Victor Lizarraga

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #19 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico’s best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. Highly advanced for his age, he jumped straight to the Arizona Complex League at 17 years old and started a California League playoff game at 18. Lizarraga hit his first speed bump at High-A Fort Wayne in 2023 as the Midwest League’s youngest player on Opening Day. He had a 5.02 ERA through early August but adjusted to hold opponents scoreless in three of his final four starts.
  
  Scouting Report: Lizarraga boasts a long, lean, athletic 6-foot-3 frame and is a good bet to add strength and velocity as he gets older. His fastball presently sits between 90-94 mph and projects to be an above-average pitch when he is fully mature. His best secondary offering is an upper-70s curveball that projects to be an out pitch. He rounds out his arsenal with a hard, fading changeup that flashes average but doesn’t have enough separation from his fastball at times. None of Lizarraga’s pitches projects to be a plus offering, but he reads swings well and is a good competitor who outlasts opposing hitters. He has average control and should gain body control as he gets stronger.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga’s stuff has to tick up for him to be more than a long reliever, but he’s young and has plenty of time to get stronger. He is bound for Double-A as a 20 year old.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #6 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Lizarraga was Mexico's best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million shortly after the signing period began. The Padres challenged him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old after he signed and pushed him to Low-A Lake Elsinore to begin his first full season at age 18 in 2022. Lizarraga rose to the task by finishing fourth in the California League with a 3.43 ERA and started two playoff games on the road, winning both to help the Storm claim the league title.
  
  Scouting Report: Lizarraga is a long, lean and athletic righthander who is easy to dream on. His fastball sits 90-94 mph and should tick up as he adds weight and strength to his projectable, 6-foot-3 frame. His firm, fading changeup in the mid 80s could reach plus, though to do so it would need more separation from his fastball. His vertical, upper-70s curveball is a developing pitch that is fringy but has potential to improve. Lizarraga mixes his three pitches effectively and has the aptitude to develop a slider, though the Padres prefer he focus on improving his curveball. Beyond his pure stuff, Lizarraga demonstrates impressive moxie and competitiveness in between the lines and has an advanced ability to read swings. He stays calm and poised in tough situations and pounds the strike zone with average control. As is the case with most young pitchers, his fastball command still needs refinement. Lizarraga is still learning the importance of putting in the work between starts, including in the weight room and bullpen sessions, but should improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga has a solid foundation to be a back-of-the-rotation starter and could be more depending on how much his velocity jumps. He'll be 19 in 2023 and has plenty of time to add strength.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico’s best pitching prospect in the 2020-21 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. His advanced feel for pitching led the Padres to challenge him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League where, at age 17, he was the second-youngest player in the circuit. Lizarraga finished the season on an impressive run—11.1 innings, one run, six walks, 18 strikeouts—after a three-week reset following two deaths in his family just days apart.
  
  Scouting Report: Long, lean and athletic, Lizarraga is a projectable teenage righthander who is a good bet to add strength and velocity as he fills out. His fastball presently sits 90-94 mph and he pairs it with an upper-70s curveball that has average potential. He rounds out his arsenal with a fading changeup he throws with conviction and confidence to give it above-average potential. Lizarraga walked more batters than expected in his pro debut, but the Padres expect his control to improve to average in pro ball.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga was essentially a high school junior when the Padres jumped him over the Dominican Summer League to start his career in the U.S. His career can break a lot of different ways, but his three-pitch mix gives him the foundation to stick in a starting rotation.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #24 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres signed one of the top pitchers in the international class in Lizarraga, who trained at the Mazatlan academy in Mexico.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: He's 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, with a ton of room on his long, lean frame to add weight and throw harder. Last year he pitched at 88-93, with a chance to throw in the mid 90s or better in the near future. He has a starter's repertoire with feel for two secondary offerings, led by a mid-to-upper 70s curveball with good shape and depth that's a potential out pitch, along with a solid changeup for his age. Lizarraga's feel for pitching is also advanced for his peer group.
  
  THE FUTURE: Though still years away, Lizarraga’s knack for pitching could allow him to move more quickly than others in his age group. He will make his pro debut this summer in 2021.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Lizarraga was Mexico's best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million shortly after the signing period began. The Padres challenged him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old after he signed and pushed him to Low-A Lake Elsinore to begin his first full season at age 18 in 2022. Lizarraga rose to the task by finishing fourth in the California League with a 3.43 ERA and started two playoff games on the road, winning both to help the Storm claim the league title.
  
  Scouting Report: Lizarraga is a long, lean and athletic righthander who is easy to dream on. His fastball sits 90-94 mph and should tick up as he adds weight and strength to his projectable, 6-foot-3 frame. His firm, fading changeup in the mid 80s could reach plus, though to do so it would need more separation from his fastball. His vertical, upper-70s curveball is a developing pitch that is fringy but has potential to improve. Lizarraga mixes his three pitches effectively and has the aptitude to develop a slider, though the Padres prefer he focus on improving his curveball. Beyond his pure stuff, Lizarraga demonstrates impressive moxie and competitiveness in between the lines and has an advanced ability to read swings. He stays calm and poised in tough situations and pounds the strike zone with average control. As is the case with most young pitchers, his fastball command still needs refinement. Lizarraga is still learning the importance of putting in the work between starts, including in the weight room and bullpen sessions, but should improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga has a solid foundation to be a back-of-the-rotation starter and could be more depending on how much his velocity jumps. He'll be 19 in 2023 and has plenty of time to add strength.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Lizarraga was Mexico's best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million shortly after the signing period began. The Padres challenged him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old after he signed and pushed him to Low-A Lake Elsinore to begin his first full season at age 18 in 2022. Lizarraga rose to the task by finishing fourth in the California League with a 3.43 ERA and started two playoff games on the road, winning both to help the Storm claim the league title.
  
