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01 Oct, 2003
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Clint Nageotte SEA :
"
... right-hander Clint Nageotte, a power pitcher with a chance to be special
... has what it takes to be a dominant major league pitcher ... Every
scouting report about Nageotte begins with his slider. He has one of the best
breaking pitches in baseball ... It's a definite plus major league
pitch right now. Nageotte also has a solid fastball, timed as high as 95 mph.
His changeup is adequate when he uses it, but will need improvement if he wants
to be a successful major league starter. Nageotte's command is not awful, but it
also needs sharpening. He has a strong body and has been a durable workhorse so
far in his career. As much as scouts love Nageotte's physical potential, they
have worries about his pitching approach. He has that great slider, and he knows
it: he throws it too often, and is sometimes reluctant to use his fastball or
changeup. Scouts worry that using the slider too often will blow his elbow out
eventually."
"
... has proven durable. However, there are reasons for concern. He missed his
last start in '03 due to a sore elbow, and while it doesn't look like anything
serious so far, the fact that he throws the slider so often makes the Mariners
wary of any elbow twinges ... Mariners have handled him conservatively,
and it seems unlikely that he'll receive a major league trial until sometime in
the second half next year ... has a lot of work to do in order to fulfil his
potential, at least in the rotation. If he is unable to develop a changeup, he
could end up as an overpowering reliever."
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, notes progress from a pair of CIN prospects in his
review of the Reds' system :
" ... 3.
Wily Mo Pena ... Forced into the
majors by a contract the Reds inherited from the Yankees, Pena was used
sparingly and was just 12-for-76 (.158) through August 31. Playing every day in
the season's final month, Pena is starting to show the skills (.280-5-12 in 22
games) that have excited scouts for years."
" ... 4.
Edwin Encarnacion ... Encarnacion
jumped over high Class A initially and hit just .220-1-14 in 31 Double-A games
before being sent back to Potomac. He rebounded and was a much-improved player
after he returned to Chattanooga, batting .310 in 36 games."
02 Oct, 2003
Chin-Hui
Tsao COL named the best of the Texas League by BA :
"
... Tsao toyed with hitters at times, usually pitching at 90-91 mph but dialing
his fastball up to 96-97 when he needed it. His slider can be unhittable and his
changeup is a solid pitch. He also throws the occasional curveball. His command
is strong, he does the little things (like fielding his position) well and he's
confident on and off the field. He's also a good athlete who can hit balls out
during batting practice. Tsao is still learning to pitch and needs to work out
of the strike zone more when he's ahead in the count. "He's one of those
guys who can just dominate you with stuff," Wichita manager Keith Bodie
said. "He throws a lot of swing-and-miss pitches." (Will Lingo)
KC's Zack Greinke finished
second.
05
Oct, 2003
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Felix Hernandez SEA & Denny Bautista
BAL :
"
... Hernandez is a 17-year-old Venezuelan ... made his North American debut in
the Class A Northwest League. Pitching against older hitters, he went 7-2 with a
2.29 ERA in 55 innings, with a 73/24 K/BB ratio. He needs to work on his
control, but his K-rate is outstanding. Hernandez has been clocked as high as 96
mph, and could gain additional velocity as he grows into his frame. His
curveball is even better than his fastball right now. He's a top notch prospect,
and I expect he'll make a big splash in full-season ball in 2004."
"
... Bautista is a Dominican, and is a good friend of Pedro Martinez, who has
acted as an informal pitching coach for him. He has a lively fastball, clocked
as high as 96 mph. His curve is above-average, and he also has good touch with
the changeup. He split the season between Class A Jupiter in the Florida State
League and Double-A Carolina in the Southern League, and pitched well at both
levels. He needs to improve his command and consistency, but has a very high
ceiling. He posted a 3.71 ERA and a 61/35 K/BB ratio in 53 innings at
Carolina."
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, with notes on a couple of "emerging
prospects" in his DET review :
"
... Jon Connolly, lhp: 1.41 ERA led the minors leagues, but works in the
mid-80s and depends on deception. It's hard to say whether or not his stuff will
play at the higher levels. Joel Zumaya, rhp: 11th-round pick from last
year came out throwing smoke at West Michigan, striking out 56 in his first 32
innings with a fastball that consistently got into the high-90s. Still more of a
thrower than a pitcher, he struggled with back problems in the second
half."
A
pair of WSox farmhands -- Jeremy Reed and Neal Cotts --
highlighted in Joe Barbieri's SportsTicker review of the top prospects in the
Southern League :
"
... After a .333 average and 52 RBI in the Class A Carolina League warranted his
promotion, the 22-year-old Reed hit .408 through his first month of Class AA
duty. But Reed, the White Sox' second-round pick in the 2002 draft, was only
getting warm. The Long Beach State product hit .434 in August and finished with
a .409 average in 242 Southern League at-bats. The lefthanded hitter's .373 mark
between his two stops was good for best in the National Association and helped
earn him a spot on SportsTicker's All-Prospect Team.
