Peoria Javelinas 5, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4: Former Arizona State infielder CJ Retherford, now a Chicago White Sox prospect, made sure that the Phoenix Desert Dogs did not take home their 6^th straight Arizona Fall League title. With a 2-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning off of another Arizona State alum, pitcher Josh Perrault (Orioles), Retherford, the local kid, gave the Peoria Javelinas a 5-4 lead. He received some help in closing out the Desert Dogs from University of Miami standout Robbie Weinhardt, as the Detroit Tigers prospect pitched two shutout innings for the win. Weinhardt, the Week Five pitcher of the Week, struck out four (including the side in the 8^th) in his two innings of work.

Grant Desme in the AFL

Prior to the game, the AFL handed out a few awards. One was the MVP award, which was given to Oakland A’s prospect Grant Desme, who has not played above A ball but led the AFL in homeruns and hit .315. In an interview with the MLB Network, Desme called the award a “humbling honor…there’s a lot of talent here. It’s pretty cool…” The other award given out was the Dernell Stensen Sportsmanship Award, which was given to the LA Dodgers Russ Mitchell. Mitchell, who hit .319 with 25 RBIs, said “It’s huge…” because “it’s a team game…”

Many were disappointed by the fact that the number one pick in the 2009 draft would again not be pitching in an AFL game that was on television. However the disappointment faded as the game proved entertaining without Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) taking the mound. Strasburg’s replacement, Mitch Talbot (Rays), pitched a perfect first inning, but struggled in the second, giving up 2 runs in an inning that could have been much worse (the Javelinas left the bases loaded).

The Javelinas decided to use the bullpen in the AFL championship, starting with the Seattle Mariners Anthony Varvaro, who was just added to the Mariners 40-man roster. Despite giving up a leadoff triple to the Baltimore Orioles Matt Angle (who seemed to glide around the bases for a triple that received no throw) and an RBI groundout, Varvaro settled in to pitch 2 innings while striking out three.

The fourth was a big inning for the Desert Dogs as the league’s MVP Desme connected on a solo homerun to deep left on a fastball in from Scot Drucker (Tigers). Two batters later, Nevin Ashley (Rays) ripped an opposite field homerun to give the Desert Dogs a 3-2 lead. However in the bottom of the inning, Jeff Mandel of the Washington Nationals gave up the lead, allowing a run without giving up a hit to tie the game at 3-3. For the Javelinas, Andrew Oliver (Tigers) followed with two shutout innings (2 K). Mickey Storey (A’s), Reidier Gonzalez (Blue Jays), and Justin Friend (A’s) followed with 3 shutout innings for the Desert Dogs. In the top of the seventh against the White Sox Sergio Santos, the Desert Dogs scored to give them a 4-3 lead on an RBI single from Shawn O’Malley (Rays). This led to the heroics from Retherford in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Javelinas to the AFL title.

It was stated throughout the game that 6 out of 10 players from the AFL make it to the big leagues. Last year, the A’s Andrew Bailey pitched in the AFL. In 2009, he was a member of the American League All-Star team and was named the American League Rookie of the Year this past week. Gordon Beckham of the White Sox and Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves were also ROY candidates who played in the AFL in 2008. Who could be the 2010 ROY, who spent time in the AFL in 2009? Brent Morel of the White Sox was considered by his teammates in the AFL to have the total package (offense and defense). Casper Wells of the Tigers had 10 outfield assists in just over 80 games in Double-A Erie in 2009. Danny Espinosa of the Nationals is considered to be big league ready defensively at shortstop. Grant Desme of the A’s was the only 30-30 man in the minor leagues in 2009 (30 homeruns, 40 stolen bases). Mickey Storey of the A’s went from a 31^st round draft pick in 2008 to Triple-A Sacramento and the AFL in his first full season. We shall see who progresses to rookie stardom in 2010.

Tags:

Andrew Oliver, Andrew Varvaro, Arizona Fall League, CJ Retherford, Grant Desme, Josh Perrault, Mitch Talbot, Peoria Javelinas, Phoenix Desert Dogs, Robbie Weinhardt, Russ Mitchell

Carlos Rivero

The emergence of Asdrubal Cabrera forced the Indians to move Jhonny Peralta to third base. Carlos Rivero could force the Indians to make Peralta the player traded in 2010. Rivero, a Venezuelan signee in 2005, has regularly been one of the youngest players in whatever league he has played in. A shortstop, many scouts believe he will be better suited at third. Rivero has batting practice power that has not generated to in-game pop. At Double-A Akron, he hit .242 in 132 games with 24 doubles, 7 homeruns, and 58 RBIs. He also walked 50 times to 73 strikeouts. Ted Kubiak, the Indians minor league defensive coordinator, believes Rivero could be an All-Star because of all the potential that oozes out of the baby-faced Rivero. In the AFL, Rivero hit .318 in 22 games, with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, and 13 RBIs. He has drawn comparisons to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Peralta. The comparisons haven’t gone to his head; they just serve as motivation. He also absorbs instruction like a sponge. Rivero will be given a chance to show off his tools as he has been added to the 40-man roster.

