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Angels Double-A 2B Taylor Lindsey: "I can see how some guys would be skeptical because it's not a traditional setup. He can hit. He has good power. I'd make a bet with anyone. He's at least Kelly Johnson."

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Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Gilmartin never had the sexiest of arsenals, but everyone felt it was very complete and that he had a relatively high floor. He offers an average fastball, average slider, and solid-average changeup. Gilmartin struggled before going on the disabled list, but he has pitched much better in his three starts since returning; 15.0 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 14 K in three August starts.

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Erik Johnson, RHP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Johnson may very well be the top prospect in the White Sox system. He offers a plus fastball, plus slider, average curveball, and usable changeup. Johnson should be in the majors in 2014; 57.1 IP, 43 H, 10 ER, 19 BB, 57 K in 10 starts.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=21682
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The Sleeping Beauty: Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox – This Indiana University alum has had a breakout season in the Sox system while playing at two A-ball levels. The 22-year-old second baseman has hit .315 with an .838 OPS and 83 steals. Johnson, though, is still somewhat raw, both on the base paths and in the field. He has been caught attempting to steal 26 times. He’s also made 29 errors at the keystone and a move to the outfield could certainly be on the horizon. That would by no means be a nail in Johnson’s coffin — the outfield depth in the Sox system is flaccid, with higher ranked outfield prospects Trayce Thompson, Jared Mitchell, and Keenyn Walker all ranging from disappointments to washouts.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/afl-pros ... white-sox/
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16. Brandon Drury, 3b, South Bend (Diamondbacks)

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Grants Pass, Ore., 2010 (13/Braves).

A part of the offseason Braves-Diamondbacks trade that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta, Drury did much better in his second chance at low Class A. He hit a meager .229/.270/.333 in 123 games at Rome in 2012.
Drury has an excellent frame and good athleticism for third base. He projects to be an average defender who makes the routine play—he led MWL third basemen with a .959 fielding percentage. He plays deep because he trusts his above-average arm.

Drury has a tick-above-average power thanks to a swing with some leverage, though that was somewhat masked by his home park—13 of 15 home runs came on the road. He showed a solid understanding of the strike zone and working counts. Some scouts worried about his ability to handle quality secondary stuff.

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
526 78 159 51 4 15 85 47 92 1 1 .302 .362 .500

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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5. Rosell Herrera, ss, Asheville (Rockies)

Age: 20. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009.

Scouts and coaches who saw Herrera in the SAL last year and this year had to check their rosters to make sure they were watching the same player. He failed in his first crack at Asheville in 2012, earning a demotion after hitting .202/.271/.272. This year, Herrera led the league in batting (.343) and hits (162) and finished second in total bases (243). He also impressed everyone with his energy, enthusiasm and intensity.

“I don’t believe he’s the same player I saw last year,” the NL scout said. “He made a liar out of me. He’s really turned it around. His bat is night and day (different) from last year. I’ve never seen a ballplayer make a transition as fast as he has.”

Herrera’s tall, lanky build gives scouts plenty of room to project even more power as he fills out. It also leads some scouts to wonder if he’ll lack the quickness to remain at shortstop. He’s an average runner now who likely will be below-average by the time he’s a regular big leaguer. His arm, hands and actions would work fine at either second or third base.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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Matt C (Chicago): Was Micah Johnson (Kannapolis, then Winston-Salem, then B-Ham) on the radar for the SAL T20? If not, is he considered for the CAR? His combo of on base work, leading MiLB in steals, and hit for average was impressive.

