What caliber of player plays short-season A-Ball?

[Derwood]

I'm contemplating buying season tickets for the State College Spikes this year but wanted to know how good the players on the roster might be. I'm guessing the best players from last June's draft will play full season A-Ball, leaving the fringe guys at short season? Or do you split guys up between the two teams to get the most playing time?

[Tim]

I'm contemplating buying season tickets for the State College Spikes this year but wanted to know how good the players on the roster might be. I'm guessing the best players from last June's draft will play full season A-Ball, leaving the fringe guys at short season? Or do you split guys up between the two teams to get the most playing time?

Think of the pitching staffs that have played at Boise in the past five years. Heck, just the one with Guzman and Willis is a great advertisement for the quality of SS-A ball. Last year's college draftees will certainly be in A ball, but guys coming up from rookie league might stop at SS-A. Also a lot of the latin players will go to SS-A ball. And many of this year's college draftees will start off in SS-A ball, as well.

[UK1679666180]

Look at Boise's roster...

 

It all depends on who they draft and if anyone is coming up from the Latin programs.

 

Most likely those from last year's draft will be at Quad Cities for them. Maybe some of their HS picks who need more instruction, will stay down at instrux, and head there in June.

 

You'll likely see players like Daryl Jones and Kenny Maiques there and then a bunch from the '06 draft who'll have above avg. ceilings.

[Derwood]

cool, so the reason the season starts so late is because it's after the draft?

[UK1679666180]

Yeah, it's an advanced version of Rookie-ball, you see more Collegiate rookies and more polished HS players there. STL is more aggressive with promoting HS players to Short Season than most.

[Derwood]

cool. so the odds of seeing future major leaguers isn't as bleak as i feared

[craig]

Derwood, lots of good prospects appear in SS. As Tim noted:

a) the majority of college players drafted in the 2006 draft will play there. Almost every college player drafted in the first 20 rounds will pitch in SS. A first or second rounder might jump straight to full season, but most begin in SS. A few years ago Hagerty was a 1st round college draft; he pitched at Boise. Sean Marshall is currently a high prospect for the Cubs; he pitched at Boise. Most of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round college picks have spendt their draft summer at Boise.

b) Most teenage prospects spend their second American summer at Boise. Ryan Harvey was the 6th pick in the draft; his second year was at Boise. Brian Dopirak was a 2nd-round pick, second year at Boise. Juan Cruz spent his second American summer at Boise. 4th round Nolasco spent his second summer at Boise, 4th round Petrick, 2nd round Sisco, etc. Last summer the Cubs 4th and 5th rounders were HS guys; both will likely play at Boise.

 

Limitation: Many 1st rounders do *not* play at that level. Many college type first rounders don't actually sign in time to play at all their draft summers, and if/when they do they often go straight to full-season. And many HS 1st rounders begin in rookie ball (like Pawelek last year, Montanez a few years back, Garland and Wood back in the late 90's...) but then skip straight to full-season for their first full season.

[Derwood]

Good info. Well I guess I'll have to pick the brains of the Cardinal fans here closer to June so I'll know who the heck the guys on our roster will be.

[UK1679666180]

At this stage, keep an eye on Jones & Maiques.

[CubsWin]

Yeah, it's an advanced version of Rookie-ball, you see more Collegiate rookies and more polished HS players there. STL is more aggressive with promoting HS players to Short Season than most.

Didn't all rookie leagues get folded after last year? Isn't that why the Cubs are talking about promoting Veal and Holliman to Daytona because Peoria will be loaded with pitchers that otherwise would have been at Boise this year?

 

In that case, all teams will be a lot more aggressive with promoting HS players to Short Season this year.

[NCCubFan]

Didn't all rookie leagues get folded after last year? Isn't that why the Cubs are talking about promoting Veal and Holliman to Daytona because Peoria will be loaded with pitchers that otherwise would have been at Boise this year?

I do remember some discussion on this board last year about eliminating the Rookie level. I don't recall whether that was just a proposal or whether it was approved, and if so I don't recall whether that takes effect this year or later.

[Quakers]

I have followed the Cub's SS team's for years. First at Eugene and later Boise. I have seen, Angel Guzman, Sergio Mitre, Ricky Nolasco, Andy Sisco, Dontrelle Willis, Juan Cruz, Todd Wellemeyer, Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, JK Ryu, and others. Most of the best have been pitching prospects, but that reflects the Cubs drafts over the past few seasons. Cedeno was with Boise briefly, Brandon Sing at Eugene. So there is plenty of talent, but...

 

Some of the best players who have gone through a solid university program will skip SS.

 

The best HS prospects tend to play a season at Mesa and then skip to Lansing/Peoria.

 

Some of the statistical leaders in SS ball will be players who are playing at a level below their ability.

 

Enjoy the season. Most of the SS parks I have been to are small and friendly. You can get unbelievably close to the action for very little money. I really enjoy scouting the players and trying to predict who will make it and why. As the years progress I seem to get better at it. It is the primary reason I have become a fan site junkie. I can get the scoop on the players before I go to a game and follow up on my favorites by talking to other posters who see them play for Peoria, Daytona, etc...