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.

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.

The FIL is finally under way, games have been rained out for the most part so far, so reports have been limited to following players on twitter.  Rather than break down the full list or just give you the list, here is somewhere in between.  I am going to highlight a couple names to watch in each group (I am also splitting the VSL/DSL players out separately).

Pitchers:

James Buckley, Ranfi Casimiro, Zach Cooper, Delvy Francisco, Mitch Gueller, Jordan Guth, Nic Hanson, Deton Keys, Manaure Martinez, Mark Meadors, Will Morris, Nefi OGando, Yacksel Rios, Feliberto Sanchez, Matt Southard, Jessen Therrien, Tyler Viza, Kevin Walter

Andrew Anderson – Anderson is coming off a good statistical season, but the reports seem to be more pitchability than stuff.  To me he seems like a Jonathan Pettibone starter kit with a decent fastball, a second above average pitch, a third average pitch, and a good clue how to use them.  It is the secondary pitches that are the ones to watch most in instructs. Continue reading Florida Instructional League →