2014 Prospect Updates

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2014 Prospect Updates

Post by Tigers »

Byron Buxton


Some series Buxton love here from Marc Normandin.


http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/2/7/53 ... mike-trout
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Post by Tigers »

Lucas Giolito

Nice little tidbit from BP's National's Top 10 Report on Giolito........and only because Jake is tired of "constantly" hearing about Buxton. :lol:

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/arti ... leid=22872

The Year Ahead: On paper, Giolito has the highest ceiling of any arm in the minors, and that list includes Taijuan Walker and Archie Bradley. It’s an almost irresponsible combination of size and stuff, a 6’6’’ power righty who can sit in the mid-upper-90s with a lively fastball and back it up with an unhittable hard curveball that can show intense vertical depth. He’s not far removed from Tommy John surgery and the command profile needs refinement, but the 19-year-old arm should dominate at the A-ball level in 2014, and when the Nationals take the governor off the semi in 2015, Giolito should erupt into the premier arm in baseball, if he doesn’t already have claim on that distinction after his full-season debut. This is what it looks like, folks. This is a future no. 1 starter at the major-league level.


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Post by Tigers »

Has there been a more dominant reliever during the first quarter of the season? He's turned into a K machine with him move to the pen.....


https://www.baseballprospectus.com/arti ... leid=23629


1. Dellin Betances, Yankees
I’m a sucker for extremes in most cases. I like overt and obvious skews that are ridiculous on the surface and only get more ridiculous the deeper you dig. I like Dellin Betances because he is utterly ridiculous. The stat line is cut from the Brad Lidge/Carlos Marmol mold. Betances is currently striking out 44.7 percent of the batters he's facing, and he’s got more strikeouts this year than Chris Archer, Ricky Nolasco, and Phil Hughes. He’s a touch under Scott Kazmir on the strikeout leaderboards as well. Betances is obvious in a way that is simplistic. He’s a reliever, so he works with a hard fastball and a good breaking ball. The breaking ball has come a long way since he was on his way to bust-dom. Betances’ skillset is easy to appreciate. It’s cheating, but he’s my favorite early-season reliever performer. —Mauricio Rubio
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Post by Tigers »

Pitcher of the Night: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals (Hagerstown, A-): 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K.

As strict as the Nats are with their young pitchers, they weren’t going to let Giolito keep going just because he hadn’t given up a hit. He’s missing a ton of bats and living up to all of the hype thus far, and it’s only a matter of time before he begins dominating deeper into games.
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Pitcher of the Night: Jonathan Gray, RHP, Rockies (Tulsa, AA): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K.

There have been reports that Gray’s fastball and slider are both down a tick from their 70-grade possibilities, but that doesn’t mean their ceilings aren’t still there. His two-pitch combo is still as dangerous as that of any pitcher in the minors, though it would be nice to see a little more dominance from a recent third-overall pick.
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Post by Tigers »

Dilson Herrera, 2B, Mets (St. Lucie, A+): 4-4, 2 R. I’ve seen Herrera about eight times this year and he always seems to be doing something productive. In my Eyewitness Report on Herrera, I noted that a pronounced wrap of the bat around his head lengthened his swing out and caused him trouble. He has worked to smooth this out since I saw him last and his swing was much shorter and direct to the ball. I’m still not sure exactly what kind of player Herrera is going to end up being, but the Mets have a major leaguer on their hands of some kind.
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Post by Tigers »

A few from BP's Monday Morning Ten Pack:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=23903


Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown)
Lucas Giolito is one of those pitchers who can alter a franchise. He has two elite offerings which could work in the majors very soon. The fastball is a true weapon sitting 93-96 and topping out at 97-98. The ball has natural arm-side run up to 95, but straightens out at higher velocity. It shows boring action and late life that is hard to pick up out of hand. The velocity and movement are heightened due to his extreme plane The curveball is one of the best strikeout pitches I have seen in a minor-league game—a true hammer, and Giolito has pure confidence in it. Both the fastball and curveball need minor refinement in terms of consistency and command, but they will be weapons in the majors. The changeup is further away, and I do not view it as a true weapon by itself. However, it works with the rest of the arsenal and Giolito shows ability to nearly replicate the pitch out of his hand like a fastball. Throughout the outing, Giolito displayed his athleticism on the mound, showing excellent PFP skills and an ability to become an extra fielder. His arsenal was impressive, but I was nearly as impressed by the makeup on the mound. He gave up a home run on a 96 mph fastball to Carlos Asuaje in the second, and then decided that was enough for the day and dominated the rest of the outing. While Giolito is a high-risk talent, the ceiling is undeniable. If the change up can consistently hit solid-average, he could be the best pitcher in the minors. —Tucker Blair
Last edited by Tigers on Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dilson Herrera, 2B, Mets (High-A St. Lucie)
Earlier in the year, I wrote that Herrera had a noticeable bat wrap that limited his bat-to-ball skills from achieving their true in-game ceiling. A month later, he has made great strides in limiting that wrap and shortening his stroke. He’s still not a big power producer, but his swing has gone from that of an athlete swinging a bat to a true hitter. He’s much more direct to the ball and is making more consistent contact, a major step forward for a contact/speed type hitter. He’s still a right-side infielder, which limits his ceiling, but his hit tool has taken a step forward, which gives him a better chance of sticking as an everyday player than I had originally thought a few months ago. —Jeff Moore
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Kennys Vargas, 1B, Twins (Double-A New Britain)
I’ve had the chance to see Vargas over the past three seasons, and my thoughts surrounding the prospect have always focused on “big.” Big body, big swing, and big raw power. The body might be the biggest. I didn’t get that much of a feel for his game outside of his batting practice power a couple of Fall Instructs ago; the first baseman was just kind of there and blah during game action. But when I’ve seen the 23-year-old this season, his ability to cut his swing down in certain situations has stood out. He’ll also go the other way with some frequency, which speaks to a maturing approach. The swing does get a little messy and on the long side with breaking stuff. I still have some questions on how Vargas will handle premium velocity, especially above the thighs. But there’s some intrigue in the bat. After peeling back the layers and getting through the initial impressions, there’s hitting ability, and ultimately that is what you’re looking for. —Chris Mellen
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Post by Tigers »

