Jesus Luzardo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #1 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Born in Peru, Luzardo was raised in Florida and attended Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. He was on track to be a potential first-round pick in 2016 until he needed Tommy John surgery two months before the draft. He fell to the third round, where the Nationals picked him No. 94 overall and signed him for an above-slot $1.4 million. Luzardo made a full recovery and flashed big stuff when he returned, leading the Athletics to acquire him at the 2017 trade deadline with Blake Treinen and Sheldon Neuse in the trade that sent Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to the Nationals. With the A's, Luzardo bounded three levels up to Triple-A, started the Futures Game in a breakout 2018 and appeared on the precipice of the big leagues in 2019. Instead he suffered a rotator cuff strain in March and a lat strain in July, but he still managed to make his big debut in September and was so dominant that the A's carried him on their postseason roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Luzardo tapped back into his fastball post-surgery, flirting with easy velocity up to 97 mph and impressive natural sink. Luzardo confidently works his heater to both sides of the plate, generating weak contact and plenty of swings and misses. His plus, mid-80s changeup features deceptive fade and is effective against both righties and lefties. His low-80s curveball is his third pitch, but it still projects as a future above-average offering. Luzardo is still gaining feel and confidence for his curve, but at its best he can land it for strikes with 1-to-7 action and alter its shape. Luzardo understands his body, which allows him to have a repeatable delivery and above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Luzardo's maturity, poise, confidence and steady development have him tracking to only become stronger with an already-dangerous arsenal. With nothing left to prove in the minors, Luzardo has the ingredients to become a front-of-the-rotation starter. As long as he shows he's healthy, he should open the year in Oakland.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #1 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Born in Peru to Venezuelan parents, Luzardo will become the first Peruvian-born major leaguer when he debuts. The quality of his stuff ensures that he will be remembered as more than the answer to a trivia question. Luzardo moved with his family to Florida when he was 1 and went on to attend Stoneman Douglas High. He was sidelined for much of his senior season after having Tommy John surgery in March but still ranked as the No. 50 prospect for the 2016 draft. The Nationals selected him in the third round. When Luzardo returned to the mound in 2017, he made just three appearances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before Washington traded him and two others to the Athletics in a deal for relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Luzardo emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball in 2018, when he earned an Opening Day assignment to high Class A Stockton, despite having just 12 appearances in short-season ball, then quickly advanced to Double-A Midland and spent August at Triple-A Nashville.
  
  Scouting Report: Few pitching prospects combine feel for three plus or better pitches with plus control like Luzardo. He dots both sides of the plate at 92-93 mph and tops out at 97 when he smells a strikeout. His plus fastball is true but features late hop and appears to jump at batters thanks to a high spin rate. Luzardo's mid-80s changeup is one of the best in the minors, and he isn't afraid to throw the 70-grade pitch to same-side batters or throw it twice in a row. The pitch fades and dives dramatically to his arm side, away from the barrel of righthanded hitters. Luzardo has made progress with his low-80s curveball since turning pro, to the point it usually plays above-average and flashes plus. He can land his 1-to-7 downer breaking ball for strikes or alter its shape as needed. A cohesive delivery helps Luzardo control his pitches and gives him a chance to develop plus command to go with a repertoire that missed bats at an elite rate in the minors in 2018.
