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01 August, 2002
Josh Boyd, Baseball America, on Jeremy
Bonderman OAK (soon DET) :
" ... If Bonderman hadn’t gotten his
general-equivalency diploma and entered the 2001 draft as a high school junior,
he’d just be entering pro ball. Instead, he has excelled as a teenager in the
high Class A California League, going 7-8, 3.55 with 139 strikeouts in 127
innings. He’s showing a mid-90s fastball and a hard breaking ball every time
out. It can’t be made official until the one-year anniversary of his signing
on Aug. 22, but he’ll be the player to be named in the Weaver trade."
Josh Goldfine, SportsTicker, on Dontrelle Willis FLO :
"
... just may be the real deal. In his first start for the Florida Marlins'
high Class A club, Willis yielded just four hits and a walk over eight shutout
frames in Jupiter's win over Daytona on Saturday. Willis, acquired in the spring
training deal with the Cubs that sent a host of big leaguers packing their
belongings in March, looks like he may be a diamond in the rough. Willis, a
left-hander, compiled a 1.83 ERA while in low Class A ball earlier this season,
with a strikeout/walk ratio of 5:1. Besides owning a cut fastball that gets into
the low 90s, a solid curveball and slider, Willis is rare in another way. He is
a throwback who is a terrific athlete, fields his position well and is a quiet
leader. Willis has been known to shake hands with each of his fielders after
every inning. He has a terrific work ethic and an equally impressive respect for
the game."
Goldfine on Kevin Youkilis BOS
"
... In this age of teams focusing on on-base percentage as the crucial
statistic by which to predict a player's potential success -- or lack thereof --
in the big leagues, Youkilis fits that bill perfectly. A player who compiled an
otherworldly .512 on-base percentage at short-season Class A last summer,
Youkilis hit .283 with low Class A Augusta this spring, then .295 for high Class
A Sarasota before being moved to Double-A Trenton last week. Youkilis, the
University of Cincinnati's career leader in six offensive categories and a
two-time All-American, has walked 11 times against just three strikeouts to
start his Double-A tenure. He was batting .324 with a .480 on-base percentage
through 11 games with Trenton."
02 August, 2002
Josh Boyd, Baseball America, has Joe
Mauer MIN atop the best of the catching prospects. The top 5 -- Mauer,
Jeff Mathis ANA, John Buck HOU, Justin Huber
NYN and Victor Martinez CLE.
Boyd on Martinez :
"
... There are some mixed sentiments among scouts on Victor Martinez, but it's
impossible to ignore what he has done over the last two seasons. He was the
Class A Carolina League MVP in 2001, and now he's leading the Double-A Eastern
League in hitting (.349) and on-base percentage (.425), and he's second in home
runs (18), doubles (34) and slugging percentage (.600). The 23-year-old's
defense is average at best, though, and he's thrown out just 24 percent of
basestealers."
03 August, 2002
Jim Keller, SportsTicker, on Rocco Baldelli
TB :
"
... After being selected sixth overall by the Devil Rays in the 2000 draft and
suffering through two sub-par seasons, the 20-year-old is putting it together
this season. Baldelli was leading batting .333 in Class A California League with
19 doubles, 14 homers and 21 steals in 77 games before getting promoted to Class
AA Orlando on July 20. The righthanded hitter has continued to flourish with the
Rays, batting .455 (20-44) in his first 11 games. The move to the leadoff spot
has been a positive one for Baldelli, but don't be surprised if he gets moved
back to the middle of the order because of his pop."
Keller on Victor Martinez CLE :
"
... Despite the jump to the Eastern League this season, the Venezuelan native
has easily surpassed those numbers already for Akron. Martinez is batting a
league-best .349 but it's his 35 doubles and 18 homers -- eight more than he hit
all of last season -- in just 97 games that has surprised many. "I wouldn't
use the word surprise, but the power frequency has been a little more than we
expected," said Indians Assistant Director of Player Development Ross
Atkins. Better yet, Martinez has shown excellent plate discipline with 43 walks
and just 48 strikeouts in 355 at-bats. That has helped him lead the league in
on-base percentage (.425) and rank second in slugging (.600). "Considering
his age and that he's a converted shortstop, he's way above where we would have
anticipated him being," Atkins said ... The switch-hitter seems to have no
holes at the plate. He's batted well over .300 with pop from both sides of the
plate the last two years and has batted .337 with runners on base. "The
stats speak for themselves," Atkins said, "but the most exciting thing
about Victor is the way he leads and his leadership abilities."
Defensively, the 6-foot-2, 200 pounder is better than adequate. He has the solid
hands that he displayed at shortstop, a quick release and quick feet, but his
arm is only adequate at best right now. Still, the combination of hitting
ability, power and plate discipline gives Martinez and excellent chance of being
part of the next Cleveland uprising."