"
... Thanks to a walks-to-strikeouts ratio of nearly two to one, Reed also led
the National Association with a .453 on-base percentage. "His plate
discipline has just been phenominal," said Brian Porter, the assistant
director of player development for the White Sox. "He forces you to throw a
good pitch. He's not gonna swing if it's not a good pitch." In addition to
his work at the plate, Reed demonstrated good speed, evidenced by 45 steals this
season, along with an accurate throwing arm from the outfield."
"
... Cotts, acquired in the deal that sent Keith Foulke to the Oakland A's,
dominated league hitters to the tune of a 2.16 ERA and a .178 average against -
good for second among all National Association starters - in 21 outings.
"We expected Neal to do well at Double A ... (but) I don't think anybody
could predict such an outstanding first half or such an outstanding season
overall," Porter said. The 23-year-old Cotts, who went 4-0 with a 0.98 ERA
in April, added a sharp curveball to his mainly fastball/changeup repertoire. He
also significantly cut down on his walk totals from 2002 despite issuing 17 free
passes in 13 1/3 major league innings."
06 Oct, 2003
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Travis Blackley SEA :
"
... A 20-year-old Australian, Blackley went 17-3 in 27 starts for Double-A San
Antonio, with a 2.61 ERA and a 144/62 K/BB ratio in 162 innings. He gave up just
125 hits. His velocity is average, with a fastball topping out at 88 mph, but it
has very good movement, and he's aggressive with it. He also has a very nice
changeup, and isn't afraid to use it. Blackley's curveball and slider are
inconsistent; sometimes they are good, sometimes they aren't. He's a solid
prospect who has passed the Double-A Finesse Pitcher Acid Test at a very young
age. I like him a lot."
Sickels on JJ Davis PIT :
"
... Davis is a classic "tools" player who has struggled to develop
baseball skills. He's made great progress in refining his swing, which was
rather awkward a few years ago ... But he still has problems with strike
zone judgment, and he's never going to be an on-base machine. Davis doesn't have
the extreme strikeout rate that Hermansen had, but it still remains to be seen
how quickly he'll be able to adjust to major league conditions. My guess is
that, if he gets full playing time next year, he could hit 20+ homers and steal
15-20 bases, but his batting average and on-base percentage could be
shaky."
07 Oct, 2003
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, cites a couple of up-and-comers in his review
of the FLO Top 10 :
"
... 5. Jeremy Hermida, of Age: 19 Considered by some as the best
high-school hitter in the 2002 draft, Hermida had a solid full-season debut,
though his final totals were brought down by a .239 August as he ran out of gas.
Showed excellent plate discipline, developing power and surprised everyone by
stealing 28 bases while being caught only twice."
"
... Emerging Prospects: Scott Olson, lhp: Sixth-round pick from
2002 got seemingly better with every start, putting up a 1.31 ERA in his final
10 starts, allowing just 33 hits in 48 innings while striking out 66. Josh
Willingham, c: Knee injuries hampered his conversion to backstop, but if
he can remain healthy, Willingham could become a stathead favorite with his plus
power and propensity for walks."
09 Oct, 2003
Ramon
Ramirez NYA was selected as the AFL's Pitcher of the Week :
"
... Ramirez opened the season by throwing two scoreless innings while allowing
only two hits and fanning four. He continued his domination his second outing
allowing no runs and one hit in three innings. Ramirez tossed five scoreless
innings in his first two games and leads the league in ERA and strikeouts. The
Yankees signed the 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic March 5, 2003 as
a free agent after he spent the 2002 season with Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese
Central League. He split the 2003 season between the Tampa Yankees of the
Florida State League, Double-A Trenton Thunder and Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
Ramirez finished with a 3-10 record including 96 strikeouts and 29 walks in 102
innings pitched." (AFL Press Release)
Hmmm.
Fox Sports, in an update on the PHI farm, has pitchers at 1-2-3. Hamels at
#1 is no surprise, but the order of the following picks may be :
"
... 2. Taylor Buchholz, RHP, Age: 21 ... sixth-rounder in 2000, has a
classic pitcher's body, throws hard, and is refining his supporting stuff. Since
debuting, he’s gradually improved his command indicators and this season was
outstanding at double-A Reading. When a 21-year-old posts a 3.5 K/BB ratio in a
full season of double-A ball, pay attention. He’s one of the most underrated
pitchers in the minors."
"
...3. Gavin Floyd, RHP, Age: 20 ... Phils’ top overall pick of the 2001
draft, is a darling of the scouts. He throws a hard fastball and changes speeds
well with it. His curve is perhaps the best in the low minors. He’s still
working on his change, but he’s got time. His performance to date has been
solid but not overwhelming. Floyd struggles at times with his control, and this
season at high-A Clearwater, his numbers dipped a bit. The Florida State League
is generally a pitcher’s circuit, but even so, Floyd saw a notable decline in
his strikeout rate. His stuff is beyond reproach, and I think eventually the
stats will reflect that; right now, however, the numbers just don’t justify
granting him elite status."
