2015 IBC White Sox

Jim Berger's blog - a White Sox fan living in Red Sox nation

Moderator: Padres

User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Factors on the Farm (Prospects likely to contribute at the ML level in 2015):

2. OF Willy Garcia: The 22-year-old outfielder’s strike zone management skills can still use some refinement, and there’s a chance that his over aggressiveness will expose the hit tool a level up and beyond, but Garcia flashes in-game power and the ability to impact the baseball. If the right-handed hitter can learn to work himself into more favorable hitting conditions while showing more trust to use the whole field, there’s potential here to ride it to a look at the big-league level should the situation present itself. Given Pittsburgh’s already crowded outfield picture, Garcia may be more of a long shot in 2015, but a good showing in Triple-A can force the issue and give the organization that many more options during the summer.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25068
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

6. Steven Souza, OF

The Tools: 5 potential hit; 6 potential power; 5+ run; 6+ arm

What Happened in 2014: The outfielder continued to show that his career is back on track this past season, where he unleashed an onslaught of power and speed on the International League and got his first taste of The Show.

Strengths: Strong body; well filled-out frame; athletic for size; above-average foot speed; quiet swing set-up; keeps balance; taps into core and lower body well; above-average bat speed; can drive ball with carry and loft to all fields; plus-to-better raw power; willing to use the whole field; punishes mistakes out and over the plate; easy plus arm; can challenge runners; has overcome early-career issues.

Weaknesses: Highly leveraged swing; shows in-zone miss; hands lose timing and come under the ball; can be beat by good stuff middle-in; questions on hit translation against elite competition; contact may ultimately end up playing down and limit power output; defense on the limited side; reads off pitchers need improvement to utilize speed on bases.

Overall Future Potential: High 5; solid-average regular

Realistic Role: High 4; fourth outfielder/below-average regular

Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major leagues; hit tool translation

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: In another organization, Souza would be more interesting from a fantasy perspective, but playing time is going to be an issue in the near term and he’s going to turn 26 in April. If given the playing time, Souza could hit .260 with 20 homers and 15 steals—though guessing when that may happen is a dangerous game.

The Year Ahead: After a variety of issues during the early part of his career that seemingly had him down and out, Souza has been able to put things together on and off the field the last few seasons to get back on track, which culminated with an opportunity in the majors this past year. The highlight of the outfielder’s game is power. He unleashes a stroke that is designed to do damage, and when an opposing arm makes a mistake they typically pay. The 25-year-old has the type of power to translate into around 20-25 home runs provided a full complement of plate appearances over the course of a season. And, that’s the big key. Souza’s swing has some timing where his hands can get a little late, which leads to swing and miss or getting himself tied up. How well he can adjust and keep his stroke fluid against elite arms will be the driving force to maintaining enough contact to profile as a regular over the long run. To reach the potential role, Souza will have to continue his recent adjustments sharpening his approach and keeping the swing together. If the contact does indeed play down, the profile points more to a bench player over the entire body of work. Souza will likely get an extended chance in 2015 to show what he can do and try to prove he’s up to the task against quality stuff consistently.

Major league ETA: Reached majors in 2014

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25030
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Brandon Drury, 3B: A polished hitter who’d be closer to the bigs if not for Jake Lamb. Drives the ball well the other way and is still developing power. Might end up with a better hit tool than Lamb. A solid-average defender now thanks to plenty of reps.

Tyler Wilson, RHP: After a strong winter of conditioning Wilson added strength and, as a result, velocity. He touches as high as 94 now and his slider and changeup has moved into the realm of solid-average offerings. If everything clicks he’s a backend starter.

Travis Shaw, 1B: The son of former MLB reliver Jeff Shaw, Travis is a first baseman who saw gains this season by adding a leg kick. He’s got an all-fields approach, average power and smooth actions around the bag. He could be an option off the bench for Boston or a starter on a second-division club.

Adam Conley, LHP: Conley pitched just 71 innings this year before succumbing to a shoulder injury. Before those problems cropped up he sported a fastball in the low-90s that projected as average, as well a future average changeup in the high-70s and low-80s and below-average slider.

Willy Garcia, OF: Very toolsy right fielder has big-time power but a swing-at-most-everything approach.

A.J. Cole, RHP: Dealt from the Nats to the A’s and back to the Nats again, Cole brings a 94-96 mph fastball that he can locate to both sides and complements it primarily with a mid-80s changeup that projects as plus. His third pitch is a low-80s slider that ranges from fringy to solid-average, and he has a below-average hook in his back pocket.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/b ... additions/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

4. Yorman Rodriguez, OF

The Tools: 6+ potential power; 6 run; 7 arm; 5+ potential glove

What Happened in 2014: Rodriguez made a brief debut in Cincinnati after putting together a solid Southern League showing over 119 games with Pensacola.