05 August, 2002
David Cameron, Strike Three,
on Sean Burnett PIT :
"
... He actually impressed me more than I thought he would. The reports I'd
gotten was that he had average stuff and exceptional command, so I was expecting
to see a lot of 80's on the radar gun. Burnett is actually one of the
harder-throwing left-handers I've seen this year, especially encouraging since
he's just 19 years of age. He got his fastball as high as 92, and was
comfortably at 90-91 most of the game ... got an outside shot of hitting 93-94
later on in his career, so he's certainly not Jamie Moyer ... Scouts love his
pitchability and his minuscule ERA, while the more statistically inclined are
scared off by his low strikeout rate. I think the truth, as usual, lies
somewhere in the middle. He's not a pitcher who lacks the ability to strike
batters out, as he has the stuff to draw more swings and misses than he's
currently getting. He will need to adjust his philosophy of throwing all
strikes, all the time as he moves up, though. Its tough to convince a kid with
an ERA that begins with 1 that he needs to change things, however. I expect
Burnett to have some rough patches ahead as he adjusts to AA and AAA hitters. If
he can learn the lessons without losing any confidence (which he's obviously not
lacking), he'll be a good major league pitcher."
Joe
Bush, Chicago Daily Herald, on Scott Hairston ARZ :
"
... One of the game's top prospects, he's second in the Midwest League to Kane
County's Jason Stokes in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging
percentage ... Scott hit .503 as the national juco player of the year in 2001,
then batted .347 as a Pioneer League all-star after the Diamondbacks selected
him in the third round. He had 15 home runs and 61 RBI through Friday's games,
but his defense has been a work in progress. Scott's offensive potential is such
that he will get plenty of time to improve the defense, even if it means playing
different positions to better his chances. He has played second base most of the
year but lately has been at third. South Bend manager Dick Schofield knows a
thing or two about being the son of a major-leaguer. In Schofield's
baseball-lifer's opinion, Scott will follow in the footsteps of Jerry Jr., Jerry
Sr., grandpa Sam and an uncle John, who surfaced with the Cubs in the 1960s.
"He has tremendous power to the opposite field, which you don't see a lot
in right-handers," Schofield said. "He hits the ball to right field
like a left-hander does - it doesn't have that little slice, he gets backspin
going to right field. I don't know how he does it, but he does it. I just think
he'll hit wherever he goes."
07 August, 2002
Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Matt
LeCroy MIN :
"
... He doesn't have a pretty body and he's not much of an athlete, but the 1997
supplemental first-round pick is going to hit for a decent average and provide
plenty of power. If the Twins deem Doug Mientkiewicz and David Ortiz as too
expensive to go to arbitration with after this season, LeCroy would be a
legitimate replacement for either. He doesn't have Mientkiewicz' glove at first
base, but he's a more productive hitter. Easily. The problem for LeCroy is that
he not only has to crack the big league lineup, but he also has to watch his
back. Michael Cuddyer was one of the best batting prospects in the minors, and
Bobby Kielty and Dustan Mohr kept him in Triple-A for much of this season.
Michael Restovich, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are also on the way, which is
going to make it that much more difficult for LeCroy to establish himself in
Minnesota. If he can't, there will be several teams interested in giving him
that opportunity."
08
August, 2002
Lisa Winston, Baseball Weekly, on
prospective aces :
"
... Rich Fischer ANA ... Fischer brought a .500 record and 4.80 ERA into
the 2002 season but has really turned it up this year. At Rancho Cucamonga (A),
the 21-year-old posted a 3.50 ERA and struck out 138 in 131 innings. He had
double-digit strikeouts in four of his last eight starts as well as five
complete games, four of them shutouts (both led the minors). Add in his three
starts at Arkansas (AA), and his 156 strikeouts were tied for the minor league
lead."
"
... Dan Haren STL ... In 14 starts at Peoria (A), Haren went 7-3
with a 1.95 ERA, striking out 89 while walking just 12 in 101 innings before a
promotion to Potomac (high-A). There he had a 3.00 ERA in his first eight starts
and once again was in control, striking out 44 and walking seven in 56
innings."
"
... Jesse Foppert SF ... Drafted in the second round of 2001, he
went 8-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 14 starts at short-season Salem-Keizer last year and
started this season at Shreveport (AA). His 2.79 ERA in 11 starts and only three
homers allowed got him yet another promotion, this time to Fresno (AAA). His 142
strikeouts ranked among the minor league leaders. In his first eight Pacific
Coast League starts, batters had managed just a .218 average against him."
Jim Keller, SportsTicker, on Andy Marte
ATL :
"
... The 6-1, 185 pound Marte, who is only 18 years of age and the fourth
youngest everyday player in the league, is batting .284 with 26 doubles, 17
homers and 85 RBI with a month to go in the season. His RBI total leads the
league and his home run total ranks second. By comparison, in 1991, a
19-year-old Chipper Jones hit .326 with 15 homers and 98 RBI for the Macon club.
Andruw Jones came along in '95 and hit .277 with 25 homers and 100 RBI at the
age of 18 for the same club. The Braves organization gets excited when Marte's
is brought up for discussion. "He's been outstanding for us this
year," said Darryl Monroe, Atlanta's Assistant Director of Player
Development. "We expect great things from him. We have a high ceiling for
him." ... Marte has avoided the slumps that are common for young hitters
not used to playing a 140-game schedule. He's shown some patience at the plate
with 37 walks in 100 games and hasn't struck out that much (93 times) for a
player of limited experience."
