By popular demand-- err, at the request of one person-- we present a continuation of the 2016 Cowtippers Farm Report, beginning with #11:
11. Byung-Ho Park, 1b
Born: July 10, 1986 (age 29). B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 194. Acquired: 1st round, 2016 winter farm draft.
Background: There have been many Korean-born baseball players who have played in MLB throughout history, but only a very small handful of hitters in the KBO (their version of MLB) have ever made an impact in the US. Last year, Jung-Ho Kang seemed to break that barrier, and now MLB teams are scrambling to find the next Kang. This winter, the Minnesota Twins signed Park, who is widely regarded to be the top hitter in the KBO.
Stats: Last season, Park hit .343/.436/.714, with 53 homers. It was the second year in a row he topped the 50 homer mark. He also struck out 161 times, which doesn't bode well for his transition to the US.
The Future: We aren't expecting Park to slug 50 homers in MLB this year, but if he replicates Kang's performance from last year (.287/.355/.461, with 15 HR), we would be very happy with that. With a hole at first base in 2017, Park provides one possible solution to fill that hole.
12. Nick Banks, of
Born: November 18, 1994 (age 21.) B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 200. Acquired: 1st round, 2015 summer draft.
Background: Now a junior with Texas A&M University, Banks is considered to be a strong candidate to be selected in the first round of the MLB amateur draft. He is considered to be the best "pure hitter" among the college hitters available in this draft, and evokes comparisons to Nick Markakis offensively.
Stats: As a sophomore, Banks hit .364/.450/.536, with 8 home runs, and a 34/58 BB/K ratio. This past summer, he was the best hitter on the USA National Team, finishing the season with a .386/.453/.491 average.
The Future: The best case scenario is that Banks has his best season yet at A&M, is selected near the top of the first round in June, speeds through the minor league system, and becomes one of the first players from this draft to reach the Major Leagues. In his prime, he could be an everyday starting center fielder with excellent defense, a .300 batting average, and 15-20 home run power. At worst, he becomes Mark Kotsay.
13. Corey Ray, of
Born: September 22, 1994 (age 21). B-T: L-L. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 185. Acquired: 2nd round, 2016 winter farm draft.
Background: Ray has been a well-known collegiate producer for two years, but he didn't enter the conversation to become one of the top picks in the June MLB draft until his summer performance with the USA Collegiate National team. Ray led that team in several offensive categories, and played flawless defense, earning accolades from coaches and scouts alike.
Stats: As a sophomore with Louisville last year, Ray hit .325/.389/.543 in 265 at-bats, with 11 home runs, and 34 stolen bases. He also struck out 60 times, with only 24 walks.
The Future: The strikeout and walk numbers are concerning to us, and those are the numbers we will be hyper-focused on this coming season. That will likely determine where he is selected in the draft, and how quickly he develops as a professional. He certainly has the tools to be a "five-tool" player at the Major League level, but far too often, we've seen players of his type (such as Cameron Maybin, Lastings Milledge, and Brian Goodwin), don't always translate their talent into performance.
14. Renato Nunez, 3b
Born: April 4, 1994 (age 21.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 200. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Nunez was among the top prospects on the international market way back in 2010. He hit the ground running, and held his own against much older competition at every level, playing the entire 2015 season at the Double-A level at the age of 21.
Stats: In five minor league seasons, Nunez owns a triple-slash line of .276/.328/.473. Last season, he hit .278/.332/.480, with 18 homers, and a 28/66 BB/K ratio.
The Future: There are two knocks against Nunez: he strikes out too much and he makes too many errors. He cut down his strikeout rate drastically last year, from 20% to 16%. Although he swings hard on every pitch, he is more of a line drive hitter than a slugger. With a little more maturity, he could tone down his swing and become more of a pure hitter. His glove, however, is another issue entirely, and likely his greatest obstacle toward the big leagues.
15. Dominic Smith, 1b
Born: June 15, 1995 (age 20.) B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 195. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Smith was a first round draft pick in the 2013 MLB draft out of high school. He projects as a James Loney or (at best) Freddie Freeman type of first baseman: sweet lefthanded swing that results in a high batting average and gap power, but a cap of 10-15 home runs, excellent defense, and no foot speed.
Stats: After a rough April and mediocre May, Smith seemed to heat up in the second half, posting an OPS of .869 in June, .758 in July, and .809 in August. He finished the year with a line of .305/.354/.417. For his career, he sits at .290/.357/.387, playing mostly in pitcher-friendly leagues.
