Royals Midseason Grades – Starting Rotation

Yordano Ventura : D-

This season couldn’t have gone further in the wrong direction for the 25-year old flamethrower.

Ventura entered the season with high expectations after finishing the 2015 season with a torrid stretch of 2.38 ERA ball over his last 11 starts. He struck out 81 in 68 IP.

He has proceeded to lay a gargantuan egg in 2016, posting a 5.26 ERA over 87.1 IP while walking a whopping 4.02 batters per nine innings. We saw Ventura’s velocity dip a bit in 2015, and that trend has continued into 2016, with his average fastball velocity sitting at a career low 95.4 MPH.

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With the velocity not being what it has been, the lack of command and control has finally come back to bite him, as his fastball has been smashed thus far in 2016.

According to Brooks Baseball, opposing hitters are batting .387 against Ventura’s heater this year, along with a ridiculous .862 SLG%. His fastball value (wFB) currently sits at -8.9 runs above average. Pair all of that with the brawl he started last month and you won’t find a whole lot to be excited about with Ventura.

Next: Edinson Volquez