DrB's 2017 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #39 Melvin Adon

Melvin Adon, RHP.  DOB:  6/9/1994.  6'3", 195 lbs.  International FA.

2016 SS:  5-5, 5.48, 67.1 IP, 4.54 BB/9, 7.35 K/9, GO/AO= 1.52.

Melvin Adon is a bit of an anomaly in that he did not sign as an international FA until age 20, 4 years later than most international FA's.  He pitched well in his pro debut for the DSL Giants, but he was a 20 year old pitching against 17 year olds.  The Giants gave him an aggressive assignment for 2016, skipping Arizona and sending him to Salem-Keizer.  The results on the field were mixed, but he drew national attention with a high-90's FB.

Adon is a solidly-built RHP who does not appear quite as tall as his listed height in videos, but otherwise has almost a perfect pitcher's frame.  On video, it looks like he short-arms just a bit with some pushiness to his low 3/4 delivery.  Note that he hit triple digits 3 times in an fall instructional league game attended by a BA writer and told the writer through interpreter Ydwin Villegas that he was specifically working on strengthening his shoulder and rotator cuff muscles which should help him extend and raise his arm a bit.

I probably could have ranked him higher on the list based on scouting, but the K-rate is a bit low for a guy who throws that hard and the walk rate needs to come down.  I'll guess he gets placed in Augusta where he'll still be a bit old for the level, but where a big breakout is certainly possible.  If not, his future may be in the bullpen.