Masahide Kobayashi, RHP, Chiba Lotte Marines
Height: 6'0" Weight: 196 Bats: Right Throws: Right Age: 33
Kobayashi is the closer for Lotte and the final piece to ìYFKî, which stands for Yabuta, Fujita, and Kobayashi. YouÃll notice that IÃve skipped over Soichi Fujita, another WBC member, despite his free-agent status. Yabuta and Kobayashi are simply in a different league from their relief corps teammate. Kobayashi has been a dominating closer for the better part of seven and a half seasons, thanks in large part to a 98 mph fastball and powerful inside-out slider. In some respects, I like YabutaÃs game a bit more, but the power profile of Kobayashi and the proven track record as a closer puts him in an excellent position to cash in with a desperate US team looking to plug in an established veteran presence at the end of close games.
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The Indians are having Masahide Kobayashi in for a physical Tuesday and could complete a deal later this week.
With Hitoki Iwase off the board, Kobayashi was the best Japanese reliever available in free agency. The long-term closer would probably help set up Joe Borowski for the Indians initially, but like Rafael Betancourt, he could prove to be superior to Borowski in time. That won't necessarily make him a candidate for saves, but he will be a sleeper. 11/21/07
Not bad for the next to last pick in the second round, a reliever who throws 98 with a nasty slider.
Boston Draft Picks
Moderator: Angels
Josh Donaldson, c Born: Dec. 8, 1985 ï B-T: R-R ï Ht: 6-0 ï Wt: 195
Drafted: Auburn, 2007 (1st round supplemental) ï Signed by: Bob Rossi
Background: Previously a third baseman, Donaldson started catching as a sophomore at Auburn in 2006. The position shift and a strong summer in the Cape Cod League sent his draft stock skyrocketing, and he went 48th overall in June. After signing for $652,500, he rated as the short-season Northwest League's top position prospect and led the circuit with a .470 on-base percentage.
Strengths: Donaldson provides more offense and athleticism than most catchers. He's aggressive and looks to pull pitches for power early in counts, but he also adjusts when pitchers get ahead of him, shortening his stroke and using the opposite field. He controls the strike zone and projects as a .280 hitter with 15-20 homers per season. He has slightly above-average arm strength and threw out 38 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. His speed is average.
Weaknesses: His inexperience shows behind the plate, though the Cubs believe he'll become a solid defender in time. He committed 11 passed balls in 45 games and sometimes hurried his release and undermined his arm strength. He made progress in both areas during the summer.
The Future: Chicago has built up its catching depth, so it may take things slow with Donaldson and let him concentrate o his work behind the plate. He'll probably open 2008 in low Class A.
2007 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
AZL Cubs (R)
.182 .308 .364 11 1 2 2 0 0 0 2
4 0
Boise (SS)
.346 .470 .605 162 37 56 11 2 9 35 37 34 6
2. Josh Donaldson, c, Boise Hawks (Cubs)
B-T: L-R Ht: 6-1 Wt: 202 Age: 21 Drafted: Cubs '07 (1S)
Donaldson was recognized as the league's leader in on-base percentage (.470) and he would have ranked first in slugging percentage (.605) if he hadn't fallen three plate appearances short of officially qualifying. He showed he could handle wood last summer in the Cape Cod League, and he benefited from Boise's hitter-friendly Memorial Stadium (where he hit .364 with eight of his nine homers), so his performance wasn't too surprising.
He came out of college as an offensive-minded catcher with an aggressive approach and an unproven defensive package, and that's what NWL observers saw in Donaldson. He's geared to pull, feasts on fastballs and has above-average bat speed and raw power. He has good strike-zone awareness and will shorten his swing and use the opposite field when he's behind in counts.
He has a solid-average arm with a quick, clean release and passable receiving skills. He threw out 40 percent of basestealers, but ranked second in the league with 11 passed balls in 42 games.
"I thought he showed some agility behind the plate and his throws were online," an American Leaue scout said. "He's got some work to do back there, but he has a good feel for catching."
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
162 37 56 11 2 9 35 37 34 6 2 .346 .470 .605
Boston is excited to welcome Donaldson to the franchise. He brings a dynamic bat at a key position and we have confidence in his ability to improve his defensive abilities.
Drafted: Auburn, 2007 (1st round supplemental) ï Signed by: Bob Rossi
Background: Previously a third baseman, Donaldson started catching as a sophomore at Auburn in 2006. The position shift and a strong summer in the Cape Cod League sent his draft stock skyrocketing, and he went 48th overall in June. After signing for $652,500, he rated as the short-season Northwest League's top position prospect and led the circuit with a .470 on-base percentage.
Strengths: Donaldson provides more offense and athleticism than most catchers. He's aggressive and looks to pull pitches for power early in counts, but he also adjusts when pitchers get ahead of him, shortening his stroke and using the opposite field. He controls the strike zone and projects as a .280 hitter with 15-20 homers per season. He has slightly above-average arm strength and threw out 38 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. His speed is average.
Weaknesses: His inexperience shows behind the plate, though the Cubs believe he'll become a solid defender in time. He committed 11 passed balls in 45 games and sometimes hurried his release and undermined his arm strength. He made progress in both areas during the summer.
The Future: Chicago has built up its catching depth, so it may take things slow with Donaldson and let him concentrate o his work behind the plate. He'll probably open 2008 in low Class A.
2007 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
AZL Cubs (R)
.182 .308 .364 11 1 2 2 0 0 0 2
4 0
Boise (SS)
.346 .470 .605 162 37 56 11 2 9 35 37 34 6
2. Josh Donaldson, c, Boise Hawks (Cubs)
B-T: L-R Ht: 6-1 Wt: 202 Age: 21 Drafted: Cubs '07 (1S)
Donaldson was recognized as the league's leader in on-base percentage (.470) and he would have ranked first in slugging percentage (.605) if he hadn't fallen three plate appearances short of officially qualifying. He showed he could handle wood last summer in the Cape Cod League, and he benefited from Boise's hitter-friendly Memorial Stadium (where he hit .364 with eight of his nine homers), so his performance wasn't too surprising.
He came out of college as an offensive-minded catcher with an aggressive approach and an unproven defensive package, and that's what NWL observers saw in Donaldson. He's geared to pull, feasts on fastballs and has above-average bat speed and raw power. He has good strike-zone awareness and will shorten his swing and use the opposite field when he's behind in counts.
He has a solid-average arm with a quick, clean release and passable receiving skills. He threw out 40 percent of basestealers, but ranked second in the league with 11 passed balls in 42 games.
"I thought he showed some agility behind the plate and his throws were online," an American Leaue scout said. "He's got some work to do back there, but he has a good feel for catching."
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
162 37 56 11 2 9 35 37 34 6 2 .346 .470 .605
Boston is excited to welcome Donaldson to the franchise. He brings a dynamic bat at a key position and we have confidence in his ability to improve his defensive abilities.