The Future: We're very interested to see how Smith develops over the next year. The one area of our farm club where we are a little light is first base, so it would be exciting to see Smith take a step up and continue the momentum from the second half of last season. The knock on Smith has been his work ethic, but that seems to have corrected itself as he matures.
16. Rob Refsnyder, 2b/of
Born: March 26, 1991 (age 24.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 205. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: We originally drafted Refsnyder, and then traded him to Ravenswood a year ago, and then reacquired him this winter. He has done nothing but hit since beginning his professional career, but he seems to lack a position. The Yankees' second base position was wide open heading into this winter, but the offseason acquisition of Starlin Castro seems to indicate that Refsnyder will become a utility player who will see time at second base and the outfield.
Stats: Refsnyder's four year career minor league batting line is .290/.380/.432. He hit .302/.348/.512 in a limited (47 PA) appearance in the big leagues last season.
The Future: For now, it appears as though Refsnyder will be a super-utility player and backup at several different positions. How much playing time he receives depends on how well he hits. If he hits well enough, the Yankees will find a spot for him. We expect him to be a contributor to our 2017 in some form or fashion.
17. Amed Rosario, ss
Born: September 20, 1995 (age 20.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 170. Acquired: 2nd round, 2014 winter farm draft.
Background: We very nearly released Rosario on Cutdown Day, but decided to give him one more opportunity to impress us. He is one of those players whose scouting reports never seem to match his performance. He is consistently ranked among the top prospects in his league by the managers and coaches in the league. In 2014, he ranked #3 in the New York Penn League. This past season, he was ranked #7 in the Florida State League (ahead of Anthony Alford, Alex Blandino, and Dominic Smith, among others.) There must be something to his game that the statistics simply haven't reflected.
Stats: Rosario's career batting line of .257/.302/.350 hardly screams "future star." He has hit only 5 home runs in 974 plate appearances, but his 39 doubles and 15 triples suggest that there is some gap power there. He doesn't strike out or walk a lot, and he has stolen only 22 bases in his career (with 13 caught stealing.) His calling card is his glove, which is said to be "major league ready."
The Future: We are giving Amed one more year to prove that the scouts have been right all along. To be fair, he has played his entire career against much older competition, and that has to be considered when evaluating his statistics. He played the entire 2015 season in the High-A league as a 19-year-old, which is over three and a half years younger than the average age of the players in that league. We expect him to play 2016 at the Double-A level, which will give us the opportunity to see him in person and judge for ourselves.
18. John Lamb, p
Born: July 10, 1990 (age 25.) B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 205. Acquired: via trade, Chapter 5, 2015.
Background: Believe it or not, Lamb was once ranked the 18th best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. That was way back in 2011. Since then, he has undergone Tommy John surgery, and spent most of his time over the past three years attempting to return to form. He seemed to finally achieve that goal last season.
Stats: In 111+ innings at the Triple-A level last year, Lamb went 10-2 with a 2.67 ERA. He walked 36, and struck out 117. Upon his promotion to the big leagues, he maintained that sky-high K-rate (10.5) in nearly 50 innings, but finished with a deceptive 5.80 ERA, which was fueled by a .376 balls-in-play average.
The Future: 2016 could be a make-or-break year for Lamb, or yet another stepping stone on his journey back from obscurity. Now with the Cincinnati Reds organization, it seems as though the stage is set for him to take a step forward.
19. J.J. Schwarz, c
Born: March 28, 1996 (age 19.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 192. Acquired: 2nd round, 2015 summer draft.
Background: Schwarz has won so many awards in his brief collegiate career that he must need a storage facility to store them all. As a freshman with the University of Florida, he was named Freshman Hitter of the Year (NCBWA), Co-Freshman of the Year (Louisville Slugger), and Second Team All-American (multiple organizations), among many other honors. He finished third in the NCAA in RBI's, and fourth in home runs.
Stats: In 70 games (the maximum), Schwarz hit .332/.398/.629, with 18 home runs, and a 28/46 BB/K ratio. His 160 total bases led the Florida team -- by a lot.
The Future: It may prove foolish to rank Schwarz so low here, but he still has a long way to go before we know his true level of talent. For now, he looks like a potential 1-1 pick in the 2017 MLB draft. Power-hitting catchers are a rare breed, and it seems that most MLB teams move most catching prospects to another position to "save their knees." By most accounts, he has the tools to remain behind the plate, but that never stopped MLB teams from messing with their catching prospects before.
