On Wednesday, Salt River won its first Arizona Fall League game in nine tries. At the center of it all was Rockies top prospect Zac Veen, who showed gifts at the plate, on the bases and in the field as the Rafters downed their nearby rival Scottsdale.
By game's end, Veen had gone 2-for-4, scored twice, stole three bases and made a sliding catch in left field. Such a line is befitting of someone who has earned the nod as the Most Exciting Player in his league two years running during BA's annual Best Tools survey.
This year wasn't always smooth sailing for Veen, who was the Rockies' first-round pick in the 2020 draft, out of high school in Florida. After a strong stretch in High-A, he was promoted to Double-A and ran into his first real resistance as a professional.
With Hartford, the 20-year-old hit .177/.262/.234 and struck out three times as often as he walked. Still, Veen welcomes the challenge he now has in front of him heading into 2023: to adapt and adjust to upper-level pitching.
"I think I was pretty happy with how the season ended," he said. "You know, I think I needed it. If anything, I grew a lot from it and I'm happy ... I'd never really dealt with failure before and it was my first time really getting kicked in the teeth. I definitely needed it."
So far, so good for Veen in the Fall League. After Wednesday, he's hitting .500/.630/.722 with a double, a homer, four RBIs and seven walks against just one strikeout. He's also stolen seven bases in eight tries.
For his early efforts, Veen earned the AFL's Hitter of the Week.
"It was sweet," he said of taking home the honor. "I'm glad all my work's paying off."
T.J. Rumfield, 1B, Yankees: Rumfield came over from the Phillies in the deal that sent Nick Nelson and Donny Sands to Philadelphia but missed most of the 2022 season with injury and is now making up for lost time in the AFL. After nine games, the 22-year-old Virginia Tech alum is on a tear. His .526 average is tops in the league, as is his 1.478 OPS. He bolstered those stats on Wednesday by going 3-for-5 with a double and his first home run of the AFL.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... skill-set/
Rays Prospects 2023
Moderator: Rays
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Zac Veen, OF, Rockies: What started as a strong season for Veen went sideways late as he struggled following a promotion to Double-A Hartford. Assigned to Salt River of the AFL, Veen has caught fire once again, and went 2-for-5, with an RBI, a stolen base and a pair of runs last night. Veen is now hitting .457/.556/.629 over 10 games with 11 stolen bases and four extra base hits.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -surprise/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -surprise/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Willy Vasquez, 3B/SS, Rays (ABL-Perth): 2-7, HR, 2 BB, 2 K.
The pearl of Perth, the 20-year-old infielder is one of several Rays shining in the Australian Baseball League. Vasquez is a threat on the basepaths as well as with the bat, hitting frequently in the two-hole ahead of long-time big leaguer Josh Reddick in the Heat’s order.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... slow-trot/
The pearl of Perth, the 20-year-old infielder is one of several Rays shining in the Australian Baseball League. Vasquez is a threat on the basepaths as well as with the bat, hitting frequently in the two-hole ahead of long-time big leaguer Josh Reddick in the Heat’s order.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... slow-trot/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Willy Vasquez, IF, Tampa Bay Rays
Vasquez is a pretty traditional pick to take a big jump into the world of top prospects. A Low-A hitter with a projectable frame, serious five o’clock power, and some present feel for hitting, Vasquez’s top line numbers won’t wow you—especially considering he was 20-years-old, but he checks most of the boxes for a potential breakout offensive prospect. He made a good amount of contact in the zone and his high end exit velocities were impressive. Vasquez did expand the zone far too much in 2022, but that is less worrisome than some other K-rate culprits. He will have to fix that aggressiveness, but if and when he does, those top line numbers might look 101-worthy in a hurry.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... 4-top-101/
Vasquez is a pretty traditional pick to take a big jump into the world of top prospects. A Low-A hitter with a projectable frame, serious five o’clock power, and some present feel for hitting, Vasquez’s top line numbers won’t wow you—especially considering he was 20-years-old, but he checks most of the boxes for a potential breakout offensive prospect. He made a good amount of contact in the zone and his high end exit velocities were impressive. Vasquez did expand the zone far too much in 2022, but that is less worrisome than some other K-rate culprits. He will have to fix that aggressiveness, but if and when he does, those top line numbers might look 101-worthy in a hurry.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... 4-top-101/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
4. Kahlil Watson, SS, 19, Single-A
The 2022 season for Watson is a tale of two halves, if there ever was such a tale. To begin the year, he got embarrassed by the opposing pitchers, struck out out at historic rates and let his immaturity show in late July. However, he put his cleats on and got back out there quietly reducing the strikeout rate to better than average levels and improving his walk rate showing the talent he has available. Look for him to start strong and move fast once he gets going, the talent is there and he is still just 19 years old!
https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/m ... ects-2023/
The 2022 season for Watson is a tale of two halves, if there ever was such a tale. To begin the year, he got embarrassed by the opposing pitchers, struck out out at historic rates and let his immaturity show in late July. However, he put his cleats on and got back out there quietly reducing the strikeout rate to better than average levels and improving his walk rate showing the talent he has available. Look for him to start strong and move fast once he gets going, the talent is there and he is still just 19 years old!
https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/m ... ects-2023/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Curtis Mead, 3B, Rays
In a few short years, Mead has gone from the return in a minor trade to one of the most impressive offensive prospects in the game. He bashed his way through the minors in 2021 and was doing so again in 2022 before an elbow injury ended his season after just 20 games in Triple-A. If he can return to health in 2023, he might play his way to Tampa Bay.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... lthy-2023/
In a few short years, Mead has gone from the return in a minor trade to one of the most impressive offensive prospects in the game. He bashed his way through the minors in 2021 and was doing so again in 2022 before an elbow injury ended his season after just 20 games in Triple-A. If he can return to health in 2023, he might play his way to Tampa Bay.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... lthy-2023/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Rays' Curtis Mead Ready To Make His MLB Debut
By Marc Topkin on February 14, 2023
The Rays will begin spring training with a pretty good idea of what their infield alignment will look like.
