MLB Prospect Watch

Blogs Track Teams: 4/12/12

• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com recaps the day in the Reds organization, including a big game at the plate for Yorman Rodriguez.  The Reds haven't gotten the return they had hoped for from Rodriguez when they signed him out of Venezuela in 2008, but he's still just 20-years-old and is returning to the California League, where he struggled last season after a late-season call-up.
• PineTarPress.com runs us through the Royals farm system, including a strong start from Kyle Zimmer, who struck out eight batters in six innings.  Zimmer, the 5th overall pick in last year's draft, is pitching at High-A Wilmington, which is a notoriously pitcher-friendly place to play and could allow Zimmer to put up some impressive numbers while he's there, which may not be for long.
• AthleticsFarm.com has all of the A's action, including a home run by Grant Green, who is playing primarily second base these days in Sacramento.
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com breaks down the Buccos, including a multi-hit day from Gregory Polanco, who is attempting to follow up his breakout 2012 season with a strong year in the Florida State League.

Pacific Coast League Preview

Albuquerque (LAD)

Yasiel Puig is the big name but keep an eye on Chris Withrow as a potential bullpen arm who could be in the majors by the end of the season.  Watch Puig's plate discipline (not just walks, but his BB/K ratio) to see how ready he is for the majors.

Colorado Springs (COL)

Just like in the majors, it's all about offense in the Rockies Triple-A affiliate, with Nolan Arenado pushing Ryan Wheeler over to first base.  Arenado was beat out in spring training by Chris Nelson, but if he returns to his 2011 form, he should force his way to the majors by mid-season, no matter what Nelson is doing.

Memphis (SF)

Gary Brown could be up for a big offensive season, much like he had in the offensively similar California League in 2011.  The center fielder struggled last season as Richmond and has one last chance to prove that he's an everyday player and not a fourth outfielder.  Left-hander Mike Kickham leads the pitching staff after a strong season in Richmond in 2012.  He skipped the Cal League on his way through the Giants system, so this will be his first test in an extreme hittter's environment.

Iowa (CHC)

Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters are the names everyone knows and this is their final chance in the minors to prove they should be a part of the Cubs rebuilding process.  Both should be in the majors at some point this season, but both need to give the Cubs some reason to believe they can be regular players at the next level.

Las Vegas (NYM)

The new Mets affiliate are headlined by pitching phenom Zack Wheeler, who won't be in the desert for too long.  He should be in the majors by June.  The 51's also feature Travis d'Arnaud and Wilmer Flores, giving them the best collection of top prospects in the PCL.

Memphis (STL)

Oscar Taveras will be the best player in the PCL and will only be there as long as the Cardinals still have him blocked in the majors.  2012 first-rounder Michael Wacha could be close behind him, and should be the PCL's best pitcher once Wheeler joins the Mets.

Huntsville (MIL)

The Brewers system isn't deep, but Johnny Hellweg, who came over in last summer's Zack Greinke trade, is a flame thrower and almost made the Brewers bullpen out of spring training.  He'll work as a starter in the minors.

New Orleans (MIA)

The Zephyrs thought they were getting Jose Fernandez at some point this season, but instead will have to settle for Jacob Turner and Kyle Skipworth, which is not a close consolation prize.  Christian Yelich will join them eventually, but not yet.

Oklahoma City (HOU)

Jarred Cosart, Rudy Owens and Paul Clemens highlight a rotation of prospects the Astros have acquired over the past two seasons, while the lineup is led by Robbie Grossman, Marc Krauss and Jonathan Villar.  None of these players were drafted by the Astros, a testament to their rebuilding process, but none are high-end prospects.

Omaha (KC)

Once a Triple-A team that could almost rival the worst big league teams, Omaha now features midling prospects like Christian Colon and Chris Dwyer.

Reno (ARI)

Tyler Skaggs didn't make the Diamondbacks roster this spring, which is a gain for the Aces rotation that will also feature Randall Delgado, Charles Brewer and Chase Anderson.

Round Rock (TEX)

The headliner is Jurickson Profar, but he'll be flanked by Mike Olt in the lineup and Justin Grimm on the mound.  Profar could also be spending the majority of his time at second base now that the Rangers have locked Elvis Andrus up long term.

Sacramento (OAK)

Sonny Gray and Grant Green give the RIver Cats a pair of first rounders still trying to gain some traction within the A's organization.  Either could move quick if they have success or they could spend the whole season in the PCL.

Salt Lake (LAA)

The least prospect-laden team in the PCL offers Kole Calhoun in the outfield, but even he could be in the majors soon.

