Ronald Uviedo

RONALD UVIEDO
RP, Altoona Curve
Age: 23
Born: October 7, 1986
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 150
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int. FA, Seattle Mariners, 2003
How Acquired: Minor League FA
Agent: N/A
ETA: 2011

TRADED

Links:

2010 Top 50 Prospects: #20, Ronald Uviedo
See Ronald Uviedo in action in the Video Recap section

SCOUTING REPORT
Uviedo was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners in July 2003 as a 16 year old. Seattle released him in April 2006, following a year in which he posted a 2.76 ERA in 62 innings in the Venezuelan Summer League as an 18 year old. The Pirates signed Uviedo a month later, adding him to their VSL roster, where he posted a 2.02 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched in relief.

Uviedo made the jump to the United States the following year, splitting time between State College, Hickory, and Lynchburg, with a 4.41 ERA in 34.2 innings pitched as a closer. His ratios were much better than his ERA, with a combined 10.4 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, but struggling with a 1.8 HR/9.

Uviedo’s success in 2008 between Hickory and Lynchburg put him on the radar in the Pirates’ system, and his 2009 success in the rotation only helped to move him up the prospect lists, with the potential to be more than a relief pitching prospect.

Uviedo throws in the 91-93 MPH range, and touches 95 MPH with his fastball. He’s 6′ 1″, and has a thin frame at 160 pounds. He gets good movement on his fastball, and also throws a good hard slider. The downside to the slider is that it puts a lot of torque on his arm. He was working on developing a changeup in 2008, and used that a lot in 2009. The changeup could have been a big reason why Uviedo saw his groundball rate jump from below-average to slightly above average in just one year. That’s big for Uviedo, as it cuts down on his major struggling point prior to 2009: home runs.

In the playoffs, Uviedo served as the closer for the Hillcats, and provided the mentality that you want from your closer. He was efficient, worked at his own pace, and didn’t get rattled by any situation. He also showed a short memory, struggling against Wilmington by taking the loss with a two run homer, then coming back two days later with a perfect 1.1 inning save.

STATS

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2010: Minor League Contract

Other Details:
  • N/A

PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: Summer 2005
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Protected
Added to 40-Man: 11/20/2008
Options Remaining: 1 (USED: 2009, 2010)
MLB Service Time: 0.000

AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS / PROSPECT RANKINGS
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
PROSPECT RANKINGS

BUCCO Fans.com

2009: #18
2010: #20

TRANSACTIONS
2003: Signed as an international free agent by the Seattle Mariners.
April 2006: Released by the Seattle Mariners.
April 2006: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 20, 2008: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 1, 2010: Acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Dana Eveland.