Lucas Giolito......via BP

A little Prospect Porn for everyone on this fine Friday.......


https://www.baseballprospectus.com/arti ... entMessage


".....Giolito's curveball isn’t just one of the best pitches I have seen this year. It might be the best pitch I have seen in a decade, especially in the minors."


".....I made a bold statement on Twitter: "Giolito's curveball is the most elite secondary pitch I have ever seen.” I stand by it."
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Post by Tigers »

Dellin Betances

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/arti ... leid=23999

Yankees RHP Dellin Betances: “It's surprising he doesn't get more attention because he could close for about half the teams in baseball right now. He's found a home in the bullpen with the Yankees and really grown up this year in terms of not letting the situation overwhelm him. It's clear Robertson has helped him, but the ironic thing is that he may replace him if Robertson leaves as a free agent. It's also ironic that he and Robertson and Mark Melancon and about six other impact pitchers were taken in the same 2006 draft.”
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Post by Tigers »

Nice little write-up on Taijuan Walker and Lucas Giolito by two BP writers:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=24058

Walker is a stud........which makes this even more interesting for a Giolito owner. 8)

The Case for Lucas Giolito (Mark Anderson)

I get it. Walker is a good prospect. I like him as much as anybody, but when comparing him to Giolito it’s like bringing a spoon to fight a dude with a 50-caliber rifle. It’s not fair.

Giolito is a monster, and he shouldn’t be penalized because of the fact that he’s allowed to show it only in limited bursts right now. In those outings, Giolito has shown everything you want to see from the top pitching prospect in the game. He is physical, strong, and intelligent, and he has the arsenal to dominate MLB lineups.

When you combine extreme downhill plane with easy 94–96 mph average velocity and peaks in the upper 90s, you get a near-elite pitch. On top of the raw velocity, Giolito’s heater has the type of movement most pitching prospects only dream of.

Giolito backs up his dominant fastball with a breaking ball that BP’s Tucker Blair described by saying, “It might be the best pitch I have seen in a decade.” That’s just not fair. You’re talking about a near-elite fastball backed up by a near-elite breaking ball. On top of all that, he has an average changeup with enough feel that it could develop further.

I get that Walker is an appealing player, and in a world lacking a healthy Giolito, he might be the top pitching prospect in the game. However, he doesn’t exist in that world.
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Post by Tigers »

Continuing BP's series on Top 50's: Buxton versus Correa

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=24070

The Case for Byron Buxton (Jason Parks)

Buxton has the most intense collection of physical tools in the minors, giving him a paper projection of a superstar, a true franchise-altering talent that you simply can’t find on the open market. Along with the physical gifts, Buxton has shown a highly impressive display of on-the-field execution, a combination rarely found in the “raw” athlete-first, skills-second profile that he was too casually cast in coming into professional ball.

With Buxton, it all starts with his speed, a three-way tool that will make him a weapon in the field, on the bases, and coming out of the box. The raw tool grades out as an 80 on the 20-80 scale and should remain in the double-plus range for a healthy part of his early career. The overall profile in the middle of the diamond sets the bar for his value, with a combination of speed (range), glove, and arm that should make him a perennial Gold Glove candidate in center field and a baby blanket for flyball pitchers who require pole-to-pole defenders to record outs.

