Posted on 06 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 200 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 8/16/82
The understated Angels infielder continued to put up excellent numbers at AAA Salt Lake City, hitting .335 with 15 HR 88 RBI 45 doubles and 92 runs scored. Sandoval has a line drive bat that produces gap power and high rates of contact. He has decent speed, but ran a lot less last season than in years past. Defensively, Sandoval is quite versatile spending time at 1B, 2B, 3B and even the OF last season. He is sure handed and plays with a great deal of intelligence. He is not flashy, but he can adequately fill a variety of roles. The rub on Sandoval is his age, at 26 years old, he is rapidly losing status as a prospect and needs to step into an MLB role sometime soon.
2009 Projection: Spring training will be a critical time for Sandoval to wriggle his way onto the Angels' 25 man roster. He has demonstrated all he needs to at the minor league level and, at 26 years old, is entering the prime productive years of his career. Monitor his progress this spring as well as rumblings within the Angels organization as to the 2009 role for Sandoval. He has the makings of a highly productive utility player who can admirably fill a variety of roles and is ready to produce right away. He should get more of a chance at some point in 2009.
Key Freddy Sandoval Baseball Cards:
- 2004 SP Prospects Auto #/400
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2009 Topps
- 2009 Upper Deck
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 6-7 245 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/27/89
The Royals' 3rd rounder was exactly as advertised in his professional debut with K.C.'s Arizona League affiliate going 0-5 with a 9.00 ERA and a caustic 29 BB/39 K ratio in 27 IP. Equipped with a fastball that reaches 96 MPH, the mammoth-sized right hander pitches downhill toward hitters forcing ground ball outs at a copious 2.60/FO rate. His nasty 12-6 curveball has the potential to be an elite strikeout pitch, but his third pitch, a changeup, is in its infant stages of development. Sample has emerged healthy from a 2006 Tommy John surgery, but he has been in a perpetual struggle to harness control over his plus offerings. He walked hitters at an alarming 9.7/9 IP rate and surrendered a .270 BAA in his 10 outings last season. Despite his struggles with command, Sample seems to have a good amount of poise on the mound even with runners on base. The Royals knew that they were drafting a project player in Sample, and seem comfortable with taking time to slowly bring him along as a starter.
2009 Projection: Sample is not ready for full season ball yet. Expect him to get some serious TLC with the Royals instructional staff at extended spring training before heading to Idaho Falls in June. It goes without saying that contol is the thing to monitor in Sample's game. If and when it improves, Sample has the ability to be a dominant pitcher. Expect his numbers to improve significantly this season, and watch to see if he can keep up his excellent K/9 IP ratio and GO/FO numbers.
Key Tyler Sample Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/619
- 2008 Leaf Limited Auto
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 5-11 175 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/3/88
The son of long time Detroit Tiger OF Chet Lemon had a fine season at High-A Bakersfield hitting .295 with 8 HR 47 RBI 12 SB and 80 runs scored. Lemon is a good all around athlete with a quick left handed swing that generates good extra base pop for a player of his stature. Last season Lemon smacked 30 doubles which may indicate that a slight uptick of power could develop, perhaps to double digits. Marcus made significant strides in improving his plate discipline, working pitchers for a respectible 46 BB/69 K's. Lemon has above average speed, but he doesn't use it as well as he should on the basepaths. Over the past two seasons, Lemon has been successful on just 24 of 46 SB attempts. Defensively, Lemon is a substandard SS, committing 43 errors last season, but those that have watched him play 2B think that he can become a solid defender there. The one area of Lemon's game that outshines the other is his remarkable makeup and maturity. Lemon is an intelligent player who works to improve upon his shortcomings.
2009 Projection: Marcus will be challenged to continue his fine progression at AA Frisco. The numbers that Lemon put up at Bakersfield could have been artificially swollen by the friendly skies of the California League. Monitor his ability to maintain his solid plate discipline and power numbers. If he can do so, his chances of evolving into a major league starter will increase. At this point in time, it appears that Lemon is best suited as a solid MLB utility players - especially given the fact that he is playing in a system that boasts some talent at the middle infield positions.
