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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 27, 2009 9:39:38 GMT -5
Heading into the last month of the MiLB season it's time to take a look at the prospects that could become the next cornerstones of the BCMBL Boston Red Sox.
It's not going to be in any particular order. I think I'll start with the single A pitchers:
1. Mike Montgomery SP
Acquired: BCMBL 2008 Draft Round 1 Pick 20
Montgomery made his A+ debut last night, but I'm still going to profile him with the single A's. Drafted out of high school, Montgomery sits in the low 90's with his fastball and touches 94. At 6'5" and only 180 pounds most agree he has the frame to gain 20-30 pounds and continue to add velocity to his fastball. He ranked as the number 1 prospect in the AZL last year. His curveball already rates as a plus pitch and his change is close to being average already. On June 19th Kevin Goldstein said: "he's the highest ceiling pitching prospect in the system." On the season he has held opposing batters to a .195 average and gotten nearly 2 ground ball outs to every flyball out while striking out 55 in 62 innings. An intense competitor and hard worker I think he has the potential to move rapidly with a bump in velocity or command possibly boosting him to the big leagues by 2011.
PT's projected ceiling: 1-2 with command being the deciding factor.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 27, 2009 10:01:26 GMT -5
The rest of the A ballers are coming in alphabetical order.
2. Simon Castro SP
Acquired: Created 2009 season.
Castro gets created every year because of his extremely projectable frame and strong arm, but at the end of each year his numbers haven't matched his potential. The Red Sox hope this is the year he comes into it. Another 6'5" prospect, Castro also has some projectability remaining. At present he sits at 92-95 and touches 98. His feel for an above-average slider comes and goes and his change continues to improve. On the year he's holding batters to a .231 average with a k/9 rate of 10.03. He's lowered his BB/9 rate from 3.99 last year to 2.65 this year. His K/BB rate has risen to nearly 4 to 1. If he continues to trend like this he could follow fellow Padre Pelzer and shoot to the top of a crappy San Diego system. ETA in a good organization 2012, Padres 2011.
PT's projection: If the improved command is for real his ceiling could be solid #2 starter. If the command is a blip his floor is power reliever.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 27, 2009 10:24:03 GMT -5
Last one for today.
3. Brad Dydalewicz SP
Acquired: Created 2009 Season.
Drafted out of high school last year Dydalewicz surprised many by skipping short season ball and being sent directly to Single A. Teaming with Ross seaton and Jordan Lyles at Lexington, Dydalewicz has shown a 90-94 mph fastball and a good curve. Like a lot of high school pitchers Dydalewicz didn't throw his change often against high school hitters. Curveballs are often effective against right and lefthanded hitters, but I'm going to go out on a limb before the paid 'experts' wiegh in and say his change has potential as right handed batters have hit only .201 against him with 41 hits in 53.2 innings. Overall batters are hitting .204 against the 19 year old with a GO/AO ratio of 1.75. ETA - I expect Houston to try to move the Lexington rotation as a group up the ladder. Probably 2012.
PT's projection: I think he could be a 3. Maybe a lefthanded Tim Hudson if everything falls right, but a lot of people see him as a Billy Wagner type out of the bullpen and I wouldn't have a problem with that either.
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Post by Yankees GM (A) on Jul 27, 2009 12:03:21 GMT -5
They'll all be gone next week.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 28, 2009 11:15:47 GMT -5
4. Jeurys Familia SP
Acquired: Signed 2009 season.
Jeurys hasn't garnered the same kind of attention fellow Latin signee Jenrry Mejia has but he may be the third best upside pitching prospect in the Mets system behind Mejia and Brad Holt (who's three years older). The 19 year old Familia sits 90-93 with his fastball, often touching 94. The pitch has good down and in boring action to righthanders. His breaking ball has a sharp slurvy action down and away from righthanders. It comes in at 78-81 and flashes true wipe out potential. His change is a show me pitch at present, but if it improves he could move rapidly. Batters are hitting .218 against him and rolling over 1.53 GO/AO while striking out 92 and walking only 37. He has only given up 3 HR on the year and has head to head victories over Casey Kelly and Brett DeVall. Look for him to appear in many Mets top 10 lists this fall.
PT's projection - I'm bullish on him as he's improved steadily as the year has gone on. If his change comes along he could be a #2. If it doesn't, his bulldog mentality and two plus pitch mix would make him an ideal back end of bullpen arm as a floor.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 28, 2009 11:34:58 GMT -5
5. Trevor May SP
Acquired: Created 2009 season.
Another 6'5" high school draftee, the 19 year old May has taken the SAL by storm after being held back in instructs. A power pitcher out of Washington he sits in the low 90's with his fastball and regularly flashes a plus curve. In 40.2 innings pitched he has given up 30 hits and struck out 50. Batters are hitting .207 against him. Yesterday PhuturePhillies webmaster Treehorn tweeted that if he had to redo his Phillies top 30 today, May would be in his top 10. Expect him to take a big jump up BA's list this fall.
