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Post by Cardinals »

I still think he'll settle in nicely as a No. 2 SP, and either way, it's great to see he's making a full recovery.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/pr ... 13000.html
The outings occurred in the Dominican Republic, three February tuneups for spring training by Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio. In an ordinary offseason, they would have attracted minimal attention rather than organizational scrutiny.

This was anything but an ordinary offseason for Nicasio, who has recovered from a broken neck sustained Aug. 5. Some 6 ½ months after that frightful injury, Nicasio headed to spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz., in all-systems-go mode.

"His mentality, he's like nothing happened before," said Edison Lora, the Rockies' pitching coach with their Rookie-level Dominican Summer League team and Nicasio's first professional coach after the Rockies signed him in 2006. "That's amazing, the way he was on the mound competing. The hitters were more surprised than he was. He's mentally ready and physically, too."

Nicasio, 25, faced hitters for the first time without a protective screen on Feb. 3, throwing 15 fastballs in an intrasquad game at the Rockies complex in the Dominican Republic. On Feb. 9, Nicasio worked two innings against players from the Cubs organization, allowing one hit and one unearned run with no walks and four strikeouts.

He threw 27 pitches, 19 strikes, and his fastball ranged from 92-97 mph and averaged 96 mph. He averaged 87 mph with his slider and 84 mph with his changeup.

On Feb. 15, Nicasio faced players from the Marlins organization and not just DSL players. He was scheduled to pitch two innings, but because they were easy and he hadn't worked from a stretch, Nicasio pitched a third inning. He allowed two hits and one unearned run with no walks and four strikeouts in a 45-pitch outing that included 33 strikes.

In this second outing, Nicasio was 92-97 mph with his fastball and averaged 94 mph. He was 85-87 mph with his slider and averaged 86 mph, and averaged 84 mph with his changeup that ranged from 83-86 mph.

"He's not 100 percent with his command," Lora said, "but I would say that he's 85-90 percent with his command. I'm very pleased with what I've seen. He's ready to roll."

Lora said that Marlins manager Raymond Nunez did something of a double take at the sight of Nicasio on the mound and asked, "That's Juan Nicasio, the one that had that accident?"

"Yeah, yeah that's him," Lora said.

"That's unbelievable, man," Nunez said. "He's pitching like nothing happened."

Nicasio, who began last season at Double-A Tulsa, made his major league debut May 28 and went 4-4, 4.14 in 13 starts for the Rockies. He was very effective at Coors Field, going 4-1, 1.98 in seven starts.

In the second inning of his start Aug. 5, Nicasio was struck in the right temple by a line drive off the bat of Ian Desmond of the Nationals and suffered a fractured C1 vertebrae. Two screws were inserted in that topmost vertebrae, along with a small plate at the base of Nicasio's skull. The screws and plate are permanent.

Nicasio could be a boon to the Rockies rotation that looms as the team's largest uncertainty. Jeremy Guthrie and Jhoulys Chacin are givens in the rotation, which is likely to include lefthander Drew Pomeranz. The Rockies could fill out their rotation from the likes of Alex White, Tyler Chatwood, Guillermo Moscoso, Josh Outman, Esmil Rogers and Jamie Moyer with a healthy Nicasio.

"He's a special guy, man," Lora said. "I can't describe how special he is because to be pitching the way he's pitching at this time, he's very impressive. He'll be fine. When Opening Day comes, he'll be there in that rotation. That's what I believe."
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Post by Cardinals »

MIKE TROUT

"Trout is such a rare combination of athleticism, speed and power that the obvious comparison would be MICKEY MANTLE. But that's unfair to put on anyone."

—ASSISTANT GM, NL CLUB

"Trout is going to have some pop. He's kind of a RICKEY HENDERSON-type guy in center field, a TIM RAINES with more power."

—VICE PRESIDENT, AL CLUB

"Trout reminds me of (Chicago Bears linebacker) BRIAN URLACHER. He's that kind of unique, special athlete. Urlacher was a safety in college, and I remember when he came out in the NFL draft, he could play almost any position on defense. I look at Trout and his ability to do so many things, and picture him the same way. There even some resemblance facially a little bit."

—DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL, AL TEAM
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Post by Cardinals »

For those players on the field that warm Friday night last year against the Washington Nationals, it's hard to reconcile Nicasio's remarkable recovery. He has been throwing side sessions in spring training, reaching 97 mph on his fastball. He's determined to break camp in the starting rotation and has the inside track on the fourth spot.
Good to see him back throwing 97. It's the mental state that he has to conquer, but either way, he's really, really easy to root for.
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Post by Cardinals »

Image

that is all
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Post by Pirates »

looking good...
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Padres...
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Post by Cardinals »

Talk about missing the point...
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Post by Cardinals »

From today's Ask BA:
Who are the top five prospects in the individual offensive tools of hitting, power and speed?

The top choice in each category was obvious. Angels outfielder Mike Trout's combination of bat-to-ball skills, strike-zone awareness and speed should result in a big league batting title one day. Several scouts say that Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is the best young power hitter they ever have seen. And Reds shortstop Billy Hamilton's crazy speed helped him to become the first minor league in a decade to reach 100 steals in a season.

My top five lists for hitting, power and speed:

Best Hitting Prospects
1. Mike Trout, of, Angels
2. Jurickson Profar, ss, Rangers
3. Jesus Montero, c/1b, Mariners
4. Anthony Rendon, 3b, Nationals
5. Nolan Arenado, 3b, Rockies
Youngsters to watch: Javier Baez (Cubs), Oscar Taveras (Cardinals), Christian Yelich (Marlins)


Best Speed Prospects
1. Billy Hamilton, ss, Reds
2. Mike Trout, of, Angels
3. Gary Brown, of, Giants
4. Roman Quinn, ss, Phillies
5. Terrance Gore, of, Royals
Youngsters to watch: Glynn Davis (Orioles), Bradley Marquez (Mets), Mason Williams (Yankees).
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Post by Athletics »

So no power prospects you value? Or just not good enough to make a top 5 list?
"My shit doesn't work in the playoffs. My job is to get us to the playoffs. What happens after that is fucking luck."

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Post by Cardinals »

Thread title: Pimp Your Pirates

Are there any Pirates on the power list?

But hey, don't worry, none of your players on it either.
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Post by Athletics »

Pirates wrote:Thread title: Pimp Your Pirates

Are there any Pirates on the power list?

But hey, don't worry, none of your players on it either.
Rome wasn't built in a day...give it some time. :wink:
"My shit doesn't work in the playoffs. My job is to get us to the playoffs. What happens after that is fucking luck."

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LAA 16 - 20 477W - 333L 17-20 ALW
OAK 21 - 22 214W - 110L 21-22 ALW
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Post by Cardinals »

Here's a nice follow up...
Following up on last week's Ask BA question about the prospects with the best individual hitting, power and speed tools, who makes your top five list of those who grade as above average in both power and speed? Royals outfielder Bubba Starling is one guy who jumps to mind. Does Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper have that kind of speed?

Steve Clark
Bridgeport, Conn.


Many scouts think Harper will lose a half-step or so as he fully matures physically, and while he presently has above-average speed, they project him as more of a 55 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale down the line. So if we require players to be at least a future 60 in each category, that takes him out of the running. Here's my top five:

Best Power/Speed Prospects
1. Mike Trout, of, Angels
2. Bubba Starling, of, Royals
3. George Springer, of, Astros
4. Yoenis Cespedes, of, Athletics
5. Rymer Liriano, of, Padres
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Post by Athletics »

You left off half of the response...trying to cherry pick the things you like I see.
Just missed the cut: Jordan Akins (Rangers), Joe Benson (Twins), Brett Jackson (Cubs).
Missed with 55 power: Jake Marisnick (Blue Jays), Brandon Nimmo (Mets).
Missed with 55 speed: Bryce Harper (Nationals), Tim Wheeler (Rockies), Christian Yelich (Marlins).
And I only bring this up since Brett Jackson was a just miss.
"My shit doesn't work in the playoffs. My job is to get us to the playoffs. What happens after that is fucking luck."

