Emerging Prospects & Those Living Up To Their Hype

[jersey cubs fan]

It seems like the Cubs are already projecting him as a utility guy. If he was sticking at second base, he'd be much more interesting (admittedly, it's tough to get time at second base when you have higher ceiling prospects like Flaherty and Lake getting first dibs on the middle IF positions).

 

I try not to get too excited over a college guy hitting well at low-A. He probably deserves to be promoted to Daytona.

 

I always like getting my utility guys from within the system. A, it saves money from paying a Macias clone $1m, B, it keeps the Iowa shuttle an option for sticky roster situations.

[Guest]

It seems like the Cubs are already projecting him as a utility guy. If he was sticking at second base, he'd be much more interesting (admittedly, it's tough to get time at second base when you have higher ceiling prospects like Flaherty and Lake getting first dibs on the middle IF positions).

 

I try not to get too excited over a college guy hitting well at low-A. He probably deserves to be promoted to Daytona.

 

I always like getting my utility guys from within the system. A, it saves money from paying a Macias clone $1m, B, it keeps the Iowa shuttle an option for sticky roster situations.

 

I definitely agree. Ditto relievers.

 

But I'm not going to get too excited about a potential utility guy when he's still at Peoria.

[craig]

Agree with point about getting optionable utility guys and relievers from the system.

 

Obviously the excitement over a potential utility in A- isn't going to match that of a potentially good starter.

 

So I'm not sure "excited" would be the word, but I'm genuinely interested in harrison. I'm always genuinely interested in players who look like they can just hit. So while I am no scout or expert and haven't watched them, I would put Harrison much higher on my interest list than where UK had him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

David Davidson-R- Marlins May. 21 - 4:59 pm et

 

 

Marlins recalled LHP David Davidson from Triple-A New Orleans.

 

The Marlins just need warm bodies in the bullpen after their relief corps was decimated by Wednesday's doubleheader, the second-game of which went 13 innings. Don't expect Davidson to last long in Florida.

 

My only wish is that he one day does head to head with Dan McDaniel just to see Brenleys head explode.

[craig]

BBF guy reported a conversation with his friend who scouts with Baltimore, regarding Thomas. Key comments:

 

1. Defense is now average at all levels, even including turning the double. No reason at present to move to outfield.

 

2. Speed is above average, not as fast as Patterson but faster than Theriot. And has good baserunning instincts.

 

3. Has a slight uppercut that hasn't affected his contact.

 

4. Has been called out on strikes 12 times. Has obviously made an effort to go deeply into the count.

 

My comment: those are all plus-plus-plus-plus comments. That his HR/power bump correlates some useful but not harmful lift is great. BA always says his speed is average, so the view that he's faster than Theriot, that's great. That his baserunning is good, that's nice (getting picked off twice on Monday made me wonder...) And mostly that his 2B defense is now looking average and big-league playable, that's the best of all. That his still high K-rate relates to being more patient (and perhaps also swinging for more power) is also good. Hope it's all true!

[TruffleShuffle]

2. Speed is above average, not as fast as Patterson but faster than Theriot. And has good baserunning instincts.

 

his performance this season would argue against that.

[Eric Clipperton]

BBF guy reported a conversation with his friend who scouts with Baltimore, regarding Thomas. Key comments:

 

1. Defense is now average at all levels, even including turning the double. No reason at present to move to outfield.

 

2. Speed is above average, not as fast as Patterson but faster than Theriot. And has good baserunning instincts.

 

3. Has a slight uppercut that hasn't affected his contact.

 

4. Has been called out on strikes 12 times. Has obviously made an effort to go deeply into the count.

 

My comment: those are all plus-plus-plus-plus comments. That his HR/power bump correlates some useful but not harmful lift is great. BA always says his speed is average, so the view that he's faster than Theriot, that's great. That his baserunning is good, that's nice (getting picked off twice on Monday made me wonder...) And mostly that his 2B defense is now looking average and big-league playable, that's the best of all. That his still high K-rate relates to being more patient (and perhaps also swinging for more power) is also good. Hope it's all true!

 

 

So if these things prove true, he'd be expected to eventually be the starting 2B, right? And might have a solid chance of turning into an average or + everyday 2B for the Cubs in a few years?

[Outshined_One]

So if these things prove true, he'd be expected to eventually be the starting 2B, right? And might have a solid chance of turning into an average or + everyday 2B for the Cubs in a few years?

 

That's pretty much spot-on. I wouldn't expect him to start competing for a starting spot until 2011, though. He still has work to do down in the minors and needs to sustain his success over the season.

[sandbergcubs]

harrison posting some power in the last few games with 2 HR's!

