Pos: RHP (Reliever) |
DOB: 11/28/1983 |
Ht: 6’2 |
Team: Chicago Cubs |
B/T: R/R |
Wt: 215 |
Fastball: 45 |
Slider: 60 |
Command/Control: 55 |
Changeup: 55 |
Curveball: 45 |
Delivery: 60 |
Pitch #1: Fastball, sits around 88-92 MPH using both the two and four seam grips. Not an overpowering pitch, but gets good movement on it. Lack of velocity on this pitch is most likely the biggest reason he has never settled into a more prominent role (Closer/top of rotation arm)
Pitch #2: Slider, highly effective pitch that he will use in almost any count. Sits in the high 70s and low 80s and can control it most of the time. Gets very good movement on this pitch and opponents have consistently hit below .200 against it over his career. Villanueva is at his best when he can consistently locate this pitch in the bottom third of the strike zone.
Pitch #3: Changeup, sits in the low 70s and is another off speed pitch Villanueva uses in almost any situation. This is a pitch he has worked on and improved quite a bit since entering the big leagues and has allowed him to be a viable option for a starting rotation. Opponents hit .229 against his changeup in 2013, by far the best result for that pitch in career.
Pitch #4: Curveball, used as Villanueva’s fourth offering, this can either be highly effective or useless. Sits mid 70s and gets good 12 to 6 action on it but can get into serious trouble when he leaves it up in the zone. Over his career opponents are batting to .262 against his curveball.
Delivery: Compact, highly repeatable delivery. He starts with a relatively high leg kick leading into an “inverted W” arm alignment, then turns his wrist to hide the ball and comes through. He sometimes has a tendency to go into a short arm motion when throwing off speed pitches
Control: Villanueva likes to attack the strike zone and go right after hitters. He likes to use the entire strike zone, but he sometimes keeps the ball up in the zone which has led to high home run totals. Overall his control is quite good as evidenced by his 2.58 K/BB ratio.
Poise: Being shuttled back and forth between roles can definitely take a toll on a pitcher, as has occurred with Villanueva. He seems to get flustered in situations with multiple runners on base and right after defensive problems occur. Perhaps if a team would allow him to stay in a role, he would be able to exude more poise and confidence on the mound.
Physical Description: Villanueva is of average build for a Major League pitcher. Has solid height and muscle distribution. Conditioning does not seem to be an issue for him.
Projection: Villanueva has shown throughout his career that he is a very capable of pitching out of the 4/5 hole in a rotation but has struggled with consistency which explains his status as a swing man who will give 10-15 starts when injuries occur while shadowing as the long man out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. As a pitcher who uses 4 pitches that are all at least average he will never struggle to find work as a long man although his preference has been to be a starter. Unless the Cubs trade one of their pitchers before the season, Villanueva figures to start the season out of the bullpen.