Just for comparison, I happened to pick up the 2010 Prospect Handbook. The list 5 years ago turned out some pretty darned good major leaguers:
1. Carlos Santana major league regular
2. Lonnie Chisenhall major league regular
3. Nick Hagadone major league reliever
4. Jason Knapp
5. Michael Brantley MVP candidate
6. Nick Weglarz
7. Hector Rondon major league closer
8. Carlos Carrasco major league starter
9. Alex White a little major league experience
10. Jason Kipnis major league regular
11. Lou Marson former major league backup
12. T. J. House marginal major league starter
...
15. Jason Donald former major league utility
16. Zach Putnam major league middle setup reliever
...
21. Jeanmar Gomez major league marginal
I'd be happy if we look back in fall 2019 and see the same level of success of this year's crop. One major difference is that this year's top 10 are much younger so more distant from the majors with more opportunities to fall short.
Re: Minor Matters
4142Sunday lines:
CLE ABL Battaglia, Ryan 3B 4 1 1 0 .130 2B (3), BB (2) [he stinks, he can remain in Australia]
CLE ABL Campbell, Andrew DH 4 0 1 0 .182 BB (5), SB (1) [ditto]
CLE DL Ciriaco, Audy DH 2 0 0 0 .211
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose 2B 5 1 1 1 .130
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 3 1 0 0 .273 BB (5)
CLE VL Aguilar, Jesus 1B 4 0 0 0 .246
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos RF 4 0 2 2 .333
PRL Ramirez, J.C. 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.42
CLE PRL Soto, Giovanni 2.1 0 0 0 1 1 1.23
CLE ABL Battaglia, Ryan 3B 4 1 1 0 .130 2B (3), BB (2) [he stinks, he can remain in Australia]
CLE ABL Campbell, Andrew DH 4 0 1 0 .182 BB (5), SB (1) [ditto]
CLE DL Ciriaco, Audy DH 2 0 0 0 .211
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose 2B 5 1 1 1 .130
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 3 1 0 0 .273 BB (5)
CLE VL Aguilar, Jesus 1B 4 0 0 0 .246
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos RF 4 0 2 2 .333
PRL Ramirez, J.C. 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.42
CLE PRL Soto, Giovanni 2.1 0 0 0 1 1 1.23
Re: Minor Matters
4143A Joe favorite from way back when is available again:
Elected free agency: OF Matt McBride
Removed from Rockies 40-man: OF Matt McBride (outrighted to Triple-A)
Elected free agency: OF Matt McBride
Removed from Rockies 40-man: OF Matt McBride (outrighted to Triple-A)
Re: Minor Matters
4144A blast from the past.....I forgot all about Matt.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Minor Matters
4145Monday in the Sun:
CLE ABL Battaglia, Ryan C-3B 4 1 1 0 .140
CLE ABL Campbell, Andrew PH-DH 1 0 1 1 .196
CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 4 2 2 2 .266 2 HR (3), BB (8) [Slugger1]
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony C 5 0 2 1 .235
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 6 2 3 1 .173 2B (2), HR (2) [Slugger2]
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos DH 3 0 0 0 .318
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 4 0 2 0 .394 2B (2)
CLE AFL Sides, Grant 1 1 0 0 1 2 1.59
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
CLE PRL Ramirez, J.C. 0 4 4 3 2 0 5.68 L (0 - 1) [RH half of the conjoined pair with an awful game]
CLE PRL Romero, J.C. 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 [LH twin stays perfect]
CLE ABL Battaglia, Ryan C-3B 4 1 1 0 .140
CLE ABL Campbell, Andrew PH-DH 1 0 1 1 .196
CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 4 2 2 2 .266 2 HR (3), BB (8) [Slugger1]
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony C 5 0 2 1 .235
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 6 2 3 1 .173 2B (2), HR (2) [Slugger2]
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos DH 3 0 0 0 .318
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 4 0 2 0 .394 2B (2)
CLE AFL Sides, Grant 1 1 0 0 1 2 1.59
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
CLE PRL Ramirez, J.C. 0 4 4 3 2 0 5.68 L (0 - 1) [RH half of the conjoined pair with an awful game]
CLE PRL Romero, J.C. 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 [LH twin stays perfect]
Re: Minor Matters
4146Tuesday:
CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 4 0 1 1 .265
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 5 1 0 0 .161 [take some time off, Jose.]
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 3 0 0 0 .240
CLE VL Aguilar, Jesus 1B 4 1 2 1 .262 3B(2)
CLE AFL Baker, Dylan 5 1 0 0 2 6 4.24 [Good game! Baker was hurt most of last year. He's can be a prospect if he can bounce back. He debuted last year with a 5 or 6 inning perfect outing, and hurt before his 2nd start.]
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
CLE PRL Romero, J.C. 1.1 2 0 0 0 0 0.00
CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 4 0 1 1 .265
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 5 1 0 0 .161 [take some time off, Jose.]
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 3 0 0 0 .240
CLE VL Aguilar, Jesus 1B 4 1 2 1 .262 3B(2)
CLE AFL Baker, Dylan 5 1 0 0 2 6 4.24 [Good game! Baker was hurt most of last year. He's can be a prospect if he can bounce back. He debuted last year with a 5 or 6 inning perfect outing, and hurt before his 2nd start.]
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
CLE PRL Romero, J.C. 1.1 2 0 0 0 0 0.00
Re: Minor Matters
4147.Here's the Tigers report in Baseball America. I don't participate in chats other than Cleveland's but this should be a fair assessment of their minor league prospects
No team has matched the consistent regular-season success of the Tigers over the last four seasons. Detroit has won more games than any team in baseball in that stretch. And while the Dodgers and Cardinals repeated as division champions in 2014, the Tigers rattled of their fourth straight American League Central title.
