Posted on 13 November 2010
H/W: 6-0 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 7/20/82
The former Michigan Wolverine had his best season as a pro last year between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa, batting .287 with 31 HR 105 RBI 39 doubles and 93 runs scored. Determined to earn a ticket back to Wrigley longer than his 14 AB stint in 2007, Fox worked hard in the off season and put together an impressive spring in which he hit .350 with 4 HR and 16 RBI. Former teammate Micah Hoffpauir won a final roster spot, however, and Jake Fox was sent back to Iowa. Since that time, he has hit .432 with 11 HR 29 RBI and 21 runs scored in his first 18 games, pushing the envelope for another call up. Though he has the power to hit 25-30 HR at the major league level, Fox still struggles from time to time with his plate disicpline. He crushes fastballs, but often has a difficult time grinding out AB's once he himself into breaking ball counts. Defensively, Fox was a subpar catcher which prompted his move to a corner OF spot where he is...subpar. He is an adaquate first baseman, however, and would be an excellent candidate to DH for an American League club in the future.
2009 Projection: His hot start pretty much guarantees that he will get a call up at some point this spring or early summer. Cubbies free agent acquisition Milton Bradley is off to a miserable start and his checkered health history makes him a prime candidate for a DL stint at some point this season. Enter Jake Fox. Fox has the power capability to put up numbers in bunches but his below average plate discipline and defensive capabilities will likely have detrimental effects on his ability to sustain big numbers throughout an entire major league season. I bought a bevy of baseball card hobby boxes here of products bearing his key rookie cards because I feel so strongly about him. At 26, his career path is somewhat similar to Oakland A's slugger Jack Cust who spent several seasons as a minor league slugger before breaking out with in the Bay area as a one dimensional HR magnet.
Key Jake Fox Baseball Cards:
- 2003 UD Prospect Premieres Auto
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
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Posted on 18 May 2009
H/W: 6-4 210 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 5/9/86
The Padres continued to add to their treasure trove of highly disciplined collegiate hitters by selecting this University of Kentucky alum in the 3rd round of the '08 draft. Carroll has a power hitter's build but is more of a gap to gap hitter whose power should top out at 15-20 HR per season. After adding 20 lbs. of muscle to his long frame, Carroll had an immensely successful senior season with the Wildcats that saw him hit .419 with 19 HR 83 RBI and 69 runs scored. Carroll then signed quickly with the Padres and then split time his time between short season Eugene and Low-A Fort Wayne, hitting .278 with 8 HR 47 RBI and 46 runs scored in 64 games. Carroll employs a disciplined approach at the plate, working deep into counts, drawing walks or driving balls in all parts of the strike zone. Defense was a concern area prior to Carroll's senior season as he was profiled to be a below average first baseman, but he seems to have added some athleticism with his gain in strength and has shown an aptitude to play either corner OF position as well as 1B.
2009 Projection: Carroll's start to the '09 season has been excellent as he is hitting .320 with 20 RBI 9 SB and 9 doubles through his first 29 games. Additionally, he has earned a respectable 22 BB/20 K ratio and has become Fort Wayne's #3 hitter in the lineup. At 22 years old, he is a bit old for this level and, given his early success, it seems that a promotion to High-A Lake Elsinore will happen at some point this season. One thing to take notice of is his lack of power output to date. Prior to his senior season, several scouts were concerned that it would not manifest itself at the wooden bat level and those concerns seem to be coming to fruition at this point. Keep an eye on these numbers as the season progresses. It is difficult to ascertain at this time where Carroll fits into the organization's plans. With so many talented outfielders like Kellen Kulbacki, Jaff Decker, Cedric Hunter, Luis Durango, Chad Huffman, Blake Tekotte and Yefri Carvajal, Carroll has considerable obstacles to overcome in order to win a shot at a full time position with the Padres. Assuredly, there will be some maneuvering done in the future as the team looks to pursue some pitching within the next season or two. Each transaction involving members of the fore-mentioned parties will be effective in shuffling the organization's depth chart and future plans.
