Prelander Berroa, RHP
DOB: 4/18/2000
BATS: R  /  THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: Traded from Minnesota (7/31/2019) with others for Sam Dyson
SIGNED: International Signing by Minnesota, June 2018
LAST LEVEL: Low-A
VOLATILITY: High

STATS

Lev
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
HBP
WP
WHIP
BB9
SO9
SO/W
2017
Twins
FRk
5.60
9
3
0
17.2
26
17
11
0
11
16
1
2
2.094
5.6
8.2
1.45
2018
2 Teams
Rk
2.81
10
8
0
41.2
33
20
13
0
18
41
2
5
1.224
3.9
8.9
2.28
2018
Twins
Rk
2.29
9
8
0
39.1
31
17
10
0
15
38
2
5
1.169
3.4
8.7
2.53
2018
Elizabethton
Rk
11.57
1
0
0
2.1
2
3
3
0
3
3
0
0
2.143
11.6
11.6
1.00
2019
3 Teams
A--Rk
5.86
12
11
0
50.2
47
37
33
6
26
55
4
8
1.441
4.6
9.8
2.12
2019
Salem-Keizer
A-
9.56
4
4
0
16
17
18
17
2
9
11
3
3
1.625
5.1
6.2
1.22
2019
Elizabethton
Rk
4.55
7
7
0
31.2
29
19
16
4
16
37
1
5
1.421
4.5
10.5
2.31
2019
ACL Orange
Rk
0.00
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
1
7
0
0
0.667
3.0
21.0
7.00
2021
San Jose
A
3.56
24
24
0
98.2
79
52
39
13
53
135
4
10
1.338
4.8
12.3
2.55
Minors (4)
4.14
55
46
0
208.2
185
126
96
19
108
247
11
25
1.404
4.7
10.7
2.29

See Full Stats Here

GiantFutures 2022 Ranks: #8 Starting Pitcher, #20 Overall

Performance: When last we saw Berroa, he was struggling through 2019, with a 4.55 ERA in the Appalachian (Rookie) League, and putting up a 9.56 ERA in four games in Salem-Keizer.  He had a lot of time to put things together before his Single-A debut in 2021, and he did so nicely, posting a 3.56 ERA in 24 games.

Berroa starts the season with shorter starts, not making it past 3.2 innings for his first month of the year, and struggled a bit, including a game where he allowed five unearned runs on five hits and one walk in 2/3 of an inning.  But he got stronger as the season wore on, pitching longer stints as well, including three straight games with 9+ strikeouts in late July.  But Berroa’s weakness was definitely against left-handed hitters, who hit nearly 100 points better against him, with more power and better walk rates.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Berroa is a power pitcher, throwing his fastball in the mid-90’s and touching 99, with a slurvy slider that he uses to get his strikeouts.  His third pitch, a changeup, still needs a lot of development.  In Low-A, the two pitch mix has mostly been enough, though he gives up more contact than you’d like out of power pitcher.

Berroa’s two-pitch mix is a big explanation as to why left-handed hitters had such good numbers against him, since he didn’t have his changeup to attack them with.  With his contact, he’s also given up a lot of fly balls, which led to his giving up 1.2 home runs per every nine innings.

2022 Outlook: He’ll be in High-A next season, with his pitch mix likely to be his top priority.  He’ll also be given a bigger workload for the entire season, to help building up his stamina.

Future Profile: Berroa has the power pitcher profile that teams would love to turn into a starter, with a mid-rotation ceiling.  But if Berroa doesn’t develop that third pitch, he could find a future as back-of-the-bullpen reliever down the road.