The Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League have players form the A's, Jays, Indians, Reds, and Yankees. Since many of these teams have deep farm systems, the Dogs are one of the better teams to observe when in Arizona.
Here are a list of some of the more interesting prospects on the Desert Dogs.
Cincinnati Catcher: Yasmani Grandal
Grandal gets overlooked as the other catcher in the Cincinnati farm system. While Grandal doesn’t have the upside of Mesoraco, he still has the offensive skill-set to become an elite backstop and hit in the middle of the lineup. With plus power and a great approach to hitting, Grandal went through three levels in the minor league ending in Triple-A and batted .305, with a .401 OBP while adding 14 home runs. A contact rate of 74% could be better, but there is a lot to like here. Unfortunately, after an injury to his left middle finger, Grandal was shut down and sent home. The good news is it does not appear serious and he should be ready for Spring Training.
Toronto SS: Adeiny Hechaverria
Hechaverria defected from Cuba in 2010 to a lot of fanfare as scouts and fans alike wanted to see the glove that played so well on the International stage. While the glove was great, the bat was not. In 986 professional at-bats, Hechaverria is batting .255 with 12 home runs and 33 stolen bases out of 51 attempts. The approach is poor as Hechaverria is walking only 5% of the time. In 54 at-bats in the AFL, it’s been more of the same – great defense with a .241 average with no home runs or stolen bases.
Oakland OF: Michael Choice
Oakland has searched for a long-time for a middle of the order power bat and may have found one in Michael Choice. Taken as the #10 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Choice dominated the CAL league by hitting 30 home runs and batting .285. While his strikeout rate was high at 28%, Choice did shorten his swing throughout the year and dropped his strikeout rate significantly without loosing power. He’s been one of the more impressive players in the AFL, belting 6 home runs in only 51 AB’s while carrying a .333 batting average.
Jays OF: Anthony Gose
Gose is another in a long-line of toolsy players that is learning how to hit...but boy are the tools good. In Double-A, Gose stole 70 bases and hit 16 home runs but struck out 154 times in 509 AB’s. Gose started off hot in the AFL but has cooled in the past two weeks to a .260 average with 3 home runs and 4 stolen bases. However, in 77 at-bats, he has struck out 23 times.
Oakland OF: Grant Green
The future shortstop for the Oakland A’s was suppose to be Grant Green. However, the player development process is flexible and during the 2011 season, Green was moved to center field. Green is a nice complete player without one true outstanding tool. His Double-A stat line proves the point. In 530 at-bats, he batted .291 with a .343 OBP, 9 home runs, and 6 stolen bases in 14 attempts. In 66 at-bats in the AFL, Green is batting .258 with 2 home runs and 2 caught stealing.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
2011 Arizona Fall League Prospects - Peoria Javelinas
Part four of my AFL Prospect Preview takes us to the Peoria Javalinas. In case you're wondering, a Javalina is a skunk pig. I can't say that I've ever seen a Javalina outside of Wikipedia, but something tells me it would make a lousy pet.
The Peoria Javelinas are comprised of players from the Brewers, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets, and Padres.
Seattle LHP: Danny Hultzen
Danny Hultzen was taken with the #3 pick in the 2011 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners. He possess a 91-94MHP fast ball with a good slider and change-up. The thing that sets Hultzen apart is his excellent command and polished approach to pitching. While his ceiling might not be as high as some of other standout pitchers in the 2011 draft, he should quickly work through the system with a 2012 major league appearance in the cards.
Milwaukee LHP: Jed Bradley
Taken with the #15 pick in the 2011 amateur draft, Bradley is a power lefty with a major league frame at 6-4 and 225 lbs. His fastball sits at 88-94MPH with sink; which is a broad range and therefore shows some inconsistencies. He also has a plus slider and his change-up is decent for a college pitcher, but will need to improve. Scouts love his makeup and believe he will quickly advance through the system.
St. Louis 1B: Matt Adams
Matt Adams is a large human listed at 6-3 and 230 lbs but could easily weigh 260-270 or more. Drafted in the 23rd round in the 2009 draft, Adams has exceeded expectations by hitting for power in both Single-A (22 home runs) and Double-A (32 home runs). The hit tool is also surprising with an 81% contact rate and 8.5% walk rate. If Pujols moves on, St. Louis could look to the lefty slugger as a solution.
Seattle SS: Nick Franklin
Big things were expected from Nick Franklin as he joined the hitter friendly California league after a 23 home run campaign in the Low-A Midwest league in 2010. However, Franklin disappointed and only hit 5 home runs but had a nice contact and walk rate. Similar results remained as he moved to Double-A. Scouts are still bullish on the potential and at 21 years-old, there’s still a lot of development left.
