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: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/18/85
This University of Mississippi alum produced a rock solid stat line at AA Carolina this past season hitting .298 with 7 HR 74 RBI 34 SB and 84 runs scored. Coghlan is a highly polished player in just about every aspect of the game. His short, inside-out swing peppers line drives to all fields with the occasional gap power. He is a throw back player that gives a maximum effort both on an off of the field. He grinds out at bats and is a tough man to strikeout (67 BB/65 K in '08) which, when paired with his quickness, makes him a potent top of the order hitter. Defensively, Coghlan has decent range and an average arm which should fit well at 2B.
2009 Projection: Dan Uggla is still the Marlins' second baseman...for now. The 2008 All-Star was shopped around in the offseason and could be a hot commodity at the trading deadline in July. This should give Coghlan ample time to complete his development at AAA before making his debut with the Fish at some point late in the season. His pedal to the metal style of play and all around skill set should make him a fixture atop Florida's lineup and in the hearts of Marlins fans for years to come.
Key Chris Coghlan Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Futures Game Jersey
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
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Posted on 08 February 2009
H/W: 6-6 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/21/83
The Rangers sent their former 1st round pick to the Philadelpia Phillies for one of their former 1st rounders Greg Golson. Mayberry's minor league development has been slower than expected, but there are still some physical tools present that tantalize and frustrate those who watch him play. His statuesque build is quite athletic, evoking comparisons to Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and All-Star Jermaine Dye. His long swing generates big time power that could surpass 30 HR per season at the major league level. As he has built bulk, his speed has diminished somewhat, but he can still steal the occasional base and should be able to have enough range to stick as a corner outfielder. His arm is accurate and strong, making RF seem like a suitable destination. There are several irritants in Mayberry's game too. He has poor plate discipline (34 BB/106 K) and, while he has worked on shortening his swing, his long arms leaves several holes that advanced pitchers can exploit. He will never hit for a high average and, due to his size, he should continue to lose speed and athleticism as he ages.
2009 Projection: Mayberry did need a change in scenerio, but Philadelphia seems to be a bad fit for him. The world champs signed Raul Ibanez and Jason Werth to multi-year contracts in the off season and the cluster of highly talented OF prospects led by Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown have considerably greater upsides than the junior Mayberry. Chances are that Philly sends him to AAA Ottawa to start the season and, if things go well, he will get a look as a bench player at some point in '09. As the season progresses, don't be surprised to see Mayberry get packaged up in a deal to bring more veteran depth to the Phillies in their quest for a series repeat. This may be what John Jr. needs to revive his once-promising major league career.
Key John Mayberry Jr. Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2005 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2005 Bowman Heritage Auto
- 2005 Topps Chrome Update
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Posted on 05 February 2009
H/W: 5-10 180 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 5/22/86
The former 2nd round pick out of Arizona State did all that he could to evoke comparisons to fellow Sun Devil alum Dustin Pedroia. In his first full professional season, Sogard batted .308 with 10 HR 87 RBI 16 SB and 97 runs scored. Built like a fire hydrant, Sogard is a high energy dirt magnet whose average skill set is greatly enhanced by his invigorating passion to win. Sogard has good offensive tools as his left handed swing is quick and surprisingly powerful. He is a clutch hitter with elite plate discipline (79 BB/63 K) and a knack for driving in runs. Sogard has average speed, but his high baseball I.Q. makes him a weapon on the basepaths and helps to put him in the right place to make plays defensively. Players like Sogard have a way of grinding out productive and prolonged MLB careers. Whether or not he becomes a star in the same vernacular as his Fenway counterpart remains to be seen and is worth a second look.
2009 Projection: Sogard will play at AA San Antonio in 2009. If Matt Antonelli can stick with San Diego there is reason to believe that Eric can jump to AAA Portland at some point. The main thing that Sogard needs to work on is his defense. His .973 fielding % in '08 was about 15-20 points lower than the Padres would like to see from him. Ultimately, his offensive potential trumps Antonelli's and the odds are that Sogard will be 2B in San Diego within the next two years.
Key Eric Sogard Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
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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 31 January 2009
H/W: 6-1 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 4/18/91
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 that he 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.
Key Juan Silverio Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/999
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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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Posted on 29 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 12/18/85
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.