20. Adrian Rondon, ss
Born: July 7, 1998 (age 17.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 190. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: We waited anxiously as our pick drew nearer and nearer in the winter of 2015. We have become used to having a very low draft pick, and spending the entirety of the first round watching one name after another disappear from the top of our list, and 2015 was no exception. But as our pick -- the 19th overall -- drew closer, we couldn't believe our good fortune. One of the names at the very top of our list, from the very beginning, was still available: Adrian Rondon. Incredibly, he remained available right up to the 18th pick. We hit refresh over and over again, waiting for that pick to be made, so that we could officially welcome Rondon to our farm club. Then...Greg Newgard of the Flagstaff Outlaws ripped our heart right out of our chest. It took nearly a full year to do it, but we finally managed to announce the acquisition of Adrian Rondon.
Stats: In his first professional season, playing in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, Rondon hit an abysmal .166/.256/.234. He struck out 57 times in 43 games, walked just 17 times, and didn't hit a single home run.
The Future: Why, you may ask, have we experienced such eagerness to add this young man to our roster, when he was clearly so overmatched? Well, we believe in our scouts, and we believe that we shouldn't place too much emphasis on stats recorded by a sixteen year old child playing against grown men while living away from home for the first time in his life. We believe Adrian Rondon will be a star in the major leagues someday. Clearly, that will take some time, but we are confident that it will happen.
21. Erik Johnson, p
Born: December 30, 1989 (age 26.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 230. Acquired: 1st round, Chapter 5 free agent draft, 2015.
Background: It is a trade that will live in Cowtippers infamy. In order to fill a gaping hole at shortstop, we acquired Ian Desmond from the Los Altos Undertakers back in 2014. At the time, we thought we were getting a hitter with 20+ home run pop, 20+ steals, and an average glove. Instead, we ended up with a Trojan Horse who occupied the number nine spot in our batting order for two years (and failed to hit well enough to occupy even that spot.) In exchange, we gave up Anthony Rizzo. The rest is history. Almost forgotten, however, is that we also threw in Johnson "just to make it even." Thankfully, he was later released by Los Altos, and we snatched him up late last year.
Stats: In 2013, it looked as though Johnson was on the verge of becoming a young ace. In 142 minor league innings, he posted an ERA of just 1.96, with only 7 homers allowed, 40 walks, and 131 K's. Then, the wheels inexplicably came off the bus. His Triple-A ERA in 2014 ballooned to 6.73. His hit rate went up, his walk rate went up, and his K rate plummeted to 5.4. Maybe it was mechanical problems, or maybe he was injured. Whatever the cause, he seemed to find the cure in 2015. In 132+ minor league innings, he brought his ERA back down to 2.37, and his walk rate (2.8 per nine) and K rate (9.2 per nine) returned to normal. He was then given a cup of coffee with the big club, and contributed a 3.34 ERA in 35 innings.
The Future: Which Erik Johnson will show up in 2016? If it is the one who has been on display every year of his professional career, with the exception of 2014, then we will have ourselves a cheap ace for the 2017 season.
22. Jacob Lindgren, p
Born: March 12, 1993 (age 22.) B-T: L-L. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 205. Acquired: 4th round, 2015 winter farm draft.
Background: Lindgren posted some video game numbers during his junior year at Mississippi State (55+ IP, 23 H, 25 BB, 100 K), propelling him to the second round of the 2014 draft (55th overall.) A lefthanded reliever, it was assumed that he would move quickly up the ladder, but bone spur surgery on his left elbow derailed his first taste of the big leagues last spring.
Stats: Lindgren continued to dominate opponents during his first exposure to pro ball in 2014, as he averaged more than 17 strikeouts per nine. He recorded similar numbers in 2015 (22 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 29 K) before he was called up to the big club.
The Future: We are writing off 2015 as if it never happened, and look for Lindgren to be a valuable member of our 2017 bullpen. He needs to get his walk rate under control, but we like the idea of adding that power lefty arm for the middle innings.
23. Scott Schebler, of
Born: October 6, 1990 (age 25). B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 225. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: In a recent FantasyPros article, budding young writer Bobby Sylvester noted that many top players (such as Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Josh Willingham, and J.D. Martinez) were not highly regarded as prospects because they lacked certain tools that scouts tend to overemphasize. We feel that Schebler may fit into that mold. He was a 26th round draft pick out of community college. He has never been highly regarded as a prospect, and yet he has done nothing but hit throughout his professional career.
Stats: Schebler's career minor league numbers sit at .272/.338/.490. He posted a .900+ OPS in 2013 and 2014, and then tapered off a bit last year, hitting just .241/.322/.410 in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League. He enjoyed a productive Arizona Fall League, however, batting .310/.352/.524 in 24 games, and had a quality cup of coffee (.250/.325/.500) with the Dodgers as well.