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LAA 16 - 20 477W - 333L 17-20 ALW
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Post by Cardinals »

Pirates wrote:Thread title: Pimp Your Pirates
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Post by Cardinals »

Brendan (Indianapolis)

Who would you rather have for this year only, Matt Moore or Yu Darvish?


Klaw (1:16 PM)

Darvish.
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Post by Giants »

I get what the title of the thread is, but that's a pretty stupid question
Your REIGNING AND DEFENDING #evenyear IBC CHAMPION

2015- #torture #evenyears 179-145
2006-2014 Gritty Gutty A's 828-631
2005 Texas Rangers 65-97
Total: 1072-873 .551
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Post by Cardinals »

Some Pirates prospects off to fast starts:

Mike Trout, AAA: .400/.463/.600, 1 HR, 3 2B, 4 3B, 9 BB/15 SO, 6 SB
Derek Norris, AAA: .333/.347/.561, 2 HR, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 BB/12 SO
Edwar Cabrera, AA: 2.08 ERA, .65 WHIP, 26 IP, 3 BB, 22 SO, .156 BAA
Miles Head, A+: .365/.397/.689, 4 HR, 6 2B, 3 3B, 3 BB/17 SO
Telvin Nash, A+: .281/.387/.688, 8 HR, 2 2B, 11 BB/21 SO
Mike Foltynewicz, A: 1.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 7 BB, 23 SO, .217 BAA
Victor Payano, A: 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 8 BB, 13 SO, .176 BAA
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Post by Cardinals »

Gregory Polanco is Keith Law's #22 prospect in baseball now after his strong start in the pitcher-friendly FSL.

22. Gregory Polanco, OF | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Bradenton)
Preseason ranking: 55

Scouts seem mixed on whether he'll stay in center or not, but even if he doesn't, he brings a lot of skills to the table offensively and would be very good in a corner. If he does stay in center, he has some star potential because of his bat.
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Baseball America released its midseason top 50, and one Gregory Polanco is No. 13:

13 Gregory Polanco of Pirates
When Polanco joins Pirates outfield, club will field three legitimate center fielders.
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Victor Sanchez, rhp, Mariners: When the Mariners signed Sanchez two years ago on July 2 out of Venezuela, they knew they weren’t getting your typical 16-year-old pitcher. He had an unusual combination of present stuff and polish for his age—he had been a standout in multiple international tournaments. Some teams even liked him as a position player for his raw power, but with his thicker body type, there wasn’t much physical projection left. That advanced feel for pitching is what has allowed him to move quickly to the low Class A Midwest League as an 18-year-old, where last night he fired a rare nine-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts.
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Post by Cardinals »

I've sold off a fair number of pieces to add to my team this year, but still have quite a few strong prospects on the farm, including one top 10/15 prospect in all the land:
11. Raul Alcantara, rhp, Athletics
Team: high Class A Stockton (California)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.98, 13 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 14 SO, 3 BB

The Scoop: Alcantara’s numbers didn’t measure up to his raw stuff in 2012, as he struggled both to command the ball and maintain his poise on the mound when things went south, leading to a 5.08 ERA in low Class A. He’s made progress towards addressing both those shortcomings this year, going 7-1, 2.44 in his return to the Midwest League and earning a promotion to Stockton in late June. He’s the fourth-youngest pitcher to work in the California League this year and has been up to the challenge, going 5-3, 3.30 though 11 starts and holding Cal League batters to a .229 average.

13. Gregory Polanco, cf, Pirates
Team: Double-A Altoona (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .455/.520/.773 (10-for-22), 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 R, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: This season has been everything that Polanco and the Pirates could have hoped for. He made the midseason jump from high Class A to Double-A look easy. He has more walks (29) than strikeouts (25) since arriving at Double-A, and his three steals this week puts him within striking distance of reaching 40 for the second consecutive season (he has 37). Pittsburgh just called up corner outfielder Andrew Lambo and his 31 minor league home runs, but if he stumbles—and he did spend parts of six seasons in Double-A—then Polanco could be next in line for an big league audition.
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Post by Cardinals »

Sage advice in this week's BA hot sheet chat:
Cali C. Levine (Tripod, NY): You're into sim leagues? A team in my league (30 teams) has Mike Trout, Evan Longoria, Yadier Molina, Robbie Cano, Jean Segura, Yoenis "BBQ" Cespedes, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Beltran, Adam Wainwright, Dan Haren, Jeremy Hellickson... the beat goes on and on. How can I beat him!?


