Posted on 30 March 2009
H/W: 6-3 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/16/84
It's been a tumultuous, up and down ride for Boston's former #1 ranked prospect. Buchholz entered the 2008 season as a front runner for the A.L. Rookie of the Year award only to struggle with his control going 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA and 41 BB/72 K in 76 IP. Following the '08 season, the Red Sox sent Clay to get some extra work in the Arizona Fall League and he responded fairly well with a 3.86 ERA in 21 IP, but still struggled with his control (9 BB/17 K). This spring has been a different story. Buchholz has been simply dominant over 20 IP allowing just one run while putting up a sterling 3 BB/15 K ratio. There is no doubt that his stuff is electric. A mid-90's fastball, mid-70's changeup and big 12-6 curveball all rank as MLB-plus pitches and his slider has shown promise as well. Clay struggled last season establishing his fastball early in counts and fell in love with his off speed pitches too much. As a result, he forced himself into a bunch of fastball counts and when failing to locate them down in the zone, became quite hittable. There is plenty of reasons, though, to believe that the 24 year old righty will straighten things out and give Fenway's faithful reason to believe that the pitcher they saw dazzle the world on September 1, 2007 was, and is, the real deal.
2009 Projection: Despite his spring numbers, Clay is headed for Pawtucket to start the 2009 season. He has nothing left to prove there, but the offseason additions of Brad Penny and John Smoltz currently serve as impediments to his progress. There has been some conjecture around the league that a trade may occur bringing Texas Rangers starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Boston. That move was scrapped when the Red Sox signed Josh Bard. Now that Bard has been released and Jason Varitek's backups George Kottaras and Dusty Brown are far from surefire major leaguers, there is a chance that talks will resume. A change of scenery may be just what the Texas native needs. Keep an eye on the trade rumors and also the health of the Red Sox rotation. John Smoltz is on the shelf until at least May and both Brad Penny and Josh Beckett missed time last season with injuries. Buchholz will pitch in the major leagues in 2009, it's just a question of when and where.
Key Clay Buchholz Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2005 Bowman Sterling
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Topps Chrome Auto
- 2008 Stadium Club Auto
- 2008 Topps Heritage
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
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
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
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
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
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
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 14 January 2009
H/W: 6-5 215 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 11/16/88
The Dodgers challenged their young 3B shuttling him to High-A Inland Empire for the '08 season. Gallagher was up to the task, batting .293 with 5 HR 55 RBI and 33 doubles in just 78 games. Though his fence-clearing power has yet to show up, one look at Austin's tall, powerfully built frame shows that it will indeed come. Gallagher worked dilligently last season to avoid opening up his hips prematurely and as a result, he hit balls well to the other field, but was unable to consistenly tap into his pull power. Given some time and strength development, this should not be a long term issue. What will be, though, is hs lack of fluidity in the field and on the basepaths. Splitting time at both 3B and 1B, the young infielder struggled with the glove committing 25 errors in just 78 games. The Dodgers would also like to see him shore up his plate discipline (29 BB/73 K) a little bit. The fact that Gallagher was playing at an advanced level as a 19 year old, though, shows that the organization feels optimistic about the potential blend of power and batting average that Austin can bring to the table in next couple of seasons.
2009 Preview: The good performance at Inland Empire almost assures Gallagher of a promotion to L.A.'s new AA affiliate in Chattanooga. Perhaps this can be the season that Austin can clear the fences with a little more regularity. Keep an eye on his HR totals as they will need to increase significantly, especially given the fact that his future as a 3B prospect is fading quickly. One oddity in Gallagher's '08 season is the fact that, while he swooned in August (.174 BA), his plate discipline increased (10 BB/9 K). A breakthrough in that department should allow for him to threaten the .300 mark as a hitter and elevate his status as a noteworthy corner infield prospect.