But what makes Buxton an elite prospect is the offensive potential that exists in his profile; this isn’t a run-first defender who gets the bat knocked out of his hands by velocity. Buxton can flat-out rip at the plate, with plus projections on both the hit and power tools, making him a legit five-tool talent with Mastodon-playing-in-a-small-club level volume and intensity pumping from his skill-set.
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BA's Mid-Season Top 50 update

Post by Tigers »

BA's Mid-Season Top 50 Update


http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/m ... -buxton-1/



1. Byron Buxton, cf
8. Jon Gray, sp
11. Lucas Giolito, sp
30. Kohl Stewart, sp
Last edited by Tigers on Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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BP's Mid-Season Top 50 Update

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=24076


1. Byron Buxton, cf
7. Lucas Giolito, sp
11. Jon Gray, sp
27. Kohl Stewart, sp
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Post by Tigers »

Crick sure can miss bats. If he ever gets that command tightened up, even a little he'll be nasty!

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=24090


Pitcher of the Night: Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 10 K.The ability to miss bats is what makes Crick so enticing and why the Giants continue to keep him as a starter, though even on his best days, needing 99 pitches to get through just five innings leaves his bullpen with a lot of outs to get.
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Pitcher of the Night: Jonathan Gray, RHP, Rockies (Tulsa, AA): 5 2/3 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K.
This is more like the dominant Gray we were hoping to see from college. The Rockies have had him working on stuff, so don’t put too much stock in his numbers. The power arm that got him drafted so high is still very much intact.
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Post by Tigers »

Prepping for lift off.........

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/p ... t-july-18/


Kohl Stewart, rhp, Twins: In Alex Meyer, Jose Berrios and Stewart, the Twins have a trio of hard-throwing starter prospects with both stuff and the ability to miss bats. Stewart, the fourth overall pick in 2013, was touching 98 mph in his most recent start at low Class A Cedar Rapids, and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any start since the beginning of June, and he ranks third in the Midwest League with a 2.42 ERA.
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Post by Tigers »

Giolito continues to stake a claim to best pitching prospect in the minors.....


PITCHER OF THE DAY: Lucas Giolito, rhp — low Class A Hagerstown (Nationals)

We couldn’t go wrong picking Giolito or Brian Johnson (who struck out 12 for Double-A Portland), but ultimately we went with the Nats’ No. 1 prospect, who retired 18 in a row following a leadoff single against Kannapolis. The hard-throwing righthander struck out seven and is now 6-2, 2.34 with an 88-25 SO/BB ratio over 77 innings.
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Post by Tigers »

BP just catching up with BA's reports from the weekend......

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals (Hagerstown, A-): 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
The talent has always been upper-echelon, but there were questions surrounding Giolito’s development and health when the season started. Those questions are all but gone as he finishes up his first full season and is working deeper into games, and he’s on his way to being one of the (if not the) best pitching prospects in the game.
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Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 6 IP, 5 H, R, 4 BB, 11 K.

It’s taken most of the season, but Crick is beginning to figure out Double-A. He still walks far too many batters, but it doesn’t typically keep him from being effective, just from working deep into games. With high strikeout totals and extra baserunners, he’ll never eat many innings, but he’s trending in the right direction over his last seven starts toward at least being able to remain a starter.
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Dilson Herrera, 2B, Mets (Binghamton, AA): 3-5, 3 R, HR.
I’ve liked Herrera since I saw him last year but haven’t been sold on him as a surefire everyday player. The jump to Double-A was supposed to bring out his flaws, but instead he’s played better than ever. He’s even increased his walk rate and power since the promotion. I’m still not certain that he’s a guy the Mets should be planning their future around, but he’s getting closer.
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PITCHER OF THE DAY: Lucas Giolito, rhp — low Class A Hagerstown (Nationals)

The pitcher with arguably the best stuff in the minors had the best day in the minors? Shocking, right? Locked in a duel with Charleston and Chaz Hebert, Giolito held the RiverDogs to two hits and walk over six shutout innings with six punchouts. Since June 3, he's allowed more than four hits in a start just twice.
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Post by Tigers »

Lucas Giolito, rhp, Nationals

Team: low Class A Hagerstown (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.00, 12 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 13 SO, 1 BB


The Scoop: Ranking among the unofficial leaders for best stuff in the minors, Giolito had his good command this week and the results were overwhelming. He put up 13 zeroes over two starts and allowed just three singles and one walk in the process. He’s given up three or fewer earned runs in nine of his last 10 starts and is third in the Nationals system in punchouts despite pitching roughly 30 innings fewer than the pitchers in the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, Austin Voth and John Simms.



http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/p ... e-emerges/
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Post by Tigers »

Yes, he has passed "prospect" status, but quite the evolution this season for the Big Cuban.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-abr ... -complete/

Jose Abreu: Now a Complete Hitter

Jose Abreu: Now a Complete Hitter
by August Fagerstrom - August 5, 2014

You might not have heard, but Jose Abreu is a pretty good hitter.

Who am I kidding, you’ve heard about that by now. You also probably heard he just wrapped up a 21-game hitting streak..........
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