10 Oct, 2003
Kevin Goldstein, Baseball America, with the post-season review of the
pre-season HOU Top 10, plus a pair of "emergers" :
"
... 1. John Buck ... struggled significantly at the plate in his Triple-A
debut, and it can't be blamed on the pitcher-friendly home field as he hit
.240-2-23 on the road. Missed most of July and August with a broken hand, and
was just 1-for-15 in the final nine games after his return. Will try to get back
on track this winter in the Dominican Republic."
"
... Emerging Prospects: Jared Gothreaux, rhp: A 16th round pick in
2002, Gothreaux started the season in the Salem bullpen, but moved into the
rotation in late April and showed continuous improvement throughout the year.
7-2, 2.62 over his final 10 starts, highlighted by a three-hit complete game
shutout on August 9. Fernando Nieve, rhp: Venezuelan righty went
14-6, 3.65 in his full-season debut while striking out nearly a batter per
inning."
12 Oct, 2003
David
Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner, has his updated picks as the best of the SEA system
:
"
...1 Clint Nageotte RHP ... Inability to improve his change-up
still a concern."
"
... 2 Chris Snelling OF ... Needs to spend more time on the field, less
time on the DL."
"
... 3 Jose Lopez SS ... Final numbers not great, but 19-year-olds
in Double-A get a pass."
Cameron rated Travis Blackley at #4 and
phenom Felix Hernandez at #7 :
Shortstop
Khalil Greene is the top pick in the Fox Sports SD Top 10 :
"
... the Pads' top pick of the 2002 draft, is the undisputed shortstop of
the future in San Diego. The organization is fully confident that he can handle
the position from a defensive standpoint, and his bat will progress eventually.
He has a strong record of performance in the low minors, but his numbers in
double and triple-A are a mixed bag. He showed improvement after a mid-season
promotion to AAA-Portland, but he left his plate discipline somewhere in the Cal
League. ... Eventually, he could be an All-Star caliber shortstop at the major
league level."
2003 draft pick Tim Stauffer ranks at # 4
:
"
... the fourth overall pick in the June draft ... He disclosed a pre-existing
shoulder problem, so the Pads were able to sign him on the cheap. He didn't
pitch this year, but the team believes the injury won't have any lasting
effects. Despite being picked one slot behind Kyle Sleeth of Wake Forest,
Stauffer was the best pitcher in the draft. In college, he showed excellent
command and strikeout abilities. There's every reason to believe he'll one day
wind up as a productive front-of-the-rotation guy at the highest level, but
until he proves his shoulder is fine some skepticism is warranted."
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on some bright lights in the DET system :
"
... Tony Giarratano, SS ... 2003 third-round pick ... hit .328 in
the New York-Penn League after signing. A very good defensive player, and his
hitting has been better than expected. Runs well and should hit lots of
doubles."
"
... Kody Kirkland, 3B ... hit .303 with 15 doubles and 11 triples
at Oneonta. Excellent power potential, and should be able to stay at third
base."
"
... Brent Clevlen, OF ... .260 with 12 homers at Class A West
Michigan, but that's much better than it looks. That's an awful park for a
hitter, and scouts are impressed with Clevlen's hitting ability. He controls the
strike zone well, and has plus power."
Sickels on Bobby Brownlie CHN :
"
... made 13 starts for Class A Daytona in the Florida State League. He went 5-4
with a 3.00 ERA and a 59/24 K/BB in 66 innings. His season started late, as he
went to extended spring training to build up arm strength. He pitched very well
at first, but got hit hard in a few starts down the stretch, then was shut down
early when his arm got sore again. He had similar problems before the draft in
2002 ... definitely a good prospect on his own terms, with above-average
velocity, a great breaking ball, and a strong track record. He pitched well at
Daytona for the most part. But everything depends on how his arm holds up. One
thing that worries me is the fact that his problems revolve around his biceps
and shoulder. That sort of thing is harder to fix via surgery than an elbow
problem, and rehab is usually more difficult."
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, with some KC notes in a review of the Royals'
Top 10 :
"
... Colt Griffin ... Well it's progress. Griffin led the minor leagues in
walks, but made some advancements with his secondary offerings. Saved his best
outing for the Carolina League on the final day of the season, as he had his
only zero-walk game of the year."
"
... Top Draft Pick: Chris Lubanski ... fifth overall pick in the
draft, Lubanski was an offensive catalyst for the Arizona League championship
team, reaching base in 22 of his last 24 games and being named by league
managers as the circuit's top prospect. Could become a tremendous prospect if
his power develops."