The Future: Schebler was traded to the Cincinnati Reds this winter, and he is listed behind Jay Bruce in their official depth chart. Given the rumbling over a possible trade of Bruce, it's possible that Schebler could slide into a starting role. If he gets the opportunity, he is capable of posting some solid numbers.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
2016 Cowtippers Farm Report
It's hard to believe, but an official Cowtippers Farm Report hasn't been written since 2010. Let's take a trip in the Ol' Wayback Machine to review some of the highlights of that report:
We also listed a "2015 Projected Roster", which included Flowers at catcher, Eric Hosmer at first, Brent Morel at third, Pedro Alvarez, Tyson Gillies (??), and Matt Kemp in the outfield, and a pitching staff of Stephen Strasburg, Felix Hernandez, Luke Hochevar, Hisashi Iwakuma, Justin Masterson, and Scott Elbert. Well, at least we got the Strasburg part right!
With that type of track record, you may be wondering why we would ever write another Farm Report. Well, the answer is simple: we're bored out of our minds waiting for the free agent draft to begin.
Born: July 5, 1994 (age 21). B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 189. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Otani is widely considered to be the best player in Japan. He first came to fame as a high school pitcher, where he lit up radar guns with a 99mph fastball. When he graduated, he announced that he would immediately sign with a Major League team. Instead, the Nippon Ham Fighters convinced him to stay in Japan for at least a short term. One rumor suggests that he signed with the Fighters because they offered him the opportunity to play the outfield on the days he wasn't pitching. Another rumor suggests he signed with an out-clause that allows him to sign with a US team well before he reaches the age of free agency. And yet another rumor suggests he signed with the team because they offered him a lifetime supply of Nippon ham.
Stats: In three seasons with the Ham Fighters (note: not their real name, but still hilarious), Otani owns a 2.72 career ERA in 377+ innings, with only 282 hits allowed (6.7 per nine), 136 walks (3.2 per nine), and 421 strikeouts (10.0 per nine.) 2015 was his best season to date, as he went 15-5 with a 2.24 ERA, and 196 K's in 160+ innings. As a hitter, he has logged roughly the equivalent of a full MLB season in his career (557 PA's), and owns a triple-slash line of .245/.300/.429 with 18 homers and 36 doubles.
The Future: When will Otani come to the US? That is the big question. When he does, he will likely break the record for highest salary by a Japanese player, and will likely become the #1 starter for some lucky ballclub. From a BDBL perspective, Otani will be an extremely valuable commodity, as $100,000 ace starters are extremely rare. Our fingers are crossed that we will see him in a Cowtippers uniform by 2018.
2. Trea Turner, ss
Born: June 30, 1993 (age 22.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 175. Acquired: 1st round, summer, 2013.
Background: We drafted Turner when he was a rising junior at NC State. At the time, his scouting report indicated that he had "80" speed (on the scouting scale of 20-80), a patient approach at the plate, gap power, and a solid glove that would stick at shortstop. That report has proven to be accurate. When the top prospect lists are published this spring, we expect Turner to be ranked as our top prospect.
Stats: In just two full minor league seasons, Turner has hit .322/.384/.454, with 40 doubles, 9 triples, 13 homers, and 52 stolen bases in 62 attempts. In a brief 44 PA trial with the big club, he hit just .225/.295/.325.
The Future: We expect Turner to be our full-time, everyday shortstop in 2017. We envision him as a high-OBP leadoff hitter with occasional pop when he reaches his full potential.
3. Steven Matz, p
Born: May 29, 1991 (age 24). B-T: R-L. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 200. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Ranked by Baseball America as the #3 prospect in the Pacific Coast League, Matz rose quickly through the ranks after missing his first two seasons due to Tommy John surgery. He rose all the way to the big leagues last season, and was a key contributor to the Mets' postseason.
Stats: In four minor league seasons, Matz compiled a nifty 2.25 ERA in 380+ innings, with a BB/K rate of around 3/9. With the big club, he went 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts, and then posted a 3.68 ERA in three postseason starts.
The Future: We expect to see a full MLB season from Matz this year, and hope that he can be a full-time contributor to our starting rotation in 2017.
4. Rafael Devers, 3b
Born: October 24, 1996 (age 19). B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 195. Acquired: 6th round, summer, 2013 draft
Background: Devers was among the top-rated international prospects signed at the July 2nd deadline in 2013. We took a gamble on him based on his scouting reports, and that gamble has paid huge dividends so far. Devers was ranked among the top 100 prospects in the game last year, and will likely be ranked among the top twenty this year. A left-handed third baseman, Devers has demonstrated excellent power to all fields and a patient approach at the plate. One of the youngest players in the South Atlantic league, he was ranked by Baseball America as the league's #5 prospect.
