13 BA Top 10 Prospects with scouting report(1)

看板Rangers作者gonzalez0528 (小斌)時間12年前 (2012/12/16 01:42)推噓6(6推 0噓 1→)

留言7則, 7人參與討論串1/2 (看更多)

By Matt Eddy December 5, 2012 With nine games to go in the regular season, the Rangers had the best record in the American League and looked poised to make a run to their third straight American League pennant. But when Texas lost seven of its final nine contests, including five to the hard-charging Athletics, it ceded the AL West crown to Oakland. The A's defeated the Rangers 12-5 in the final game of the season, relegating them to the AL Wild Card Game, which Texas lost at home to the Orioles by a score of 5-1. Much like his team, Josh Hamilton faded down the stretch. He seemed destined for his second AL MVP award in three seasons when he batted .368/.420/.764 with 21 homers in the first two months, but he did little in June or July and didn't homer in his final 52 at-bats of the season. Rangers fans booed Hamilton lustily after he struck out twice and grounded out weakly, seeing just eight pitches, in the wild-card game defeat. No doubt they remembered that he dropped a routine flyball in center field the day before to key an A's rally. The boos were a sign of how much expectations for him—and the team—have changed during the last three seasons. Hamilton will test free-agent waters this offseason, with a cloud of uncertainty hovering over his potential return. If he departs Texas—as premier free agents Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson did following the 2010 and 2011 seasons—then the Rangers have the talent to replenish from within. The roster retooling actually began in 2012, when the Rangers spent $111.7 million ($51.7 million posting fee, $60 million contract) to import Yu Darvish from Japan. Rookie relievers Robbie Ross and Tanner Scheppers carved out significant bullpen roles, while second-year lefty Michael Kirkman held opponents to a .182 average. Texas also gave a preview of coming attractions by promoting shortstop Jurickson Profar and third baseman Mike Olt from Double-A before the end of the season. Two of the game's top prospects, neither played much but could carve out regular big league roles in 2013 despite being blocked by all-stars Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre at their best positions. For the third year in a row, the Rangers sacrificed minor league talent during the season to strengthen the big league team. The most significant losses came when they surrendered third baseman Christian Villanueva and righthander Kyle Hendricks to acquire Ryan Dempster from the Cubs at the July deadline. In years past, trades for Mike Adams, Cliff Lee and Koji Uehara cost the Rangers young players like Blake Beavan, Chris Davis, Robbie Erlin, Tommy Hunter, Justin Smoak and Joe Wieland. That the system continues to thrive even after the defections testifies to the job Texas does scouting at all levels, domestic, international and professional. The Rangers continue to be as active in Latin America as any club. One year after committing $13.4 million in bonuses to sign Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin and Dominican outfielders Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara, Texas agreed to terms in February with Dominican outfielder Jairo Beras for $4.5 million. MLB later suspended Beras for one year—though his contract was approved, and he can be reinstated July 1—when it learned that the outfielder originally had understated his age. 1.Jurickson Profar, ss Born: Feb 20, 1993 B-T: B-R Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 165 Signed: Curacao, '09 Signed by: Mike Daly/Chu Halabi/Jose Felomina Background: Profar served as the bellwether for the Rangers' renewed emphasis and success in Latin America. As an amateur in Curacao, he garnered attention more as a pitcher with low-90s heat and feel for a breaking ball, starring on a team that won the 2004 Little League World Series. Texas acquiesced to his desire to play shortstop after signing him for $1.55 million in 2009, and neither party has any regrets. No prospect this side of Mike Trout has a better minor league resume than Profar. He ranked as the top prospect in the short-season Northwest League in his 2010 pro debut, then for an encore won MVP honors in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2011 after posting an .883 OPS at age 18. He earned a promotion to Double-A Frisco for 2012, skipping over high Class A entirely, and ranked as not only the Texas League's youngest player (19) but also its No. 1 prospect (ahead of, among others, BA Minor League Player of the Year Wil Myers). Profar's body of work in the Futures Game includes a triple against the Twins' Kyle Gibson in 2011 and a solo homer off the Royals' Jake Odorizzi in 2012. Scouting Report: To paraphrase one Rangers instructor, Profar may not have the most power, the most speed or the strongest arm on the field, but typically he's the best player out there. A natural righthanded hitter, he learned to switch-hit after signing and now shows uncommon bat speed from both sides of the plate, lending him more power than his lean 6-foot frame suggests. Profar surprises some opponents with his pop—which is above-average for a middle infielder—but he may have to tone down his swing to maximize his overall production. He takes a disciplined approach to hitting, with strong knowledge of the strike zone that ought to make him a consistent .300 hitter in his prime. An above-average defender at shortstop, Profar has instincts that outstrip his plus range. His hands and arm are above-average as well. Some of his throws to first base tend to sail when he gets on the side of the ball, but that's just a matter of adjustment. He has solid speed and knows how to use it on the bases, stealing 16 bases in 20 tries in 2012. Observers rave about Profar's mental toughness, leadership skills and grace under pressure. "He's all about winning and getting better," one club official said. As his body matures, he ought to hold up better under the rigors of the long season. The Future: When he signed, Profar told the Rangers he would reach the big leagues by the time he was 20. He actually completed his journey five months ahead of schedule last September and became the second-youngest player in major league history to homer in his first at-bat. He played sporadically down the stretch but made the Rangers' playoff roster for their wild-card game against the Orioles. Even if he begins the 2013 season in Triple-A Round Rock, Profar's talent probably will win out and result in a promotion to Texas during the season. He likely will move to second base in deference to Elvis Andrus, pushing Ian Kinsler to the outfield. Few prospects represent a safer bet to develop into a first-division regular and future all-star than Profar. 