Per Jim Peyton of Phuture Phillies, the Clearwater Threshers have activated RHP Victor Arano off of the disabled list (RHP Yacksel Rios was put on the DL). Arano had been dealing with shoulder tightness in camp, but was 93-94 over 4 innings in an Extended Spring Training game in his last outing. If Arano is the starter for tonight’s game it will be his first official start in the Phillies organization as he came over in the Roberto Hernandez trade after the end of the Thresher’s season.
I rated Arano as the #14 prospect in the Phillies organization this offseason on the back of a fastball that is 91-94 as a starter, a curveball with plus potential (though right now it shows inconsistency), and a potential above average changeup. Arano just turned 20 years old this February (he is the youngest player on Clearwater’s roster), and while he lacks physical projection, he does have advanced feel for pitching for his age. His ceiling is as a mid-rotation starter, but some evaluators worry about his body and pitch inconsistency and see a reliever who will sit more in the 93-96 range with a good breaking ball.
What makes scouts worry about his body? Anything beyond being unlikely to add more velocity? He’s listed at 6’2″ 200 lbs, which seems pretty solid.
He is rather thick at a young age. It isn’t a frame that has a lot of room for anything but bad weight so it is going to be a constant struggle of keeping his weight and conditioning in check. That isn’t to say it will go bad, but he also isn’t built in a way that makes everyone super confident about everything staying perfect.