Key Austin Gallagher Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 12 January 2009
H/W: 6-0 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/10/87
Seemingly every franchise has to have its high-upside offensive catching prospect nowadays and, for the Minnesota Twins, Wilson Ramos is it. Putting on 15 lb. of muscle in the off season enabled the young Venezuelan to have his best season to date hitting .288 with 13 HR 78 RBI and 23 doubles. Ramos has above average bat speed and a level swing plane that allows for him to hit with power to the gaps. He is a good athlete whose mobility behind the plate and strong arm makes him a superior defensive catcher as well. Ramos has the potential to hit for a high average, but his plate disicpline (37 BB/103 K) threatens to severely hamper him against more advanced pitching. The Twins are optimistic that he can improve in that area and, with franchise player Joe Mauer calling the signals for the Twins, Ramos has ample time to refine his tools.
2009 Projection: The next stop for the young Venezuelan receiver is AA New Britian where he should be challenged. The BB/K rate is the big thing to watch from him. If he can convert 15-20 of his K's into walks, he should be able to maintain a .280-.290 average. If he continues to struggle, that average could dip into the .250-.260 range, severely hampering his status as a potential top catching prospect.
Key Wilson Ramos Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/999
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/745
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 11 January 2009
H/W: 5-11 170 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/10/90
The Houston Astros used their 2nd round pick of the '08 draft to select this 1st team All-American OF out of Atlanta. Austin was widely regarded as the speediest player in the draft and an elite prep football player. Despite his small frame, Jay belted 15 HR and 52 RBI during his senior season. Things didn't go so well during his debut professional season at Greenville where he hit an anemic .198 with just 6 XBH and 14 SB in 24 attempts. Offensively, Austin is extremely raw with sub-par plate discipline (19 BB/69 K) and several mechanical flaws in his swing. Austin has some extreme defensive upside, as his world class speed and strong throwing arm plays well at any OF position. The Astros farm system has been ravaged in recent years by trades, losses of draft picks, and dubious draft selections. The upside for Austin is extremely high, but he will need to overcome several developmental obstacles if he wishes to separate himself from the rest of the underachieving pack.
2009 Projection: Austin, despite his slow start, will likely get a taste of Low-A ball. The Astros are hoping an offseason of hard work and good instruction will help to iron out some of the technical deficiencies in Austin's game. Don't be shocked if the Astros send him back to extended spring training if Jay struggles in the early going. Given his considerable upside, Austin will be handled with care and thoroughness. Look at the BB/K rates early on as well as the XBH. If he can make improvements in these numbers, Austin could quickly vault the glut of mediocre OF prospects (Eli Iorg, Collin DeLome, Mitch Einertson, Jordan Parraz, etc..). That, however, is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Key Jay Austin Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/249
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 31 December 2008
H/W: 6-4 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 2/13/87
Hoping to finally put to rest their bullpen woes, the Detroit Tigers selected this University of Arizona closer with the 21st pick in the '08 draft. Perry has a blazing fastball that sits between 96-98 MPH and occasionally touches 100. Complimenting that pitch is a wicked slider that ranges between 85-88 MPH and has all the makings of a strikeout pitch. Perry has the perfect demeanor for a closer as he pitches aggressively, going after hitters with his two plus plus pitches. On the downside, he has a tendency to open up early in his delivery, elevating his fastball and making him surprisingly hittable at times. He surrendered 15 hits in 11.2 IP with High-A Lakeland while walking 7 hitters. Some work on his mechanics should limit his walks and help him keep the ball down in the zone.
2009 Projection: The Tigers are in a perpetual need for bullpen help which means that Perry should move quickly. Don't be surprised to see him begin the season at AA Erie with a promotion to AAA Toledo a possibility as well. While he has the potential to be a top-flight closer, he still needs to work on tightening up his mechanics and limiting his walks and hits against him. Perry reminds some scouts of a bigger, stronger version of Brandon Morrow. If these comparisons come to fruition, the Tigers will be blessed with a very good closer for many years to come.
Key Ryan Perry Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Razor Signature Edition Auto #/699
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 18 November 2008
H/W: 6-3 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/27/89
Vitters played almost exclusively at short season Boise and demonstrated why he was worthy of the $3.2 million bonus that the Chicago Cubs paid him. Vitters hit .328 with 5 HR 37 RBI and 25 doubles in 61 games. Vitters is an elite young hitter with his bat grading at a 70 on the popular 20-80 scouting scale for both hitting for average and hitting for power. His bat speed and hand-eye coordination is extremely high and he has shown an advanced ability for hitting the ball with power to all fields. Vitters should develop much greater HR totals soon as testified by his high number of doubles last season. His already strong frame projects to add more bulk as he matures. Josh is an aggressive hitter who doesn't strike out too often, and walks even less (once every 20 AB). Much of this can be due to Vitters' young age and developing knowledge of the strike zone and, optimistically, this number will improve in the upcoming seasons.