Strengths: Strength and athleticism; quality glove, plus speed, and plus-plus arm complete impressive defensive foundation for center or right; closes well; arm comes with accuracy and smooth release; loose hands and whippy bat; raw power displays about double plus; quick twitch with some natural lift and carry; solid feel for strike zone; improving approach and ability to make in-game adjustments.

Weaknesses: Reads and routes still a work in progress; some hitch and length to swing; susceptible to mature sequencing; can be led out of the zone up top and away; could rack up empty swings against major-league arms; in-game power could play down due to inconsistencies in lower-half weight transfer and merely average barrel control; second-gear runner with slight ramp-up delay.

Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division regular

Realistic Role: 5; average major leaguer

Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate; hit utility has potential to eat into value at major-league level; solid but unspectacular Double-A performance.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The power and speed are appealing as his natural tools whisper 20/20, but he’s far riskier than a prospect with a full season of upper-minors experience (and an MLB cup of coffee) should be. He’s likely to give the type of roto value we’ve seen from Danny Espinosa (both the good and bad), but without the middle infield eligibility.

The Year Ahead: Rodriguez remains an interesting upside play, with the requisite physicality and athleticism to allow for some dream and daring in projection. Despite quality bat speed and big raw power buoying the offensive profile, there is a fair amount of risk anchored to the right-swinging outfielder as well. The swing violence, while producing impactful contact, limits Rodriguez’s barrel control and, when paired with strike-zone restraint that can fray at the margins both up and out, forms a dangerous combination that could be regularly exploited by major-league arms. While Rodriguez has shown an improved ability to make in-game adjustments, it remains likely that robust strike out totals will be a fixture in his major-league game. That won’t in and of itself sink him, but any significant struggles to make regular hard contact could limit the overall upside in the offensive profile, with added negative impact if a full-time switch to right occurs and a larger slice of the “value pie” is tied to the stick. Rodriguez would benefit from a stint in Louisville to start 2015, where the Venezuelan product could continue to log reps against advanced minor-league competition in the hopes of making the incremental progress necessary, both in the field and at the plate, to bridge the gap between present skill set and the proficiency required to contribute on the games brightest stage.

Major league ETA: 2016

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25082
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

2. A.J. Cole, RHP

The Tools: 7 FB; 6 CH; 5 SL

What Happened in 2014: Cole split his time across both levels of the upper minors, where the right-hander logged another strong workload and flashed his strike throwing ability.

Strengths: Clean arm action; size to withstand rigors of position; uses body to advantage; fastball routinely works 92-96; adept at pounding zone with offering; capable of spotting to both sides of the plate; lively in lower tier of zone; seamless arm speed with changeup; plays well off of heater; arm-side fade with ability to command; spots slider well in sequences; has been tightening last few years; good command profile.

Weaknesses: Lacks clear bat-missing secondary offering; change is more of a contact-inducing offering; plays down on occasion; shape of breaking ball can be inconsistent; will get on the slurvy side; lacks bite off the table; hasn’t been able to find definitive identity with offering; may end up too fastball dependent at highest level; pitch is often around plate.

Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter

Realistic Role: High 5; no. 3/4 starter

Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; 11 games at Triple-A; utility of secondary arsenal.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The strikeouts are likely not going to get Cole to the point where he’s much more than an SP3 at his peak, but with strong ratios (particularly WHIP, given his fastball control), he’s worth rostering in even the shallowest of dynasty formats. Unfortunately, as of right now, there’s no spot for him in Washington—though that can change on a dime.

The Year Ahead: Cole continued to march along in 2014, and now sits on the cusp of getting his chance in The Show. There’s a lot to like with this arm as both the size and power stuff is there to churn through opposing lineups on a consistent basis. The overall profile gets a boost from the right-hander’s ability to effortlessly pound the zone with his fastball and fill up the ledger with a lot of strikes. Everything flows off of the heater for the 22-year-old. The plus command profile is a big reason why there’s a good chance the potential can become a reality, but the secondary stuff does leave some questions as to what the overall body of work will look like in the long run. The changeup is right there in terms of playing at a plus level, but is more of a contact inducing pitch. If the breaking ball continues to have inconsistencies and can’t find an identity, there’s a lot of pressure on the fastball. High-caliber hitters may end up taking advantage of the fact that Cole’s fastball is around the plate so often. This season will likely be the first look at how his stuff is going to play against big-league hitters, and a little more tightening of the slider would go a long way towards achieving true mid-rotation status.