Key Marcus Lemon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/199
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 170 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/11/89
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to be a tremendous success story, transforming their farm system and major league roster from futility to fortune in just one year's time. Longoria, Price, and Upton, and Garza have become household names, while pitching prospects Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, and Jake McGee loom as potential stars on the imminent horizon. Nicholas Barnese is quite a ways behind them in development but not in talent.
With a lively 91-93 MPH fastball and power slurve, Nicholas Barnese overpowered hitters at short season Low-A Hudson Valley last season going 5-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 24 BB/84 K in 66 innings. Nicholas is a confident and aggressive pitcher with a mean streak on the mound. He goes right after hitters, pounding all quadrants of the strike zone and challenging hitters on the inner half of the plate. A changeup is currently in the works for Barnese and, while hie throws it with a good arm speed, its command and movement lags behind his other two quality offerings. Barnese has some projectibility left in his frame that could build a little more bulk and velocity within the next year or two. If it comes, his overall skill set will closely resemble that of current Ray hurler Matt Garza.
2009 Projection: Barnese will get a taste of full season ball at Low-A Bowling Green. Barnese seemingly came out of nowhere to post his solid numbers last season. Watch to see if he can sustain that success over a full season. His frame is still a bit slender, which could deter from his durability. His changeup is an essential component to his ability to continue progressing as a starter. With so many fine young arms in the Rays organization, Barnese has been able to fly under the radar and exceed expectations. That could come to a close soon. A big 2009 season from Nick should vault him into the same conversation as names like Davis, McGee, and Hellickson.
Key Nicholas Barnese Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Nicholas Barnese
- 2008 Just Autographs Nicholas Barnese Auto
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/11/88
The 20 year old Dominican struggled mightily at full season Low-A Great Lakes hitting just .178 with 1 HR and 16 RBI in 185 AB. The Dodgers promptly sent him back down to short season Ogden where he acclimated himself much better, batting .267 with 12 HR 50 RBI and 20 doubles in 247 AB. Baez has prolific power that emanates from his smooth right handed swing and accelerated bat speed. He profiles as an agile and sure handed defensive player, though his defensive numbers took a large step back after his demotion (20 errors in 196 chances). Baez has a howitzer for an arm, but still struggles to make accurate throws. The main cause for his early season struggles at the plate is due almost exclusively to his raw plate discipline. Baez walked 17 times while whiffing 45 times and his discipline declined after his demotion (18 BB/69 K). There are some good tools that the Dodgers have to work with in this youngster and their history of refining raw international talents lends optimism to Baez's future going forward. However, there is a great deal of work that needs to be done to propel this young player to a more noteworthy status as as top prospect.
2009 Projection: Pedro will give Great Lakes another try this season in hopes that he has a more patient and disciplined approach at the plate. If he is able to work counts more effectively, Baez should be able to make some significants strides this season. This will be important for him as the Dodgers have a couple of other fine 3B prospects (Josh Bell, Austin Gallagher, and even Blake DeWitt) that will compete for the right to play the hot corner at Chavez Ravine in future seasons.
Key Pedro Baez Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 170 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/5/89
The native New Englander managed a solid showing after signing with the Red Sox, batting .305 with 9 RBI 14 SB and 15 runs scored in 27 games at Boston's GCL Rookie League Affiliate. He struggled considerably after a brief promotion to Low-A Lowell, going 3-35 with 11 K's. Gibson has an intriguing set of tools that offer considerable upside. He is athletically gifted and can adequately play a variety of infield positions as well as the outfield. Once a top-tier pitcher in high school, Gibson has a strong arm that profiles best at SS or 3B. He has been clocked at 6.4 seconds in the 60 yard dash and he uses his speed well in the field as well as the basepaths (16 for 16 in SB attempts). Gibson has a lively, athletic body that could develop more power potential as he matures and he has already shown a disciplined approach at the plate, earning a respectable 20 BB/29 K ratio in 41 pro games. The Red Sox are flush with talented young middle infield and outfield talents and it is hard to say exactly where Gibson will someday fit in. His versatility and overall athleticism, however, makes him one to watch in the ensuing seasons as a high upside sleeper.