Key Sawyer Carrol Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/543
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/699
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Posted on 18 May 2009
H/W: 6-1 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/14/87
The Padres drafted the former Arkansas Razorback as the third of seven consecutive offensive player selected in the '08 draft. Forsythe was limited to just 12 games late last summer with the Padres' short season affiliates, but the club felt confident that his polish shown in college would allow for him to transition smoothly to High-A ball. It indeed has as Forsythe hit .320 with 3 HR 11 RBI and 25 runs scored through his first 29 games. Extremely disciplined at the plate, Forsythe has a fluid right-handed swing that drives the ball well to the gaps with good XBH power and the occasional homerun. He makes good contact with the ball and has a good game plan during each plate appearance. Normally a third baseman, Forsythe is also skilled enough to play just about any position in the field adeptly, making him an excellent utility player. Though he is not a speed guy, Logan runs the bases with a good deal of intelligence and determination, allowing him to manufacture runs in many different ways.
2009 Update: As stated before, Forsythe seems to be handling the challenge of High-A ball well in his first full professional season. He is currently batting in the #5 hole for Lake Elsinore and has collected 11 XBH and 27 BB in his first 29 games. Forsythe is someone who's value may not always be recognized statistically as he does so many little things well. He should, though, be a solid #2 or #6 hitter at the major league level who hits 10-15 HR per season while posting an OB% that rivals .400. The Padres are building something special within their organization as they have drafted a ton of high-discipline, mid-ceiling players that should be solid role players as professionals and Logan Forsythe fits right in with that philosophy. With Kevin Kouzmanoff manning the hot corner for the next few seasons, there is no immediate need to rush Forsythe's development. He should play most or all of the season at High-A with an MLB ETA of 2011. By that time, it will be about time for the Friars to decide what to do with Kouzmanoff's upcoming free agent contract. With no other big time third basemen in the system, Forsythe has a genuine opportunity to be groomed as San Diego's next keeper of the hot corner.
Key Logan Forsythe Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Playoff Contenders Auto SP #/262
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/162
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Razor Lettermen Auto #/20
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Posted on 26 April 2009
H/W: 6-3 215 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 4/4/88
The Angels' former 8th round selection missed all of the 2008 season with an ankle injury after a largely successful 2007 at Low-A Cedar Rapids where he hit .260 with 18 HR 72 RBI and 29 doubles. Matthew Sweeney has as much power potential as anyone in the Angels' system not named Brandon Wood. His smooth left-handed swing generates easy power to all fields and has the potential to hit for a high average as well. He has natural loft to his swing and seems to make solid contact with balls in the strike zone. One area of his offensive game that will continually need work is his ability to effectively work deep into counts. He walked just 38 times versus 88 strikeouts in 2007 and should prove to be a more dangerous hitter if he can boost his walk totals by 25-30. Defensively, he is somewhat heavy footed, but has soft hands and good first step range to both his left and right. His arm is plenty strong to handle any throws from the hot corner, though his 28 errors in '07 indicate that he still needs to control it and make more strides toward consistently making the routine plays.
2009 Projection: Sweeney has gotten off to an excellent start at High-A Rancho Cucamonga, hitting .375 with 3 HR 11 RBI and 7 doubles in his first 11 games. The biggest thing to watch out of Matthew is his ability to play the '09 season in good health. He looks like he is completely healthy, but ankle injuries, like so many other maladies, tend to become chronic problems that have detrimental effects on promising careers. Also keep tabs on his defensive performance. If he continues to post sub-.900 fielding percentages, there is a distinct chance that he could shift to the other infield corner or to a corner outfield spot a la Ryan Braun. Over a full season, Sweeney is a 25-30 HR hitter and a potential middle of the lineup hitter at the major league level. The Angels have Brandon Wood ahead of Sweeney on the organization's 3B depth chart, but lots can happen within the next couple of seasons. Sweeney's bat should place him somewhere.
Key Matthew Sweeney Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra #/500
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Posted on 26 April 2009
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 1/21/87
The Giants selected the former UCLA Bruin in the 4th round of the 2008 draft. After a junior season that saw him hit .302 with 7 HR 51 RBI and 11 SB, he has turned up his production a notch as a member of the San Jose Giants by hitting .395 with 3 HR 8 RBI and 10 runs scored in his first 12 games. Crawford has good size and strength for a shortstop with excellent pull power and above average speed. He had some problems with getting pull happy as a collegiate player, and he is currently averaging about a strikeout per game with San Jose. Defensively, Crawford has decent range and good arm strength, though there are some concerns that he has apexed physically and may lose a step or two in the next few seasons. Last season's struggles with the Bruins seemed to affect his confidence on both offense and defense, but his quick start this season serves as evidence that he has put that behind him and is allowing his natural abilities to dictate his performance. He is a heady player who competes well and carries a cerebral approach to all aspects of his game.