J.J. Cooper: He didn’t miss this list by much. In fact I wrote him up as a potential No. 20 at one point, here’s a freebie:

Johnson led the minors in steals this year, taking the crown that had been Billy Hamilton’s for each of the past two seasons. While Johnson may not match Hamilton’s speed from first to second, he is one of the faster players in the game, a true 80 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

But unlike a lot of Class A speedsters, Johnson also has a pretty good idea of what he’s doing at the plate. He has a chance to be a league-average hitter with below-average power. Considering his speed, that could be enough to make him a useful player offensively.
But the questions about his usefulness revolve around his defense. He has good range and turns an OK double play, but his hands are hard and his arm is below-average. Scouts question whether he can be solid enough defensively to play second base every day. More see him as a super utility player who can play center field, left field and second base.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... -j-cooper/
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Larry (Joliet, IL): Did Chris Beck garner any consideration for the top 20? Does he project as a middle of the rotation starter?

Josh Leventhal: A good sinking fastball that he can locate to both sides of the plate and slider combination gives Beck potential. He a lacks a third pitch at this point.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... ects-chat/
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Mike (Boston): Does A.J. Cole project more as a reliever or a starter?

Josh Leventhal: I think he is still a starter. The curveball was improving by the end of the season and certainly shows potential. He commands his fastball well. Too soon to write him out of the rotation, I think.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... ects-chat/
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10. A.J. Cole, rhp, Potomac (Nationals)

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Oviedo, Fla., 2010 (4).

Cole picked up where he left off with the Nationals in his first season back with the organization that inked him for $2 million in 2010. He displayed one of the strongest arms and best fastballs in the CL this season before earning a late-season promotion to Double-A. Traded to the Athletics after the 2011 season as part of the Gio Gonzalez trade and returned last March in the Michael Morse deal, Cole dialed his heater up to 98 mph at Potomac while sitting in the mid-90s.

Cole can command his fastball to both sides of the plate and the pitch can be explosive coming out of his long, lanky frame. The fastball, however, is the only pitch he throws with any consistency. He’s still inconsistent with a slurvy curveball, though he did begin to show better feel for it by the end of the season. His changeup remains a work in progress. One scout suggested Cole should abandon the curveball for more of a power slider. Others questioned whether he possesses the inner drive to challenge advanced hitters.

“His secondary pitches are going to have to get better,” a CL manager said. “It’s an above-average fastball, but you’re going to struggle if you don’t have the secondary pitch or the ability to control hitters’ bat speed.”

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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17. Robby Hefflinger, of, Lynchburg (Braves)

Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 235. Drafted: Georgia Perimeter JC, 2009 (7).

Hefflinger struggled in his brief taste of the CL last season before being demoted to low Class A Rome, where he worked to refine his approach. He returned to Lynchburg as a more selective hitter this year and put on a power display, finishing second in the league in home runs despite playing just 74 games before earning a promotion to Double-A.

Hefflinger takes a more aggressive approach earlier in counts to avoid being exploited by breaking pitches. He also worked to stay within his strike zone and did a better job of laying off high fastballs. Instead of trying to pull pitches out of the ballpark, Hefflinger has focused on driving pitches to right-center field, which allowed him to tap into his well-above-average raw power.

Several observers noted the key to Hefflinger’s future success will be hitting his pitch on a consistent basis, something he struggled to do while batting just .170 following a promotion to the Southern League. A good athlete who also starred on the mound in junior college, Hefflinger runs well on the basepaths and in the field and has plenty of range to stay in left field.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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Warren (New London): I'm wondering what observers thought about Robert Refsnyder. I didn't know he was as good as he looked this year.

John Manuel: Well, he was the College World Series’ Most Outstanding Player last year and a single-digit pick. I think he’s pretty good. It’s a tough profile but some guys like him, because he can hit. He’s polished, he controls the strike zone very well, and he can run a little bit. I am stunned that 2B is one of the Yankees’ best stocked positions, but it is with him, Angelo Gumbs, sort of Corban Joseph, Thairo Estrada … probably forgetting someone too. I like Refsnyder but I’m not sure where he ends up. Not enough power for a corner spot, probably not enough glove to be a regular 2B, but that is his best spot. Maybe he becomes a utility guy in the Ryan Roberts or Ryan Raburn mold, but those guys have more raw juice.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... hn-manuel/
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11. Erik Johnson, rhp, Birmingham (White Sox)

Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 235. Drafted: California, 2011 (2).

