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Around SBN: Ryder Hesjedal Wins Giro d'Italia

Rays Community Prospect #30


With 73% of the votes, Ty Morrison wins the runoff.


1. Matt Moore (100%)

2. Hak-Ju Lee (100%)

3. Alex Torres (53%)

4. Enny Romero (80% runoff)

5. Tim Beckham (64%)

6. Mikie Mahtook (63% runoff)

7. Brandon Guyer (50%)

8. Chris Archer (65% runoff)

9. Drew Vettleson (48%)

10. Taylor Guerrieri (80%)

11. Alex Colome (75%)

12. Derek Dietrch (40%)

13. Josh Sale (39%)

14. Ryan Brett (50%)

15. Parker Markel (43%)

16. Jake Hager (41%)

17. Tyler Goeddel (43%)

18. Jeff Malm (60%)

19. Oscar Hernandez (48%)

20. Tyler Bortnick (84% runoff)

21. Granden Goetzman (80% runoff)

22. Lenny Linsky (36% runoff)

23(T). Ryan Carpenter (32% runoff)

23(T). Russ Canzler (32% runoff)

25. Matt Bush (33%)

26. Robinson Chirinos (60% runoff)

27. Johnny Eierman (26%)

28. Brandon Martin (22%)

29. Ty Morrison (73% runoff)

Star-divide

Cameron Seitzer: A linedrive hitting 1B taken in the 2011 draft, Seitzer's future should depend on his future power. His 2011 season in pr ball was a very nice surprise and an excellent start. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=seitze000cam)

Justin O'Conner: A catcher with good defensive tools and plus power, O'Conner seems like the guy who should be near the top of the list. However, his approach at the plate has been awful, resulting in a crazy amount of strikeouts. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oconne001jus)

Andrew Bellatti: Once involved in a fatal car crash, Bellatti is a sleeper propsect in the low minor leagues. His stuff isn't notable yet, but he is young, has potential, and has posted good numbers. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bellat001and)

Matt Spann: A young lefty with good pitchability and a projectable frame, Spann has posted good numbers in the low minor leagues. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=spann-001mat)

Stephen Vogt (C): Despite putting up mediocre walk rates, Vogt has hit well at each promotion, especially in regards to batting average. He offers versatility yet isn't good defensively in any catergory. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vogt--001ste)

Kyle Lobstein (LHP): A finesse lefty out of the disastrous 2008 draft, Lobstein projectibily has yet to promote his stuff, leaving him as an athletic pitcher who only throws in the mid to high 80s. His offspeed pitches offer potential and he has shown a good ability to mix up his pitches and control the strike zone. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lobste001kyl)

Andres Gonzalez (RHP): A pitcher from the VSL Rays, Andres dominated despite playing in an extreme hitter's park. He reportedly thows in the 88-92 range with a good curve and a developing changeup. His BB rate is very promising, but his K rate leaves plenty to desire. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=gonzal004and)

Jacob Thompson (RHP): A second round pick in the 2010 draft, Thompson is a big, strong RHP with a low 90s fastball and a plus slider. Thompson has one clear issue: strikeouts. While he could be aiming for pitchability, a 4.4 K/9 simply doesn't cut it for a top prospect. He also struggles with hittability, which would hint towards a weaker than often described fastball. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=thomps003jac)

Cole Figueroa(2B): A MIF acquired in the Jason Bartlett trade, Cole Figueroa provides a solid floor with a limited upside. He is a similar prospect to Bortnick. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=figuer002ste)

Grayson Garvin (LHP): A 2011 first round pick out of Vandy, Garson signed late, giving him no pro time (yet). While his ceiling is "probably" limited, he offers a high floor due to his polish.

