10 Risers from Winter Ball
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In case you haven't noticed, pro baseball is now year-round and astute
fantasy players need to stay on top of the game 24/7/365. If you sleep,
you'll miss the emerging stars of the playoffs, or the rising stars of the
Arizona Fall League or the future stars of the Winter League. And of course
this year we also have the World Baseball Classic, where we can scout the
next international stars that will come to the major leagues.
In this week's column, I'll look at 10 familiar names that have made strides
this winter in either the AFL or Winter Leagues and give you a reason to keep
their names close by on Draft Day:
1. Max Scherzer, SP, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks sent Scherzer down to the
AFL to get one last look at him after an inconsistent 2008 season. He was
dominant in four AFL starts as he struck out 24 in 24 IP and finished with a
solid 0.88 WHIP as he allowed just 16 hits and five walks.
He was dominant in a couple of starts and may have worked his way back into
Arizona's starting rotation for 2009. He obviously needs better control at
the big league level, but last year's 145 strikeouts in 109 innings between
Triple-A and the majors is pretty impressive. He shouldn't be forgotten on
Draft Day as he could be the No. 3 starter in Arizona on Opening Day.
2. Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels: Kendry Morales has been a disappointment over
the past three years for the Angels as he's failed to impress during each of
his callups since 2006. Last year he hit .341 with 64 RBIs in just 78 games
at Triple-A Salt Lake, but then hit a pitiful .213-3-8 in 27 games at L.A.
But in the Dominican Republic Winter League, Morales finished fifth in the
regular season with 20 extra-base hits and then hit .354 with a league-best
five home runs in the playoffs. He's first in line for the starting first
base job in Los Angeles and he has the chance to be a solid sleeper pick in
this solid lineup.
3. Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants: Sandoval rose from Class A to the majors last
year and spanked the ball at every level, hitting .345-3-24 in 41 games with
the Giants. He's now scheduled to start at third base for the Giants and will
hit third in that lineup. Just to prove that last year wasn't a fluke,
Sandoval led the Venezuelan Winter League with a .396 average and a .677
slugging percentage, while ranking fourth in home runs (12), hits (76),
on-base percentage (.449) and extra base hits (27). This guy can flat out
rake, bad body and all.
4. Clay Buchholz, SP, Red Sox: The AFL is usually the place where hitters
emerge, but this year several young MLB pitchers were sent to the Valley of
the Sun for extra work. Like Scherzer, Clay Buchholz was sent to the AFL by
the Red Sox to get some fine-tuning in.
In five starts, he finished with a 3.86 ERA and struck out 17 in 21 innings,
while allowing 18 hits and nine walks (1.29 WHIP). He's going to have to
fight for a spot in this rotation, but he proved in Arizona that he still has
what it takes to be a quality MLB starter.
5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Texas: Acquired by the Rangers from Atlanta in
2007 as part of the Mark Teixeira trade, Salty hit a mere .253-3-26 with the
Rangers in 61 games. He's now the projected starter with Gerald Laird off to
Detroit and he proved this winter that he's ready. The switch-hitter hit .364
for Escogido of the Dominican Republic with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in
only 66 at-bats. Just 23, he still has great upside and a great spot to excel
in 2009.
6. Philip Hughes, SP, Yankees: He may not have a starting job waiting for him
in New York this year, but Hughes still shouldn't be discounted altogether.
He appeared in the AFL for seven starts after an injury-plagued 2008 season
and looked extremely sharp, striking out 38 batters in 30 IP, while finishing
with a 2-0 record, 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP (21 hits, 13 walks). Don't lose
sight of him because this 22-year-old has good upside and even the Yankees
realize that.
7. Max Ramirez, C, Texas: The Rangers already have Saltalamacchia and Taylor
Teagarden ready to go for 2009, but don't forget about this former Braves'
prospect. The 24-year-old reached the majors last year, but showed little in
17 games (.217-3-9).
He then went to the Venezuela Winter League, where he hit a league-high 15
home runs, while finishing second with 53 RBIs. Ramirez hit .298 with 30
extra-base hits and 42 runs in the VWL and will be a fine backup catcher in
Texas if the Rangers decide to trade either of their other young catchers.
8. Gregor Blanco, OF, Atlanta: The Braves still haven't signed a starting
centerfielder yet, so Blanco could receive that job. After a steady but
unspectacular 2008, Blanco went to his native Venezuela and hit .349 with a
league-best .464 OBP and 22 RBIs. He's not a flashy pickup, but with similar
playing time in 2009 he could be a productive late-round addition.
9. Ian Kennedy, SP, Yankees: The Yankees may not have room for Hughes, so why
bother with Kennedy, right? Well, remember that he is just 24 and the
potential is still there. With Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican League this year,
he finished with a league-best 1.56 ERA and had the league's lone shutout. He
did not allow a run in four of his six starts and will compete for the No. 5
starter's job in New York this season.
10. Tommy Hanson, SP, Atlanta: He's not a veteran prospect, but it would be
hard to mention off-season wonders without mentioning Hanson. He was the
first pitcher to win the MVP Award in the AFL and he was so dominant that the
Braves refused to part with him this off-season, even when names like Jake
Peavy were brought up.
Hanson went 5-0 in seven starts, posting a 0.63 ERA and limiting opposing
batters to a .105 average. He struck out 49 in 30 innings, while allowing
just 10 hits and seven walks (0.59 WHIP). Hanson could start this season at
Triple-A, but he is definitely on the fast track to Atlanta and could be a
pleasant fantasy surprise in 2009.
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