 

and vitters.. wow raking

[UK1679666180]

Harrison might make it as a utility type of guy, as he does have a very good knack of centering the ball and has plus speed but I don't know if that'll carry to higher levels. I would say he's also more likely to be 5'6" than 5'8". Beyond his speed, I don't think the rest of his offensive tools will project much beyond the minors.

[CubsWin]

I just want to make sure we are experiencing Josh Vitters from the proper perspective. He's hit 8 HRs over his last 10 games in which he is batting .442. His OPS for the season is now over 1.000. He's been so spectacular that it is easy to find yourself getting caught up in the hoopla, so it is important to remember that although his May has been abso-freakin-lutely sick, it is still just one month. And one month does not a season make.

 

But that's not the perspective I was talking about. The proper perspective is that Josh is still only NINETEEN!! THE DUDE'S 19, PEOPLE!!! HE WON'T TURN 20 UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE MINOR LEAGUE SEASON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep it up, kid.

[RyneSandberg]

Jay Jackson's Last 5 Starts:

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8360/jacksong.png

[CubsWin]

Jay Jackson's Last 5 Starts:

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8360/jacksong.png

And that's from a 21-year-old at AA. I'm watching...

[CubsWin]

We're towards the end of June and the picture seems to be getting clearer on some of these prospects.

 

At the dish in Peoria, obviously Vitters (who has returned to his HR hitting ways of late) and less obviously, former 1st round supplemental pick, Kyler Burke have put up noteworthy performances. The HR power is a lacking but the gap power is there. 28 doubles in just 245 ABs isn't bad. .282/.367/.465. The strikeouts are high, but his walk totals aren't bad. In the same number of ABs at Boise last year (245), Kyler struck out 70 times and walked 28. This season, one level higher, he has improved in both areas striking out 55 times and walking 33. He has stolen 7 bases without being caught yet and apparently possesses a very solid arm for either center or right. Plus, he's age appropriate at just 21. If he can stay on this improvement trajectory...

 

On the bump in Peoria, there are three who's performance stands out. Chris Archer (21), Jeffrey Beliveau (22) and Chris Huseby (21). Each has more strikeouts than hits allowed. Way more. Always a good sign. Walks have been a problem for both Archer and Beliveau, but not for Huseby who has walked just 2 on the season against 40 Ks.

 

In Daytona, the only hitter who continues to impress is Starlin Castro. After a slow start in April (.200/.235/.200), he has turned it on in May (.368/.382/.540) and June (.337/.386/.413). His ability to throw the ball to first leaves a lot to be desired with 24 errors so far this year, the vast majority of those being of the throwing variety. But at just 19 years of age. He's got time to get that straightened out.

 

Of the arms in Daytona, I'm keeping an eye on Rafael Dolis (21), Andrew Cashner (22) and Al Alburquerque (23). Alburquerque is a year too old for his level, but he's been injured so I'll excuse him. I had always heard his name as one to watch coming out of the Dominican League and I'm glad to see he's finally living up to the hype a bit. Ryan Searle has struggled mightily of late. He's just 19 too, so I'm still watching.

[UK1679666180]

With Burke, I think the power will come as right now he's more of a line drive gap to gap hitter. There's plenty of reasons to believe that it will come as he matures.

[TruffleShuffle]

flaherty has, to me, been a disappointment this season. i thought that he'd handle low-a pretty easily, being as it's his second year out of college and he hit cleanup for a big-time NCAA program. instead he's puttering along with a .233/.308/.427/.735 line.

[CubsWin]

With Burke, I think the power will come as right now he's more of a line drive gap to gap hitter. There's plenty of reasons to believe that it will come as he matures.

He certainly has the frame for it at 6'3" and 205 lbs.

[UK1679666180]

More importantly, he has the bat speed to generate power in the future once he learns how to pull the inside pitch instead of inside-out to LF.

 

It's easier to teach a kid how to pull a ball than teach him to go gap to gap.

[Outshined_One]

flaherty has, to me, been a disappointment this season. i thought that he'd handle low-a pretty easily, being as it's his second year out of college and he hit cleanup for a big-time NCAA program. instead he's puttering along with a .233/.308/.427/.735 line.

 

Flaherty's peripherals tell me he'll be fine. The guy's hitting for a decent amount of power and is maintaining solid walk and strikeout numbers. Plus, he's managed not to be horrifically incompetent at SS like many of us were predicting him to be. Granted, I still think he'll have to be moved off of the position, but it seems like defense won't be much of a problem with him when he does.

 

He's still in my Top 15 FWIW.

[TruffleShuffle]

flaherty has, to me, been a disappointment this season. i thought that he'd handle low-a pretty easily, being as it's his second year out of college and he hit cleanup for a big-time NCAA program. instead he's puttering along with a .233/.308/.427/.735 line.

