Posted on 18 March 2009
H/W: 6-6 200 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 10/19/82
The Northwestern alum has had a slow road to the major leagues, but his third go around at AAA ball was his best as he went 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 151 K's in 138 IP. He also performed well during his 8 game stint with the Phillies, winning his only decision and striking out 26 in 31.2 IP. Happ has a good 91-93 MPH fastball with all of the movement that a customary southpaw offers. Like many lefties, he also has an excellent changeup with good fade and deception. Happ is a poised and confident pitcher that locates both his fastball and change quite well. His slider has some promise as well, but it is still a less effective offering than either of his other two pitches. One of the criticisms of J.A. was his his inability to work deep into games because of his lack of strength and stamina. Happ has a lanky and lean frame, but he doesn't throw downhill on hitters like he should. This leads to a high rate of fly ball outs which, in Citizen's Bank Ballpark, could be disastrous.
2009 Projection: Happ is in a battle with both Kyle Kendrick and top prospect Carlos Carrasco for the 5th spot in Philly's deep rotation. Kendrick has been rumored as having the inside track due to his experience, but Happ could land a role in the bullpen as a middle reliever and spot starter. He has nothing else to prove at the minor league level and, at age 26, his allure as a prospect is fading. This is a guy who would benefit greatly from a change of scenery. It is a wonder why he wasn't included in the deal that sent Joe Blanton from the A's to the Phillies last season. Billy Beane's penchant for LHP and the cavernous catacombs of McAfee Stadium would have made Happ an ideal Oakland Athletic. Keep an eye on his GO/FO rate. If he can take a little off of his changeup, he could induce more groundball outs and experience more success with the Phillies. Philadelphia would really like for Carrasco to fit into their rotation at some point in 2009 which could make Happ the eventual odd man out. If he his granted a change of scenery, his stock could rise as a #3 or 4 starter in a new organization. Other than that, there isn't much market demand for a not-so-young middle reliever/spot starter.
Key J.A. Happ Baseball Cards:
- 2004 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/1195
- 2004 SP Prospects Auto #/600
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Posted on 18 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/21/83
It was a tale of two seasons for the former Texas Longhorn. Teagarden was truly terrible during his minor league stops at AA Frisco and AAA Oklahoma City, hitting just .211 with 9 HR 22 RBI and 82 K's in 73 games. This performance was good enough to earn him a shot with the Rangers and he responded by tearing the cover off of the ball, hitting .319 with 6 HR 17 RBI and 5 doubles in just 47 AB. Teagarden has widely been recognized as a top-tier defensive catcher with good pop from the right side, He has excellent leadership skills and has made good progress in calling games behind the dish. His plate discipline has waned from its 2007 levels, but he is an intelligent hitter who has the ability to work deep into counts and recognize offspeed pitches. Injuries are a nagging concern for Taylor. He had Tommy John surgery following his '06 season at Texas and missed some time in '08 with shoulder soreness. Aside from those concerns, Teagarden is a throwback catcher with the defensive skills and powerful bat that is an asset to any organization.
2009 Projection: Teagarden looks to be the backup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia this season. There were some murmurs during the offseason that either Teagarden or Salty would be sent to the Red Sox in a deal, but nothing materialized. This is something worth watching, however, as both Taylor and Jarrod are too talented to be backup backstops. Teagarden continues to drive the ball well this spring, but his ability to maintain a good batting average is a mild concern. The Rangers did not make the necessary additions to their pitching staff to become a serious postseason contender this season, but if they can stay in contention in the A.L. West, either Saltalamacchia, Teagarden or slugging savant Max Ramirez could be included in a deal at some point this season.