2009 Projection: Crawford should play most or all of the season at High-A San Jose alongside mega-talents like Buster Posey, Angel Villalona, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Alderson, Connor Gillaspie, and Nick Noonan. Crawford has enough talent and polish to be a starting shortstop at the major league level within the next two seasons, but there is still some work to do. His strikeout rate is too high and he has yet to show an ability to put up a respectable BB/K ratio since he first set foot on UCLA's campus. The grind of a major league season has multiple periods of highs and lows and there has already been criticism of his ability to play with a high level of confidence during slumping periods. If he can move beyond this, he is a 15-20 HR hitter with double digit steal potential. Currently, Emmanuel Burriss is the only viable SS prospect ahead of him on San Francisco's organizational depth chart and current Giants SS Edgar Renteria really has just two or three more productive seasons left. Crawford is someone to watch in an organization that is rapidly becoming one of baseball's best and brightest.
Key Brandon Crawford Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/699
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/719
- 2008 Donruss Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket SP Auto
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Posted on 26 April 2009
H/W: 6-0 195 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 2/25/85
Like stew in a crock pot, the former 2003 draft pick has taken a long time to develop. Last season, Paul played at AAA Las Vegas posting some of the best numbers of his career, hitting .316 with 9 HR 68 RBI 17 SB 28 doubles and 82 runs scored. Paul is an extraordinary athlete with decent pop and excellent speed that plays well in the outfield and on the basepaths. Paul has always struggled with his plate discipline, but last season's 43 BB/96 K ratio is an improvement over his 100+ K seasons from years past. He continued to impress this spring by hitting .308 with 13 RBI and a 9 BB/9K ratio. The Dodgers are well set in their outfield with Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp. It will take a trade or injury for the 23 year old prospect to get a fair shot at his major league debut in 2009.
2009 Projection: Paul is destined to stay in AAA until an opportunity opens up for him. He should put ups stellar numbers in his second season in the PCL, as evidenced by his red hot start (.476 9 RBI 6 SB and 20 hits in 12 games). The increased plate discipline is an extremely positive sign, giving some reason to believe that he has the potential to be a top of the order hitter. Keep an eye on his power numbers, as there is reason to believe that he can be a threat to hit 10-15 HR at the major league level. Given his excellent speed and ability on the basepaths he is a threat to steal 25-30 bases per year while scoring 85-100 runs. Several people have overlooked Paul as he has moved at a glacial pace since his superb professional debut in 2003. Regardless, he is still just 23 years old and a change of scenery could drastically alter the currently stagnant course of his professional carer.
Key Xavier Paul Baseball Cards:
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Posted on 11 April 2009
H/W: 5-7 145 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/18/89
If good things come in small packages, then the Angels will be quite pleased with their 3rd round pick from the '08 draft. Gomez played in four games with the Angels' Arizona Rookie League affiliate managing just two hits in 15 AB. Despite his demure build, Gomez has a sharp, line drive bat that can power balls to the gaps for doubles and the occasional long ball. He plays the game with savviness and grit that exceeds the range of his skills. He has a strong arm and soft hands that fit well at shortstop, though there is some conjecture that his fringe-average range could fit better at second base. Gomez has gotten pull-happy at times, seemingly to compensate for his slight build, but there is enough projection in his body to believe that he will develop more strength, perhaps alleviating his compulsion to overswing from time to time.
2009 Projection:Limited exposure and limited success should force Gomez to start his '09 season at extended spring training before heading out to Orem in June. Keep an eye on the development of Gomez's offensive game. Has the ability to hit for a high average with 5-10 HR power, but it may take a while for it to develop. If he can stick at SS, his chances of reaching the major leagues with the Angels is a bit better as the road ahead of him is not quite as congested. Long term, he will need to build some more strength to become a serious consideration as an MLB regular. It could happen, but the league is full of SS prospects with much higher upsides.
