Felix Doubront

[Dojji]

How come there isn't more hype about this guy? Lefthanded starter, 21 years old, in AA, putting up solid if not dominant numbers?

 

Scouting Report: Doubront utilizes an 87-91 mph fastball, a decent 72-74 mph curveball, an improving slider, and is developing a 79-80 mph changeup with nice screwball action. Flawless and fluid pitching motion with very good control. Deceptive delivery, hitters don't pick up the ball until late, causing his fastball to look a little faster. Struggles against left-handed batters. He has a reserved and modest demeanor, but is aggressive on the mound. Sometimes has the tendency to leave the ball up in the zone too much, giving up too many home runs. Athletic and agile in the field. Doubront struggled in 2007 due to numerous injuries, including recovery from a hernia operation. He's come back to form nicely in 2008 and 2009.

 

http://www.soxprospects.com/players/doubront-felix.htm

 

He doesn't seem to have top of the rotation stuff, but when a guy is in AA that young it usually says good things about his command and poise. As I said, you'd think we'd be hearing more about him.

 

Is there a concern that he's a second coming of Abe Alvarez, or is this guy just buried in Boston's monumental depth?

[Cocos Disciples]

or is this guy just buried in Boston's monumental depth?

 

It's probably this. He could be a decent back end of the rotation starter, but with Buchholz, Bowden and Tazawa ahead of him (and other lower level prospects that rank higher), it seems unlikely that it'll be with us.

[BoSox21]

or he could be converted to a reliever if he continues to have trouble against lefties

[jacksonianmarch]

he is a lefty, so converting him to relief wont be a great option since he'd be coming in vs lefties

[CrespoBlows]

Kris Johnson.

[Dojji]

Because that has anything to do with Doubront.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kris Johnson turned out to be a bust. Thus far, Doubront has been pitching serviceably. He's a 21 yr old in AA, so certainly younger than most in the league by 1-2 yrs. And his ERA is respectable. The thing that makes me think he is still not even close to being ready is the fact that his stuff and his numbers arent really matching up. A guy who sits in the high 80s who cannot locate well is a disaster waiting to happen at the MLB level. Right now, he is walking 4.2 per 9IP. With his stuff, he needs to be much more consistent in his delivery to be of any use to the big club. Right now, I bet he is getting by on movement alone as evidenced by the near 1:1 K:IP ratio. That wont fly at the upper levels. Regardless, he has 3-4 yrs to figure that out and still make it to the bigs before he's 25. That being said, I think Kelly and Hagadone behind him and Buch, Bowden, Tazawa ahead of him makes him a prime guy to trade. I certainly wouldnt hold up any deals if he was going the other way if I were the sox

[Dojji]

Well, if he's trade bait, at that age at that level he's pretty decent trade bait, and I could see teams being interested if we need a roleplayer of some kind.

[jacksonianmarch]

exactly. He isnt a guy who can centerpiece a deal for a guy like Halladay, but for a guy like DeRosa, he certainly could be a good part of the deal.