Key Taylor Teagarden Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Signs of the Future Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/475
- 2008 Topps Red Hot Rookie Redemption #18
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Posted on 17 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 2/24/89
The young Mission Viejo native had an intriguing debut season at Low-A Ogden. Watt went 9-4 with a 4.35 ERA and a 21 BB/79 K rate in 80.2 IP. Despite the good K rate and solid control, hitters batted .281 against him but also hit a high number of ground balls (1.68/FO). In examining his final 10 starts, the contradiction becomes clearer. As Watts' control improved (10 BB in 64 IP), he became more hittable, allowing 74 hits in that span. Watt has good command of his 89-92 MPH fastball and mixes in a curveball that features a nice 12-6 break that has been described as "knee buckling". Watt has an athletic frame and deceptive delivery that allows for his ball to appear to have more velocity. Padres officials have been quite pleased with the progress of his changeup and there is optimism that this can be an effective third pitch for him. Watt battled a tired arm late last season as he threw several 6+ innings starts.
2009 Projection: Moving to the Padres could prove to be very beneficial to Watt's future. The Dodgers are much more well equipped with high quality young arms, which increased the likelihood that Watt would get caught in the shuffle. He should begin the year at Low-A Fort Wayne. Keep an eye on the BAA numbers and his K/9 IP. He has exhibited good control and seems to pitch to contact. With a better defense behind him, it is conceivable that he could allow less hits, but it could also have an effect on his ability to dominate hitters too. Long term, the Padres don't have a lot of flashy LHP prospects, if Watt is able to squeeze an extra tick or two out of his heater, he could stand out from the rest of the Friars' soft-tossing southpaws.
Key Michael Watt Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
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Posted on 17 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 10/18/89
Originally a SS in high school, the Red Sox decided to convert their 2008 35th round pick to catcher during the off season. His brief tenure at the Red Sox GCL affiliate was a successful one as Blair went 9 for 22 with a HR and 9 RBI. Blair has excellent hand-eye coordination and a quick right handed stroke that projects to have average power at the major league level. Like many young shortstops, Blair is extremely agile and has above average speed that he utilizes well on the basepaths and in the field. This agility and quickness should prove to be a benefit behind the plate and his strong arm should also be a viable asset. The Red Sox are in need of projectible young catchers in their farm system and the depth of SS and 3B prospects throughout their farm system affords them the luxury of making this transition.
2009 Projection: Blair is a project player and the list of 35th round picks that have measurable success at the MLB level is thin. However, the Red Sox have a knack for developing players with projectible tools into solid prospects. The fact that the talent pool for backstops is thin also bodes well for Carson's chances to succeed. Keep him on your radar and monitor his offensive numbers this season as he should play at short season Lowell. If he continues to display good pop and plays some solid defense behind the plate, he could rapidly become known as another Red Sox late round steal.
Key Carson Blair Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/719
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Posted on 14 March 2009
H/W: 6-3 195 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 4/1/89
2008 was a lost season for the former 1st rounder as a sore elbow caused for the Dodgers to cautiously shelve Withrow until August. Upon his return, the young righty struggled with his command walking 6 hitters in 4 innings. Regardless of the injury, there is quite a bit to like in Withrow. His fastball sits between 91-94 MPH and he has excellent command of both his curveball and changeup. He throws each pitch with clean mechanics and lively arm action, giving the ball excellent movement and late life. His frame is strong and projectible, and scouts have raved about his athleticism. Additionally, he has shown a high acumen for pitching as his father was a standout pitcher for the University of Texas and spent time in the Chicago White Sox organization. All reports have Withrow ready for the start of the 2009 season, most likely at Low-A Great Lakes.
2009 Projection: Surely the Dodgers will handle Withrow's development with extreme caution. His athleticism and good mechanics should allow for him to move beyond this early setback, but his health will undoubtedly be the key thing to focus on this season. There are some other fine arms in the Dodgers' organization (Ethan Martin, Josh Lindblom, Nate Eovaldi) that may get more attention this season, but Withrow's upside is at least as good as any of them and, if healthy, he could be a nice sleeper investment for the long term.
Key Chris Withrow Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra TOTC Auto #/168
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Posted on 11 March 2009
H/W: 6-4 220 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/29/86
The former 2007 1st rounder had a solid season at AA Midland going 9-6 with a 3.51 ERA and 120 K's in 136 IP. The biggest asset in James Simmons' skill set is his impeccable command. Simmons surrendered just 32 bases on balls last season and allowed just 37 walks in 270 IP during his career at UC Riverside. James' best pitch is his low 90's fastball, which he locates well in all quadrants of the strike zone. He also has a slider, curve and change that are less effective offerings. Simmons tends to pitch to contact quite often and doesn't have dominant enough stuff to put away hitters at times. AA hitters batted .282 against Simmons last year and he induced a less than desirable GO/FO ratio of 0.92. The Athletics are keeping him as a starter right now, but his lack of a breaking pitch and ability to add velocity as a reliever may eventually shift him to the bullpen.