Defensively, Vitters is a work in progress. He has a strong arm and good hands, but his .915 fielding percentage shows that he is still quite raw at the hot corner. Vitters may find himself moving to 1B as he ages if he continues to struggle, though the Cubs are quite pleased with Vitters' work and determination to improve his defensive skills. Regardless of where he ends up, it will be his bat that will make Vitters a special player within the next three years.
2009 Projection: Vitters will start the season at Low-A Peoria and one should think that the Cubs will move him to High-A if he continues to rake the ball. Vitters should improve his walk rate over last year's totals. Watch to see how he performs defensively at the hot corner. Vitters has the bat to be a perennial 30 HR guy at the major league level which, as a 3B, would place him amongst the elite versus being a very good 1B. Vitters is still a few years away from his Wrigley debut, but his autographed cards in the 2007 Bowman Sterling and 2008 Bowman Chrome sets are hot commodities right now.
Key Josh Vitters Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/769
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2008 Donruss Threads Gold Signature Redemption Auto #/25
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
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
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
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
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 10 November 2008
H/W: 6-5 220 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 9/12/89
Freeman's 2008 season may have been the best of any prospect in the Braves' system. As an 18 year old, Freeman dominated the talented pitchers South Atlantic League batting .316 with 18 HR and 95 RBI. Freeman seemed to get better as the season went on, hitting .349 after the All-Star break with 10 HR. With a massive frame and long arms, Freeman produces easy power to all fields. However, he is not a one-dimensional masher, as he combined to hit 33 doubles and 7 triples while earning a .384 OBP due to a solid 48 BB/84 K ratio. Freeman has a knack for manufacturing runs i Read the full story
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 09 November 2008
H/W: 6-3 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 9/26/86
Doolittle started his 2008 campaign at High-A Stockton where he proved critics of his power potential wrong by the cover off of tha ball. In 86 games, Doolittle hit .305 with 18 HR 61 RBI and 25 doubles. This performance was good enough to earn him a promotion to AA Midland where he struggled early on to make consistent contact, but a late season hot streak boosted his AA average to .254. Doolittle has a sweet left-handed line drive swing that seems to have developed more loft and power Read the full story
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Posted on 07 November 2008
H/W: 6-3 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/13/90
The Giants doled out $2.1 million to sign the 17 year old Villalona out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. Villalona spent his first year in the minors at full season Augusta where he hit .263 with 17 HR and 64 RBI. This young slugger has power potential that rates off of the charts. His strapping frame still has a lot of room for strength development, which gives many observers the feeling that Angel should develop into a 40 HR per season player. Angel is surprisingly Read the full story
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Link To This Page
1.
Click inside the codebox2.
Right-Click then Copy3.
Paste the HTML code into your webpage
It's been a tumultuous, up and down ride for Boston's former #1 ranked prospect. Buchholz entered the 2008 season as a front runner for the A.L. Rookie of the Year award only to struggle with his control going 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA and 41 BB/72 K in 76 IP. Following the '08 season, the Red Sox sent Clay to get some extra work in the Arizona Fall League and he responded fairly well with a 3.86 ERA in 21 IP, but still struggled with his control (9 BB/17 K). This spring has been a different story. Buchholz has been simply dominant over 20 IP allowing just one run while putting up a sterling 3 BB/15 K ratio. There is no doubt that his stuff is electric. A mid-90's fastball, mid-70's changeup and big 12-6 curveball all rank as MLB-plus pitches and his slider has shown promise as well. Clay struggled last season establishing his fastball early in counts and fell in love with his off speed pitches too much. As a result, he forced himself into a bunch of fastball counts and when failing to locate them down in the zone, became quite hittable. There is plenty of reasons, though, to believe that the 24 year old righty will straighten things out and give Fenway's faithful reason to believe that the pitcher they saw dazzle the world on September 1, 2007 was, and is, the real deal.
