35) Julio Borbon - TEX
- Despite average college numbers in his final season, Borbon went to the Rangers with the 35th overall pick in 2007. That's what speed will do for you. Borbon is a lead-off type hitter, and has demonstrated that with the Rangers, primarily in 2008. Borbon split the season between two hitter friendly leagues (California and Texas), but he also plays in an organization with a hitter friendly ballpark, so you can't fault him for that. Borbon produced to the tune of .306/.346/.395 in 291 California League at-bats, then came through with a .337/.380/.459 line after his promotion to Double-A. His plate discipline is lacking (only 29 walks in 546 combined ABs)for someone who relies on speed as much as Borbon does, so at the moment, his ability to get on base and use his speed is dependent on his hitting, and the Rangers would love to see him work his way on-base a little more frequently. Look for Borbon to head back to the Texas League, where he should start in CF for the RoughRIders, at least for the first half of the season.
34) Todd Frazier - CIN
- Frazier is one of those guys who doesn't do anything extrordinarily well, but does everything good enough. More importantly, he's a "ballplayer," one of those most glowing compliments you can give a player. Frazier doesn't have the tools of other players, but he produces, and has thus far at every level. Through 182 minor league games at 3 different levels, he has produced a line of .300/.378/.506, all while being shuffled around the diamond while the Reds figure out where they want him to play. Drafted as a shortstop, the Reds don't feel he will be able to maintain the range needed to play the position at the major league level, if he has it now. He has spent some time at 1B and in LF, but his likely home will end up being 3B, where his bat could still play as above average. Look for Frazier to get his first taste of Double-A this year, and spend some time all over the infield until the Reds find him a home.
33) Jon Gilmore - ATL
- Gilmore has had to make adjustments his entire time in professional ball, and so far has done so with ease. The Braves started Gilmore in the Sally League in 2008, during which time Gilmore appeared overmatched, striking out 20 times in 102 at-bats. When the Appalacian League began play in June, the Braves sent Gilmore there, where he proceeded to lead the league in hits and finished 3rd in batting average. His 23 doubles also led the league, which demonstrated his future power potential. The Braves loved his bat speed coming out of high school, and once he packs on a few pounds to his 6'3" 195 lb. frame, many of those doubles could turn into homeruns. Gilmore also had to adjust to 3B, a position he is still learning after having been a shortstop in high school. Many players would have been mentally unable to recover after such a disasterous start to their first professional season, but Gilmore showed the mental toughness that will serve him well on his path to the majors. Look for Gilmore to give the Sally League another try in 2009, and this time he should stay there the entire season.
32) Nicholas Noonan - SF
- The results for Nick Noonan's first full year of professional ball were mixed. He did jump straight from 52 games in Rookie ball in 2007 to the Low-A Sally League in 2008, which makes his 27 doubles and 29 steals all the more impressive. His 23/98 BB/K ratio, however, is cause for concern. If his doubles deveolp into homeruns, than that total becomes more tolerable, but at 6'0" 180 lbs, Nonnan profiles more as a hitter with gap power, meaning he needs to cut that ratio in half to be at maximum production. Look for Noonan to move up to the High-A California League, where he should be the starting 2B for the San Jose Giants in 2009.
31) Josh Smoker - WAS
- Typically when the phrase Dr. James Andrews is in your scouting report, it's not a good thing, but for Smoker, it actually brings feelings of hope for the young lefty pitching prospect that the Nationals took with the first pick in the 2007 supplemental round. Smoker was limited by shoulder discomfort for all of 2008, effecting his performance as he tried to pitch through the discomfort. He visited Andrews and rather than need Tommy John surgery, the doctor simply removed a bone spur removed just last week, and Smoker should be ready for Spring Training. That's good news for the Nationals who are anxious to see what Smoker can do on the mound, having only seen 48 1/3 innings of his work, most of which can be discarded due to his injury. Look for the Nationals to gauge Smoker's recovery in the spring and assign him based on his health, which could place him in either the Sally League or the New-York Penn League once it gets under way.