OAK catcher Jeremy
Brown (drafted 35th overall in the 2002 draft, 5'10, 210, 22 years old) :
"
... MLB.com ... Medium, squatty build. Unloads ball quick. Swings bat very
aggressively. Shows long ball power. Handles pitchers well. Comes to beat you.
Gets dirty.
ProtospectWatch
... another polished college product with production that outweighs his
potential. He could put up very good offensive numbers from behind the plate.
Overall, the A's stuck with their organizational philosophies and it could pay
off huge dividends in the long run.
Rolltide.com
... Brown has been named the winner of the 2002 Johnny Bench Award
... presented annually to college baseball's top catcher. A two-year
starter behind the plate for Alabama, Brown was a runner up to Baylor's Kelly
Shoppach in last year's voting ... appeared in 66 games for Alabama this season
and compiled a .320 (70-for-219) with 11 home runs and 64 RBI. He also set the
UA single season record with 69 walks ... set the UA single-season record with a
1.000 fielding percentage in 2001 and made only one error this year, compiling a
.998 fielding clip. He also was second in the SEC with seven pickoffs and ranked
among the league leaders by throwing out 43 percent of his attempted base
stealers."
09 August, 2002
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, Prospects Report :
"
... Rocco Baldelli - OF Devil Rays - It was just four weeks ago that I
rated Baldelli the No. 36 prospect in baseball. If I was to redo the rankings
today, he’d probably jump into the top 10 ... His progress recently led GM
Chuck LaMar to say that Baldelli will probably reach the majors this season ...
.As great of a prospect that Baldelli is, he has a lot to learn ... Baldelli is
Tampa Bay’s center fielder of the future, probably the near future if Randy
Winn is traded this winter. Defensively, he’s ready for the majors right now.
Offensively, I think he’s still a full year away, maybe longer. He will get
his chance before then, and there is the possibility that he’ll have some
success, but I’m not optimistic. When he matures, Baldelli should be a top
fantasy outfielder. He has 30-30 ability, and he’ll probably hit for average
while doing it."
"
... Travis Hafner - 1B Rangers - Hafner is a quality prospect, but it
doesn’t look like he’s going to have a future in Texas. Of course, I would
have said the same about Kevin Mench a few months ago, and things have turned
out well for him. Hafner is a slightly better hitter than Mench, but he’s a
mediocre defensive first baseman without the ability to play in the outfield.
"
"
... Runelvys Hernandez - RHP Royals - Hernandez probably would have made
the Top 100 Prospects had it not been discovered that he was 2 ½ years older
than his listed age. A 24-year-old Hernandez is still a pretty good prospect,
but as much success as he’s had thus far, he may soon become overhyped.
Hernandez is worth owning in AL-only leagues, but he’s likely to fade at some
point."
"
... Gabe Gross - OF Blue Jays ... likely out for the rest of the
minor league season with a hairline fracture of his right ankle. The 2001
first-round pick was playing well before going down last week, but he ends the
season not having made nearly as much progress as had been hoped. I still wouldn’t
be surprised to see him hit his way to the majors next season."
10 August, 2002
John
Sickels, ESPN, on John VanB
PIT :
"
... As for VanBenschoten, he's had a good ERA all season, but for much of the
first half, his K/BB ratio was weak. This has changed lately, however, as he's
making the necessary mental adjustments to pitching. He is now 10-4, 2.79 at
Hickory, with a solid 123/53 K/BB mark in 129 innings, with only 103 hits
allowed. He's impressing scouts with his velocity and improved command lately,
and his numbers are starting to come in line with his scouting reports. Best of
all, being mostly a hitter in college has kept his arm fresh. Yes, we need to
see him at higher levels, but I have no qualms about admitting that I was wrong
about him. Using him as a pitcher instead of a hitter looks to have been the
right decision."
Sickels on Justin Huber NYN :
"
... Just 20, he's quickly developed into one of the best hitting prospects in
the game. Huber hit .314/.415/.528 in the Appy League last year, and has
followed that up with strong play this season. He began at Capital City, where
he hit .294/.409/.478 in 84 games. Promoted to St. Lucie late last month, he's
hitting .308 in his first 18 games. Huber does not have as much raw power as
Piazza, but will hit for average and get on base at a strong clip. His power is
to the alleys mostly right now, though he's strong enough to be good for 20+
homers with maturity. His strike zone judgment is sound, and he doesn't show any
particular weaknesses as a hitter. Defensively, Huber is better than Piazza.
He's very mobile, and has a strong and accurate arm. His leadership skills seem
sound, and no one has questioned his work ethic. The Mets turned down trade
requests for Huber in July, and he's the best hitting prospect in the system. He
is the crown jewel of the system, pairing nicely with hot shortstop prospect
Jose Reyes."
