Manny Banuelos has thrown 26.1 major league innings, all coming with the Atlanta Braves in 2015. He has a 5.81 ERA to show for his troubles. Here are some other facts about Banuelos:
- Along with Dellin Betances, Banuelos was a tippy top Yankees pitching prospect for a while. Both were supposed to be starters, both got hurt, both sort of blew out as starters. Betances shifted to the bullpen and the rest is history. Banuelos didn’t and completely stalled out at AAA before being traded to the Braves.
- In 2010, when he was 19, Banuelos averaged more than 92 mph on his fastball. During his cup of coffee in the majors last year, he threw about 89 mph.
- In 2010, Banuelos had a sinker he could run up to about 93 mph. In 2015, he didn’t throw a sinker in the majors.
- Banuelos is 25 and stands all of 5 foot, 10 inches tall.
- He lost his 2013 season to Tommy John surgery.
- In 2012, he was rated as highly as MLB’s 13th best prospect.
- Baneulos isn’t a bad pitcher. He certainly hasn’t panned out as a prospect, but at this point he’s graduated from AAA. Even including some struggles with Gwinnett this season, Banuelos has a 3.78 ERA over 42 career AAA starts. It’s time he get a shot at the major league level to show that he either can or can’t adjust. Given his issues earlier this year, probably that shot shouldn’t come until next season, but the Angels don’t exactly have a ton of talent blocking Manny’s way right now.
At 25, the lefty Banuelos seems to have all the traits of one of those late bloomer, Rich Hill types. If he can really get his command down and locate to the corners of the zone, Manny could develop into one of those late 20’s September call ups that impress enough to earn a few starts next season, then perform well enough to keep earning a few more. I wouldn’t give up on Manny just yet; there’s a chance the Angels have stumbled onto something here.
Consider the facts above: He’s a former Yankees top prospect, and has been cast off by the Braves. His story just feels like a baseball movie, where he makes good in his third stop just as all hope seems lost.
Plus, the Angels need all the pitching help they can get.
-Max Frankel
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