Johnson made remarkable progress this season, continuing to winnow his walk rate while advancing from Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte in late June to Chicago for a September callup. Across two levels he ranked third among qualified minor league starters in WHIP (0.99), fifth in ERA (1.96) and sixth in opponent average (.197), wielding a solid three-pitch mix and enough command to profile as a mid-rotation starter.

Johnson works downhill from a thick, 6-foot-3 build, firing 90-93 mph fastballs of the two- and four-seam variety that brush 95 and find the black frequently. His out-pitch is an 86-90 mph slider that runs away from the bats of righthanders, though his low-70s curve is an early-count show pitch only.

Johnson has refined his solid changeup since signing and it’s a strong third pitch. Scouts love Johnson’s bulldog mentality and his durable frame, envisioning him as a 200-inning workhorse.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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10. Taylor Lindsey, 2b, Arkansas (Angels)

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Scottsdale, Ariz., 2010 (1s).

Lindsey drew attention in the TL this season in his first tour of Double-A, and he did so on an Arkansas team dotted with three first-round picks—third baseman Kaleb Cowart, first baseman C.J. Cron and right fielder Randal Grichuk—that reached the league championship series. Lindsey won the Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP award in 2011, then jumped straight to high Class A in 2012 and to Double-A this season.

Lindsey started sluggishly but was a consistent hitter after April, and he has steady rather than flashy tools. He sprayed the ball to all fields, showed some pop and drew enough walks to keep pitchers honest. Defensively, he handled the routine play, committing 18 errors, but his arm, hands and double-play pivot will keep him at the keystone for the long term.

An opposing manager described Lindsey as “a blue-collar guy,” and a scout likened him to Kelly Johnson.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... g-reports/
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16. Max Stassi, c, Corpus Christi (Astros)

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Yuba City, Calif., 2009 (4/Athletics).

Some Springfield players all but wondered if they should get some of Stassi’s big league meal money. That’s because the catcher used a late-June, three-game series against the Cardinals—he collected nine hits and 11 RBIs—to springboard to a strong second half and an Aug. 20 promotion to Houston. Stassi missed time in April with a sports hernia and hit just .232 in the first half, but afterward he launched 16 homers in 48 games while batting .300/.351/.616.

Stassi handled Corpus Christi’s string of pitching prospects, showing a feel for receiving, calling pitches and game management. He gunned down 37 percent of basestealers more with a quick release and accuracy than pure arm strength. With a bat in his hands, he punishes mistakes but lacks the bat speed or selectivity to hit for a high average consistently.

Stassi played in two August games for Houston before a pitch from Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers hit him in the face. He suffered a concussion but no facial fractures and the Astros expect him to be ready for 2014.

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Tyler Naquin, CF, Indians (Surprise Saguaros): 3-5, R, BB. The leadoff man for the Saguaros did his job well on Friday, reaching base four times. Naquin had an adequate first full season in the minors and is a high-profile prospect as a former first-round pick, but scouts are generally lower on him than would be expected of someone selected 15th overall so recently.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=22087

Tyler Naquin, CF, Indians (Surprise Saguaros): 2-3, R, BB, K. I’ve mentioned here before that scouts aren’t nearly as high on Naquin as his draft status and reputation would suggest, but that’s not based on his production this fall. He’s now hit safely in all 10 AFL games in which he’s played and is doing his part to make up for his struggles after a late-season promotion to Double-A.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=22096
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[Tim] Berry, 22-years-old, has an impressive repertoire consisting of a 90-94mph fastball, a 74-75mph curveball with some slurvy-type movement, and an above-average 80-81mph changeup with late downward action. A relatively skinny pitcher with projection remaining, Berry has a very quiet, clean motion and stays compact and square through his delivery.