Tacoma (SEA)

There are prospects galore on the Rainers roster, including Danny Hultzen and Erasmo Ramirez in the rotation and Nick Franklin in the middle infield.  Taijuan Walker and Mike Zunino should both be there at some point as well.

Tucson (SD)

Jaff Decker continues to try to defy expectations, but needs to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2012 season.  Brad Boxberger will stay sharp in the bullpen until he's needed in the majors.

 

 

Top 10 Super Utility Prospects

Calling someone a utility-man used to be the prospect equivelent of a death sentence.  Essentially it meant that they weren't good enough to be an everyday player.

To a certain extent that's still the case.  But in the past few years, we've coined the term "super-utility" player to essentially mean a player who has the defensive ability to play multiple positions regularly based on his team's needs, but the bat to play every day.

Ben Zobrist took this role to a new level over the past 3-4 seasons, playing at an all-star level for the Tampa Bay Rays while receiving significant playing time at two or three positions per season.  His versatility has allowed the Rays to mix and match other players on their roster, giving manager Joe Maddon incredible flexibility when it comes to making lineups.

Zobrist's versatility is a tool almost as valuable as his on-field abilities themselves, and teams have begun to covet players who are able to play multiple positions.

This is a list of those players.  Below are the ten best prospects in the minors who could fill that type of role on their team - one where they play everyday or almost every day but likely at a number of different positions.

In order to be considered for this list, a player must either play two positions regularly, one of which has to be an up-the-middle position (C, 2B, SS, CF) or if he is limited to the corners, he must be able to play at least three (1B, 3B, LF/RF).

 

10 - Evan Gattis, Atlanta

When you think utility-man you don't typically think of a catcher, but having a player who can catch a few days a week and play another position can be a handy tool to have, especially in the National League with double switches.  Gattis can be that guy for the Braves.  A late-arrival to the prospect party, Gattis has come on with reckless abondon, hitting 22 home runs in 2011 and 18 in 2012 despite only playing about half the season.  At 25, he's on the fast track through the minors and should start the season in Triple-A.  The Braves left field situation is unsettled and Gattis played there a lot this winter.  He could be up in the majors by mid-season, playing some left field and spelling Brian McCann behind the plate.

9 - Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay

The former first overall pick as a shortstop, Beckham has been projected as a second baseman and third baseman by those who thoguht he'd eventually outgrown his original position.  After struggling with his bat and a 50-game suspension for drugs, he's no longer the Rays anything of the future, but his ability to play a few different positions could turn him into a regular utility player.  He has a few things going against him - being right-handed for one - but he should be able to play all three infield positions and could probably handle both corner outfield spots if given a chance to learn them.  He does enough things well and will still be just 23 next season so there's still time to carve out a role in the majors.

8 - Bobby Borchering, Houston

Borchering has gone from a power-hitting third baseman taken in the first round to a first-baseman only with contact issues, and has somehow come back around back where he started.  A trade from the Diamondbacks to the Astros helped that, as his new team has given him another opportunity to play the hot corner.  He'll never be very good at it, and the Diamondbacks had enough other 3B prospects that it wasn't worth working with him on it, but the Astros want to give him a chance to stick there.  Even if he can't play there every day, he's now had experience at first base and both corner outfield spots.  He doesn't get on base enough, but he still has plus power as a switch-hitter, so he could be a good fit as a 3-4 day per week player at a number of positions.

7 - Ronny Rodriguez, Cleveland

Just 20 and only through A-ball, Rodriguez has already seen significant time at both shortstop and second base, and even has a game at third under his belt.  He has good power but an ultra-aggressive approach at the plate that may be better suited for sporadic play in the majors.  His power (30 homers in two seasons) will get him chances, but expect him to bounce around the infield before finding a home defensively, if he ever does.

6 - Eddie Rosario, Minnesota

Rosario gets overlooked in a Twins system that is being quickly rebuilt, but his versatility could be a significant portion of their future plans.  Rosario has played both second base and center field regularly, giving him a unique and valuable set of skills.  With Aaron Hicks and Byron Buxton in the mold, Rosario likely won't be needed too often in center, but he should have no problem sliding over to a corner and handling it quite well.  At the plate, he posted an .835 OPS in his first taste of full-season ball.  The Twins should try to keep Rosario at second base as long as he can stay there given that it's a much weaker position within their system than the outfield, and because the more experience he has there the more valuable he will be.