Stats: In only two full years of pro ball, Devers owns a career triple-slash line of .300/.357/.466 in 810 plate appearances, with 18 homers and 55 doubles. He also owns a .927 career fielding percentage at third base, so there is still work to be done.
The Future: Only 18 years old when last season ended, Devers is still likely years away from making a contribution to our ballclub. In his prime years, we expect him to be a consistent .300/.350/.500 hitter and a cornerstone of our franchise (if we don't trade him to Bobby first.)
5. Aaron Judge, of
Born: April 26, 1992 (age 23.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-7. Wt: 275. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: We originally drafted Judge out of college in the eighth round of the 2013 winter farm draft. We traded him last year (along with Rob Refsnyder) in exchange for Alex Gordon, and then reacquired him this winter (along with Refsnyder and Matz) for Max Scherzer and Joaquim Soria. At 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, Judge is a beast, yet he moves well for a man his size. As a college student, his scouting report suggested that he had huge power potential, but had yet to translate that potential into his game play.
Stats: That potential finally revealed itself during his first year of pro ball, when he launched 17 homers in 131 games. He followed that performance by hitting 20 homers in 124 games last season. Overall, his career batting line is .281/.375/.467, with 50 doubles and 37 homers in 1,103 plate appearances.
The Future: We expected Judge to get a September call-up last year, but he struggled (.224/.308/.373) at the Triple-A level, and proved that he wasn't quite ready for primetime. We expect that the Yankees will return him to that level to start the 2016 season. If he fares better the second time around, we could see him with the big club by mid-season. In his prime, we see Judge as a power-hitting right fielder, capable of hitting 25+ homers per season, with a high on-base percentage and excellent defense.
6. Jon Gray, p
Born: November 5, 1991 (age 24.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 235. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Gray was the third overall pick of the 2013 MLB amateur draft, out of the University of Oklahoma. A right-handed power pitcher, he has been ranked among the top 25 prospects in the game for the past three years. He was ranked as the #4 prospect in the Pacific Coast League (just behind Matz) by Baseball America.
Stats: Gray owns a career 3.82 ERA over three minor league seasons. In 276 innings, he allowed 261 hits, 19 homers, 90 walks, and 274 strikeouts. He earned nine starts at the big league level last year, and posted a 5.53 ERA. Opponents batted .391 against him in the elevated arena of Coors Field, and just .225 away from Coors.
The Future: The best case scenario is that Gray figures out how to pitch at home, and becomes a workhorse who can give us 180+ quality innings in 2017. The worst case scenario is that he continues to struggle at home, and is sent back down to Triple-A to get some more seasoning. At this point, each scenario seems like a 50/50 proposition. Either way, we envision Gray eventually becoming a very valuable part of our starting rotation at some point in the very near future.
7. Jorge Mateo, ss
Born: June 23, 1995 (age 20.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 188. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: One of four shortstop prospects on our farm, Mateo's scouting report is very similar to Trea Turner's: 80 speed, excellent on-base ability, and developing power. He has been one of the youngest player in his league over the past two years, and was ranked by Baseball America as the #2 prospect in the South Atlantic League.
Stats: In four minor league seasons (including the Dominican Summer League), Mateo has hit .279/.359/.410, with 146 stolen bases in 175 attempts (a success rate of 83%.) He was promoted to the High-A Florida State League at the end of last season, and hit .321/.374/.452 in a brief, 91-PA, trial.
The Future: Mateo is considered to be the Yankees' shortstop of the future, and was a highly-sought commodity this past winter. The fact that the Yankees didn't trade him speaks volumes about their view of him. We have a tremendous amount of depth at the shortstop position, which gives us the flexibility to use Mateo as either our franchise shortstop or as valuable trade bait.
8. Alex Blandino, ss
Born: November 6, 1992 (age 23.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 190. Acquired: 3rd round, 2015 winter farm draft.
Background: A first round pick (29th overall) in the 2014 MLB amateur draft, Blandino has done nothing but rake since becoming a professional. He was ranked as the #13 prospect in the Florida State League by Baseball America. He has played mostly as a shortstop throughout his career, but has also played a handful of games at second base (which is where many believe he will wind up.)
Stats: In two full minor league seasons, Blandino has hit .280/.365/.442 with 45 doubles and 18 homers in 763 plate appearances. He managed to reach the Double-A level last season, where he posted a respectable .724 OPS.
The Future: With a logjam at shortstop on the Salem farm, Blandino would be a better fit for our club at second base. For now, we continue to monitor his progress at short, and we continue to be impressed with the way he has handled each move up the ladder. He should begin this season in Double-A and could see the big leagues by September.