2009 Projection: The Red Sox have no need to rush Derrik's development, which makes it quite likely that he will spend time at extended spring training before heading to Lowell again in June. Expect Gibson to fare better this go around, putting up good speed and plate discipline numbers. The XBH power will be an interesting factor to monitor. There is promise for his frame to build more strength to drive the ball with greater authority, but it is far from being a foregone conclusion. If he can exhibit better power numbers (i.e. 10-12 HR per season) he should be able to ascend quickly on this list and enter himself in the same conversation of other fine SS/3B prospects within Boston's fruitful system.
Key Derrik Gibson Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 215 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 9/25/84
The former Oregon State Beaver continued to solidify himself as a lethal offensive weapon at the catching position hitting .285 with 8 HR 81 RBI 28 doubles and 13 SB at HIgh-A Lake Elsinore. Thick and very strong, Canham employs a quick and fluid left handed swing to drive balls with power to the alleys. His 66 BB/73 K ratio further confirms his highly polished approach at the plate and his ability to maintain a high rate of contact. Canham can run as well, swiping 13 bags in 14 tries, and he aggressively seeks to take the extra bag at every opportunity. Defensively, he is lauded for his leadership skills, but all other aspects of his game behind the plate are a work in progress. He threw out only 30 of 161 base stealers and allowed 21 passed balls. As a former third baseman, he is athletic behind the plate, but is still learning many of the nuances of the position.
2009 Projection: Canham's bat should allow for him to receive ample opportunities to develop defensively but, at age 24, he needs to do so soon. Mitch will start the '09 season at AA San Antonio and should play there for most, if not all, of the season. Keep an eye on his power numbers, there is room for growth and given his speed numbers, he could offer an intriguing blend of speed and power at the catching position reminiscent of L.A. Dodgers All-Star Russell Martin. Defensively, he is considerably behind Martin's excellence. This will be an area to monitor as well, especially in his PB numbers and ability to gun down base stealers with more frequency. If he cannot make significant strides this season, the Padres may be forced to examine other defensive options for him.
Key Mitch Canham Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Turn of the Century Auto #/209
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
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Posted on 03 March 2009
H/W: 6-4 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/11/86
The Oral Roberts alum increased his stock significantly with an excellent showing at Low-A Fort Wayne last season going 10-5 with a 3.33 ERA and 43 BB/150 K in 145 IP. Hefner controls his three pitches quite well, an 89-91 MPH fastball, a sweeping slider, and a heavy changeup that he uses effectively against LH hitters. Hefner pounds all quadrants of the strike zone with excellent command, though his stuff is not overpowering and, with the exception of his change, lacks the deceptive movement that he'll need to be effective against more advanced hitters. Hefner is a cerebral competitor who has a heightened concept of how to get hitters out and his competitive demeanor helps him get the most out of his stuff on the hill. There is some projectibility left in his tall, strong body that could continue his trend to add more velocity to his heater. That would serve him well as he progresses.
2009 Projection: Hefner got a brief glimpse of High-A ball with his one outing at Lake Elsinore. He will be pitching there quite a bit more this season. The California League should provide a good test for Hefner's progress as a pitching prospect. He has been working on a two seam fastball to incorporate more movement on his pitches. If he can effectively mix that with his heavy change, there is ample reason to believe that he will continue to have success in 2009. Watch his GO/FO ratio as it was under 1.00 last year. Also keep an eye on his ability to dominate hitters. His averaged more than a K/9 innings last season, but he will be hard pressed to continue that trend as he advances. Hefner has three solidly commandable pitches that should serve him well in the #3 or #4 spot in a MLB rotation someday.