Yet the season still ended on a bitter note, with the Orioles sweeping the Tigers in the AL Division Series, the first time in four years the Tigers were unable to reach the AL Championship Series.
Several of the team’s moves helped the Tigers offense. Unloading Prince Fielder to the Rangers netted the Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who was more valuable than Fielder in 2014. The move also enabled Miguel Cabrera to move back to first base and let rookie Nick Castellanos take over at third.
Picking up J.D. Martinez, whom the Astros released in spring training, ended up being one of the steals of the year. He hit .315/.358/.553 with 23 home runs in 441 at-bats, then batted fifth in the Tigers’ lineup during the playoffs.
With Victor Martinez leading the majors in OPS, the Tigers ranked second in baseball in runs scored. Yet the bullpen continued to be an area of weakness for the Tigers, one that proved costly in the postseason.
While the Tigers tried to upgrade with the offseason free agent signings of Joe Nathan and Joba Chamberlain, the former was completely ineffective and the latter caused plenty of headaches.
The Tigers paid a high prospect cost—righthanders Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel—to trade for Joakim Soria from the Rangers in July, but he didn’t perform well immediately and quickly lost the trust of manager Brad Ausmus.
Giving Doug Fister to the Nationals for an underwhelming trade return of lefthanders Robbie Ray and Ian Krol and utility infielder Steve Lombardozzi also proved costly, and proved to be a rare misstep for general manager Dave Dombrowski, whose trading track record is among the best in the game.
The farm system remains light, but that’s always been the case for the Tigers throughout their run of division titles. The system only thinned out further with the Soria trade and the July acquisition of David Price, who gives the Tigers an ace for next season as they prepare for life without Max Scherzer, but also cost them low Class A shortstop Willy Adames, along with center fielder Austin Jackson and lefty Drew Smyly from the big league team.
Few prospects in the organization have star potential. The pitchers are a mix of possible back-end starters and relievers. The position players are more steady than special, with Devon Travis blocked at second base by Kinsler. Steven Moya is an exception, with his electric power combined with a reckless offensive approach making for a high-risk, high-reward player. Derek Hill has exciting tools, but he’s a 2014 high school draft pick who struggled in his pro debut.
The Tigers have the talent to compete next year for their fifth straight AL Central crown, but the competition in the division has become stiffer with the emergence of the Royals. The talent level is still is still high in Detroit, but it’s no longer an easy call to forecast them as AL Central favorites.
Re: Minor Matters
4148Here are the prospect write-ups. No effort made to make the stats easily readable.
1. Devon Travis, 2B/OF
SCOUTING GRADES
Batting: 60.
Power: 45.
Speed: 50.
Defense: 50.
Arm: 50.
Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools.
Born: Feb. 21, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-9. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Florida State, 2012 (13th round). Signed by: Jim Rough.
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2014 Org.
2005 Curtis Granderson, of Mets
2006 Justin Verlander, rhp Tigers
2007 Cameron Maybin, of Padres
2008 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2009 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2010 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2011 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2012 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2013 Nick Castellanos, of Tigers
2014 Nick Castellanos, 3b/of Tigers
Background: Travis has spent most of his baseball life being overlooked. Undrafted out of high school, he went to Florida State, where he posted big numbers as a three-year starter. Still, teams were wary of Travis’ 5-foot-9 size, so he lasted until the 13th round in the 2012 draft, then signed for $200,000. That quickly looked like a bargain when he hit a combined .351/.418/.518 through two levels of Class A ball in his first full season in 2013. A week into the 2014 season, Travis suffered an oblique injury that kept him on the disabled list for six weeks and lingered into May. After shaking off the rust, from June 1 onward he batted .312/.379/.481. With Ian Kinsler blocking Travis at second base in Detroit, the Tigers moved the prospect from second base to center field for the final three games of the season and planned to play him there in the Arizona Fall League until Travis was sidelined following core muscle surgery in September.
Scouting Report: While there’s nothing flashy about Travis, and he still has his detractors in the scouting community, he has excellent bat-to-ball skills and an extensive track record for hitting everywhere he goes. He has superb hand-eye coordination, good balance at the plate and strong bat control, which allows him to make consistent contact and use the whole field. He’s a smart player who’s been able to make adjustments as he’s moved up the ladder. His stance was more spread out in college, but in 2013 he adopted a more upright approach, dropped his hands and used a shorter, simpler load to be quicker to the ball and improve his plate coverage on the inner third. He stays within the strike zone and squares up both fastballs and offspeed pitches. Travis has the strength for 10-15 homers per year. He is an average runner who’s sometimes slower going from home to first base, but he’s a better runner underway and moves well going first to third. He’s an instinctive player and an efficient basestealer. At second base, Travis is steady, making the routine play and turning double plays well with an average arm.
The Future: With Kinsler signed through 2017, with a club option for 2018, Travis doesn’t have a clear path to Detroit. His pure speed isn’t ideal for center field and he has minimal experience there, though his bat could be ready at some point in 2015. While Travis fits the grinder mold that gets thrown on a lot of short players, he’s more than just a scrappy reserve because of his bat potential. If everything clicks, Travis could be the Tigers’ version of the Pirates’ Josh Harrison, another diminutive righthanded batter who hit at every minor league level but never had many believers among scouts until his breakout 2014 season. Even if Travis doesn’t hit that upside, he has a chance to turn into a steady, average everyday player.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Erie (AA) .298 .358 .460 396 68 118 20 7 10 52 37 60 16
2. Steven Moya, of
Born: Aug. 9, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 230. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008. Signed by: Miguel Rodriguez/Ramon Perez/Miguel Garcia.
Background: Moya was born in Puerto Rico, but he grew up in the Dominican Republic and signed as an international free agent. Injuries—including 2012 midseason Tommy John surgery and a separated left shoulder in 2013—prevented him from playing more than 100 games in a season until 2014, when he led the Eastern League with 35 homers.