Matt McBride in the AFL

2009 has been eye-popping in terms of Matt McBride. A catcher throughout his career, McBride spent this season in the outfield while with Double-A Akron, which made sense considering who Akron’s starting catcher was (Carlos Santana). To me the 2^nd round pick in 2006 out of Lehigh (where he was a Johnny Bench Award finalist) reminds me of another versatile Indians catcher Chris Gimenez, who made it to the big leagues in 2009 playing first base and the outfield. After hitting .405 in High-A Kinston, he was promoted to Double-A Akron, though he struggled a bit (.247 in 98 games with 42 strikeouts). He did hit 29 doubles and 12 homeruns with 63 RBIs. Coming off the Eastern League championship with Akron, McBride joined some of his teammates in Peoria in the AFL. In the AFL, he has been one of the league’s best players. In 22 games, McBride hit .378 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homeruns, and 18 RBIs. He also walked 19 times with just 9 strikeouts. He won the Rising Stars game with a 2-run homer off the Nationals first round pick Drew Storen. McBride has also been nominated for the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. The award is given to the player that best exemplifies hard work, leadership, and unselfishness. With Santana destined for Triple-A Columbus (or the big leagues), McBride could be the starting catcher in Akron. Or they could team him with Santana and get him at-bats in the outfield, as the DH, and at catcher, like the Indians did with Gimenez and Wyatt Toregas in Columbus. He also could be taken in the Rule V draft, as the Indians did not add him to their 40-man roster, and could make another team’s roster out of spring training due to his versatility.

The 2009 season was a bit of a waste for Josh Rodriguez. A hamstring injury cost him most of the season, though he did make it back for Akron’s playoff surge. He played in just 33 games, while hitting .295 with 4 doubles and 12 RBIs (and 23 BB/ 30 K). Drafted as a shortstop in 2006 in the 2^nd round out of Rice, Rodriguez played mostly second base with Akron. In the AFL, he has mostly played second and the outfield. He hit .222 in 15 games in the AFL with 3 doubles, a triple, a homerun, and 4 RBIs. However, he walked 5 times compared to the 23 strikeouts. The change in positions is mainly due to his lack of consistency at shortstop and the errors that have mounted each year.

Nick Weglarz

Despite a disappointing first half in terms of overall offensive numbers, Nick Weglarz was still named to the Eastern League All-Star team. Overall in 2009 with Akron, he hit just .227 in 105 games with 17 doubles, 16 homeruns, and 65 RBIs. The impressive numbers are his walks compared to strikeouts (75 BB/ 78 K) for a power hitter. The 3^rd round pick out of Canada in 2005 was the Canadian Olympic team’s best hitter in the Olympics in 2008, despite being the second youngest player. Many believed Weglarz was on the same track as Matt LaPorta, who graduated to the big leagues in 2009. In August, Weglarz suffered a leg injury that kept him in a boot throughout the Eastern League playoffs. While trying to play in the AFL, Weglarz was shut down due to the lingering pain and a rod was placed in his leg to stabilize the fracture. He played in just 8 games, hitting .240 with just 1 RBI. However he did walk 7 times, with just 7 strikeouts. Weglarz is expected to be ready for big league spring training, as he was added to the 40-man roster.

When Weglarz was removed from the Peoria roster, the Indians added outfielder Tim Fedroff. Fedroff spent the entire season in High-A Kinston, hitting .278 in 99 games. He added 23 doubles, 4 homeruns, and 39 RBIs. He also had 64 walks (95 K) and 13 stolen bases. At the end of the Carolina League season, Fedroff was named a post-season All-Star. The 7^th round pick in 2008 out of North Carolina has good strength and plate discipline. In 10 games in the AFL, he hit just .111 with 2 RBIs.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Carlos Rivero, Cleveland Indians, Josh Rodriguez, Matt McBride, Nick Weglarz, Tim Fedroff

The last two seasons have been disappointing for the Cleveland Indians and have led to the trades of their two CY Young pitchers (CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee), along with a few other players (Victor Martinez, Casey Blake, Ryan Garko, etc.). These trades have stocked the Indians farm system with a plethora of pitchers (Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Justin Masterson, etc.), catchers (Carlos Santana and Lou Marson), and other position players (like Jason Donald).

Connor Graham

One of those young pitchers the Indians acquired is Connor Graham, who came to Cleveland from Colorado in the deal for reliever Rafael Betancourt. He was a 5^th round pick in 2007 out of Miami (OH) University. The 6’6 righty was immediately sent to Double-A Akron and their playoff push (and eventual winning of the Eastern League title), which was his first time above A ball. In 24 games (23 starts and 118.2 innings) overall in 2009, Graham was 8-7 with a 3.72 ERA, while allowing 5 homeruns, a .239 batting average, and 66 walks to 126 strikeouts. Graham throws in the low to mid 90s with his fastball, which is his best pitch. His slider and fastball project to be plus pitches, though he has some control problems with the slider. He is working on a third pitch and many think that the development of a third pitch will determine if he will project as a starter or reliever.

If Graham can limit his control problems and the walks, he could be a front-line starter. Graham’s stuff makes it hard to get a hit off him and he rarely gives up a homerun. Even though he walks a lot of batters, he effectively limits the damage and does not allow the big inning. In the Arizona Fall League, Graham is 1-1 in 11 outings with a 6.08 ERA. He has walked more batters than he struck out (18 BB/ 16 K) and allowed a .280 batting average. He only allowed 1 homerun. Some think that he should focus on fine tuning his fastball and slider so that he can quickly become a back-end of the bullpen reliever.

Zach Putnam, a 2008 7^th round draft pick, moved quickly since moving to the bullpen. The Big Ten pitcher of the year in 2008 out of Michigan has five pitches but has settled with only regularly using three. A two-way player in college, many felt Putnam could move quickly once he focused full-time on pitching. In his first full season, he reached Double-A Akron. Scouts think he works best off his sinker which would make him useful in the bullpen. Though he started 5 games while in High-A Kinston, he moved to the bullpen full-time once he was promoted to Akron. His numbers there were good: 4-2 with a 4.13 ERA in 33 games (56.2 innings) with 2 saves, 18 BB/ 57 K, and a .261 average. However in the AFL, Putnam started 5 games (12.1 innings) and was 0-1 with an 8.76 ERA. Opponents hit .333 off of him, though he only walked 3, compared to 18 strikeouts. With the instability of the Indians bullpen the past two years, it wouldn’t be crazy to see Putnam pitching out of the Cleveland bullpen in 2010. Putnam’s goal after signing was to be a September callup in 2010. He’s well on his way to reaching that goal.

