The Marlins acquired the young infielder as the centerpiece of a trade that sent highly talented right hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Washington Nationals this past winter. Bonifacio struggled last season with the Diamondbacks and Nationals hitting .240 with 0 HR 16 RBI and 7 SB in 190 AB, but his numbers in spring training fell more in line with his minor league track record as he hit .279 with 13 RBI 14 runs scored and 5 SB in 24 games. Bonifacio has elite speed that he uses as a weapon on the basepaths and allows him great range in the field. He is adept with the glove and his arm strength is strong enough to place him at 3B. One area of his game that needs to improve is approach at the plate. Bonifacio has below average power, yet his swing is not conducive to playing a small game. He has struck out more than 100 times in four of the last five seasons and struggles to draw walks on a consistent basis.
2009 Projection: Bonifacio earned the starting gig as Florida's third baseman and responded with a 4-5 day which included an inside-the-park homerun, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. Bonifacio has the type of game similar to a Chone Figgins as an atypical, slap-hitting speedster who can play a variety of infield positions and generate runs once he is on the basepaths. His challenge for the Marlins is to become a player that can get on base more than 35% of the time, acting as a catalyst for Florida's powerful middle of the lineup.
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.
The young Venezuelan's skills took a significant leap forward last season at AA Frisco where he batted .295 with 4 HR 65 RBI 54 SB and 82 runs scored. Andrus is an elite SS prospect with a line drive bat and speed that could net him 40-50 SB per season at the major league level. He has not developed much XBH pop yet, but he is projected to become a 10-15 HR hitter as he matures. His plate discipline continues to be an area that needs work. Last season Andrus earned a 38 BB/91 K ratio which, while not agredious, is still a bit lopsided for a top of the order hitter. Defensively, he is a dynamic player with excellent range, a cannon arm, and a penchant for making dazzling plays. Conversely, Andrus committed 32 errors last season with many of them being on more routine plays. Those within the Rangers' organization rave about his intangibles. He is a dilligent worker who is driven to excel and his makeup is uncanny for someone of his age. He strives to be a leader on the field and in the clubhouse in the mold of his favorite player, Derek Jeter. The Rangers can only hope that their young shortstop can follow the same career path.
2009 Projection: The Rangers made big news when they informed All-Star and Gold Glove SS Michael Young that he would be moving to 3B to make room for Andrus at the start of the '09 season. This bold maneuver speaks volumes of the favor that Elvis has curried within the organization in a short amount of time. While his future is bright, don't be surprised to see Andrus struggle out ot the gate. He is just 20 years old, has not had an AB above AA and still has some raw spots in both his offensive and defensive game.
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.
Chatwood dominated hitters in the Arizona Rookie League last season pitching to a 1-2 record with a 3.08 ERA and 48 K's in just 38 innings. Hitters mustered a paltry .195 BA against him and he was able to induce 2.35 GO/FO. As dominant as he was, his control was a major concern as Chatwood walked 4 or more batters in 7 of his 11 starts. An electric 92-94 MPH fastball thrown from a high arm angle allows for him to keep a good downard plane on the ball, making it heavier to hit. Complimenting his heater is a big breaking curveball that has all the makings of a strikeout pitch as Tyler is already able to command it and use good arm speed to deceive hitters. His changeup is a potential third pitch, but it is far away from the other ones. Mechanically, Chatwood has good arm action, but needs to continue to use his legs to drive more of his velocity. This will help him avoid injury and, perhaps add a tick or two to the velocity of his fastball.
2009 Projection: Full season Low-A Cedar Rapids is the next stop for the Chatwood express. Expect him to carry forward the high GO/FO rate, but a repeat of 2.35 is highly unlikely. That would mean that the control numbers would need to drastically improve in order for Chatwood to avoid experiencing some major struggles in his development. The evolution of the changeup will be a key for his success in sticking as a starting pitcher. He has a small frame and two MLB plus pitches. If things don't work out for him as a starter, he could be a good option as a late inning reliever down the road.