Scouting Report: Moya can make any ballpark feel small with his well above-average raw power. He has good bat speed, generates tremendous leverage and developed a better feel for his swing. Strike-zone discipline is Moya’s biggest obstacle. His long arms lead to a long swing and too many strikeouts. With a large strike zone to cover, he doesn’t do himself any favors by frequently chasing pitches off the plate. His believers think he can make the necessary adjustments. Moya is surprisingly athletic for his size, with average speed and a plus arm. He earned praise from scouts for his routes in right field.
The Future: Moya is a divisive prospect. Some scouts project him as a middle-of-the-order force, while others question whether he will make enough contact. With Torii Hunter a free agent, the Tigers have a hole in right field, but Moya should open at Triple-A Toledo,.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Erie (AA) .275 .306 .555 515 81 42 33 3 35 105 23 161 16
Detroit (MLB) .375 .375 .375 8 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
3. Buck Farmer, rhp
TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2014 Org.
2005 Cameron Maybin, of Padres
2006 Andrew Miller, lhp Orioles
2007 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2008 Ryan Perry, rhp Nationals
2009 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2010 Nick Castellanos, 3b (1st round supp.) Tigers
2011 James McCann, c (2nd round) Tigers
2012 Jake Thompson, rhp (2nd round) Rangers
2013 Jonathon Crawford, rhp Tigers
2014 Derek Hill, of Tigers
Born: Feb. 20, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225. Drafted: Georgia Tech, 2013 (5th round). Signed by: James Rough.
Background: Farmer spent four seasons at Georgia Tech, then signed for $225,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2013. At 23, he started the year relatively old for the low Class A Midwest League, but after carving through the circuit he jumped to Double-A Erie for a pair of starts in August, made his major league debut on Aug. 13, then split the rest of the season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo.
Scouting Report: Farmer is a solid strike-thrower who works downhill with a lively 90-95 mph fastball that generates sink and run and has peaked at 97. His slider was his best secondary pitch in college, but his changeup improved tremendously over the course of the season. His changeup was below-average early in the year, but it now flashes above-average with late drop. His average slider can be a swing-and-miss pitch. That may stem from his arm action, which along with his funky delivery provides deception but leads some scouts to project him as a reliever.
The Future: Farmer has the stuff to be a back-end starter. Given the Tigers’ bullpen woes, though, it may be tempting to move him there.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
West Michigan (Lo A) 10 5 2.60 18 18 0 0 104 91 6 24 116 .233
Erie (AA) 1 0 3.00 2 2 0 0 12 10 1 4 11 .222
Toledo (AAA) 1 1 9.82 2 2 0 0 7 11 1 4 2 .355
Detroit (MLB) 0 1 11.57 4 2 0 0 9 12 2 5 11 .308
4. Derek Hill, of
Born: Dec. 30, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Elk Grove, Calif., 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Scott Cerny.
Background: The Tigers used their first-round pick in 2014 on Hill, who signed for $2 million then got off to a hot start in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After sitting out three weeks with lower back pain, he didn’t play well when he returned and his numbers dipped further when he moved up to short-season Connecticut in August, though his tool set remains exciting.
Scouting Report: Hill is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete with double-plus speed. He’s already a terrific defensive center fielder—the best among 2014 draft picks—who covers ample ground with good reads off the bat, direct routes and an average, accurate arm. Hill, the son of a minor league hitting coach, has a quick stroke, good balance and a contact-oriented swing. He is a line-drive hitter who doesn’t loft the ball much, so with his below-average power, he may be more of a doubles and triples hitter than a home run threat. Hill showed a sound hitting approach in high school and early in the GCL season.
The Future: Despite Hill’s struggles in his pro debut, he still excited evaluators with his potential as a two-way threat who could hit near the top of a lineup. The next stop for him should be low Class A West Michigan.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
GCL Tigers (R) .212 .331 .333 99 12 21 2 2 2 11 16 19 9
Connecticut (SS) .203 .244 .243 74 8 15 1 1 0 3 2 26 2
5. Domingo Leyba, ss/2b
LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Jacob Turner, 2009 $4,700,000
Rick Porcello, 2007 $3,580,000
Andrew Miller, 2006 $3,550,000
Eric Munson, 1999 $3,500,000
Nick Castellanos, 2010 $3,450,000
Born: Sept. 11, 1995. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 160. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012. Signed by: Miguel Rodriguez/Carlos Santana/Ramon Perez/Miguel Garcia.
Background: Detroit had a big year in the Dominican Republic in 2012, signing Willy Adames for $420,000 and Leyba for $400,000. After leading the Dominican Summer League in OPS (1.023) in his 2013 pro debut, Leyba skipped the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and opened 2014 at short-season Connecticut. He hit even better once he moved up to low Class A West Michigan for the final month of the season, then went to the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Leyba doesn’t have any dynamic tools, but he’s a fundamentally-sound player who grows on scouts the more they see him. He has a quick bat, squares up good velocity and has good barrel control, lacing line drives to all fields. He’s not big, but he’s strong for his size, though he’s mostly a gap hitter. Leyba has solid strike-zone management, though he will have to learn to lay off high fastballs. A fringe-average runner who spent most of his time at second base, where he may be best suited, he played shortstop during the final two weeks of the season. His hands and footwork are solid, and his average arm plays up due to a quick release.
The Future: The Tigers have pushed Leyba aggressively and he’s responded to the challenge. The Tigers assigned him to the AFL, so he could start 2015 at high Class A Lakeland.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Connecticut (SS) .264 .303 .375 144 20 38 11 1 1 17 14 30 1
West Michigan (Lo A) .397 .431 .483 116 20 46 7 0 1 7 6 13 1
6. Kevin Ziomek, lhp
Born: March 21, 1992. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2013 (2nd round). Signed by: Harold Zonder.
