Archive for the ‘Prospectin’’ Category

Jackie Bradley Jr. And the Futility of Service Time Concerns

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Boston Red Sox, Prospectin' on Apr 12, 2013

Baltimore Orioles Vs. Boston Red Sox At Fenway Park

Jackie Bradley Jr. was a terrific story for the Red Sox out of Spring Training. He forced his way onto the club, taking advantage of injury-based need to earn himself a trip north for his first taste of Major League action. Bradley gives the Red Sox something few of their existing outfielders do: speed on the base paths and superb range in the outfield. (Sorry, Shanf. Sad but true.)

Bradley hit during the Grapefruit League but hitting at the big league level is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish. It is incredibly difficult, especially for players with little exposure above double-A, to succeed during their first go-round at the big league level.

As we should expect, Bradley is struggling during his first trip around the league with just three hits and six walks in 33 plate appearances. The adjustments required of Major League hitters are not easily made, especially given the grinding nature of a season in the show.

The Red Sox, having committed to starting Bradley’s clock by placing him on the Opening Day roster, now must decide what they want to do with one of their top prospects. Just like the choice to put him on the team in the first place, this is a delicate choice indeed.

Read the rest of this entry »

3 Comments

Jorge Soler Ejected For Charging Dugout With A Bat

Posted by Archi Zuber under Chicago Cubs, Prospectin' on Apr 11, 2013

Soler

21-year old Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler was ejected from the High-A Daytona Cubs vs Clearwater Threshers game late Wednesday night after an incident that allegedly ended with Soler charging the Threshers dugout with a bat in hand.

Dutiful blogger Josh Timmers of Bleed Cubbie Blue was watching the MiLB TV feed of the game (voluntarily) and offers up this brief synopsis of the action:

Read the rest of this entry »

5 Comments

Baseball America Unveils the Loosest Slots in Town

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Prospectin' on Apr 10, 2013

2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft

There is no substitute for gaming the system. Smart has a pretty solid record of outrunning Rich, until Rich changes the rules in its favor. Major League Baseball’s wild west has always been the international signing world, a nefarious land of shady agents, doctored birth certificates and various and sundry dirty businesses done on the sly.

In the interests of both cleaning up this ugly side of the game and ensuring more cost certainty for owners, the league continues to make steps towards an international player draft. At this time, only baseball players from Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible for the Rule 4 player draft. Players from other countries are signed as free agents, often much earlier in their careers than draft eligible players.

Limits on international spending are part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the players association and the owners. The next step: establishing a bonus structure for a potential international draft.

Read the rest of this entry »

4 Comments

Nick Castellanos: Moving on Out (of the infield)

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Detroit Tigers, Movin' On Up, Prospectin' on Feb 28, 2013

2012 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game

The more we read about prospects, the more often little provisos about defense pop up. While approximately 109% of professional baseball players played some combination of shortstop/starting pitcher in their Little League/high school days, very few players have the skills to stick at short as the game speeds up.

The defensive spectrum is a wondrous thing to watch in action. It almost never fails – once a player begins his tumble down towards DH ignominy, it is nearly impossible to reverse course.

Nick Castellanos is the Tigers top prospect, a fine offensive player who the Tigers took with their first pick in the 2010 draft. Detroit moved Castellanos aggresively through their system, rushing the 21-year old to Double-A in 2012.

Though he struggled at this advanced level, there is a lot of belief in Castellanos bat. Baseball America voted him the best hitter for average in the Tigers system, as well as giving him the nod for best strike zone discipline in Detroit’s (admittedly bereft) system.

The Baseball Prospectus scouting staff called him a very, very good offensive prospect with a quick bat with power lurking inside. Keith Law called him the best pure hitter in the minor leagues (pure being scout code for “in spite of his better judgement”, as evidenced by the above swing).

None of these evaluators make much mention of Castellanos’ defensive impact because, well, it looks like he won’t have any. Though still listed as a third baseman (BA thinks he will play third for the 2016 Tigers), Castellanos is well on his way to the outfield.

Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments

Happy Birthday, Dylan Bundy

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Dylan Bundy, Prospectin' on Feb 20, 2013

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

Like most people, I don’t know too much about prospects. I don’t get to see them play before they reach the big leagues and, even then, my exposure to most young players is somewhat limited. Like most people, I don’t have the scouting chops to decide who will become a star and who lacks the batspeed to make an impact at the big league level. I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one.

What makes a player number two on some lists but number six on another? Something catches the list complier’s eye or something a baseball evaluator says really resonates. Who knows? Internet lists are internet lists, they are built to entice clicks and generate conversation. Scouting Book provides a real time compilation of the rankings, creating their own composite top prospects list.

Jurickson Profar remains the consensus best prospect in the game and for good reason. Just 20-years old, Profar plays a premium defensive position (the premium defensive position?) of shortstop. He has a big body and packs some punch in his switch-hitting bat. There is a lot to love.

After that, who knows? Is Oscar Taveras more likely to reach his stratosphere-high ceiling than Dylan Bundy? Is Wil Myers the second coming of Mike Trout? All of the above are possible while none of the possible outcomes are particularly likely.

I don’t know anything but, for my money, there one player who I think will have the best career of any player in the current prospect class is Dylan Bundy of the Baltimore Orioles.

Read the rest of this entry »

2 Comments

Day Two: Prospect Rush Week Rolls On

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Prospectin' on Feb 05, 2013

All the prospect porn you can handle, all in one hot place! Firstly, Keith Law of ESPN introduces his top 100 prospects. No real surprises, as Jurickson Profar leads the way as expected. Turns out tall, athletic shortstops with power and valuable comoodities! Doubly so if they can, you know, make the Majors at 20.

Everybody’s favorite Vlad Guerrero comp Oscar Taveras is next with Dylan Bundy, Wil Myers, and Xander Bogaerts rounding out the top five.

Read the rest of this entry »

6 Comments

Gather ’round and Pay Deference to the Cardinals Farm System

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Prospectin', St. Louis Cardinals on Feb 04, 2013

The St. Louis Cardinals farm system is getting a lot of attention right now. The prospect rankings of the world are slowly rolling out, each one offering more breathless praise for the unbelievable assortment of talent compiled by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Keith Law unveiled his ESPN In$ider organizational rankings today and the Cardinals top the list. The combination of high ceiling talent, most of which is close to the big leagues, makes the Cardinals current prospect collection the mother lode.

Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment
« Older Entries