Berry was recently selected as one of the Orioles prospects to play in the Arizona Fall League next month, which should provide an excellent challenge as he will face some of the best hitting prospects in baseball in an offensive-friendly environment. Berry likely starts next season in Double-A Bowie’s rotation, and as a lefty with three quality offerings, he has the potential to develop into a quality #4 or #5 starter in the big leagues, possibly as soon as mid-2015.

http://natsgm.com/2013/09/04/looking-in ... nationals/

9. Tim Berry – LHP (NR)

Lefties with both feel and raw stuff are the type of prospect I’m a sucker for. Berry is raw but has the ingredients to become a solid number four starter. His fastball is his best pitch at present and sits at 91-92 mph, touching 94 at times. He shows the ability to spin a quality curveball but the pitch is very inconsistent. His change-up represents a potentially solid third pitch and he already knows how to mix his pitches and work through a lineup. Berry will head back to Double-A in 2013 and could use another year of polishing before reaching the big leagues the following year.

http://baseballprospectnation.com/2012/ ... prospects/

Orioles prospect Tim Berry continued his domination of the Arizona Fall League on Friday, hurling four scoreless innings in a victory over Scottsdale.The 22-year-old southpaw surrendered three hits while punching out two in the game. He's now extended his scoreless innings streak to 10, and owns a 1.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 11 innings on the Fall season. After a breakthrough season at High-A Frederick in 2013, Berry is expected to begin the 2014 campaign at Double-A Bowie.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/7589/tim-berry
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14. Victor Reyes, of, Braves

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190. Signed: Venezuela, 2011.

When Reyes was trying out for teams in Venezuela, he trained with Ricardo Petit, who is the brother of Rolando Petit, the Braves’ Venezuela-based assistant director of Latin American operations. Atlanta signed Reyes for $365,000 when the international signing period opened on July 2, 2011, which made him their top international signing of the year. After a successful debut in the DSL last year, Reyes performed well in the GCL, earning a promotion to the Appalachian League in early August.

Reyes drew attention from scouts initially for his size and power potential, but it’s been his bat and mature approach that have stood out. He’s a switch-hitter with good plate coverage who doesn’t expand his strike zone. He hasn’t shown much power yet in games, but he has room to add another 30 pounds to his frame.

Reyes has mostly been limited to left field, but he runs well for his size and has a solid arm, so he should be able to work in right field

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/g ... g-reports/

Ben (Leland Grove): Could you give us the rundown on OF Victor Reyes? Was he in the 11-20 range?

Bill Ballew: Reyes is a true sleeper who could blossom into one of the farm system’s top outfield prospects. He hit a combined .342/.387/.409 in the GCL and Appy League and ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the GCL. He has an ideal athletic frame that could easily add another 20 pounds of muscle as his body continues to mature. Reyes generates above-average bat speed and can drive the ball when he keeps his hands and weight back. He has an advanced approach for a young Latin player by displaying good patience while covering the plate well and rarely expanding the strike zone. The Braves are excited to see what Reyes can achieve in a full-season league and will move him to Rome to open the 2014 campaign.

Eric (Atlanta): Victor Reyes hasn't hit a home run in professional ball yet - isn't this a concern for a corner outfield prospect?

Bill Ballew: It could be, but the Braves don't feel it will be. Power is typically the last tool to come around for a guy with as many tools as Reyes possesses. He has added significant size since he signed and shows the ability to drive the ball. I really believe it will come as he gets used to his growing body.

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Tyler Naquin, CF, Indians (Surprise Saguaros): 2-4, 3 R, HR, BB. Naquin continues to hit this fall and on Wednesday he added power to the equation, something that scouts have been waiting to see. Naquin has showed plus power displays in batting practice but it hasn’t shown up in the games the way many had expected. It’s just his first home run and third extra-base hit in 16 fall games, so he’s still not hitting for the power many had hoped, but any sign of it coming out is a good thing.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=22142
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The word “unorthodox” has been attached to Taylor Lindsey’s swing for years, but if the second baseman continues to spray line drives all over the field, it will be replaced by another word: effective.