Major league ETA: 2015

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25030
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Potential Impact: Adam Conley

This summer was a struggle for Conley, including a bout of elbow tendonitis and loose stuff across the board. While some of the struggles can be tied to injury and a failure to regain his feel, the showings at Triple-A continue a trend that has seen the Washington State product become entirely too hittable in the high minors as a starter. He has a live lefty arm that scouts believe will transition well into a relief role, and a change that gives him an adequate secondary offering to disrupt timing. If the transition to the pen comes this year, he could provide quality lefty innings in short order.

Potential Impact: A.J. Cole

Cole might not be among the Nationals' top five starters when the season begins, but when they inevitably need to reach into the farm system for starters six through eight, Cole should be among the candidates. He currently ranks as the second-best prospect in the system after a strong 2014 split between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, and he projects well to the middle of a major-league rotation.

Potential Impact: Brandon Drury

Following a strong 2014 season, Drury made a solid impression at the plate during his AFL run, while working out at multiple infield positions. Drury is thick and muscular, standing 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, with soft hands and a strong arm from third base. His range there isn’t great, which doesn’t leave much hope for a long-term future at the keystone either. He makes his bones with the stick, showcasing a short swing that enables him to barrel the baseball and spray line drives all over the field in spite of average bat speed. There’s solid raw power in the barrel, but it’s still to be determined whether that raw will play at the highest level. If he proves incapable of sticking at second base the Diamondbacks will need to find a home for him, with Jake Lamb just settling in at third at the major-league level.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25090
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

3. Chance Sisco, C

The Tools: 5 arm; 5+ potential hit; 5 potential glove; 5 potential power

What Happened in 2014: Sisco put together a solid first full professional season, showing surprising advancement at the plate and the ability to create consistent, hard contact, but left opinions mixed when it comes to the defense.

Strengths: Athletic; good frame; solid-average arm strength; strong hands; plus bat speed; capable of adjusting to the path of the ball; extends well post-contact to use the whole field; present gap power; potential for more home-run pop as physically matures; has shown early improvement in transition to catching; body and athleticism to handle position; high baseball IQ.

Weaknesses: Choppy footwork; gets tangled when firing feet; glove hand will drift; needs a lot of work getting body in good position to block; questions as to whether there’s enough to stick; swing on the flat side; power may ultimately play at fringe average; will lunge at stuff with spin; below-average runner; lacks impact tools.

Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player

Realistic Role: 5; average big-leaguer

Risk Factor/Injury History: High; yet to reach upper minors; dual-threat development; some questions on ability to stick behind plate.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: If Sisco stays behind the plate, his offensive potential will certainly put him above the mixed-league line of demarcation, but moving off the position would certainly be a blow to his value. On the other hand, sticking behind the plate will slow his ETA, so it’s a double-edged sword. Either way, there’s a .280 hitter with 15 homers in there, which is usable everywhere in this offensively challenged environment.

The Year Ahead: Sisco has emerged within this system over the past season, during which he offered a glimpse at an offensive skillset that proved to be more advanced than previously thought. A fluid stroke and strong hands enable the backstop to create consistent contact along with good backspin into both gaps. The soon-to-be 20-year-old is more than willing to use the whole field at an early age and displays a level mindset at the plate, which bodes well for consistent adjustments with each step up the ranks. While there are still improvements to be made in handling good breaking stuff, the hands play well and stay back when attacking offerings. The potential exists for 270s-280s averages, with home-run power that can round out as average in peak seasons. However, opinions are mixed on the defense and ability to stick behind the plate; some see the athleticism and early progression of the skills as an indication that Sisco can reach an adequate defensive level as a backstop, while others feel there are key limitations and the gap is too large to close. The placement within this list and role grades speak to the belief that the player has taken some steps at closing the initial gap and that things can look very different down the line. This is a player who will need time to marinate on both sides of the ball, but can reward the developmental patience with a solid major-league player at full bloom.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25177
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

5. Brandon Drury, 3B/2B

The Tools: 5 potential hit; 5+ potential power; 5 potential glove; 5+ arm

What Happened in 2014: Drury continued his steady climb through the organization with his bat leading the way through the Cal and Southern League and a growing band of evaluative supporters following in his wake.

Strengths: Solid feel for barrel over the white; compact cuts produce regular hard contact to the gaps; improved tracking; fluidity to swing with good extension through impact; capable of loading deep, dropping barrel, and driving over the fence; sturdy build; above-average raw derived more from strength than force generated from bat speed; solid hands and left-side arm; improved lower-half actions; has amassed solid portfolio of production through three full-season levels.

Weaknesses: Bat speed is average; can struggle with velocity up and at the fringes; will expand zone behind in count; inconsistent ability to spot spin and attack quality offerings; true kill zone skews to middle; at times reliant on mistakes to find balls to drive; variable load can lead to inconsistent barrel delivery and empty swings in zone; limited defensive profile; decrease in lower-half agility could push defensive production from adequate to liability; five-o’clock power outstrips in-game utility; production has come more in spite of approach than because of it.