Key Collin DeLome Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/819
- 2008 Donruss Threads Letterman Patch Auto #/240
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Posted on 29 January 2009
H/W: 6-1 205 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 4/26/89
The Blue Jays' former supplemental 1st rounder put on 15 lbs. of muscle before the 2008 season in preparation for his shift to 3B. Regardless, the power did not manifest itself as Ahrens hit .259 with 5 HR 42 RBI and 25 doubles at Low-A Lansing. With quick hands and an even swing from both sides of the plate, Ahrens is projected to develop 15-20 HR power as he matures and his plus arm and good shortstop instincts makes him an above average fielder at the hot corner. Those that watched him as a prep player likened him to future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones but, unlike the Braves 3B, Ahrens struggled mightily to hone his plate discipline as he managed a paltry 45 BB/135 K ratio. The Toronto Blue Jays used the 2007 draft to re-stock their farm system with talented, high upside prep talents like Justin Jackson, John Tolisano, Eric Eiland, and Ahrens. While 2008 offered mixed results, the 2009 season should give a better indication on just how much can be expected from Ahrens and the others.
2009 Projection: The Jays are an organization that is thin on talented 3B prospects, which means that Ahrens should, despite his mediocre '08 season, advance to High-A Dunedin for the '09 season. Ahrens should hit for more power there and if he can turn 20 of his K's into walks, his average should bump up to the .280-.300 range. This next season will be critical for Ahrens' future projectibility. The talent is there for him to be an above average every day player, but his second full season will need to render better results than his first one.
Key Kevin Ahrens Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/794
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
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Posted on 28 January 2009
H/W: 6-1 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/14/85
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.
Key Chris Valaika Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/309
- 2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings Auto #/500
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Posted on 22 January 2009
H/W: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 2/20/86
The first full season for this Tennessee alum has been a rousing success. Borbon split time between High-A Bakersfield and AA Frisco hitting .321 with 7 HR 58 RBI 53 SB and 87 runs scored. He has continued to work dilligently on his game in both the Arizona Fall League and Dominican Winter League as well. With a game that has been likened to Johnny Damon, Borbon is a complete hitter with game changing speed and emerging power potential. His skills as a CF easily makes him the top defensive outfielder in the organization and his presence should move Josh Hamilton to RF. Julio does not strike out much but, at this stage of his career, he also does not draw many walks either. In order for him to emerge as a top of the lineup hitter, the Rangers would like to see him work more counts and increase his walk totals. Texas has a fruitful farm system chocked full of high upside offensive talents. Borbon's set of skills, though currently undervalued by collectors, will headline this emerging A.L. West giant in the very near future.
2009 Projection: Borbon has done everything right to earn a shot at a spot on the opening day roster, but the likely scenario will see the former Volunteer head to AAA Oklahoma City. The Rangers have a blockade of lesser talented but more experienced OF's like Nelson Cruz, Brandon Boggs, Greg Golson, and Marlon Byrd that could delay his ascension to the major leagues. However, the Rangers are constantly in the hunt for more pitching depth and it seems that one or a couple of these players will be included in a future transaction. Keep an eye on this development as well as Borbon's progress at AAA. If he can maintain his high average and turn some of his 32 doubles from '08 into HR's, he could find himself in Arlington at some point in '09. Once he arrives, he should be a mainstay atop this exciting young lineup for years to come.
Key Julio Borbon Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/594
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 UD Team USA Auto #/595
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
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Posted on 22 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 2/28/89
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.
Key Neftali Soto Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/999
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/645
- 2008 Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Leaf Limited Auto
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Posted on 19 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 175 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/27/90
It will be quite some time before anyone has a better season than this young prep All-American. Odorizzi went a perfect 14-0 at Highland HS, in Illinois,allowing just one run in almost 90 innings while accruing an obscene 6 BB/145 K ratio. After being selected as Milwaukee's supplimental 1st round pick, Odorizzi pitched for the Brewers' Arizona League affiliate where he went 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 outings. Odorizzi has a nice selection of pitches including a four seam fastball that he throws between 90-94 MPH and a two seamer that ranges from 88-92 MPH. His curve is a plus pitch at times and his slider has good late movement. Odorizzi has a long and lanky frame that should build some muscle as he gets older and his clean mechanics should help him avoid injuries down the road. Jake has good command of his pitches and mixes them up well on the mound. There have been some concerns about his overall competitiveness on the mound as his poise has come into question from time to time, but some positive professional starts should assuage any long term concerns.
