Guardian Apprentices
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Dax Fulton, LHP, High-A Beloit (Marlins)—It hasn't always been easy for Fulton in his first year pitching since having Tommy John surgery in September 2019, but he's looked more comfortable since receiving a promotion to High-A on Aug. 17. On Wednesday he struck out seven and walked two over four one-hit innings, giving him 16 strikeouts and six walks in 18 innings at Beloit.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Taylor Dollard, RHP, High-A Everett (Mariners)—Dollard has struggled at High-A, but he turned in his best start since arriving to the level on Tuesday, striking out 11, walking one and allowing three hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. The 2020 fifth-rounder shot up the Mariners prospect list this season after adding velocity to his fastball and preserving his pinpoint control.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
99
Ryne Nelson
D-Backs
RHP
Notes:
Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
Skinny: Nelson has come on strong in his first full season as a professional. The righthander blends a powerful fastball and a full complement of offspeeds into a mix he’s used to blow away hitters all summer long while striking out nearly 13 hitters per nine innings.
Ryne Nelson
D-Backs
RHP
Notes:
Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
Skinny: Nelson has come on strong in his first full season as a professional. The righthander blends a powerful fastball and a full complement of offspeeds into a mix he’s used to blow away hitters all summer long while striking out nearly 13 hitters per nine innings.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
86
Blake Walston
D-backs
LHP
Notes:
Tools: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Skinny: Projectability has always been the name of the game for Walston, whose tantalizing tools have begun to blossom this season. His performance has taken a corresponding leap, too, and scouts now see him as a potential No. 3 starter.
Blake Walston
D-backs
LHP
Notes:
Tools: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Skinny: Projectability has always been the name of the game for Walston, whose tantalizing tools have begun to blossom this season. His performance has taken a corresponding leap, too, and scouts now see him as a potential No. 3 starter.
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Guardians
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Chris McMahon, RHP, High-A Spokane (Rockies)—McMahon turned in the best start of his pro career in his High-A playoffs debut, pitching more than six scoreless innings for the first time. The 22-year-old righthander struck out seven, walked two and allowed four hits in 6.1 innings, but the Indians were unable to provide him with any run support en route to a 3-0 loss to Eugene.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
8 Under-The-Radar MLB Prospects Who Rose Quickly In 2021
1. Bryce Elder, RHP, Braves
A fifth-round pick out of Texas in 2020, Elder zipped up three levels to Triple-A in his pro debut and went 11-4, 2.80 overall. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound righthander posted a sub-3.50 ERA at all three levels and was impressively durable, finishing second in the minors with 128.2 innings pitched. He also ranked 11th in the minors with 146 strikeouts. Elder doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he locates his sinking fastball to induce ground balls and has three offspeed pitches to keep hitters off balance, including a slider that is an out pitch. Elder’s well-rounded pitch mix and feel for pitching give him a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter, and he’s put himself in position to potentially help the Braves as soon as next year.
1. Bryce Elder, RHP, Braves
A fifth-round pick out of Texas in 2020, Elder zipped up three levels to Triple-A in his pro debut and went 11-4, 2.80 overall. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound righthander posted a sub-3.50 ERA at all three levels and was impressively durable, finishing second in the minors with 128.2 innings pitched. He also ranked 11th in the minors with 146 strikeouts. Elder doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he locates his sinking fastball to induce ground balls and has three offspeed pitches to keep hitters off balance, including a slider that is an out pitch. Elder’s well-rounded pitch mix and feel for pitching give him a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter, and he’s put himself in position to potentially help the Braves as soon as next year.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/1 ... izational/
4. Yasel Antuna | OF
Yasel Antuna
Born: Oct 26, 1999
Bats: B Throws: R
Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 170
Drafted/Signed: Dominican Republic, 2016.
Signed By: Pablo Arias.