Key Tyler Chatwood Baseball Cards:
2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
2008 Razor Signature Series #/1499
2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/187
2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
2008 Donruss Threads By The Letter Patch Auto #/240
Todd pitched well at three levels in 2008 combining to go 8-6 with a 2.88 ERA and a very respectable 42 BB/136 K in 153 IP. The former Arkansas Razorback has a fastball that sits in the low 90's with good movement that bores in on right-handed batters. Additionally, his slider has wicked downward movement and could be used as a strikeout pitch. He's got good control of his two primary pitches and has the abilty to sink his fastball to induce groundball outs (1.41 GO/FO in '08). Todd proved to be quite durable last season but his stocky size and mediocre third pitch may land him in the bullpen as a major leaguer. He is a fiery competitor and the move to the bullpen would allow for him to add some velocity to his fastball. The Cardinals seem intent to work him as a starter and he has responded well to every challenge put before him over the past two seasons.
2009 Projection: Todd will begin the '09 season with AAA Memphis where he struggled a bit with his control late last season. Watch the K rates that he puts up against AAA hitters as it will be an indicator of what kind of velocity he is throwing with this season. Todd has a sturdily built frame, but many undersized pitchers tend to eventually buckle under heavy workloads. The Cardinals are reportedly using highly touted prospect Chris Perez as their closer this season. If things don't take well for him or there are some injuries in the Cardinals bullpen, it is conceivable that Todd will get called up to St. Louis to work in a long relief/spot starter role.
The White Sox invested about $600 K in signing this young Dominican SS in the hopes that he would fulfill the comparisons to Miguel Tejada that several scouts assigned to him. Rather, the 17 year old Silverio struggled mightily at short season Bristol hitting just .228 with 2 HR 35 RBI and 38 runs scored in 59 games. Silverio is long and lean with sinewy strength that should increase as he ages and builds muscle. He generates exceptional torque and bat speed that should produce above average power in the future. The biggest deterrent to Silverio's offensive game resides in his awful plate discipline (8 BB/56 K). Silverio has trouble recognizing offspeed pitches and swings at too many balls out of the strike zone. While this is a common malady of many young hitters, it is an area that he will need to improve to ensure future development. Though he is a good athlete and above average runner, he doesn't steal many bases and profiles better as a middle of the lineup hitter. Defense was a real bugaboo with the young SS as he committed 24 errors en route to a lowly .911 fielding %. He has a strong arm and good range, but may find himself playing 3B in future seasons. The White Sox know that they have a long term project in Silverio and are quite willing to take their time in helping him realize his sky high upside.
2009 Projection: Silverio will be just 18 when the season begins which makes it quite likely thathe will find his way back to Bristol for more work following an extended spring training stint. Look to see how his body has developed over this year. If he has added some weight, it may be reasonable to expect an increase in power output. Of course, the major component of his success hinges on his ability to effectively work counts and draw more walks. Additionally, the ability for Juan to stay at SS is key to the potential value of his cards. Shortstops, especially ones with power, are much more valued commodities in the prospecting market. If he can shore up his defense and stick at the 6-hole, it will provide for a more beneficial market for his cards.
The Orioles' 2007 16th round pick completed his second tour of short season ball by hitting .240 with 10 HR 38 RBI and 9 SB at Aberdeen. The word that best personifies Tyler's game is "hustle". Kolodny is a max effort player whose exuberance for the game of baseball is evident and contagious. Bases on balls are followed by a 90 ft. sprint up the 1st base line and there isn't a game that Tyler comes of the field in a clean uniform. While his drive is compelling, it often leads to struggles as well. Kolodny often overswings at pitches in and out of the zone, resulting in a high K rate (83 in 72 games) and a deficiency in hitting the ball to the other field. He will steal the occasional bag, but his average speed gets him nabbed on the bases almost as often. Defensively, he has adaquate range and arm strength to stay at 3B, but the depth of hot corner dwellers in Baltimore's system may force him to relocate. Kolodny is an intriguing prospect in the sense that he is intrinsically compelled to be the best player on the field and is dedicated to addressing the soft spots of his game. That desire mixed with a decent assortment of skills makes Tyler Kolodny a dark horse for a breakout season in 2009.