David Cameron, StrikeThree, on Kelly
Johnson ATL :
"
... While most people will call his 2002 campaign a disappointment, I'm of the
opinion that Johnson's stock has actually gone up. A quick look at Johnson's
numbers reveal a mediocre .267/.339/.424 line in 389 at-bats. While that's a
decent line for a 19-year-old in high-A, those numbers don't begin to tell the
story ... the Pelicans play in one of the best pitcher's parks in all of
professional baseball. Johnson has had his numbers deflated by his home park ...
numbers are also deflated by the horrible first month of the season Johnson
suffered through ... Since that first month, he's hitting .286/.353/.466, a
tremendous accomplishment for a player his age playing in Myrtle Beach. He's
been absolutely on fire the past month, hitting over .320 in July. Johnson's
natural left-handed swing has pretty clearly made the adjustment and he's having
few problems with his competition. Johnson isn't likely to stick at shortstop,
and I'm a bit surprised the Braves have left him there this long. His future
position is either third base or left field, though I'd imagine the Braves will
give him every opportunity to stick in the infield. No matter where he plays,
though, Johnson's bat shouldn't have too many problems. He's one of the best
teenage hitters around, and the Braves should be quite happy with his
development."
Cameron on Wilson Betemit ATL :
"
... a disaster of a season. His overly aggressive style at the plate was
exploited by AAA pitchers and he floated around the Mendoza line before missing
over a month of the season with an injury. Since returning, he's picked it quite
a bit, raising his average to .235 and showing some decent power. His struggles
shouldn't have been a major surprise, considering his age and the lack of plate
discipline he showed during his rise through the minors last year. His tale
should be taken into account when the hype machine for Mets prospect Jose Reyes
starts to roll."
13
August, 2002
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Dewon
Brazelton TB :
"
... Going from Middle Tennessee State to Double-A may have been pushing it, but
he has handled the challenge. He has permitted just two earned runs in 20
innings over his last three starts. Brazelton struggled at the beginning of the
season after the Devil Rays asked him to reduce his full windup, but he has
looked better since being allowed to use it again. He has pitched at 92-94 mph
and reached 97 with his fastball, and his changeup is still a big league pitch.
His biggest need is to refine a breaking ball, and his curve has been scrapped
in favor of a slider."
14 August, 2002
John Gardner, The Idaho Statesman, on Luke
Hagerty CHN :
"
... Hagerty was so dominant, he looked robotic at times ... became
the first Boise Hawks starter to pitch into the eighth inning this season. He
gave up just three hits before turning the game over to the bullpen ...
faced four batters over the minimum in his eight innings, threw 17 first-pitch
strikes and fanned six. He carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning ...
Through 25 innings in six starts, Hagerty still hasn´t surrendered an earned
run. Early in the season, he lost two games because of nine unearned runs ...
“Earlier on, during pregame warmups, our pitching coach (Dave Haas) decided it
would be a good idea to try and throw an inning in the bullpen,” Hagerty said.
“It´s working so far.” Hagerty was virtually untouchable in this game. He
caught Spokane hitters looking on three of his strikeouts. He threw just seven
pitches in both the third and fifth innings and only eight in the six. "
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Hagerty :
"
... I thought Hagerty would go in the second half of the first round because
there were a number of teams looking for college pitchers and he has so much
upside. There aren't too many lefthanders who are 6-foot-8 and have thrown 93-94
mph. But Hagerty wasn't as aggressive and as dominant this spring at Ball State
as scouts would have hoped, and his fastball wasn't as crisp as it had been in
the Central Illinois Collegiate League the previous summer. His breaking ball
also was inconsistent and he faded down the stretch, losing four of his last
five decisions. All that combined to knock him down to 32nd overall, the first
of three supplemental first-rounders for the Cubs."
15
August, 2002
Josh Boyd's latest report in Baseball
America on the best of the first base prospects has a few surprises and
shows the depth at the position. One-time hot prospects Ken Harvey,
Ben Broussard & Chin-Feng Chen now trail
the leaders. Keep in mind, the 2002 draft picks are not included in the
ratings (thus, expect many of these to lose their Top 20 spots in the off-season
as Prince Fielder, Jason Perry, James Loney,
Ryan Shealy et al grab spots.)
The Top 10 -- 1. Morneau MIN, 2. Kotchman
ANA, 3. Stokes FLO, 4. Choi CHN, 5. Gonzalez FLO, 6. Overbay
ARZ, 7. Nelson MIL, 8. Munson DET, 9. Hawpe COL, 10. Gomon
MIN.
16 August, 2002
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, on John
VanBenschoten PIT :
"
... I’m still not convinced that the Pirates made the right choice when
they decided to draft VanBenschoten as a pitcher, but the move has worked out as
well as the team possibly could have hoped ... Moved up to Single-A Hickory this
season, he’s been truly impressive. He’s 10-4 with a 2.77 ERA, 105 H and
126/57 K/BB in 133 IP. He was recently named the top pitching prospect in the
South Atlantic League in Baseball America’s survey of league managers. The
22-year-old VanBenschoten throws a 91-93 mph fastball and has a plus curveball.
I’ve done more than a little arguing with myself over what kind of upside he
has. On the one hand, his stuff, while good, is something less than spectacular.
However, VanBenschoten has experienced a great deal of success for someone with
as little experience as he has, and the opposition can’t say enough about good
things about him."
