Jesus Colome -- By Robert Sherry

At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Colome pitched in 31 games (22 starts) where he compiled an 8-4 record with a 3.36 ERA in 129 innings of work. He allowed 125 hits and 60 walks and recorded 127 strikeouts. He gave up just six home runs. Originally signed out of the Dominican Republic in 1996, Colome spent 1998 playing for the Athletics Rookie-level team in the Arizona League. He went just 2-5, but did have a 3.19 ERA in his 12 games (11 starts). He also recorded 62 strikeouts in 56.2 inning, while allowing 47 hits and 16 walks. He gave up only one home run in 1998.

Colome features a fastball that has been clocked in the upper-90s. He uses both the two-seam and four-seam variety. He is also working on developing his slider and changeup. Colome's future role in Oakland appears to be as the closer. He is still raw, but he could wind up being something special. It would not surprise me if he turns out to be the best player currently in the A's system. Colome is ticketed to open 2000 at Double-A Midland, where for now I think you will still see him starting games.