-- Gus Benusa, a center fielder who just finished his senior year at Riverview High School, was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round with the 237th overall pick. Benusa is the highest local player drafted since the Pirates took Pine-Richland's Neil Walker in the first round in 2004.
At 6 feet, 190 pounds, Benusa hit .638 (30 for 47) with seven home runs this season, leading all WPIAL and City League players in batting average. He throws and bats left-handed and had signed with Duquesne. He plans to turn pro now.
-- Ryan Robowski of Uniontown, a lefty pitcher, was taken in the 16th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 12 saves with the NAIA Ohio Dominican. Robowski appeared in 22 games and pitched 38-1/3 innings, allowing 30 hits, striking out 53, and walking 12.
-- Cleveland State LHP Josh Hungerman, who pitched for NA, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round. The Rox must like him; they chose him in the 50th round last season, but couldn't get him to sign. This year, as a senior, Hungerman went 5-6 with a 4.60 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 13 starts. He also batted .345 with 11 homers and 50 RBI.
Hey, we're in-laws; GW and the gang is proud as punch, though not as puffed as Josh's parents Dave and Becky.
-- Chris Trembley was tabbed in the 19th round by the San Diego Padres. Trembley, a shortstop, attended Seneca Valley and Youngstown (Ohio) Boardman highs. He hit .347 with two homers and 33 RBI as a senior at Kent State University.
-- Seton-LaSalle RHP Derek Law was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 28th round. Law has signed to play with Miami Dade College, and is undecided yet about going to school or turning pro.
-- Tarran Senay, an OF from South Park, was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 38th round. He was rated as the #85 national high school prospect by Baseball America and considered a high-round draft choice because of his 6-foot-1, 210-pound physique and raw power.
But Senay, a receiver on South Park's football team, had wrist surgery. So he's most likely to honor his committment to North Carolina State.
-- Ben Bechtol, Neshannock High C, was taken in the 40th round by Detroit. Guess Jim Leyland caught a couple of high school games, hey? Bechtol led the WPIAL with 39 RBI and hit .500 with four home runs. He signed to play for Jefferson State CC in Alabama.
-- Pitt had two players selected; junior 2B Chris Sedon was taken in the 10th round by the Detroit Tigers, and junior LHP Nathan Reed was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round.
Sedon had a record-setting season for the Panthers after transferring from Lackawanna CC. He hit .398 with 22 home runs and 62 RBI and was named a Louisville Slugger TPX first-team All-American.
Reed was the top Pitt prospect in the preseason, but slumped as a junior, posting a 4-6 record and a 6.12 ERA. His fastball reaches 92 mph and he also uses a changeup and curveball.
-- Mark Tracy, a junior C from Duquesne U., was selected in the 49th round by Colorado. Tracy led the Dukes with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 2009. The Pepperdine transfer made 52 starts at catcher, first base and designated hitter, batting .250 (51-204) with six doubles, three triples, 34 runs scored, 23 walks and four stolen bases. He's former manager Jim Tracy's son.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Another Day, Another Draft
Hey, it might be the last day, but there's a couple of picks here that could stick.
31-925 Zachary Taylor (Statesboro HS, Ga.) 18, 6-3, 210, L/L, RF: Taylor hit .448 with nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 13 RBIs, 26 runs, and 12 steals. He signed with Georgia.
32-955 Niko Spezial (Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.) 19, 6-3, 230, LHP: He was 8-0 with a 0.67 ERA in 54 innings. Spezial works both sides of the plate and his fastball showed some life at 87 MPH. He also threw a curveball and a change up with sink. Signed with Wake Forest.
33-985 Pat Irvine (Elon) 23, 5-11, 190, L/R, LF: He has a big bat, breaking out this past season by hitting .402 with a .782 slugging percentage and .533 OBP. Irvine had 17 home runs, 57 RBI, and 68 runs scored.
34-1015 Zach Fuesser (Walters State CC, Tenn.) 18, 6-2, 190, LHP: Fuesser went 5-2 with four saves and a 4.35 ERA in 19 games, striking out 60 batters in his 49-2/3 innings of work. Mostly used from the pen, he also made four spot starts. He was drafted last year by the Atlanta Braves in the 19th round.
35-1045 Chris McKenzie (San Jacinto JC, Texas) 19, 6-3, 195, RHP: A freshman, he went 4-3 with a 5.90 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 50-1/3 innings
36-1075 Robert Doran (Seward County CC, Texas) 20,6-6, 225, RHP: Went 10-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 14 starts in 92-1/3 innings, striking out 81 batters. He had six complete games and a shutout. Doran's great uncle, Gene O'Brien, was a minor league teammate of Yogi Berra when both played for the Norfolk Tars in 1943.
37-1105 Zach Nuding (Weatherford JC, Texas) 19, 6-4, 250, RHP: A reliever, he had two wins and five saves in 15 appearances.
38-1135 Jake Lamb (Bishop Blancet HS, Seattle, Wash.) 19, 6-3, 195, L/R, 3B: Some upside offensively with a strong lefthanded swing. Good arm strength. Will probably move off the middle infield at the next level; he's too big and too slow. Some scouts wonder if he can catch. Signed with Washington.
39-1165 Keifer Nuncio (Katy HS, Texas) 18, 6-0, 195, RHP: He pitches in the high 80s, low 90s with a very good breaking ball. Went 7-2 with a 3.06 ERA as a senior this year, and was 27-9 with eight saves during his high school career. Nuncio was named the No. 75 High School Prospect by Baseball America in October 2008, and signed with Texas.