17 August, 2002
David Cameron, StrikeThree,
on Andy Marte ATL :
"
... perhaps the most impressive player I've seen this year, is third baseman
Andy Marte ... .281/.344/.492 in 417 at-bats. That line looks a lot better
when you consider that Marte is listed at just 18 years of age ... The South
Atlantic League is a great pitcher's league. The fact that Marte has been able
to hit 18 home runs (second in the league) so far this year is a testament to
his raw power. He's not just longballs either, as his 48 extra-base hits rank
third in the league. 41 percent of his hits are extra-base knocks, an astounding
percentage for a kid his age ... .More impressive than his offense was Marte's
work with the glove. He showed good footwork and positioning and a solid arm. He
won't win any velocity contests, but he's got no problem getting it across the
diamond. His reactions were quick and he moved well from side to side. He also
showed soft hands. He has the makings of a gold glove caliber third
baseman."
Cameron on Macay McBride ATL
:
"
... pitched an easy game, not really being challenged at any time. He showed a
good fastball, ranging between 89-91 most of the time and topping out at 93 MPH.
His out pitch is a plus slider that is lethal on both left-handed and
right-handed batters alike. He showed a 12-6 curveball that had potential, but
didn't throw it more than a handful of times. He needs to tighten the spin and
add velocity, but it has potential as a third pitch. McBride has good command
and can work his spots easily. He's one of the more polished pitchers I've seen
this year. Just 19 years of age, the Braves should be thrilled with his
development. If his arm can survive the workload, he could be pushing Atlanta by
2005."
Callis, Baseball America, on McBride
ATL :
"
... He throws in the mid-90s despite being a 5-foot-11 lefthander, and he just
needs to polish his secondary pitches and command. There are a lot of pitfalls
awaiting pitchers between low Class A and the majors, but McBride's future looks
bright. He's probably at least 2½ years away from the majors, but he's
definitely in Atlanta's plans. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz can't
pitch forever."
Molly Yanity & Holly Cain, SEA
Post-Intelligencer, on Ryan Anderson SEA :
"
... the Mariners' 6-foot-10 left-handed pitching prospect, threw for just
the second time since having season-ending surgery on a torn labrum in his
throwing shoulder this spring. It was the second surgery of its kind in two
years for the 23-year-old. He missed all of the 2001 campaign, as well.
"This year hasn't been as frustrating -- I know what I'm in for now,"
Anderson said. "Last year was a lot harder on me." Anderson threw 35
pitches at about 60 percent. "(It was) more like catch than pitching,"
he said. "It was nice and easy." After throwing for the first time
Tuesday, Anderson said his arm has felt good and he has experienced no pain or
swelling. "I was surprised. Before I threw, I was worried. I wanted to wait
awhile longer, but I went out and did it and it felt good," he said.
Anderson said his rehabilitation will continue in a general progression. He will
throw 35 pitches from 45 feet on three occasions, then go back up to 60 feet, 75
feet and ultimately 120 feet. After throwing three days from that distance, he
will move to the bullpen and pitch off the rubber. He hopes to be able to throw
at full strength in the Arizona instructional league in the winter.
John
Sickels, ESPN, on Travis Hafner
TEX :
"
... as recently as two weeks ago, it looked like he'd have to find another team
to play for via trade, since the Rangers were jammed up with first base and DH
types. But this may change if the Rangers move Hank Blalock to second base and
keep Mark Teixeira at third, freeing first base for Hafner long term, which is
one rumor going around. I don't really believe the rumor, but I thought I'd
mention it. Hafner has certainly earned a shot somewhere, hitting .338/.458/.545
at Triple-A, with a reduced strikeout rate and tons of walks. If the Rangers
can't find a slot for him, someone will. His raw power is tremendous, and he's
really improved his ability to recognize breaking pitches and make contact. If
the Rangers can't find a place for Hafner, expect him to be traded for pitching
help this winter."
20 August, 2002
Mike Harrington, Buffalo News, on Jody Gerut CLE :
"
... One of the best seasons by a young Buffalo player that is going largely
unnoticed is being put together by center fielder Jody Gerut. The 24-year-old,
who did not play last year after knee surgery, went 3 for 3 Sunday to improve
his batting average to .321. Gerut lined a single off the right-field wall in
the second inning but couldn't stretch it to a double because the ball was hit
so hard. He doubled to the gap in left-center and scored on a wild pitch in the
fifth, then added an RBI single in the sixth. Gerut has hit safely in 30 of the
last 38 games, batting .333 in that span. The lone blotch on his numbers is the
fact he doesn't hit for much power; only seven of his 50 hits have gone for
extra bases, with his lone home run coming July 21 at Ottawa."
21 August, 2002
From Josh Boyd, Baseball America on Chris
George KC :
"
... George has gone from No. 1 prospect to fringe prospect. After going 4-8,
5.59 in 13 starts for the Royals last season, and 0-4, 5.60 in four starts this
year, George is struggling at Omaha. The 22-year-old's fastball, which was up to
93 mph in the past, is now around 84-88, touching 90 on occasion. One scout who
had seen him in high school was shocked: "They've changed his arm action,
he has a low elbow now. His breaking ball is inconsistent. He still has a
chance, but probably as a fifth starter."