J.J. Cooper: Jump leagues?
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Been awhile since we updated this, but here's a few nuggets:
8. Sam Tuivailala
Position: RHP
DOB: 10/19/1992
Height/Weight: 6’3” 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: 3rd round, 2010 draft, Aragon HS (San Mateo, CA)
Previous Ranking: On The Rise
2014 Stats: 36.00 ERA (1 IP, 5 H, 1 K, 2 BB) at major league level, 2.57 ERA (21 IP, 18 H, 30 K, 18 BB) at Double-A Springfield
The Tools: 7+ FB; 6 potential CB
The Tools: 7+ FB; 6 potential CB

What Happened in 2014: The infielder-turned-reliever overpowered hitters with premium gas across three minor-league levels, earning a brief two-appearance major-league debut to close his 2014 campaign.

Strengths: Borderline elite fastball with regular upper-90s velocity and life; only command keeps pitch shy of true “elite” grade; power curve flashes plus and could settle there at maturity; solid development in brief career on the mound; should miss bats immediately; mindset to handle high-leverage situations.

Weaknesses: Two-pitch arm; control and command profile is below average; fastball can flatten when he loses his slot; mechanics not yet second nature; curve can play average or lower when mechanics out of whack; lacks consistency to handle innings of import at present.

Overall Future Potential: 6; above-average closer

Realistic Role: High 5; high-leverage, late-inning arm

Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate; standard reliever volatility risk.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Tuivailala is a perfect example of why investing in relief prospects in dynasty leagues is inadvisable. In a vacuum, he’d likely be one of the five best “future closer” prospects in the minors, but with guys like Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, and the recently acquired Jordan Walden ahead of him, even if he develops perfectly, saves still likely are not in his near future.

The Year Ahead: After showing progress in his new role in 2013, “Tui” took off this summer, showing increased comfort on the mound en route to taking a significant developmental step forward. Because he is still working to maintain consistency in his execution, there is an ever-present risk he can fall out of his mechanics, leading to significant bouts of wildness and a steep fall-off in curveball effectiveness. As he continues to work to refine his craft, he should see a plus curve show up for him with more regularity, which could pair with his upper-90s heater to give him a closer-worthy one-two punch. There is some risk of a regression in stuff, since it is still relatively early in Tuivailala’s career on the mound and evaluators don’t have a deep history to draw upon for the file. But 2014 represents a noteworthy transition from “arm-strength lotto ticket” to “potential shut-down reliever.” With a little bit of faith and projection, you can see “dominant, high-leverage arm” sitting patiently on the horizon.

5. Kevin Plawecki
Position: C
DOB: 02/26/1991
Height/Weight: 6’2” 225 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2012 draft, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
Previous Ranking: #8 (Org)
2014 Stats: .283/.345/.421 at Triple-A Las Vegas (43 games), .326/.378/.487 at Double-A Binghamton (58 games)
The Tools: 5+ potential hit; 5 potential power; 5 arm; 5 glove

What Happened in 2014: The catcher proved to be more advanced than Double-A arms, ripping .326, and then held his own after a promotion to Triple-A.

Strengths: Strong, filled-out frame; body to handle the rigors of the position; solid receiver; firm glove; uses body well; fundamentally sound; quicker release helps average arm strength play up; easy swing; quiet; direct to the point of contact; ability to get barrel on the ball; mature approach; gap power, with opportunity to muscle up in spots because of bat control.

Weaknesses: Not much more tool growth left overall; no real leading tool; can be pitched to by high-quality arms; power likely to play down in favor of contact at highest level; defense projects as average; below-average speed; station-to-station runner.

Overall Future Potential: High 5; solid-average regular

Realistic Role: 5; average big-leaguer

Risk Factor/Injury History: Low; 43 games in Triple-A; consistency with bat.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The bar is set pretty low for catchers to be fantasy relevant, and with Plawecki’s strong contact rate and potential for 12-15 homers, he has a good chance to be above that bar. However, the value proposition for stashing him in dynasty leagues now is different, given the difficult transition catchers have to make at the major-league level and the presence of Travis d’Arnaud ahead of him.