Key Rolando Gomez Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra #/544
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket SP Auto #/113
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/699
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Posted on 11 April 2009
H/W 6-3 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/2/85
The former 2003 1st round pick had his best season since his infamous '05 season by hitting .296 with 31 HR 84 RBI and scoring 82 runs in just 395 at bats at AAA Salt Lake City. As good as Wood was at AAA, he was equally horrible as a major leaguer, batting a meager .200 with 5 HR and 13 RBI in 55 games. There is no denying that Wood has a power-loaded bat that can launch homeruns at a 30+ per season pace. His fast hands generates exceptional bat speed and the natural leverage of his swing produces fence-clearing loft to all fields. Wood still hasn't figured out major leagu pitching yet. He has a difficult time laying off of breaking balls out of the strike zone and often gets himself behind in the count early. Defensively, Wood made the switch to third base prior to the '08 season and his natural agility as a shortstop and his rifle arm has made him an excellent defender at the hot corner. His footspeed is slightly above average, and he is an intelligent baserunner who has the ability to nab double digits in steals during the early years of his career. As he matures, he will continue to be more of a middle of the order power hitter who, while not a liability on the basepaths, will not be a weapon either. The Angels are cautiously moving Wood forward into a future starting role with the organization.
2009 Projection: Wood had an outstanding spring training, hitting .322 with 4 HR 13 RBI 14 runs scored and a 5 BB/12 K ratio in 59 AB. Despite his strong spring, the healthy return of Chone Figgins and the outstanding play of Erick Aybar sent Brandon packing for another opening day with Salt Lake City. Keep an eye on his eye at the plate. If he can improve his BB/K ratio with Salt Lake City, there may just be a chance yet that he will figure things out at the big league level. Once he does, watch out!
Key Brandon Wood Baseball Cards:
- 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2003 Bowman Heritage
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2006 Bowman Heritage Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
- 2007 SP Authentic By The Letter Auto
- 2007 Sweet Spot Mini Helmet Auto
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Posted on 05 April 2009
H/W: 6-6 235 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/22/85
The Red Sox used Masterson as both a starter and reliever last season and he performed admirably in both roles. In 36 outings, the tall righthander went 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 40 BB/68 K in 88 IP. The San Diego State alum features a heavy 92-94 MPH fastball that he throws from a 3/4 arm slot with a great deal of leverage. In addition to his fastball, he has a promising slider that has good lateral movement, but sometimes gets left up in the zone when he drops his arm slot. His changeup has some promise to be effective too, but it lags behind his other two offerings. Hitters have a difficult time generating much pop off of his fastball, but his slider is still hittable and his command numbers will need to improve. The presence of Jonathan Papelbon at the end of Boston's bullpen may eventually push Masterson into the rotation. Whether he is throwing every 5th day or every other day, he is a highly valued piece to the future prosperity of the Red Sox.
2009 Projection: The acquisitions of Brad Penny and John Smoltz has relegated Masterson to the 7th or 8th inning job once again. His control has been excellent this spring as he has walked just two hitters in 12.2 IP. Keep an eye on this as the major league season goes on. His ability to command the strike zone should allow for him to use his sinker much more effectively as an out pitch. Also monitor the health of Boston's rotation. If one of their horses goes down, Masterson will be the first name called to step into a rotation spot. Once he gets in, he may be too good to supplant.
Key Justin Masterson Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Finest RC Redemption #6
- 2008 Stadium Club Auto
- 2008 Topps Red Hot Rookie
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Posted on 05 April 2009
H/W: 6-3 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 7/1/80
Cruz has long been a player that tears up minor league pitching and then is overmatched and undisciplined once he reaches the major leagues. 2008 offered a departure from that and ushered in hope that the 28 year old OF has finally turned the corner. Cruz blasted PCL hurlers to the tune of a .342 with 37 HR 99 RBI and 24 SB at Oklahoma City earning another promotion to Texas where he continued his tear, hitting .330 with 7 HR and 26 RBI in 31 games. Cruz has excellent athleticism and has a fully matured frame that offers power and speed. Judging from his spring numbers, (.302 6 HR 16 RBI and 13 runs scored in 15 games) Cruz looks like he has turned the corner from prospect to suspect to productive big league player. Texas has a super deep farm system so it will be integral for Nelson to make the most of this opportunity.