Josh Judy

The Indians have two other relievers pitching in the AFL that could see time in the big leagues in 2010. Josh Judy started out in High-A Kinston and moved up to Double-A Akron, pitching very well at both levels. Overall in 2009, Judy was 4-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 41 games (54 innings). He accumulated 14 saves, a .201 opponents batting average, and 18 BB/ 70 K. Judy, a 34^th round pick in 2007 out of Indiana Institute of Technology, has carried that momentum into the AFL. As a member of the Peoria Saguaros, he is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in 11 games (17 innings). Opponents only hit .210 off him with just 8 BB/ 20 K. Carlton Smith, the younger brother of former Indians first round pick Corey Smith, has moved from a starter in 2008 with High-A Kinston to a reliever in Double-A Akron. The 21^st round pick in 2004 out of Okaloosa-Walton College pitched very well in 2009. He was 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 37 games (79.1 innings). Smith had 3 saves to go with an opponent average of .230. Smith was also named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He has struggled though in the AFL. Smith is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 games (14 innings). He has walked 4 and struck out 6, with opponents hitting .333 against him.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Carlton Smith, Cleveland Indians, Connor Graham, Josh Judy, Zach Putnam

When the Cincinnati Reds selected right hander Mike Leake with the 8^th overall pick in 2009, the Arizona State star quickly became the top pitching prospect in an organization heavy on hitting prospects. Overshadowed during the college season by Stephen Strasburg, Leake is considered to be more polished and could reach the big leagues before Strasburg. He has four pitches that he has plus-plus command with: an 88-94 mph fastball, a slider, an average curveball, and his top pitch-the changeup. Many pitchers are intimidated by pitching at homer-friendly Great American Ballpark, but not Leake because he is a groundball pitcher. When he’s getting ground ball outs, then he is pitching well. Leake has been considered undersized (5’10, 185 pounds) but he held up throughout his collegiate career. Leake has the right mindset for a prospect as he stated on his blog on MLB.com around draft time: “This is a great time in my life right now with fantastic opportunities and obstacles along the way. I will embrace the opportunities with open arms and will stay humble wherever the road takes me.” Despite a 1.72 ERA in 5 games (he is pitching his 6^th and final game today) in the Arizona Fall League, which is his professional debut, Leake is 0-2. He has 15 strikeouts, though he has given up more hits than innings pitched.

Chris Heisey while with Carolina

Chris Heisey’s appeal has grown since being a 17^th round pick out of Messiah (PA) College in 2006. He is an excellent defensive outfielder who can play all three outfield spots and has a strong arm. Heisey is a threat on the basepaths and also draws walks. His overall tools do not stand out but he plays with a chip on his shoulder due to being overlooked for so long. His overall numbers in 2009 were solid while splitting the year between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville: .314 in 134 games with 35 doubles, 3 triples, 22 homeruns, 77 RBIs, 21 stolen bases (3 CS), and  48 BB/ 77 K. In 2009, Heisey was a Southern League All-Star and a Future’s Game All-Star. Upon moving up to Triple-A Louisville, he was named the International League Player of the Week (7/13/09). While in the AFL, Heisey is hitting .297 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homeruns, and 14 RBIs. He has also stolen 5 bases, though he has been caught twice. Heisey is on the verge of joining a Reds outfield that already is filled with youth like Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, and Chris Dickerson.

In the 2008 draft, the Reds couldn’t pass on Yonder Alonso’s bat, even with Joey Votto at first base. The first round pick out of the University of Miami has strength, plate discipline, and a short swing. The first baseman from Cuba has the rare combination of pure power and the swing to hit for a high average. The Reds have been excited about his workaholic makeup. In 2009, Alonso was a Florida State League All-Star while playing with High-A Sarasota. His overall numbers, while splitting the 2009 season between three levels (Gulf Coast Reds, Sarasota, and Carolina), were good: .292 in 84 games with 24 doubles, 9 homeruns, 52 RBIs, and 41 BB/ 46 K. While in the AFL, Alonso has a .272 average in 22 games, with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, and 21 RBIs. He has 12 BB to 13 K, which is rare for a power hitter (think Albert Pujols). Alonso should force the Reds to make a decision on how to get both him and Votto into their big league lineup (a position change for one of them?).

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, Mike Leake, Yonder Alonso

Scott Mathieson pitching in Reading

It was only three years ago that Scott Mathieson was one of the prized young arms coming up through the Philadelphia Phillies farm system. After making the jump from Double-A Reading to the big leagues in 2006, many believed he would team with Cole Hamels to give a young 1-2 punch in the rotation. However in 2009, Mathieson finished up the season back in Reading and with a trip to the Arizona Fall League, this time as a reliever. The 17^th round draft pick in 2002 had a solid comeback season in 2009. He was 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA in 22 games (32.1 IP) with 2 saves, 34 strikeouts (12 walks), and a .149 opponent batting average. Despite one bad outing in the AFL (1 IP, 3H, 3R, 2HR), his numbers are solid: 3.09 ERA, 10 G, 11.2 IP, 8BB/13K, and a .225 opponent batting average.

What happened between his big league debut and now is a pitcher’s worst nightmare. On June 17, 2006, Mathieson made his major league baseball debut against the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

He described his ML debut to me: “It was a dream come true. I was in Erie, PA with the AA Reading team when I got told I was going to Philadelphia to make a start. I remember going to the gym that morning and coming back to the hotel and having 5 or 6 missed calls from my pitching coach Tom Filer. I was worried that I missed a meeting or something and was going to be in trouble. I called him back and he asked me if my roommate and I were in the room. I said yes and he told me to stay put and that he was coming up. So my mind was racing trying to figure out what I did wrong and to come up with a way out of whatever I was about to get in trouble for. He then knocked and came into the room.

