Ascanio called up; anyone have a scouting report?

[Jeff Pico]

Ascanio was called up for Chad Fox. (Honestly, I don't know what we were doing with Chad Fox on our roster anyway). Ascanio is clearly getting it done at Iowa, but I am curious what the scouting report is on him. How legit a prospect is he?

[Bob Sacamento]

Here's what BA said about him:



Ascanio, 22, made his big league debut with the Braves in 2007, posting a 5.06 ERA with 13-6 K-BB in 16 relief innings. His callup came on the heels of a fine season with Double-A Mississippi: 2-2, 2.54 with 71-18 K-BB in 78 innings. Ascanio signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2001 and has been brought along slowly because of durability concerns (he's 6-feet, 170 pounds) and because he suffered a lower back fracture in 2005. His arm is electric, though, and he pitches at 95 mph and touches 97. His 84-88 mph slider is a plus pitch. In five minor league seasons, Ascanio has posted a 3.57 ERA to go with 224-84 K-BB in 260 innings.

His fastball was rated the best last year in the AA Southern League.

[Jeff Pico]

Big Fastball, good slider, key will be control.

He deserves a shot, and could be good. The pessimist in me says we have had guys like this before, Latin releivers with great arms and fringy control, who didn't pan out. Remember Francis Beltran and Roberto Novoa?

[wrigleybum]

But, in all honesty, anything is better than Chad Fox at this point. He got put on the DL, but while healthy he really didn't do much for us at all. It was a good feel-good story that he came back from all those injuries to pitch, but bottom line, he wasn't doing much for the club, and hopefully Ascanio can.

[Jeff Pico]

In other news, we re-signed Jason Dubois. I'm not sure why, but I have fond memories. I saw him at Iowa that one year he absolutely crushed AAA. He was our starting LF for about a month, IIRC.

[nathanKent]

In other news, we re-signed Jason Dubois. I'm not sure why, but I have fond memories. I saw him at Iowa that one year he absolutely crushed AAA. He was our starting LF for about a month, IIRC.

Ugh. Dubois platooned with Hollandsworth for most of 2005. He's not a good player. He never really crushed AAA either. His minor league career line is .295/.378/.540.

Where did you read the news? I can't find it anywhere.

[nathanKent]

But, in all honesty, anything is better than Chad Fox at this point. He got put on the DL, but while healthy he really didn't do much for us at all. It was a good feel-good story that he came back from all those injuries to pitch, but bottom line, he wasn't doing much for the club, and hopefully Ascanio can.

Agreed. Asciano probably wouldn't have been my first choice, but I guess in that spot (essentially the #7 guy in the 'pen) it's okay to test new guys.