2009 Projection: A full season at Low-A Wisconsin is likely in order for the former USA Today Player of the Year. As good as Jake was last season, there are still questions about his ability to miss bats at the professional level. If Odorizzi can keep his K rate up, he will move quickly through the Brewers system. Milwaukee's farm system is chocked full of offensive talent but much more sparsely populated with top pitching prospects. Ultimately, Odorizzi should become a solid mid-rotation starter for the Brewers within the next three to four seasons.
Key Jake Odorizzi Baseball Cards:
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Posted on 17 January 2009
H/W: 6-0 195 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 6/13/86
Lucroy split his 2008 season between Low-A West Virginia and High-A Brevard County hitting .301 with 20 HR 77 RBI 28 doubles and 78 runs scored. A 3rd round pick in '07, this Louisiana-Lafayette alum is a complete hitter that drives the ball well to all fields and has a good feel for the strike zone (58 BB/84 K). Prior to being drafted, there was a good deal of skepticism about Lucroy's abilities behind the plate. The concerns were related to his lack of arm strength and accuracy. Actions speak louder than words, however, as Lucroy nabbed 45% of potential base stealers last year and earned a solid .989 fielding %. In addition, his game calling skills and leadership intangibles are highly regarded within the Brewers' system. Angel Salome's sterling AA season has placed him at the top of the organization's depth chart, but Lucroy is closing the gap....quickly.
2009 Projection: Like Salome last season, Lucroy will get his shot at AA Huntsville. The key for Lucroy this season is to keep doing what he did all of last season, that is hit for average and power, and play great defense. If he can do this with regularity, a move to AAA Nashville may happen at some point in '09. The Brewers are going to give Salome a shot to be the opening day catcher in spring training. While he is more athletic than Lucroy, his is less polished as a hitter and defender. Odds are that this job will be Lucroy's at some point in 2010.
Key Jonathan Lucroy Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
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Posted on 17 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 210 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 11/26/85
The former Oklahoma State star had a power packed '08 season hitting .266 with 30 HR 83 RBI 16 SB and 78 runs scored between Low-A Kane County and High-A Stockton. Brown is a stupendous athlete with awesome raw power and blazing speed on both the basepaths and in the outfield. His left-handed swing has considerable leverage and loft that can drive the ball out to any part of the ballpark. He is a solid CF with good instincts and range, but his cannon-like arm strength profiles better in RF. The chief liability in Brown's game right now is his dearth of discipline at the plate. Last season, Corey struck out a whopping 168 times in 134 games played. His struggles continued this fall in the Hawaiian Winter League where he accumulated another 33 in 28 games. Brown does get his fair share of walks (58 in '08) but his overagressiveness and pull-happy mentality will eat him alive at higher levels if he doesn't improve. The A's, though, are quite high on this young slugger and are willing to be patient with a player of Brown's high upside and 5-tool abilities.
2009 Projection: Brown should begin the '08 season with AA Midland, which should prove to be a make or break challenge for the 23 year old. Last season's tour of Kane County and Stockton afforded Corey the ability to play in hitter friendly environments against less experienced pitching. He will not have the same luxuries this year. Watch his BB/K ratio and batting average carefully. If he struggles early on, the A's may pop him back down to Stockton for some more work. There is a lot to like in Brown. He has the potential to be a 30 HR 20 SB guy at the major league level, but, if he doesn't change his approach at the plate, the specter of the strikeout threatens to relegate him to the Rob Deer and Pete Incaviglia annals of baseball lore.
Key Corey Brown Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
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Posted on 16 January 2009
H/W: 6-3 215 lb. B/T: R/L DOB: 1/8/90
The Braves used the 40th selection of the '08 draft to select this first team All-American southpaw. The Florida high schooler had a dominant season pitching to a 12-1 record with a 0.41 ERA and 140 K's in 86 IP. He continued his quality showings with the Braves' GCL affiliate allowing just one earned run in 9.2 innings. Devall has a long, projectible frame that can add more bulk as he matures. Despite his size, Brett is not overpowering, but he does have excellent command of three major league quality pitches. HIs 90-92 MPH fastball has some sink to it and he mixes it well with a straight change that has good depth. His only breaking pitch at this point is a slurvy curveball that actually should develop into more of a slider. There is a lot of promise in this pitch and many within baseball circles think that it will become an effective outpitch for him. Devall has a fluid delivery that is mechanically sound and very repeatable. This should help to keep him from having pitching-related injuries and lapses in control. There is projectibility with DeVall, but some feel that his ceiling is a bit limited due to the fact that he doesn't have ace-like stuff. Nevertheless, the Braves are adept at scouting and refining young pitching talent and the chances of Brett becoming a quality #2 or #3 starter seems to be quite bright.