Background: Ziomek passed on signing with the Diamondbacks as a 13th-round pick out of high school in 2010. Instead he went to Vanderbilt, followed in the footsteps of Commodores lefties David Price and Mike Minor, then signed with the Tigers for $956,600 as a second-rounder in 2013. In his first full season, Ziomek led the low Class A Midwest League in ERA (2.27) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.1), though it’s unusual that an organization that normally promotes it prospects aggressively left the fairly polished 22-year-old at West Michigan all season.
Scouting Report: Ziomek doesn’t overpower with his arsenal, relying instead on mixing his pitches and hitting his spots. He throws strikes, works quickly and moves his 87-92 mph fastball around the strike zone with average life and good downhill angle. His low-80s slider is an average pitch, though it can get sweepy on him. His changeup is another average pitch. He adds and subtracts from his fringy curveball, throwing it with more velocity later in the count. His delivery isn’t smooth, but his funkiness creates deception.
The Future: Ziomek earns comparisons with former Tiger Drew Smyly, himself a second-round college lefty, though Smyly had made it to Double-A at the same age. Ziomek figures to advance to high Class A Lakeland in 2015 and could develop into a back-end starter.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
West Michigan (LoA) 10 6 2.27 23 23 0 0 123 89 5 53 152 .201
7. Robbie Ray, lhp
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Devon Travis
Best Power Hitter Steven Moya
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jason Krizan
Fastest Baserunner Derek Hill
Best Athlete Derek Hill
Best Fastball Bruce Rondon
Best Curveball Kevin Ziomek
Best Slider Jonathon Crawford
Best Changeup Buck Farmer
Best Control Drew VerHagen
Best Defensive Catcher James McCann
Best Defensive Infielder Dixon Machado
Best Infield Arm Dixon Machado
Best Defensive Outfielder Derek Hill
Best Outfield Arm Steven Moya
Born: Oct. 1, 1991. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Brentwood, Tenn., 2010 (12th round). Signed by: Paul Faulk (Nationals).
Background: Ray was the centerpiece prospect in the December 2013 trade that sent Doug Fister to the Nationals. It was a curiously light return for one of the game’s better starting pitchers, and Ray’s stock did not improve in 2014 with an uninspiring season. He got rocked during his major league debut in May, then spent most of the season at Triple-A Toledo before coming back up in August and September.
Scouting Report: Ray’s fastball ranges from the low to mid-90s, and he touched 97 mph in the AFL. His strikeout rate dropped precipitously in 2014 because he doesn’t have an out-pitch among his secondary offerings. His changeup is an average pitch that he throws with good arm speed, along with solid sink and tail, but the lack of a reliable breaking ball continues to hamper him. He’s thrown a slider and a curveball, though he scrapped the curve toward the end of the season to focus on the slider, which is below-average. Ray is athletic but scouts have questioned his pitching savvy.
The Future: The Fister trade looks like a rare misfire for general manager Dave Dombrowski, though some scouts still see back-end starter upside for Ray. Others see a reliever, though he could just as easily be a lefty with poor command and breaking-ball issues.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Toledo (AAA) 7 6 4.22 20 9 0 0 100 106 6 44 75 .350
Detroit (MLB) 1 4 8.16 9 6 0 0 29 43 5 11 19 .277
8. Hernan Perez, ss/2b
Born: March 26, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Signed: Venezuela, 2007. Signed by: Jesus Garces/Pedro Chavez.
Background: After signing out of Venezuela at age 16 for $237,000, Perez didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in his first four years with the organization. He built upon a 2013 breakout season at Double-A Erie with a solid 2014 at Triple-A Toledo.
Scouting Report: Perez’s tools are nondescript, but he stands out for his smart, heady play in all areas of the game. He drags the bat at times, but he’s a line-drive hitter who uses the whole field and makes consistent contact, albeit without much power. Perez would benefit from a more patient hitting approach, for he’s susceptible to chasing off the plate. He’s an average runner who’s a 20-steal threat because of his acumen on the basepaths. Perez played a lot of second base coming up because he was teammates with the more defensively-gifted Eugenio Suarez and Dixon Machado, but he showed that he’s playable at shortstop, even if his range is a better fit at second base. He’s a smooth defender with clean footwork and hands, along with an average, accurate arm.
The Future: Perez is in the wrong organization, with Ian Kinsler entrenched at second base, Devon Travis coming up behind him and Jose Iglesias and Suarez at shortstop. Perez’s best role is likely as a utility infielder.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .287 .331 .404 547 69 157 32 7 6 53 36 65 21
Detroit (MLB) .299 .333 .200 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
9. James McCann, c
PROJECTED 2018 LINEUP
Catcher Alex Avila
First Base Miguel Cabrera
Second Base Ian Kinsler
Third Base Nick Castellanos
Shortstop Jose Iglesias
Left Field J.D. Martinez
Center Field Devon Travis
Right Field Steven Moya
Designated Hitter Tyler Collins
No. 1 Starter David Price
No. 2 Starter Justin Verlander
No. 3 Starter Rick Porcello
No. 4 Starter Anibal Sanchez
No. 5 Starter Buck Farmer
Closer Bruce Rondon
Born: June 13, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210. Drafted: Arkansas, 2011 (2nd round). Signed by: Chris Wimmer.
Background: McCann always has earned praise for his defensive chops, but 2014 was the best offensive season of his career. He posted career highs in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.343) and slugging (.427) while in Triple-A Toledo before his big league debut as a September callup.
Scouting Report: McCann is a quality receiver and a quiet defender. He has minimal foot speed but moves well behind the plate, rarely allowing a ball to get by him. He does the little things well, framing pitches and earning praise for his game-calling. His plus arm helped him throw out 42 percent of Triple-A basestealers, which ranked second in the International League. As McCann learned to leverage the ball better and tweaked his setup, his offense improved. He’s a good fastball hitter with quick hands, though his barrel angle leaves length to his swing without ideal bat path. He’s an aggressive hitter who has trouble with the soft stuff, though he doesn’t swing and miss excessively. He should max out around 8-12 home runs per year.