John Alexander (1B): A HS 1B, Alexander was drafted in the eighth round of the 2011 draft. He performed well in his short GCL stint. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alexan003joh)

Jacob Faria (RHP): Like Alexander, Faria was a HS pick in the 2011 draft, coming from the 10th round. He put up superd numbers in a extremely short sample size with the GCL Rays. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=faria-000jac)

Felipe Rivero (RHP): Another product of the Rays efforts in Central America, Rivero provides a low 90s fastball and a "potentially" plus curve. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rivero001fel)

Nick Barnese (RHP): Barnese stock has fallen in the past years, due to a lack of progression of his stuff, weakening stats, and injuries. It appears his fastball still sits in the 90 range (with excellent movement). His other pitches still have some potential. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=barnes001nic)

Lucas Bailey (C): A fourth round pick in the 2009 draft, Bailey was viewed as the savior, the catcher of the future! Unfortunately, Baily has yet to live up to the hype, showing defensive skills but only mediocrity with the bat. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bailey001luc)

Albert Suarez RHP): Suarez is an interesting player, a player the Rays have shown much dedication and hope for despite many issues. At his best, Suarez has a low to mid 90s sinker that could develop into an excellent pitch. He also has some other pitches with potential; as of now, health is a big issue.(http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=suarez001alb)

Jose Lobaton(C): A catcher who has slowly worked his way up the minors, Lobaton offers good defense with a questionable bat. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lobatjo01.shtml)

Kes Carter(OF): Yet another first round pick from the 2011 draft, Carter wasn't exactly a "popular" pick. He has shown injury issues and some struggles against left handed pitchers. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=carter001kes)

Wilking Rodriguez (RHP): A hard throwing, young pitcher, Rodriguez has failed to break out as many expected. However, he has excellent stuff, which leaves scouts wondering why he can't produce better results. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rodrig007wil)

Braulio Lara (LHP): A lefty with a blazing mid 90s fastball, Lara proves plenty of upside. However, he is old for his levels and failed to dominate in 2011, throwing him a bit off the radar. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lara--001bra)

Jason McEachern (RHP): With a fastball thats sits in the 93-94 range and a good looking curve (that he doesn't throw much), it seems stange that McEachern seemingly can't get past Bowling Green. His delivery is a bit like Masterson's and he lacks much of a third pitch, so a move to the bullpen could be in his future. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mceach001jas)

C.J. Riefenhauser (LHP): A 20th round pick in the 2010 draft, CJ had excellent numbers in a little over 100 innings at Bowling Green. However, reports indicate that he lacks an above-average pitch. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=riefen001cha)

Marquis Fleming (RP): One of the Rays best releif prospects, Fleming puts up impressive numbers despite a dull fastball. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=flemin001mar)

James Harris (OF): A first round pick in the 2011 draft, harris has exciting tools. However, he is also extremely raw. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harris021jam)

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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I understand the potential over perceived talent levels, but when your backup 2012 MLB catcher isn’t in the top 30 prospect list, you either have an immensly deep system (which the Rays do) or you are evaluating others too highly. I obviously work higher on the ‘actual MLB contribution’ list., but I can’t put others higher when there are guys with one tier/level years experience and four levels down over those who will be on the 25-man roster this year.

There is talent out there, but they need to prove themselves over a couple of years if they’re not top round draft picks. It’s not ignorance of what we have down there in the lower minor level, but they have to earn their spot over MLB-ready guys. Surely that what’s it’s all about, reaching the end goal and not based on our top hopes for what others can become.

I’m not judging others on their evalution of talent., but just where I’m coming from in regards to a prospect actual contributing to the end goal – to reach the bigs.

by ega05me on Feb 1, 2012 1:36 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Well just being a catcher gives him a 12-run positional advantage

Plus, he’s supposedly a good defensive catcher. Another is his strong plate discipline skills. Just being able to take 4 pitches per PA is a positive. He can be a Hanigan.

by Ben Tumbling on Feb 1, 2012 10:25 AM EST up reply actions  

If he's a .650 OPS guy in the majors

With a +5-run defense, give him 500 PA — that’s a 2 WAR guy right there.

by Ben Tumbling on Feb 1, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions  

I could be seriously wrong here, but I don't think he will be a .650 OPS guy.

Just my personal opinion. I understand the importance of catchers and SSs, but I’m just not much of a believer in Lobaton. I like Chirinos much more. The more I think about it, I think Chirinos is a top 15 prospect. Yes, I just said that.

by mr. maniac on Feb 1, 2012 11:02 AM EST up reply actions  

there are still 5 2011 1st round picks out there.
There is talent out there, but they need to prove themselves over a couple of years if they’re not top round draft picks.

im not voting for a fringe MLB player just because. id much rather have any of those guys than lobaton in the system.

by rglass44 on Feb 1, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions  

+1

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 30, 2012 6:05 PM EST up reply actions  

+1

joeybw, on why he was banned for half a day:

"Might of been grammar I keep getting that "would have" thing wrong

Not on purpose, mods, wish it was….."