2009 Projection: Beginning this spring, Kolodny should receive his first dose of full season of baseball, likely at Low-A Delmarva. The main thing that Tyler needs to work on in '09 is becoming a more complete hitter. Kolodny showed an ability to draw walks, his K rates were way too high. Watch to see if he can cut these down to less than one per game. Additionally, Kolodny needs to end his pull-happy ways. More advanced pitchers will exploit this tendency by controlling balls on the outer portion of the plate, which leads to K's and groundball outs. An increase in his double and triple totals would be a good indicator of how well he is utilizing the opposite field. The Orioles have two high upside 3B prospects in Billy Rowell and Tyler Henson who are ranked above Kolodny on the organization's depth chart. Kolodny does have the potential to be a solid MLB player, but he may need a change of position or of scenery in future seasons.
Key Tyler Kolodny Baseball Cards:
2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
2008 Donruss Threads Rookie Class Patch/Auto #/280
The former Lamar Cardinal split time between Low-A Lexington and HIgh-A Salem to hit .246 with 22 HR 71 RBI 14 SB and 81 runs scored. Drafted in the 5th round in '07, DeLome was widely considered one of the top overall athletes in the draft. With a compact left-handed swing, DeLome demonstrated that he can hit for above average power, but his high strikeout totals (128 in 129 games) may well impact his ability to hit for a decent batting average at the major league level. Collin has very good speed that plays well on the basepaths and at any outfield position, though he needs considerable work at making good reads and taking proper routes on flyballs. Despite his struggles, Collin DeLome has some tremendous athletic tools that a drastically thinned out Houston Astros organization will work dilligently to shape into MLB-quality skills.
2009 Projection: DeLome should start the '09 season in Houston's new High-A affiliate Lancaster. This California League ballpark may be they most hitter friendly environment in all of minor league baseball. With that in mind, DeLome should be able to put up some big power numbers in this league. Don't get seduced by these numbers! Rather, watch the BB/K ratio. If it improves there is reason to believe that DeLome can develop into a solid MLB player, and if it doesn't, even the gaudiest of Lancaster-induced numbers could prove to ring hollow once DeLome advances. The 'Stros have had a rough time in recent years in developing young OF talent (Josh Flores, Eli Iorg, Jordan Parraz, Mitch Einertson). Hopefully DeLome will avoid this scrap heap and take a developmental path similar to Hunter Pence.
The former 2006 3rd round draft pick had another fine season at High-A Sarasota and AA Chattanooga hitting .317 with 18 HR 81 RBI and 78 runs scored en route to being named the organization's minor league player of the year. Valaika has a very fine bat that produces good gap power to all fields that should translate into 15-20 HR per season at the MLB level. He has a good game plan at the plate and has shown a high competency for getting on base, however, he doesn't walk as much as the organization would like (35 BB/102 K's in '08). Defensively, Valaika is an intelligent player, but his subpar range and average arm profiles better at 2B than SS. With Brandon Phillips currently manning the helm at the 4-hole for the next three seasons, it will be imperative for Valaika to be able to be at least an adaquate fielding SS. If not, he may find himself stuck in the AAAA turnstiles or with another club.
2009 Projection: There isn't a lot of stiff competition for the SS job in Cincinnati as current starter Alex Gonzalez missed all of the '08 season and backups Jeff Keppinger and Paul Janish are not nearly as offensively gifted as Valaika. Regardless, Chris will almost assuredly begin the '09 season at AAA Louisville before earning a call up at some point in the season. Valaika is not a high-upside player, but his good bat and decent power could provide an immediate boost to the Reds' offense once he is called up. A solid debut with the big club could sweeten the market for some of his first year cards.
Things really picked up for the World Champs' top pitching prospect once he arrived at AAA Lehigh Valley as he went 2-2 with a 1.72 ERA and 46 K's in 36.2 IP. He has continued his dominance in the Venezuelan Winter League earning a perfect 3-0 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 11 BB/45 K ratio in 47 IP. Carrasco's fastball sits between 90-94 MPH with good late movement and command on both sides of the plate, but his best pitch may be his changeup which ranks as the best in the system and is an effective out pitch. His curve has come a long way from being a mere "show me" pitch to becoming a valuable part of his repertoire. Carrasco has shown good durability as a pro and his sturdy frame should be able to handle the rigors of a 200 inning season with regularity and success.