But they will be eager to see what impact 22-year-old third baseman Curtis Mead, the Rays' top position prospect, could have on those plans at some point in 2023.
“Curtis has been extremely impressive in his time with us,’’ Rays general manager Peter Bendix said. “His natural feel to hit and his power is exceptional, and he's improved a lot defensively as well."
The 6-foot-2, 171-pound Mead has been on a fast track since the Rays acquired him from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez in November 2019, when Mead had played only in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a teenager after signing out of Australia.
Once minor league play resumed in 2021 following the canceled 2020 season, Mead quickly showed them what they had.
In 2021, split mostly between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green, Mead hit .321/.378/.533 with 15 home runs in 104 games.
He started 2022 at Double-A Montgomery then moved to Triple-A Durham, but he was limited by an elbow injury that eventually ended his season in August. He batted .298/.390/.532 average with 13 homers in 76 games.
Mead’s elbow got better during the offseason, enough so that he hoped to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic, but the Rays filed an objection, preferring he be in camp under their auspices.
Plus, they want to get a good look at him to try to get a better sense of his readiness at the plate and his prowess in the field, with the chance he could join the group of first base candidates.
“As much as anybody in our organization, we're thrilled about his bat and the versatility, that he's been at third, he's played some second," manager Kevin Cash said.
“I would guess that with the right opportunity, he should be factored in at some point this year.’’
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... mlb-debut/
By Marc Topkin on February 14, 2023
The Rays will begin spring training with a pretty good idea of what their infield alignment will look like.
But they will be eager to see what impact 22-year-old third baseman Curtis Mead, the Rays' top position prospect, could have on those plans at some point in 2023.
“Curtis has been extremely impressive in his time with us,’’ Rays general manager Peter Bendix said. “His natural feel to hit and his power is exceptional, and he's improved a lot defensively as well."
The 6-foot-2, 171-pound Mead has been on a fast track since the Rays acquired him from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez in November 2019, when Mead had played only in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a teenager after signing out of Australia.
Once minor league play resumed in 2021 following the canceled 2020 season, Mead quickly showed them what they had.
In 2021, split mostly between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green, Mead hit .321/.378/.533 with 15 home runs in 104 games.
He started 2022 at Double-A Montgomery then moved to Triple-A Durham, but he was limited by an elbow injury that eventually ended his season in August. He batted .298/.390/.532 average with 13 homers in 76 games.
Mead’s elbow got better during the offseason, enough so that he hoped to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic, but the Rays filed an objection, preferring he be in camp under their auspices.
Plus, they want to get a good look at him to try to get a better sense of his readiness at the plate and his prowess in the field, with the chance he could join the group of first base candidates.
“As much as anybody in our organization, we're thrilled about his bat and the versatility, that he's been at third, he's played some second," manager Kevin Cash said.
“I would guess that with the right opportunity, he should be factored in at some point this year.’’
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... mlb-debut/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Guardians: RHP Hunter Gaddis
It’s rare for a team to be able to go all 162 games without having an injury to one of its starting pitchers. These six weeks in Arizona should help Cleveland figure out who could be the next man up, and Gaddis has made a strong impression. He came up in 2022, and got knocked around in his two outings, but the Guardians aren’t letting that define him. So far this spring, he’s given up one earned run in 4 1/3 innings and has displayed better fastball command by getting ahead in counts. If he’s able to prove he can remain consistent, he could either be a starting option at some point this season or a relief option as soon as Opening Day.
It’s rare for a team to be able to go all 162 games without having an injury to one of its starting pitchers. These six weeks in Arizona should help Cleveland figure out who could be the next man up, and Gaddis has made a strong impression. He came up in 2022, and got knocked around in his two outings, but the Guardians aren’t letting that define him. So far this spring, he’s given up one earned run in 4 1/3 innings and has displayed better fastball command by getting ahead in counts. If he’s able to prove he can remain consistent, he could either be a starting option at some point this season or a relief option as soon as Opening Day.
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Curtis Mead, 3B, Rays — For the second time in three games, Tampa Bay’s top hitting talent racked up a multi-hit game. This time, Mead, who missed a chunk of 2022 with elbow issues, went 2-for-3 with a double. His hardest-hit ball of the day, however, was a fielder’s choice that left the bat at 105 mph.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ing-start/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ing-start/
Re: Rays Prospects 2023
Colin Barber, OF, Astros — The Astros’ No. 11 prospect had a strong but injury-plagued campaign in 2022. He shows the ability to handle an outfield corner at an average or better level and has always possessed contact and on-base ability. Previously he’s struggled to tap into his raw power, rarely pulling a ball in the air. That looks to be changing heading into 2023. Barber pulled a ball for a home run during an intrasquad game on Sunday and then did it again on Tuesday during the Double-A game off of Cardinals 2021 first-rounder Michael McGreevy. If Barber shows the ability to do this consistently throughout 2023 he could break out and earn a place on the Astros’ 40-man roster by season’s end. —Geoff Pontes
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ck-fields/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ck-fields/