Key Jeremy Hefner Baseball Cards:
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Posted on 27 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/31/87
The Angels' 2005 10th round selection broke out in a big way in 2008 by hitting .295 with 9 HR 51 RBI 50 SB and 83 runs scored at High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Bourjos, the son of former San Francisco Giants prospect and current Milwaukee Brewers scout Chris Bourjos, has game changing speed and emerging power that could produce double digit HR and 30-40 SB per season atop an MLB lineup. Some scouts questioned Bourjos' ability to hit as he had several mechanical ticks in his approach at the plate, but he seems to have put some of those to rest. He is an excellent defender in CF with an arm that is strong and accurate. He uses his speed well on the basepaths succeeding on 50 of 60 SB attempts and hitting for a combined 39 doubles and triples. The looming black mark in his game remains his plate discipline which, while obscured by his other fine numbers, still remains a noteworthy risk to his development as a top of the order hitter. Bourjos earned just 19 walks against 96 strikeouts due in large part to his overagressiveness towards off speed pitches. This, if not rectified could largely impact his ability to be productive against more advanced pitching. At just 21 years old, however, there is plenty of reason to believe that Bourjos can improve upon those numbers and have the promising career that his dad never had.
2009 Projection: The next destination for Peter Bourjos is AA Arkansas. This will be an excellent litmus test for the current state of his development. The speed part of his game will always be there, but the promising power numbers he displayed in '08 are not a sure thing going forward. Rancho Cucamonga and the rest of the California League has a reputation of being a league that considerably inflates offensive numbers (especially power). Add that with the possibility that Bourjos employs a more cautious and less aggressive approach at the plate and the potential for a regression in the power numbers becomes a distinct possibility. Fortunately for Peter, he is in a system that is quite thin in OF prospects, making his path to the major leagues a little brighter. The Angels have Torii Hunter locked up through 2012 which should provide for more than enough time to allow Bourjos to develop at a prudent pace.
Key Peter Bourjos Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
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Posted on 26 February 2009
H/W: 6-4 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/26/84
In an all too disturbing trend, Adam Miller's 2008 season was limited to just 6 games due to nagging injuries in, of all places, his fingers. Miller tore a tendon in his finger that required surgery and months of rehab. This latest digital malady followed the strains in his tendons and, gulp, holes in his skin that plagued him throughout the 2007 season. When healthy, Miller deals some serious heat, sporting a fastball that touches 100 MPH on the radar gun. Complimenting that is a high 80's violent slider that has all the makings of a knockout pitch. Miller locates both plus pitches well to all parts of the zone. Miller's third pitch, a changeup, shows some promise, but his time away has kept him from refining his arm speed and slot for the pitch. The best bet scenario for Miller at this point seems to be as a late inning reliever, and eventually a closer. This would limit the amount of duress that he would put his arm and fingers through while making the best use of his two plus-plus pitches. The Indians have not ruled out the notion of eventually transitioning him back to starting games. Miller is just 24 years old and still full of potential to be an elite pitcher at either the front or back ends of games.
2009 Projection: Miller has kept his velocity up during his healthy Dominican Winter League stretch. The Indians signed Kerry Wood in the off season to fulfill the role of closer, but the door has been left wide open for Miller to nestle into the set up role and, eventually, the closer role. Undoubtedly, health is key for Miller's success. Fortunately, the injuries he suffered are not ones that put unnecessary mileage on his arm. If Adam struggles in the early going with his command, the Tribe may decide to send him to AAA Buffalo for some more work. He will be with the big club at some point this season and should delight the Jacobs Field masses with his own three digit version of "Radar Love"
Key Adam MIller Baseball Cards:
- 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2003 UD Prospect Premieres
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
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Posted on 26 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 12/12/86
The Cincinnati Reds may have struck gold by selecting this former Northwestern Wildcat in the 22nd round of the '08 draft. Coming off of an intensely disappointing collegiate season that saw him bat just .227, Wiley tore apart the pitching of the Pioneer League hitting .327 with 5 HR 37 RBI 17 doubles and 29 runs scored in just 39 games. Wiley is an exceptional athlete with enough footspeed to be an above average CF and a threat to steal double digit bases every year. His left handed swing drives the ball well to the gaps with occasional fence clearing power. His 24 walks in 139 AB shows that he has the capability to work deep into counts, but the rub on Wiley is his disturbingly high strikeout totals. This was a main factor in his struggles at Northwestern (he struck out 51 times in 46 games) and, despite his early success, he punched out 49 times in 39 games with Billings.
