Boise prospects

[Quakers]

This summer has been rather chaotic, so I haven't been able to follow the hawks like I normally do, Until today that is.

 

I am looking at the offensive statistics and I am impressed. Szczur, Ramirez, LaPage, and Jones. Are these guys prospects or are they just playing at a level below their talent? Are there other offensive players I should keep an eye on?

 

What about pitching prospects?

[Outshined_One]

Alvaro Ramirez and Richard Jones both couldn't stick in Peoria earlier this season. Also, Ramirez is 24 and much too old relative to the league. At 22, Jones is a bit more age-appropriate, but he needs to prove he can handle a higher level of competition before being talked about as a serious prospect.

 

Here's Pierre LePage's draft profile from this year's draft:

 

LePage is a gritty second baseman who gets the most out of his somewhat limited tools. A high-contact hitter, LePage struck out only twice in over 200 ABs during the course of the regular season. LePage doesn't offer much in the way of power, but he has above average speed and good instincts on the basepaths. Defensively, he's roughly average at 2B and should stick there long-term.

 

LePage has pretty much fit the bill in Boise. His ceiling seems to be a backup 2B.

 

Here's Szczur's draft profile from this year:

 

Also a wide receiver at Villanova who could get some attention in the NFL draft, Szczur's greatest asset is his speed, which some scouts have graded as 80 on the 20-80 scale. Szczur will likely stick in CF, which should help downplay his below average arm. At the plate, Szczur offers a patient approach that should allow him to hit for average, although his power leaves much to be desired. His work ethic is off the charts and scouts love his makeup, which was best exemplified when he took some time off from baseball to donate his bone marrow to a 1 year old girl with leukemia.

 

Szczur displayed excellent speed to go with a high contact approach in his short stints with Boise and Peoria (he's back at Villanova now playing football and has a $500,000 bonus waiting for him if he commits to baseball). He'll probably make a handful of Top 20 lists for the Cubs, as his athleticism offers an intriguing ceiling. He didn't display much power, but committing to baseball full-time could really help his game flourish.

 

As for other position prospects with Boise, there are two particularly intriguing names on the roster. IF Arismendy Alcantara is a switch hitting 18 year old Dominican SS who has hit reasonably well (.268/.304/.392). Some posters think he'll crack the Top 20 for the league...but I'm waiting for reports on him to come out. There could be something there with him, but it's hard to tell just based on the numbers. The other name worth knowing is OF Kyung-Min Na. Another 18 year old on the team, he got a big six figure bonus signing from the Cubs last year. He hasn't done much with the bat, but from what I've read, he's a speedy guy who plays good defense. It's a bit hard to tell where his ceiling is since I've seen him listed as 5'6 and the Hawks' website lists him as 5'10.

 

As for pitchers currently on the roster...egh. Austin Kirk and Juan Yasser Serrano are no longer on the team (Kirk promoted, Serrano demoted). LHP Cameron Greathouse and LHP Brent Ebinger have both put up good K/BB numbers, although I haven't seen any reports on their stuff. The guy I really like is RHP Aaron Kurcz, Boise's closer. He has two plus pitches and could be a setup man/closer in the majors.

[Quakers]

Thanks

 

I wish I had the time to follow the prospects at this level like I used to.

 

As I have learned in the past, statistics alone at the NWL level can be deceiving. So Szczur, Alcantara, Na and Kurcz are the ones to watch. Well better than some years, but not quite the prospect-laden team that I hoped for.

[Guest]

The most interesting true prospects are:

 

SS Arismendy Alcantara - 18 year old holding his own

CF Kyung-Min Na - 18 year old bonus baby struggling with the bat but has plus defense and speed

C Micah Gibbs - 2010 3rd rounder who is struggling with the bat

 

LHP Cam Greathouse - 2010 8th rounder

RHP Aaron Kurcz - 2010 10th rounder

LHP Eric Jokisch - got a minimal overslot; has struggled

RHP Dustin Fitzgerald - got an overslot bonus; struggling

 

Matt Szczur is back at Villanova, Juan Yasser Serrano got demoted and Austin Kirk got promoted.

[Outshined_One]

Whoops, forgot Gibbs. He's actually been doing better recently, so I'm not all too concerned with him.

 

Still, it's a pretty underwhelming year in short season ball.

[CubsWin]

Whoops, forgot Gibbs. He's actually been doing better recently, so I'm not all too concerned with him.

 

Still, it's a pretty underwhelming year in short season ball.

It could just be the adjustment to the wooden bats and the new environs. He's had 6 multi-hit games in his last 10 over which he's hitting .361/.395/.472. It could be a hot streak. It could be that the adjustment period is over.

[CubsWin]

I had Jesus Morelli as one of the true prospects earlier in the season, but he's performed poorly enough to make me drop him from that list for now.

[Quakers]

Have we had any Boise fans post and give us first hand accounts?

 

Over the years I have seen many a quality pitching prospect, but not much in the way of hitting. Colvin, ...??

[Guest]

Josh Donaldson was good in 2007 and Josh Vitters was fantastic in 2008. Hak-Ju Lee wasn't bad last year outside of his lack of power.

 

Just reflects the strengths of the system; lots of great pitchers and little in the way of hitting.