Jason Knapp - PHI LoA - 7 ip 1 h, 1bb, 14 k - Arguably the most dominant start by a prospect this season
I can not believe he fell that far in the 08 draft - something tells me I got VERY lucky with this one.
Minor League Plaudits
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Yankees
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Isaac Galloway - KC LoA - .342 ba, .366 obp, .474 slg, 5 sb
Isaac Galloway is the newest production from Brett Zalaski, IBC founder of Desmond Jennings. Galloway is a premium athlete - like NFL wide receiver premium - who was an 8th round pick from the Marlins. The Marlins paid over slot to get him into their system. After a decent start to his career, Galloway is on fire to start his full season career. I think my 2008 draft is going to be a VERY good one.
Isaac Galloway is the newest production from Brett Zalaski, IBC founder of Desmond Jennings. Galloway is a premium athlete - like NFL wide receiver premium - who was an 8th round pick from the Marlins. The Marlins paid over slot to get him into their system. After a decent start to his career, Galloway is on fire to start his full season career. I think my 2008 draft is going to be a VERY good one.
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Collin DeLome - HOU AA - .296 ba, .345 obp, .630 slg, 6 hr, 3 sb
The opportunity is there for Collin DeLome to be a power-hitting CF in a system bereft of talent. Between 2 stops last year, DeLome slugged 23 homers - but it's been the strikeouts and lack of plate discipline that have held him back. While not picking up the walks a great deal, DeLome has cut down on the strikeouts (11 in 55 ab's) - and we know that if he hits the ball, he hits it REALLY hard.
The opportunity is there for Collin DeLome to be a power-hitting CF in a system bereft of talent. Between 2 stops last year, DeLome slugged 23 homers - but it's been the strikeouts and lack of plate discipline that have held him back. While not picking up the walks a great deal, DeLome has cut down on the strikeouts (11 in 55 ab's) - and we know that if he hits the ball, he hits it REALLY hard.
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Awww, go on Kevin...
Low-A: Jason Knapp: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K
Speaking of moving up... I had Knapp at the 10th slot on my Phillies list, which almost seems like a joke after his three recent starts; the 2008 second-round pick now has a minor league-leading 30 strikeouts in just 18 1/3 innings while giving up just nine hits. With a 6-foot-5 power frame, and a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and touches 97, his ceiling could be as high as that of anyone in the system.
Low-A: Jason Knapp: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K
Speaking of moving up... I had Knapp at the 10th slot on my Phillies list, which almost seems like a joke after his three recent starts; the 2008 second-round pick now has a minor league-leading 30 strikeouts in just 18 1/3 innings while giving up just nine hits. With a 6-foot-5 power frame, and a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and touches 97, his ceiling could be as high as that of anyone in the system.
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Seriously guys, it's just getting to be too much...
No. 2 JASON KNAPP, RHP
PHILLIES
Team: low Class A Lakewood (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He's Here: 0-0, 1.96, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO
The Scoop: Knapp has dominated Sally League hitters through his first three starts and turned in perhaps the most dominant start by a prospect on Tuesday against Lake County. The Phillies' second round pick from last year, Knapp game up only one hit over seven shutout innings while fanning 14 Captains hitters. The teenager's fastball got up to 96 mph during the outing, and he was able to keep the hitters honest with the curveball and changeup when he needed to. Through three starts, Knapp has given up only nine hits and six runs (four earned) in 18 1/3 innings, while piling up a 30-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
No. 2 JASON KNAPP, RHP
PHILLIES
Team: low Class A Lakewood (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He's Here: 0-0, 1.96, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO
The Scoop: Knapp has dominated Sally League hitters through his first three starts and turned in perhaps the most dominant start by a prospect on Tuesday against Lake County. The Phillies' second round pick from last year, Knapp game up only one hit over seven shutout innings while fanning 14 Captains hitters. The teenager's fastball got up to 96 mph during the outing, and he was able to keep the hitters honest with the curveball and changeup when he needed to. Through three starts, Knapp has given up only nine hits and six runs (four earned) in 18 1/3 innings, while piling up a 30-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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Yankees
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Some BA love for Isaac Galloway...
