Carlos Carrasco

2013

Subscribe now to see our 2013 outlook.

2012

Carrasco battled an elbow injury from the start of the season, hitting the DL in April, and eventually requiring Tommy John surgery in August. He wasn't overly effective in the 21 starts he was able to make and hasn't panned out like the Indians had hoped after being acquired as a top prospect from the Phillies farm system as part of the Cliff Lee deal in 2009. He'll miss most, if not all, of the 2012 season recovering from elbow surgery.

2011

Carrasco caught fire in the second half at Triple-A Columbus and earned himself a promotion to the Indians in September. He pitched well enough (2-2, 3.83 ERA, 1.366 WHIP in seven starts) to cement a spot in the starting rotation this year and enters the season as the team's likely No. 3 starter. There's more pedigree here than you might think, as Carrasco was once regarded as the top prospect in the Phillies farm system before the Indians acquired him in the Cliff Lee deal in July 2009. With an ability to induce groundballs (2.27 G/F) and an ample 7.66 K/9IP mark, he could surprise as the rebuilding efforts in Cleveland continue.

2010

Carrasco entered the season as the Phillies' top prospect, struggled at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and found himself as the centerpiece in the Cliff Lee deal. He hit the ground running at Triple-A Columbus (42.1 innings, 31 hits, 36:7 K:BB) and earned himself a callup to the Indians in September. He was a total disaster in five starts (2.284 WHIP, 8.87 ERA) for the Indians but he'll have a chance to win a rotation spot this spring. He needs some ironing out at Triple-A so expect a fair amount of wrinkles if he lands a rotation spot.

2009

After a successful stint in Double-A Reading for much of the 2008 season, Carrasco, the Phillies' 20-year-old top prospect, was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in early-August and saw continued success. Over the course of the year, Carrasco went 9-9 in 25 starts and finished with a 3.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 151.1 innings pitched. He'll be given a chance in spring training to compete for the No. 5 spot in Philadelphia’s starting rotation and given his strikeout potential and strong offensive support, could be a huge sleeper if he wins the job. For owners in particularly deep leagues, he’s probably worth stashing on your roster regardless of whether he heads north with the big league club.

2008

Carrasco had his first taste of Double-A at age 20 in 2007. He held his own in Reading, but his command took a turn for the worse (49:46 K:BB ratio with Reading after a 53:22 mark at Clearwater). He has a low-90's fastball and a good changeup, while his curveball improved greatly in 2007. If he can right the ship with his command, a midseason callup is not out of the question. Even if he spends all season in the minors, Carrasco is shaping up to be a 22-year-old with an eye on the Phillies' 2009 Opening Day rotation.

2007

Carrasco broke through in full-season ball in 2006, blowing through the Sally League and pitching in the All-Star Futures Game. He features a good pitcher's frame (6-3, 178 lbs.), a low-90s fastball and a good changeup. Carrasco's breaking ball is still a work in progress and his motion appears to be high maintenance, so give him another year or two before he surfaces in Philly.

2006

Carrasco is a young righthander in the Phillies chain. He throws in the low 90s and has major league potential, although he stumbled in his first try at Class A in 2005. Carrasco will head back to A ball in 2006 and is at least two years from the majors.