9. Blake Rutherford, of
Born: May 2, 1997 (age 18.) B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Rutherford is considered to be the best hitter in the high school class of 2016, and a "five tool" player. A native of Simi Valley, California, he has been attending showcase events for several years, and is well known to scouts across the country. He may be among the top five picks in the coming MLB amateur draft. This summer he led the Team USA 18u team to a gold medal.
Stats: As a junior, Rutherford hit .435/.602/.693 for his high school team, with four homers, twenty five walks, and seven strikeouts.
The Future: Likely to be years away from contributing to the Cowtippers, we are nevertheless excited to see how Rutherford develops (and how quickly he develops) over the next few years. He has been compared to Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier, and if that comparison holds for the next few years, we would be very happy with that.
10. Vladimir Gutierrez, p
Born: September 18, 1995 (age 21.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 170. Acquired: 5th round, 2014 summer draft.
Background: Gutierrez debuted in the Cuban national baseball league at the age of 18. He pitched out of the bullpen in his first season, and then moved to the starting rotation, where he became a star. Halfway through his second season, he was selected to represent Cuba in the 2015 Caribbean games. On February 3rd, he and a teammate left the hotel and defected from their home country, and he is now free to sign with a MLB ballclub. He owns a fastball that sits in the 88-91 mph range, and a curveball that Baseball America's Ben Badler called "the best in Cuba." He was ranked the twelfth best prospect in Cuba by BA before his defection.
Stats: In his debut season, Gutierrez posted a 3.90 ERA in 67 innings, with 40 walks and 44 strikeouts. In his abbreviated second season, his ERA fell to 2.45 in 51+ innings. He cut his walks in half (19) and struck out 49 batters.
The Future: For now, all we know about Gutierrez is his scouting report. Once he signs with a Major League team, and begins to pitch against professional hitters, we will learn exactly what we have to deal with. All of the reports suggest that he has the tools to be a front line starting pitcher. Whether or not he reaches that potential remains to be seen.
Unless something goes horribly wrong, we will see Pedro [Alvarez] manning the hot corner for us next season.Something must have gone horribly wrong, as Alvarez has never started a single game for Salem.
After years and years of looking for a long-term solution behind the plate, we believe we may have finally found that special someone in Tyler Flowers.The only person left who feels that Tyler Flowers in a special someone is Mrs. Flowers.
While his scouting reports don't scream "future ace!", his numbers certainly do. And when we look back at the scouting reports for pitchers like Greg Maddux and Brandon Webb, it's easy to remember that scouting reports are often wrong. The numbers speak for themselves, and we think Dan Hudson will be an MLB ace in the very near future.Greg Maddux...Brandon Webb...Dan Hudson. You can see the line of progression- err, regression.
We also listed a "2015 Projected Roster", which included Flowers at catcher, Eric Hosmer at first, Brent Morel at third, Pedro Alvarez, Tyson Gillies (??), and Matt Kemp in the outfield, and a pitching staff of Stephen Strasburg, Felix Hernandez, Luke Hochevar, Hisashi Iwakuma, Justin Masterson, and Scott Elbert. Well, at least we got the Strasburg part right!
With that type of track record, you may be wondering why we would ever write another Farm Report. Well, the answer is simple: we're bored out of our minds waiting for the free agent draft to begin.
Salem's Top Ten Prospects
1. Shohei Otani, pBorn: July 5, 1994 (age 21). B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 189. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Otani is widely considered to be the best player in Japan. He first came to fame as a high school pitcher, where he lit up radar guns with a 99mph fastball. When he graduated, he announced that he would immediately sign with a Major League team. Instead, the Nippon Ham Fighters convinced him to stay in Japan for at least a short term. One rumor suggests that he signed with the Fighters because they offered him the opportunity to play the outfield on the days he wasn't pitching. Another rumor suggests he signed with an out-clause that allows him to sign with a US team well before he reaches the age of free agency. And yet another rumor suggests he signed with the team because they offered him a lifetime supply of Nippon ham.
Stats: In three seasons with the Ham Fighters (note: not their real name, but still hilarious), Otani owns a 2.72 career ERA in 377+ innings, with only 282 hits allowed (6.7 per nine), 136 walks (3.2 per nine), and 421 strikeouts (10.0 per nine.) 2015 was his best season to date, as he went 15-5 with a 2.24 ERA, and 196 K's in 160+ innings. As a hitter, he has logged roughly the equivalent of a full MLB season in his career (557 PA's), and owns a triple-slash line of .245/.300/.429 with 18 homers and 36 doubles.