I was sitting on the bed and he told me that the Phillies needed a starter for their Saturday game versus the Devil Rays and I was going to make that start. I was in shock and gave him a hug and he told me I had an hour before I had to head to the airport.  So I jumped into the shower and remember tearing up and almost being in shock. After I showered I packed and called my dad, wanting him to be the first person I told. It was around 5am back in Aldergrove, BC, so it took about ten times calling him before I got him to pick up. I then called my girlfriend (now wife) and then her parents. Saturday (the day I was starting), I was the first person to the stadium and I just walked around for awhile. When I took the mound, I remember throwing the first pitch about 55 feet and then I stepped off the mound and though to myself (even though I barely got the ball to the plate) ‘I’m now a major leaguer’. I put my game face on and went back to pitching. I had a tough first inning but after that, everything went well and I pitched 6 innings that day. I took the loss but felt like I could pitch there and couldn’t wait to make my next start.”

On September 2^nd at home against the Atlanta Braves, the nightmare began. I remember being at the game and watching him throw in the first inning—something wasn’t right. It was the second time I had seen a pitcher blow out his elbow in person. It gives you a queasy feeling in your stomach. Mathieson had Tommy John surgery on his elbow later in the month. Almost a year later, he was still having elbow problems so he underwent an ulnar nerve transposition. However in May of 2008, Mathieson underwent a second Tommy John surgery, where the recovery rate is just 30%. As of right now, Mathieson is on the right track towards the recovery rate and getting back to where he was three years ago. Newly added to the Phillies 40-man roster and considered by Baseball America to have the best fastball in the organization, Mathieson took time out in the AFL to answer some of my questions.

What was it like finally pitching competitively for an entire season and being healthy again?

It was a great feeling to finally get back out there and not just pitch again but pitch with some success. Baseball was finally fun again. Sitting on the outside was very hard for me. Having to watch and not be able to play the game that I love.

Scott Mathieson

What was it like returning to Reading and pitching in front of their fans?

Reading was a lot of fun. I had a great time in 2006 pitching there. I think this year I enjoyed it even more. Reading is a great place to play. Every player that I know that has played there talks about how great the fan support is. I really enjoyed pitching in the back end of the bullpen there with all of the support.

How would you rate your 2009 season?

I believe that my 2009 season has been a huge success. I went into this year just wanting to be able to pitch healthy and pain free at some point. Having the chance to pitch in Reading and being a part of a team going to the playoffs was a lot of fun and being able to prove to myself and hopefully the Phillies that I’m healthy and I can pitch again.

How would you rate your pitches now after surgery?

I believe that my fastball is back or very close to being back to where it was. My velocity is back up to where it was before the surgery. I believe that my changeup is better than before surgery just because that was the one pitch that I was allowed to throw early in my rehab and so I would throw it everyday in long toss and got a lot of work in on it. I had trouble with my slider this year and was babying it when I first came back. I’ve been working with our pitching coach Bob out here in the fall league a lot. He’s got me staying on top of it and throwing it a bit harder. Right now I’m throwing around 85 mph and would like to increase it by a couple mph by the time spring training comes around.

Do you see yourself strictly now as a reliever or do you think you can still be a starter?

I still believe that I could start, but I’m starting to really like pitching out of the bullpen. I believe that I’ll be in the bullpen from now on out.

What things are you working on in the AFL?

I’ve been working on my slider a lot out here. Almost everyday I work with our pitching coach on it. I’m starting to feel a lot better and more confident with it now.

What have your experiences been like in your second time in the AFL?

The first time I was out here I was in awe of getting to play in the fall league. My dad took me to see a fall league game when I was may be 10 or 11 and I remember him telling me that those guys out there were some of the best minor league players and future major league stars.

In 2005, it really helped me make the transition to AA and then onto the major leagues. This year I looked at it as a way to get more innings and to prove that I can pitch again and hopefully get back to the major leagues. This year out here, I have really tried to watch and learn from some of the pitchers on our team, since this is the first year that I have pitched out of the bullpen.

Who has been the toughest hitter for you to face so far in the AFL?

I’m not sure who the toughest hitter I’ve faced out here is because everyone is good here. It seems like every time I look up there’s a future all-star up to bat. This league is a great league and if you want to see some future all-stars, gold glovers, and hall of famers, you have to come out.

What has been your favorite ballpark to pitch in?

Major leagues, I would have to say in Philly because it was where I pitched my first major league game and my dad, my sister, and my wife’s family were able to come and watch me there. I also really liked pitching in St. Louis. They have a beautiful stadium there and I got my first win there. To top it off, my wife’s parents had a trip planned to go there and see the stadium and it just so happened that I got called up and was starting there.

Since I have never been to Arizona (and maybe some of the readers haven’t been either) I asked Scott if he had gotten a chance to check out Scottsdale. What are any of your favorite spots or places to eat?

The Breakfast Club on Scottsdale Rd. is very good and a lot of players eat there. I have also really enjoyed hiking Camel Back Mountain, but make sure you bring lots of water with you. My roommate Mike Cisco and I did it the first week we got here and brought lots of water and Gatorade, but forgot it in the car. About 20 minutes up we looked at each other and said ‘what the heck are we doing’. It was a lot harder than we thought it would be, plus it was about 95 out. But it’s a great workout and well worth the hike when you get to the top.

Where do you see yourself in 2010, especially after being added to the Phillies 40-man roster?

I see myself pitching healthy in a bullpen somewhere next year. Next year I really hope I can give a good showing in spring training and at some point in the year, help the Phillies out.

The Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro talked this offseason about looking for help at third base and in the bullpen. Scott Mathieson is hoping to help the Phillies in the bullpen in 2010.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Philadelphia Phillies, Reading Phillies, Scott Mathieson

The Phillies are looking for a back up catcher to complement starter Carlos Ruiz. Despite being a young catcher, Tuffy Gosewisch could be that guy. The 11th round draft pick in 2005 out of Arizona State is a good defensive catcher. The 2009 season saw him split between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he hit .235 with 20 doubles, 1 homerun, and 21 RBIs in 76 games. The downside is his propensity to strike out (47 K to 16 BB in 2009, plus 6 K to 1 BB in the AFL). In the AFL, Gosewisch is hitting .275 with 3 RBIs in 10 games.

Mike Cisco pitching in Reading

Mike Cisco, a 36th round draft pick in 2008 out of South Carolina, was considered to have the best professional debut of any of the Phillies 2008 draft picks (along with pitcher Mike Stutes). He followed his debut up with a solid 2009 that began in High-A Clearwater and ended in Double-A Reading during the playoffs. He was 9-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 21 starts (22 games), which equated to 112.2 innings. He struck out 71 (walked 24) and opponents hit .259, though he allowed 13 homeruns. His coach at South Carolina Ray Tanner considered Cisco a poor man’s Greg Maddux for his ability to command his fastball to all four corners of the plate. Many profile him to be a middle reliever, but as of right now, he is continuing to start. Cisco has continued to start in the AFL, going 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 5 starts (14.2 innings) while striking out 12 (6 walks), with opponents hitting just .228. Cisco should again team up with fellow 2008 draft picks Vance Worley and Stutes in 2010.

Another 2008 draft pick in the AFL for the Phillies is reliever Mike Schwimer. Schwimer was dominant in High-A Clearwater and received a call up to Double-A Reading to help with their playoff push. Though the 14th round draft pick out of Virginia struggled in Reading, his overall 2009 numbers were still solid: 4-2, with a 3.20 ERA in 53 games (64.2 innings) with 20 saves, 21 BB/ 89 K, and a .216 batting average against. In the AFL, he has had one bad outing (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 HR, 2BB) that has inflated his overall numbers (3.86 ERA, 9 G, 11.2 IP, 8 BB, 8 K, .233 opponent average). The Phillies have pulled pitchers from Double-A in the past (Scott Mathieson, Mike Zagurski, Kyle Kendrick, Sergio Escalona, and Antonio Bastardo) so look for Schwimer to get a similar call if he continues to pitch well in 2010.

Edgar Garcia is the top Dominican product in the Philadelphia Phillies system. His pure stuff has been compared to the Phillies former number one prospect Carlos Carrasco, who signed the same year (2004) as Garcia. Garcia spent most of 2009 in High-A Clearwater, though he only pitched in 9 games (8 starts). His overall numbers were good: 2-4, with a 3.94 ERA in 45.2 innings, he struck out 31 (9 walks), and opponents hit just .228 against him. His numbers in the AFL are a different story: 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA in 9 games (1 start) with opponents hitting .328.

Troy Hanzawa is the most unknown of the Phillies prospects in the AFL. He was a 16th round draft pick in 2008 out of San Diego State. Hanzawa was considered the best defensive player in the 2008 draft for the Phillies, as he has a strong, accurate arm and easy actions at shortstop. In 2009, Hanzawa spent the entire season in Class A Lakewood hitting .267 in 126 games with 23 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homeruns, and 47 RBIs. However he struck out 100 times. He hasn’t played much in the AFL (5 games) and he is 0-for-15 with 6 strikeouts. Despite not having a hit, he has 2 RBIs, 2 walks, and 2 stolen bases.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Edgar Garcia, Mike Cisco, Mike Schwimer, Philadelphia Phillies, Troy Hanzawa, Tuffy Gosewisch

Coming off their second straight National League title, the Philadelphia Phillies are expecting to be back in the World Series again in 2010. The Phillies do not have many holes to fill on their roster though they do have a farm system filled with talent. Even after trading away four top prospects to Cleveland for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco, they still have a lot of talent, though most is not big league ready…yet.

Domonic Brown while with Reading

The Phillies number one prospect was highly sought around the 2009 trading deadline, though the Phillies marked him as untouchable. Domonic Brown, the outfielder that draws comparisons to Darryl Strawberry as a player, is thankful to still be a Phillie. He tried to stay away from the rumors and stay focused and play hard. The 20th round pick in the 2006 draft, mainly because of his commitment to the University of Miami to play football and baseball, thought he would be drafted as a pitcher because he was more of a pitcher in high school. He’s happy the Phillies wanted him as an outfielder because he loves to hit, and hit he did in 2009. His overall stats in 2009 were solid: .299, 21 doubles, 9 triples, 14 homeruns, 64 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 106 games. He spent most of the 2009 season in High-A Clearwater, where he was a Florida State League All-Star, before being promoted to Double-A Reading on August 1st.

The 6’5 Brown is a humble and shy prospect (he just recently told the Philadelphia Phillies that they have been spelling his first name wrong), indicated by his homerun trot “just hit it, put my head down, and go from there”. Brown hit a mammoth homerun an estimated 426 feet in Reading, one that traveled over the pool beyond the right field fence, over the pavilion, and onto the street–out of FirstEnergy Stadium. Pedro Martinez, who was there on rehab, told Brown that he should admire a bomb like that while rounding the bases. The power is usually the last tool to come and Brown is showing signs. He admits he has always been fast and hopes to improve his base-stealing to reach 40 steals a season. He has continued his solid offensive season into the AFL hitting .255 with 9 doubles, 2 triple, 2 homeruns, and 18 RBIs in 27 games. What’s even better is that his AFL teammate Chase d’Arnaud of the Pittsburgh Pirates credits Brown as a valuable offensive resource.