"
... Emerging Prospects: David DeJesus ...Continues to be plagued by
injuries because of his maximum-effort approach, but is an on-base machine when
healthy, as he scored 63 runs in 76 games between Wichita and Omaha. Byron
Gettis ... A supreme athlete, Gettis floundered in the Royals system
for five years after being signed away from a football scholarship. Everything
seemed to come together this year, as he hit .302-16-103 at Wichita to regain
his status as a prospect."
15
Oct, 2003
Jonathan
Mailloux, SportsTicker, in a piece on the best prospects in the Texas Leagues,
noted outstanding progress by some SEA farmhands :
"
... Lefthander Travis Blackley was the ace of the Missions' staff. The
fourth-youngest player in the circuit won a minor league-leading 17 games this
season, going a perfect 8-0 over his final 12 starts. "He's a polished
pitcher for a 20-year-old man," said Dave Brundage, manager of San Antonio.
"The way that he has pitched is well beyond his years." With excellent
command of four pitches, including what vice president of player development
Benny Looper referred to as an "outstanding changeup", Blackley
produced the second-lowest ERA in the league and limited batters to a .215
average despite throwing a fastball that tops out in the high 80s."
"
... Leading his league in strikeouts for the third consecutive season, 1999
fifth-round pick Clint Nageotte proved the perfect compliment to
Blackley, relying on velocity to overpower opposing batters. Matching a career
high with 11 wins, the 6-4, 210-pound right-hander exhibited one of the best
sliders in the minor leagues and an above average low to mid 90's fastball. The
22-year-old led the minors with 214 strikeouts last season and overpowered
opposing hitters at the next level, recording an average of over nine strikeouts
per nine innings."
"
... Playing at shortstop, second and third, Jose Lopez excelled as
the youngest player in the entire circuit. Selected as the 2002 Mariners' Minor
League Player of the Year, Lopez continued to display an aptitude for all
aspects of the game. The 19-year-old hit for average and power with 35 doubles
and 13 home runs, displayed speed on the bases, and showed excellent range and a
plus arm at short. "(He) has good pop in his bat and is gonna be a very
good hitter," Looper said. "We want him to be ready to play any of the
three (positions) so when his bat is ready, we have as many positions as
possible for him to fit into because we think he's gonna hit."
Josh
Boyd, Baseball America, has tabbed Andy Marte ATL as the top dog
among the third base prospects :
"
... Marte turned in a .281-21-105 season in 2002 as an 18-year-old and
continued to get better in 2003 improving his OPS from .831 to .842 despite
playing his home games in a favorable pitcher's park. Marte drew more walks
while curbing his strikeout rate slightly. His numbers are much better than
former Braves top prospect Wilson Betemit's at the same level. While Betemit's
power remains nothing more than a projection, Marte has present thump with a
better all-around approach at the plate. Marte adds gold glove-caliber defense
to his profile."
Dallas McPherson ANA was the
runnerup.
16 Oct, 2003
Joe
Barbieri, SportsTicker, on Kelly Stoppach BOS :
" ... his .815 league adjusted OPS ranked
fifth among all Class AA catchers and his .982 fielding percentage was again
among the league leaders. He also trimmed his passed ball total down from 15 in
2001 to just three while catching a diverse pitching staff that included a
knuckleballer ... Displaying a quick release to compensate for average arm
strength, Shoppach has gunned down 32 percent of attempting base stealers since
turning pro ... While his well-rounded physical abilities are enough to
make him one of the top catching prospects in the game, Shoppach sets himself
apart with his mental preparation and the intangibles he brings to the
table."
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Alexis Rios TOR :
" ... has plus bat speed, and has
refined his swing considerably. He still needs to improve his plate
discipline, but it is better than it was a couple of years ago. He'll never
be a walk machine, but he's a long way from being a strikeout-prone
swing-from-the-heels guy. He makes good contact, and the ball jumps off his
bat. The biggest question right now is how much power he'll develop. Some
see him turning into a 40-home run slugger in the Juan Gonzalez mode, while
others think he'll settle into the 15-20 home run range, though with a high
batting average. He's definitely toolsy, and it looks like he's developing
skills as well."
" ... hit well against both left-handers
and right-handers in '03. His MLE comes out to about .310/.360/.460, quite
impressive for a 22-year old ... He'll likely head to Triple-A in '04,
putting the finishing touches on his offensive game. Assuming '03 was not
some sort of weird fluke, Rios should emerge as a multi-tasking offensive
contributor sometime late in '04. A normal growth curve could make him a
star player, although the exact form his career will take (batting average?
home runs?) remains to be seen."
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, with some names for your draft list from his
review of the LA Top 10 :
"
... Edwin Jackson ... The Dodgers challenged Jackson by jumping him two
levels with a placement at Double-A Jacksonville as a 19-year old. Limited
Southern League hitters to a .220 average, struck out well over a batter an
inning and outdueled Randy Johnson in his major league debut on his 20th
birthday. Draws comparisons to Doc Gooden, and that might not be a reach."