The Future: When will Otani come to the US? That is the big question. When he does, he will likely break the record for highest salary by a Japanese player, and will likely become the #1 starter for some lucky ballclub. From a BDBL perspective, Otani will be an extremely valuable commodity, as $100,000 ace starters are extremely rare. Our fingers are crossed that we will see him in a Cowtippers uniform by 2018.
2. Trea Turner, ss
Born: June 30, 1993 (age 22.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 175. Acquired: 1st round, summer, 2013.
Background: We drafted Turner when he was a rising junior at NC State. At the time, his scouting report indicated that he had "80" speed (on the scouting scale of 20-80), a patient approach at the plate, gap power, and a solid glove that would stick at shortstop. That report has proven to be accurate. When the top prospect lists are published this spring, we expect Turner to be ranked as our top prospect.
Stats: In just two full minor league seasons, Turner has hit .322/.384/.454, with 40 doubles, 9 triples, 13 homers, and 52 stolen bases in 62 attempts. In a brief 44 PA trial with the big club, he hit just .225/.295/.325.
The Future: We expect Turner to be our full-time, everyday shortstop in 2017. We envision him as a high-OBP leadoff hitter with occasional pop when he reaches his full potential.
3. Steven Matz, p
Born: May 29, 1991 (age 24). B-T: R-L. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 200. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Ranked by Baseball America as the #3 prospect in the Pacific Coast League, Matz rose quickly through the ranks after missing his first two seasons due to Tommy John surgery. He rose all the way to the big leagues last season, and was a key contributor to the Mets' postseason.
Stats: In four minor league seasons, Matz compiled a nifty 2.25 ERA in 380+ innings, with a BB/K rate of around 3/9. With the big club, he went 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts, and then posted a 3.68 ERA in three postseason starts.
The Future: We expect to see a full MLB season from Matz this year, and hope that he can be a full-time contributor to our starting rotation in 2017.
4. Rafael Devers, 3b
Born: October 24, 1996 (age 19). B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 195. Acquired: 6th round, summer, 2013 draft
Background: Devers was among the top-rated international prospects signed at the July 2nd deadline in 2013. We took a gamble on him based on his scouting reports, and that gamble has paid huge dividends so far. Devers was ranked among the top 100 prospects in the game last year, and will likely be ranked among the top twenty this year. A left-handed third baseman, Devers has demonstrated excellent power to all fields and a patient approach at the plate. One of the youngest players in the South Atlantic league, he was ranked by Baseball America as the league's #5 prospect.
Stats: In only two full years of pro ball, Devers owns a career triple-slash line of .300/.357/.466 in 810 plate appearances, with 18 homers and 55 doubles. He also owns a .927 career fielding percentage at third base, so there is still work to be done.
The Future: Only 18 years old when last season ended, Devers is still likely years away from making a contribution to our ballclub. In his prime years, we expect him to be a consistent .300/.350/.500 hitter and a cornerstone of our franchise (if we don't trade him to Bobby first.)
5. Aaron Judge, of
Born: April 26, 1992 (age 23.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-7. Wt: 275. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: We originally drafted Judge out of college in the eighth round of the 2013 winter farm draft. We traded him last year (along with Rob Refsnyder) in exchange for Alex Gordon, and then reacquired him this winter (along with Refsnyder and Matz) for Max Scherzer and Joaquim Soria. At 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, Judge is a beast, yet he moves well for a man his size. As a college student, his scouting report suggested that he had huge power potential, but had yet to translate that potential into his game play.
Stats: That potential finally revealed itself during his first year of pro ball, when he launched 17 homers in 131 games. He followed that performance by hitting 20 homers in 124 games last season. Overall, his career batting line is .281/.375/.467, with 50 doubles and 37 homers in 1,103 plate appearances.
The Future: We expected Judge to get a September call-up last year, but he struggled (.224/.308/.373) at the Triple-A level, and proved that he wasn't quite ready for primetime. We expect that the Yankees will return him to that level to start the 2016 season. If he fares better the second time around, we could see him with the big club by mid-season. In his prime, we see Judge as a power-hitting right fielder, capable of hitting 25+ homers per season, with a high on-base percentage and excellent defense.
6. Jon Gray, p
Born: November 5, 1991 (age 24.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 235. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Gray was the third overall pick of the 2013 MLB amateur draft, out of the University of Oklahoma. A right-handed power pitcher, he has been ranked among the top 25 prospects in the game for the past three years. He was ranked as the #4 prospect in the Pacific Coast League (just behind Matz) by Baseball America.
