Etkin: Slowly, Morales has been working toward turn in rotation
June 13, 2005

Franklin Morales has a chance to be one of the rare few - a left-handed starting pitcher developed by the Colorado Rockies.

Other than Jeff Francis, the only other member of that category is Cory Vance, who pitched briefly for the Rockies in 2002 and 2003.

Morales, 19, is at Class A Asheville, a light-year from the majors, but is a tantalizing prospect.

He has touched 97 mph with his fastball and can pitch at 94 mph. He has a plus major-league curveball, a hard breaking pitch that registers 82 mph. Like many young pitchers, his changeup needs development, but Asheville pitching coach Greg Booker said he has a feel for it and is throwing a few more every outing.

Those outings mostly have been out of the bullpen. Morales, who began the season in extended spring training, made his Asheville debut May 17. He has gone 2-0 with a 0.98 earned-run average in six games, including one spot start.

The Rockies are being cautious, given his youth and high ceiling. They want to limit his innings, knowing he can pitch winter ball this year in his native Venezuela.

Although he was stretched to 70 to 75 pitches in extended spring training, he has been limited to about 50 in his Asheville games. His longest outing was 4 1/3 innings, and 58 pitches, in a June 3 spot start, but he is expected to move into the rotation soon.

In 18 1/3 innings, he has eight walks and 18 strikeouts while holding opponents to an average of .203 (13-for-64).


Sounds like a solid prospect, but he is a long way from the majors.