The Future: McCann fits what teams look for in a backup catcher, which could help him carve out a long career. Given the offensive improvement he showed in 2014 and the struggles of Alex Avila, McCann could play a larger role with the Tigers in 2015.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .295 .343 .427 417 49 123 34 0 7 54 25 90 9
Detroit (MLB) .250 .250 .333 12 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
10. Tyler Collins, of
Born: June 6, 1990. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 215. Drafted: Howard (Texas) JC, 2011 (6th round). Signed by: Tim Grieve.
Background: Collins raked in his first full season in the high Class A Florida State League in 2012, but his strikeout rate soared upon reaching Double-A Erie. His performance rebounded in 2014, as he spent the first two weeks in Detroit for his big league debut before spending the rest of the minor league season at Triple-A Toledo. .
Scouting Report: Strong and stocky, Collins can put a charge into the ball with average power, making him a potential 20-homer threat. Praised for his pure hitting ability earlier in his career, he got big with his swing and had trouble recognizing pitches last year when he got to Double-A. There’s still some swing-and-miss to his game, but he has solid plate patience and in 2014 he did a better job of understanding his swing and anticipating how pitchers were attacking him, which helped boost his batting average and on-base percentage. Collins is a fringy runner with an average arm who split time between left and right field, even getting spot time in center, though he’s much better suited for the corners.
The Future: Collins gets the fourth-outfielder label thrown on him, though he could have value as a platoon outfielder. With Torii Hunter hitting the free agent market, the Tigers have an opening, though the club is much more likely to use Collins as a backup in 2015.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .263 .335 .423 468 63 123 17 2 18 62 49 116 12
Detroit (MLB) .250 .280 .375 24 3 6 0 0 1 4 1 4 0
1. Devon Travis, 2B/OF
SCOUTING GRADES
Batting: 60.
Power: 45.
Speed: 50.
Defense: 50.
Arm: 50.
Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools.
Born: Feb. 21, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-9. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Florida State, 2012 (13th round). Signed by: Jim Rough.
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2014 Org.
2005 Curtis Granderson, of Mets
2006 Justin Verlander, rhp Tigers
2007 Cameron Maybin, of Padres
2008 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2009 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2010 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2011 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2012 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2013 Nick Castellanos, of Tigers
2014 Nick Castellanos, 3b/of Tigers
Background: Travis has spent most of his baseball life being overlooked. Undrafted out of high school, he went to Florida State, where he posted big numbers as a three-year starter. Still, teams were wary of Travis’ 5-foot-9 size, so he lasted until the 13th round in the 2012 draft, then signed for $200,000. That quickly looked like a bargain when he hit a combined .351/.418/.518 through two levels of Class A ball in his first full season in 2013. A week into the 2014 season, Travis suffered an oblique injury that kept him on the disabled list for six weeks and lingered into May. After shaking off the rust, from June 1 onward he batted .312/.379/.481. With Ian Kinsler blocking Travis at second base in Detroit, the Tigers moved the prospect from second base to center field for the final three games of the season and planned to play him there in the Arizona Fall League until Travis was sidelined following core muscle surgery in September.
Scouting Report: While there’s nothing flashy about Travis, and he still has his detractors in the scouting community, he has excellent bat-to-ball skills and an extensive track record for hitting everywhere he goes. He has superb hand-eye coordination, good balance at the plate and strong bat control, which allows him to make consistent contact and use the whole field. He’s a smart player who’s been able to make adjustments as he’s moved up the ladder. His stance was more spread out in college, but in 2013 he adopted a more upright approach, dropped his hands and used a shorter, simpler load to be quicker to the ball and improve his plate coverage on the inner third. He stays within the strike zone and squares up both fastballs and offspeed pitches. Travis has the strength for 10-15 homers per year. He is an average runner who’s sometimes slower going from home to first base, but he’s a better runner underway and moves well going first to third. He’s an instinctive player and an efficient basestealer. At second base, Travis is steady, making the routine play and turning double plays well with an average arm.
The Future: With Kinsler signed through 2017, with a club option for 2018, Travis doesn’t have a clear path to Detroit. His pure speed isn’t ideal for center field and he has minimal experience there, though his bat could be ready at some point in 2015. While Travis fits the grinder mold that gets thrown on a lot of short players, he’s more than just a scrappy reserve because of his bat potential. If everything clicks, Travis could be the Tigers’ version of the Pirates’ Josh Harrison, another diminutive righthanded batter who hit at every minor league level but never had many believers among scouts until his breakout 2014 season. Even if Travis doesn’t hit that upside, he has a chance to turn into a steady, average everyday player.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Erie (AA) .298 .358 .460 396 68 118 20 7 10 52 37 60 16
2. Steven Moya, of
Born: Aug. 9, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 230. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008. Signed by: Miguel Rodriguez/Ramon Perez/Miguel Garcia.
Background: Moya was born in Puerto Rico, but he grew up in the Dominican Republic and signed as an international free agent. Injuries—including 2012 midseason Tommy John surgery and a separated left shoulder in 2013—prevented him from playing more than 100 games in a season until 2014, when he led the Eastern League with 35 homers.
Scouting Report: Moya can make any ballpark feel small with his well above-average raw power. He has good bat speed, generates tremendous leverage and developed a better feel for his swing. Strike-zone discipline is Moya’s biggest obstacle. His long arms lead to a long swing and too many strikeouts. With a large strike zone to cover, he doesn’t do himself any favors by frequently chasing pitches off the plate. His believers think he can make the necessary adjustments. Moya is surprisingly athletic for his size, with average speed and a plus arm. He earned praise from scouts for his routes in right field.
