Under the Radar

[WrigleyField 22]

With the season a couple of months away, I thought maybe a thread where guys who follow the minor leagues a lot, even just statistically, could give their picks for Cubs prospects who are under the radar now and could have big years. Or you could just base it off a gut feeling.

 

What guys will surprise us with big years?

[rawaction]

Randy Wells. A good year in AA, and he's inline for a bullpen role in 2007. He dominated in Daytona, after a fine year in 04. Can also spot start.

 

Jake Fox. From 17 BBs, 75 Ks in 361 ABs to 26 BBs, 46 Ks in 270 ABs. A good year in AA, and he becomes a serious catcher of the future candidate.

 

Those are my top 2 breakout candidates. Also, watch out for 05 draftees (Veal, Billek), Sam Fuld, Grant Johnson, and Darin Downs.

[WrigleyField 22]

Well after looking through minor league stats trying to find a guy who showed good power, or whose BA suffered because of a low BAIBP, or an amazing WHIP despite bad ERA, and findin nothing convincing, I am making my one 'gut feeling' pick.

 

Jonathan Mota- SS

.236 .296 .278(ouch) in 212 at bats

4SB 5 CS

7 2B 1 3B 0 HR

16BB 49K

So why did I chose him?

 

At only age 18, he was the youngest player on the Boise Hawks. To be there at only 18 there must be something special.

 

I'll also take one of Blasko/Hagerty. One of them is bound to put their injurie behind them right?

 

Also this isn't flying under the radar really, but I think despite some people saying he doesn't have the stuff, that Gallagher will continue to impress. Just another gut feeling. That 1.11 WHIP is nice.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Agreed on Randy Wells. Also, LHPs Jesus Yepez and Donald Veal who should be in Peoria and OF Deryck Lewis who was in Mesa last summer.

 

I think Brian Dopirak will rebound a bit this season.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ricky Nola....wait

 

You know who might see ML time this year? Reynel Pi...nevermind

 

Seriously, Juan Mateo.

[WrigleyField 22]

How about Johnny Defendis?

 

He was old for his league at 21, but was just drafted last year-29th round. Bats lefty.

Hit .327 .388 .409 with 17BB and 21K - looks like good plate discipline.

At 6'1'' 195lbs it would seem like he woud have a solid build.

College Stats

.303 .361 .448 809

.290 .342 .456 798

.370 .414 .507 921

 

At 22 he would be old for Peoria, but perhaps if he can skip to Daytona and add some power, he could be an interesting prospect at least.

 

 

I also like Veal, but he got a lot of hype from BA if I remember right, so isn't exactly an under the radar guy.

[WrigleyField 22]

Agreed on Randy Wells. Also, LHPs Jesus Yepez and Donald Veal who should be in Peoria and OF Deryck Lewis who was in Mesa last summer.

 

I think Brian Dopirak will rebound a bit this season.

 

Lewis sounds intruiging.

He'll turn 21 later this year and put up some nice numbers at Mesa

.322 .381 .460 841

17BB and 23K

 

What kind of defense does he offer? Also any insight to any other guys mentioned defensively, wuld be great.

 

I know Fox doesn't have great D. Thats about it.

[Outshined_One]

Seriously, Juan Mateo.

 

His GB/FB worries me a good deal. The Cardinals will return him, but I have to wonder if his confidence will take a hit.

 

The guy I'm looking at?

 

RHP Justin Berg

 

He's a touch on the older side (21) for Peoria last season, but his sinker is excellent and should be a fast mover through the system.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Seriously, Juan Mateo.

 

His GB/FB worries me a good deal. The Cardinals will return him, but I have to wonder if his confidence will take a hit.

 

The guy I'm looking at?

 

RHP Justin Berg

 

He's a touch on the older side (21) for Peoria last season, but his sinker is excellent and should be a fast mover through the system.

 

Yeah, he doesn't get a ton of ground balls, but he still didn't give up many homeruns despite that.

Edited January 26, 2006 by Transmogrified Tiger

[ChiefsVoice]

From Peoria's 2005 players watch for Fuld, Phelps, Johnson and Weber.