Minors: .227/.307/.385 | 12 HR | 4 SB | 405 AB
VIEW PLAYER CARD
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Track Record: Signed for $3.85 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, Antuna had not played much in 2019 or 2020 thanks to injuries and the pandemic, save for a very impressive stint at the alternate training site in 2020. That rust showed in a 4-for-67 start at High-A Wilmington in 2021, but a late-season push in which he hit .315 in July and August helped him finish strong and get back on track. As much as anything else, it was valuable for Antuna to get through a full season healthy and productive.
Scouting Report: Antuna has one of the most exciting offensive profiles in the Nationals’ system. A switch-hitter who is seen as being better from the left side, his bat speed and repeatable swing from both sides help him hit the ball to all fields with authority. A couple of adjustments during the season in 2021, including getting his lower half more involved in his swing and switching from a two-handed finish to a higher one-handed finish are viewed as helping him work back from the extended slump early in the season. He’s a plus athlete, but there have always been questions about his viability as a shortstop. To that end, the organization is currently working with him on transitioning to the outfield corners.
The Future: Antuna was always destined to be a bat-first prospect, but a move to the outfield provides clarity on his profile. As long as he hits, he will continue to move. Double-A is his next stop.
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
4. Yasel Antuna | OF
Yasel Antuna
Born: Oct 26, 1999
Bats: B Throws: R
Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 170
Drafted/Signed: Dominican Republic, 2016.
Signed By: Pablo Arias.
Minors: .227/.307/.385 | 12 HR | 4 SB | 405 AB
VIEW PLAYER CARD
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Track Record: Signed for $3.85 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, Antuna had not played much in 2019 or 2020 thanks to injuries and the pandemic, save for a very impressive stint at the alternate training site in 2020. That rust showed in a 4-for-67 start at High-A Wilmington in 2021, but a late-season push in which he hit .315 in July and August helped him finish strong and get back on track. As much as anything else, it was valuable for Antuna to get through a full season healthy and productive.
Scouting Report: Antuna has one of the most exciting offensive profiles in the Nationals’ system. A switch-hitter who is seen as being better from the left side, his bat speed and repeatable swing from both sides help him hit the ball to all fields with authority. A couple of adjustments during the season in 2021, including getting his lower half more involved in his swing and switching from a two-handed finish to a higher one-handed finish are viewed as helping him work back from the extended slump early in the season. He’s a plus athlete, but there have always been questions about his viability as a shortstop. To that end, the organization is currently working with him on transitioning to the outfield corners.
The Future: Antuna was always destined to be a bat-first prospect, but a move to the outfield provides clarity on his profile. As long as he hits, he will continue to move. Double-A is his next stop.
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
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Re: Tiger Cubs
5. Cristian Santana, SS
Signed: July 2nd Period, 2021 from Dominican Republic (DET)
Age 18.1 Height 6′ 0″ Weight 165 Bat / Thr R / R FV 45
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Hit Raw Power Game Power Run Fielding Throw
25/60 40/50 25/50 50/45 40/45 50
Among the most polished hitters in the 2021 international class, Santana went to the DSL in 2021 and posted a great line, slashing .269/.421/.520 with nine homers in 54 games. His swing is compact but dynamic throughout the hitting zone, he has natural feel for all-fields contact, and his swing’s gentle loft creates power without compromising much contact. He was generating Placido Polanco comps as an amateur, billed as an ultra-polished wunderkind hitter more than a guy who was going to be among the DSL leaders in tanks. Santana did not come stateside for Detroit’s (limited) fall instructional activity and is among the higher-priority 2022 spring targets, as we’re still living off his amateur report with no compelling reason to shift away from those fairly lofty expectations.
Signed: July 2nd Period, 2021 from Dominican Republic (DET)
Age 18.1 Height 6′ 0″ Weight 165 Bat / Thr R / R FV 45
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Hit Raw Power Game Power Run Fielding Throw
25/60 40/50 25/50 50/45 40/45 50
Among the most polished hitters in the 2021 international class, Santana went to the DSL in 2021 and posted a great line, slashing .269/.421/.520 with nine homers in 54 games. His swing is compact but dynamic throughout the hitting zone, he has natural feel for all-fields contact, and his swing’s gentle loft creates power without compromising much contact. He was generating Placido Polanco comps as an amateur, billed as an ultra-polished wunderkind hitter more than a guy who was going to be among the DSL leaders in tanks. Santana did not come stateside for Detroit’s (limited) fall instructional activity and is among the higher-priority 2022 spring targets, as we’re still living off his amateur report with no compelling reason to shift away from those fairly lofty expectations.