The Future: Moya is a divisive prospect. Some scouts project him as a middle-of-the-order force, while others question whether he will make enough contact. With Torii Hunter a free agent, the Tigers have a hole in right field, but Moya should open at Triple-A Toledo,.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Erie (AA) .275 .306 .555 515 81 42 33 3 35 105 23 161 16
Detroit (MLB) .375 .375 .375 8 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
3. Buck Farmer, rhp
TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2014 Org.
2005 Cameron Maybin, of Padres
2006 Andrew Miller, lhp Orioles
2007 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers
2008 Ryan Perry, rhp Nationals
2009 Jacob Turner, rhp Cubs
2010 Nick Castellanos, 3b (1st round supp.) Tigers
2011 James McCann, c (2nd round) Tigers
2012 Jake Thompson, rhp (2nd round) Rangers
2013 Jonathon Crawford, rhp Tigers
2014 Derek Hill, of Tigers
Born: Feb. 20, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225. Drafted: Georgia Tech, 2013 (5th round). Signed by: James Rough.
Background: Farmer spent four seasons at Georgia Tech, then signed for $225,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2013. At 23, he started the year relatively old for the low Class A Midwest League, but after carving through the circuit he jumped to Double-A Erie for a pair of starts in August, made his major league debut on Aug. 13, then split the rest of the season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo.
Scouting Report: Farmer is a solid strike-thrower who works downhill with a lively 90-95 mph fastball that generates sink and run and has peaked at 97. His slider was his best secondary pitch in college, but his changeup improved tremendously over the course of the season. His changeup was below-average early in the year, but it now flashes above-average with late drop. His average slider can be a swing-and-miss pitch. That may stem from his arm action, which along with his funky delivery provides deception but leads some scouts to project him as a reliever.
The Future: Farmer has the stuff to be a back-end starter. Given the Tigers’ bullpen woes, though, it may be tempting to move him there.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
West Michigan (Lo A) 10 5 2.60 18 18 0 0 104 91 6 24 116 .233
Erie (AA) 1 0 3.00 2 2 0 0 12 10 1 4 11 .222
Toledo (AAA) 1 1 9.82 2 2 0 0 7 11 1 4 2 .355
Detroit (MLB) 0 1 11.57 4 2 0 0 9 12 2 5 11 .308
4. Derek Hill, of
Born: Dec. 30, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Elk Grove, Calif., 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Scott Cerny.
Background: The Tigers used their first-round pick in 2014 on Hill, who signed for $2 million then got off to a hot start in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After sitting out three weeks with lower back pain, he didn’t play well when he returned and his numbers dipped further when he moved up to short-season Connecticut in August, though his tool set remains exciting.
Scouting Report: Hill is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete with double-plus speed. He’s already a terrific defensive center fielder—the best among 2014 draft picks—who covers ample ground with good reads off the bat, direct routes and an average, accurate arm. Hill, the son of a minor league hitting coach, has a quick stroke, good balance and a contact-oriented swing. He is a line-drive hitter who doesn’t loft the ball much, so with his below-average power, he may be more of a doubles and triples hitter than a home run threat. Hill showed a sound hitting approach in high school and early in the GCL season.
The Future: Despite Hill’s struggles in his pro debut, he still excited evaluators with his potential as a two-way threat who could hit near the top of a lineup. The next stop for him should be low Class A West Michigan.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
GCL Tigers (R) .212 .331 .333 99 12 21 2 2 2 11 16 19 9
Connecticut (SS) .203 .244 .243 74 8 15 1 1 0 3 2 26 2
5. Domingo Leyba, ss/2b
LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Jacob Turner, 2009 $4,700,000
Rick Porcello, 2007 $3,580,000
Andrew Miller, 2006 $3,550,000
Eric Munson, 1999 $3,500,000
Nick Castellanos, 2010 $3,450,000
Born: Sept. 11, 1995. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 160. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012. Signed by: Miguel Rodriguez/Carlos Santana/Ramon Perez/Miguel Garcia.
Background: Detroit had a big year in the Dominican Republic in 2012, signing Willy Adames for $420,000 and Leyba for $400,000. After leading the Dominican Summer League in OPS (1.023) in his 2013 pro debut, Leyba skipped the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and opened 2014 at short-season Connecticut. He hit even better once he moved up to low Class A West Michigan for the final month of the season, then went to the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Leyba doesn’t have any dynamic tools, but he’s a fundamentally-sound player who grows on scouts the more they see him. He has a quick bat, squares up good velocity and has good barrel control, lacing line drives to all fields. He’s not big, but he’s strong for his size, though he’s mostly a gap hitter. Leyba has solid strike-zone management, though he will have to learn to lay off high fastballs. A fringe-average runner who spent most of his time at second base, where he may be best suited, he played shortstop during the final two weeks of the season. His hands and footwork are solid, and his average arm plays up due to a quick release.
The Future: The Tigers have pushed Leyba aggressively and he’s responded to the challenge. The Tigers assigned him to the AFL, so he could start 2015 at high Class A Lakeland.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Connecticut (SS) .264 .303 .375 144 20 38 11 1 1 17 14 30 1
West Michigan (Lo A) .397 .431 .483 116 20 46 7 0 1 7 6 13 1
6. Kevin Ziomek, lhp
Born: March 21, 1992. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2013 (2nd round). Signed by: Harold Zonder.
Background: Ziomek passed on signing with the Diamondbacks as a 13th-round pick out of high school in 2010. Instead he went to Vanderbilt, followed in the footsteps of Commodores lefties David Price and Mike Minor, then signed with the Tigers for $956,600 as a second-rounder in 2013. In his first full season, Ziomek led the low Class A Midwest League in ERA (2.27) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.1), though it’s unusual that an organization that normally promotes it prospects aggressively left the fairly polished 22-year-old at West Michigan all season.