Another Phillies outfielder who could continue to move quickly is Steve Susdorf. After coming back from hip surgery, he put up good overall numbers in 2009 while playing at three levels (Lakewood, Clearwater, and Reading): .324, 21 doubles, 7 homeruns, and 44 RBIs in 85 games, though he struggled after his promotion to Double-A Reading. He also was named the Phillies Player of the Month for June. The 19th round pick in 2008 out of the College World Series champion Fresno State Bulldogs hit a grand slam in his first professional at-bat.

Steve Susdorf with Reading

Susdorf is a good hitter, especially with runners on base. His focus to improve is to not give away at-bats, to lay off certain pitches, and to have good 2-strike at-bats. In the AFL, Susdorf is hitting .216 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBIs, and 8 walks to 8 strikeouts in 14 games. Most likely Susdorf will begin the 2010 season back in Reading, but could earn a promotion to Triple-A if he continues to hit. With the tandem of John Mayberry, Michael Taylor, and Brown, along with Susdorf, Quintin Berry, and Anthony Gose, the Phillies have a plethora of outfielders on the horizon.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies, Steve Susdorf

Stephen Strasburg pitching for Phoenix

For the Arizona Fall League’s Week Four, the pitcher and player of the week were Phoenix Desert Dogs Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) and Scottsdale Scorpions catcher Wilin Rosario (Rockies). Strasburg made his longest professional start during the week, going five innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. Despite a neck strain that kept him out of the Rising Stars game, Strasburg did return to the mound at the end of Week Five (3.2 innings, 1 hit, 6 strikeouts, while picking up the win). That start could be his last, though he would be in line to start the AFL championship game, if the Desert Dogs stay in first place. Rosario for the week hit three homeruns, drove in four runs, and scored six runs. He also had the Scorpions only multi-homer game.

Week Five has seen the Mesa Solar Sox mount a 6-game winning streak and gain ground on the Phoenix Desert Dogs for a spot in the AFL championship. The Desert Dogs have the league’s best hitting and pitching team. Desert Dogs Chris Marrero (Nationals) has six 2-hit games in his last eight games. Marrero’s teammate Josh Bell (Orioles) has a 7-game hitting streak. Desert Dogs pitcher Toshiyuki Yanuki of Japan has now qualified for the league lead in ERA (0.00) in 12.2 innings pitched. Scorpions outfielder Jose Tabata (Pirates) continues to lead the league in hits and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, with a top ten batting average. His teammate Chase d’Arnaud (Pirates) has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games, with three multi-hit games in his last six. The speedy infielder is also tied for the league lead in stolen bases. Not bad for someone in his first full season of professional baseball.

Peoria Saguaros pitcher Josh Judy (Indians) won his second game out of the bullpen while holding the opposition to a .189 batting average. Judy also has a top five ERA. It took until Week Five for Solar Sox pitcher Tommy Mendoza to issue his first walk. He now has 12 strikeouts and 4 walk in 19 innings. Peoria Javelinas outfielder Casper Wells had his on-base streak come to an end at 35 games as he is in the top ten in almost every offensive category. The Javelinas also clinched the West division title to claim a spot in the AFL championship game, which will be televised live on Saturday on the MLB Network.

The Surprise Rafters are the top defensive team in the league. Rafters third baseman Mike Moustakas is averaging one homerun every 14.75 at-bats and also has 12 RBIs with runners in scoring position.

Aaron Crow pitching for Surprise

To close out Week 5 and his stint in the AFL former Missouri pitcher Aaron Crow delivered his best performance as a professional so far. The Rafters starting pitcher gave up a one-out double but then settled in to retire the final 11 batters he faced in his four innings of work. He also struck out four. Crow, the highly touted Kansas City Royals prospect, turned it around after giving up 10 earned runs in his first 11.1 innings in the AFL. He is hoping to build on this final outing and use it as motivation going into spring training in 2010.

Update: The Week 5 player and pitcher of the week were Mesa Solar Sox outfielder Bryan Petersen (Marlins) and Peoria Javelinas reliever Robbie Weinhardt (Tigers). Petersen is the only hitter still hitting over .400. He batted .563 (9-for-16) last week with four runs, a double, two triples, a home run, five RBIs and two stolen bases. He also walked twice. Weinhardt earned a save in four innings pitched over two appearances in Week 5, striking out seven and allowing only two hits and two walks.

Tags:

Aaron Crow, Arizona Fall League, Chase d'Arnaud, Chris Marrero, Jose Tabata, Josh Bell, Josh Judy, Mike Moustakas, Stephen Strasburg, Tommy Mendoza, Toshiyuki Yanuki, Wilin Rosario

The future for the Red Sox at shortstop could be great if the scouting reports on two young prospects are correct. With the Red Sox declining Alex Gonzalez’ option for 2010, whoever plays shortstop (Jed Lowrie, Gonzalez, or someone else) in 2010 could just be keeping the job warm for one of the youngsters.

After signing international free agent Jose Iglesias in July for over $8 million, many in Red Sox Nation want him in the majors now. However Iglesias is just 19 years old and a shortstop learning the US game (he defected from Cuba). In the Rising Stars game in the AFL, he looked overmatched, striking out twice (though it was only 2 at-bats and hardly an indication of his talent or future). He is considered to be flashy at shortstop and is considered big league ready defensively, though his offense lags behind. The AFL is Iglesias’ first experience in professional baseball and he is handling the bat pretty well overall (.286, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB), even though he had not played in over a year. He also drove in five runs in a game in the AFL. The Red Sox director of player development Mike Hazen stated in an interview with Joe McDonald that “He’s a fun player to watch with a lot of energy. He has a clear passion for the game…”

Casey Kelly pitching for Greenville

The Red Sox will need to have a discussion with their other young shortstop, to try and decide his future: as either a shortstop or a pitcher. The Red Sox allowed Casey Kelly to split 2009: the first half as a pitcher and the second half as a shortstop which has continued in the AFL. The first round pick in 2008 was wooed away from the University of Tennessee to play quarterback so long as the Red Sox allowed him to pitch and play shortstop. Kelly said that he has followed his heart with his decision to play baseball instead of going to college to play football and will continue to follow his heart when making this decision too. Many believe he could be a Roy Hallady-type pitcher, the same pitcher he was almost traded for. In the AFL, Kelly has played in just 7 games, hitting .240 with 4 RBIs and 5 walks.