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https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-mclain-hi ... e-coverage
McLain hits for the cycle on seven pitches
Hitting for the cycle is an accomplishment for any hitter, but doing it in as few pitches as Matt McLain did it on Sunday adds to the impressiveness of the feat.
McLain, the No. 86 prospect in baseball, needed to see just seven pitches to hit for the first cycle of his career in Double-A Chattanooga’s 7-6 win over Birmingham. The 22-year-old was a perfect 4-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring three runs in his second career four-hit game.
“I was just trying to get my pitch in my spot and hit it hard and I got to do that a couple times today,” said McLain over the phone following the game. “It was just fun. Playing baseball is fun.”
The fourth-ranked Reds prospect wasted no time taking care of the biggest leg of the cycle, hitting a two-run shot to left field on the first pitch he saw. McLain's third homer of the season retook the lead for the Lookouts after White Sox No. 4 prospect Yoelqui Céspedes hit a solo home run in the top of the first.
In the third inning, McLain singled up the middle after taking a strike, pushing his count of pitches seen to three. He led off the fifth inning by blasting the first pitch to the warning track in left-center field for a double, scoring two batters later on Isiah Gilliam’s single.
McLain’s final at-bat was his longest of the day. He took a called strike one, let a pitch in the dirt go, and then crushed the 1-1 offering off the wall in left-center for an RBI triple, finishing off his efficient cycle.
“I was for sure thinking three. I didn’t think it was going to go out, I thought it was going to hit off the tall walls out there,” said McLain. “I would’ve been thinking three out of the box if it was the first at-bat of the day.”
Céspedes launched his second home run of the game in the eighth inning, a three-run shot that brought the Barons within a run, but the Lookouts would hold on to earn their fifth win of the season.
In his debut season last year, McLain came close to hitting for the cycle on Aug. 11. He went 4-for-5 for High-A Dayton, finishing a triple shy and driving in a career-best five runs.
Through eight games this season, McLain has a .344/.400/.875 slash line with a 1.275 OPS. Nine of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases and he’s stolen two bases, showcasing the all-around talent that made him the No. 17 selection in the 2021 Draft.
“I’m just trying to stay in my zone, stay within myself and continue to hit the ball hard. That’s all I can do and the rest takes care of itself,” said McLain. “I want to continue to hit the ball hard, field the ball better, steal more bags and just get better as a player every single day.”
McLain needed just 31 games in 2021 to give the Reds the confidence to start him at Double-A this season. In 29 High-A games and two Rookie games, he totaled 30 hits, 12 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, 17 walks and 10 steals with an .851 OPS. If he continues mashing as he has through his first 39 career games, McLain will continue to rise quickly through the Reds’ system.
“We have a lot of good guys with the Reds, a lot of good teammates, a lot of good people around the organization, so it’s fun coming to the ballpark every day,” said McLain. “Getting a chance to play the game I love and continuing to get better, it’s fun.”
McLain hits for the cycle on seven pitches
Hitting for the cycle is an accomplishment for any hitter, but doing it in as few pitches as Matt McLain did it on Sunday adds to the impressiveness of the feat.
McLain, the No. 86 prospect in baseball, needed to see just seven pitches to hit for the first cycle of his career in Double-A Chattanooga’s 7-6 win over Birmingham. The 22-year-old was a perfect 4-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring three runs in his second career four-hit game.
“I was just trying to get my pitch in my spot and hit it hard and I got to do that a couple times today,” said McLain over the phone following the game. “It was just fun. Playing baseball is fun.”
The fourth-ranked Reds prospect wasted no time taking care of the biggest leg of the cycle, hitting a two-run shot to left field on the first pitch he saw. McLain's third homer of the season retook the lead for the Lookouts after White Sox No. 4 prospect Yoelqui Céspedes hit a solo home run in the top of the first.