23 August, 2002
Josh Boyd, what an addition he's been to
the Baseball America lineup, with his picks for the top dogs at second
base and shortstop.
Bobby Hill CHN tops the rather thin roster
of 2B. Jake Gautreau SD is the runnerup, Scott Hairston
ARZ 3rd with struggling Antonio Perez SEA 4th and Chris Burke
HOU 5th.
Boyd on Hairston :
"
... Scott is establishing himself as a potent offensive weapon ... hit
.347-14-65 in his pro debut last summer in Rookie-level Missoula. Hairston
hasn't let up as he's moved up the ladder. After spending the first 109 games in
low Class A South Bend, where the 22-year-old batted .332-16-72 in 394 at-bats,
he earned a promotion to Lancaster. In his first seven high Class A games,
Hairston hit .355 and delivered his 17th home run of the year. Hairston could
have gone higher than the third round last June, but his defense was a major
question mark and continues to be. He has committed 28 errors at second base and
also played 10 games at third this year. Several scouts believe he will end up
in left field. His arm is slightly below average, and his work habits and effort
on the field haven't impressed scouts."
One surprise in the top SS rankings, headed by Brandon
Phillips CLE. Hanley Ramirez BOS captured the #5 slot
behind Jose Reyes NYN, Wilson Betemit and Kelly
Johnson ATL.
Boyd on his #15 pick :
"
... Some observers project the Dodgers’ Joel Guzman to have a higher
ceiling than any other shortstop prospect in the game, but he‘s such a deep
projection that it could take five years for him to figure things out. He hasn’t
been overmatched in his pro debut, but he has a lot of work to do in fine-tuning
his swing and his approach. He has major problems recognizing breaking pitches.
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, on Hee Seop
Choi CHN :
"
... Teixeira hasn’t switched positions yet, so Hee Seop Choi is the top
first-base prospect currently in the minors ... . 6-foot-5, 240-pound Choi
already has great power, and he’s going to get stronger ... Despite his size,
the 23-year-old Choi is a quality defender at first base. He’s a left-handed
hitter without any platoon issues. In fact, he’s actually hit lefties better
than righties in each of the last two seasons. Fred McGriff’s contract is up
at the end of the season, so the starting job at first base should be Choi’s
to lose next spring."
Pouliot
on Jeremy Bonderman,
just announced as the PTBNL going to DET :
"
... Bonderman, 19, is one of the top pitching prospects in the low minors.
He has a mid-90s fastball and his already strong curve should eventually develop
into a top-notch breaking pitch. His 2002 season is over, as the Tigers wanted
him shut down after 25 starts. He finished 9-8 with a 3.61 ERA, 129 H and 160/55
K/BB in 144 2/3 IP for Single-A Modesto. If Bonderman can gradually improve his
control as he climbs the ladder, he should become a quality starter in the major
leagues. He has as much upside as anyone in the Detroit farm system, though I’d
still rate the injured Kenny Baugh as a superior prospect. Bonderman figures to
open next season as one of the youngest pitchers in Double-A. His current ETA is
mid-2004, but a strong start to his 2003 could speed things up
considerably."
24 August, 2002
Kevin Wheeler, The Sporting News, on Mark
Teixeira TEX :
"
... after a couple injury-related setbacks, he's starting to live up to
the hype. He has recovered from an arm injury suffered during spring training
and has had an awesome season at the plate, even though he's not played a full
season. He's managed to accumulate 280 at-bats so far, beginning the season at
high Class A and moving on to Class AA after 150 at-bats. He's batting .321 with
17 home runs and 65 RBI, plus he's getting on base at an impressive .409 clip.
He's drawn 41 walks compared to 52 strikeouts, displaying the patience he was
praised for while at Georgia Tech ... the Rangers have plenty of corner
outfielders and would be better off with Blalock at third and Texeira sharing
1B/DH with Palmeiro. Don't be surprised if Texeira joins the Rangers' everyday
lineup by Opening Day next season."
Roch
Kubatko, Baltimore Sun, with
depressing news on Erik Bedard BAL :
"
... Bedard, a sixth-round draft pick in 1999 who's regarded as the
organization's top pitching prospect, might need ligament-transplant surgery on
his left elbow because of persistent pain that won't allow him to throw. A
magnetic resonance imaging test confirmed a small ligament tear, and extended
rest hasn't alleviated the discomfort. Bedard recently had to end a side session
because of the pain, and Syd Thrift, the Orioles' vice president for baseball
operations, said a decision on whether Bedard needs surgery will be made within
the next 10 days."
25 August, 2002
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Hanley Ramirez BOS :
"
... Ramirez, also 18, is making his U.S. debut after signing out of the
Dominican Republic in 2000 and playing in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer
League. He was sensational in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, batting
.341-6-26 in 45 games, and has been even better at short-season Lowell, where he
has hit .477-1-10 through 10 contests. He also has walked (19) nearly as much as
he has struck out (21) and has stolen 11 bases. Ramirez has solid shortstop
tools as well."