  
  The Future: The A's expect Luzardo to factor in their big league rotation at some point in 2019. He has No. 2 starter potential based on his pitch quality, polished command and confident, competitive mound presence.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #5 prospect in 2018
  Born in Peru and raised in South Florida, Luzardo was viewed by area scouts as a possible first-round pick in 2016 before he had Tommy John surgery that March. The Nationals are a team that has never shied away from draft talented pitchers who are recovering from Tommy John surgery. They drafted him in the third round and gave him a $1.4 million signing bonus. Luzardo had pitched in only three Gulf Coast League games in 2017 before Washington sent him to the Athletics in the deal that brought Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to the Nats. Luzardo's abbreviated 2017 season with three teams was impressive: a combined 1.66 ERA in 43.1 innings, with 48 strikeouts and five walks. Poised, confident and smart are adjectives used to describe the lefthander, and his stuff is prodigious too. Luzardo can reach 97 mph with his fastball and has solid command of his curveball. He's developing a changeup that is already seen as above-average by some scouts. He has a simple arm stroke and a repeatable delivery. He appears to understand the art of pitching quite well for someone who's a mere 20 years old. Considering Luzardo hasn't pitched above short-season, he remains many years away from the big league club. But also considering his tools and his refined skills at such a young age, he has the potential to rise to the level of a solid No. 3-or-better starter in the not-so-distant future.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #15 prospect in 2017
  Luzardo started his senior season of high school strong and appeared to be pitching himself into the first round. His momentum was halted, however, when he got injured four starts into the season and required Tommy John surgery in March. The Nationals, who have not shied away from drafting prominent pitchers with health concerns, made the Miami commit the 94th overall pick and signed him for $1.4 million, happy to add another premium arm to their system. Luzardo first stood out as an underclassman for his pitchability and offspeed stuff. But in 2016, before his injury, he showed improved velocity, running his fastball up to 97 mph. He more typically threw the pitch in the low 90s with good sinking action. He has a good feel for his changeup, which projects as a plus pitch, and shows multiple looks with his breaking ball. He commands his whole arsenal well, and has an advanced understanding of his craft. The Nationals have had success helping young pitchers through Tommy John rehab, including Lucas Giolito, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. Luzardo will look to follow in their footsteps and should be ready to make his pro debut when the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League opens in 2017.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #50 prospect in 2016 draft
  Luzardo appeared to be on his way to pitching himself into the first round this spring. But that early-season momentum was halted when he suffered an injury and required Tommy John surgery in March. Luzardo first stood out for his pitchability and offspeed stuff. But before his injury this spring, he showed improved velocity, running his fastball up to 97 mph. He more typically threw the pitch in the low 90s with good sinking action. He has a good feel for his changeup, which projects as a plus pitch, and can show multiple looks with his breaking ball. Luzardo commands his full arsenal well, and has an advanced understanding of hi scraft. He is committed to Miami, though he could be in play as high as the second round.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #2 prospect in 2018
  The Nationals made Luzardo a third-round pick in 2016 even after he had Tommy John surgery as a high school senior. They traded him to the A’s roughly a year later to acquire relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Luzardo entered the year with just 12 pro appearances, all in short-season ball, but that didn’t stop Oakland from assigning him to the high Class A California League. He moved to the TL after just three starts and finished the year at Triple-A Nashville. Working off a 92-97 mph fastball that usually sits at 93, Luzardo shows above-average control to both sides of the plate. He also throws a plus changeup and above-average breaking ball that he’s able to manipulate in both velocity and shape. Luzardo clearly separated himself as the best pitching prospect in the TL—and also as the top lefthanded prospect in the game. He should be big league ready early next season.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 2019