2009 Projection: Wiley will move to full season Low-A Dayton to try and build upon his promising short season numbers. The K rate is the big thing to watch in Wiley. He doesn't walk enough nor possess enough power to make his high strikeout rates acceptable. He has shown in previous collegiate seasons a much better grasp of the strike zone, which offers promise that he can do the same with the Reds organization. There is some level of promise with this young outfielder and, in time, he could become widely regarded as a late round steal and potential starting MLB outfielder.
Key Byron Wiley Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 150 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 4/22/88
The son of 19 year MLB veteran Tom Gordon got off to a blazing start to his professional career, hitting .331 with 2 HR 27 RBI 18 SB and 45 runs scored in 60 games. World class speed is Gordon's best weapon, as his 6.35 time in the 60 yard dash makes him the fastest player in the L.A. Dodgers organization. Gordon slashes line drives through holes and down lines which, combined with his advanced bunting skills and plate discipline, makes him a game changing, top of the order hitter. Gordon's excellent speed allows for him to cover a wide range on the left side of the infield and his strong arm allows for him to make throws from deep in the hole. Gordon is built like his father, which means that he should never become a big power hitter, but there is some projectibilty in his sinewy frame for more XBH power to develop. The upside for Gordon to be an impact player is far from being reached. With his bloodlines, athleticism, and considerable makeup, Devaris is one of the more intriguing prospects to watch in 2009.
2009 Projection: The superb numbers that Gordon put up at Ogden earns him a promotion to Low-A Great Lakes to start the season. Ogden has served as a hitter friendly environment for several years and many a player has suffered markedly poorer numbers in seasons following. Gordon should buck that trend. His exceptional hand-eye coordination and blazing speed makes him averse to prolonged slumps. Watch the XBH numbers this season. Gordon will never be a double digit HR hitter, but his ability to drive more balls into the gaps will allow for him to get into scoring position more often. Also, expect the SB numbers to rise dramatically this season to be at or near the top of all of MILB in 2009. Gordon has the potential to be one of the best leadoff hitters in all of the minor leagues in '09 and beyond.
Key Devaris Strange-Gordon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 225 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/27/86
Last season marked a coming of age for the A's 2005 3rd round pick. Mazzaro split time between AA Midland and AAA Sacramento earning a 15-6 record with a 2.74 ERA and 131 K's in 171 IP. A low 90's sinker is Vin's main weapon of choice accented well by a changeup and an improving hard curveball. Mazzaro's command was vastly improved as he cut his walks by more than half and his ability to induce groundballs (1.39 GO/FO) should play well at the next level. His sturdy build has shown good durability and health which gives the A's reason to believe that he could be an effective mid-rotation innings eater. One culpability in Mazzaro's game is the fact that he often pitches to contact which, when his command is off, makes him quite hittable. The transition to the hitter-friendly parks of the PCL proved to be a rude awakening for Vin, as he proved to be quite hittable (3-3 6.15 ERA .340 BAA).
