Samuel Deduno
From BR Bullpen
Samuel Deduno Lake
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Samuel Deduno won a pitching Triple Crown at AA in 2009 then made it to the majors the next year.
Deduno was signed by Colorado Rockies scout Felix Feliz in 2003. He made his pro debut that year with the DSL Rockies, going 3-4 with a 2.47 ERA. In 2004, he had a 6-4, 3.18 record for the Casper Rockies, striking out 118 in 76 innings and allowing a .216 average. He led the Pioneer League in innings, opponent average and strikeouts, tied Franklin Morales for the most starts (15) and was second in ERA behind Ray Liotta. He set a Rockies short-season affiliate record for whiffs. He was named the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year. Baseball America rated him as the league's #8 prospect, second among Casper's four players in the top 20, behind Chris Nelson and ahead of Seth Smith and Morales.
Samuel fell to 8-8, 5.62 for the 2005 Asheville Tourists and missed over a month due to shoulder strain. He walked 65 in 89 2/3 innings but did strike out 110. With the Modesto Nuts the next year, the Dominican hurler was 5-8 with a 4.80 ERA. In the high-flying California League, he gave up a measly three home runs in 146 1/3 innings while allowing a .222 average. On the other hand, he led the league in hit batsmen (22), walks (92) and wild pitches (34). He was still rated the league's #18 prospect by Baseball America, third on his staff behind Morales and Greg Reynolds. He paced all of minor league baseball in both wild pitches and hit batsmen while ranking fourth in walks (22 behind leader Stephen Randolph).
Deduno was 1-1 with a 6.65 ERA in two starts for Modesto but was still called up to the Tulsa Drillers early in 2007; he was 5-8 with a 5.44 ERA for Tulsa. His 121 strikeouts led the Texas League. Baseball America listed him as owning the best curveball of a Rockies farmhand. In '08, a right arm injury sidelined him all year long.
Back and healthy in 2009, Samuel dazzled for the Drillers (12-4, 2.57, 123 K in 133 IP, .202 opponent average) before a late-season promotion to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (0-1, 6.35 in one game). He tied Trey Hearne for the Texas League lead in wins and led in strikeouts, ERA and opponent average. He was named Pitcher of the Year for the second time in his career. Joining him as the TL's All-Star hurlers were Hearne, Jhoulys Chacin, Graham Godfrey, Andrew Johnston, Trevor Reckling and Lance Lynn. Baseball America rated him as the TL's #20 prospect and #12 in the Rockies system. He tied Travis Wood for the 5th-lowest opponent average by a minor league starter.
Deduno battled injury again in 2010, getting only 10 minor league starts with Colorado Springs (3-1, 2.93) and Tri-City Dust Devils (0-2, 5.51 on a rehab stint) through late August. He was then called up to the big leagues along with Morales when Manuel Corpas was put on the disabled list and Clint Barmes took family leave.
In his big league debut, he relieved longtime teammate Morales in the 9th with a 5-2 deficit to the Dodgers, two on and two out. He gave up a run-scoring single to Matt Kemp then retired James Loney on an inning-ending grounder.