Scouting Report: Ziomek doesn’t overpower with his arsenal, relying instead on mixing his pitches and hitting his spots. He throws strikes, works quickly and moves his 87-92 mph fastball around the strike zone with average life and good downhill angle. His low-80s slider is an average pitch, though it can get sweepy on him. His changeup is another average pitch. He adds and subtracts from his fringy curveball, throwing it with more velocity later in the count. His delivery isn’t smooth, but his funkiness creates deception.
The Future: Ziomek earns comparisons with former Tiger Drew Smyly, himself a second-round college lefty, though Smyly had made it to Double-A at the same age. Ziomek figures to advance to high Class A Lakeland in 2015 and could develop into a back-end starter.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
West Michigan (LoA) 10 6 2.27 23 23 0 0 123 89 5 53 152 .201
7. Robbie Ray, lhp
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Devon Travis
Best Power Hitter Steven Moya
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jason Krizan
Fastest Baserunner Derek Hill
Best Athlete Derek Hill
Best Fastball Bruce Rondon
Best Curveball Kevin Ziomek
Best Slider Jonathon Crawford
Best Changeup Buck Farmer
Best Control Drew VerHagen
Best Defensive Catcher James McCann
Best Defensive Infielder Dixon Machado
Best Infield Arm Dixon Machado
Best Defensive Outfielder Derek Hill
Best Outfield Arm Steven Moya
Born: Oct. 1, 1991. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Brentwood, Tenn., 2010 (12th round). Signed by: Paul Faulk (Nationals).
Background: Ray was the centerpiece prospect in the December 2013 trade that sent Doug Fister to the Nationals. It was a curiously light return for one of the game’s better starting pitchers, and Ray’s stock did not improve in 2014 with an uninspiring season. He got rocked during his major league debut in May, then spent most of the season at Triple-A Toledo before coming back up in August and September.
Scouting Report: Ray’s fastball ranges from the low to mid-90s, and he touched 97 mph in the AFL. His strikeout rate dropped precipitously in 2014 because he doesn’t have an out-pitch among his secondary offerings. His changeup is an average pitch that he throws with good arm speed, along with solid sink and tail, but the lack of a reliable breaking ball continues to hamper him. He’s thrown a slider and a curveball, though he scrapped the curve toward the end of the season to focus on the slider, which is below-average. Ray is athletic but scouts have questioned his pitching savvy.
The Future: The Fister trade looks like a rare misfire for general manager Dave Dombrowski, though some scouts still see back-end starter upside for Ray. Others see a reliever, though he could just as easily be a lefty with poor command and breaking-ball issues.
2014 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Toledo (AAA) 7 6 4.22 20 9 0 0 100 106 6 44 75 .350
Detroit (MLB) 1 4 8.16 9 6 0 0 29 43 5 11 19 .277
8. Hernan Perez, ss/2b
Born: March 26, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Signed: Venezuela, 2007. Signed by: Jesus Garces/Pedro Chavez.
Background: After signing out of Venezuela at age 16 for $237,000, Perez didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in his first four years with the organization. He built upon a 2013 breakout season at Double-A Erie with a solid 2014 at Triple-A Toledo.
Scouting Report: Perez’s tools are nondescript, but he stands out for his smart, heady play in all areas of the game. He drags the bat at times, but he’s a line-drive hitter who uses the whole field and makes consistent contact, albeit without much power. Perez would benefit from a more patient hitting approach, for he’s susceptible to chasing off the plate. He’s an average runner who’s a 20-steal threat because of his acumen on the basepaths. Perez played a lot of second base coming up because he was teammates with the more defensively-gifted Eugenio Suarez and Dixon Machado, but he showed that he’s playable at shortstop, even if his range is a better fit at second base. He’s a smooth defender with clean footwork and hands, along with an average, accurate arm.
The Future: Perez is in the wrong organization, with Ian Kinsler entrenched at second base, Devon Travis coming up behind him and Jose Iglesias and Suarez at shortstop. Perez’s best role is likely as a utility infielder.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .287 .331 .404 547 69 157 32 7 6 53 36 65 21
Detroit (MLB) .299 .333 .200 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
9. James McCann, c
PROJECTED 2018 LINEUP
Catcher Alex Avila
First Base Miguel Cabrera
Second Base Ian Kinsler
Third Base Nick Castellanos
Shortstop Jose Iglesias
Left Field J.D. Martinez
Center Field Devon Travis
Right Field Steven Moya
Designated Hitter Tyler Collins
No. 1 Starter David Price
No. 2 Starter Justin Verlander
No. 3 Starter Rick Porcello
No. 4 Starter Anibal Sanchez
No. 5 Starter Buck Farmer
Closer Bruce Rondon
Born: June 13, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210. Drafted: Arkansas, 2011 (2nd round). Signed by: Chris Wimmer.
Background: McCann always has earned praise for his defensive chops, but 2014 was the best offensive season of his career. He posted career highs in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.343) and slugging (.427) while in Triple-A Toledo before his big league debut as a September callup.
Scouting Report: McCann is a quality receiver and a quiet defender. He has minimal foot speed but moves well behind the plate, rarely allowing a ball to get by him. He does the little things well, framing pitches and earning praise for his game-calling. His plus arm helped him throw out 42 percent of Triple-A basestealers, which ranked second in the International League. As McCann learned to leverage the ball better and tweaked his setup, his offense improved. He’s a good fastball hitter with quick hands, though his barrel angle leaves length to his swing without ideal bat path. He’s an aggressive hitter who has trouble with the soft stuff, though he doesn’t swing and miss excessively. He should max out around 8-12 home runs per year.
