Red Sox pitching prospect Robert Coello has had a rollercoaster career so far to say the least.
He was drafted as a catcher by the Cincinnati Reds in the 20th round of the 2004 MLB June amateur draft., but missed 2005 with an injury and was released by Cincinnati in March 2006.
He then was signed in July 2006 by the Angels who converted him into a pitcher in 2007. And Coello dominated as a reliever in rookie ball with the Angels in 2007. He recorded a 1.37 earned run average and a 1.14 WHIP in 20 relief appearances. However, the Angels opted not to re-sign him at the end of the season, and Coello became a free agent.
He then played Independent League baseball in 2008 before the Red Sox signed him Nov. 10, 2008.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Coello, who is 26, is another prospect similar to Jason Rice, who the Red Sox likely will send to Pawtucket and might consider promoting to Boston if the bullpen needs some help during the season.
“It was pretty interesting when I converted (from catcher to pitcher),” Coello said recently. “And I just didn’t look back. I kept going straight forward. The conversion, there wasn’t really a reason why. They (the Angels) pulled me into the office and told me they had (catchers Mike) Napoli, (Jeff) Mathis, Bobby Wilson. And they liked the way I was throwing.”
Coello combined to go 7-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 32 appearances, including 13 starts, between Portland and Pawtucket last year. He led the Red Sox’ farm system with 130 strikeouts. He posted a 2.49 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings of relief.
He then was called up to Boston in September last season and held opponents scoreless in five of six relief appearances.
He said he likely will primarily be a reliever this year.
“I talked to the pitching coaches and it’s looking more toward the bullpen,” he said.
Coello said he used winter ball to help develop his curveball and changeup. He pitched for Guasave of the Mexican Pacific League and Licey of the Dominican Winter League this winter.
“I was in the Dominican and Mexico working on my offspeed to develop to get all three of my pitches up at that big-league level,” he said. “I’m going to go strong into spring training and then it’s up to them to see if it’s the right fit at that time.”
Coello added that he also has a forkball.
Despite being a catcher in high school and college, Coello played around with a forkball.
“When, the Angels converted me,” he said, “and asked me to pitch, and I said, ‘Hey, I have this pitch,’ they laughed for a second. And then they were like, ‘Where did you come up with this?’ It’s my split, my forkball, what I call it. It’s the only pitch that I really was throwing (before I converted).”