PT's projection - I'll still say #3 because his body of work so far is small but the size, stuff, and youth are all there to turn him into something more.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 28, 2009 11:56:26 GMT -5
6. JC Sulbaran SP
Acquired: Created 2009 season.
A high school team mate of Eric Hosmer, Sulbaran's year got started early as he participated in the WBC on the Netherlands team where he struck out Pudge Rodriguez on three pitches and got Carlos Beltran to ground out weakly. In a chat after the WBC, BP's Kevin Goldstein said he made a mistake by not putting Sulbaran in his Reds top 11. He also participated in the Futures game this year and pitched a scoreless inning. He throws a 91-94 mph fastball with a good curve/slurve and a promising change. By far the best prospect on the Dragons, Sulbaran has been guilty of trying too hard and his numbers aren't as pretty as some of my other A-ballers but he has excellent upside.
PT's projection - I think he'll be a mid rotation starter down the road.
That's all the A ballers.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 31, 2009 10:10:25 GMT -5
Okay, time to look at the guys in high A.
7. Mauricio Robles SP
Acquired: Created 2009 season.
I created Robles last year too when he had a crazy home/away split allowing only one earned run in 50+ innings on the road. He's just coming off 21.1 scoreless innings at Lakeland. Robles is a diminutive lefty with an electric arm. His fastball has plus velocity for a lefty, sitting in the low 90's and touching 95. He's held his own against RHH, so I'm guessing he's made strides with his change and curve. He began his career as an OF and it showed last year in his inability to be consistant in his delivery. He's been much better this year and the Tigers rewarded him with a mid-seson promotion to high A where he has continued to strikeout more than a batter per inning while surrendering less than a hit per inning. On the year he's given up 79 hits and k'd 111 in 91.1 innings pitched. Batters are hitting .234 against him on the season. ETA - 2011.
PT's projection - Robles has cut his walk rate by around 24% this year while increasing his k's by 41%. My heart wants to say LH Pedro light, but since short guys routinely get pigeon holed as relievers that's probably the most likely route with an outside shot at #3.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 31, 2009 10:24:43 GMT -5
8. Nick Schmidt SP
Acquired: Trade with AZ 2009
Nick was a throw in player in a trade with AZ that went on a tear after joining the Boston system. A former first round pick, Schmidt underwent surgery in 2007 and missed the entire 2008 season. A polished college lefty he works 87-89 with his fastball, has a above average curve, solid average change, and good control and pitchability. After a tough first couple High A outings, he's working on 20.2 innings where he's only given up 5 earned runs(2.18 ERA). Before his surgery he was regarded as a mid-rotation starter. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets bumped to AA or gets an exception so SD can work him in the AFL to fast track him to SD.
PT's projection - Right now I'll say #4-5. He doesn't miss as many bats as I'd like, but Petco is the best flyball pitchers park in the majors.
UPDATE: Released 8/6 due to age and ceiling. Won't reach the bigs until he's 26-7 and only profiles in the back of a rotation.
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 31, 2009 10:36:22 GMT -5
We're looking at rain all day here, so I'm going to start the AA's.
9. Jeanmar Gomez SP
Acquired: Created 2009 Season.
I'd been watching Gomez for a while as the Indians have done a great job scouting arms from VZ. Then he tossed the first perfect game in 2 years in MiLB. He has three solid average offerings and has taken his control up a notch to plus. He's worked 117.1 innings, given up 101 hits and k'd 94 as a 21 year old in AA. His GO/AO rate is 1.45 and batters are going at .232 against him. ETA - 2010
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Post by Red Sox GM on Jul 31, 2009 10:39:07 GMT -5
Hey, Robles just got traded to Seattle.
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Post by Padres GM (A) on Jul 31, 2009 10:49:10 GMT -5
Hey, Robles just got traded to Seattle. Yippie, finally aquiring a couple spects. Now the Pads want him in BCMBL! |
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Post by Red Sox GM on Aug 5, 2009 9:56:54 GMT -5
Trevor Mays' stock has indeed risen as BA's Callis lists him #6 in the updated Phillies top 10.
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Post by oaklandgm (A) on Aug 5, 2009 20:49:30 GMT -5
is that b/c they just traded away most of their "top" prospects, or b/c his stock is really rising?
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Post by Red Sox GM on Aug 5, 2009 21:14:24 GMT -5
is that b/c they just traded away most of their "top" prospects, or b/c his stock is really rising? Traded away, graduated to the majors, lost at sea.. it's all good. ;D |
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Post by oaklandgm (A) on Aug 6, 2009 0:41:32 GMT -5
just busting chops...
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