Athletic low Class A Greensboro OF Isaac Galloway (Marlins) is handling his first full-season assignment with aplomb. The 19-year-old eighth round pick from 2008 is riding a five-game hitting streak as part of a .455/.500/.591 (10-for-22) week. He's hitting .349/.370/.465 on the year and has also stolen five bases without being caught and played error-free defense in the outfield
Athletic low Class A Greensboro OF Isaac Galloway (Marlins) is handling his first full-season assignment with aplomb. The 19-year-old eighth round pick from 2008 is riding a five-game hitting streak as part of a .455/.500/.591 (10-for-22) week. He's hitting .349/.370/.465 on the year and has also stolen five bases without being caught and played error-free defense in the outfield
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Royals wrote:Seriously guys, it's just getting to be too much...
No. 2 JASON KNAPP, RHP
PHILLIES
Team: low Class A Lakewood (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He's Here: 0-0, 1.96, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO
The Scoop: Knapp has dominated Sally League hitters through his first three starts and turned in perhaps the most dominant start by a prospect on Tuesday against Lake County. The Phillies' second round pick from last year, Knapp game up only one hit over seven shutout innings while fanning 14 Captains hitters. The teenager's fastball got up to 96 mph during the outing, and he was able to keep the hitters honest with the curveball and changeup when he needed to. Through three starts, Knapp has given up only nine hits and six runs (four earned) in 18 1/3 innings, while piling up a 30-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Looking back through the transaction log...
Angels Jason 8-Knapp RHP Traded to DBacks
"My shit doesn't work in the playoffs. My job is to get us to the playoffs. What happens after that is fucking luck."
LAA 11 - 15 331W - 479L
LAA 16 - 20 477W - 333L 17-20 ALW
OAK 21 - 24 297W - 189L 21-22 ALW
LAA 11 - 15 331W - 479L
LAA 16 - 20 477W - 333L 17-20 ALW
OAK 21 - 24 297W - 189L 21-22 ALW
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I'm tired of talking about Knapp and Galloway...let's try someone new out today...how about Jim Negrych?
A free agent pick-up for me, Negrych is about to hit his way all the way to Pittsburgh. After a 3-4 game last night, Jim is slashing .381/.480/.524 for AA Altoona. This is a coming off a year where he slashed .370/.448/.508 in HA, and .310/.394/.368 in a short run with AA. Being a young 24, Jim is a little old for the level - but he is clearly ready for another challenge.
A free agent pick-up for me, Negrych is about to hit his way all the way to Pittsburgh. After a 3-4 game last night, Jim is slashing .381/.480/.524 for AA Altoona. This is a coming off a year where he slashed .370/.448/.508 in HA, and .310/.394/.368 in a short run with AA. Being a young 24, Jim is a little old for the level - but he is clearly ready for another challenge.
I've enjoyed watching this guy play. Here is a nice piece by:
Ian Ruder is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore.
Untapped Potential
Older than many PCL peers, Padres' Will Venable has upside
By Ian Ruder
April 30, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore.–At 6-foot-2 and a muscular 205 pounds, Padres center fielder Will Venable looks every bit the prospect he has become over four-plus years in the minors.
He has enough athleticism that he was able to play Division I basketball for Princeton. He has a natural lefty swing and a good eye that allowed him to hit .292/.361/.464 with 14 home runs last year in his first season for Triple-A Portland. He even showed the defensive chops to do an adequate job manning Petco Park's cavernous center field last September in his first taste of the majors.
Yet despite all that, it wasn't until this April that Venable finally came to the realization that he hopes will propel him to the next level.
"I've always had this label of, 'He hasn't played that much baseball' or 'He's a basketball player.' I've wanted to get away from that," he said. "Just the other day was the first time that I've reflected and was like, 'Wow, I'm really a baseball player now.' "
At 26, Venable knows he is on the old end of the prospect spectrum, but said his unique path has helped him to his recent realization.
"The whole time I've been playing I've had to remind myself that everyone has their own path to the big leagues, and you're fortunate to get there," he said. "I understand that I'm not Cameron Maybin or one of those guys who was just born to be a baseball player–and kind of rolled out of bed and were on that path to the big leagues. I'm still working for it and I'm happy to be 26 and be considered a prospect, if I am."
Venable's hard work has impressed the Padres and diminished any concerns about his age.
