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
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Posted on 26 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 180 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 5/24/87
The speedy U of Miami alum had a power outbreak in 2008 belting 13 HR with the Hurricanes prior to being drafted in the 3rd round by the Padres. He continued his hot hitting at short season Eugene hitting .285 with 6 HR 29 RBI 7 SB and 43 runs scored in 47 games. Tekotte has excellent lead off hitter skills. He grinds out at bats for walks (27 BB/45 K) and runs exceptionally well on the basepaths. His sweeping lefthanded swing can hit well for pull power while lining balls hard to the gaps and down lines for XBH. Defensively, Tekotte has the range and arm to be a solid CF. Tekotte is a scrappy player who gets the most out of his skills and strives to refine every aspect of his game.
2009 Projection: Low-A Fort Wayne will be Tekotte's likely destination come April. The San Diego Padres organization has made a concerted effort to draft and develop gritty, high baseball IQ players like Tekotte over the past couple of seasons (Kellen Kulbacki, Jaff Decker, Eric Sogard, etc...). Blake fits right in with them and his enhanced abilty to play defense in CF may differentiate him somewhat from the rest of the crowd. The main challenge for Tekotte is to limit his strikeout totals and keep his on base percentage high. He has a tendency to allow his swing to get too long at times, opening up holes that more advanced pitchers could exploit. His work ethic and coachability should help him address his struggles in a positive manner and diminish the possibility of him experiencing any prolonged developmental lapses.
Key Blake Tekotte Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/194
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
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Posted on 24 February 2009
H/W: 6-4 225 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 11/16/83
Daeges' numbers dropped off in a big way from his breakout 2007 season but, after a slow start, he rebounded to have a solid season at AA Portland hitting .307 with 6 HR 63 RBI 34 doubles and 63 runs scored in 108 games. Daeges has a refined approach at the plate with good power to the alleys and an enhanced knowledge of the strike zone that allows him to prolong at bats and draw walks a la Kevin Youkilis. Daeges has excellent size and strength but seems to take a more line drive friendly approach to the plate despite his ability to drive the ball for more power. He is a fringe average defensive player who works hard but remains a risk to lose athleticism as he continues to age. Age is another factor for Daeges who will be 25 before playing his first game at AAA. Opportunities will need to open up soon for the Creighton alum before he becomes too old to be regarded as a prospect.
2009 Projection: Daeges is destined for AAA Pawtuckett in a quest to regain some of his power that he aptly displayed as a member of the Lancaster Jethawks in 2007. Playing in Boston's richly talented farm system is both a blessing and a curse for Zach. On the plus side, he has the fortune of being a member of an organization that effectively develops their talent into effective MLB players, but the BoSox also have a distinct abilty to scout, draft, and sign top tier talent. The system is full of talented players who are both younger and more talented than Daeges. Shifting to 1B or DH doesn't bode well for Daeges either as those positions boast good talent as well. That leaves two options. Play hard and hope for a trade or sigh and join the masses of AAAA "what could they have beens".
Key Zach Daeges Baseball Cards:
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-2 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 5/15/87
Adams' numbers experienced a slight dip in 2008, but the Yankees liked the Virginia alum enough to select him in the 3rd round. Adams performed decently at short season Low-A Staten Island, hitting .257 with 4 HR 31 RBI and 45 runs scored. Adams is a hard nosed and intelligent player who makes the most of his average tools on both offense and defense. He didn't hit for much power in college, yet his thick frame and the fact that Virginia's home park is one of the toughest hitters park in Division-I baseball gives optimism that more should come. Adams is a savvy and agressive baserunner who is always looking to take extra bases to get himself into scoring position. He showed advanced plate discipline having earned a respectible 32 BB/57 K last season. The rub on players like Adams is that his lack of projectivity or standout tools limits his potential ceiling. He will work tirelessly to scratch his way to Yankee Stadium, but he will always have to look over his shoulder to fend off younger, more talented prospects.
