Rangers have high hopes for Volquez

03/08/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- They call them the DVDs, a cute moniker for three pitchers who have become the symbol for the Rangers' attempt to rebuild their farm system with young pitching.
But the order is wrong. The V goes before the two Ds. Edison Volquez beat Thomas Diamond and John Danks to the Major Leagues last year and manager Buck Showalter said it should not be held against him that he struggled.
"It should be a feather in his cap," Showalter said. "What I remember about him last year was the look in his face. It wasn't like he was overmatched. It was more about 'I can't believe this is happening to me. I know I'm better than this.' He's a confident young man."
By being the first to arrive, Volquez carries the title of top prospect. That could change quickly as rookie pitcher Josh Rupe and second baseman Ian Kinsler bid for spots on the 25-man roster and Diamond and Danks continue to make an indelible impression in Spring Training.
All four carry high profiles right now, while the general feeling among Rangers officials, at least coming into Spring Training, is that Volquez needs more time at Triple-A Oklahoma.
That doesn't mean the Rangers have forgotten about the 22-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic who has already been dubbed "Little Pedro."
Of course, there have many young pitchers in the Dominican Republic who have been burdened by unfair comparisons early in their career to their national hero, Pedro Martinez. But the Rangers know that they may have something special in Volquez.
"He's a talent," pitching coach Mark Connor said. "As he matures and gets more experience, there's a pretty good chance he's going to be a good starting pitcher in the big leagues."
The Rangers signed Volquez to a free agent contract on Oct. 29, 2001, and whispers that they had something special began almost immediately. He was 1-2 with a 2.68 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 47 innings in the 2002 Dominican Summer League.
Even at the Winter Meetings in Nashville that year there were whispers that the Rangers had something special stashed away in the Dominican.
The legend really came to life last summer after Volquez had been promoted to Double-A Frisco.
On June 16, in a game broadcast by Fox Sports Southwest, Volquez took the mound against Corpus Christi and pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing three singles and two walks while striking out seven. He was throwing 95 mph in the ninth inning.
Five days later, he pitched a scoreless inning in the Texas League All-Star Game, striking out two. On July 10, at Comerica Park in Detroit, he was the winning pitcher in the Futures Game with a scoreless second inning in the World Team's 4-0 victory.
At that point he was on the fast track to Arlington and wasn't even derailed by a strained rib cage muscle that forced him on the disabled list from July 24 to Aug. 16.
When he came back, he made two starts for Frisco, posting a 3.38 ERA and striking out 12 in 10 2/3 innings. On Aug. 30, he made his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox.
He was not an immediate hit. Volquez pitched in six games for the Rangers, including three starts, and was 0-4 with a 14.21 ERA. It was a tough learning experience and there were suggestions that he was tipping his pitches.
"Last year I learned that players in the big leagues are up there looking for one pitch," Volquez said. "In the Minor Leagues they are swinging at everything.
"I also know that controlling your emotions is very important in the big leagues. I felt a little nervous in the first game. The second and third games I was more comfortable. But you've got to control your emotions."
There are other things the Rangers want him to work on, particularly his breaking ball. He has an overpowering fastball and a mean changeup but needs a breaking ball for his third pitch.
"I think that will help a lot," Volquez said.
The Rangers also want him to focus more and finish off innings. He was ahead in the count 0-2 on 10 hitters last season and five of them end up getting hits. Opponents hit .391 off him with runners in scoring position, .500 when there were two outs.
"He needs to recognize when he throws a good pitch, he doesn't need to throw a better one," Connor said. "You just have to get a hitter out, you don't have to embarrass him."
But Volquez, at least in the Minors, has shown talent, confidence and poise.
In his three Minor League seasons, Volquez has struck out 8.4 batters per nine innings and issued just 2.6 walks. As Rangers Minor League guru Jamey Newberg points out, Martinez as a Minor Leaguer averaged 8.6 strikeouts and 3.6 walks with basically the same repertoire.
Martinez took his game to the Major League level and has enjoyed Hall of Fame success. Volquez is a novice, still learning.
But right now he is as good of a novice as the Rangers have in their farm system.

Source: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/