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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