2009 Projection: Adams should move to full season Low-A Charleston to start the season. Given his collegiate polish, there is a good chance that a promotion to Tampa will also be in the cards. Keep an eye out for the power progression. He has the potential to bang out 12-18 HR per season once he becomes more aggressive with balls inner part of the plate. Also, keep tabs on his K rate this year. He is a patient hitter, but sometimes this can serve as a detriment as pitchers will exploit them with fastballs early in the count and breaking pitches with two strikes. The Yankees organization is quite thin throughout their middle infield and the swirling trade rumors involving current 2B Robinson Cano should bode well for Adams' future opportunities.
Key David Adams Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 150 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 4/22/88
The son of 19 year MLB veteran Tom Gordon got off to a blazing start to his professional career, hitting .331 with 2 HR 27 RBI 18 SB and 45 runs scored in 60 games. World class speed is Gordon's best weapon, as his 6.35 time in the 60 yard dash makes him the fastest player in the L.A. Dodgers organization. Gordon slashes line drives through holes and down lines which, combined with his advanced bunting skills and plate discipline, makes him a game changing, top of the order hitter. Gordon's excellent speed allows for him to cover a wide range on the left side of the infield and his strong arm allows for him to make throws from deep in the hole. Gordon is built like his father, which means that he should never become a big power hitter, but there is some projectibilty in his sinewy frame for more XBH power to develop. The upside for Gordon to be an impact player is far from being reached. With his bloodlines, athleticism, and considerable makeup, Devaris is one of the more intriguing prospects to watch in 2009.
2009 Projection: The superb numbers that Gordon put up at Ogden earns him a promotion to Low-A Great Lakes to start the season. Ogden has served as a hitter friendly environment for several years and many a player has suffered markedly poorer numbers in seasons following. Gordon should buck that trend. His exceptional hand-eye coordination and blazing speed makes him averse to prolonged slumps. Watch the XBH numbers this season. Gordon will never be a double digit HR hitter, but his ability to drive more balls into the gaps will allow for him to get into scoring position more often. Also, expect the SB numbers to rise dramatically this season to be at or near the top of all of MILB in 2009. Gordon has the potential to be one of the best leadoff hitters in all of the minor leagues in '09 and beyond.
Key Devaris Strange-Gordon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 225 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/27/86
Last season marked a coming of age for the A's 2005 3rd round pick. Mazzaro split time between AA Midland and AAA Sacramento earning a 15-6 record with a 2.74 ERA and 131 K's in 171 IP. A low 90's sinker is Vin's main weapon of choice accented well by a changeup and an improving hard curveball. Mazzaro's command was vastly improved as he cut his walks by more than half and his ability to induce groundballs (1.39 GO/FO) should play well at the next level. His sturdy build has shown good durability and health which gives the A's reason to believe that he could be an effective mid-rotation innings eater. One culpability in Mazzaro's game is the fact that he often pitches to contact which, when his command is off, makes him quite hittable. The transition to the hitter-friendly parks of the PCL proved to be a rude awakening for Vin, as he proved to be quite hittable (3-3 6.15 ERA .340 BAA).
2009 Projection: Mazarro will get to pitch some innings in spring training, but his real quest will begin back at AAA Sacramento where he struggled mightily late last season. Watch to see if he can re-establish his contol of the lower parts of the strike zone. When Vin is inducing groundball outs, he is very effective. Despite his struggles at AAA, his K rate jumped a little bit. If he is able to miss more bats, his transition to Oakland could come much sooner. He will be up at some point in '08, but his role beyond that is somewhat unclear. The A's have a plethora of high upside pitching talent that has yet to toe the rubber at McAffee Stadium. For Mazzaro, a repeat of his Midland numbers will put his name at the top of the list.