Overall Future Potential: High 5; above-average regular

Realistic Role: 5; everyday major leaguer

Risk Factor/Injury History: Low; Double-A capable with solid AFL showing.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Neither position that Drury is capable of manning is either a strong point for fantasy owners or the Diamondbacks, giving him an additional reason to buy into the profile. That said, Drury will be helped by Chase Field, but not enough to be a top-10 producer at either position. He could hit .260 with 20 homers, and while that would be usable in all leagues, it wouldn’t make him irreplaceable.

The Year Ahead: Drury lacks impact tools, but a solid aggregate profile and in-game feel has resulted in consistent production across multiple minor-league levels and has led evaluators to consider Aristotelian paradigms when projecting an ultimate role. Indeed, with Drury the whole may be greater than the sum of the parts, which will be important since there isn’t a particular skill that is likely to consistently drive his value. The swing is generally contact friendly, but he is still learning when to leverage up the load and lift. He’s prone to give away at-bats when he locks on a zone or pitch type and will need to demonstrate better adaptability as he faces more advanced arms. There is a wide range of opinion as to where the hit and power tools ultimately settle, with some preferring he sell out a little more to tap into the raw power and others insisting the bat works best as a short-swing gap rider. The best outcome may be a more funneled approach, if Drury proves capable of implementing such a game plan, with enough barrel control to keep compact and reactive early in the count while slowly adding length and leverage and shrinking his pitch/zone focus as circumstances permit. The ceiling isn’t sexy, but the bat could play above average at third or second base. With even a fringy glove that should be enough to warrant regular big-league time, and if there is a developmental step up left in the plate approach, he could find himself flirting with a first-division label. Drury should start 2015 back in Mobile and could get his first taste of major-league action by late summer should the opportunity arise.

Major league ETA: 2016

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25191
Last edited by Padres on Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

5. Avery Romero, 2b

Background: Romero’s older brother Jordan, who played at NAIA Embry-Riddle (Fla.), was the better-fielding shortstop in high school, pushing Avery off the position when they played on the same team. He shifted to second base full time upon turning pro. At low Class A Greensboro in 2014 he ranked fifth in the South Atlantic League in batting (.320), helping lead the Grasshoppers to the league’s best record. He also hit .320 during a month-long promotion to high Class A Jupiter.

Scouting Report: Romero might have the quickest bat in the organization, consistently showing the ability to turn on good fastballs. He showed improved balance and worked on plate-coverage issues in 2014 as well. A below-average runner, Romero is a gap-to-gap hitter who has the strength to drive pitches out of the park as his pitch recognition improves. Defensively, he has improved significantly since his amateur days, showing that despite his stocky body he has quick enough feet and solid hands to handle second base.

The Future: Romero already has shown he can hit in the Florida State League and should return to Jupiter to start 2015. He could hop on the fast track if he keeps hitting, because second base is an unsettled position in Miami.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/2 ... prospects/

Can Avery Romeo become a slugger? He's got a good ability hitting fastball, maybe the next Uggla with better contact?

Juan Rodriguez: Physically, Romero has drawn some Uggla comparisons, but last season he slimmed down and got himself into better shape. Not sure you'll see the same home run numbers out of Romero as Uggla provided when he was with the Marlins, but the upside is Romero won't strikeout nearly as much.

With the recent acquisition of Dee Gordon, should the Marlins move Avery Romero over to 3B now or continue to develop him as a 2B and decide whether he'll stay at second base or be shifted to the hot corner once he is closer to being ready?

Juan Rodriguez: I would keep Romero at second. Gordon is coming off an All-Star season, but he doesn't have an established major league track record. Plus, he's eligible for arbitration as a Super 2. If Gordon either gets too expensive or doesn't perform, I like the idea of having Romero ready to go at second.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1418329974
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Prospects on the Rise:

2. OF Jordan Paroubeck: The 2013 third rounder failed to gain in-game experience his draft year due to a shoulder ailment, but rebounded nicely this summer with a noteworthy performance in the Arizona Rookie League. There is a level of controlled violence to the switch-hitter’s swings that a pro developmental team could shape into a 30-plus home run threat, and the former Fresno State commit also brings above-average speed and some defensive projection to the table. Paramount to Paroubeck’s development at this point is logging in-game reps, and with a developmental step forward in 2015 the NorCal native could establish himself as one of the more interesting talents in the system.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25261
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Factors on the Farm (Prospects likely to contribute at the ML level in 2015)

