Posted on 04 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 3/20/90
The Florida Marlins selected Hand with their 2nd round pick in 2008 and Brad didn’t fail to impress compiling a 3-2 record with a 2.64 ERA and 21 BB/46 K in 47 innings at two short season stops. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that he forced a GO/FO ratio of 3.65 and held hitters in the Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues to a combined .212 average. Hand is exceptionally strong and has good velocity (especially for a southpaw) on his fastball at 90-94 MPH. His curve ball has a powerful downward spike to it and shows promise to be a plus pitch at the big league level. Hand is a good competitor and shows poise on the mound but he still needs to work on his pitching mechanics. Hand lacks fluidity which leads to lapses in control and the potential for injuries down the road. Additionally, Hand has not yet developed a third quality pitch. Failure to do so will likely relegate him to the pen as a situational lefty or late inning reliever down the road.
2009 Projection: Hand will get the opportunity to pitch a full season at Low-A Greensboro next season. The Marlins are fully stocked with young pitching prospects so they can afford to let Hand develop a third pitch and iron out some mechanical issues. Hand has good upside as a hard-throwing LHP. Watch to see how his third pitch (likely a changeup) develops and keep an eye on his walk totals. If he can continue to force groundball outs and can keep his K rates up, Hand should continue to ascend up the “Fish ladder”.
Key Brad Hand Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/447
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Posted on 17 November 2008
H/W: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 10/10/88
Martinez had a 2008 season that was strikingly similar to his 2007 season. Martinez started the year again at AA Binghamton when a hamstring injury put him on the shelf for a while. Upon his return, Martinez rehabbed at the Mets' GCL team briefly before returning to Binghamton to finish the season. From a distance, Martinez's numbers are somewhat pedestrian (.286 8 HR 43 RBI 27 BB/73 K 86 games) until you do the math and realize that he is just 19 years old. Martinez has one of the most exciting offensive ceilings in all of minor league baseball. His bat speed is special and his power ranges from foul pole to foul pole. He makes good contact and his plate discipline is improving. Martinez has average speed and he profiles better as a LF than as a CF at the major league level. He will not steal many bases, though he will not clog the bases either. One area of concern is the fact that Martinez has missed sizable chunks of time over the past two seasons due to injuries. In 2007, a wrist injury limited him to just 63 games, and this season the hamstring injury hampered his production considerably. Players who are often injured at a young age tend to have more difficulty in reaching their potential as they age. The Mets seem optimistic that this will not be a problem for Martinez.
2009 Projection: Martinez has wreaked havoc on pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League and has stayed healthy throughout. Expect the Mets to give F-Mart a long look this spring to assess where he is at in his development. It is doubtful that he will serve a third stint at Binghamton, so an April debut at AAA New Orleans seems in order. Keep an eye on Martinez's health this spring. If he can avoid injuries and prolonged slumps, it is very likely that he will get some late season AB's in a Mets uniform. That could only prove to be beneficial for many of his 2007 Bowman autographs.
Key Fernando Martinez Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Fernando Martinez Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best Fernando Martinez Auto
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Fernando Martinez Auto
- 2007 Bowman Heritage Fernando Martinez
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Posted on 14 November 2008
H/W: 6-2 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/20/87
Bucardo struggled a bit this season in his repeat performance at short season Salem-Keizer. Bucardo went 6-7 with a 4.57 ERA and 40 K's in 67 IP. Burcardo proved to be quite hittable allowing a .357 BAA. Bucardo has decent stuff, a 90-92 MPH fastball with heavy sink and a solid slider and change that needs polish. Bucardo has decent control and his sinker effectively induces ground ball outs. Read the full story
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Posted on 12 November 2008
H/W: 6-4 215 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/1/89
Wow! Bumgarner blasted his way onto the prospect scene with an '08 season for the ages. Bumgarner blazed through the South Atlantic League compiling a 15-3 record with a minuscule 1.46 ERA and 164 K's in 141.2 IP. Moreover, Madison showed impeccable control with only 21 walks and a .216 BAA. Blessed with a mid 90's fastball with good movement in on right handed batters, Madison also showed marked improvement in his off speed offerings, a hard curve and improving change. Bumgarner is a great athlete who can still grow into his young developing body.
After an '08 like that, it is hard to find areas in Bumgarner's game that need to improve. Better command of his changeup and a sharper bite to his sweeping curveball will enhance his effectiveness and efficiency. The young ace needs to locate his pitches down in the strike zone more as he showed some difficulty in forcing groundballs. Bumgarner is on the fast track to San Francisco and will likely start off the 2009 Season at San Jose. Expect a promotion to AA Connecticut at some point next season. Bumgarner is one of baseball's biggest and brightest future stars and joining a rotation with the two Tim's (Lincecum and Alderson) is cause for Giants fans to celebrate.
Key Madison Bumgarner Baseball Cards
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Madison Bumgarner
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Madison Bumgarner Auto #/794
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Madison Bumgarner Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Madison Bumgarner Auto
- 2008 Donruss Threads Madison Bumgarner Gold Auto #/250
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H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 3/20/90