2009 Projection: Simmons is slated to pitch at AAA Sacramento this year with a possibility of earning some MLB innings at some point later in the summer. The A's are flush with better arms in their system (Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Vin Mazzaro, Michel Inoa, Gio Gonzalez) than Simmons', yet he could wriggle his way into the back end of the rotation as soon as next season. The PCL is a difficult place for pitchers, especially flyball pitchers. Watch to see if James can employ better movement on his offspeed pitches and induce more ground ball outs. If he can, he should be able to progress as a starter, and if he doesn't he may find himself eventually relegated to the role of middle reliever.
Key James Simmons Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Auto #/624
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Posted on 10 March 2009
H/W: 6-0 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/19/85
It took a while, but the M's finally signed their 1st round selection from the 2008 draft, Pitcher Joshua Fields. Last season, Fields made a strong case to the baseball world that he was the most dominant closer in college baseball earning 18 saves and striking out 63 hitters in just 37.1 IP for the Georgia Bulldogs en route to a trip to the College World Series. Fields has two dominating pitches, a 94-96 MPH heater and a devastating 12-6 curveball that could be the best in all of baseball very soon. Fields has the demeanor of a closer, he attacks hitters with his plus stuff and works quickly. He is loose-limbed and shows the durability to throw on back to back days. While his curve is nearly unhittable, his fastball is too straight and Fields has shown an inability to command it lower in the strike zone. Against the quick bats of the American League, this could be a major problem late in games, increasing his proneness to give up the gofer ball. Aside from that fact, Fields was widely regarded as the top closer in the '08 draft and one that is close to being MLB ready. In an organization like Seattle's that is welcome news.
2009 Projection: Don't be surprised to see the M's push Fields quickly. He could start at High-A High Desert or AA West Tennessee, but wherever he is, he is sure to move quickly. Last year, Fields averaged an insane 15.3 K's per 9 innings. While that trend is surely going to diminish somewhat, he should be able to average more than one per inning at each of his minor league stops. Watch the walk totals though, as Fields has been unable to average less than 5 walks per 9 innings in either of his collegiate seasons. Surrendering walks and being a flyball pitcher could prove disastrous down the road for this otherwise bright young closer. The M's don't have a surefire closer at this time as J.J. Putz now pitches on the East Coast. If no one steps forward this season, there could be a chance for Fields to do so at the end of the 2009 season.
Key Joshua Fields Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
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Posted on 09 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 215 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/30/86
Carp was a key addition to the trade that sent former All-Star J.J. Putz to the New York Mets. Carp rebounded from a lackluster 2007 season to become an Eastern League All-Star at AA Binghamton, hitting .299 with 17 HR 72 RBI 29 doubles and a sterling 79 BB/88 K ratio. His fluid left handed swing and evolving power potential evokes comparisons to Lyle Overbay and John Olerud. Defensively, Carp is a decent 1B and has spent some time in the outfield as well. Like Overbay and Olerud, he is a below average runner and fringe average athlete. He doesn't have the prolific power that other 1B prospects do, but his blend of patience and good line drive rates should prove to be valuable for a franchise that is in a rebuilding mode.
2009 Projection: Carp has looked very sharp in early spring training action with the Mariners, but the club seems set on giving Russell Branyan and Bryan LaHair the most playing time this season. This should land him at AAA Tacoma until roster room clears either via injury or roster expansion in September. Carp has the potential to hit for 20-25 HR per season and his LH bat is a nice fit at Safeco Field. Watch to see if he is able to replicate his numbers from last season. If so, he will figure prominently into the plans for the M's in 2010.
