The Dodgers noticed Carrillo while he was training with the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros and signed him for $75,000 in 2016. After recording a 2.08 ERA in his first two pro seasons, he logged a 5.44 mark in high Class A last year while missing a month with a lat injury. He bounced back as one of the best starting pitcher prospects in the Arizona Fall League, fueling optimism that he may break out in 2020.
While Carrillo's fastball sits at 93-97 mph and hits 100, its movement is just as impressive as its velocity, showing heavy sink at times and remarkable armside run at others. He sometimes can command his upper-70s curveball better than his heater, and scouts are split as to whether his mid-80s slider is superior to his curve. His changeup features some promising tumble but lags behind the rest of his repertoire.
At 5-foot-10, Carrillo lacks the size desired in a starter, but he has gotten stronger since turning pro and weighs at least 25 pounds more than his listed weight of 154. His pitches lack plane but they're lively enough to stay off barrels if he can improve his command. Intelligent and competitive, Carrillo has the mentality to be an asset as a late-inning reliever if he winds up in the bullpen.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
The Dodgers spotted Carrillo while he was training with the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros and signed him for $75,000 in 2016. What he lacks in physicality he makes up for with competitiveness, which was evident in his U.S. debut last year. He needed just four outings in the Rookie-level Arizona League to earn a promotion to low Class A, where he posted a 1.65 ERA in nine starts at age 19 despite seeing his fastball dip into the upper 80s by the end of the year.
When he's fresh, Carrillo has a quick arm that produces 92-95 mph fastballs that reach 98 mph with heavy sink. He has advanced feel for a tumbling changeup that he sells with deceptive arm speed, though it has lost some effectiveness in 2019. He has good shape to his curveball, which could give him a third solid-or-better offering if he can add more power to it.
Though he has gotten stronger since turning pro and weighs at least 25 pounds more than his listed weight of 154, Carrillo's size creates concerns about his ability to maintain his stuff and health as a starter. He helps his cause by not only throwing strikes but also keeping his pitches down in the strike zone. He throws with little effort and repeats his delivery well, two more points in his favor.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
Carrillo trained with the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros before receiving $75,000 to sign with the Dodgers in July 2016. He began his pro career in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2017 and came to the United States this year. He needed just four outings in the Rookie-level Arizona League before Los Angeles decided his stuff and pitchability merited a promotion to low Class A at age 19.
Though he's not very physical at a listed 6 feet and 154 pounds, Carrillo has a quick arm that delivers 92-95 mph fastballs that climb as high as 97 with heavy sink. He already shows flashes of two plus secondary pitches as well. His changeup overmatches lower-level hitters and is more advanced that his curveball at this point.
Carrillo not only throws strikes but also pounds the bottom of the strike zone. Even if he adds strength, he'll lack the size of a typical starter, so he'll have to prove he can hold up over the course of a long pro season. Because he already has the makings of a quality repertoire and repeats his delivery well, Los Angeles will give him every opportunity to remain in the rotation.