San Diego 3B: Jedd Gyorko
Short and squat at 5-10 and 195 lbs, Jedd Gyorko posses a great hit tool with nice bat speed and above average power potential. In 2011, he had an excellent 80% contact rate and 11% walk rate. Based on his lack of athleticism, Gyorko may eventually move to a corner outfield spot. While he demonstrated power in the hitter friendly CAL league, the home runs didn't follow him to Double-A. Gyorko is really raking in the AFL, batting .388 with 3 home runs and 1.106 OPS.
Cardinals OF: Oscar Taveras(Pronounced Oh-scar)
One of the youngest players at 19 years-old in the AFL, Taveras has a great lefty hit-tool with a quick level swing that barrels the ball. While he has a very aggressive swing, he doesn't strike-out a lot. He currently has gap to gap power that should translate into 15-20 home run power at full development. The open question for the young Taveras…will a .300 average with 20 home run potential be enough to stick at a corner outfield or does this profile as a fourth outfielder? He is currently batting .283 in 46 at-bats in the AFL.
The Peoria Javelinas are comprised of players from the Brewers, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets, and Padres.
Seattle LHP: Danny Hultzen
Danny Hultzen was taken with the #3 pick in the 2011 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners. He possess a 91-94MHP fast ball with a good slider and change-up. The thing that sets Hultzen apart is his excellent command and polished approach to pitching. While his ceiling might not be as high as some of other standout pitchers in the 2011 draft, he should quickly work through the system with a 2012 major league appearance in the cards.
Milwaukee LHP: Jed Bradley
Taken with the #15 pick in the 2011 amateur draft, Bradley is a power lefty with a major league frame at 6-4 and 225 lbs. His fastball sits at 88-94MPH with sink; which is a broad range and therefore shows some inconsistencies. He also has a plus slider and his change-up is decent for a college pitcher, but will need to improve. Scouts love his makeup and believe he will quickly advance through the system.
St. Louis 1B: Matt Adams
Matt Adams is a large human listed at 6-3 and 230 lbs but could easily weigh 260-270 or more. Drafted in the 23rd round in the 2009 draft, Adams has exceeded expectations by hitting for power in both Single-A (22 home runs) and Double-A (32 home runs). The hit tool is also surprising with an 81% contact rate and 8.5% walk rate. If Pujols moves on, St. Louis could look to the lefty slugger as a solution.
Seattle SS: Nick Franklin
Big things were expected from Nick Franklin as he joined the hitter friendly California league after a 23 home run campaign in the Low-A Midwest league in 2010. However, Franklin disappointed and only hit 5 home runs but had a nice contact and walk rate. Similar results remained as he moved to Double-A. Scouts are still bullish on the potential and at 21 years-old, there’s still a lot of development left.
San Diego 3B: Jedd Gyorko
Short and squat at 5-10 and 195 lbs, Jedd Gyorko posses a great hit tool with nice bat speed and above average power potential. In 2011, he had an excellent 80% contact rate and 11% walk rate. Based on his lack of athleticism, Gyorko may eventually move to a corner outfield spot. While he demonstrated power in the hitter friendly CAL league, the home runs didn't follow him to Double-A. Gyorko is really raking in the AFL, batting .388 with 3 home runs and 1.106 OPS.
Cardinals OF: Oscar Taveras(Pronounced Oh-scar)
One of the youngest players at 19 years-old in the AFL, Taveras has a great lefty hit-tool with a quick level swing that barrels the ball. While he has a very aggressive swing, he doesn't strike-out a lot. He currently has gap to gap power that should translate into 15-20 home run power at full development. The open question for the young Taveras…will a .300 average with 20 home run potential be enough to stick at a corner outfield or does this profile as a fourth outfielder? He is currently batting .283 in 46 at-bats in the AFL.
Friday, October 28, 2011
2011 Arizona Fall League Prospects - Mesa Solar Sox
The third installment in our AFL preview takes us to the Mesa Solar Sox and players from the Cubs, Orioles, Pirates, Twins and White Sox. The hype is all around the 2011 #1 draft pick Gerritt Cole and he has not disappointed.
Below are some of the more interesting prospects on the team.
Pittsburgh RHP: Gerritt Cole
Cole was the 2011 #1 overall pick in the amateur draft out of UCLA. He has elite stuff with an upper 90's fastball, a nasty change-up and an improving slider. He was being compared at the beginning of the college season to Stephen Strasburg, but scouts quickly realized that while the stuff is there, the command is lacking. A 6-4 and 220lbs, Cole should have the body to endure 200+ innings at the major league level. In his highly anticipated AFL debut, Cole did not disappoint; lighting up the radar with several triple digit readings.