2009 Projection: Mazarro will get to pitch some innings in spring training, but his real quest will begin back at AAA Sacramento where he struggled mightily late last season. Watch to see if he can re-establish his contol of the lower parts of the strike zone. When Vin is inducing groundball outs, he is very effective. Despite his struggles at AAA, his K rate jumped a little bit. If he is able to miss more bats, his transition to Oakland could come much sooner. He will be up at some point in '08, but his role beyond that is somewhat unclear. The A's have a plethora of high upside pitching talent that has yet to toe the rubber at McAffee Stadium. For Mazzaro, a repeat of his Midland numbers will put his name at the top of the list.
Key Vin Mazzaro Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 240 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/10/89
The White Sox outbid both the Yankees and Red Sox for the services of the 19 year old Cuban Native Dayan Viciedo. Viciedo was a 17 year old when he joined the Cuban national team and his blend of jaw dropping power and the ability to hit for a high batting average prompted Chicago to offer him a 4-year $11 million Major League deal. Viciedo is reported to have much more offensive upside than fellow Cuban defector and White Sox infielder Alexei Ramirez. Viciedo is built like a bull and, despite his size, is more athletic than expected. However, his weight is a major concern as he first reported to the White Sox at nearly 270 lb. There are questions about how his size will affect his ability to play MLB quality defense at the hot corner. He will be given a long look at spring training by Guillen, who is a stickler for good defense on his clubs.
2009 Projection: The clock is ticking on Viciedo's freshly signed contract, which means that the White Sox are firm believers in his ability to rapidly acclimate himself to MLB baseball. Chicago currently has Josh Fields in the fold as their starting 3B, but his inability to fulfill the promise and accolades levied upon him in the earlier stages of his career could diminish opportunities if his struggles to hit MLB pitching continues. Viciedo will get a long look this spring and the possibility of him breaking camp with the White Sox is a distinct possibility. Last season Alexei Ramirez broke camp with the big club without ever playing a minor league game. Viciedo has the same potential, but nearly 8 years Ramirez's junior, it seems more likely that he will get some seasoning at the minor league level.
Key Dayan Viciedo Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders SP Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/14/88
The former 2nd rounder from the 2006 draft quietly had an excellent season in the shadow of top prospect Mike Moustakas, hitting .242 with 17 HR 58 RBI 40 SB and 79 runs scored at Low-A Burlington. Taylor is an incredible athlete with a rock solid frame that should project to hit for more power as it matures. His elite speed makes him a dangerous weapon on the basepaths and could serve him well if he shifts to the outfield in the future. There is plenty of room to believe that Taylor's low batting average was an aberration as his highly advanced plate discipline (81 BB/97 K) defies his BA struggles. The main culpability for Taylor right now is finding a place to play defensively. He continued to struggle defensively at 3B prompting the Royals to shift him to the other side of the diamond for part of the season. He certainly has enough athleticism and arm strength to make the move to the outfield and, considering the multitude of talented infielders in K.C.'s system, it may be the best move for Jason Taylor in the long run.
2009 Projection: Taylor should move up to High-A Wilmington along with Moustakas. The batting average should improve quite a bit this season as his other peripherals indicate that his '08 batting average may be the result of bad luck. Keep an eye on how his power carries forward against more advanced pitching. Taylor is impressively strong and there is more power projection left in his 20 year old body. Ultimately, he will likely move to the OF and his combination of speed, power, and plate discipline could well make him a top-tier leadoff candidate for the Royals within the next couple of seasons.
Key Jason Taylor Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
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Posted on 18 February 2009
H/W: 6-0 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/7/87
Hernandez put up another solid season at High-A Myrtle Beach despite missing a month with a hamstring injury. The effects of that setback had a slightly detrimental effect on his numbers, but Gorkys still managed to hit .263 with 5 HR 42 RBI 20 SB and 75 runs in 100 games. When fully healthy, Hernandez has as much speed as anyone in the Braves' system and he uses it effectively on the bases. He seems to be discovering his decent power potential as well. Hernandez had 34 XBH in '08 and he has continued to improve his plate discipline, earning a 48 BB/79 K ratio. Defensively, the Braves are loaded with high upside outfielders, but no one in the system has as much top of the order potential as the 21 year old Venezuelan.
