6/18/2008

Churchill on Pineda

Jason Churchill's M's Farm Report at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is on Rattler pitcher Michael Pineda.

Despite its lack of big league-ready pitching, the Mariners farm system is laced with quality pitches who profile as major league starters. One of them, Michael Pineda of the Dominican Republic, is making waves in his first season in the United States.

Pineda, 19, is teaming with fellow right-handers Phillippe Aumont, Nathan Adcock and Juan Ramirez to form a dynamic foursome in the Class A Wisconsin starting rotation.

Particular attention is paid to his start in the night game of the Day-Night doubleheader in Clinton last Saturday.

On Saturday, Pineda made his seventh start of the year and limited the Midwest League's top offensive club to one hit in seven innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in Wisconsin's 10-0 victory.

"He could have hit a target on a fly's back from a thousand yards away," an NL scout in attendance said. "It's always fun to see a young pitcher with good stuff throw all of his pitches for strikes and spot the fastball all over the zone."

The future?

"Once this group gets to Double-A and Triple-A, (Pineda) might be the best of the three," the NL scout said. "Aumont gets the attention and Ramirez has the bigger fastball, but Pineda is probably the most likely to max out."

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