Even though Spring Training basically just started, there are only 6 more weeks until Opening Day. To help you count the days, we're going to bring you what we hope will become your one-stop shop for information about each of the Reds players. We call them The Red Reports and we plan to unveil 4 new players each week until Opening Day and hopefully have information for the full 25-man roster at that point.
You can always check back on these sheets as they will be linked from the 40-man roster on the left sidebar. Consider it a shortcut to each player's individual story. These are living documents, and while the stats won't update regularly, hopefully the stories will And if you are looking for stats, we have links to Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, and The Hardball Times right inside.
So, tell us what you think. What works? What doesn't? Do you have more information to add to a player? Drop it in the comments and we'll tack it on to his page.
Today, we start with Reds sophomore pitcher, Johnny Cueto. Enjoy!
Fast Facts:
- Cueto was signed by Johnny Almaraz on March 8, 2004. Almaraz also signed Adam Dunn, Ben Broussard, BJ Ryan, Chad Fox, and Jason Larue. Good thing the Reds got rid of him.
- He is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, a city that has produced 76 Major Leaguers including former Reds Mariano Duncan, Tony Fernandez, and Josias Manzanillo.
- He was a two-time Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Year, winning the award in 2006 and 2007.
- In 69 minor league games, he posted a 29-15 record with a 3.28 ERA over 348.1 innings. He struck out 9.3 batters per 9 IP, while walking only 2.1 per 9 IP.
- He threw the first no-hit shutout in Dayton Dragons history during a rain-shortened 5-inning game in May, 2006.
- In his first career big league start in 2008, he became the first pitcher age 22 and under to strike out 10 or more batters in his Major League debut since Mark Prior in 2002. It was only the 11th time it had happened in the last 52 years.
- He was also only the 9th pitcher age 22 or younger since 1960 to pitch at least 7 innings in his debut and allow only 1 hit.
- He is the shortest Reds pitcher to throw at least 150 innings in a season since 5'9" Guy Hoffman threw 158.2 innings in 1987.
- He tied for the the National League lead in hit batsmen 2008 with 14, matching teammate Edinson Volquez and the Phillies' Kyle Kendrick.
- He will pitch in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic team along with Volquez.
Organizational History
Drafted/Signed: Was signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent, March 8, 2004.
Signed by: Johnny Almaraz.
GM when acquired by Reds: Dan O'Brien
Contract Status
MLB Service Time (as of Opening Day 2009): 1.0 year
Current Contract Status: Pre-arbitration, renewing one year deal.
Career Stats
Pitch Repertoire
Information courtesy of Josh Kalk's player cards at baseball.bornbybits.com.
Cueto throws four pitches: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, slider, change-up. He relies heavily on the four-seam fastball, throwing it 56% of the time in 2008 with an average speed of 94 MPH. He sprinkles in the two-seam fastball, using it a little more against lefties than righties. His slider is his number two pitch, throwing it 28% of the time, though he uses it much more frequently against righties than lefties. He throws his change-up much more frequently against lefties, as you would expect, and uses it mainly early in the count, probably because it's a newer pitch for him. His slider is his strikeout pitch and he likes to throw it more with 2 strikes than at other points in the game.
2009 Projections
RR Projected Wins Above Replacement: 1.66
Graphs
Under Construction. The Graphinator 3000 was not fully functional by the time this was to be posted. Once the graphs have been created, they will be inserted into this spot.