2. RHP Tyler Wilson: The University of Virginia product has steadily risen up the ranks since signing in 2011 and took a step forward this past season in the upper levels of the system. The 25-year-old right-hander has always shown to be able to handle a heavy workload, but also flashed more consistency with the command and crispness of his arsenal, especially in regards to missing more bats with his curveball. Wilson is capable of pounding the strike zone with his low-90s fastball and possesses good strike throwing ability. He’s around the plate often, but with continued consistency of the curve he can get good bats started early. The changeup plays inconsistently, often on the firm side and lacking strong separation to the heater. It may ultimately play better as a seventh-inning role at peak in the bullpen, but the arm provides good depth in 2015 wherever the organization chooses to utilize it.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25177
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

10. Yorman Rodriguez, of

Born: Aug. 15, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Signed: Venezuela, 2008. Signed by: Tony Arias.

Background: At an age when he could be just entering pro ball had he been born in the U.S., Rodriguez is making his seventh Prospect Handbook appearance. Signed for a then-Venezuelan amateur bonus record of $2.5 million in 2008, he missed time in 2014 with an oblique injury that muted his production when he returned, but he finished strong and made his big league debut in September.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez has long been one of the toolsiest players in the system, but his plate discipline and his maturity had to catch up to his talent. He still frustrates scouts because he’ll show a tick above-average run time followed by well below-average times in his next few at-bats, but when he’s locked in, he shows everything a scout wants to see. Rodriguez has started to show an improved hitting approach by learning how to take a pitch the other way and knowing when to shrink or expand his strike zone. He can play all three outfield spots, but he fits best in right field where his plus arm is an asset. In center field, his average range makes him best as a fill-in.

The Future: For a player who has reached the majors, Rodriguez’s future potential is highly volatile. Scouts see him as a potential fourth outfielder, but one who could turn into more than that if the light bulb clicks on. He’s headed to Triple-A Louisville in 2015.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... prospects/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

This makes me happy for a lot of reasons:

Todd Steverson said Avisail Garcia's winter ball season was a success based on the reports he's received. The stats certainly back that up, as Garcia hit .312/.366/.528 with eight doubles, two triples, five homers, 11 walks and 34 strikeouts over 125 at-bats for Tigres de Aragua.

http://www.southsidesox.com/2015/1/7/75 ... -mini-camp
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Cuban righthander Yoan Lopez has agreed to sign with the Diamondbacks for $8.25 million.

Lopez is 21, so he is subject to the international bonus pools. The Lopez signing puts the Diamondbacks well beyond their allotted pool space for the current 2014-15 signing period, which means that, along with a 100 percent tax on their pool overage, they will not be able to sign anyone for more than $300,000 for the next two signing periods, starting with the 2015-16 signing period that begins on July 2. That’s a significant sacrifice for the Diamondbacks, who finished with the worst record in MLB last season and will have the biggest international bonus pool in 2015-16. Lopez’s bonus is the biggest one ever for a player subject to the bonus pools since the pool era began on July 2, 2012.

Lopez was one of the more intriguing young arms in Cuba at the time he left the island. In Cuba, Lopez had thrown in the low-90s, but he added size and strength since then to his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and has touched the mid-90s. During his final season pitching in Cuba for Isla De La Juventud in Serie Nacional, Lopez posted a 3.12 ERA with a 28-11 K-BB mark in 49 innings in seven starts. When Lopez pitched in Cuba’s 18U national league in 2011, he had a 1.74 ERA in 77 2/3 innings with 88 strikeouts and 45 walks, ranking second in the league in both strikeouts and walks, and third in wild pitches (9).

It’s not known yet where Lopez will begin his career, but given his age and talent level, one of the Class A levels would seem like a good fit for him to start. Since Lopez is subject to the bonus pools, he had to sign a minor league contract, but the Diamondbacks plan to invite him to major league spring training.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/internat ... pez-signs/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

5. Tyler Naquin, CF

The Tools: 7 arm; 5+ glove; 5+ potential hit; 5 run

What Happened in 2014: The Texan put together a strong first half in the Eastern League, with a potential promotion to the next level just around the corner, before a pitch off the hand required surgery, putting an early end to his season.

Strengths: Good athlete; fluid actions; solid defensive instincts; improved reads and routes; enough glove to handle position; impact arm; adept at getting into position to unleash throws; shows more speed once getting into gear; simple stroke; solid-average bat speed; creates line-drive contact into both gaps; high baseball IQ.

Weaknesses: Some concerns on ability to consistently hit high-quality pitching; can be beat with high velocity middle-in; some swing and miss in the zone; will lunge against off-speed; needs work keeping weight back more frequently; below-average power; gets into stretches of being too defensive; hit tool may end up playing down due to lack of consistent hard contact.