Key Vin Mazzaro Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/14/88
The former 2nd rounder from the 2006 draft quietly had an excellent season in the shadow of top prospect Mike Moustakas, hitting .242 with 17 HR 58 RBI 40 SB and 79 runs scored at Low-A Burlington. Taylor is an incredible athlete with a rock solid frame that should project to hit for more power as it matures. His elite speed makes him a dangerous weapon on the basepaths and could serve him well if he shifts to the outfield in the future. There is plenty of room to believe that Taylor's low batting average was an aberration as his highly advanced plate discipline (81 BB/97 K) defies his BA struggles. The main culpability for Taylor right now is finding a place to play defensively. He continued to struggle defensively at 3B prompting the Royals to shift him to the other side of the diamond for part of the season. He certainly has enough athleticism and arm strength to make the move to the outfield and, considering the multitude of talented infielders in K.C.'s system, it may be the best move for Jason Taylor in the long run.
2009 Projection: Taylor should move up to High-A Wilmington along with Moustakas. The batting average should improve quite a bit this season as his other peripherals indicate that his '08 batting average may be the result of bad luck. Keep an eye on how his power carries forward against more advanced pitching. Taylor is impressively strong and there is more power projection left in his 20 year old body. Ultimately, he will likely move to the OF and his combination of speed, power, and plate discipline could well make him a top-tier leadoff candidate for the Royals within the next couple of seasons.
Key Jason Taylor Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
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Posted on 18 February 2009
H/W: 6-0 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/7/87
Hernandez put up another solid season at High-A Myrtle Beach despite missing a month with a hamstring injury. The effects of that setback had a slightly detrimental effect on his numbers, but Gorkys still managed to hit .263 with 5 HR 42 RBI 20 SB and 75 runs in 100 games. When fully healthy, Hernandez has as much speed as anyone in the Braves' system and he uses it effectively on the bases. He seems to be discovering his decent power potential as well. Hernandez had 34 XBH in '08 and he has continued to improve his plate discipline, earning a 48 BB/79 K ratio. Defensively, the Braves are loaded with high upside outfielders, but no one in the system has as much top of the order potential as the 21 year old Venezuelan.
2009 Projection: Hernandez should be ready to return to his basestealing ways at AA Mississippi in April. Keep an eye on the stolen base totals, as his ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths is what sets him apart from other offensive talents in the Braves' system. Watch his power development as well. Hernandez has some power to the gap, and has some potential for growth left in his frame that could translate to double digit HR's down the road.
Key Gorkys Hernandez Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
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Posted on 18 February 2009
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 3/17/88
The best athlete of the 2007 draft had a decent debut season with the Giants' Arizona Rookie League hitting .259 with 2 HR 17 RBI 7 SB and 39 runs scored in 50 games. Fairley has all of the physical tools to be an elite prospect in the near future. His bat speed ranks amongst the best in the Giants system and he projects to hit for both power and average as he ages. He uses his speed aggressively on the basepaths and in CF where he covers wide swathes of real estate. His arm can play at any OF spot and he has shown the ability to read the ball well off of the bat. One pleasant surprise was his advanced plate discipline. Fairley garnered a 26 BB/37 K ratio which boosted his OBP to a respectible .388. The culpabilities with Wendell have to do with his history of off the field indiscretions that have included alleged assault and and a misdemeanor conviction as a high schooler. He has appeared to move beyond these problems, though, and has not had any recurrences of problems as a member of the Giants organization.
2009 Projection: Fairley should get his first dose of full season baseball in April when the Giants send him to Low-A Augusta. The boost in his strike zone discipline is intriguing and it remains to be seen if this trend can continue. The power should kick in at some point as well. There are plenty of reasons to believe that Fairley can evolve into a 20 HR 20 SB player at the major league level within the next three to four seasons. The San Francisco Giants are loaded with high upside talent on the mound and in the field. It is just a matter of time before this organization ascends to the top of the N.L. West and Fairley will be a big part of that future.
