Top Prospects #19.5: Edgar Osuna

#19.5 Edgar Osuna


Age: 22
Pos: LHP
HT/WT: 6-1/165
Acquired: In 2009 Rule V Draft.
Birthplace: Mazatlan, Mexico
ETA: 2010

For the second time in the Dayton Moore era the Royals dipped their toes into the Rule V draft and came out with a Mexican pitcher. Of course anyone reading this blog knows the results of the first pick, but the second is still a mystery. His name is Edgar Osuna and he is a "soft tossing" lefty that exhibits an 85-87 mph fastball with a refined curveball and change up. I like this pick and if you read my rule V draft preview you know that I feel that the Rule V draft is an underrated source of talent and the $50,000 pick fee that a selection cost you is insignificant compared to the money spent on other methods of acquiring talent. If you read that article you also know that I suggested the Royals take an outfielder by the name of John Raynor, but unfortunately he was selected before the Royals got a chance to make their selection.

Back to Osuna. He hasn't had much success in the upper levels, but typically with Rule V guys you aren't drafting on results, but instead you are relying on scouts that think they could make the transition to the majors in the following season. The Royals insist that they view Osuna as a starter but I'd give him about a one percent chance at the rotation in 2010. Instead I think the Royals will attempt to hide him in the pen as a Loogy or mop up guy unless he either proves himself worthy of quality innings or proves himself unworthy of a place on the twenty-five man roster.

Scouting reports suggest that his ceiling is that of a 4 or 5 starter, but more likely will be a long relief, swing-man for a bullpen somewhere. Then again if his scouting reports thought that he could become a front of the rotation starter or a quality setup man then he wouldn't have been left unprotected this winter. Someone in the Royals scouting department obviously saw something that other haven't and that someone believes that Osuna is ready for the Major Leagues. It would be a great victory for the Royals scouting department if once again they could pluck a pitching gem from the Rule V draft, however the odds are stacked against this happening. I have a lot of hope in Osuna, but it is important to keep in mind that for every Joakim Soria or Josh Hamilton there are dozens of rule V failures.