"He's certainly developed into a prospect, no matter what his age is," said Grady Fuson, the Padres vice president for scouting and player development. "There aren't going to be that many live-bodied athletes with his size and his strength and his speed that have done the things that he has done in the last three to four years in the minor leagues. And on top of that, there's the month he spent in the major leagues."
Making Up Ground
As little as seven years ago, the simple question of whether Venable would even play baseball was up in the air. Despite growing up on and around the diamond with major leaguer Max Venable for a dad, Venable stopped playing baseball his senior year of high school in order to focus on basketball.
Venable played only basketball his freshman year at Princeton, but a conversation with his mom convinced him to give baseball another shot. He went on to become only the second player to earn first team all-Ivy League honors in both sports.
Despite his having missed more than two full years of baseball development, the Padres selected Venable as a seventh-round senior pick in the 2005 draft, knowing he had experience to make up.
Venable followed up a so-so pro debut in short-season ball by batting .314/.389/.477 with 11 home runs for low Class A Fort Wayne in 2006. That success coupled with a batting title in Hawaii Winter Baseball that winter at the age of 24 raised hopes Venable had made up for some of the experience he lacked.
The following season, with Double-A San Antonio, wasn't as kind.
"There were times in Double-A where I felt like, 'Man, this just isn't really working for me,'" he said. "Playing with some guys who were my age, but a lot (who) were younger I felt like I was still behind the game."
Venable showed enough to earn a ticket to Portland for the 2008 season and started to take the steps many had anticipated for him.
Working with his father, the Beavers' hitting coach, Venable began hitting again. More importantly, he started to show the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
One Final Step
Venable continued to impress during his September callup, batting .264/.339/.391 in 110 at-bats, and, according to Fuson, was as close to making the Padres this spring as an injury to Jody Gerut. Still, the Padres think there is room for Venable to grow.
"I still think there's another click left in his development, as far as who the true Will Venable is going to be," Fuson said, "But I certainly think he's closed in on being big league ready."
Venable and dad Max agreed that Will needs to continue growing into his power potential.
"He's going to hit the ball hard, and I think driving it gap to gap is the thing the Padres are looking for," Max Venable said. "Although I don't really consider him as a home run hitter, you look at a guy that size and you talk about clicking–you would think that he'd be a kind of guy who would at least drive the ball gap to gap, hit a lot of doubles and occasionally pop some balls."
After a disappointing stint in the Dominican League last winter and a spring training showing he felt was subpar, Venable seems to have rediscovered his comfort zone this year in Portland.
Through 20 games, he was batting .280/.365/.560 in 71 at-bats with four home runs. A consummate perfectionist, Venable said there remains much room for improvement.
"If you looked at my numbers, you'd say I was swinging it well, and I have been, but not to where I know I could be," he said. "I think that's part of me also being a perfectionist and wanting to get to that level–and knowing that I have the athletic ability to do so."
Fuson agrees and hopes Venable continues to take advantage of the opportunity to improve and prepare himself for San Diego.
"It's his time to really put up the kind of numbers that he wants people to see in the big leagues, and keep himself ready for and prepared for his next trial in the big leagues," he said. "He's going to get it. It's just a matter of time."
http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/m ... 68028.html
Ian Ruder is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore.
Untapped Potential
Older than many PCL peers, Padres' Will Venable has upside
By Ian Ruder
April 30, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore.–At 6-foot-2 and a muscular 205 pounds, Padres center fielder Will Venable looks every bit the prospect he has become over four-plus years in the minors.
He has enough athleticism that he was able to play Division I basketball for Princeton. He has a natural lefty swing and a good eye that allowed him to hit .292/.361/.464 with 14 home runs last year in his first season for Triple-A Portland. He even showed the defensive chops to do an adequate job manning Petco Park's cavernous center field last September in his first taste of the majors.
Yet despite all that, it wasn't until this April that Venable finally came to the realization that he hopes will propel him to the next level.
"I've always had this label of, 'He hasn't played that much baseball' or 'He's a basketball player.' I've wanted to get away from that," he said. "Just the other day was the first time that I've reflected and was like, 'Wow, I'm really a baseball player now.' "
At 26, Venable knows he is on the old end of the prospect spectrum, but said his unique path has helped him to his recent realization.