Classic.

by sc_monsta1015 on Jan 30, 2012 6:56 PM EST up reply actions  

OT: Since I now have Milb TV, I've decided to try to catch up. A few notes....

Chris Archer: His command is pretty bad and he pitches up in the zone. He doesn’t throw his changeup much, but it didn’t seem like a bad pitch. His arm action sold it pretty well and it had a touch of fade. His slider is wicked. He can’t command it very well and throws it too much, but it is an incredible pitch. His fastball is pretty good, sitting in the low 90s and pumping it out to 96-97 when he needs to. His delivery looks pretty clean.

Matt Bush: Bush is going to be good. His fastball has life and hitters really seem to struggle catching up to it. Juding from the hitter’s reactions, I would say it is plus to plus-plus. His curve is also a plus pitch and could get better with more use of it. His command is fairly poor though as evidenced in his stats last year. Still, his stuff is elite.

Enny Romero: Well….. I like him even more after seeing him, but he is alot more raw than I anticipated. The fastball is pretty good, but the offspeed pitches need some work. His delivery is very low effort (almost reminds me of Moore) but he doesn’t repeat it well and does some crazy stuff from the stretch.

I watched Parker Markel in the All star game and his arm action looked quite clean. Some people have said it isbad and others have said it is clean. Again, I’m not scout, but it doesn’t seem high effort and it doesn’t seem bad.

by mr. maniac on Jan 30, 2012 9:43 PM EST reply actions  

I do think CJ is worthy here

But I really do feel like both he and Fleming will be relievers someday, except that CJ has crazy splits and is destined to be a loogy, while Fleming basically pitches the same against both hands, with an FIP around 2.8 vs righties but still only 3.4 against lefties. I know he’s not young, and he has some glaring flaws, but I really feel like Fleming’s worst case scenario, as long as he gets a chance, is as a pretty decent major league reliever. And it’s not like CJ throws harder than Fleming. CJ is a lefty, and I appreciate that soft-tossing lefties are more prevalent than righties, but when you have a pitch as good as Fleming’s change, it helps compensate for all the other shortcomings.

Or to think of it in a completely different way, Fleming still throws 25 mph faster than Charlie Hough, who had a 24 year major league career.

I don’t think his shelf life will be long, but I do think he’ll give us 2 or 3 very good seasons.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 31, 2012 10:58 PM EST reply actions  

Yup I really like both of them

I just like Reifenhauser a little bit more

by RaysOfHope on Feb 1, 2012 1:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions  

I think this is very well-stated

I disagree that we can read much into Riefenhauser’s splits over ~40 innings versus lefties, so I think it’s premature to write him off as a future reliever. So I value Riefenhauser’s potential to be a starter over Fleming’s higher comparative ceiling reliever-to-reliever.

by AndrewTorrez on Feb 1, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions  

Kes Carter, 2011 1st Round Pick:
Western Kentucky is one of the better mid-major programs in college baseball, having won 77 games and produced 11 draft picks in the previous two seasons. The Hilltoppers should have another half-dozen players selected in 2011, led by Carter, who could become the highest-drafted player in school history. An athletic 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, Carter flashes all five tools. His smooth lefthanded stroke and disciplined approach allow him to hit for average, and he has at least average power potential. He still needs to fine-tune his timing at the plate and turn on balls more frequently. He has slightly above-average speed that plays up on the bases and in center field, as well as a solid arm for the position. The biggest issues with Carter are his struggles against lefthanded pitching and his health. He injured his hip in the Coastal Plain League last summer, sat out during fall practice and missed time this spring with a calf strain. Nevertheless, he shouldn’t last past the second round

he’s a guy taht sounds a lot like joyce to me. maybe more average/athleticism and less pop.

by rglass44 on Feb 1, 2012 1:13 PM EST reply actions  

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