BA's AZL Top 20 Prospects

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-arizona-league-top-20-scouting-reports/

 

9. Carson Sands

The Cubs saved bonus-pool money with their early draft picks and used the surplus to sign prep pitchers Sands, Justin Steele and Dylan Cease to over-slot bonuses totaling $3.6 million in rounds four through six. Sands received $1.1 million.

 

Already 19, Sands has a strong body but has a bit of projection remaining. The Cubs used him in a tandem-starter system with Steele, and both southpaws turned heads with their quality repertoire and poise on the mound.

 

Sands commands all three of his pitches, with his best being a 91-93 mph fastball delivered with downward plane. Both his curveball and changeup are solid pitches, projecting to be at least average. He gets good rotation on his curveball and throws it for strikes.

 

“He shows good composure on the mound no matter what’s going on,” Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez said, “and he stays calm out there.”

13. Eloy Jimenez

The Cubs went all-in with their international spending in 2013 and significantly exceeded their pool allocation, resulting in restrictions on what they could spend in 2014. They handed out the biggest prize to Jimenez, forking over $2.8 million, which was the largest bonus given to an international amateur by any organization.

 

Both Jimenez and Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres, who signed for $1.7 million, began their pro careers in the AZL at the age of 17. Jimenez already is an impressive physical specimen, and so far it’s all about tools, physicality and projection. He’s a big, strong athlete who projects to get even bigger. While the raw power is evident and balls jump off his bat, Jimenez has holes in his swing and needs to stay away from breaking balls low and away.

 

Jimenez is starting to adjust to game speed in right field, while working to strengthen his average or better arm.

 

“He’s a kid with a lot of potential,” Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez said. “Great tools . . . big, strong, kid, and he’s going to fill in.”

14. Gleyber Torres

While Cubs outfielder Eloy Jimenez is a high-risk, high-reward hitter, his teammate Torres has a safer profile and higher floor. At the plate, he hits with a compact stroke, good balance, at least average bat speed and very good hand-eye coordination.

 

Torres is a selective and patient hitter who hits line drives into the gaps and has the ability to drive the ball the other way. He improved at the plate as the season progressed and finished the year with a solid cameo at short-season Boise. He’s an average to slightly above-average runner who is still learning better baserunning technique.

 

Torres projects to be able to stay at shortstop. While not flashy, he has good actions and an arm that grades as average to slightly above.

 

“He made adjustments that normally a 17-year-old wouldn’t make,” Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez. “A lot of it was mental adjustments.”

[sneakypower]

that kills any Torres in the top 100 talk, for BA at least

[Guest]

that kills any Torres in the top 100 talk, for BA at least

 

He probably won't make it but that said, the guy who does the AZL top 20 list doesn't have a vote in BA's top 100 lists not the Cubs top 30 lists.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, that relative ranking is...unexpected.

[rawaction]

Well, that list is wrong. Oh well.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'm a bit perplexed why Sands is #9 and Steele didn't even make it.

[Guest]

I'm a bit perplexed why Sands is #9 and Steele didn't even make it.

 

Yeah, that confused me too, especially when the write up spent as much time talking about Steele as it did Sands.

[craig]

Frank (Chicago, IL): Did Justin Steele make a case for this list, and what's your projection for him?

 

Bill Mitchell: With a strong group of prospects in a 13-team league, there are going to be players that deserve to be on the list but we just run out of room on our lists of 20. Steele, a left-handed pitcher who the Cubs took in the 5th round, is one of those. He was on some early versions of my list, and wound up ranking either 21 or 22 along with fellow Cubs pitcher Jeferson Mejia. Steele piggy-backed his outings with fellow southpaw Carson Sands, and was just about as impressive on some nights. Steele pitches at 89-91 mph with good life and sink. His mid-70s curveball looks to be a plus pitch and the changeup has potential. The big question with Steele is whether he'll be able to hold his velocity in longer outings, since he was limited to no more than three innings per game in his pro debut.

 

If Steele and Mejia are 21/22, that's 5/22 Cubs in a 13-team league.

 

Michael Smith (Chicago): Is there a cub that went under the radar that scouts really liked such as Kevonte Mitchell?

 

Bill Mitchell: Kevonte Mitchell was the real sleeper on the Cubs this year (and I'm not just saying that because we share a last name). He's very raw but made a a lot of adjustments and it was a good learning year for him. He's got good speed, is athletic, and controls the strike zone. He was new to the outfield this summer but showed good range there. Perhaps my top later round sleeper in the AZL this year!

[craig]

I'm a bit perplexed why Sands is #9 and Steele didn't even make it.

 

Mitchell's velocity info might explain that? He's got Steele at 89-91, Sands at 91-93, plus more projectable.

[Guest]

From the AZL Top 20 chat:

 

Frank (Chicago, IL): Did Justin Steele make a case for this list, and what's your projection for him?

 

Bill Mitchell: With a strong group of prospects in a 13-team league, there are going to be players that deserve to be on the list but we just run out of room on our lists of 20. Steele, a lefthanded pitcher who the Cubs took in the fifth round, is one of those. He was on some early versions of my list, and wound up ranking either No. 21 or No. 22 along with fellow Cubs pitcher Jeferson Mejia. Steele piggy-backed his outings with fellow southpaw Carson Sands, and was just about as impressive on some nights. Steele pitches at 89-91 mph with good life and sink. His mid-70s curveball looks to be a plus pitch and the changeup has potential. The big question with Steele is whether he’ll be able to hold his velocity in longer outings, since he was limited to no more than three innings per game in his pro debut.

 

Michael Smith (Chicago): Is there a cub that went under the radar that scouts really liked such as Kevonte Mitchell?

 

Bill Mitchell: Kevonte Mitchell was the real sleeper on the Cubs this year (and I’m not just saying that because we share a last name). He’s very raw but made a a lot of adjustments and it was a good learning year for him. He’s got good speed, is athletic, and controls the strike zone. He was new to the outfield this summer but showed good range there. Perhaps my top later round sleeper in the AZL this year!

[Guest]

And the top 20, in case people hadn't seen it:

 

1. Alex Jackson, OF, Mariners

2. Grant Holmes, RHP, Dodgers

3. Bobby Bradley, 1B, Indians

4. Justus Sheffield, LHP, Indians

5. Spencer Adams, RHP, White Sox

6. Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers

7. Monte Harrison, OF, Brewers

8. Michael Gettys, OF, Padres

9. Carson Sands, LHP, Cubs

10. Michael Santos, RHP, Giants

11. Cody Reed, LHP, Diamondbacks

12. Yu-Cheng Chang, SS/3B, Indians

13. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Cubs

14. Gleyber Torres, SS, Cubs

15. Jose Herrera, C, Diamondbacks

16. Ricardo Sanchez, LHP, Angels

17. Dillon Overton, LHP, A's

18. Miguel Diaz, RHP, Brewers

19. Josh Morgan, SS/2B, Rangers

20. Yeyson Yrizarri, SS, Rangers