2009 Projection: After a brief successful stint with the Braves' GCL affiliate, DeVall should move to full season Rome for the '09 season. The main thing to watch with DeVall is his ability to dominate hitters at this lower level. The strikeout numbers are always a prime indicator, but keep an eye on his GO/FO ratio as well. He induced 1.86 GO/FO outs in his professional debut and, if he can keep this up, it will demonstrate that he is effectively controlling other hitters. The Braves have a stable of young quality arms in their system and DeVall is assuredly one of them.
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Posted on 14 January 2009
H/W: 6-0 175 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 8/17/86
After shaking off the injury bug that bit him for the first two months of the season, the young Angels 2B prospect went on to tear the cover off of the ball over the final two months batting .297 with 16 HR 38 RBI and 54 runs scored in just 56 games. Mount was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft as a shortstop before being shifted to 2B following the 2006 season. Mount generates remarkable pop despite his small frame with a well leveraged lefty swing and quick wrists. He also has exceptional hand-eye coordination which allows him to make consistent hard contact and mitigate his strikeout totals. Despite stealing 10 bases last season, Mount is not quick on his feet, but his soft hands and good instincts should allow for him to be a fringe average defender at 2B. Naturally, the biggest issue with Mount is his health. He has fallen prey to a variety of nagging injuries over his first three years of his career. Most of these maladies have been with his quads and hamstrings which makes Ryan a high risk for a rapid drop in athleticism as he ages. Another area that the Angels would like to see him address is his pitch recognition and ability to work counts. While he doesn't strike out much, his 23 BB last season are too low for someone of his power potential.
2009 Projection: The Angels have preliminarily tabbed Mount to skip a level and begin the regular season at AAA Salt Lake City. That may be a tad aggressive for someone who has yet to complete a full season in good health. That will be the main thing to watch with Mount. If, and it is a BIG "if", he can avoid the DL, he could well find the pitching in the PCL to his liking, putting up good power numbers similar to his predecessor Sean Rodriguez. The Angels currently have their own injury aficionado Howie Kendrick manning the 4-hole with young Sean-Rod waiting in the wings. The chances are quite slim that Mount will receive any time with the big league club this season, but a solid effort at AAA could certainly increase his value as a trading chip come July.
Key Ryan Mount Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2005 Bowman Sterling
- 2005 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
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Paste the HTML code into your webpage Popularity: 9% [?]
Posted on 14 January 2009
H/W: 6-5 215 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 11/16/88
The Dodgers challenged their young 3B shuttling him to High-A Inland Empire for the '08 season. Gallagher was up to the task, batting .293 with 5 HR 55 RBI and 33 doubles in just 78 games. Though his fence-clearing power has yet to show up, one look at Austin's tall, powerfully built frame shows that it will indeed come. Gallagher worked dilligently last season to avoid opening up his hips prematurely and as a result, he hit balls well to the other field, but was unable to consistenly tap into his pull power. Given some time and strength development, this should not be a long term issue. What will be, though, is hs lack of fluidity in the field and on the basepaths. Splitting time at both 3B and 1B, the young infielder struggled with the glove committing 25 errors in just 78 games. The Dodgers would also like to see him shore up his plate discipline (29 BB/73 K) a little bit. The fact that Gallagher was playing at an advanced level as a 19 year old, though, shows that the organization feels optimistic about the potential blend of power and batting average that Austin can bring to the table in next couple of seasons.
2009 Preview: The good performance at Inland Empire almost assures Gallagher of a promotion to L.A.'s new AA affiliate in Chattanooga. Perhaps this can be the season that Austin can clear the fences with a little more regularity. Keep an eye on his HR totals as they will need to increase significantly, especially given the fact that his future as a 3B prospect is fading quickly. One oddity in Gallagher's '08 season is the fact that, while he swooned in August (.174 BA), his plate discipline increased (10 BB/9 K). A breakthrough in that department should allow for him to threaten the .300 mark as a hitter and elevate his status as a noteworthy corner infield prospect.
Key Austin Gallagher Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/500
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H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 10/30/87