Overall Future Potential: 5; major-league regular

Realistic Role: Low 5; below-average regular/platoon player

Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate; 94 games at Double-A; hand surgery (2014); hit tool utility.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Those in shallow leagues are better off skipping over Naquin and moving on to some of the names here with more fantasy juice. In deep leagues, he could be an undervalued asset, but as someone likely to top out at around a .270 hitter with 15-20 steals and little over-the-fence power to speak of, his utility on a dynasty roster is limited.

The Year Ahead: 2014 turned out to be a bitter sweet season for the 23-year-old, where he definitely offered a round of positive progress towards rounding out his overall game, but saw further momentum dashed in the second half by a broken bone in his right hand. The setback will likely cost Naquin a chance to begin the year in the International League, but if he gets off to a similar start it likely won’t be long before he finds himself roaming centerfield in Triple-A. At his best,. the lefty is a gap-to-gap hitter who is more than capable of producing hard line drives with backspin. There’s been tangible improvement on both sides of the ball over the course of the last two seasons as well, where a future big-leaguer has come into focus. Evaluators do have some concerns about the profile, mainly in regards to how well he can consistently handle high-quality pitching and whether he’ll be able to hit enough to maintain status as a regular as a result. But the Texas native has shown the knack for making adjustments fairly quickly at each stop so far. A good showing this season will likely earn Naquin a call in some capacity by season’s end. The athleticism and arm at the very least give the prospect the chance to stick around on a roster in a bench capacity over the long term, with further offensive upswing making it a very real possibility he could compete for an outfield spot as a regular in 2016.

Major league ETA: Late 2015

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25354
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

9. Bobby Bradley, 1B

The Tools: 6 potential power; 5+ potential hit; 5 potential glove

What Happened in 2014: Cleveland lured the big, prep first baseman away from a Louisiana State University commit with a large six-figure, over-slot bonus, and then saw immediate returns as Bradley torched the Arizona League in 39 games.

Strengths: Sturdy frame; big body; excellent present strength; efficient swing path with upward plane; drives offerings with lift and loft; life in hands; plus bat speed; advanced feel for strike zone; plus-to-better raw power; uses lower body well in swing mechanics; willing to use the whole field; mature approach to the game.

Weaknesses: Will have to watch body from becoming too muscle bound; swing can get loose; on the aggressive side; uppercut in stroke leads to swing and miss above belt; will reach for stuff with break away; swing presently favors pulling the ball; limited defensive profile; first base-only player.

Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player

Realistic Role: High 4; below-average regular/bench bat

Risk Factor/Injury History: High; complex-league resume; early advancements with hit tool; bat-first profile.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The high-school first-base profile can be a good shield for fantasy hype, as I’d take Bradley fifth in this system for a dynasty league team, behind just the top four players on this list. With a strong 2015 season, he could solidify himself as a top 100 dynasty prospect capable of hitting .275 with 25-plus homers at the highest level.

The Year Ahead: Bradley’s quick assimilation into professional ball was a pleasant surprise this past summer, and lent further credence to pre-draft reports that the bat was on the advanced side for a player of this age. The stick is the main draw here, where the 18-year-old possesses plenty of raw power and an early feel for consistently barreling up offerings thanks to a shorter swing path. The first baseman is also willing to work through sequences, which bodes well for him continuing to smoothly transition during the early career stages. It’s not out of the question for Bradley to receive a placement in full-season ball this year, though the organization may be inclined to keep him back in extended spring training to work with the swing a bit to go the other way with more ease before fully letting him loose in 2015. Regardless, this is a good looking hitter, who can very well round into a middle-of-the-order type when all is said and done, and provide strong offensive production on a consistent basis. There’s a long developmental road ahead for the prospect, along with the first base-only profile putting pressure on the bat to fully play, but with a strong showing in 2015 this will be a rising player in status within this system by next offseason.

Major league ETA: 2018

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25354
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

7. Brandon Drury, 3b/2b

Background: Drury was the youngest among the five players acquired in the January 2013 blockbuster trade that sent outfielder Justin Upton to the Braves, but he may wind up providing Arizona’s best return from the deal. The Oregon native was coming off a down 2012 season with the Braves’ low Class A affiliate but has boosted his stock with two strong seasons in the Diamondbacks organization. Drury ranked third in the high Class A California League in doubles (35) in 2014 despite being promoted to Double-A Mobile in late July.

Scouting Report: He generates above-average power with his strength and good bat speed, and supporters believe he has the ingredients to be great hitter. He has a short, compact swing but struggles with good offspeed pitches. Drury is a well below-average runner, but his first-step quickness, good hands and strong, accurate arm project to make him at least an average defender at third base. He got some reps at second base during the Arizona Fall League and may have the tools and work ethic to become an average defender at the keystone.