2. Mike Olt, 3b/1b Born: Aug 27, 1988 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 210 Drafted: Connecticut, 2010 (1st round supplemental). Signed by: Jay Heafner Background: The 49th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Olt raced to Texas in little more than two years despite missing half of the 2011 season after breaking his collarbone in a home-plate collision. He led the Double-A Texas League with 28 homers and a .579 slugging percentage in 2012 before being called up in August. Plantar fasciitis in his left foot kept him out of the lineup for most of September. Scouting Report: With plus raw power and strong hitting approach, Olt is a threat to go deep anytime he steps to the plate. He works deep counts and piles up both walks and strikeouts, so his average will settle in the .260-.270 range. Pitchers have had success exploiting the length in his swing by attacking him with high fastballs, and he continues to work to identify and stay back on breaking balls. Scouts say Olt is a joy to watch defensively, owing to his agility and ability to make throws from any angle. He's a well below-average runner. The Future: Like Profar, Olt has advanced rapidly thanks to his tools, work ethic and mental toughness. He's blocked in Texas by Adrian Beltre, so a shift to first base or an outfield corner could be in the works. A potential all-star, he could open 2013 in the big league lineup or get a couple of months in Triple-A. 3. Martin Perez, lhp Born: Apr 4, 1991 B-T: L-L Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180 Signed: Venezuela '07 Signed by: Rafic Saab/Manny Batista/Don Welke Background: Signed for $580,000, Perez sped to Double-A as an 18-year-old. His progress stalled in Triple-A the last two seasons, when he posted a 4.86 ERA over 176 innings with pedestrian strikeout (5.4) and walk (3.9) rates per nine innings. Called to Texas in late June as an injury fill-in, he struggled to locate his pitches and got hit hard. Scouting Report: Despite Perez's lackluster results, scouts continue to give him positive evaluations for his above-average stuff, compact and repeatable delivery, clean arm action and youth. His fastball sits at 91-92 mph and tops out near 95, and his low-80s changeup gives him a second plus pitch at times. His curveball ranges from the low to high 70s and often features depth. Perez gets hit when he falls behind, so the Rangers introduced a two-seam fastball and slider to his repertoire. That gave him two weapons with horizontal action and a chance to induce groundouts early in counts. The Future: While expectations for Perez have downshifted from future ace to solid mid-rotation starter, he's a reasonable bet to get there. He seemed to respond to a consultation with Rangers special assistant Greg Maddux during the season, where the two reviewed pitch sequencing and game planning. Perez could be ready for an expanded role in Texas in 2013. 4. Leonys Martin, of Born: Mar 6, 1988 B-T: L-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 190 Signed: Cuba '11 Signed by: Chu Halabi/Jose Fernandez/Don Welke Background: A backup to Yoenis Cespedes on Cuba's 2009 World Baseball Classic squad, Martin defected the following year and signed a five-year, $15.6 million major league deal in May 2011. Among Triple-A Pacific Coast League players with at least 250 plate appearances, he ranked second in hitting (.359) and third in on-base percentage (.422) and slugging (.610) in 2012. He missed five weeks after tearing a ligament in his left thumb in May. Scouting Report: The Rangers say Martin has more power than he gets credit for, and he hits home runs with ease during batting practice. They would like him to tone down his swing and focus more on lining balls to the gaps, however, in order to take advantage of his plus speed. That attribute also boosts his average via bunts and infield hits as well as providing him with solid range in center field. Martin knows the strike zone and has the bat path to hit for average, so he profiles as a top-of-the-order threat capable of providing 20 steals and strong defense. He also has an above-average arm. The Future: Despite hitting .324/.390/.502 in the high minors, Martin has struggled during brief stints with the Rangers. His injury and inactivity in the big leagues cut into his development time in 2012, but at worst he figures to be a platoon option for Texas in 2013. 5. Justin Grimm, rhp Born: Aug 16, 1988 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 195 Drafted: Georgia, 2010 (5th round). Signed by: Ryan Coe Background: Grimm adapted quickly to the routine of pro ball following a wildly erratic college career at Georgia, where he ran up a 5.80 ERA in three seasons. He beat the Astros in his June 16 debut, little more than a year and a half after making his pro debut in low Class A. Scouting Report: Grimm decimated Double-A competition with a strong three-pitch mix and plus control. He found the going tougher in Triple-A and the big leagues when batters tended not to chase his 12-to-6 curveball. He pitches at 91-94 mph while commanding his fastball to both sides of the plate. That helps him work ahead of batters and set up his curve, changeup and slider/cutter hybrid. His changeup has come the farthest since turning pro, helping him hold minor league lefties to a .231 average while sporting a 4-1 K-BB ratio against them in 2012. Adding the slider gives Grimm the ability to change the speed and shape on his breaking ball, while also helping him stay in the zone more frequently. The Future: Texas bypassed Martin Perez, who already was on the 40-man roster, when it called on Grimm in June. Both could earn larger roles with the Rangers in 2013, whether starting or relieving. Most scouts see Grimm as a potential mid-rotation starter. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 219.87.89.129 ※ 編輯: gonzalez0528 來自: 219.87.89.129 (12/16 01:43) ※ 編輯: gonzalez0528 來自: 219.87.89.129 (12/16 01:43)