism" about him, but that they would have to be careful not to rush him.

Rosa began 2007 with Wilmington in the Carolina League, going 2-1, 0.39 in four starts to earn a promotion to Double-A. He was mediocre for Wichita in the Texas League, going 6-6, 4.36 with a 70/43 K/BB in 97 innings, 101 hits allowed. When I saw him pitch for Wichita, he was throwing 89-91 MPH with his sinker, and his slider and changeup weren't as sharp as they were in 2006, although his curve looked good. Baseball America, on the other hand, reported Rosa hitting 95-97 MPH in their 2008 prospect handbook, which isn't what I saw. I gave him another Grade C+ in my 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, writing that Rosa would need a full year of Triple-A and that I saw him more as a fifth starter or reliever than a future ace.

Rosa went 4-2, 1.20 with a 42/7 K/BB in 45 innings for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this spring. He made two appearances with the Royals and looked quite good in 3.1 innings, fanning three with one run allowed. His Triple-A numbers were less impressive, though not bad at all for the Pacific Coast League: 4.09 ERA with a 44/12 K/BB in 51 innings, 51 hits allowed.

Rosa was getting a lot of attention this spring. If healthy I think he's a fine prospect, but health is an issue: he pitched just three innings since August 1st due to forearm soreness and is currently on the DL. If healthy, I think Rosa would be best-suited for long relief/spot starting work in the short run, with a shot at being a rotation starter in the long run. I like his ground ball tendency and command. I have him as a Grade B- prospect pending health status reports.

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As a rotation starter

Would say a #3 type starter, or a back of the rotation guy? Do you see him being part of the MLB rotation mid-season 2009?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 9, 2008 11:30 AM EDT   0 recs

Forearm soreness

That often scares me. I think of guys like Josh Johnson who had ‘forearm soreness’ and end up with Tommy John surgery. It may be nothing but I am alarmed at all the red flags around his health at such a young age.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Sep 9, 2008 11:32 AM EDT   0 recs

set up guy

He has 1 excellent pitch, one very good pitch and the rest of his stuff is below average and terribly inconsistet….i think he projects more as a set up man…a good one but not a starter…of course with the Royals it does not hurt to at least try him as a SP…but i think in the end his career will be defined as a very good set up guy….(which I think Tejeda ,ight become now too after failing as a starter)

"our deepest fears are not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fears is that we are powerful beyong measure."

by gashousegang on Sep 9, 2008 12:42 PM EDT   0 recs

I had previously read

he had a above average slider and a decent change up. Is that not true still?

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Sep 9, 2008 4:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

“What’s emerging with him now is his slider is more consistent and he’s using his changeup more,” Picollo said

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Sep 9, 2008 4:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

rosa

would like to see him open the season in the bullpen next year and then move to the rotation when a spot inevitably opens up.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 9, 2008 4:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Middle relief would be a good place for Rosa in the 09 KC bullpen

It would give Rosa experience and allow him to find innings when they best suit a rookie. If he is successful, he could slide into the rotation. I could see him emerging into the back end of the rotation by midseason.

by daveyork on Sep 9, 2008 6:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rosa's repetoire

I heard he had a plus slider with an average changeup. Also, check out his game logs velocities. On June 20th he was around 93-96 with his fastball with some sort of cutter/sinker in the high 80’s. On June 14th, he was 94-96 and threw 1 88 MPH sinker.

by Take3 on Sep 9, 2008 5:31 PM EDT   0 recs

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