Key Wendell Fairley Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
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Posted on 14 February 2009
H/W: 6-5 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/8/87
The monolithic righty took a bold leap forward as one of New York's top pitching prospects in '08 after going 14-9 with a 2.09 ERA and a stellar 21 BB/115 K ratio in 151 IP. McAllister throws a four seam and two seam fastball that reaches 93 MPH with heavy sink. His slider and change are potential plus pitches that he mixes quite well to induce groundball outs (1.48 GO/FO). His control has made impeccable improvements as Zach cut his walk rate to just 1.3 BB/9 IP. Zach has demonstrated himself to be very strong and durable at a young age, giving the Yankees reason to believe that there is room for him to increase velocity in the near future. Despite his laundry list of positive attributes, McAllister seems to pitch to contact more than he needs to, resulting in lower strikeout numbers and, while his BAA was a respectible .233, more disciplined hitters could have more success against him.
2009 Projection: A trip to AA Trenton should provide a sound indicator of just how good McAllister's stuff is against advanced hitters. If he is able to boost his velocity by a few ticks while still maintaining similar amounts of control, McAllister will rapidly ascend not only to the upper echelon of pinstriped prospects, but to the top tier of young pitching prospects as well. The Yankees have a host of good arms in their system (Dellin Betances, Mark Melancon, Andrew Brackman, Jario Heredia), but McAllister has the potential to surpass them all and be a mainstay in the Bronx within the next two seasons.
Key Zach McAllister Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra
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Posted on 14 February 2009
H/W: 5-11 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 6/24/89
The Rangers' 2nd round pick signed just before the deadline in August and has yet to throw a single professional pitch. Ross features a 92 MPH fastball that has lively movement and sharp control. His slider and changeup show some promise as well, but they are still in their developmental stages. Though small in stature, Ross is a big time competitor who employs a bulldog mentality each time he takes the mound. Ross is quite athletic and agile on the mound, but his smallish size could affect his stamina as a starter. Going forward, he needs to establish better command and movement from his two offspeed pitches and put on 10-15 lbs. of muscle in order to remain a starter.
2009 Projection: The Rangers have the luxury of taking their time with Robbie as their system is loaded with high upside arms. With that in mind, it seems most suitable for Ross to start the season at extended spring training before heading to short season Spokane in June. Texas is bubbling with young southpaws (Derek Holland, Neil Ramirez, Martin Perez, Kasey Kiker). Ross has time to develop, but the challenge to distinguish himself from the group is a daunting one. Watch to see how deep into starts he goes and how well he controls the strike zone at the lower levels. If he struggles to command his off speed stuff, he may find himself becoming a reliever down the line.
Key Robbie Ross Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
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Posted on 10 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/25/89
Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington has to be extremely pleased with the early returns from this 17th round selection. Jarek Cunningham torched GCL pitching for a .316 BA with 5 HR 22 RBI and 11 doubles in just 43 games. Cunningham has a strong body frame that quite likely is not done growing. His swing is fluid with a trajectory that will produce a lot of flyballs. His arm strength at shortstop is above average, but he struggles with his footwork at times which leads to inaccurate throws at times. As of now, his range at shortstop is acceptible, but there is some concern that he will grow out of the shortstop position and be forced to move to third base in the future. Cunningham showed solid patience for someone his age, but he seems to have a looping swing that has some holes that could be exploited by more advanced pitchers. He hasn't had strikeout problems yet, but it could happen down the line. Cunningham is one to watch this next season as a sleeper prospect in '09, especially if he can stay at shortstop.
2009 Projection: The challenges of full season competition awaits Cunningham as he should be heading to Low-A Hickory. There are two big challenges for Cunningham to address this season. First, he must shorten his swing while still hitting the ball with authority. Watch the BB/K ratio and, of course, his XBH totals. Second, Jarek must be able to stick at SS. The Pirates already have two power hitting 3B prospects in Neil Walker and top '08 pick Pedro Alvarez. There are several shortstops scattered throughout the organization (Brian Bixler, Brian Friday, Chase D'Arnaud, Jordy Mercer), but Cunningham has more offensive upside than any of them. A strong showing with both the bat and the glove this season should separate him from the rest of the bunch.