The Red Sox have a few bullpen options coming through the organization (besides Richardson) participating in the AFL. Chris Province began his career as a starter in the Red Sox organization, but moved to the bullpen in 2009. The 4th round draft pick in 2007 out of Southeastern Louisiana University, Province was great at Double-A Portland in 43 games. As an Eastern League All-Star, Province was 2-4 with a 2.60 ERA and 55 strikeouts. In the AFL, he has been just as good, posting a 2.79 ERA in 8 games with 2 saves, 8 strikeouts, and no homeruns allowed.

Richie Lentz seemed to be on the fast track to Boston after progressing well in 2008. However the 19th round pick in 2006 out of the University of Washington regressed in 2009 after repeating Double-A Portland. In 29 games, he had a 6.75 ERA with 33 walks and 48 strikeouts. The command issues Lentz had battled throughout his career came out in full force. The AFL season has brought better results for Lentz as he is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 9 games. Opponents are hitting just .200 against him and have 13 strikeouts to just 2 walks. Lentz draws incentive from his friend and former college teammate Tim Lincecum because he wants to go as far as he can in baseball. Everything that went wrong with Lentz in 2009 has mainly been mental and as he stated in an interview with Boston Baseball “…I just want to make sure that I keep my head on my shoulders and the little man off.” If Lentz can recover from his terrible 2009 season, he should be back on the fast track and could be part of the Boston bullpen by the end of 2010.

Ryan Kalish batting with Portland

In 2009 for outfielder Ryan Kalish, he got back to just being aggressive at the plate. He hit .279 with 24 doubles, 6 triples, and 18 homeruns in 135 games. Kalish also had 77 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and 68 walks. Completely over his wrist injury, he has his power stroke back to go with his other well-rounded tools. He has progressed with the mental game, like relaxing and letting the game come to him. Despite the fact that Kalish is expected to be at the top of the 2010 prospect rankings, this outfielder is playing the game for himself, not anyone else, and is looking at being a prospect as a blessing. As a 9th round pick in 2006, he keeps things simple. Teammates call him a caveman because he doesn’t pay attention to stats or analyze stuff. In the offseason, he is going to work on getting stronger and faster. In the AFL, Kalish is hitting .288 in 17 games with 14 RBIs. He is also hitting .450 with 14 RBIs with runners in scoring position. In an interview with Baseball Prospectus, Kalish stated “In the end, the baseball gods will reward the people that play the game right. You’re hustling balls out for the team, and you have the right mental approach where it’s not all about yourself. The game tends to reward people…” Kalish has the right attitude for an up-and-coming player and look to see him in Boston roaming the Fenway Park outfield in the near future.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Boston Red Sox, Casey Kelly, Chris Province, Jose Iglesias, Richie Lentz, Ryan Kalish

The Boston Red Sox have an organization filled with possible major league talent. Having the Futures at Fenway doubleheaders in August at Fenway Park gave Red Sox Nation an opportunity to see the prospects of the organization in the big league ballpark. A few of those players are participating in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Dustin Richardson pitching for Pawtucket

The first, Dustin Richardson, made his major league debut on September 28th after a whirlwind season starting in Double-A Portland, where he was named as an Eastern League All-Star, to Triple-A Pawtucket, and then to Ft. Myers to prepare for a possible call up. The 6’5 lefty that was drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 draft out of Texas Tech, made his debut on the same day he arrived in Boston when manager Terry Francona called on him with 2 outs and 2 men on base to face the Toronto Blue Jays All-Star second baseman Aaron Hill (and he did not allow a run). He admitted to reporters after the game that “It took me until about the third inning to finally realize I was a baseball player again…I just wanted to hit the fast-forward button and get out there and get it over with…” In 3 games in the majors, Richardson pitched 3.1 innings without allowing a run. Since moving to the bullpen, Richardson has been successful. In 2009 with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, he was 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 45 games with 96 strikeouts. The only lefty with a spot in the Red Sox bullpen in 2010 is Hideki Okajima and Richardson’s performance in the AFL could make him a front-runner to join hard-throwing rookie Daniel Bard in the back end of the bullpen in 2010. So far, Richardson has struggled a bit in the AFL, going 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in 9 games, though he has 14 strikeouts. Four of the seven runs he has allowed came on a game-ending grand slam.

Randor Bierd, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for David Pauley in January of 2008, spent the entire 2009 season in Triple-A Pawtucket. His numbers were okay, going 3-1 in 25 games (7 starts) with a 4.55 ERA. In the AFL, Bierd has been starting, and although opponents are only hitting .228 against him, he has allowed 10 walks and holds a 5.40 ERA in 6 starts. He started out well in his first 3 starts in the AFL, but has struggled as of late. Bierd could be given an opportunity to start for the Red Sox in 2010 or provide middle-relief out of the bullpen.