The Year Ahead: Plawecki proved to be more than up to the challenge posed by Double-A arms and passed a major test in the process. His contact ability combined with a mature approach serve him well at the plate. The 23-year-old is more than willing to grind through plate appearances, with a knack for getting into favorable hitting situations. That’s going to have to continue for the catcher to do enough damage against the unforgiving arms in The Show. There's a chance the bat plateaus during his second tour of duty in the Pacific Coast League, but the offensive profile likely rounds into a hitter who is a tough out in the lower portion of a big-league lineup. Add in Plawecki’s potential for steady defense behind the dish, and this is a solid prospect with the overall game to be a contributing regular for a stretch of seasons.

Wilmer Difo
Position: SS/2B
DOB: 04/02/1992
Height/Weight: 6’0” 175 lbs
Bats/Throws: S/R
Drafted/Acquired: International Free Agent, 2010, Dominican Republic
Previous Ranking: NR
2014 Stats: .315/.360/.470 at Low-A Hagerstown (136 games)
The Tools: 7 run; 5+ potential hit; 5+ potential glove; 6 arm

What Happened in 2014: The 22-year-old Dominican infielder exploded offensively in A-Ball, where he ripped 52 extra-base hits and swiped 49 bags in his first foray of extended action since signing back in 2010. In the process, Difo quickly raised his status from relative unknown to on-the-radar.

Strengths: Excellent athlete; fluid baseball actions; has filled into body the last few years; improving strength; compact stroke from both sides of the plate; capable of pulling hands inside of the ball; good bat speed; gap-to-gap approach; some pop in stick; arm for left side of infield; improving fundamentals in field; potential position versatility; has matured emotionally over the past year.

Weaknesses: Can be on choppy side at shortstop; slower with reads; likely best suited for second base; will fish for stuff with spin away; can get out on front foot early and bring hands too far forward; power likely to play below average; has struggled with confidence and dealing with failure in the past.

Overall Future Potential: High 5; solid-average regular

Realistic Role: High 4; utility player/below-average regular

Risk Factor/Injury History: High risk; yet to reach upper levels; progression of approach.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: A better option for points leagues, Difo has a stat line that fantasy owners love, but beware the trapdoors here. The speed and contact skills are the most likely to follow Difo up the ladder, but there are plenty of developmental hurdles to cross before anointing him the new, old Jose Altuve (pre-breakout).

The Year Ahead: A relative unknown nationally entering the season, Difo rode the wave of early success out of the gate in a regular role and parlayed that into a breakout season. Confidence is always an interesting determining factor. In the past, the 22-year-old struggled to deal with early season failure and it led to his skills playing down during the rest of the year. It was a more mature overall game for the prospect this past season, and the end result was a coming out party for the raw tools. Difo features a compact stroke from both sides of the plate that enables the switch-hitter to get the fat part of the barrel on a lot of offerings. The over-the-fence power is likely to play below average in the long run, but there’s ability to plug gaps and use the double-plus speed to his advantage. While the defensive skills at shortstop aren’t the most natural, the prospect shows promise at second base and likely can add more positions (third and outfield) to the resume should the need for more versatility present itself. A placement at High-A in 2015 will challenge Difo’s secondary skills and ability to stay back on the ball. With a passing of that test, the infielder can continue to track as a utility player at the floor, with upside as a regular.
Jacob Wilson: Wilson’s carrying tool is his bat, and throughout his pro career he has hit at every stop along the way. After missing significant time in 2014 following surgery on his left knee, reports this fall have him fully recovered and comfortable, with no expected lingering effects. With fewer than 70 games logged in 2014, Wilson has utilized the Arizona Fall League to get in his work, including reps at the plate and across the infield. Still viewed primarily as a second baseman, his ability to adequately handle the corners could bolster his profile and allow him to carve out playing time in St. Louis in a utility capacity as early as next summer.
Jose Briceno: The Venezuelan native didn’t enter the season with the same fanfare as Asheville teammates David Dahl, Raimel Tapia, or Ryan McMahon, but his arm and his power both carry impact potential. Briceno had both tools on ready display over the course of the summer, posting a .193 ISO and gunning down 43% of would-be basestealers while simultaneously drawing praise for improved lateral actions and receiving. He should start next year at Modesto and will progress as quickly as his glove will carry him, with a chance to grow into an everyday backstop with above-average pop if things break right.
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Braxton Davidson:
Born: June 18, 1996. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210. Drafted: HS–Asheville, N.C., 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Billy Best. Video

