Scouting Report Jhoulys Chacin

Jhoulys Chacin
23 years old
3rd Major League Season (22 starts coming into this year)
6'3" 215 pounds
Bats R/Throws R

The 23 year old righty was signed as an amateur free agent in 2004 out of Venezuela, and was the Rockies top pitching prospect two years ago. He shuffled between the rotation and the bullpen last year, but during his 21 starts, he had a 2.98 ERA, and struck out a batter an inning. The biggest problem he had was controlling his nerves and his command suffered, walking 4 per 9 innings.

Chacin doesn't have any plus-plus pitches, but has 4 above average pitches. His fastball is 90-91 mph and it is his worst pitch. His slider is 82 mph, and has been his best pitch thus far in the majors, and he throws it 18% of the time. His curve is also above average, 78 mph, and a change-up 83 mph. His swing and miss rate is down from 10.8% last year to 9.7% (but it's still above league average), and his K/9 rate reflects that this year, 7 K/9, down from 9 K/9. He doesn't throw many strikes, especially 1st pitch strikes ( <50% this year, even though he throws 1st pitch fastball 75% of the time), and only 42% of his pitches are strikes, but surprisingly his walk rate is down so far in a small sample size this year to 2.85 BB/9 (career average is 4+). He has benefited this year from becoming more of a ground ball pitcher, and is generating 60%, up from 46 and 47% in 2009 and 2010.

Chacin is 4-2 this year in 6 starts, with a 2.85 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He has given up a bunch of home runs which is surprising (6 in 41 innings, when he gave up 10 in 141 last year), and they have all come in the past 3 games (2 home runs each game).

Chacin has not started a game against the Mets, but threw 1 inning of scoreless relief in 2009.

Chacin is another good young pitcher who will give the Mets trouble (it seems like the Mets have been facing top pitchers for the past 2 weeks straight!)