 

Fuld impressed me day in and day out last year. Phelps was electric out of the pen and Johnson & Weber both had very little run support here last season.

[craig]

From the draft, I think Michael Phelps and Mark Holliman are two guys who might be surprisingly good. Holliman's 3rd round, so I guess that wouldn't be a huge surprise. But I don't recall the board being very enthused about him.

 

Not exactly "under the radar", but I think Veal could easily leap into a high-value guy with success in full-A. Again, he's a 2nd rounder, so would hardly be "under the radar". But I think he's a guy who might jump higher/faster than almost anybody.

 

Agree on Mota, having rise potential. If he was to show up at Peoria and hit .275, suddenly we'd think for a good-defense middle infielder with a projectible body to hit decently at age, might be real interesting.

[CubinNY]

It sure would be exciting if either Fox or Reed could bust out. Catchers who can hit are hard to come by.

[craig]

From the draft, I think Michael Phelps and Mark Holliman are two guys who might be surprisingly good. Holliman's 3rd round, so I guess that wouldn't be a huge surprise. But I don't recall the board being very enthused about him.

 

Not exactly "under the radar", but I think Veal could easily leap into a high-value guy with success in full-A. Again, he's a 2nd rounder, so would hardly be "under the radar". But I think he's a guy who might jump higher/faster than almost anybody.

 

Agree on Mota, having rise potential. If he was to show up at Peoria and hit .275, suddenly we'd think for a good-defense middle infielder with a projectible body to hit decently at age, might be real interesting.

 

Sam Fuld might perhaps get more attention. He started so slow, didn't help. And being so old in low-A, natural to dismiss whatever success he did have due to his age. But if he suddenly pops up in AA and produces to the same degree, suddenly the OBP boys will be all over him, and his age won't look as bad. (24 in AA isn't as objectionable as 23 in low-A...).

 

One other who I think has a chance to get significantly increased respect is Ryu. Last year he was coming back off an injury, and I'm not sure what his winter purposes were last year. I think he's gotten the limited respect appropriate for a guy perceived to throw mostly in the 80's. But given his youth, and being further removed from his arm troubles, I think there's a chance he might perhaps throw harder this coming season than most of the early reports from last year suggest. If he's getting guys out in AAA with a 3-pitch repertoire and has a good control/GB orientation, and if suddenly we're getting regular 90-94 mph reports instead of 86-91 reports, suddenly people might take him a lot more seriously? Probable, no. But possible.

[craig]

From Peoria's 2005 players watch for Fuld, Phelps, Johnson and Weber.

 

Fuld impressed me day in and day out last year. Phelps was electric out of the pen and Johnson & Weber both had very little run support here last season.

 

Hey, Chief's voice, you posted while I was rambling! I hadn't seen yours when I posted, so I like it that I thought Fuld and Phelps, and those are two of the guys you ID as well.

 

I haven't heard a scouting report on Phelps, other than the BA report at draft.

 

You mention him being "electric". Do you remember anything you could share? Electric fast? An electric slider? Average velocity but electric movement? I'm just curious in terms of how much stuff he has.

 

Also, I know he didn't have much summer, and hadn't been starting in college, etc., so it made sense that he pitched limited innings in relief.

 

Any idea whether his repertoire or personality make him an obvious reliever for always? Or whether perhaps with a fresh spring, that he might get relocated to rotation, where he'd get more work, perhaps more fame and more trade value (hard to ever expect huge trade value for a minor league relief pitcher...), or perhaps if he did great consideration as a big-league starter?

[CubDad4Ever]

After ronny cedeno rapid assension , following his placement on the 40 man. (Despite poor offensive metrics) I have tried to look for potential latin popouts in the same catagory. Reyes the catcher comes to mind. Great defender - switch hitter , his offensive numbers have been poor, but again im curious because of players like ronny. It will be intersting to see how he handles a more pitcher friendly league this year. His D is outstanding at an obviously critical defensive position. God Bless Coach L

[Outshined_One]

Yeah, he doesn't get a ton of ground balls, but he still didn't give up many homeruns despite that.