Background: The 32nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, Davidson had several strong performances on the showcase circuit prior to his senior year of high school, including a three-home run performance in the 2013 Tournament of Stars. He was a first-team prep All-American prior to signing for $1,705,000 prior to advancing to low Class A Rome in 2015.

Scouting Report: Davidson is a disciplined hitter with impressive strike-zone judgment and above-average raw power that has yet to emerge with consistency during games. He led the South Atlantic League and the Braves organization with 84 walks in 2015, but he also struck out 27 percent of the time while getting beat at times on inside pitches. The lefthanded hitter can drive the ball to all fields and possesses the rare combination of true power and patience. Davidson has transformed his still-maturing body as well as his defense since signing. A prep first baseman and occasional center fielder, he has made strong progress while making the move to right field as a pro. His routes to flyballs still need honing, but his arm strength is above-average with solid accuracy.

The Future: The Braves challenged Davidson last season by having him open the campaign at low Class A as an 18-year-old. He proved strong enough to handle the ups and downs and should be ready to move up a level to high Class A Carolina in 2016.
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Post by Cardinals »

Some good thing happening on the Pirates farm lately.

Two guys on the Hot Sheet today:
Burnes continued his standout season with seven more scoreless innings in his most recent start. He fanned 10, and now sports an even 50 punchouts in 54.1 innings this year. He has worked primarily with a low-90s fastball and a pair of breaking balls this season, and has limited the opposition to 35 hits all year–including only one home run. He has allowed more than one earned run only once in nine starts.
After asserting himself with a strong season last year at high Class A St. Lucie, Nido has continued to show offensive skills at a premium position. He hit an even. 500 this week with a pair of doubles and a home run. After a tepid April, Nido is hitting .344/.397/.544 in May and is quietly placing himself among the best offensive catchers in the minors.
For the season, Burnes owns a 1.00 ERA in 54 IP, with a .189 BAA and 50 Ks and just 15 walks.

Nido is up to .275/.321/.442 and is a plus defender. He recovered from an awful April (.196/.224/.321) and is on fire in May (.344/.397/.547).

A few others not on the Hot Sheet that are off to nice starts:

Marco Gonzales: 24.2 IP, 22 SO, .200 BAA, 0.97 WHIP (18.2 IP in AAA, 6 in A+). He's back from Tommy John surgery after two lost years.

Nick Kingham: Only three starts, but another guy back from TJ. 2.70 ERA, 12 SO, 16.2 IP, .183 BAA in AAA. Hopefully we'll see him in the majors once he gets more innings under his belt, but glad to see him on the mound again.

Rogelio Armenteros: 22 y/o Cuban in the Astros system. 1.08 ERA, .184 BAA, .98 WHIP, 55 SO in 41.2 IP.

Yanio Perez: 21-year-old Cuban in Texas' system was tearing up the SAL league before hitting the DL a week ago. .356/.429/.630 with 9 homers in 135 AB. Here's what Mayo had to say about him:
While I haven't been able to see Perez, the Rangers' No. 15 prospect, in person, it's been hard not to notice the start to his official pro career. Texas gave him seven figures to sign last September, so the Rangers clearly believed in his offensive ability. So far, Perez has proven them right.
Perez's biggest tool is his power, and he has eight home runs and eight doubles for a .600 SLG, which is good for third in the South Atlantic League. There were some who worried a bit about the hit tool, but his short stroke has worked just fine. Perez is second in the South Atlantic League in average and has drawn plenty of walks while playing both outfield and both infield corners. He's 21, so I wouldn't say he's old for his league, especially when you consider the lack of experience and not just his age. Perez will be more legit if he keeps doing this as he moves up, but it's a very encouraging start.
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