Carlos Carrasco

From BR Bullpen

Carlos Luis Carrasco

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.

High School Liceo Federico Carmona

Born March 21, 1987 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela

[edit] Biographical Information

Carlos Carrasco is a Philadelphia Phillies farmhand. He twice has been named the top Phillies prospect (2006 and 2007).

Carrasco signed with the Phillies in November of 2003, at age 16. He debuted professionally in 2004, going 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA for the GCL Phillies. Baseball America rated the youngster as the #14 prospect in the Gulf Coast League.

Carrasco had a miserable 2005, with a 1-10 record at three stops: 1-7, 7.04 for the Lakewood Blue Claws (allowing a .302 average), 0-3, 13.50 for the Batavia Muckdogs (.392 opponent average, 8 HR in 15 1/3 IP) and 0-0, 1.80 for the GCL Phillies.

The Venezuelan right-hander had a breakout year in 2006. He won the Paul Owens Award as the top pitcher in the Phillies chain and Baseball America named him the Phillies Minor League Player of the Year. He allowed a .182 average, lowest in the Phils system, and a vast improvement over 2005. He went 12-6 with a 2.26 ERA for Lakewood and allowed 103 hits in 159 1/3 innings and just 6 home runs after giving up 8 in his brief action with Batavia in '05. Carrasco allowed a .178 average to lefties and .186 to righties. He was 4th in the affiliated minor leagues in lowest average allowed following only Donald Veal, Philip Hughes and Matt Garza. Carlos was second in the South Atlantic League in ERA behind Matt Maloney and was third in strikeouts behind teammates Maloney and Josh Outman as the BlueClaws had the league's top staff and went on to win the title for the first time in franchise history. Carrasco also tied four others hurlers for the league lead with two complete games. Carrasco took a perfect game into the 8th inning against the Asheville Tourists and threw a combined no-hitter in another outing. He threw 1/3 of an inning in the 2006 Futures Game, allowing two hits in a shaky appearance as the World team lost 8-4. Carrasco was left off the SAL post-season All-Star team in favor of Will Inman. Baseball America rated Carrasco as the SAL's #5 prospect, behind Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, Fernando Martinez and Elvis Andrus and ahead of all the other pitchers in the league, including Inman, Outman, Maloney and Clay Buchholz. The publication also rated him as the top Philadelphia prospect.

Carrasco had another fine year in 2007. The 20-year-old went 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA and .199 opponent average for the Clearwater Threshers and made the Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star team. He was picked for the 2007 Futures Game and pitched the second inning, relieving Rick Vanden Hurk. Carrasco retired Steve Pearce on a pop-up and fanned Brent Lillibridge. Jay Bruce tripled and Chris Coghlan drew a four-pitch walk but Carrasco recovered to fan Bryan Anderson. Fautino De Los Santos replaced Carrasco on the mound for the World Team in the third inning. Carrasco was promoted to the Reading Phillies and had a 6-4, 4.86 record, with 46 walks in 70 1/3 innings including a no-hitter against the Altoona Curve. Baseball America rated him as the #6 prospect in the FSL, between Johnny Cueto and Ian Kennedy and again ranked him as the #1 Phillies prospect.