2009 Projection: Carrasco has thrown a lot of innings this past year (198.1) which could mean that the Phillies will opt to use him sparingly early in the season. However, the race for the #5 spot in Philadelphia's rotation features the likes of Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park, and Adam Eaton, all of which are far less talented than the 22 year old Venezuelan. Watch to see how this situation develops as spring progresses. If Carrasco doesn't earn an opening day roster spot, he will continue to toil at Lehigh Valley until a spot opens up for him. Once he arrives, he should be able to make positive contributions and the values of his cards should see a solid market boost. Carrasco has all the ability to become the perfect compliment to current ace Cole Hamels atop the rotation of the '08 World Champs.
This 20 year old Venezuelan broke out in a big way in 2008 dominating both Low-A Asheville and High-A Modesto to the tune of an 18-3 record with a 2.03 ERA and 42 BB/160 K's in 177.2 IP. His 90-92 MPH fastball can reach 94 MPH but it is the heavy sinking action that induced ground ball outs to the tune of a 2.83 per flyout rate. Mixed with an effective curveball and changeup, Chacin has exceptional command and a highly advanced feel for how to set hitters up. Those who have seen him pitch also state that he is a nimble athlete and that his frame has the room to add more muscle to it. Though he has good command of his three pitches, Jhoulys must continue to develop the depth of them as he progresses. The jet streamed air and spacious gaps of Coors Field have squashed the futures of many a young pitcher, but Chacin's ability to induce groundball outs, coupled with his advanced control of the strike zone may give him a realistic shot at bucking this trend.
2009 Projection: Chacin will be asked to continue his devlelopment at AA Tulsa this season. If he can continue to put away more advanced hitters, he could received a promotion to AAA Colorado Springs at some point. The challenge for Chacin will be to keep the ball down. The Rockies' several minor league stops are hitter-friendly environments (Colorado Springs especially) and the hitters will be much more advanced and patient. If Jhoulys can continue to locate his fastball down in the zone, his future as a key cog in the Rockies' young rotation could be realized by the start of the 2010 season.
The young Puerto Rican 3B had a stellar season splitting time between short season Low-A Billings and Low-A Dayton. Utilizing his precise hand-eye coordination and his sweet swing, Soto blasted pitching at both levels to the tune of a .340 BA with 11 HR 47 RBI and 25 doubles in just 67 games. He has good power now, but is projected to turn many of those doubles into HR's as he builds more strength. Last season, Soto demonstrated an advanced ability to make contact, striking out just 46 times, but he does need to continue to work on drawing more walks if he wants to sustain his success against advanced pitchers. Defensively, he profiles to be an average 3B though his glove and arm strength are questionable and may force him to move to a corner OF position.
2009 Projection: His success at the two levels last season ensures that he will likely begin the '09 season at High-A Sarasota as their starting 3B. It will be interesting to see how his power develops this season. Many young hitters that hit a high number of doubles early in their careers build enough strength to turn them to HR's as they mature. Soto has the ability to be a 30+ HR hitter at the major league level though it will likely be as an OF rather than a 3B.
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.
The Dodgers added to their stable of good young arms by selecting the former Purdue Boilermaker in the second round of the '08 draft. Previously a closer, Lindblom was converted back to a starter by the Dodgers and the early returns were quite good. In 9 starts between Low-A Great Lakes and AA Jacksonville, Josh did not have a decision but earned a 2.12 ERA and a stellar 5 BB/37 K in just 34 IP. Additionally, Lindblom held hitters to a lowly .157 BA and forced 1.5 GO/FO. Lindblom has a fastball that sits between 91-94 MPH, but he can bump it up to 96 at times. His slider and splitter improved greatly in his final collegiate season which bolstered his stock as a potential starter. Scouts love his competitive makeup and the ability to control all three of his pitches, but he has yet to throw more than 90 innings in any given season. Given his size and strength, there is optimism that he should be able to handle a sizable workload in the future.
