The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Jesus Liranzo from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday afternoon and assigned him to the Altoona Curve.
Liranzo was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade just three days ago and was designated for assignment yesterday. He spent part of 2016 and all of 2017 at Double-A Bowie (Orioles) in the Eastern League, where he had a 4.52 ERA in 83.2 innings, with a 95:55 SO/BB ratio and a .204 BAA. He missed 2014 with an elbow surgery and was still in the Dominican Summer League as a 20-year-old in 2015. He made a very rare jump from the DSL to Low-A ball in 2016, the skipped to Double-A during the second half of the season due to being Rule 5 eligible at the end of the year. Liranzo impressed the Orioles enough to get a 40-man roster spot in November 2016.
Baseball America had him as the 19th best prospect for the Baltimore Orioles after the 2017 season. He profiles as a hard throwing reliever with a mid-90s fastball, who also mixes in a splitter and a slider. The control is obviously a weak point and could keep him from reaching his ceiling.
Liranzo has one option remaining after this season and he takes one of the three open spots on the 40-man roster.
