Posted on 09 March 2009
H/W: 6-4 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/27/87
The Detroit Tigers saw projectibility and two MLB-plus pitches when they selected the Ole Miss University hurler in the 2nd round of the '08 draft. Promptly converted to a late inning reliever, Satterwhite threw 20.2 innings at two stops earning 3 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 13 BB/24 K ratio. Satterwhite has an explosive 95 MPH fastball with excellent late movement that moves in on the hands of RH batters. His slider has high upside with a violent two plane break, but he has had trouble commanding it at times. He has dabbled with developing a changeup, but it really hasn't taken as of yet. Satterwhite has a tall, broad frame that still has quite a bit of projectibility left, which leads some to believe that he can tack on some additional ticks to the velocity of his fastball. His inconsistent delivery and loose mechanics causes him to miss up in the zone quite a bit which makes him hittable and marginalizes his ability to induce groundball outs. This could serve as a problem at higher levels. The Tigers are quite enamored with the closer potential of 1st rounder Ryan Perry, and given Satterwhite's young age, there is still some possibility that he could be developed as a starter in the future.
2009 Projection: Satterwhite will get a nice dose of full season ball at High-A Lakeland this season. The Tigers would like to see him get better command of his off-speed stuff and would like for him to utilize his frame to throw downhill on hitters. His control numbers are the obvious things to watch, but keep an eye on his FO/GO ratio as well. If he can bump that up over 1.00 (it was 0.57 last season), he can rapidly become a dominant reliever. Relief pitching has been a thorn in the side of the Tigers for the past few seasons, but there is high hopes that the combination of Satterwhite and Ryan Perry could help this club shorten games and put more wins on the scoreboard.
Key Cody Satterwhite Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto SP #/90
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/322
- 2008 UD USA Auto Jersey #/275
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Posted on 05 March 2009
H/W: 5-11 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 2/26/89
Drafted in the 3rd round last year, Vasquez signed early and immediately put up some solid numbers at short season Low-A Johnson City, batting .317 with 4 HR 25 RBI 8 SB and 42 runs scored in 55 games. His fine performance earned him a promotion to Low-A Quad Cities where he promptly struggled, managing just 5 hits in 39 AB. Vasquez has power that belies his demure build. He generates tremendous torque with his quick right-handed swing that prompts some scouts to speculate that he can become a 20-25 HR hitter at the major league level. He has shown the ability to take a walk and work deep into counts, but his K rate is too high (69 K in 66 games) for someone with his average power numbers. Defensively, Vasquez has below average speed, but his sure hands and strong accurate arm mitigate errors and should allow for him to stay at the position throughout his development.
2009 Projection: Vasquez should get another shot at Quad Cities and should put up better numbers. Monitor the power progress and also his ability to mitigate his K totals. If he doesn't, he will see a precipitous drop in his batting average numbers. The Redbirds have slick fielding Pete Kozma tabbed as their SS of the future which could mean that Vasquez may need to move to 3B down the road. His arm and good instincts would make him a good fit, but the power would need to progress to a more acceptable level in order to ensure his long term viability at that position.
Key Niko Vasquez Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra TOTC Auto #/494
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Posted on 02 March 2009
H/W: 6-5 205 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 8/7/86
The White Sox were elated to see the lanky Longhorn fall to them in the 5th round of the 2008 draft. Immediately after signing, Danks was sent to full season Low-A Kanapolis where he batted .325 with 2 HR 7 RBI and 10 runs scored in 10 games. He continued to impress during his brief stint in the Arizona Fall League hitting .302 with a HR 7 RBI and 3 SB in 18 games. Long and lean, Danks has excellent athleticism and speed that serves him well in CF and on the bases. Coming out of high school, Danks was projected to develop into a power hitter, but that skill never manifested itself during his time with the University of Texas. Instead, he employs a short, quick stroke from the left side which produces hits to the gaps and the occasional long ball. Danks allows for the ball to travel deep into the strike zone which gives him a little more time to see a pitch. As a result, his plate discipline is quite advanced and he feels comfortable working deep into counts. There is quite a bit of projectibility left in his frame and with some adjustments to his swing, he could become more of a power hitter in the future.
2009 Projection: Danks' build and overall game is almost identical to Cincinnati Reds prospect and fellow Longhorn Drew Stubbs. The White Sox will probably send him to High-A Winston-Salem for the start of the '09 season and if things go well, a move to AA Birmingham is by no means out of the question. Watch to see how Danks' game evolves this season. He is a player that could develop as a tall, athletic top of the order player a la Dexter Fowler or he could tap into his power potential and become more of a mid-lineup player that hits 20+ HR per season. Either way, Jordan has an exciting batch of skills that should continue to bloom over the next couple of seasons as he works his way to meet up with his brother, John, in Chicago.
Key Jordan Danks Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/254
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto #/354
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 UD Team USA Jersey Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
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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 11 January 2009
H/W: 6-4 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 6/27/87
The A's decided to address their bullpen depth with the selection of this Pepperdine alum in the 7th round of the '08 draft. The bulk of his professional work was done this past fall in the Hawaiian Winter League where he punched out 18 hitters in just under 10 IP. Hunter has an explosive fastball that sits between 92-95 with good movement. His curveball is a slurvy offering that that does not yet have the tightness and command to be much more than a "show me" pitch at this stage. Hunter has a max effort delivery which, when mixed with his imposing mound presence, can be intimidating to hitters. On the downside, he has struggled with establishing command of his breaking ball and his lack of a good third pitch causes him to become over-reliant on his fastball. The potential is there for Hunter to become a top-flight late inning reliever and, given the A's success rate in scouting and developing young arms, it seems fair to think that he has a bright future ahead of him.
2009 Projection: Hunter should get his first look at full season ball this year at Low-A Kane County. Pay attention to see how the A's decide to use him. He has the build and bulk to be a starting pitcher, but his stuff and mechanics of his delivery seems more fit for a reliever role. Command will be a key issue to watch for Hunter, as his BB/K ratio and GO/FO ratio will speak volumes about his ability to work effectively down in the strike zone. The A's have some good late inning arms in their system already with the likes of Hunter, Henry Rodriguez, Craig Italiano, and others. The first to establish a good feel for the role of closer will become the system's frontrunner to eventually replace Brad Ziegler.
Key Brett Hunter Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Razor Signature Series #/1499
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2009 Projection: Satterwhite will get a nice dose of full season ball at High-A Lakeland this season. The Tigers would like to see him get better command of his off-speed stuff and would like for him to utilize his frame to throw downhill on hitters. His control numbers are the obvious things to watch, but keep an eye on his FO/GO ratio as well. If he can bump that up over 1.00 (it was 0.57 last season), he can rapidly become a dominant reliever. Relief pitching has been a thorn in the side of the Tigers for the past few seasons, but there is high hopes that the combination of Satterwhite and Ryan Perry could help this club shorten games and put more wins on the scoreboard. 