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Born in Peru, Luzardo was raised in Florida and attended Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. He was on track to be a potential first-round pick in 2016 until he needed Tommy John surgery two months before the draft. He fell to the third round, where the Nationals picked him No. 94 overall and signed him for an above-slot $1.4 million. Luzardo made a full recovery and flashed big stuff when he returned, leading the Athletics to acquire him at the 2017 trade deadline with Blake Treinen and Sheldon Neuse in the trade that sent Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to the Nationals. With the A’s, Luzardo bounded three levels up to Triple-A, started the Futures Game in a breakout 2018 and appeared on the precipice of the big leagues in 2019. Instead he suffered a rotator cuff strain in March and a lat strain in July, but he still managed to make his big debut in September and was so dominant that the A’s carried him on their postseason roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Luzardo tapped back into his fastball post-surgery, flirting with easy velocity up to 97 mph and impressive natural sink. Luzardo confidently works his heater to both sides of the plate, generating weak contact and plenty of swings and misses. His plus, mid-80s changeup features deceptive fade and is effective against both righties and lefties. His low-80s curveball is his third pitch, but it still projects as a future above-average offering. Luzardo is still gaining feel and confidence for his curve, but at its best he can land it for strikes with 1-to-7 action and alter its shape. Luzardo understands his body, which allows him to have a repeatable delivery and above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Luzardo’s maturity, poise, confidence and steady development have him tracking to only become stronger with an already-dangerous arsenal. With nothing left to prove in the minors, Luzardo has the ingredients to become a front-of-the-rotation starter. As long as he shows he’s healthy, he should open the year in Oakland. Risk: High SCOUTING GRADES Fastball: 60. Changeup: 70. Curveball: 55. Control: 60. BA GRADE 70
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Born in Peru, Luzardo was raised in Florida and attended Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. He was on track to be a potential first-round pick in 2016 until he needed Tommy John surgery two months before the draft. He fell to the third round, where the Nationals picked him No. 94 overall and signed him for an above-slot $1.4 million. Luzardo made a full recovery and flashed big stuff when he returned, leading the Athletics to acquire him at the 2017 trade deadline with Blake Treinen and Sheldon Neuse in the trade that sent Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to the Nationals. With the A's, Luzardo bounded three levels up to Triple-A, started the Futures Game in a breakout 2018 and appeared on the precipice of the big leagues in 2019. Instead he suffered a rotator cuff strain in March and a lat strain in July, but he still managed to make his big debut in September and was so dominant that the A's carried him on their postseason roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Luzardo tapped back into his fastball post-surgery, flirting with easy velocity up to 97 mph and impressive natural sink. Luzardo confidently works his heater to both sides of the plate, generating weak contact and plenty of swings and misses. His plus, mid-80s changeup features deceptive fade and is effective against both righties and lefties. His low-80s curveball is his third pitch, but it still projects as a future above-average offering. Luzardo is still gaining feel and confidence for his curve, but at its best he can land it for strikes with 1-to-7 action and alter its shape. Luzardo understands his body, which allows him to have a repeatable delivery and above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Luzardo's maturity, poise, confidence and steady development have him tracking to only become stronger with an already-dangerous arsenal. With nothing left to prove in the minors, Luzardo has the ingredients to become a front-of-the-rotation starter. As long as he shows he's healthy, he should open the year in Oakland.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Luzardo entered the season with five appearances outside the complex leagues, but that didn’t stop the Athletics from aggressively pushing him to high Class A Stockton. He quickly tamed the California League and moved onto the Texas League, where he has established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the game. Luzardo pitches at 92-93 mph with precise command to both sides of the plate, and he can max out near 97 mph. His lethal, double-plus changeup might be the best in the minors, while he can change shapes with a swing-and-miss breaking ball that flashes plus. Luzardo ties the package together with a cohesive delivery and outstanding competitive makeup.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Born in Peru and raised in South Florida, Luzardo was viewed by area scouts as a possible first-round pick in 2016 before he had Tommy John surgery that March. The Nationals landed him in the third round. Scouting Report: Luzardo pitched in just three Rookie-level Gulf Coast League games in 2017 before Washington sent him to the Athletics in a deal for relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Luzardo's abbreviated 2017 season was impressive: a combined 1.66 ERA in 43.1 innings, with 48 strikeouts and five walks. Luzardo can reach 97 mph with his fastball and has solid command of his curveball. He's developing a changeup that is already seen as above-average by some scouts. He has a simple arm stroke and a repeatable delivery. He appears to understand the art of pitching quite well for someone who's a mere 20 years old. The Future: Considering Luzardo hasn't pitched above short-season ball, he remains many years away from the big leagues. But also considering his tools and his refined skills at such a young age, he has the potential to rise to the level of a solid No. 3 starter or better in the not-so-distant future.