2009 Projection: Nelson will be in the everyday lineup for the Rangers and should be slotted somewhere between the #3 and #6 spots in the lineup. He has the power to hit 25-30 HR per season and steal upwards of 20 bases. The plate discipline is still a question mark. Cruz started out red hot this spring but has seen his batting average drop nearly 100 points from March 20 - March 31. If he struggles at the major league level, Rangers manager Ron Washington will not hesitate to inject Marlon Byrd, Brandon Boggs, or Frank Catalanatto to stop the bleeding. However, the more positive signs seem to point to Cruz being the consummate late bloomer now realizing a greater slice of the potential that he has always possessed.
Key Nelson Cruz Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2005 Bowman Heritage
- 2005 Topps Chrome Traded
- 2005 UD Reflections
- 2005 SPX Auto #/185
- 2005 SP Authentic Auto #/185
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Posted on 01 April 2009
H/W: 6-2 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/25/87
The former Long Beach State hurler was selected in the 3rd round of the '08 draft by the Phillies and immediately improved on his mediocre collegiate stats with an excellent showing at Low-A Lakeland where he went 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA and 7 BB/53 K in 61 IP. Worley is built solidly with a lively low-90's fastball, and a solid change and curveball show some promise as average MLB pitches, though they are still in their developmental stages. Worley was very effective at commanding his pitches down in the strike zone, resulting in a high number of ground ball outs (1.64/FO). He goes right after hitters and seems to be poised and efficient on the mound. He had some shoulder soreness during his 2007 season, but showed no signs of tiring last year despite his 170+ inning work load.
2009 Projection: Worley has shown enough polish to be promoted to High-A Clearwater for the 2009 season. The Florida State League tends to be slightly favorable to pitchers and, given his high ground ball rate, it is quite conceivable that Worley could have an immensely successful season. Keep an eye on Worley's K rate this year. He struck out about 8 hitters per 9 IP and if he can keep that rate constant or improve upon it, he could vault into the upper echelons of Philadelphia's vastly improved pitching prospect chart. Ultimately, Worley profiles to be a solid mid-rotation starting pitcher within the next three seasons.
Key Vance Worley Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Lettermen Auto Patch #/20
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/219
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Posted on 01 April 2009
H/W: 5-11 245 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 8/11/86
The switch hitting former catcher broke out in a big way in 2008, tormenting pitchers at both High-A San Jose and AA Connecticut for a .350 BA with 20 HR 96 RBI, 90 runs scored and 38 doubles in just 112 games. Sandoval earned a promotion to San Francisco where he didn't miss a beat, hitting .345 with 3 HR 24 RBI and 10 doubles in 145 AB. Sandoval has a lightning-quick bat that produces easy power from both sides of the plate. He makes excellent contact, but doesn't work counts as effectively as someone with his potent bat should. Last season Sandoval combined to walk just 35 times in nearly 600 AB. Defensively, the rotund Sandoval is quite mobile at both infield corner positions, earning just one error in 179 chances. He has excellent arm strength and soft hands ideal for the hot corner.
2009 Projection: All signs point to Sandoval having a huge first full season as a major leaguer. He has hit almost .450 this spring with excellent XBH power and solid plate discipline. The main concern with Sandoval going forward will be his weight, as heavier set players have increased difficulties staying healthy over the course of a 162 game season. His bat, though, is for real and has all the look and functionality of a switch-hitting Edgar Martinez. The Giants are an organization filled with younger talent waiting to blossom. Sandoval will be one of the parties leading the charge very soon.
Key Pablo Sandoval Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/849
- 2008 Topps Red Hot Rookie REDEMPTION
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
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Posted on 01 April 2009
H/W: 5-11 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/28/86
The Blue Jays' 11th round selection from the 2007 draft rediscovered his power that seemingly eluded him in his final two seasons at Tulsa. Playing solely at High-A Dunedin, Emaus batted .302 with 12 HR 71 RBI 12 SB and 87 runs scored and 34 doubles. He continued his hitting ways in the Hawaiian Winter League, hitting .333 with 2 HR 12 RBI and a sterling 17 BB/7 K ratio in 26 games. Emaus has a swing that matches his body frame--compact and powerful. He has an excellent eye at the plate, earning a 60 BB/56 K ratio last season, while effectively driving the ball from foul line to foul line. He has fringe average speed, but he uses it well on the basepaths. Defensively, Emaus has substandard range as a middle infielder and will likely need to shift to a corner infield spot in the future. He has played some third base, but the results have been less than adequate at this point as he racked up 4 errors in 47 chances last season.
