Hello I'm Rafael Depaula's trainer. Not his agents (Ulises Cabrera and Brian Mejia). Here is my youtube user account: youtube /user/CruelAsLife you can see some clips of Rafael Throwing. I could also upload pics from his last visit to the Redsox's academy in the Dominican Republic.
The teams that have scouted Depaula the Most are the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red sox.
I can tell you with 100% of certainty that the Red Sox and Rangers won’t sign Rafael Depaula.
The Yankees are the front runners, the Orioles, Brewers, Mariners, Philies, Padres, Guardians, Astros and Athletics still have a real chance.
The JCE veridict means that Depaula is using his real papers, not someone else's, regardless of that; teams do not believe his age and that’s why Rafael will sign for a rather low amount (when everything is settled teams will kick themselves after realizing that for his talent regardless the age Depaula was a bargain).
Depaula highest reading has been 99 mph, he touched that once. 97 is easier for him, but he sits 93-94 and he maintains this speed in the later innings. His change up has crazy movement and he easily throws it in the 87-88 range, he has 2 change ups one over the top and he drops down a bit with the one with more movement. Curveball (to him is a curveball) some clubs feel is a slurve other call it a slider, has nasty spin, he throws it for strikes when he wants and is usually 78 mph, but I saw him throwing it at 84 a month ago.
Let's take 3 mph from all his pitches, so he would be 91-92 fb 84-85 ch and 75 CB, he would still be a great prospect because he is the hardest working guy out here and loves the game like no one else, he is a true student of the game and that’s why he dominates so easily, he loves pressure and big important games/tryouts.
I'm sorry Dipre but no one will overpay for him, first because during the tryouts he pitches against cubans like Viciedo, Felix Perez, Julio Jose Ruiz "Candelita" Iglesias, if not he has to face advance Dominican summer league guys or minor league prospects. Secondly he has been throwing non stop from the summer of 2008 till now (he is taking 3 weeks for rest) clubs have seen him more than any other prospect in the history of the Dominican Republic. Thirdly with his suspension and all the bad publicity he would have broken down by now, yet he keeps getting better. Clubs have more data on Depaula than any other prospect; they are in a better position to make the right call than any other time in the past.
In 2009 Theo Epstein, Francona and other high officials from the Red Sox came to see Depaula, Arguelles and other prospects, Depaula out pitched him in every sense of the word and Red Sox scouts will admit to this and when everything is all said and done Arguelles will probably get 9 times what Depaula will.
Guys, teams say that Depaula is ready to throw at least class A ball now, some say double A and most agree that in 2 years he will be in the Major Leagues. One of the Alcantara dudes you sign is probably better than Ynoa too; but like us he didn’t have the money for all that marketing machine to do magic and produce a record breaking bonus. Again the only ones been fooled here are the fans that don’t know what’s going on.
I am his trainer so I am obviously biased in his favour, so take my words and put it in the worst possible scenario for your own comfort (I.E. the kid is 30, he bearly tops 92 and his breaking pitches are flat) that will help make it better when the Yankees get him for peanuts.