2009 Projection: Hernandez should be ready to return to his basestealing ways at AA Mississippi in April. Keep an eye on the stolen base totals, as his ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths is what sets him apart from other offensive talents in the Braves' system. Watch his power development as well. Hernandez has some power to the gap, and has some potential for growth left in his frame that could translate to double digit HR's down the road.
Key Gorkys Hernandez Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
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Posted on 18 February 2009
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 3/17/88
The best athlete of the 2007 draft had a decent debut season with the Giants' Arizona Rookie League hitting .259 with 2 HR 17 RBI 7 SB and 39 runs scored in 50 games. Fairley has all of the physical tools to be an elite prospect in the near future. His bat speed ranks amongst the best in the Giants system and he projects to hit for both power and average as he ages. He uses his speed aggressively on the basepaths and in CF where he covers wide swathes of real estate. His arm can play at any OF spot and he has shown the ability to read the ball well off of the bat. One pleasant surprise was his advanced plate discipline. Fairley garnered a 26 BB/37 K ratio which boosted his OBP to a respectible .388. The culpabilities with Wendell have to do with his history of off the field indiscretions that have included alleged assault and and a misdemeanor conviction as a high schooler. He has appeared to move beyond these problems, though, and has not had any recurrences of problems as a member of the Giants organization.
2009 Projection: Fairley should get his first dose of full season baseball in April when the Giants send him to Low-A Augusta. The boost in his strike zone discipline is intriguing and it remains to be seen if this trend can continue. The power should kick in at some point as well. There are plenty of reasons to believe that Fairley can evolve into a 20 HR 20 SB player at the major league level within the next three to four seasons. The San Francisco Giants are loaded with high upside talent on the mound and in the field. It is just a matter of time before this organization ascends to the top of the N.L. West and Fairley will be a big part of that future.
Key Wendell Fairley Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
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Posted on 14 February 2009
H/W: 6-5 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/8/87
The monolithic righty took a bold leap forward as one of New York's top pitching prospects in '08 after going 14-9 with a 2.09 ERA and a stellar 21 BB/115 K ratio in 151 IP. McAllister throws a four seam and two seam fastball that reaches 93 MPH with heavy sink. His slider and change are potential plus pitches that he mixes quite well to induce groundball outs (1.48 GO/FO). His control has made impeccable improvements as Zach cut his walk rate to just 1.3 BB/9 IP. Zach has demonstrated himself to be very strong and durable at a young age, giving the Yankees reason to believe that there is room for him to increase velocity in the near future. Despite his laundry list of positive attributes, McAllister seems to pitch to contact more than he needs to, resulting in lower strikeout numbers and, while his BAA was a respectible .233, more disciplined hitters could have more success against him.
2009 Projection: A trip to AA Trenton should provide a sound indicator of just how good McAllister's stuff is against advanced hitters. If he is able to boost his velocity by a few ticks while still maintaining similar amounts of control, McAllister will rapidly ascend not only to the upper echelon of pinstriped prospects, but to the top tier of young pitching prospects as well. The Yankees have a host of good arms in their system (Dellin Betances, Mark Melancon, Andrew Brackman, Jario Heredia), but McAllister has the potential to surpass them all and be a mainstay in the Bronx within the next two seasons.
Key Zach McAllister Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra
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The understated Angels infielder continued to put up excellent numbers at AAA Salt Lake City, hitting .335 with 15 HR 88 RBI 45 doubles and 92 runs scored. Sandoval has a line drive bat that produces gap power and high rates of contact. He has decent speed, but ran a lot less last season than in years past. Defensively, Sandoval is quite versatile spending time at 1B, 2B, 3B and even the OF last season. He is sure handed and plays with a great deal of intelligence. He is not flashy, but he can adequately fill a variety of roles. The rub on Sandoval is his age, at 26 years old, he is rapidly losing status as a prospect and needs to step into an MLB role sometime soon.