In the third inning, McLain singled up the middle after taking a strike, pushing his count of pitches seen to three. He led off the fifth inning by blasting the first pitch to the warning track in left-center field for a double, scoring two batters later on Isiah Gilliam’s single.
McLain’s final at-bat was his longest of the day. He took a called strike one, let a pitch in the dirt go, and then crushed the 1-1 offering off the wall in left-center for an RBI triple, finishing off his efficient cycle.
“I was for sure thinking three. I didn’t think it was going to go out, I thought it was going to hit off the tall walls out there,” said McLain. “I would’ve been thinking three out of the box if it was the first at-bat of the day.”
Céspedes launched his second home run of the game in the eighth inning, a three-run shot that brought the Barons within a run, but the Lookouts would hold on to earn their fifth win of the season.
In his debut season last year, McLain came close to hitting for the cycle on Aug. 11. He went 4-for-5 for High-A Dayton, finishing a triple shy and driving in a career-best five runs.
Through eight games this season, McLain has a .344/.400/.875 slash line with a 1.275 OPS. Nine of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases and he’s stolen two bases, showcasing the all-around talent that made him the No. 17 selection in the 2021 Draft.
“I’m just trying to stay in my zone, stay within myself and continue to hit the ball hard. That’s all I can do and the rest takes care of itself,” said McLain. “I want to continue to hit the ball hard, field the ball better, steal more bags and just get better as a player every single day.”
McLain needed just 31 games in 2021 to give the Reds the confidence to start him at Double-A this season. In 29 High-A games and two Rookie games, he totaled 30 hits, 12 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, 17 walks and 10 steals with an .851 OPS. If he continues mashing as he has through his first 39 career games, McLain will continue to rise quickly through the Reds’ system.
“We have a lot of good guys with the Reds, a lot of good teammates, a lot of good people around the organization, so it’s fun coming to the ballpark every day,” said McLain. “Getting a chance to play the game I love and continuing to get better, it’s fun.”
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Guardians
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Well, I can't be the only one not posting about prospects, so:
4. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Team: Low-A Fort Myers (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .360/.568/.880 (9-for-25), 10 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 5 RBIs, 12 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: The powerful outfielder hit four home runs over the first week of play, including two in Friday’s contest against Jupiter. His second home run on Friday traveled 439 feet with an exit velocity of 110.9 mph. Rodriguez also had an inside-the-park home run on Tuesday in the opening game and has shown improved plate discipline thus far, with twice as many walks as strikeouts. (GP)
17. Matt McLain, SS, Reds
Team: 22
Age: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Why He’s Here: .344/.400/.875 (11-for-32), 10 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 8 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: McLain recorded multiple hits in four of his first eight games and hit for the cycle on Sunday, going 4-for-4 with 10 total bases against Birmingham. He homered in the first inning, singled in the third inning, doubled in the fifth inning and tripled in the seventh inning. He did it all while seeing just seven pitches, demonstrating the ability that made him one of the best pure hitters in last year’s draft. (KG)
4. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Team: Low-A Fort Myers (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .360/.568/.880 (9-for-25), 10 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 5 RBIs, 12 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: The powerful outfielder hit four home runs over the first week of play, including two in Friday’s contest against Jupiter. His second home run on Friday traveled 439 feet with an exit velocity of 110.9 mph. Rodriguez also had an inside-the-park home run on Tuesday in the opening game and has shown improved plate discipline thus far, with twice as many walks as strikeouts. (GP)
17. Matt McLain, SS, Reds
Team: 22
Age: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Why He’s Here: .344/.400/.875 (11-for-32), 10 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 8 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: McLain recorded multiple hits in four of his first eight games and hit for the cycle on Sunday, going 4-for-4 with 10 total bases against Birmingham. He homered in the first inning, singled in the third inning, doubled in the fifth inning and tripled in the seventh inning. He did it all while seeing just seven pitches, demonstrating the ability that made him one of the best pure hitters in last year’s draft. (KG)
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Jarren Duran, OF Red Sox - The Red Sox No. 4 prospect was just a double short of the cycle as he went 4-for-5, with a home run, a triple, two singles and a stolen base. After making further adjustments at the plate Duran is chasing less this season and it's resulted in a .381/.469/.548 line through 11 games in 2022.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-a-dozen/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-a-dozen/
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Re: Tiger Cubs
This past week was fun, too, especially for César Prieto (#16, tied) who was named South Atlantic League Player of the Week after destroying Greensboro pitching for four home runs, nine RBIs, two doubles, five walks, and a sizzling 1.605 OPS. The 22-year-old Cuban, part of the Orioles’ most recent international signing class, wasn’t considered a power prospect, but he’s got six home runs in just 15 games this year. It might be about time for Prieto to face a new challenge in Bowie.