 

Flaherty's peripherals tell me he'll be fine. The guy's hitting for a decent amount of power and is maintaining solid walk and strikeout numbers. Plus, he's managed not to be horrifically incompetent at SS like many of us were predicting him to be. Granted, I still think he'll have to be moved off of the position, but it seems like defense won't be much of a problem with him when he does.

 

He's still in my Top 15 FWIW.

 

not sure how accurate it is, but according to firstinning, his LD% is 9.

[Outshined_One]

flaherty has, to me, been a disappointment this season. i thought that he'd handle low-a pretty easily, being as it's his second year out of college and he hit cleanup for a big-time NCAA program. instead he's puttering along with a .233/.308/.427/.735 line.

 

Flaherty's peripherals tell me he'll be fine. The guy's hitting for a decent amount of power and is maintaining solid walk and strikeout numbers. Plus, he's managed not to be horrifically incompetent at SS like many of us were predicting him to be. Granted, I still think he'll have to be moved off of the position, but it seems like defense won't be much of a problem with him when he does.

 

He's still in my Top 15 FWIW.

 

not sure how accurate it is, but according to firstinning, his LD% is 9.

 

9.7% according to Minor League Splits. That .257 BABIP isn't going to last.

[CubsWin]

flaherty has, to me, been a disappointment this season. i thought that he'd handle low-a pretty easily, being as it's his second year out of college and he hit cleanup for a big-time NCAA program. instead he's puttering along with a .233/.308/.427/.735 line.

 

Flaherty's peripherals tell me he'll be fine. The guy's hitting for a decent amount of power and is maintaining solid walk and strikeout numbers. Plus, he's managed not to be horrifically incompetent at SS like many of us were predicting him to be. Granted, I still think he'll have to be moved off of the position, but it seems like defense won't be much of a problem with him when he does.

 

He's still in my Top 15 FWIW.

Someone's looking pretty good right about now. Nice prognosticating, O_O...

[CubsWin]

Don't look now, but 22-year-old right-hander and 2nd rounder in '08, Aaron Shafer is finishing his first full season in pro ball strong. In his last 5 starts (going 6 innings in all of them except one when he completed 5 2/3) he's given up 22 hits in 29.2 IP, allowed just 4 ER while striking out 21 and walking only 4. He's gone 3-1 with an ERA of 1.21 during that span for Peoria.

 

I believe he was ranked higher than a 2nd rounder earlier in his college career but then got injured allowing the Cubs to get him when they did. I remember reading reports that his velocity and control hadn't returned to his pre-injury levels earlier this season. Does anyone have any recent scouting reports on his stuff lately?

[CubsWin]

This isn't exactly news to the people following this minor league board, but Brett Jackson is not living up to his hype...and thank God for that. He's was labeled as another toolsy, athletic outfielder who struck out too often and lacked meaningful power. Basically, Tyler Colvin all over again. Since going pro, he's used his tools and athleticism to post a line of .325/.426/.500 over 206 ABs and three minor league levels. Oh, I forgot to mention his 13 swipes in 15 tries and the fact that there's been no mention of him not being able to stick in CF. He has struckout 25% of the time which could point to some troubles making contact at the higher levels (28% while at Peoria), but his walk totals haven't been terrible giving me hope that his strikeouts come from aggressiveness more so than bad plate discipline. Assuming he starts next season in High-A Daytona and given that he'll only be 21 for much of next season, I'll be paying close attention.

[CubsWin]

The short list of players living up to their hype has gotten longer as this season has gone along. Names like Vitters, Castro, Cashner and Jackson dominated this board earlier this season. Some have fallen off a bit like Tony Thomas and Ryan Searle (though Searle is still really young for his league). While others like Chris Carpenter, Casey Coleman, Kyler Burke, Hak-Ju Lee and Logan Watkins have established themselves as prospects to watch.

 

Guys who might be worth watching if they keep it up? Robert Hernandez has re-established himself as a 20-year-old in the NWL posting a 3.34 ERA over 67.1 IP, striking out 63 with a WHIP of 1.14. Jeffry Antigua has emerged as a 19-year-old now pitching in Low-A Peoria. On the year he's gone 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 63.2 IP, striking out 65 against just 16 walks and a WHIP under 1. Dionis Nunez is a 6'4", 20-year-old, righty with some decided control problems but who also has held NWL batters to an average of just .169 over 38 innings. 3rd round pick Austin Kirk and 6th rounder Brooks Raley, both lefties, have only had a taste of pro ball in the AZL and NWL, but both haven't failed to justify their draft positions so far. And I doubt he'll amount to anything, but Oswaldo Martinez has allowed just 4 hits and no runs (earned or otherwise) in 13.1 innings at Daytona. While Oswaldo doesn't turn 21 for another couple weeks, 13.1 IP is a very small sample size.

 

Who's on your list?