Name: Estibenzon Jimenez
Position: RHP
Born: January 25, 2002
Country: Venezuela
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’1″ 172lbs
How Acquired: International Free Agent (2019 Class)
Signed: November 27, 2019
Bonus:
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2024
MiLB Free Agency: 2026
Stats
Pitcher Statcast
*Statcast data only available for FSL (2021-2023), AAA (2023), and isolated select games and locations.
| Pitch Type | Year | # of Pitches | Average Velocity | Max Velocity | Median Spin | VBreak | HBreak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Seam Fastball | 2022 | 49 | 91.7 | 93.7 | 2268 | 15 | -11 |
| 4-Seam Fastball | 2023 | 483 | 92.3 | 96.1 | 2311 | 14 | -11 |
| Sinker | 2022 | 10 | 91.0 | 93.4 | 2256 | 18 | -14 |
| Sinker | 2023 | 220 | 91.8 | 95.6 | 2312 | 16 | -14 |
| Changeup | 2022 | 33 | 84.7 | 87.1 | 1631 | 30 | -12 |
| Changeup | 2023 | 262 | 85.0 | 88.9 | 1616 | 29 | -12 |
| Slider | 2022 | 41 | 80.8 | 84.7 | 2115 | 39 | 4 |
| Slider | 2023 | 478 | 81.9 | 87.3 | 2231 | 40 | 4 |
Pitcher Tracking
*Pitch tracking data sourced from Statcast, broadcasts, and individual reports
| Pitch Type | Year | Velocity Low | Velocity High | Velocity Max | Games Tracked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA | 2023 | 86 | 95 | 96 | 21 |
| FA | 2022 | 89 | 93 | 93 | 3 |
| FA | 2021 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 1 |
| CH | 2023 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 21 |
| CH | 2022 | 82 | 86 | 86 | 3 |
| SL | 2023 | 74 | 86 | 87 | 20 |
| SL | 2022 | 79 | 84 | 84 | 3 |
| CB | 2023 | 77 | 82 | 84 | 5 |
| CB | 2022 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 2 |
Prospect Rankings
Role: #4 Starter
Risk: High – Jimenez has not pitched above Clearwater and while his stuff is solid, it isn’t going to carry him on his own. He will need to improve his command to reach his ceiling.
Summary: Estibenzon was a bulk reliever and swing man for the 2022 FCL Phillies, before getting two starts late in the year for the Threshers. In 2023, he transitioned to the rotation full time. He is a short, solidly built pitcher who comes from a high three-quarter that gets him a fairly flat approach angle. He threw his fastball about half the time over the course of the season, but it faded in usage down the stretch. He will mostly sit 91-94, but can get it up to 96 with decent, but not spectacular ride (17”-18” IVB up in the zone) with some run. He sells his mid 80s changeup well, and it comes in with mostly the same horizontal movement as the fastball with about 8 inches more drop. He compliments that with a vertical oriented slider that averaged 82 mph on the season. He gets good whiff rates on the slider (36%) and changeup (32%), with both functioning as change pitches for him. He does get a solid number of whiffs (21%) on the fastball as well. He shows a feel for where he should throw his pitches, but his command can be shaky at times, and he will need to establish both offspeed pitches in the zone against better hitters. He has added a touch more velocity this season, and showed an extra gear in the postseason, and if he can hold that there may be a bit more ceiling. Right now he profiles as a 5-6 inning mid rotation-ish starter.
2024 Outlook: Jimenez should start the year with Jersey Shore, but given he is Rule 5 eligible after the season, a good showing could see him pushed to Reading late in the year.
The Phillies jumped the 20 (now 21) year old Jimenez from the DSL to the FCL, and then to the Threshers for his last two starts. The short righty is up to 94 with a four seam fastball with run. He has a slider and changeup as well, and was able to throw a good amount of strikes at every level. He probably is not far off of the back end starters on the back of the list.
Role: #4 Starter
Risk: High – Jimenez has not pitched above Clearwater and while his stuff is solid, it isn’t going to carry him on his own. He will need to improve his command to reach his ceiling.
Summary: Estibenzon was a bulk reliever and swing man for the 2022 FCL Phillies, before getting two starts late in the year for the Threshers. In 2023, he transitioned to the rotation full time. He is a short, solidly built pitcher who comes from a high three-quarter that gets him a fairly flat approach angle. He threw his fastball about half the time over the course of the season, but it faded in usage down the stretch. He will mostly sit 91-94, but can get it up to 96 with decent, but not spectacular ride (17”-18” IVB up in the zone) with some run. He sells his mid 80s changeup well, and it comes in with mostly the same horizontal movement as the fastball with about 8 inches more drop. He compliments that with a vertical oriented slider that averaged 82 mph on the season. He gets good whiff rates on the slider (36%) and changeup (32%), with both functioning as change pitches for him. He does get a solid number of whiffs (21%) on the fastball as well. He shows a feel for where he should throw his pitches, but his command can be shaky at times, and he will need to establish both offspeed pitches in the zone against better hitters. He has added a touch more velocity this season, and showed an extra gear in the postseason, and if he can hold that there may be a bit more ceiling. Right now he profiles as a 5-6 inning mid rotation-ish starter.
2024 Outlook: Jimenez should start the year with Jersey Shore, but given he is Rule 5 eligible after the season, a good showing could see him pushed to Reading late in the year.
The Phillies jumped the 20 (now 21) year old Jimenez from the DSL to the FCL, and then to the Threshers for his last two starts. The short righty is up to 94 with a four seam fastball with run. He has a slider and changeup as well, and was able to throw a good amount of strikes at every level. He probably is not far off of the back end starters on the back of the list.