Smokies Kevin Hart Named SL Player of the Month

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

Tennessee Smokies righthander Kevin Hart has been named the Topps Player of the Month for June, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Hart was the only Southern League pitcher to win as many as four games without taking a loss in June. Making six starts during the month, he ranked second in the circuit with 38 strikeouts and 10th with a 2.54 ERA.

 

Baltimore's 11th-round pick in the 2004 draft, Hart went 20-19 with a 4.51 ERA in three seasons in the Orioles system before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Freddie Bynum in December. Hart already has matched his win total from last year (6) and needs just three more to tie the career high he established while with Class-A Delmarva in 2005.

[Guest]

While we're at it, SS Ronny Cedeño was the PCL Hitter of the Week last week.

[mul21]

Link.

 

Tennessee Smokies righthander Kevin Hart has been named the Topps Player of the Month for June, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Hart was the only Southern League pitcher to win as many as four games without taking a loss in June. Making six starts during the month, he ranked second in the circuit with 38 strikeouts and 10th with a 2.54 ERA.

 

Baltimore's 11th-round pick in the 2004 draft, Hart went 20-19 with a 4.51 ERA in three seasons in the Orioles system before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Freddie Bynum in December. Hart already has matched his win total from last year (6) and needs just three more to tie the career high he established while with Class-A Delmarva in 2005.

 

Now, is this the case of the Cubs seeing something wrong with a guy that was an easy fix or is he finally just figuring it out after the proverbial "change of scenery"? I'm just curious as Wilken is seen as a draft guru who is very good at identifying projectable talent and wondering if this is something he would have had something to do with.

[craig]

Yeah, same question from me. I'd noticed that Hart was putting together some good games, and scoring more K's this month than he had earlier.

 

Is this a no-talent who happened to stitch together a good month in a strong pitcher's league?

 

Or does he somehow have stuff that makes him an actual prospect?

 

So, what do we know about his actual stuff? Is he a strong arm guy? A finesse guy? None of the above?

[Guest]

Yeah, same question from me. I'd noticed that Hart was putting together some good games, and scoring more K's this month than he had earlier.

 

Is this a no-talent who happened to stitch together a good month in a strong pitcher's league?

 

Or does he somehow have stuff that makes him an actual prospect?

 

So, what do we know about his actual stuff? Is he a strong arm guy? A finesse guy? None of the above?

 

Sinker, FB (mid-80s) and slurve; occasionally throws a change and split.

[NCCubFan]

I like the fact we got him for just Bynum. If he amounts to anything (even a long reliever) we will have gotten something for nothing. If he doesn't amount to anything no loss; it will basically be a wash, giving up nothing and getting nothing back in return.

[the splendid splinter]

Link.

 

Tennessee Smokies righthander Kevin Hart has been named the Topps Player of the Month for June, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Hart was the only Southern League pitcher to win as many as four games without taking a loss in June. Making six starts during the month, he ranked second in the circuit with 38 strikeouts and 10th with a 2.54 ERA.

 

Baltimore's 11th-round pick in the 2004 draft, Hart went 20-19 with a 4.51 ERA in three seasons in the Orioles system before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Freddie Bynum in December. Hart already has matched his win total from last year (6) and needs just three more to tie the career high he established while with Class-A Delmarva in 2005.

 

Now, is this the case of the Cubs seeing something wrong with a guy that was an easy fix or is he finally just figuring it out after the proverbial "change of scenery"? I'm just curious as Wilken is seen as a draft guru who is very good at identifying projectable talent and wondering if this is something he would have had something to do with.

3 very quiet but subtle moves. Hart, Henderson and Reinhard, all starting to heat up some.

[TruffleShuffle]

I like the fact we got him for just Bynum. If he amounts to anything (even a long reliever) we will have gotten something for nothing. If he doesn't amount to anything no loss; it will basically be a wash, giving up nothing and getting nothing back in return.

 

we got a good month out of him at the minor league level; that's already better than we'd have from Bynum.

[CubColtPacer]

I like the fact we got him for just Bynum. If he amounts to anything (even a long reliever) we will have gotten something for nothing. If he doesn't amount to anything no loss; it will basically be a wash, giving up nothing and getting nothing back in return.

 

we got a good month out of him at the minor league level; that's already better than we'd have from Bynum.

 

I think Bynum's reputation was worse than he was because he symbolized the Dusty era. He was fast and small, but he was a low OBP power hitter. He did have a 756 OPS for the Cubs last year, so he wasn't a terrible bench option, even if it was because of his SLG. He kind of gets lumped in with Neifi and Macias, and he was quite a bit better than either of them.

[the splendid splinter]

Yeah, same question from me. I'd noticed that Hart was putting together some good games, and scoring more K's this month than he had earlier.

 

Is this a no-talent who happened to stitch together a good month in a strong pitcher's league?

 

Or does he somehow have stuff that makes him an actual prospect?

 

So, what do we know about his actual stuff? Is he a strong arm guy? A finesse guy? None of the above?

 

Sinker, FB (mid-80s) and slurve; occasionally throws a change and split.

I think I read that Hart was 89-93 with a decent cb and in the last month he's added a cutter or slider that has really helped and you can see it from the results he's had in the month of June.

[Guest]

Good to hear, I was basing the FB velo of some broadcasts but it seems like SL radar readings can be off.

[the splendid splinter]

Good to hear, I was basing the FB velo of some broadcasts but it seems like SL radar readings can be off.

Especially at the Smokies park, almost 3 mph less according to the people that sit behind home plate and the scouts.