The Future: McCann fits what teams look for in a backup catcher, which could help him carve out a long career. Given the offensive improvement he showed in 2014 and the struggles of Alex Avila, McCann could play a larger role with the Tigers in 2015.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .295 .343 .427 417 49 123 34 0 7 54 25 90 9
Detroit (MLB) .250 .250 .333 12 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
10. Tyler Collins, of
Born: June 6, 1990. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 215. Drafted: Howard (Texas) JC, 2011 (6th round). Signed by: Tim Grieve.
Background: Collins raked in his first full season in the high Class A Florida State League in 2012, but his strikeout rate soared upon reaching Double-A Erie. His performance rebounded in 2014, as he spent the first two weeks in Detroit for his big league debut before spending the rest of the minor league season at Triple-A Toledo. .
Scouting Report: Strong and stocky, Collins can put a charge into the ball with average power, making him a potential 20-homer threat. Praised for his pure hitting ability earlier in his career, he got big with his swing and had trouble recognizing pitches last year when he got to Double-A. There’s still some swing-and-miss to his game, but he has solid plate patience and in 2014 he did a better job of understanding his swing and anticipating how pitchers were attacking him, which helped boost his batting average and on-base percentage. Collins is a fringy runner with an average arm who split time between left and right field, even getting spot time in center, though he’s much better suited for the corners.
The Future: Collins gets the fourth-outfielder label thrown on him, though he could have value as a platoon outfielder. With Torii Hunter hitting the free agent market, the Tigers have an opening, though the club is much more likely to use Collins as a backup in 2015.
2014 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Toledo (AAA) .263 .335 .423 468 63 123 17 2 18 62 49 116 12
Detroit (MLB) .250 .280 .375 24 3 6 0 0 1 4 1 4 0
Re: Minor Matters
4149A dearth of talent in the farm system. Sounded like the Indians back a few years. Short of trading more proven major league talent to restock the farm, it might be awhile before the Tigers will have anything to trade for more top major league talent.
Re: Minor Matters
4150not really much very impressive among that group.
If it weren't for the fact the Tigers spend big money on major leaguers, they'd be nothing to worry about.
KC is the real force in our division in the years ago I suspect, but we could match them if our very young prospects come through to impact our lineup and our current corps of young starters stay healthy and consistant (i.e. consistent to match their August-September performances )
If it weren't for the fact the Tigers spend big money on major leaguers, they'd be nothing to worry about.
KC is the real force in our division in the years ago I suspect, but we could match them if our very young prospects come through to impact our lineup and our current corps of young starters stay healthy and consistant (i.e. consistent to match their August-September performances )
Re: Minor Matters
4151Wednesday:
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony 2B 4 0 2 1 .255 2B (3), 2 BB (7), CS (2)
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 4 1 2 0 .183 [that's better]
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 1 1 0 1 .231 4 BB (9)
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos DH 3 1 1 1 .319 BB (11)
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 5 2 3 2 .404 3B(1), HR (3) [he just can't stop hitting]
CLE AFL Head, Louis 2 1 0 0 0 2 2.45 [RH reliever]
CLE AFL Maronde, Nick 2 2 2 2 1 0 8.36 [LH reliever currently on the 40 man roster]
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
CLE PRL Soto, Giovanni 2 2 0 0 1 0 0.96 [LH reliever, eligible for the Rule 5]
CLE VL Araujo, Elvis 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.00 [LH reliever eligible for the Rule 5]
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony 2B 4 0 2 1 .255 2B (3), 2 BB (7), CS (2)
CLE DL Ramirez, Jose SS 4 1 2 0 .183 [that's better]
CLE PRL Perez, Roberto C 1 1 0 1 .231 4 BB (9)
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos DH 3 1 1 1 .319 BB (11)
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 5 2 3 2 .404 3B(1), HR (3) [he just can't stop hitting]
CLE AFL Head, Louis 2 1 0 0 0 2 2.45 [RH reliever]
CLE AFL Maronde, Nick 2 2 2 2 1 0 8.36 [LH reliever currently on the 40 man roster]
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
CLE PRL Soto, Giovanni 2 2 0 0 1 0 0.96 [LH reliever, eligible for the Rule 5]
CLE VL Araujo, Elvis 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.00 [LH reliever eligible for the Rule 5]
Re: Minor Matters
4152“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Minor Matters
4153was he a minor league free agent? I would certainly have liked to retain him. We have plenty of room on the 40 man roster to add someone with his degree [medium to medium high] of talent.
Re: Minor Matters
4154Here's an article in English. Joe knows his Spanish. Phillies know their minor leaguers. I wonder who the Indians can find to fill the roster? They're going to have fill 5 spaces and more if they drop eminently discardable Scott Barnes
The latest career minor leaguer to sign a major-league contract because there was competition for his services is left-hander Elvis Araujo, who agreed to a deal that includes a spot on the Phillies’ 40-man roster.
Araujo is 23 years old and has spent his entire pro career in the Indians organization, never pitching above Double-A and logging a total of 21 innings above Single-A.
His numbers also aren’t particularly strong, including a 3.42 ERA and 50/28 K/BB ratio in 50 innings between high Single-A and Double-A this season. This was his first year as a full-time reliever, however, so perhaps the Phillies are convinced he has more upside out of the bullpen.
The latest career minor leaguer to sign a major-league contract because there was competition for his services is left-hander Elvis Araujo, who agreed to a deal that includes a spot on the Phillies’ 40-man roster.
Araujo is 23 years old and has spent his entire pro career in the Indians organization, never pitching above Double-A and logging a total of 21 innings above Single-A.
His numbers also aren’t particularly strong, including a 3.42 ERA and 50/28 K/BB ratio in 50 innings between high Single-A and Double-A this season. This was his first year as a full-time reliever, however, so perhaps the Phillies are convinced he has more upside out of the bullpen.
Re: Minor Matters
4155
There were no Cleveland prospects in action Thursday in the AFL, but there was some news of note, with Francisco Lindor leaving the team in order to play international ball over the winter.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller