Hard-throwing Liriano’s the buzz

Miracle left-hander impressive thus far

To understand Francisco Liriano’s potential, all you need to do is listen to him pitch.

Thump!

Don’t watch the Fort Myers Miracle pitcher — listen. Hear the ball whiz through the air and smash into the catcher’s mitt.

Thump!

Francisco Liriano is a scout’s dream — a left-hander who can throw 95 mph. The Miracle’s No. 2 starter, who was acquired in the deal that sent Minnesota catcher A.J. Pierzynski to the San Francisco Giants in December, showcased his arm Friday against Sarasota. The 20-year-old Liriano struck out five of the 15 batters he faced.

“There’s not a whole lot of hard-throwing lefties around,” Miracle pitching coach Eric Rasmussen said. “There’s a lot of lefties who can throw strikes, but for some odd reason you don’t usually find lefties with strong arms.”

In the major leagues, you can count the successful hard-throwing lefties on one hand. There’s Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks. There’s Billy Wagner of the Philadelphia Phillies. And ... well, that’s about it.

It’s for that reason that the Giants traveled to San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic to scout the then-16-year-old Liriano in 2000. And why they promptly signed him for $900,000.

The Giants weren’t the only ones gawking at Liriano’s arm. Tampa Bay, San Diego, Colorado, the New York Yankees and several other teams were interested.

“We knew about him, too,” said Rob Antony, the Minnesota Twins’ director of baseball operations. “But we can’t jump in with money like that.”

Liriano hasn’t realized his potential yet. After a solid season, going 3-6, with a 3.49 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 80 innings, with Class A Hagerstown in 2002, Liriano strained a muscle in his left shoulder last year. He only pitched in two games in 2003.

Then the Giants traded him.

Liriano was crushed. Like most Dominicans, Liriano grew up following San Francisco largely because of former Giants pitcher Juan Marichal, the first Dominican inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“The Giants told me they needed a catcher for the big leagues,” Liriano said in Spanish. “They didn’t have any other options. Minnesota wanted me. They didn’t want to trade me but they didn’t have any other options.

“I was sad. I wanted to stay with them. I liked their team a lot.”

It wasn’t until he arrived in Fort Myers for spring training that Liriano began to feel “mas tranquillo,” or more calm, about the trade. Perhaps the new organization would re-energize his career.

So far, Liriano has been everything the Twins expected.

Liriano, who is completely healthy, routinely threw 95 mph during spring training. He displayed poise and control that belie his age.

“In spring training, he threw strikes and he was very aggressive,” Rasmussen said. “He had a good look about him. Heck, I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far.”

Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz, who compares Liriano to Minnesota starter Johan Santana, said the left-hander will likely remain in Fort Myers all season.

“He needs experience. He needs to go out there every fifth day,” Rantz said. “He missed a lot of time last year.”

So Liriano will wait to realize the potential his left arm has given him. That arm has already allowed him to purchase a seven-bedroom home in San Cristobal that has become a sanctuary for his mother, Paula Casilla, 45.

“My mom?” Liriano said with a grin. “She doesn’t work. She’s in my house all the time.”

Liriano, as well as the Twins, hopes his pitching arm will bring him more luxuries in the future.