https://www.camdenchat.com/2022/4/26/23 ... sar-prieto
https://www.camdenchat.com/2022/4/26/23 ... sar-prieto
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Matt McLain, SS, Reds: The first-rounder out of UCLA last July has been impressive early in 2022 as he's handled an aggressive assignment to Double-A with style. The shortstop slugged a pair of home runs in Sunday's action, running his season total to five through 20 games played. It's not a stretch to say McLain has been the best college positional player from last summer's draft through the early part of the season.
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Matt McLain, SS, Reds: The story of the 2021 Reds system was dominated by pitchers. Specifically, the Hunter Greene-Nick Lodolo show that swept through Chattanooga and Louisville before breaking onto the main stage this year in Cincinnati. In 2022, at least in the early going, the Reds' bats are doing the talking. McLain in particular has started particularly strong. The UCLA product added two more home runs on Wednesday, bringing his season total to seven, including four in the last three games. But he wasn't the only Cincinnati prospect to break out the longball on Wednesday
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Re: Tiger Cubs
OF: Alex Ramirez, St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)
Mets No. 6
.536/.552/.893, 6 G, 15-for-28, 1 HR, 2 3B, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
The final spot on this week’s outfield trio was the most hotly contested with Ramirez edging out Arizona’s Carroll. While Carroll surged at the end of the week with four homers over his final two games and was undoubtedly impressive with a 1.408 OPS in six games, the sheer volume of Ramirez’s hitting performance gave him the nod. The Mets prospect more than doubled Carroll’s hit total (six) for the award period and had four games with three hits or more. Ramirez went 7-for-10 in his first two games of the week with a pair of doubles. Then, after going 0-for-5 on Thursday in his lone blip for the week, refocused himself to go 8-for-13 with a homer, two triples and a double over his final three contests, driving in five. Ramirez is back in St. Lucie after spending 2021 there at just 18 years old. Last season, he slashed .258/.326/.384 in 76 games. In 24 contests this season, he’s conquering the level with a .385/.423/.606 line.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
Mets No. 6
.536/.552/.893, 6 G, 15-for-28, 1 HR, 2 3B, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
The final spot on this week’s outfield trio was the most hotly contested with Ramirez edging out Arizona’s Carroll. While Carroll surged at the end of the week with four homers over his final two games and was undoubtedly impressive with a 1.408 OPS in six games, the sheer volume of Ramirez’s hitting performance gave him the nod. The Mets prospect more than doubled Carroll’s hit total (six) for the award period and had four games with three hits or more. Ramirez went 7-for-10 in his first two games of the week with a pair of doubles. Then, after going 0-for-5 on Thursday in his lone blip for the week, refocused himself to go 8-for-13 with a homer, two triples and a double over his final three contests, driving in five. Ramirez is back in St. Lucie after spending 2021 there at just 18 years old. Last season, he slashed .258/.326/.384 in 76 games. In 24 contests this season, he’s conquering the level with a .385/.423/.606 line.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
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Re: Tiger Cubs
5. Alex Ramirez, OF, Mets
Team: Low-A St. Lucie (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .536/.552/.893 (15-for-28), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Ramirez impressively held his own as an 18-year-old in Low-A last season. Back at the level this year, he’s outright dominating. Ramirez had multiple hits in five of six games last week, including three three-hit games and a four-hit game. He is now batting .385/.423/.606 in a league known for stifling offense, and it’s not just singles, either. Ramirez has 15 extra-base hits in 24 games and is showing the Mets have yet another premium prospect in their pipeline. (KG)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-51022/
Team: Low-A St. Lucie (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .536/.552/.893 (15-for-28), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Ramirez impressively held his own as an 18-year-old in Low-A last season. Back at the level this year, he’s outright dominating. Ramirez had multiple hits in five of six games last week, including three three-hit games and a four-hit game. He is now batting .385/.423/.606 in a league known for stifling offense, and it’s not just singles, either. Ramirez has 15 extra-base hits in 24 games and is showing the Mets have yet another premium prospect in their pipeline. (KG)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-51022/