2009 Projection: Emaus has turned heads in Blue Jays camp this spring, hitting .333 with 4 HR. He will likely start the '09 season at AA New Hampshire with a solid shot at earning a promotion to AAA Syracuse at some point during the season. There is some good offensive upside to this overachiever's game and he has been giving every indication that he can sustain this production at any level. Keep an eye on the defensive numbers from Emaus and his power numbers as well. He has below average power for a corner infielder at this point, but there is hope that he can be a high-average, 20 HR hitter at the major league level in the not too distant future. The Jays are pretty well set with Aaron Hill manning the 2B helm for the next few seasons, but the oft-injured Scott Rolen becomes a free agent after the 2010 season. That should provide ample time for Emaus to evolve into a quality MLB third baseman.
Key Brad Emaus Baseball Cards:
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Posted on 30 March 2009
H/W: 6-0 190 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 1/17/85
Emmanuel Burriss missed a considerable amount of time last season with a left oblique injury that nagged him throughout the first part of the season. Regardless, he was able to log in about 240 AB in his first major league season producing a solid 283 BA with 1 HR 18 RBI and 13 SB. Burriss has fleet feet that wreak havoc on the basepaths as testified by the 103 SB he logged in his two previous minor league seasons. A contact hitter, Burriss works counts efficiently and is almost impossible to strike out. He is an excellent bunter and hits line drives to all fields with little to no power. Defensively, Burriss has the ability to play both SS and 2B or the OF in a pinch. He needs to continue to shore up his glove work and arm accuracy in order to stick as a starter.
2009 Projection: Burriss has looked sharp this spring hitting .397. The Giants are locked in at SS with the off season signing of Edgar Renteria, and Kevin Frandsen is the early favorite to receive most of the playing time at 2B. However, Burriss is a serviceable utility guy who should get a considerable amount of playing time at either position throughout the season. He has a strong frame that could add a little more XBH pop as he matures. That would do nothing but help his chances to receive more playing time. In a full season, Burriss is a threat to steal 35-40 bases while hitting for a high average and excellent OBP.
Key Emmanuel Burriss Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
- 2008 Topps
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Posted on 25 March 2009
H/W: 5-11 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 4/24/86
Shipped over from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade, Cunningham is precisely the type of player that A's GM Billy Beane loves. He pounded pitching at both AA Midland and AAA Sacramento to the tune of a .329 BA with 17 HR 66 RBI 15 SB and 86 runs scored. He recorded another 80 AB with Oakland, hitting .250 with a HR and 14 RBI. With excellent hand-eye coordination and a compact right handed swing, Aaron generates decent pop that should produce 10-15 HR per season at the major league level. His speed is above average and he uses it savvily in the outfield and on the basepaths, where he should average double digit stolen base numbers. Cunningham has shown solid plate discipline throughout his minor league career, though these numbers have eroded somewhat as he has advanced. At 23 years old, there is not too much room for further projection in Cunningham's game, though he has given enough reason to believe that he can be a fairly productive regular at the major league level.
2009 Projection: The trade for Matt Holliday has muddied the waters in Oakland's outfield scenerio. Aaron has had a solid showing this spring and has earned some serious consideration for a major role in either RF or CF. So have, however, Travis Buck, Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis, and Chris Denorfia. Being the youngest of this crop, it seems quite likely that Cunningham will be ticketed for AAA at the start of the '09 season, where he will stay until room is made for him by way of injury, non-performance, or trade. Cunningham has some upside as a future MLB regular, but the odds of him becoming one of those "lost in the shuffle" guys increases with every minor league AB.
Key Aaron Cunningham Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto
- 2009 Topps
- 2009 UD Spectrum Auto
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Posted on 25 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 12/18/89
The Rangers decided to add to their 1B depth with the selection on the Californian prep slugger in the 5th round of the '08 draft. Clark Murphy performed quite well in his first professional action with the Rangers' Arizona Rookie League affiliate, hitting .358 with a HR 21 RBI and 7 doubles in 25 games. Murphy has a rock solid frame and fluid left-handed swing that has already demonstrated good power with wooden bats. His hands move quickly through the ball and he exhibits solid plate discipline (12 BB/19 K in 25 games). Though he is now fully recovered from his quad injury, Murphy still exhibits below average foot speed which should limit his defensive abilities to 1B as a pro. He has exhibited above average footwork and agility around the bag. His arm is more than strong enough for the position as he was an outfielder as a prep player. There are still some mechanical glitches to iron out in his swing. He has a little hitch that occasionally throws off his timing and affects his ability to make consistent contact. This should be something that is completely rectified, allowing for him to more effectively stay back on balls and tap into his considerable raw power.