2009 Projection: The Dodgers are quite pleased with Lindblom's debut and the chances of him starting the '09 season with L.A.'s new AA affiliate Chattanooga. Watch to see how many innings Lindblom accrues this season at AA. Though he was limited to 3-4 innings per start last season, he will likely be stretched to 6 or 7 innings. Will this affect his BB/K rate? If Lindblom is able to maintain it, he will immediately become a top prospect in the Dodgers system. If not, he may move back to the pen.
Key Josh Lindblom Baseball Cards:
2008 Donruss Threads Rookie Class Patch Auto #/240
The Mariners invested $1 million in this young infielder from the Dominican Republic and, judging from his early returns, the money was well spent. DeJesus split time between the Mariners Arizona League affiliate and short season Everett to bat .309 with 10 HR 33 RBI and 39 runs scored in 62 games. DeJesus has a big projectible frame and a quick bat that should hit for good power and a high average at the major league level. DeJesus plays the game with a high confidence and, despite his young age, he has a good feel for the strike zone. Defensively, DeJesus profiles to be a very good fielding 3B with good range and a top rate arm. While he won't steal many bags as a pro, he won't be a liability on the basepaths either. The M's have invested heavily in their international scouting and DeJesus, along with Carlos Triunfel, could be the crown jewels of their efforts.
2009 Projection:Jharmidy will likely get his first dose of full season ball this year at Low-A Clinton with a promotion to High-A High Desert a moderate possibility if all goes well. The big thing to watch for in DeJesus is his continued competence in controlling the strike zone against advanced pitching. If he struggles early on, don't be surprised to see the M's send him back to Everett to iron things out. With an offensive ceiling as high as DeJesus', the M's will exercise due diligence in developing one of their brightest prospects.
Gindl continued his hot hitting at Low-A West Virginia, belting .301 with 13 HR 81 RBI 14 SB and 86 runs scored. Built like a fire hydrant, Caleb evokes comparisons to San Diego Padres OF Brian Giles as his sweet left handed swing generates surprising pop to all fields and laces rockets to the gaps. Gindl has a strong arm that plays well in RF and his above average speed allows him to cover a good amount of range. Much like his MLB counterpart, Caleb plays the game with fire and grittiness that appeals to the Brewers' brass. Sometimes this aggressiveness gets Gindl into trouble at the plate, leading to streakiness and high K numbers (144 in '08). Gindl is effective in drawing walks, though, which leads to some optimism that he will be able to mitigate some of these strikeout totals as he develops a better game plan at the plate.
2009 Projection: With the impending graduation of Alcides Escobar, Angel Salome, and Mat Gamel to the Brew Crew's MLB roster, Gindl becomes one of the organization's top young prospects. Expect him to start the season at High-A Brevard County with a promotion to AA Hunstville very possible. Keep watch of the BB/K ratio. If it improves, Gindl could be a perennial .300 hitter in the major leagues. Although he is close to maxed out physically, it seems quite likely that he will increase his HR ouput, as his 38 doubles in '08 is a prime indicator of more power to come.
Anderson's first season as an Oakland Athletic farmhand was a smashing success as he pitched well at both High-A Modesto and AA Midland going 11-5 with a 3.69 ERA and a sterling 27 BB/119 K ratio in just 105 IP despite missing one month of the season pitching for Team USA in Beijing. The son of Oklahoma State's head coach Frank Anderson, Brett's biggest positive attribute may not be his low-90's fastball or 12-6 breaking curveball, rather, it may just be his extreme level of maturity and approach to pitching that he brings to the mound in each start. His clean mechanics and strong young frame projects to build more velocity potential and stamina as he ages. It's hard not to like Anderson's package of skills, he is the perfect yin to Trevor Cahill's yang. It would be nice to see him add a little more velocity to his fastball and his changeup is still a work in progress. All told, the A's couldn't be more pleased with the progress of their young southpaw.
2009 Projection: Anderson is still quite young and it would be no surprise if the A's opt to send him back to AA to start the season. Keep a close eye on Anderson's K rate. If it improves, it may well be due to an increase in velocity of his fastball and command of his changeup. Likely, he and Cahill will be developed at the same pace and the thought of them being the next Tim Hudson / Mark Mulder duo has to have A's fans excited.
H/W: 5-11 195 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 4/23/85