"The whole time I've been playing I've had to remind myself that everyone has their own path to the big leagues, and you're fortunate to get there," he said. "I understand that I'm not Cameron Maybin or one of those guys who was just born to be a baseball player–and kind of rolled out of bed and were on that path to the big leagues. I'm still working for it and I'm happy to be 26 and be considered a prospect, if I am."
Venable's hard work has impressed the Padres and diminished any concerns about his age.
"He's certainly developed into a prospect, no matter what his age is," said Grady Fuson, the Padres vice president for scouting and player development. "There aren't going to be that many live-bodied athletes with his size and his strength and his speed that have done the things that he has done in the last three to four years in the minor leagues. And on top of that, there's the month he spent in the major leagues."
Making Up Ground
As little as seven years ago, the simple question of whether Venable would even play baseball was up in the air. Despite growing up on and around the diamond with major leaguer Max Venable for a dad, Venable stopped playing baseball his senior year of high school in order to focus on basketball.
Venable played only basketball his freshman year at Princeton, but a conversation with his mom convinced him to give baseball another shot. He went on to become only the second player to earn first team all-Ivy League honors in both sports.
Despite his having missed more than two full years of baseball development, the Padres selected Venable as a seventh-round senior pick in the 2005 draft, knowing he had experience to make up.
Venable followed up a so-so pro debut in short-season ball by batting .314/.389/.477 with 11 home runs for low Class A Fort Wayne in 2006. That success coupled with a batting title in Hawaii Winter Baseball that winter at the age of 24 raised hopes Venable had made up for some of the experience he lacked.
The following season, with Double-A San Antonio, wasn't as kind.
"There were times in Double-A where I felt like, 'Man, this just isn't really working for me,'" he said. "Playing with some guys who were my age, but a lot (who) were younger I felt like I was still behind the game."
Venable showed enough to earn a ticket to Portland for the 2008 season and started to take the steps many had anticipated for him.
Working with his father, the Beavers' hitting coach, Venable began hitting again. More importantly, he started to show the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
One Final Step
Venable continued to impress during his September callup, batting .264/.339/.391 in 110 at-bats, and, according to Fuson, was as close to making the Padres this spring as an injury to Jody Gerut. Still, the Padres think there is room for Venable to grow.
"I still think there's another click left in his development, as far as who the true Will Venable is going to be," Fuson said, "But I certainly think he's closed in on being big league ready."
Venable and dad Max agreed that Will needs to continue growing into his power potential.
"He's going to hit the ball hard, and I think driving it gap to gap is the thing the Padres are looking for," Max Venable said. "Although I don't really consider him as a home run hitter, you look at a guy that size and you talk about clicking–you would think that he'd be a kind of guy who would at least drive the ball gap to gap, hit a lot of doubles and occasionally pop some balls."
After a disappointing stint in the Dominican League last winter and a spring training showing he felt was subpar, Venable seems to have rediscovered his comfort zone this year in Portland.
Through 20 games, he was batting .280/.365/.560 in 71 at-bats with four home runs. A consummate perfectionist, Venable said there remains much room for improvement.
"If you looked at my numbers, you'd say I was swinging it well, and I have been, but not to where I know I could be," he said. "I think that's part of me also being a perfectionist and wanting to get to that level–and knowing that I have the athletic ability to do so."
Fuson agrees and hopes Venable continues to take advantage of the opportunity to improve and prepare himself for San Diego.
"It's his time to really put up the kind of numbers that he wants people to see in the big leagues, and keep himself ready for and prepared for his next trial in the big leagues," he said. "He's going to get it. It's just a matter of time."
http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/m ... 68028.html
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Best Prospect Chat Ever:
Corey (Philly): KG, I've been impressed, like most, with Jason Knapp's early success. What can you tell us about him? What's his upside? Thanks, love the new daily prospect feature.
Kevin Goldstein: I'm glad people are enjoying the daily prospect bit, I'm certainly enjoying getting it out there and it just gets us talking about more prospect. Knapp's upside is TREMENDOUS. Plus-plus velocity, big power frame, just needs innings and honing of all the stuff around the big heater.
jamin67038 (Wichita, KS): Good to see former WSU pitcher Anthony Capra in your ten-pack. With his velocity, is his ceiling that of a 4th-5th starter, league-average type, or is it higher?
