In recent years AAA has been a league light on prospects, but in 2013 it had some real star power roll through it in Wil Myers, Xander Bogaerts, Gerrit Cole, Chris Archer, Nick Castellanos, and Danny Salazar.  Even so the back end of the list tends to be littered with fringe prospects.  Another thing to keep in mind, that while these are mostly pure prospects lists only scouting from their time in the IL was used, and the amount of time spent in the league can skew the rankings a little bit.  This years list went 16 strong to Trevor Bauer with the last four Darin Ruf, Carlos Sanchez, Kevin Pillar, and Joey Terdoslavich profiling more as second division regulars or bench players. Continue reading Cody Asche #9 and Darin Ruf #17 on BA’s IL Top 20 →

Hit and speed tools are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to evaluation.  Speed is the easiest tool to measure if you have a stop watch and good hand-eye coordination.  Evaluating the hit tool can take decades to learn how to project, and even then the sharpest evaluator can miss horribly.  The hit tool is a fundamental part of the game and it is the one tool that can end and make careers on its own.  Speed is possibly the most overrated tool in the game, because it is exciting and tangible, but that does not mean it cannot make a huge impact on the game. Continue reading Top Tools: Hit and Speed →

The defensive profile of a player has always been important to scouts, but recently the public’s understanding of defense has expanded.  Advanced stats and video analysis have allowed even casual fans to break down defensive plays.  Even so the baseball world is only starting to scratch the surface of defense and its value.  In terms of raw tools defense is a component of speed, arm, and glove, but instincts and coordination also play a big park in defensive success.  Rather than break down the best of each across the system I am going to break down the defensive profiles of major position groups in terms of the players that best exemplify that tool for that position.

Catcher:

Catcher defense is the farthest behind in terms on analysis because it touches so many part of the game.  We can measure pure arm strength by pop times, and a good throwing catcher will limit how much opponents even try to run.  Tommy Joseph has a cannon of an arm, it is at least a plus tool, only limited by his ability to get moving his arm has accuracy to go with the pure power.  Catcher receiving is often underrated and as fans we often look at their ability to block balls in the dirt and out of the zone, but a catcher who is quiet in the zone can make a huge difference.  Cameron Rupp offers pitchers a huge target and a quiet glove; he is not an elite receiver but he is very solid behind the plate.  The whole package of catcher defense can be an incredible thing, a catcher combining both the receiving and arm can be worth many wins in value without hitting.  It is not a complete package yet but Deivi Grullon combines an arm that could be plus plus by the time he is fully mature and he is a work in progress receiving but the feel is there to have a plus glove, giving him a near elite defensive profile. Continue reading Top Tools: Defense →

I knew I wanted to discuss the top tools in the system as a way of recapping the year and initially it was going to be one massive post with just a name next each tool.  I thought this format would be more interesting for breaking down the tool itself and why it is important and the ways we judge it.

Power is probably the sexiest tool in baseball right next to fastball velocity.  There are few things as visceral as someone crushing a baseball into the stands.  Power is a tool that we often wait on in the minors as players develop physically and mentally.  We often refer to raw power and power projection and often times they never come along, but when it does it can be special.

In Game Power – Maikel Franco

Honorable Mentions – Zach Green and Dylan Cozens Continue reading Top Tools: Power →

The Phillies have announced that second round pick Andrew Knapp will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow (as per @jnorris427).  The recovery time for a position player is closer to 6 months of recovery which would have him able to throw by mid to late April.  I would suspect that Knapp will be spending spring practices working on his receiving and start the year as the Clearwater DH while slowly working back into the catching role.

This certainly is not good news for a top pick as Knapp is far from a finished product behind the plate, but this should only set him back a couple of months on the defensive side and shouldn’t push back his hitting.  The risk is that lost time behind the plate puts more questions in his ability to stick there.

Two casualties today on the waiver wire for the Phils whose pitching “depth” takes a hit.  Early today Pitcher Raul Valdes was claimed off of waivers by the Houston Astros.  Valdes went 1-1 with a 7.46 ERA in several trips up to Philly during the year. Later in the afternoon, Tyler Cloyd, 26 was picked up by the Cleveland Indians after he was removed from the 40 man roster by the Phillies. CLoyd, who was the Phillies 18th round draft pick in 2008 struggled this year going 2-7 with a 6.56 ERA with the Phillies during 13 appearances (11 starts) with the big club. 

I am not surprised that the Phillies removed either player from the 40 man roster as it was clear that neither was the answer to provide reliable depth for the club moving forward.

Baseball America released their top 20 New York Penn League prospects today http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2013-new-york-penn-league-top-20-prospects-with-scouting-reports/.  Williamsport third baseman Zach Green came in at #4 where there is concern about the strikeouts but the power is immense and they give him 70 grade raw power.

Williamsport RF and 2012 second round pick Dylan Cozens was rated #9.  BA also gave him a 70 on the raw power, but that he struggles against offspeed pitches.  Scouts like the bat speed and think that the swing will play at higher levels.  Scouts still think that he is a first baseman down the road but he can handle right field fine for now.

More info to come.