  Scouting Report: Lizarraga is a long, lean and athletic righthander who is easy to dream on. His fastball sits 90-94 mph and should tick up as he adds weight and strength to his projectable, 6-foot-3 frame. His firm, fading changeup in the mid 80s could reach plus, though to do so it would need more separation from his fastball. His vertical, upper-70s curveball is a developing pitch that is fringy but has potential to improve. Lizarraga mixes his three pitches effectively and has the aptitude to develop a slider, though the Padres prefer he focus on improving his curveball. Beyond his pure stuff, Lizarraga demonstrates impressive moxie and competitiveness in between the lines and has an advanced ability to read swings. He stays calm and poised in tough situations and pounds the strike zone with average control. As is the case with most young pitchers, his fastball command still needs refinement. Lizarraga is still learning the importance of putting in the work between starts, including in the weight room and bullpen sessions, but should improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga has a solid foundation to be a back-of-the-rotation starter and could be more depending on how much his velocity jumps. He'll be 19 in 2023 and has plenty of time to add strength.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico&#39s best pitching prospect in the 2020-21 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. His advanced feel for pitching led the Padres to challenge him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League where, at age 17, he was the second-youngest player in the circuit. Lizarraga finished the season on an impressive run—11.1 innings, one run, six walks, 18 strikeouts—after a three-week reset following two deaths in his family just days apart.
  
  Scouting Report: Long, lean and athletic, Lizarraga is a projectable teenage righthander who is a good bet to add strength and velocity as he fills out. His fastball presently sits 90-94 mph and he pairs it with an upper-70s curveball that has average potential. He rounds out his arsenal with a fading changeup he throws with conviction and confidence to give it above-average potential. Lizarraga walked more batters than expected in his pro debut, but the Padres expect his control to improve to average in pro ball.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga was essentially a high school junior when the Padres jumped him over the Dominican Summer League to start his career in the U.S. His career can break a lot of different ways, but his three-pitch mix gives him the foundation to stick in a starting rotation.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico’s best pitching prospect in the 2020-21 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. His advanced feel for pitching led the Padres to challenge him with an assignment to the Arizona Complex League where, at age 17, he was the second-youngest player in the circuit. Lizarraga finished the season on an impressive run—11.1 innings, one run, six walks, 18 strikeouts—after a three-week reset following two deaths in his family just days apart.
  
  Scouting Report: Long, lean and athletic, Lizarraga is a projectable teenage righthander who is a good bet to add strength and velocity as he fills out. His fastball presently sits 90-94 mph and he pairs it with an upper-70s curveball that has average potential. He rounds out his arsenal with a fading changeup he throws with conviction and confidence to give it above-average potential. Lizarraga walked more batters than expected in his pro debut, but the Padres expect his control to improve to average in pro ball.
  
  The Future: Lizarraga was essentially a high school junior when the Padres jumped him over the Dominican Summer League to start his career in the U.S. His career can break a lot of different ways, but his three-pitch mix gives him the foundation to stick in a starting rotation.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Lizarraga is a projectable 17-year-old righthander with a three-pitch mix and a clean, repeatable delivery which should allow him to throw strikes. Scouts have noted that his fastball tends to flatten, however, which makes it more hittable than desired. He pairs the fastball with a mid-70s curveball and a solid changeup.
• January, 2021 Scouting Report
  Cuban 20-year-old righthander Norge Vera is expected to be the top-paid pitcher when the signing period opens. Among teenage pitchers, the top bonus this year is likely to go to Lizarraga, who is expected to sign with the Padres for more than $1 million. Lizarraga, who trains at the Mazatlan academy and is represented by Jorge Campillo, has a fastball that has been up to 93 mph with the space on his tall, lean frame to project a mid-90s or better fastball once he packs on weight. He pairs it with a potential out pitch curveball that can miss bats and solid feel for a changeup for his age.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres signed one of the top pitchers in the international class in Lizarraga, who trained at the Mazatlan academy in Mexico.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: He's 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, with a ton of room on his long, lean frame to add weight and throw harder. Last year he pitched at 88-93, with a chance to throw in the mid 90s or better in the near future. He has a starter's repertoire with feel for two secondary offerings, led by a mid-to-upper 70s curveball with good shape and depth that's a potential out pitch, along with a solid changeup for his age. Lizarraga's feel for pitching is also advanced for his peer group.
  
  THE FUTURE: Though still years away, Lizarraga’s knack for pitching could allow him to move more quickly than others in his age group. He will make his pro debut this summer in 2021.