Kevin Goldstein: Having seen him twice and more importantly seen him WITH SCOUTS, I do think he at least has a chance to be a back-end starter. His pitchability is really impressive, and the changeup is truly a plus pitch.
matt (wi): Can you tell us what is up with Tim Collins? Legitimate stuff or is the fact that he is so small just throw off hitters?
Kevin Goldstein: It's the most amazing combination of weirdness and legitimacy. He's fascinating.
wilk75 (clutch city): As an Astros fan, give me something to get excited about. Anything. Anything at all.
Kevin Goldstein: Colin Delome. Jason Castro has looked pretty good offensively, and pretty great defensively, throwing out 14 of 22 attempted base stealers.
I feel like I'm playing with fire every year when I pawn off my better prospects for less talented, more MLB ready players. It's like, how lucky can I be getting in these drafts? I'm pretty sure this is going to bite me in the ass someday, but I have no reason not to keep chancing it.
Corey (Philly): KG, I've been impressed, like most, with Jason Knapp's early success. What can you tell us about him? What's his upside? Thanks, love the new daily prospect feature.
Kevin Goldstein: I'm glad people are enjoying the daily prospect bit, I'm certainly enjoying getting it out there and it just gets us talking about more prospect. Knapp's upside is TREMENDOUS. Plus-plus velocity, big power frame, just needs innings and honing of all the stuff around the big heater.
jamin67038 (Wichita, KS): Good to see former WSU pitcher Anthony Capra in your ten-pack. With his velocity, is his ceiling that of a 4th-5th starter, league-average type, or is it higher?
Kevin Goldstein: Having seen him twice and more importantly seen him WITH SCOUTS, I do think he at least has a chance to be a back-end starter. His pitchability is really impressive, and the changeup is truly a plus pitch.
matt (wi): Can you tell us what is up with Tim Collins? Legitimate stuff or is the fact that he is so small just throw off hitters?
Kevin Goldstein: It's the most amazing combination of weirdness and legitimacy. He's fascinating.
wilk75 (clutch city): As an Astros fan, give me something to get excited about. Anything. Anything at all.
Kevin Goldstein: Colin Delome. Jason Castro has looked pretty good offensively, and pretty great defensively, throwing out 14 of 22 attempted base stealers.
I feel like I'm playing with fire every year when I pawn off my better prospects for less talented, more MLB ready players. It's like, how lucky can I be getting in these drafts? I'm pretty sure this is going to bite me in the ass someday, but I have no reason not to keep chancing it.
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Yankees
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My trading my prospects has kept me from really updating this - but it's hard to ignore Tyler Sample - someone I took AHEAD of Jason Knapp in this past draft. Tyler has allowed 1 ER in past 19 IP - allowing only 10 h's and 6 bb's (4 in the first game). Sample is armed with just absolutely electric stuff, and built like a brick shithouse at 6'7" and 245 pounds (and he JUST turned 20).
Brandon Hamilton and Tyler Sample are two guys to watch in the shallow Royals pool - both armed with huge arms, but very, very raw.
Brandon Hamilton and Tyler Sample are two guys to watch in the shallow Royals pool - both armed with huge arms, but very, very raw.
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Michael Brantley, OF, Indians (Triple-A Columbus)
Earlier in the month, it looked like Brantley's season might end early due to a foot injury, but he was able to return after a cortisone shot, and he's batting .400 since his return. While his season line of .267/.350/.362 is hardly eye-opening, there's a lot to like here, given that Brantley has more walks (58) than strikeouts (47) in 453 at-bats, 43 stolen bases in 48 attempts, and has slowly made improvements in every aspect of his game, all while being one of the youngest everyday players in the league. I'm not saying he's a future star or anything, but he is a better prospect that the numbers indicate.
Earlier in the month, it looked like Brantley's season might end early due to a foot injury, but he was able to return after a cortisone shot, and he's batting .400 since his return. While his season line of .267/.350/.362 is hardly eye-opening, there's a lot to like here, given that Brantley has more walks (58) than strikeouts (47) in 453 at-bats, 43 stolen bases in 48 attempts, and has slowly made improvements in every aspect of his game, all while being one of the youngest everyday players in the league. I'm not saying he's a future star or anything, but he is a better prospect that the numbers indicate.