26 August, 2002
Sam
Carchidi, Philadelphia Inquirer &
Daily News on Gavin Floyd :
"
... Say hello to Gavin Floyd, 19, a hard-throwing righthander who is
putting the finishing touches on a superb season at single-A Lakewood. He has
allowed two hits or less in seven of his 25 starts. "He's right on
track," says Mike Arbuckle, the Phillies' assistant general manager in
charge of scouting and player development. Floyd is on track to become a member
of a staff that - maybe, just maybe - will one day draw comparisons to the
Atlanta Braves' coming-of-age rotation of the early 1990s. If starting pitching
is the quintessential factor in a team's success, Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla,
Brett Myers and the enigmatic but gifted Brandon Duckworth are the keys to the
Phillies' future. They are young. They are talented. And they are hoping to
reach their primes together."
"
... Down near the Jersey Shore, in Lakewood, Ocean
County, many envision Floyd in the rotation with that group someday. And with
good reason. Though just a year out of high school, Floyd has made steady
progress in his first season of pro ball. His 10-9 record is deceiving. Floyd's
teammates have scored a total of 11 runs in his nine losses, one of which was a
no-hitter in which he dropped a 1-0 decision to Lexington on July 24. For the
season ... among the South Atlantic League leaders with a 2.88 ERA. In 153
innings, he has struck out 132, walked 61, and allowed only 111 hits. That's not
bad for someone who didn't sign with the club until late August last year, too
late to pitch in the Gulf Coast League in 2001 ... Floyd was brought along
slowly. He didn't reach the seventh inning in any of his first 10 starts. Since
then, he has reached at least the seventh inning in 11 of his last 15 starts.
"It took me a while to acclimate myself to pro ball," Floyd says.
"I had to get used to the batters and the atmosphere. Once I got used to it
and recognized things, I just let my instincts take over."
"
...He throws a
94-m.p.h. fastball, but his best pitch is probably his curve, which has a biting
12-to-6 drop that has contributed mightily to his strong second half ...
Gavin says. Floyd credits Lakewood pitching coach Ken Westray with his
development. "Before I got here, I was just a thrower," he says.
"You can do that in high school and get people out. Now it's more of a
mental game. I've learned stuff I can use for the rest of my life, and hopefully
it will be a turning point in my career." Floyd, a 2001 graduate of Mount
St. Joseph High in Baltimore, is learning how to set up hitters, learning how to
make them hit his pitch ... The young pitcher will return to the Florida
Instructional League next month to refine his mechanics, and, according to
Arbuckle, will start next season at Clearwater, a higher single-A team. Getting
to double-A Reading sometime next year is not out of the question."
28 August, 2002
Victor Martinez
C CLE surges to the top of Josh Boyd's Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball
America.
"
... has drawn comparisons to Jorge Posada for his switch-hitting prowess. The
Indians prospect leads the Double-A Eastern League with a .343 average, .421
on-base percentage and .582 slugging percentage. He ranks second with 21 homers
(tie) and 39 doubles."
Hanley Ramirez
BOS SS jumps into the runnerup spot with LA lefty Jhonathan Figueroa
3rd, Rocco Baldelli TB 4th and Mark Teizeira TEX
rounding out the top five.
John
Sickels, ESPN, on the Cubs
Kids, Andy Sisco & Jae-Kuk Ryu :
"
... Sisco has pitched better, though it was Ryu who was recently awarded
with a promotion to the Midwest League, where he's been battered in his first
two outings. I like both of these guys. Sisco is a 6-8 lefty, drafted in the
second round from a Washington state high school last year. He throws 90-93 mph
right now, and given his size and frame, increased velocity seems likely. He
also has a slider and a splitter, and while his command needs some work, his
very high strikeout rate is a great sign for his future. Ryu was signed from
South Korea last year. He throws in the low 90s, has a good assortment of
breaking pitches, and projects plus command as he matures. Both guys could be
top notch rotation starters, although it will be at least two and probably four
years before they get their chances, and a lot can happen (blown elbows, sore
shoulders, etc.) in the meantime."
29 August, 2002
Jim Keller, on SportsTicker's All-Teen
Team :
"
... The strength of the team lies with its five-man pitching staff, all
first-round picks and four of the five armed with overpowering stuff.
Righthander Gavin Floyd ... pitched a no-hitter in the Class A South
Atlantic League and had another broken up in the eighth inning. The fourth
overall pick in the 2001 draft has allowed two runs or fewer in 14 of his 25
starts and has held hitters to a .202 average. The 6-5 Baltimore native, has a
92-94 mph fastball, power curve, developing changeup and poise beyond his 19
years ... Righthander Chris Honel (White Sox) ...Featuring a
90-plus mph fastball and great "knuckle curve", the 16th overall pick
from 2001 has pitched seven or more innings and allowed four hits or less in
eight of 25 starts ... 19-year-old righthander Jeremy Bonderman
...9-8 with a 3.61 ERA in the Class-A California League. The league's youngest
hurler has fanned 160 batters in 145 innings ... Lefthander Macay McBride
... leads the Class A South Atlantic League in ERA (2.21) and went 7-0 and
allowed just eight earned runs over 10 starts during a July/August stretch ...
