2014 Fall Instructional League

There has never been a Jeffry in the major leagues. (Is that because everyone else spells their name correctly? Probably, but that's a subtopic for Sandwich Prospectus.) Fernandez, with his live arm and ideal pitcher's body, has a chance to be the first to reach the big-league plateau. Like plenty of young hurlers, the Dominican right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2013. The numbers are extremely unassuming, as he's a 21-year-old who hasn't yet pitched above short-season ball. However, he has the potential for two plus pitches and a third that flashes. Fernandez's fastball averages 95 and he has touched 98 with some life. The ball comes out of his hand easy. He likes to work the offering down in the zone, with impressive angle. The slider ranges anywhere from 83 to 88 and is thrown with tight spin and late bite, showing two-plane movement and garnering swings and misses. Those two pitches encompass most of his arsenal, but the changeup shows promise due to near–10 mph velocity separation and very good sink. His command and control profile isn't superb, but it could be average or solid-average in time. In fact, I've seen industry reports that tab Fernandez as a very high-end starter, with a realistic role as a solid no. 4. As a relatively unknown commodity with a big-time risk profile due to injury, the Red Sox may be careful with Fernandez. However, file this name away and check back throughout 2015 as the stuff and advanced age may force Boston's hand and accelerate the development plan.