Chicago Cubs RHP: Trey McNutt
Signed in the 32nd round of the 2009 amateur draft, McNutt flew up prospect lists in 2010 by combining a 94-96MPH fastball with a nasty two-plane slider. High expectations turned into disappointment as a complete mechanical breakdown in 2011 resulted in a 65K/39BB rate in 95 IP in Double-A. In limited exposure in the AFL, it’s been more of the same with four walks in 9.0 IP and a .342 against. McNutt might be destined for the bullpen where can throw with maximum effort for an inning.
Pittsburgh OF: Robbie Grossman
Grossman has lots of average to above average tools, but doesn’t have that one tool that scouts can call elite. He does have a tremendous batting eye and approach which resulted in 104 walks in 490 at-bats in High-A. Roll it all together and his stat line this year was 13 home runs, 24 stolen bases while batting .294. Grossman has continued to hit in the AFL, batting .377 with 6 home runs and maybe the elite tool that he really has is that he can flat out play.
Minnesota OF: Aaron Hicks
Scouts fall in love with tools and Aaron Hicks has a ton of them. The problem is his ability to hit has yet to catch up to his athleticism. Part of the problem is the 78 walks he took in 443 at-bats this year in the Class-A Florida State League. Scouts look for aggressive hitters with a good eye but Hicks is just passive at the plate. He doesn’t swing at good pitches and then gets himself into poor hitting counts resulting in weak contact. In the final two months of the season, Hicks batted a paltry .195. At 22 years-old and likely to repeat Single-A, Hicks needs to start figuring things out. So far in the AFL, it’s more of the same – 59 at-bats, 10 walks and a .254 average but with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases.
Chicago Cubs 3B: Josh Vitters
Taken as the #3 overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, Josh Vitters has a beautiful right-handed stroke that makes elite contact (85-87%). His power potential is average to above average. The main problem with Vitters is he swings at everything, walking 22 times in 488 plate appearance. Additionally, because his approach is so poor, he swings at many bad pitches and much of the contact he makes is weak. His focus at the AFL is patience and so far, he’s doing well. In 58 at-bats, he’s batting .328 with 2 home runs and 4 walks. There might be hope here.
Below are some of the more interesting prospects on the team.
Pittsburgh RHP: Gerritt Cole
Cole was the 2011 #1 overall pick in the amateur draft out of UCLA. He has elite stuff with an upper 90's fastball, a nasty change-up and an improving slider. He was being compared at the beginning of the college season to Stephen Strasburg, but scouts quickly realized that while the stuff is there, the command is lacking. A 6-4 and 220lbs, Cole should have the body to endure 200+ innings at the major league level. In his highly anticipated AFL debut, Cole did not disappoint; lighting up the radar with several triple digit readings.
Chicago Cubs RHP: Trey McNutt
Signed in the 32nd round of the 2009 amateur draft, McNutt flew up prospect lists in 2010 by combining a 94-96MPH fastball with a nasty two-plane slider. High expectations turned into disappointment as a complete mechanical breakdown in 2011 resulted in a 65K/39BB rate in 95 IP in Double-A. In limited exposure in the AFL, it’s been more of the same with four walks in 9.0 IP and a .342 against. McNutt might be destined for the bullpen where can throw with maximum effort for an inning.
Pittsburgh OF: Robbie Grossman
Grossman has lots of average to above average tools, but doesn’t have that one tool that scouts can call elite. He does have a tremendous batting eye and approach which resulted in 104 walks in 490 at-bats in High-A. Roll it all together and his stat line this year was 13 home runs, 24 stolen bases while batting .294. Grossman has continued to hit in the AFL, batting .377 with 6 home runs and maybe the elite tool that he really has is that he can flat out play.
Minnesota OF: Aaron Hicks
Scouts fall in love with tools and Aaron Hicks has a ton of them. The problem is his ability to hit has yet to catch up to his athleticism. Part of the problem is the 78 walks he took in 443 at-bats this year in the Class-A Florida State League. Scouts look for aggressive hitters with a good eye but Hicks is just passive at the plate. He doesn’t swing at good pitches and then gets himself into poor hitting counts resulting in weak contact. In the final two months of the season, Hicks batted a paltry .195. At 22 years-old and likely to repeat Single-A, Hicks needs to start figuring things out. So far in the AFL, it’s more of the same – 59 at-bats, 10 walks and a .254 average but with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases.
Chicago Cubs 3B: Josh Vitters
Taken as the #3 overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, Josh Vitters has a beautiful right-handed stroke that makes elite contact (85-87%). His power potential is average to above average. The main problem with Vitters is he swings at everything, walking 22 times in 488 plate appearance. Additionally, because his approach is so poor, he swings at many bad pitches and much of the contact he makes is weak. His focus at the AFL is patience and so far, he’s doing well. In 58 at-bats, he’s batting .328 with 2 home runs and 4 walks. There might be hope here.
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