Prospect Profile: Luis Medina
Luis Medina is a very young, very hard throwing pitcher from the Dominican Republic. The upside of the young hurler can generate a lot of excitement, however, the uncertainty surrounding him is just as high. He was able to hit triple digits before the Yankees signed him in July 2015 for just $280,000. Medina still has a very long road before he might take the mound in the Bronx, however, if he can put it all together he will be an electric arm in a few years.
Name: Luis Medina Birthdate: May 3, 1999 Position: Pitcher Bat/Throw: R/R Height: 6’1 Weight: 175
Medina started his professional career in 2016, making three starts in the Dominican Summer League. He only threw 4.2 innings and his season ended early after a minor injury. Medina returned to the DSL in 2017, making four appearances over 15.2 innings. He stuck out seventeen, but he also had a 5.74 ERA and walked ten batters. He was promoted to Pulaski, where Medina made is starts. He showed slight improvement over his 23 innings of work in the Appalachian League. He had a 5.09 ERA and struck out 22 batters.
Medina returned to Pulaski for 2018, making twelve starts for the Yankees. He struggled, with a 6.25 ERA and while he struck out 47 batters, he walked 46 – almost twice the free passes he allowed in 2017. Still, he managed to keep opposing batters’ average to .239.
While Medina has struggled in professional games, he is still rather young and has the potential to be an exciting pitcher in the long run. His fastball is graded at 70. He manages to throw in the high-90s with little effort, hitting as high as 120 mph. The pitch has some cutting action and he has a nice delivery. His second pitch is a curveball with a sharp break and a lot of spin. It sits in the low 80s and has plus-plus potential. His changeup sits in the low 90s and has some splitter action that provides him with a third solid pitch.
An athletic pitcher with electric stuff, Medina has a lot of potential, yet his command continues to be an issue. There do not appear to be any clear physical issues, leading some to surmise that his issue may be more of a mental block. The good news is that he is young and the Yankees have a plethora of pitchers on their top prospect list, meaning they can take the time to continue to try to develop the raw talent Medina possesses. His ceiling is as a frontline starter, but he could be a dangerous arm out of the bullpen as well.
