This is a new series I'm starting where I'm going to go around baseball and choose one top prospect from each organization and I'll profile them. Hope you enjoy the series and this one about Phillies' prospect Antonio Bastardo.
Bastardo was born in the Dominican Republic on September 21, 1985.
He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies and was sent to the Lakewood BlueClaws after going undrafted in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft
In Lakewood he compiled a 9-0 record, 1.87 ERA in 15 games all of which he started. He pitched 91.2 innings and gave up 63 hits, 23 runs, 19 of which were earned, and three home runs.
He is a strikeout pitcher having struck out 98 in Lakewood and walking only 42. His WHIP was 1.15 and averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.1 walks.
Bastardo was then called up to the Clearwater Threshers. In Clearwater he was less than stellar going 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA and giving up five hits and four earned runs in only five innings of work. However he struck out 12 batters in that time span and walked only three.
Obviously his K/9 average was inflated and was 21.6, the only reason I included that is because I find it relatively amusing.
Then in 2008, Bastardo made a return to Clearwater this time with more success. He went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five starts and 30.2 innings under his belt.
In his five starts he gave up 20 hits, four earned runs, two home runs, and 10 walks. He also struck out a whopping 47 batters, which makes it 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
His great pitching earned him a callup to the AA Reading Phillies. He went 2-5, with a 3.76 ERA in 14 games and 67 innings.
During those games he gave up 56 hits, 35 runs, 28 earned, 13 home runs, 37 walks and 62 strikeouts.
So far in 2009 he has a 1-0 record and 1.50 ERA in three games. He has pitched six innings, giving up four hits, and one earned run.
He has walked only one hitter and struck out seven.
Now before the 2009 season, Bastardo had been a starter only, having never made a relief appearance. But before the 2009 season under the belief that he could become an All-Star reliever he was converted to such.
Rich Dubee, the Phillies pitching coach recently said that Bastardo has a shot at making an impact this season in the majors.
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