"
... Joel Guzman ... The Dodgers tendency to aggressively move
prospects through the system continued with Guzman, who was promoted from South
Georgia to Vero Beach despite being just 18 and in the midst of a 5-for-43
slump. Like Loney, one must look past the numbers -- this is an 18-year-old
infielder who hit 13 home runs in his first full season. Still has this
weaknesses not uncommon in many teenagers -- poor pitch recognition and
defensive lapses --, but his ceiling remains very high."
"
... Emerging Prospects: Franklin Gutierrez ... among the
Florida State League leaders in several categories before earning a late season
promotion to Jacksonville. Finished a combined .287-24-80 between the two levels
with 20 stolen bases. Greg Miller ... had a 4.33 ERA at Vero
Beach in his first 10 starts and then was one of the most dominant pitchers in
the game, putting up a 0.99 ERA in his final 11 starts and finding himself at
Double-A before his 19th birthday. Things just got better from there as he
limited Southern League batters to a .156 average in four starts, striking out
40 in 26.2 innings. Delwyn Young, ... led the Sally League
in slugging percentage, and made a late running at the batting title as well,
hitting .367 in his final 50 games to finish the year at .323-15-73. May not be
able to stay at second base, but may have enough bat where it doesn't
matter."
19
Oct, 2003
Pitchers
take the 1-2-3 spots in the BAL Top 10 from Orioles' Hangout.
Newcomer Denny Bautista tops the list :
"
... Acquired at the deadline ... from the Florida Marlins as partial payment for
Jeff Conine. 20 year-old with a fastball that sits in the 94-96 range into the
mid innings and has explosive life to both sides of the plate. Power 11/5 CB
with Mussina-type late, nasty break. Change is still a work in progress, but
shows promise. Delivery not extremely smooth but nothing to suggest he's an
injury waiting to happen. Has command and feel of his fastball and throws his
other pitches for strikes. He won't be 21 until the end of October and he still
has a lot of filling out to do. He has a chance to be a #1 starter with power
stuff. Can be unhittable at times. Pedro Martinez's cousin, with Pedro-like
talent."
Lefty Adam Loewen was the runner-up
:
"
... Big power lefty who has command and poise. Fastball was in the 88-93 MPH
range late in the season despite being tried. Curveball has solid depth and he
has a feel for the changeup. Solid upside. Mark Mulder-type pitcher."
Righthander John Maine ranked #3
ahead of OF Nick Markakis.
Scott
Rex, On Deck, on Dewon Brazelton TB :
"
... Brazelton pitched yet another strong game for the Solar Sox in
Wednesday's 6-2 victory over the Scorpions. Brazelton pitched 5 shutout innings
of 3-hit ball, walking 2 while whiffing 5 to move to 2-0 in the AFL. The D-Rays'
#1 pick in the 2001 Draft is trying to put a horrible 2003 season behind him. So
far, so good. Brazelton ranks 2nd in the AFL in Ks (14) and he has posted a 1.93
ERA in 4 games. The most encouraging thing for Dewon has been his control. He
has issued just 2 free passes in 14 innings pitched. Brazelton is a key
component in Tampa Bay's future. Things are looking good right now."
21 Oct, 2003
Matt
Santillo, SportsTicker, reports on the top prospects from the Carolina
League season :
"
... pitching once again dominated the Class A Carolina League and a pair of 2002
first-round picks were at the top of the list. Selected sixth overall by the
Kansas City Royals, 19-year-old Zack Greinke entered his first full
professional season with no more than 12 innings of experience in the minors and
an unheard of stint in the Puerto Rican League during the winter. Due to
contract talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates, first overall pick Bryan Bullington
missed the entire 2002 season, but still had the experience of three exceptional
years on the mound for Ball State University before he made his pro debut. Yet,
despite their inexperience, both of these top picks more than held their own and
began to fulfill some expectations.
"
... Drawing comparisons to four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux because
of his outstanding control, Greinke completely dominated the Carolina League
from the beginning. After yielding three hits over five scoreless innings for
the win against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on April 4, Greinke went on to capture
nine straight victories over his first 11 starts. The righthander issued just 10
walks over his first 69 frames and fanned 63 while holding opponents to a .190
batting average ... Bullington, who went 5-1 with a 1.39 ERA in his first eight
appearances of the year in the lower level Class A South Atlantic League,
experienced some growing pains early on in the circuit. Despite being unable to
reach the 95-mph velocity that he featured in college, the two-time Mid-American
Conference player of the year improved upon his offspeed pitches to post a 5-2
record and a 2.93 ERA over his last seven starts of the season. Like most young
pitchers, Bullington was plagued by inconsistency. Without having his true
fastball and slider, the 23-year-old was forced battle through some tough
outings. A blessing in disguise, Pittsburgh believes that the righthander's
sub-par games and development of his secondary pitches will only making him a
better pitcher."