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Re: Tiger Cubs
Alex Ramirez, RF, New York Mets
Level & Affiliate: Low-A St. Lucie Age: 19 Org Rank: TBD FV: 45+
Season Line: 8-for-13, HR, 2B, 2 3B
Notes
It might be time for a promotion here. Ramirez spent all of 2021 at Low-A as an 18-year-old and slashed .258/.326/.384, which was slightly below the league-average line in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. It was exciting that the lanky and projectable Ramirez hit that well as a teenager in full-season ball, though his minuscule walk rate (6.9%), especially during a year when automated balls and strikes seemed to inflate FSL walk rates, was at least a yellow flag.
Back in Port St. Lucie to start 2022, Ramirez has been hot for the first month of the season, slashing a whopping .385/.423/.606 while cutting his strikeout rate by about 30% (from 31% to 18% as of publication), though his walk rate has dipped by about the same amount. Ramirez has plus bat speed and will show you big pull-side power already. His wispy, 6-foot-3 frame has room for another 30 pounds at least, and with that weight and strength could come huge raw power. Ramirez has to cut some mechanical corners to swing as hard as he does right now, but that might be ironed out as he gets stronger, and the bat speed and explosiveness he shows are very exciting. Purely on tools, Ramirez is among the top five teenage outfielders in the minors and you can make a cogent argument to take him over Jasson Dominguez (who he’s easily outperforming in the same league) and Kevin Alcantara (who has better plate discipline and subtly better body projection, but who hasn’t hit for as much power). So while acknowledging that the plate discipline piece here is troubling and creates bust risk, the ceiling merits inclusion in the Top 100; Ramirez has been added.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tuesday-pro ... s-5-10-22/
Level & Affiliate: Low-A St. Lucie Age: 19 Org Rank: TBD FV: 45+
Season Line: 8-for-13, HR, 2B, 2 3B
Notes
It might be time for a promotion here. Ramirez spent all of 2021 at Low-A as an 18-year-old and slashed .258/.326/.384, which was slightly below the league-average line in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. It was exciting that the lanky and projectable Ramirez hit that well as a teenager in full-season ball, though his minuscule walk rate (6.9%), especially during a year when automated balls and strikes seemed to inflate FSL walk rates, was at least a yellow flag.
Back in Port St. Lucie to start 2022, Ramirez has been hot for the first month of the season, slashing a whopping .385/.423/.606 while cutting his strikeout rate by about 30% (from 31% to 18% as of publication), though his walk rate has dipped by about the same amount. Ramirez has plus bat speed and will show you big pull-side power already. His wispy, 6-foot-3 frame has room for another 30 pounds at least, and with that weight and strength could come huge raw power. Ramirez has to cut some mechanical corners to swing as hard as he does right now, but that might be ironed out as he gets stronger, and the bat speed and explosiveness he shows are very exciting. Purely on tools, Ramirez is among the top five teenage outfielders in the minors and you can make a cogent argument to take him over Jasson Dominguez (who he’s easily outperforming in the same league) and Kevin Alcantara (who has better plate discipline and subtly better body projection, but who hasn’t hit for as much power). So while acknowledging that the plate discipline piece here is troubling and creates bust risk, the ceiling merits inclusion in the Top 100; Ramirez has been added.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tuesday-pro ... s-5-10-22/
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Hedbert Perez, OF, Brewers: On a team filled with young, talented prospects, it can be easy for a guy like Perez to get lost in the shuffle sometimes. And that's even considering he came into the year as the most famous of the bunch. To date, however, Perez's production hadn't matched his clippings. On Tuesday, he broke out in a big way. The lefthanded corner outfielder went 4-for-5 with three doubles and a home run in Carolina's win over Kannapolis. The effort was Perez's first with more than two hits this season
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Mason Black, RHP, Giants: The Giants promoted Black to High-A Eugene. He responded by striking out 10 while allowing only one run in six innings. Black's career ERA dipped to a barely registering 1.56.