Key Jarek Cunningham Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/719
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008
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Posted on 10 February 2009
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 10/30/87
Selected in the 3rd round last season, the former UC Davis star continued to show off his hot bat at short season Hudson Valley, batting .316 with 2 HR 41 RBI and 16 doubles. Jefferies make excellent contact at the plate by spraying line drives from foul line to foul line and working deep into counts. He has a tall and strong build, but his swing does not produce much loft at this time which mitigates his HR totals. Jefferies is a solid athlete as well with fringe average speed and good mobility behind the plate. He has shown himself to be adept at calling pitches and blocking balls in the dirt, but his arm is iffy and baserunners in the New York-Penn League exploited it by succeeding in 23 of 27 SB attempts. There is still a good deal of projectibility left in this 22 year old's skill set. The Rays believe that with some minor adjustments to his swing trajectory and release time, Jefferies will evolve into a very good big league receiver.
2009 Projection: Jefferies will get a crack at full season ball, probably with the Rays' new Low-A affiliate Bowling Green. There is some promise that Jacob can put up better power numbers in coming seasons. He drove in a good number of runs last season and did hit a good amount of doubles. Currently, Tampa Bay's organizational depth chart is devoid of any considerable catching talent. Jefferies, with a little refinement, has an opportunity to move quickly through the Rays' system, making him someone to watch over the next couple of seasons.
Key Jacob Jefferies Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/819
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Posted on 10 February 2009
H/W: 6-0 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 3/10/88
The 20 year old experienced a nice bounce back from a slightly disappointing '07 season by hitting .318 with 11 HR 84 RBI 33 doubles and 98 runs scored at High-A Lake Elsinore. Hunter has the makings of a future .300 hitter with a sweet left-handed stroke that peppers line drives all over the field and produces occasional power to the gaps. Employing excellent hand-eye coordination, Hunter is a tough man to strike out (42 BB/47 K) and if he continues to work deeper into counts, there is a good chance that he could bump up his walk totals. Hunter has average speed, but he uses it fairly well on the basepaths and in covering the gaps in CF. There was some conjecture in the past about a dip in Hunter's work ethic prior to his 2007 season. Some within the organization felt that his fine '06 pro debut may have went to his head a little bit, contributing to his performance dip at Low-A Fort Wayne. It seems that he has moved beyond these concerns, though, and his future as a #2 or #6 hitter in San Diego seems to be quite bright.
2009 Projection: Hunter will play at AA San Antonio in '09. After a highly successful campaign at Lake Elsinore, it seems reasonable to expect a slight drop in his AA numbers. If he can continue to hover around the .300 mark and progress with his power potential, Hunter should figure more prominently into San Diego's 2010 plans. The Padres, however, have some other intriguing offensive options in the OF with the likes of Chase Headley, Kellen Kulbacki, Chad Huffman, and '08 draftee Jaff Decker. Cedric Hunter may not be able to match them homer for homer, but his several other skills should keep him in the mix.
Key Cedric Hunter Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
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Posted on 10 February 2009
H/W: 6-0 175 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 9/11/86
The Dominican switch hitter quietly compiled a monster season over two levels in '08, hitting .292 with 11 HR 81 RBI 42 SB and 82 runs scored over two levels. Speed is far and away Jose's best tool and his efficiency on the basepaths (89 SB/7 CS over last two seasons) is amongst baseball's best. The surprising jump in Vallejo's power numbers were also a welcome addition to his game, especially given the fact that he was able to simultaneously cut his K totals from 104 to 91. Prior to the '08 season, Jose hit a combined 4 HR in over 1,200 AB's and, despite the fact that he hit in two hitter-friendly environments, his 29 doubles shows promise that he can put up double digit HR numbers at the major league level. Vallejo has the tools to be an excellent defensive player, his arm strength is quite strong and his range is excellent, but he does still get sloppy at times with the glove. The Texas Ranger farm system is far and away the best in baseball, which leaves this young 2B prospect a fine under the radar value buy.