Jonathan
Mayo, MLB.com, on Pete LaForest TB :
"
... His back has been completely fine, and with the exception of 2001, he's been
relatively injury-free. He moved behind the plate for the first time in 2000. In
2002, he hit a combined 23 home runs. This year, he hit 17 homers, was named to
the All-Star Futures Game World team in July, and made his big league debut.
Then he was invited to the elite Arizona Fall League for the second straight
season. During his brief time in the desert, LaForest played nearly every day
for the Mesa Solar Sox and hit four homers in nine games ... LaForest's playing
time in the AFL is over, but this time he's not upset. LaForest left the Solar
Sox because he was named to the Canadian Olympic qualifying team. Like Team USA,
Team Canada is training in Arizona before heading to Panama for the qualifying
event."
"
... After finally making it to the big leagues eight years after he was
originally drafted, LaForest undoubtedly can't wait for 2004 Spring Training to
roll around. This time, he plans on making it to big league camp on time, and
not just to show what he can do. He'll be fighting for a spot on the 25-man
roster, even though Tampa Bay already has a young starting catcher in Toby Hall.
"It means nothing to me. I'm not here to compete against Toby Hall,"
LaForest said. I'm here to compete to get a spot in the Major Leagues. "I
could care less about Toby. He means nothing for my career. As long as I play in
the big leagues, that's my goal. You never know what can happen [with trades or
injuries]. All I can worry about is myself and doing my job in Spring Training.
If I just worry about myself and do the little things, things will work
out."
24 Oct, 2003
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, with some challengers for the 2004 MIN Top 10 :
"
... Jesse Crain, rhp ... was one of the most dominant relievers in the
minors, splitting the year between New Britain and Rochester and allowing just
37 hits in 65 innings while striking out 89. Jason Bartlett, ss:
Acquired from the Padres in a minor deal last season, Bartlett didn't make our
Top 30 list entering the season, but was the offensive catalyst at New Britain,
hitting .296-8-48 and finishing among the Eastern League leaders in runs and
stolen bases while showing solid defensive skills. Alexander Smit,
lhp: A Dutch lefty who signed for $800K at 16, Smith was scintillating in his
pro debut for the GCL Twins, putting up a 1.18 ERA in eight games while limiting
opposing batters to a .156 average."
25 Oct, 2003
Kevin
Goldstein, Baseball America, noting solid progress by several of the top 10
prospects on the MON farm :
"
... Mike Hinckley, lhp Age: 21 Last season's New York-Penn League ERA
champ started slowly (5.64 ERA in his first 12 starts), but put up a 1.64 ERA in
his final 11 outings for Savannah, and was absolutely lights-out in a
late-season stint in the Florida State League. Quietly sneaking up as a
top-flight prospect."
"
... Larry Broadway, 1b Age: 22 A third-round pick out of Duke in 2002,
Broadway quickly established himself as the top power prospect in the system,
shooting through three levels in his first full season. Hit .421 in his final 10
games for Harrisburg, and was equally productive when facing lefties or righties."
Catcher
Joe Mauer and reliever Jesse Crain saluted as the top player &
top pitcher in the MIN system :
"
... Mauer, 20, played in the Florida State League All-Star Game after
hitting .335 in 62 games with the Fort Myers Miracle in Class A. He was moved up
to Double-A New Britain, where he batted .341 with four homers and 41 RBIss for
the Rock Cats. Mauer, who played at St. Paul's Cretin-Derham Hall High School,
was drafted by Minnesota with the first overall pick in 2001. Crain, 22, also
was promoted from Fort Myers to New Britain in 2003. With the Rock Cats, he went
1-1 with an 0.69 ERA, 10 saves and 33 strikeouts in 26 innings. He was the
Twins' second-round selection in 2002 out of the University of Houston."
(Associated Press)
28 Oct, 2003
Jack
Magruder, Baseball America, on Delmon Young TB :
"
... Young spent two weeks in instructional league before being dispatched to the
Fall League ... opened the season as a member of the taxi squad, eligible to
play only twice a week. He came out swinging, hitting two ground-rule
doubles--one to left-center field and the other to right-center--in his first
start, when he had three hits, two off knuckleballer Charlie Zink. While Young
got to two strikes in seven of his first nine plate appearances, he had not
struck out. "The pitching, I haven't been dominated yet when I've been up
to the plate. I haven't seen a pitch I can't hit," Young said. "I can
play with all these guys. I'm playing with them right now. I'm just waiting to
see if I can get off the taxi squad and get on to the regular roster soon."
"
... "The first term that comes to mind is 'old school,'" Mesa Solar
Sox manager Pat Kelly said of Young. "He's one of the earliest guys here.
He's always down in the cages hitting. I think he is still feeling his way
around the clubhouse, because of his age, but I think he has adjusted
well." Young has made a point of punctuality. "You show up late once,
you get a reputation of always being late. You might as well be early every
day," Young said. Young hit .541-7-28 in just 22 games with Camarillo High
last season, when he was slowed by his ankle injury ... "He just has one of
those bats that make a different sound than everybody else's really," said
Kelly, who spent the 2003 season as the manager at Triple-A Richmond. "He's
very special at the plate. There are certain guys who walk up to the plate and
just have that look. Delmon's one of those guys. He walks up there and he means
business. He sprays the ball around, but he has power and he hits the ball hard.
He's very impressive for a young player."
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Khalil Greene SD :
"
... Although Greene doesn't have awesome natural athletic tools, he is a fitness
fanatic who keeps himself in top physical condition. His hand-eye coordination
is solid, which helps him on both offense and defense. With the bat, Greene
features quick wrists and gap-to-gap coverage. He sometimes gets too
pull-conscious ... has enough bat speed to hit 15 homers per year at the
major league level once he matures ... has a strong arm and good hands,
but some scouts and coaches believe he lacks the pure range to play shortstop at
the major league level. Others disagree, pointing to his quickness and ability
to position himself as compensating factors."
"
... His numbers are equivalent to about .240/.320/.380 at the major league
level, but I'm confident he'll be able to do better than that in time. He'll
need to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline ... Padres are
pencilling Greene in as their starting shortstop for 2004. At this point, they
don't expect him to post spectacular hitting numbers, but they want his defense
and steady presence on the field to bolt down the middle of the diamond. '04
will be a learning experience for him, but in the long run he will be a solid
player, and a great example of how to maximize natural tools with hard work and
an emphasis on skill."
29 Oct, 2003
Scott
Hairston ARZ featured in an AFL roundup from Jonathan E.
Mailloux,
SportsTicker :
"
... The slugger again has taken his game to the Arizona Fall League, where his
numbers indicate he is back on track. Through 14 games with the Scottsdale
Scorpions, Hairston has a .400 average (22-for-55) and a six-game hitting streak
in which he has batted .583 (14-for-24) to earn Player of the Week honors. He
also has four extra-base hits and knocked in eight runs, despite hitting in a
lineup that has produced a .262 average and the fewest runs in the league (72).
Posessing above average speed, a compact stroke, the ability to hit to all
fields and solid plate discipline, Hairston has the ability to become a
productive major leaguer. Where Hairston will fit into a Diamondbacks' lineup
that already has middle infielders like Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell and Matt
Kata remains to be seen. This logjam has produced the possibility that Arizona
may move Hairston to third base, where he has some minor league experience, or
the outfield, where his father, Jerry, played. Regardless of where he ends up,
Hairston soon will make it to Bank One Ballpark on the strength of his hitting
prowess."
CHA
OF prospect Jeremy Reed has been selected as the best of the 2003 minor
leaguers in the annual Topps/Minor League Baseball competition.
"
... Reed .. handled ‘high A’ Carolina League pitching in style with the
Warthogs, batting .333 in 65 games, but that was merely a warmup for what was to
follow. Following a June promotion to Double-A Birmingham, Jeremy quickly
started a 17-game hitting streak that propelled him to a .409 average in 66
games with the Barons. For the season combined, he hit 11 homers and had 95
RBIs. He also managed to throw in 45 stolen bases. While Reed didn’t spend
enough time in either league to qualify for a batting championship, his combined
average of .373 was the best in all of Minor League Baseball by a whopping 19
points ... .Reed, 22, was drafted out of Long Beach State University in the
second round in 2002 by the Chicago White Sox." (MinorLeagueBaseball.com)
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Scott Kazmir NYN :
"
... Kazmir isn't a big guy, he has an electric body that produces thunderbolt
fastballs. He hits 95 mph consistently, and has been clocked as high as 97. His
fastball isn't straight, either; it has a lot of movement, yet he's able to hit
spots with it much of the time. Complementing the heat is an overpowering
slider, devastating to left-handers. He's working on a changeup, and will need
it at higher levels, though for now the fastball/slider combination is enough
... He isn't just a thrower, and has pitching instincts rare in a young
power hurler."
"
... His K/IP and H/IP ratios were among the best in the minor leagues last
year, statistical evidence of his ability to master hitters. His walk rate is a
bit higher than ideal, but not bad, and his hard-to-hit nature keeps the walks
from haunting him too often ... Kazmir will probably begin 2004 in
Double-A ... Stardom awaits this young pitcher if he 1) maintains his
control and 2) avoids injury."
Catchup
time from Jess & Tim Polko's Rotohelp which has begun to feature
team-by-team reviews, including notes on prospects who might help out in the
next year or two. Some possibilities from ARZ, KC & MIN :
"
... Edgar Gonzalez, 20, RH Starter ... Two effective starts in June
should have solidified Gonzalez's future as perhaps the most promising pitcher
on the Diamondbacks. Only Brandon Webb is more valuable right now given
Gonzalez's skills, age, and upside. I expect Arizona will keep Gonzalez in the
minors for most of 2004 as the entire rotation could return, which place him
among the top Rookie of the Year candidates in 2005. As long as they keep his
workload relatively low for the next few years, Gonzalez's possesses as much
promise as any young pitcher in the game. He deserves significant consideration
from fantasy owners in the spring."
"
... David DeJesus, 23, OF ... saw 50 pitches in his 10 plate
appearances with the Royals, and if he can maintain that level of patience,
he'll spend several years in Kansas City's outfield. Although he possesses
neither extreme speed nor power, a .16 walk rate and .86 contact rate are solid
marks even for AAA. He might manage a dozen homers and 20 steals in a full
season in the majors, however his strength rests with his consistently
impressive batting and on-base averages. I expect DeJesus to exceed double-digit
value if the Royals start him in 2004, and if he bats high in the order, he
could accumulate enough quantitative stats to challenge for Rookie of the
Year."
"
... Zach Greinke, 19, RH Starter ... stunning debut in the
Carolina League, followed by two extremely effective months in the Texas League,
forced him into any discussion of 2003's best minor leaguers. Perhaps the
biggest surprised is that he maintained such a high level of excellent during
the season after compiling a 14:2 K:BB in 25.2 IP over 4 GS(9G) for Mayaguez of
the Puerto Rican Winter League. Almost no teenager ever pitches there, forget
about compiling such solid ratios. With four plus pitches and solid speed,
control, and movement, Greinke's stuff ranks with nearly any starting pitcher in
the minors, and his skills suggest a very high ceiling. He may need one more
year of seasoning, however he could dominate even if he reaches the majors
before his 21st birthday as long as he stays healthy."
"
... Jesse Crain, 22, RH Reliever ... eventually might move to the
rotation given he owns four quality pitches, however the absolute dominance of
this 2002 2nd round pick should keep him in relief for the next year or two.
After compiling a 29:11 K:BB in 28 IP split between the Appalachian and Midwest
Leagues a year ago, his combined totals of a 114:25 K:BB in 84 IP this season
might make Crain the best relief prospect in baseball. He barely gives up one
hit every two innings and still hasn't allowed a homer as a professional."
30 Oct, 2003
Some
notes from Kevin Goldstein's, Baseball America review of the Mets' system
:
"
... Matt Peterson, rhp Age: 21 Seemed poised for a breakout season and
delivered, leading the organization in ERA (2.18). Pitched 20 straight scoreless
innings in July, allowing only six hits, and performed admirably following a
late-season promotion to Binghamton."
"
... Aaron Baldiris, 3b: 20-year-old Venezuelan thrived in his
first full season, batting .313-6-68 for Capital City in 106 games while being
named a Sally League all-star and finishing second in the circuit with an .396
on-base percentage."
"
... Lastings Milledge ... considered one of the top prospects in
the draft, but fell into the Mets due to concerns about bonus demands, makeup
and troubles hitting the breaking ball. Possibly the best athlete in the draft,
Milledge could develop into a dynamic power/speed threat, or could be the next
Jeff Jackson."
A
little more catchup on prospect previews, this time BAL, from Jess & Tim Polko's Rotohelp
:
"
... Matt Riley, 24, LH Starter ... His reemergence as a very promising
starting prospect this year is one of the better developments for Baltimore
in a couple years. Riley managed a 34 QA log in two starts against the
powerful Toronto offense, and combined with his dominating performance in
the minors, he should receive every opportunity to break camp in the
rotation. I see nothing here that suggests Riley hasn't regained the promise
he displayed a few years ago, so a minimal investment on Riley at the end of
spring drafts should result in an impressive return over the next couple of
seasons."
"
... Denny Bautista, 20, RH Starter ... Baltimore managed to swipe
Bautista, along with Don Levinski, from Florida ... He should rank with Matt
Riley, John Maine, and Mike Fontenot at the top of Baltimore's prospect
lists next year as he raw stuff and improving skills give Bautista an
incredibly high ceiling. While he obviously needs more development time,
Bautista's dominating inning at the 2003 Futures' Game announced his pending
arrival to the rest of the league. Expect him to receive a cup-of-coffee
next September and then earn a rotation spot for good some time in 2005. As
Florida has taken remarkably good care of his arm, a relatively safe low
pick spent on Bautista could net you a future ace."
"
... John Maine, 22, RH Starter ... While his lack of time in the upper
minors makes him a mildly risky selection, Maine has completely dominated
three different leagues since Baltimore selected him in the 6th round of the
2002 draft. His career ratios of an 11.7 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, .3 HR/9, and 5.6 H/9
all scream "Ace" without reservation. Maine could see a cup of
coffee next September before he assumes his place in the Orioles' rotation
as the best Baltimore starter since Mike Mussina. He obviously merits a very
high pick in any minor league draft in deeper keeper leagues."
Rookies 2003 Page Nine
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