Edinson Volquez

2013

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2012

Volquez was one of the huge disappointments of the 2011 season, finishing with a 5.71 ERA and 1.574 WHIP. First innings were particularly disastrous for him, especially early in the season. Batters facing him on his first 15 pitches in a given start hit a collective .393/.493/.687 with seven homers and 10 walks. Volquez's velocity remains intact, but his control, never a strong point, took a turn for the worse. Without significant improvements in his command, Volquez's future as a major league starter is in doubt. Fortunately, he'll get a fresh start with the Padres after being included in the Mat Latos deal in December. Petco Park won't cure his control issues, but it should help to cure some of his gopheritis.

2011

Pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery typically get their velocity back before their control, and that was definitely the case with Volquez. After a splashy 2010 debut, Volquez had a mix of good outings and bad ones, and the bad ones were particularly disastrous. He suffered from some bad defense, a tight strike zone and a quick hook by Dusty Baker in his one playoff start. Don't let that dissuade you on draft day - better times are ahead for Volquez.

2010

Before getting shut down with Tommy John surgery, Volquez pitched a few outings while trying to recover from a back injury, and then a tingling numbing sensation in his fingers that was ultimately revealed to be connected to his elbow problem. Even after he went on the DL, Volquez went through a couple of fits and starts trying to work his way back. By the time they operated on the elbow, it was shredded. Right now, Volquez and the Reds are saying all the right things about his rehab progress, but be skeptical of reports that suggest he'll be in the rotation by midseason. We probably won't see the effective version of Volquez until 2011.

2009

Volquez had a breakout season in 2008 after coming over in the Josh Hamilton deal, going from being a fourth starter to the Reds' ace as the season progressed. There's good reason to believe that Volquez will fall back a little in 2009. He faltered after the All-Star break, posting a 4.60 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 13 starts. He also threw nearly 20 more innings than he had ever thrown in a season, and given his high pitch counts in games, they were somewhat stressful innings. We still expect a good year out of Volquez, but don't automatically assume that he'll build off of his 2008 season.

2008

Volquez began the year all the way back down at High-A Bakersfield in an attempt to rebuild his mechanics and confidence. He pitched well enough to get a look in the rotation in September, and managed 29 K in 34 innings but also walked 15 batters. His control will determine how successful he'll be in the majors, but there's upside here in leagues that count strikeouts. Volquez was traded to the Reds in December for Josh Hamilton, where he'll presumably slot into the rotation immediately as a fourth or fifth starter. The change in leagues will help, even if the change ballparks won't.

2007

Volquez began the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, making 21 starts and allowing just 86 hits in 120.2 innings to go with 130 K. Mixed in were 72 walks, however, and he struggled after a promotion to the majors. In eight starts for Texas, Volquez allowed 52 hits and 17 walks in 33.1 innings, fanning just 15. Among Texas pitching prospects, Volquez is deemed the most "major league ready" and he'll likely get a look this spring to nail down a rotation spot.

2006

Volquez flew through the Texas system like Juan Dominguez did back in 2003, with a jaw-dropping win-loss record and smashing ERA. His 10 starts at Double-A Frisco, which included 58 H, 17 BB and 49 K in 58 2/3 IP, were enough to earn a promotion to the majors. He struggled in three starts, and three subsequent relief appearances, so a season spent at Triple-A Oklahoma City would do him some good.