Key Mike Carp Baseball Cards:
- 2004 SP Prospects Auto #/400
- 2007 Bowman Chrome
- 2007 Bowman's Best
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Jersey Auto
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Posted on 09 March 2009
H/W: 6-0 195 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/6/85
This former 2004 2nd round pick emerged over the second half of the season at High-A Myrtle Beach batting .255 with 19 HR 67 RBI and 56 runs scored in 88 games. Campbell is a compact, power packed hitter who has a fluid but compact right handed swing that could generate 20-25 HR per season at the major league level. He makes contact with just about everything that he hits, lowering his K rates and he made strides in improving his walk totals (50 BB/57 K). Defensively, Campbell is an agile, sure handed fielder with a strong arm built for the hot corner. The big problem...and it is a big one, is a continued track record of insubordination that has led to a couple of substantial team-induced suspensions over the past two seasons. Campbell has been described as someone who marches to the beat of his own drum, defying requests by the Braves organization to adhere to a specific rehab program following his shoulder injury in '07. It has also been well documented that Campbell's effort is often inconsistent. At times, he plays with a great deal of energy and grit, while other times he appears lackadasical and unfocused. This has manifested itself in his plate discipline as well. He makes good contact with pitches in the zone, but often gets himself out trying to pull pitches out of the strike zone.
2009 Projection: Campbell has all of the physical talent to be a perennial all-star talent. However, his intangible skills severely inhibit his abililty to be a productive major league player. Will he get things straightened out? That is the million dollar question and one that will loom large in 2009. Expect him to begin the season at AA Mississippi where his strike zone judgement will be put to the test. His offensive potential is so tantalizingly potent that it is hard to ignore him as a viable prospect, but his myriad of character-compromising indiscretions make him a difficult guy to put much stock in. If he does get it figured out and decides to tow the company line, Campbell can rise up prospect charts once again, but the opportunities are decreasing for Eric and the patience of the Braves is wearing thin.
Key Eric Campbell Baseball Cards:
- 2004 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2004 Bowman Heritage
- 2004 SP Prospects Auto #/400
- 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/240
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Posted on 09 March 2009
H/W: 6-4 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/27/87
The Detroit Tigers saw projectibility and two MLB-plus pitches when they selected the Ole Miss University hurler in the 2nd round of the '08 draft. Promptly converted to a late inning reliever, Satterwhite threw 20.2 innings at two stops earning 3 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 13 BB/24 K ratio. Satterwhite has an explosive 95 MPH fastball with excellent late movement that moves in on the hands of RH batters. His slider has high upside with a violent two plane break, but he has had trouble commanding it at times. He has dabbled with developing a changeup, but it really hasn't taken as of yet. Satterwhite has a tall, broad frame that still has quite a bit of projectibility left, which leads some to believe that he can tack on some additional ticks to the velocity of his fastball. His inconsistent delivery and loose mechanics causes him to miss up in the zone quite a bit which makes him hittable and marginalizes his ability to induce groundball outs. This could serve as a problem at higher levels. The Tigers are quite enamored with the closer potential of 1st rounder Ryan Perry, and given Satterwhite's young age, there is still some possibility that he could be developed as a starter in the future.
2009 Projection: Satterwhite will get a nice dose of full season ball at High-A Lakeland this season. The Tigers would like to see him get better command of his off-speed stuff and would like for him to utilize his frame to throw downhill on hitters. His control numbers are the obvious things to watch, but keep an eye on his FO/GO ratio as well. If he can bump that up over 1.00 (it was 0.57 last season), he can rapidly become a dominant reliever. Relief pitching has been a thorn in the side of the Tigers for the past few seasons, but there is high hopes that the combination of Satterwhite and Ryan Perry could help this club shorten games and put more wins on the scoreboard.