Yes, the lefthanded-hitting Lindsey starts with his hands in an unconventionally low position, and as farm director Bobby Scales said, his swing is “not picture book, not very fluid.” But Lindsey has fast hands, a quick bat and a knack for squaring the ball up with regularity.

“All he does is hit,” Scales said of Lindsey, the 37th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of high school in Arizona. “He’s hit every year he’s been in the system. He puts the barrel on the ball more often than not and hits line drives all over the yard.”

Lindsey, 21, had a solid if not spectacular season at Double-A Arkansas, hitting .274/.339/.441 with 17 homers, 22 doubles and 56 RBIs in 508 at-bats.

Lindsey hit just .208 in April before getting into a groove. Eight of his home runs came at home in a ballpark that is not very friendly to hitters. The 6-foot, 195-pounder showed better power to the opposite field ...

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john (grayson, ga): I was surprised at the ranking of [Sean] Gilmartin at 10. It doesn't appear that those around the leagues he's pitched in have been impressed as he was only the #20 ranked SL prospect in 2012 and was unranked following his abysmal 2013. Besides being a #1 pick, what's to separate him from other soft-tossing LHP that populate the upper minors?

Bill Ballew: Gilmartin was hurt for most of 2013 and the Braves believe he has the ability to bounce back and have a solid year and pitch in the big leagues in 2014. He is an extremely smart pitcher with a great feel for all of his offerings. Scouts and other observers are mixed on his long-term potential, but I feel he has the overall package in his repertoire and the know-how to become more than a soft-tossing southpaw.

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C Max Stassi: Stassi’s bat really took off in the Texas League, producing 38 extra-base hits in 76 games. The league and home environment certainly played a role in the offensive explosion, but don’t overlook the fact that Stassi was finally healthy, as nagging injuries have slowed the former fourth-round pick’s rise to the majors. With good receiving skills and some punch in his stick, Stassi could eventually carve out a career as a major-league regular.

... Max Stassi is an interesting name to watch as a strong defender behind the dish with the potential for double-digit home runs when he arrives.

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The Orioles led all major league organizations today as three of their minor league players were named Topps Players of the Year in the annual George M. Trautman Awards.

Catcher Caleb Joseph of Double-A Bowie was honored for his play in the Eastern League ... The 27-year-old Joseph took his game to another level in 2013. For the Baysox, he hit .299 with 31 doubles, 22 homers and 97 RBIs along with a .494 slugging percentage and .840 OPS. He led all O's minor leaguers in RBIs, and finished first in the Eastern League in total bases, and second in hits and RBIs. He was fourth in average, homers and extra-base hits.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewsk ... -year.html

Catcher -- Caleb Joseph, Bowie (135 games): Joseph led all Orioles catchers in RBIs (97), runs scored (74), homers (22), and doubles (31). He batted .299 over 135 games, the majority of which were spent behind the plate. Joseph also saw some time as a designated hitter, and his position flexibility allowed him to play first base and left field when called upon.

His 97 RBIs were the most of any O's Minor Leaguer, regardless of level or position, while his 22 homers ranked third in the affiliation. The numbers represent a solid jump from 2012 when the then-26-year-old hit 12 homers and plated 55 runs (both season highs for Baltimore backstops) between two levels.

"He had a tremendous season," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham said. "He swung the bat very well, he hit for average, drove in runs and hit home runs. More importantly, he had quality at-bats, so offensively he was very good. He will always do a solid job catching. He's going to receive and block and he's going to call a good game. Caleb has played to a level where he deserves an opportunity."

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ym ... =news_milb
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Factors on the Farm (Prospects likely to contribute at the ML level in 2014)

1. RHP Daniel Webb: Webb was my final cut from the top 10 list, and that has more to do with my preference for ceiling rather than safety. Webb is a very good relief prospect, with a lively mid-90s fastball and slider, and as his major-league sample showed, he can miss bats with both offerings. I think he ends up a seventh-inning type right now, and the breaking ball tightens up he could pitch in higher leverage situations.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=22242
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