Jun 07 2014 07:32 AM
I've been following this guy and not reporting back because I was afraid he'll interfere with my love of Rainy Lara. And the last time I chose a guy because I enjoyed his last name, I ended up with Jordany Valdespin. Guys with funny names can be dicks too.
Anyhow, Ynoa and Lara are probably good buds, because they've ended up on a parallel ascent, often on the same roster.
Gabes has consistently been awesome while staying under the radar. He threw up a 1.99 ERA over 72 innings as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, bringing him stateside at 18, where it went for a 3.21 ERA over 64 innings between the Gulf Coasters and Kingsport.
But what should really hone your eyes is the control. In the Dominican, he struck out 35 and walked 8. Stateside, he fanned 27 and walked four. That ain't great strikeout numbers but FOUR walks in 64 innings as an 18-year-old is some fine cookin'!
As part of the awesome Brooklyn rotation of 2012, the 19-year-old goes 5-2 with a 2.23 ERA over 76 2/3 innings. His walk rate ticks up to 1.2 per nine, but his strikeouts also reach a respectable 7.5. He's growing into his body, sez I.
Last year, it all comes together in Savannah. He goes 15 (I say, 15) and 4, eating up a healthy 135 2/3 innings and posting a 2.72 ERA. This is the beast you must fear. He strikes out 7.0 per nine and walks 1.1.
This year, maybe not as easy, making the ol' jump to St. Lucie at a still-young 21, but last night he goes seven shutout innings, whiffs 11, walks none, allowing only four hits. He's 6-2, and his ERA sits at 3.45.
Surely you want some of this on your team. Surely. Else, perhaps you want to trade some of this for a hard-hitting outfielder or hard-hitting shortstop or hard-hitting... something. But I've invited him in and hung a sign saying "asset" over his door.
Kinda light for a Dominican. Looks a little Nelson Figueroa-ish to me.