The Future: Added to the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster in November, Drury will return to Mobile for more seasoning in 2015, with a move to Triple-A Reno not far off. With Jake Lamb ahead of him on the third-base depth chart, Drury might meet the least resistance at second base.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... prospects/

Roy (Indiana): What are the chances Drury makes a successful move to 2B?

Bill Mitchell: The reports from Brandon Drury’s work at the keystone during the AFL season were mostly positive, with some scouts indicating that they preferred him at second base rather than at third. With his good hands and solid work ethic, there’s no reason Drury can’t become at least an average defender at second.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... ects-chat/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Factors on the Farm (Prospects likely to contribute at the ML level in 2015)

2. LHP Adam Conley: The former second-round pick was unable to carry a good spring with the big club into the season, struggling early in Triple-A prior to missing time with elbow tendonitis, and then never getting back on track before being shut down in July. There’s promise with the arsenal, highlighted by a low-90s fastball and fading, low-80s changeup that bring into focus the potential as a big-league arm. Given the limitation of the overall arsenal, it looks more likely that Conley is best-suited for the bullpen at the highest level, where his stuff can potentially play up in short bursts. If the prospect can get back on track this year, there’s a strong chance a call will be waiting.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=24992
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

9. Rosell Herrera, ss/3b

Background: Herrera signed for $550,000 in 2009, played well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2011 but saved his big breakthrough for low Class A Asheville in 2013, when he won both the South Atlantic League batting title (.343) and MVP honors. Inflammation in both wrists sabotaged his encore at high Class A Modesto in 2014, forcing him out for five weeks early in the season and bothering him for the balance of the year.

Scouting Report: Herrera has a long, loose body and loose actions. The switch-hitter is much better from the left side, while his long limbs give him extension and enable him to make adjustments to hit different pitches in and out of the zone. Herrera still has breaking-ball and count-management issues, but he has good bat speed and has developed a balanced approach. His long actions are a hindrance at shortstop and third base, where he’s a below-average defender, so the Rockies tried him in center field during 2014 instructional league. Herrera is instinctively natural when it comes to reads and first-step quickness in the outfield and has a solid-average to plus arm. .

The Future: The Rockies say the outfield is an addition for Herrera, not a conversion from the infield. Now that he has been fitted for special wrist braces, he should be at full health in 2015, when he faces a likely return to Modesto.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... prospects/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

4. Brandon Finnegan, LHP

The Tools: 6+ FB; 6 potential SL; 5 CH

What Happened in 2014: Finnegan was one of the most impressive arms at the collegiate ranks this spring, showing power stuff out of the TCU rotation and earning a first-round selection in June’s draft before speeding through the minors as a reliever and eventually becoming the first pitcher ever to throw in both the College and MLB World Series in the same season.

Strengths: Strong three-pitch mix led by low- to mid-90s fastball with some late explosion; can pound the quadrants with the heater, reaching as high as 96/97 mph in short stints; low-80s slider can flash plus with sharp break and good deception off the fastball trajectory; changeup is solid average offering with some tumble; solid feel across the arsenal; aggressive demeanor on mound; attacks hitters with fastball and slider; comfortable working across the zone and out of it; sturdy build; repeats well.

Weaknesses: Non-traditional starter height; fastball lacks plane and become hittable when velo dips; showed clear step down in stuff and effectiveness second and third time through order as starter; missed time in spring due to shoulder stiffness; throws with fair amount of effort; arm drag starts to show later in starts, pushing fastball up and out and causing decrease in slider utility.

Overall Future Potential: 6; first-tier closer

Realistic Role: High 5; late-inning reliever/closer

Risk Factor/Injury History: Low; major-league ready as reliever; shoulder issues in 2014; has yet to demonstrate durability.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: We saw what Finnegan was capable of at the major-league level down the stretch in 2014, but he’ll give back some of that performance if he does successfully make it to the Royals rotation. With a strong chance of moving to the bullpen and recent injury concerns, his value is tied to multiple risks, but there is enough talent to make him an SP3, who can strikeout nearly a batter an inning with an ERA that is more valuable than his WHIP. As a reliever, he’d be very strong across the board, but would be much less attractive in dynasty leagues.

The Year Ahead: Finnegan looked like a potential top-ten arm in the 2014 draft class before missing time due to shoulder stiffness, showing comfort with three quality offerings, two of which could play to plus at the major-league level. While the raw stuff is there to turn over major-league lineups, his sub-six-foot stature, high-effort delivery, and a clear downward trend in effectiveness later in his starts this spring all seem to point to a much better fit in the back of the Royals pen. He would likely need to be stretched out some in order to transition to the rotation with no guarantee he would be ready to contribute at the big-league level in such capacity in 2015. With Kansas City coming off of a World Series appearance, the Royals may opt for the bird in the hand, keeping Finnegan in the pen where he can provide a powerful late-inning lefty arm throughout the 2015 campaign, with an opportunity to eventually step into the team’s closer role down the line.