2009 Projection: Murphy should start at full season Low-A Hickory with future All-Star 1B Justin Smoak beginning at High-A Bakersfield. The thing to watch in Murphy is his power numbers. The odds are good that he will increase his HR output this season, but will it come at the expense of his BB/K ratio? Murphy is stuck in an offensively loaded farm system with exceptional depth at the 1B and OF positions. Expect the Rangers to bring Murphy along at a prudent pace. If he continues to produce good offensive numbers, there is a good chance that he could be a valuable commodity when the Rangers start looking to add to their pitching depth. Given Texas' rapidly improving odds as a playoff contender, this could happen sooner rather than later.
Key Clark Murphy Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra TOTC Auto #/644
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Posted on 25 March 2009
H/W: 6-2 150 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/27/91
The Braves plunked down $850 K to sign the Colombian flame thrower as a 16 year old. Last season, Julio Teheran pitched at short season Low-A Danville earning a 1-2 record with a 6.60 ERA and 4 BB/17 K in 15 IP. Though he showed himself to be quite hittable in the early going (.301 BAA), Julio exhibited good control and induced groundball outs at a 1.27/FO rate. Teheran already has a fastball that sits comfortably between 93-95 MPH, though he can reach back and bump it up to 97 MPH. Complimenting his fastball is a low 80's changeup with deceptive fade and a powerful curveball that has a late bite to it. Scouts have marveled at how smooth and quick his arm action is, though he needs to clean up some of the mechanics in his delivery. His body has considerable projectibility and needs to build bulk and stamina to handle the rigors of a full season workload.
2009 Projection: Teheran should get his first taste of full season action at Low-A Rome. Compared to Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, Teheran is tabbed to move quickly through the system and, if all goes well, could reach High-A Myrtle Beach by the end of this season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep his control numbers and GO/FO ratio up with Rome. If so, the South Atlantic League tends to favor pitchers which could bode very well for Julio's numbers. The Braves are stocked with an assortment of fine young arms from both sides of the mound, but Teheran's rivals that of Tommy Hanson's as Atlanta's best.
Key Julio Teheran Baseball Cards:
- 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects
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Posted on 24 March 2009
H/W: 6-5 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/16/86
A pop culture icon in Japan, 22 year old Yu Darvish has already begun to make waves in the U.S. following a dazzling performance in the World Baseball Classic which saw him strike out 20 hitters in 12 innings and earn the win for Team Japan in the championship game against Team Korea. Last season for the Nippon Ham Fighters, Darvish went 16-4 with a 1.88 ERA and 208 K's in 200 IP. Reports of Darvish's fastball velocity varies from 91-97 MPH, but it is unanimously known that the pitch has exceptional movement and he commands it well. Even better is his slider which has been rumored to hit 91 MPH with a wicked two plane break. Though he is a media sensation (he's even posed nude in a Japanese magazine), Darvish is reported to be an intense competitor, excellent teammate and hard worker. Darvish is not eligible to be a free agent for another 5 seasons, though he does have the ability to request the Nippon Ham Fighters to make him available to be purchased by an MLB team. Interested parties engage in a silent auction to pay Nippon Ham for the right to negotiate a contract with Darvish. This situation happened with Daisuke Matsuzaka who then signed with the Boston Red Sox after they posted a $51.1 million fee to the Seibu Lions for his services.
2009 Projection: His stock has risen considerably in a short period of time, but the economic climate may make it difficult for even the deepest MLB pocket books to open as widely as they did for Dice-K. That should leave Darvish to continue to pitch in Japan until things change. However, the odds are long that he will leave Japan as a free agent. Whether it be this season or a couple down the road, the bidding process will be feverish for Darvish. Once Yu leaves Japan, expect the Scott Boras-muddled contract negotiations to be as unpleasant as a glimpse at his photo spread.
Key Yu Darvish Baseball Cards:
- 2005 BBM RC Edition
- 2009 eTopps
- 2009 Bowman WBC Redemption
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