Key Cody Satterwhite Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto SP #/90
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/322
- 2008 UD USA Auto Jersey #/275
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Posted on 09 March 2009
H/W: 6-1 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/24/89
The Twins selected the young Puerto Rican OF in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft. After a mediocre '07 season with the Twins' GCL affiliate, Angel Morales came back in '08 and put up big numbers at short season Low-A Elizabethton hitting .301 with 15 HR 28 RBI 7 SB and 33 runs scored in just 183 AB. Morales has fast hands and a powerful swing that exerts excellent torque on balls in the strike zone. His athleticism plays well in every aspect of his game as he is an above average runner and solid OF. The big question mark in his game, at this point is the infamous plate discipline numbers. Last season Morales walked 26 times but punched out 74 times in 56 games. He gets overly aggressive with pitches outside the zone and has difficulty altering his approach against offspeed pitches. Also, there has been some concern that his breakout numbers could be partially inflated by the home park that he played in, as many Elizabethton players put up excellent numbers last year. Morales batted .333 at home and .275 on the road, but his power numbers were almost identical 8 HR at home vs. 7 on the road). There is a great deal to like about Morales, but much of it is raw and merely projectible at this point.
2009 Projection: Angel Morales will be gearing up for his first full season of baseball at Low-A Beloit. This should provide a good challenge for him to prove that his breakout season is authentic. Watch the K numbers this year. Last season's average of nearly 1.5 per game will not be acceptable at higher levels, making that .300 BA an outlier. The Twins will be working with Morales to get him to keep his hips closed and hands back longer, this should help him see the ball for just a bit longer and utilize the entire field when he hits. Morales has quick enough hands that he should be able to make this transition without negatively affecting his power numbers.
Key Angel Morales Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
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Posted on 06 March 2009
H/W: 6-3 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/28/85
Tabbed by many as the Yankees' closer of the future, the former Arizona Wildcat did his part to confirm that honored distinction by breezing through three separate minor league stops from High-A Tampa to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Melancon went 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 22 BB/89 K in 95 IP. His fastball sits at 92-95 MPH and his hammer-like curveball is quite effective at inducing groundball outs (1.54/FO in '08). Melancon has an intensely competitive demeanor on the mound which goes a long way towards intimidating hitters. He is a hard worker on and off the field and has all of the intangibles to be a highly successful closer. Team officials have been concerned about Melancon's strenuous delivery and continue to tinker with it to take some of the effort and stress out of it in order to diminish his risk of injuries in the future. Mariano Rivera is on the finishing rounds of his legendary career and Melancon is the top candidate to fill a very big pair of shoes.
2009 Projection: While Melancon seems to be ready for a definitive role in the Yankees' bullpen, it is more likely that he will be back at AAA to await his opportunity. The Yankees seem to be well stocked with good power arms in their bullpen, but a solid spring turned in by Melancon should open some eyes for opportunities later in the season. His predecessor, Super Mariano, shows no signs of slowing down and the Yankees have him under contract through the 2010 season. That should give Melancon plenty of time to nestle into a regular relief role with New York, increasing his odds of being the closer for the Bronx Bombers in 2011.
Key Mark Melancon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Collegiate Patches Auto #/240
- 2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings
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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: 5-11 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 2/26/89
Drafted in the 3rd round last year, Vasquez signed early and immediately put up some solid numbers at short season Low-A Johnson City, batting .317 with 4 HR 25 RBI 8 SB and 42 runs scored in 55 games. His fine performance earned him a promotion to Low-A Quad Cities where he promptly struggled, managing just 5 hits in 39 AB. Vasquez has power that belies his demure build. He generates tremendous torque with his quick right-handed swing that prompts some scouts to speculate that he can become a 20-25 HR hitter at the major league level. He has shown the ability to take a walk and work deep into counts, but his K rate is too high (69 K in 66 games) for someone with his average power numbers. Defensively, Vasquez has below average speed, but his sure hands and strong accurate arm mitigate errors and should allow for him to stay at the position throughout his development.
2009 Projection: Vasquez should get another shot at Quad Cities and should put up better numbers. Monitor the power progress and also his ability to mitigate his K totals. If he doesn't, he will see a precipitous drop in his batting average numbers. The Redbirds have slick fielding Pete Kozma tabbed as their SS of the future which could mean that Vasquez may need to move to 3B down the road. His arm and good instincts would make him a good fit, but the power would need to progress to a more acceptable level in order to ensure his long term viability at that position.
Key Niko Vasquez Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra TOTC Auto #/494
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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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H/W: 6-6 200 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 10/19/82