Major league ETA: Debuted in 2014

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25434
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

10. Trevor Gott, RHP

The Tools: 6 FB; 5 SL

What Happened in 2014: The former Kentucky closer had no issue navigating his way through a hitter-friendly Cal League through the first half of the season or handling advanced Double-A bats in the second half, leaving him a step away from his major-league debut.

Strengths: Plus fastball sits low 90s with lots of weight; very difficult to lift down in zone; flat trajectory coupled with sink draws lots of soft contact; slider can be swing-and-miss offering when properly set-up; shows some feel for changeup; willing to throw change and slider early in count; maintains focus and mechanics with runners on; brain and stomach for high-leverage situations.

Weaknesses: Slightly undersized; fastball can lack plane and angle; can be hittable waist and up; has tendency to overthrow slider; when slider and change are not effective, fastball can lose effectiveness; bat-missing ability could be limited against major-league bats without more consistency and precision with slider.

Overall Future Potential: High 5; late-inning relief/second-tier closer

Realistic Role: 5; late-inning relief

Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate; fewer than 100 pro innings; reliever-volatility risk.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Take everything that I said about Bedrosian, but tone down the excitement a notch. Gott has the stuff to be a good major-league reliever, but there’s just no reason to own him in fantasy leagues right now.

The Year Ahead: It was a strong 2014 campaign for the former sixth-rounder, with Gott pounding his way through two levels, reaching Double-A after just 67 professional innings. Because the righty lacks significant plane and angle on his heater, the pitch relies heavily on late sink and an ability to throw to both sides of the plate to avoid hard contact. The slider is an adequate partner for the fastball and could grow into a true swing-and-miss offering once he finds a slightly tighter handle on the pitch and is better able to utilize it with precision and consistency. While he doesn’t need the changeup in order to succeed out of the pen, there is enough feel for the pitch to project it to fringe average or better with continued developmental focus. Gott is ready for Triple-A and should be afforded the opportunity to further refine his arsenal at that level with the Angels armed with adequate right-handed relief options at present. He profiles as a capable late-inning arm, long term, and could see some time in Los Angeles this summer should the need arise.

Major league ETA: 2015

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=25533
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

Probable 2015 25 Man Roster:

Micah Johnson, 2B 253/.299/.357
Rosell Herrera#, SS .285/.331/.396
Billy Butler, DH .272/.340/.403
Avisail Garcia, RF .269/.309/.417
Dariel Alvarez, CF .270/.290/.409
Bryan Pena#, C .255/.286/.354
Stephen Souza, LF .228./304/396
Brandon Drury, 3B .246/.291/.397
Travis Shaw*, 1B .227/.300/.374

Bench:

Chance Sisco*, C .243/.293/.348
Carlos Sanchez#, 2B/SS/3B .253/.297/.340
Rafael Ynoa, 1B/2B/SS/3B .267/.314/.361
Yorman Rodriguez, LF/RF .239/.288/.359
Tyler Naquin*, LF/CF/RF .227/.275/.319

Rotation:

Kris Medlen 3.54 ERA, 109/34 K/BB in 142.1 IP (95 ERA-) likely will start the season the DL
AJ Cole 3.82, 120/36 in 141.3 IP (102 ERA-)
Hector Santiago* 3.96, 116/55 in 138.7 IP (106 ERA-)
Jarred Cosart 3.89, 95/66 in 148 IP (103 ERA-)
Roenis Elias* 4.32, 114/57 in 139.7 IP (113 ERA-)
Brandon Finnegan* 4.27, 55/17 in 65.3 IP (106 ERA-) until Medlen comes off the DL

Bullpen:

CL Vinnie Pestano 3,34, 61/22 in 56.7 IP (89 ERA-)
LSU Zach Duke* 3.71, 59/18 in 53.0 (87 ERA-)
LSU Caleb Thielbar* 4.07, 45/20 in 55.3 IP (103 ERA-)
RSU Oliver Drake 3.60, 40/16 in 40 IP (90 ERA-)
RSU Chris Withrow 3.32, 45/21 in 38.0 IP (92 ERA-) likely will start the season on the DL
RSU Matt Albers 3.96, 27/13 in 38.3 IP (103 ERA-) until Withrow comes off the DL
LR/MU Kirby Yates 3.79, 63/33 in 59.3 IP (105 ERA-)

Young with a lot of speed leading off and a little pop in the middle... best bullpen in the last few years. Won't be challenging the Tigers or Twins but won't roll over and play dead all season either.
Post Reply

Return to “Musings from Maine”