The craftsman of the group is lefthander Sean Burnett (Pirates),
who has also been the most productive. The 2000 first-round draft pick is 12-4
in the Class A Carolina League and leads the minor leagues with a 1.99
ERA."
The position players : C Joe Mauer
MIN, 1B Adrian Gonzalez FLO, 2B Jose Lopez SEA, 3B Andy
Marte ATL, SS Jose Reyes NYN, OF Jason Kubel
MIN, OF Shin-Soo Choo SEA, OF Grady Sizemore
CLE.
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Felix
Pie CF CHN :
"
... Farm director Oneri Fleita ... , who used to head the club's Latin American
scouting operation, told me last winter that the best two players Chicago had
recently signed out of that area were Pie, a center fielder from the Dominican
Republic, and Jose Martinez, a lefty from Venezuela. Fleita described Pie as an
athletic player with plus speed and arm strength, as well as an advanced feel
for hitting from the left side of the plate. Pie has lived up to that billing in
the Arizona League, where he's batting .330-4-37 with 17 steals in 52 games. He
leads the AZL in runs (42), hits (70), triples (13), slugging percentage (.585)
and extra-base hits (33). When Allan Simpson finalizes his Arizona League Top 20
Prospects list, it wouldn't surprise me if Pie ranked No. 1. Whether Pie will
claim a place among our overall 2003 Top 100 Prospects is another question. It
seems a bit early for me, and not many Rookie-level players make it on
there."
Josh
Lerner, SportsTicker, on Hanley Ramirez SS BOS :
"
... Ramirez, a native of the Dominican Republic, spent last season, his first in
professional baseball, in the Dominican Summer League where he batted .345 with
five homers and 34 RBI. It took virtually no time at all for Ramirez to
adjust to life in America. He started 2002 with the rookie level Gulf Coast
League Red Sox and hit .341 with six home runs and 26 RBI before being promoted
to Lowell ...
The
18-year-old has flourished since being sent up north. In his first week with the
Spinners, Ramirez took home the league's Player of the Week award. His average
shot up to an unreal .468 with one home run and 15 RBI in his first 14 games
with Lowell. "If he doesn't get hurt than he's a no brainer to go
play in the big leagues and probably in a hurry," said Spinners manager
Mike Boulanger. "He has instincts that you can't teach."
...
The
6-1 170-pounder's defense woes have led to questions as to where he might fit in
defensively somewhere down the road. "I've been coaching for a long
time, I had Guzman, the shortstop for the Twins, and I had Rivas, the second
baseman for the Twins," Boulanger said. "While he (Ramirez) may never
be the fielder that Guzman is at short, I think overall he has the chance to
have a higher ceiling than both those guys and they are both pretty good major
league players right now."
31 August, 2002
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on Elizardo
Ramirez PHI :
"
... Counting his two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League,
the 19-year-old righthander has gone 22-3, 1.41 with a 203-15 K-BB ratio in 217
innings. Ramirez is a legitimate prospect, but it's too early to put him in the
same class as Myers or Floyd. He doesn't have nearly their kind of stuff.
Somewhat frail at 6 feet and 150 pounds, Ramirez' best pitch right now is his
changeup. He also has an average curveball and fastball, the latter of which
usually sits at 88-90 mph. He has exceptional command of all his stuff, and in
Rookie ball anyone who can throw more than one pitch consistently for strikes
usually will succeed. GCL managers also have praised his mound presence."
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld :
JJ
Davis OF PIT " ... The Pirates considered turning Davis back into
a pitcher prior to this season, but the 1997 first-round pick remained an
outfielder and has taken a big step forward in Double-A. The 24-year-old is
still a long shot to end up as a regular in the majors, but it didn’t look
like he had any chance at all at this time last season. The Pirates are
considering giving him a September callup, although he probably won‘t play
more than once a week. Davis is going to need to spend all of next season in
Triple-A."
Ben
Kozlowski, LHP TEX " ... I was pretty surprised when the
Braves gave up Kozlowski for Andy Pratt in a trade of left-handed pitching
prospects, but it was hard to imagine that Kozlowski would develop as quickly as
he has. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the Rangers’ top
prospects. Kozlowski throws in the low-90s and has a nice curveball. He’s not
much of a fantasy prospect at this time, but he has No. 3 or No. 4 starter
potential."
Dontrelle
Willis, LHP FLO " ... one of the top performers in the
minors this season, is currently sidelined with a strained left shoulder. Before
going down, the 20-year-old left-hander had emerged as one of the top pitching
prospects in the low minors. Willis is going to be someone to watch closely next
season, especially if the Marlins decide to start him in Double-A."
Allan Simpson, Baseball America, on Sergio
Santos
" ... Santos is hitting the ball this
summer the way scouts in Southern California were hoping he would last spring.
His bat was inconsistent and most teams did not see him as a first-rounder. He's
not a true shortstop so we'll wait and see how he adjusts to third if and when
the Diamondbacks move him."
On Scott Kazmir :
" ... This kid is the second coming of Billy
Wagner. Just think, the Orioles could have had him with the fourth pick--a
decision I'm sure they may be regretting now that Adam Loewen has gone to
school."
Rookies
2002 Page Five
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