Stats: Gray owns a career 3.82 ERA over three minor league seasons. In 276 innings, he allowed 261 hits, 19 homers, 90 walks, and 274 strikeouts. He earned nine starts at the big league level last year, and posted a 5.53 ERA. Opponents batted .391 against him in the elevated arena of Coors Field, and just .225 away from Coors.
The Future: The best case scenario is that Gray figures out how to pitch at home, and becomes a workhorse who can give us 180+ quality innings in 2017. The worst case scenario is that he continues to struggle at home, and is sent back down to Triple-A to get some more seasoning. At this point, each scenario seems like a 50/50 proposition. Either way, we envision Gray eventually becoming a very valuable part of our starting rotation at some point in the very near future.
7. Jorge Mateo, ss
Born: June 23, 1995 (age 20.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 188. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: One of four shortstop prospects on our farm, Mateo's scouting report is very similar to Trea Turner's: 80 speed, excellent on-base ability, and developing power. He has been one of the youngest player in his league over the past two years, and was ranked by Baseball America as the #2 prospect in the South Atlantic League.
Stats: In four minor league seasons (including the Dominican Summer League), Mateo has hit .279/.359/.410, with 146 stolen bases in 175 attempts (a success rate of 83%.) He was promoted to the High-A Florida State League at the end of last season, and hit .321/.374/.452 in a brief, 91-PA, trial.
The Future: Mateo is considered to be the Yankees' shortstop of the future, and was a highly-sought commodity this past winter. The fact that the Yankees didn't trade him speaks volumes about their view of him. We have a tremendous amount of depth at the shortstop position, which gives us the flexibility to use Mateo as either our franchise shortstop or as valuable trade bait.
8. Alex Blandino, ss
Born: November 6, 1992 (age 23.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 190. Acquired: 3rd round, 2015 winter farm draft.
Background: A first round pick (29th overall) in the 2014 MLB amateur draft, Blandino has done nothing but rake since becoming a professional. He was ranked as the #13 prospect in the Florida State League by Baseball America. He has played mostly as a shortstop throughout his career, but has also played a handful of games at second base (which is where many believe he will wind up.)
Stats: In two full minor league seasons, Blandino has hit .280/.365/.442 with 45 doubles and 18 homers in 763 plate appearances. He managed to reach the Double-A level last season, where he posted a respectable .724 OPS.
The Future: With a logjam at shortstop on the Salem farm, Blandino would be a better fit for our club at second base. For now, we continue to monitor his progress at short, and we continue to be impressed with the way he has handled each move up the ladder. He should begin this season in Double-A and could see the big leagues by September.
9. Blake Rutherford, of
Born: May 2, 1997 (age 18.) B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Acquired: via trade, winter, 2016.
Background: Rutherford is considered to be the best hitter in the high school class of 2016, and a "five tool" player. A native of Simi Valley, California, he has been attending showcase events for several years, and is well known to scouts across the country. He may be among the top five picks in the coming MLB amateur draft. This summer he led the Team USA 18u team to a gold medal.
Stats: As a junior, Rutherford hit .435/.602/.693 for his high school team, with four homers, twenty five walks, and seven strikeouts.
The Future: Likely to be years away from contributing to the Cowtippers, we are nevertheless excited to see how Rutherford develops (and how quickly he develops) over the next few years. He has been compared to Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier, and if that comparison holds for the next few years, we would be very happy with that.
10. Vladimir Gutierrez, p
Born: September 18, 1995 (age 21.) B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 170. Acquired: 5th round, 2014 summer draft.
Background: Gutierrez debuted in the Cuban national baseball league at the age of 18. He pitched out of the bullpen in his first season, and then moved to the starting rotation, where he became a star. Halfway through his second season, he was selected to represent Cuba in the 2015 Caribbean games. On February 3rd, he and a teammate left the hotel and defected from their home country, and he is now free to sign with a MLB ballclub. He owns a fastball that sits in the 88-91 mph range, and a curveball that Baseball America's Ben Badler called "the best in Cuba." He was ranked the twelfth best prospect in Cuba by BA before his defection.
Stats: In his debut season, Gutierrez posted a 3.90 ERA in 67 innings, with 40 walks and 44 strikeouts. In his abbreviated second season, his ERA fell to 2.45 in 51+ innings. He cut his walks in half (19) and struck out 49 batters.
The Future: For now, all we know about Gutierrez is his scouting report. Once he signs with a Major League team, and begins to pitch against professional hitters, we will learn exactly what we have to deal with. All of the reports suggest that he has the tools to be a front line starting pitcher. Whether or not he reaches that potential remains to be seen.
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