With the acquisition of catcher Victor Martinez, the Red Sox have some time to wait for their catchers to develop. With George Kottaras, Dusty Brown, Mark Wagner, and John Otness at the upper levels, Luis Exposito will be given the opportunity to mature and develop his game-calling and leadership. As a draft-and-follow in 2006 out of St. Petersburg Junior College, he attracted the Red Sox with his defensive ability though he has also added power potential. While splitting 2009 between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland, he hit .287 in 99 games, with 29 doubles, 9 homeruns, and 57 RBIs. Exposito will probably begin the 2010 season starting in Portland, but with a good showing in the AFL (he his hitting .282 in 11 games) and spring training, he could move quickly. 2011 could be the year he starts in Boston.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Boston Red Sox, Dustin Richardson, Luis Exposito, Randor Bierd

Colin Curtis in Triple-A Scranton

Colin Curtis is best known to Yankees fans as the player who somehow slid into home plate to score the winning run in 2007 as the Double-A Trenton Thunder won the Eastern League championship. Curtis, a 4th round draft pick in 2006 from Arizona State, is not considered to have any tools that stand out. However, he always seems to put together a good year (especially the second time at a level). He can play all three outfield positions and has decent speed. In the AFL, he is hitting .391 with 3 homeruns and 13 RBIs. He also has 7 walks to just 9 strikeouts in 16 games (64 at-bats). Curtis is a competitor and has been since surviving a 1999 bout with testicular cancer. Curtis is eligible for the Rule V draft so his performance in the AFL could be for an audition for one of the other MLB teams. If he is added to the Yankees 40-man roster, he could fight for a spot in New York.

Since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2009 at Double-A Trenton, Grant Duff has put himself on the prospect map. The 6’6 right hander, a 31st round draft pick in 2004 out of the College of the Sequoias, can hit the upper 90s with his fastball. His combined numbers in High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton were solid (45 games, 71.2 innings, 3.52 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and a .236 batting average against). He also only allowed 3 homeruns. So far in the AFL, Duff has 2 saves in 9 games, with a 3.24 ERA, though he has given up more walks than strikeouts. Duff is another Rule V eligible player and is auditioning for a spot with the Yankees or with another club.

The Yankees also have two up-and-coming prospects in the AFL. Austin Romine is considered the Yankees second best catching prospect, behind Jesus Montero who he will most likely again team up with, this time in Double-A Trenton. Romine is considered the better defensive player and could force Montero to first base or the designated hitter. Many believe that Romine will play for the Yankees sometime in the near future. The 2nd round draft pick in 2007 was a Florida State League All-Star. Romine had an outstanding season in High-A Tampa, earning him the Florida State League’s MVP while hitting .276 with 13 homeruns and 72 RBIs. Romine was removed from the Surprise Rafters roster due to a minor injury after just 4 games and it is uncertain whether this injury will hinder his chances of starting the season in Trenton.

The other up-and-comer is Romine’s High-A Tampa teammate, Brandon Laird. Laird, whose older brother catches for the Detroit Tigers, got off to a hot start in the AFL, earning player of the week honors after the first week. He has continued to hitting, batting .321 with 6 homeruns and 23 RBIs. In Tampa, Laird was a postseason All-Star batting .266 with 13 homeruns and 75 RBIs. A first baseman, Laird is expected to join Romine in Double-A Trenton for the 2010 season.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Austin Romine, Brandon Laird, Colin Curtis, Grant Duff, NY Yankees

Coming off of winning the World Series, the New York Yankees have some holes to fill in their 2010 roster (like outfield spots, the bullpen, the starting rotation, and the bench). Will they fill those holes with homegrown players or spend money on the free agent market? The Yankees players in the Arizona Fall League are hoping they can help the Yankees sometime in 2010.

After making his major league debut in his first full season in 2007, Ian Kennedy is trying to make his way back into the Yankees starting rotation. A first round pick out of USC in 2006, Kennedy has mound presence to go along with above average major league baseball command. He struggled in the majors in 2008 and faced a setback in 2009 when dealing with an aneurysm in his arm, though he did make it back to the majors at the end of the season. Kennedy is using the AFL to pick up the innings he missed when recovering from the aneurysm (pitched just 22.2 innings in 2009). In the AFL, Kennedy has picked up the innings (24.2) but has also struggled a bit in 6 starts (4.74 ERA with 25 hits allowed) though he has struck out 23 and has only allowed one homerun and 5 walks. With some question marks surrounding the Yankees starting rotation besides CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, Kennedy may get a second chance to secure a rotation spot in spring training.

Yankee Batman Hazing:Michael Dun as the Riddler (on the far right)

It has been a whirlwind year for lefty reliever Michael Dunn. He began the 2009 season in Double-A Trenton (where he was an Eastern League All-Star), was later promoted to Triple-A Scranton, and received a September call up to New York. The former 33rd round draft pick as an outfielder in 2004, became a full-time reliever at the end of the 2008 season, which led to increased velocity with his fastball. Before joining the Surprise Rafters in the AFL, he had the opportunity to dress up as the Riddler from Batman, courtesy of his veteran Yankees teammates. Dunn’s biggest weakness is his command, which leads to too many walks. In 2009, Dunn walked 46 batters in the minors and 5 in the majors. In the AFL, Dunn has 7 walks in just 8.1 innings. However hitters only accomplished a .216 batting average against him. Dunn relies on his excellent slider. Dunn will be given an opportunity in spring training to beat out Phil Coke and veteran Damaso Marte as one of the lefty relievers. If not, he will have to battle one of his Rafters’ teammates to be the first lefty reliever called up if Coke or Marte struggle.

That lefty reliever teammate is Zach Kroenke. Kroenke was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 2008 Rule V draft (though he was returned near the end of spring training). Kroenke, a 5th round draft pick in 2005 out of the University of Nebraska (and a teammate of Joba Chamberlain), could be auditioning for another MLB club while he is in the AFL. Though his strikeout numbers were not spectacular, he was one of the best relievers on his Triple-A Scranton team, as he was also an International League All-Star. In Scranton, Kroenke was 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 36 games (72.1 innings) and opponents only hit .213 against him. Kroenke has versatility as he can pitch in short relief or as he showed in 2009, he can be stretched out and make spot starts.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Ian Kennedy, Michael Dunn, New York Yankees, Zach Kroenke