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Ronny Mauricio, SS, Mets: Mauricio homered twice for Double-A Binghamton. It has been a pretty uneven year so far for the shortstop. He doesn't walk enough, which explains why his on-base percentage is currently .282. But he does have power, as his eighth and ninth home runs of the season remind us.
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12. Enmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Team: Low-A Fort Myers (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .583/.700/1.500 (7-for-12), 5 R, 1, 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 7 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB.
The Scoop: Rodriguez is the king of the no-contact plate appearance. In 26% of his plate appearances this year, he’s struck out. In 28% of his plate appearances, he’s walked. In his first 45 games this year, he’s had exactly one game where he didn’t walk or strike out—he did get hit by a pitch in that game. As a center fielder with on-base skills, Rodriguez is a pop-up prospect to watch. He does hit some stinging line drives already and he’s a plus runner as well. (JC)
Team: Low-A Fort Myers (Florida State)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .583/.700/1.500 (7-for-12), 5 R, 1, 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 7 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB.
The Scoop: Rodriguez is the king of the no-contact plate appearance. In 26% of his plate appearances this year, he’s struck out. In 28% of his plate appearances, he’s walked. In his first 45 games this year, he’s had exactly one game where he didn’t walk or strike out—he did get hit by a pitch in that game. As a center fielder with on-base skills, Rodriguez is a pop-up prospect to watch. He does hit some stinging line drives already and he’s a plus runner as well. (JC)
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Jarlin Susana, RHP, Padres: After wowing evaluators on the backfields in spring training and extended spring training, Susana, a massive righthander who was part of San Diego's 2021-2022 international class, got to make his first official turn as a pro. Facing the Royals in the ACL, Susana, who is armed with an upper-90s fastball and a say-your-prayers slider, struck out two over three shutout frames.
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Jarlin Susana, RHP, Padres: In a matchup of massive human beings, Susana, listed at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, faced off against a rehabbing Dellin Betances, who checks in at 6-foot-8 and 265 pounds. On this night, Susana continued to show his electric potential. In his second start of the ACL campaign, Susana, who signed with San Diego in the most recent international period, slung four hitless, walk-free innings with seven punchouts. Over two starts, Susana has gone seven innings, allowed one hit and struck out nine. He is certainly a tall order.
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Jarlin Susana, RHP, Padres: The massive Susana has been the breakout star of the Arizona Complex League, pairing a near-effortless upper-90s fastball with a filthy slider. On Tuesday, however, he slipped up a little. Yes, he fanned six more hitters, bringing his total to 25 in 17.2 innings thus far in the desert. He also issued three walks and allowed his first career home run (take a bow, Junior Calderon). Perhaps not coincidentally, Tuesday's outing was Susana's first as a reliever, which could have gotten him out of his routine.
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BA Top 100:
85
Emmanuel Rodriguez
TwinsOF
Notes:
Tools: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Speed: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60.
Skinny: Rodriguez was quickly emerging as one of the more interesting prospects in the minor leagues before an injury halted his season. He is a center field talent who before the injury was getting on base at an absurd .492 clip.
85
Emmanuel Rodriguez
TwinsOF
Notes:
Tools: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Speed: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60.
Skinny: Rodriguez was quickly emerging as one of the more interesting prospects in the minor leagues before an injury halted his season. He is a center field talent who before the injury was getting on base at an absurd .492 clip.