 

I'm leery of him. He put up those numbers in one of the most pitcher-friendly leagues in baseball. He'll be facing much more advanced hitters in Spring Training and likely in AA when the Cardinals return him. Something tells me that GB/FB will hurt him.

[T2E]

I'll go with physically talented C/OF Yusef Carter as my main pick. Russ Canzler (.814 Mesa OPS) would be my #2.

[Outshined_One]

I'll go with physically talented C/OF Yusef Carter as my main pick. Russ Canzler (.814 Mesa OPS) would be my #2.

 

I like Carter's potential. If he can stick at catcher, he might be one heck of a pickup.

 

Canzler was repeating Mesa, but the numbers he put up last season were still quite good. I think what's held him back has been his lack of an established position, but I could be wrong.

 

On the offensive side of matters, I'm curious to see what ends up happening with 3B Elvin Puello. He put up very good numbers last season, but this season didn't seem to be at the top of his game.

 

A couple of others to keep an eye on who were below Full Season A:

 

C Jake Muyco

C Mario Mercedes

IF Dylan Johnston

IF Sammy Baez

RHP William Paganetti (reliever)

RHP Jose Pina

RHP Scott Taylor

[jacey]

Of the younger guys, I too agree that Mota could be headed for good things. I'm also intrigued by this Pina kid who threw pretty decent at Mesa.

And there is another young kid who ended the year with an injury that I had been watching. I think his last name is Joseph, an OF that played some for Boise I believe.

 

Veal, Billek, Holliman and Marmol are others that I could envision proving themselves very valuable in the system this coming season. Casey McGehee (if we can find a spot for him to play) and Reed are others I hope have break out years.

[UK1679666180]

Johnston as far as position players, he'll get plenty of instruction and will be better with the wood bat, it'll be interesting to see if he starts at Boise at SS or 3B.

 

I'm predicting Downs to do better than what he did at Boise, he's finally healthy and hopefully his velocity will increase as he increases his off-season workload.

[Quakers]

I would keep an eye on Reed and Muyco.

 

Reed has decent enough defensive skills and he hit better than his stats would indicate for Boise.

 

Muyco is better defensively than Reyes (I believe I read somewhere that he could have played defensively in the majors last year) and he can hit better too.

 

Defendnis will interest me if he makes the jump to Daytona. A good line drive hitter, he needs to show more power. He played right in Boise, but I think he is destined for left if he makes the majors.

[Outshined_One]

Of the younger guys, I too agree that Mota could be headed for good things. I'm also intrigued by this Pina kid who threw pretty decent at Mesa.

And there is another young kid who ended the year with an injury that I had been watching. I think his last name is Joseph, an OF that played some for Boise I believe.

 

Veal, Billek, Holliman and Marmol are others that I could envision proving themselves very valuable in the system this coming season. Casey McGehee (if we can find a spot for him to play) and Reed are others I hope have break out years.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I believe the guy's name you are looking for is Alfred Joseph.

[NorthsideAvenger]

My offensive breakout player is Eric Patterson. I believe Eric will elevate himself into the ELITE offensive middle infield prospect status after the yr.

 

My pitching breakout player is....Angel Guzman. I know he is a special case, but I believe he will be a tremendous help for the Cubs this yr. Thus, with very few people are expecting anything from him, I expect him to have a VERY big yr.

 

Other candidates:

Pawelek, Veal, Johnson on the mound.

 

 

Gregg, Fox, and Ryan Harvey. I expect Harvey to DRAMATICALLY improve in all areas.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I would like to know more about marmol. Fielta gave him alot of love at the convention ' a young zambrano' he also only converted from a position player in '02. Whats his ceiling and stuff like?.

[jacey]

If I'm not mistaken, Marmol was tried as a starter and did so-so. His makeup according to the Cubs brass make him a classic closer. I'd love to see a scouting report from any of you that may have more knowledge. Who was the last prospect we had that had the makings of a genuine powerhouse closer? Edited January 27, 2006 by jacey