2009 Projection: Vallejo handled his promotion to AA Frisco extremely well, but don't be surprised to see him back there for the beginning of the '09 season. Ryan Roberts and Joaquin Arias currently share the 2B duties at AAA Oklahoma City and All-Star Ian Kinsler is a long term fixture in Arlington. With that in mind, it seems that Jose Vallejo's best chances for progress are going to be either at a different position or new ballclub. The Rangers are on the cusp of being a playoff team and the need for depth in their rotation may be enough motivation for them to peddle Vallejo's high upside skills on the trade market. Jose will best help himself by regaining the power stroke that he exhibited at Bakersfield while cleaning up his glovework.
Key Jose Vallejo Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
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Posted on 08 February 2009
H/W: 6-3 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 1/16/86
2008 was a disappointing year for the Rays' top infield prospect as Brignac batted just .250 with 9 HR 43 RBI and 26 doubles at AAA Durham. Things were even tougher for Reid in his brief MLB action, going hitless in 10 AB's with 5 K's. Regardless of his struggles, there are many physical elements to Brignac's game that are quite intriguing. He has a long, athletic body that still projects to produce above average power numbers. Defensively, Brignac has show remarkable improvement from his struggles in previous seasons to the point that his glove, range, and arm collectively make him one of the best fielding shortstops in the minor leagues. Unfortunately, his BB/K ratio regressed significantly last season as Reid managed only 25 BB/98 K's, and his numbers took a tumultuous dive after the All-Star break (.188 2 HR 5 RBI 4 BB/24 K) perhaps due to a lapse of confidence brought on by his inauspicious MLB stint. The Rays are still enamored by the possibility of Brignac and Evan Longoria anchoring the left side of their infield for the next several years, but his '08 travails provide sufficient evidence that more time and patience is needed.
2009 Projection: Jason Bartlett's second half hot streak and fine postseason play should make the Rays feel comfortable with letting Brignac have another shot at AAA Durham. Brignac's offensive numbers have been sliding a bit over the last couple of years and this season is key for his continued development as a top infield prospect. Watch to see if he can resurrect his power numbers and improve upon his dismal BB/K ratio. He should earn another shot with the Rays at some point in '08...hopefully with better results.
Key Reid Brignac Baseball Cards:
- 2004 SP Prospects Auto #/400
- 2004 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2004 Bowman Sterling
- 2004 Bowman Heritage
- 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/522
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Posted on 31 January 2009
H/W: 5-11 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 6/29/89
"Nails Jr." was selected with one of the Brewers' 2nd round picks in the '08 draft and, after signing quickly he put up some solid numbers at both of Milwaukee's short season affiliates hitting .271 with 5 HR 17 RBI 4 SB and 29 runs scored in 46 games. Cutter Dykstra is a slightly bigger and more powerful version of his father Lenny Dykstra. He has good hand speed that explodes though the ball generating surprising pop for someone of his stature. He is an aggressive hitter at the plate but, like his father, he has advanced plate discipline (26 BB/37 K) and a good feel for the strike zone. Cutter was a shortstop in high school, but his fringy arm and inconsistent play necessitated a shift to CF where his plus speed and athleticism serves him well. Dykstra is a tough competitor and intelligent player who, while proud of his dad's accomplishments, has a strong desire to make a name for himself.
2009 Projection: Cutter is ready for Low-A Wisconsin and his first full season of professional ball. One area to watch this next season is his SB totals. Last year, Dykstra was successful in only 4 of 9 attempts, but with his speed and intelligence, these numbers should drastically improve this season. Dykstra has the blend of plate discipline and speed to be a solid leadoff hitter with a little bit of pop. The Brewers have some talented OF in their system, but mainly they are concentrated on the corners (Lorenzo Cain, Caleb Gindl, Eric Fryer). If Dykstra can continue to hit for average and improve his stolen base totals, he should ascend quickly through this talented system.
Key Cutter Dykstra Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
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Posted on 29 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/9/88
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
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/819
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H/W: 5-11 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 12/12/86