5 - Jedd Gyorko, San Diego

The Padres are always on the lookout for more offense, and no one in their farm system has provided more than Gyorko over the past two seasons. Gyorko has posted OPS's of .952 and .921 in back-to-back years, making it seem like he's a star in the making, and he is a good prospect in his own right.  He's also seen time at both second and third base as he works his way through the minors and could settle at either or both, depending on what happens with Chase Headley.  The only question about Gyorko is how he'll hit in more neutral hitting environments.  The majority of his offensive damage has come in the California and Pacific Coast Leagues, both extreme hitter-friendly leagues.  He has a career 1.068 OPS in High-A and a .968 mark in Triple-A.  In between, he posted just a .786 OPS in Double-A - okay, but not great.  If he continues to be a 30-homer player, he'll likely settle in at a position, but he has shown the ability to play both third and second and could bounce back and forth depending on the needs of the Padres.

4 - Grant Green, Oakland

No one on this list has played more positions than Green, who played five last season alone.  Drafted as a shortstop, he's had throwing issues there, and the A's have tried him at second base, third base and left and center field.  Green struggled in the outfield, but looked comfortable at second base, where the A's have a need.  He could win that job this spring, but depending on the A's needs over the next few years, he could spend time at third base or left field.

3 - Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore

Schoop's defensive landing spot is up in their air for two reasons - he can handle all three infield positions, and Manny Machado's future is still up in the air and Schoop will likely move around in difference to him.  Machado is playing third in the majors now and could stay there.  If so, Schoop can handle shortstop just fine.  He would be above average at second base and could also handle third if Machado moves back to short at some point.  Schoop took a step back with his bat last season but still projects to be enough hitter to get regular at-bats.

2 - Nick Castellanos, Detroit

Unlike many of the players on this list, Castellanos doesn't project as a utility player.  He projects as a regular.  Most people are higher on Castellanos than I am but that doesn't mean I don't think he'll be a regular.  Until the Tigers signed Prince Fielder and shifted Miguel Cabrera over to third base, Castellanos was seen as a third baseman.  Not everyone thought he could stay there, but the Tigers had no plan to move him.  Now that he's shown he can play right field, he has the potential to fill in at either position for either the Tigers, or whatever team he ends up being traded to.

1 - Anthony Rendon, Washington

 Much like Castellanos, Rendon's utility-ness is a product of circumstance.  If it weren't for Ryan Zimmerman's presence in Washington, he'd simply be the Nationals third baseman of the future.  Instead, he's going to have to learn a new position, which could be second base, first base or left field.  The Nats don't really have openings at any of them at the moment, which makes it hard to predict, but second base is the position he'll likely be able to handle best.  If he takes to second, he will still be able to fill in at third base to spell the injury-prone Zimmerman, giving the Nats added versatility.

 

 

 

Arizona Fall League Recap: 11/8/12

• Padres outfield prospect Rymer Liriano went 3-for-5, including a pair of doubles, to help lead his Javelinas to a 12-4 victory. Javelinas starter Kyle Gibson needed the run support after the rehabbing Twins right-hander allowed four runs in five innings, and has not gotten hit hard in his last two starts.  For the Scorpions, the game was lost in the top of the eighth inning, when Pirates reliever Victor Black entered the game and gave up seven runs in two-thirds of an inning, walking four batters in the process.  He's now walked 11 batters in 8 2/3 fall innings.  Indians catching prospect Alex Monsalve went 4-for-4 in the loss.
• Oakland A's second baseman Grant Green hit a game-tying three-run home run in the top of the eighth, but Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Johnny Hellweg blew the lead in the bottom of the inning to take the loss.  The Solar Sox took the lead in the first place thanks to a three-run home run by Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson, who is hitting just .103 this fall.
• Ninth inning home runs by Diamondbacks prospect Matt Davidson and Blue Jays outfielder Jake Marisnick weren't enough to complete the comback for the Rafters on Thursday.  Cardinals outfielder Mike O'Neill collected three hits in the victory, raising his batting average to .346 for the fall.

 

 

Arizona Fall League Recap: 11/2/12

• The Javelinas got home runs from Padres outfielder Rymer Liriano and Mariners catcher Mike Zunino to help lead them to their 7-5 victory on Friday.  Tigers prospects Aaron Westlake had big offensive days in the loss, as Westlake homered and Nick Castellanos collected three hits.  Phillies pitcher Kyle Simon got hit hard again, giving up three runs in as many innings to keep his ERA at an even 9.00 for the fall.
• The Desert Dogs only got five hits, but home runs by Braves shortstop prospect Nick Ahmed and A's second baseman Grant Green proved to be the difference.  Rangers shortstop Luis Sardinas got three hits in the loss.
• Blue Jays pitching prospect Deck McGuire got rocked, allowing five runs (four earned) in 1 1/3 innings. He gave up a first inning home run to Giants shortstop prospect Joe Panik, who is hitting just .231 this fall.