40-1195 Brett Lee (West Florida HS, Pensacola, Fla.) 18, 6-4, 185, LHP: His fastball tops out at 90 mph. He also throws a very good curveball and an effective changeup. Posted a 5-4 record in 60-2/3 innings during his senior season, and his ERA was under two during both his sophomore and junior years. He signed with Florida State.
41-1225 Tyler Cannon (Virginia) 21, 6-0, 205, S/R, SS: The junior's batting line: .362, 49 R, 18 2B, 34 RBI, .500 SLG, .458 OBP, 17 SB. He started as a freshman, and this is his first season switch-hitting. He's also played third.
42-1255 Marc Baca (UNLV) 22, 5-11, 170, RHP: Baca is a senior reliever. He was 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA, and must be a pitch to contact guy; he struck out 22 in 33-1/3 innings.
43-1285 Teddy Fallon (South Carolina-Upstate) 22, 6-2, 190, RHP: He's a senior closer with some control issues. Fallon was 2-0-1 with a 9.26 ERA in 34 innings; he struck out 38 - and walked 41.
44-1315 Dexter Bobo (Georgia Southern) 21, 5-11, 190, LHP: The junior was switched from starter to the pen this season. He was 2-2 with a 6.55 ERA and 32 K in 34-1/3 frames.
45-1345 Kevin Gelinas (Central Arizona JC) 20, 6-5, LHP: The soph starter was 7-7 with a 1.68 ERA. He struck out 79 batters in 53-2/3 innings of work; he's considered to have one of the top power arms in the juco ranks.
46-1375 Parker Bangs (South Carolina) 21, 6-2, 190, RHP: The soph served as a two-way player this season and hit .328 (39-for-119) in 40 games with five HR and 36 RBI, mostly as a DH. He also made 15 appearances on the mound and was 3-2 with a 5.88 ERA and struck out 39 batters in 33.2 innings pitched.
47-1405 Justin Earls (Georgia) 21, 6-2, 190, LHP: The junior reliever had an 0-1 record with a 7.31 ERA.
48-1415 Blake Brown (Normal West HS, Oka.) 6-0, 185, R/R, LF: Brown is batting .446 with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs and 19 stolen bases and a ,565 OBP. He has good speed and a strong throwing arm, good enough that he was 3-0 as a pitcher. Blake has good fundamentals and command of the strike zone. An excellent student (4.13 GPA), he signed with Missouri.
49-1445 Yasser Clor (UC-Berkeley) 21, 6-4, 195, RHP: The reliever throws in the high 80s to low 90s with a curveball, slider and change-up. The junior was 3-0 with 7.71 ERA. Cor was drafted straight out of high school in the 15th round by the White Sox in 2006. Curious about the name? He was born in Baghdad, Iraq.
50-1495 Matt Taylor (Columbus HS, Ga.) 18, 6-1, 190, LHP: Committed to Alabama. Taylor (13-1, 0.93 ERA) favors his fastball, but throws four pitches. He also plays center and hits OK, too, batting .430 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs.
31-925 Zachary Taylor (Statesboro HS, Ga.) 18, 6-3, 210, L/L, RF: Taylor hit .448 with nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 13 RBIs, 26 runs, and 12 steals. He signed with Georgia.
32-955 Niko Spezial (Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.) 19, 6-3, 230, LHP: He was 8-0 with a 0.67 ERA in 54 innings. Spezial works both sides of the plate and his fastball showed some life at 87 MPH. He also threw a curveball and a change up with sink. Signed with Wake Forest.
33-985 Pat Irvine (Elon) 23, 5-11, 190, L/R, LF: He has a big bat, breaking out this past season by hitting .402 with a .782 slugging percentage and .533 OBP. Irvine had 17 home runs, 57 RBI, and 68 runs scored.
34-1015 Zach Fuesser (Walters State CC, Tenn.) 18, 6-2, 190, LHP: Fuesser went 5-2 with four saves and a 4.35 ERA in 19 games, striking out 60 batters in his 49-2/3 innings of work. Mostly used from the pen, he also made four spot starts. He was drafted last year by the Atlanta Braves in the 19th round.
35-1045 Chris McKenzie (San Jacinto JC, Texas) 19, 6-3, 195, RHP: A freshman, he went 4-3 with a 5.90 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 50-1/3 innings
36-1075 Robert Doran (Seward County CC, Texas) 20,6-6, 225, RHP: Went 10-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 14 starts in 92-1/3 innings, striking out 81 batters. He had six complete games and a shutout. Doran's great uncle, Gene O'Brien, was a minor league teammate of Yogi Berra when both played for the Norfolk Tars in 1943.
37-1105 Zach Nuding (Weatherford JC, Texas) 19, 6-4, 250, RHP: A reliever, he had two wins and five saves in 15 appearances.
38-1135 Jake Lamb (Bishop Blancet HS, Seattle, Wash.) 19, 6-3, 195, L/R, 3B: Some upside offensively with a strong lefthanded swing. Good arm strength. Will probably move off the middle infield at the next level; he's too big and too slow. Some scouts wonder if he can catch. Signed with Washington.
39-1165 Keifer Nuncio (Katy HS, Texas) 18, 6-0, 195, RHP: He pitches in the high 80s, low 90s with a very good breaking ball. Went 7-2 with a 3.06 ERA as a senior this year, and was 27-9 with eight saves during his high school career. Nuncio was named the No. 75 High School Prospect by Baseball America in October 2008, and signed with Texas.
40-1195 Brett Lee (West Florida HS, Pensacola, Fla.) 18, 6-4, 185, LHP: His fastball tops out at 90 mph. He also throws a very good curveball and an effective changeup. Posted a 5-4 record in 60-2/3 innings during his senior season, and his ERA was under two during both his sophomore and junior years. He signed with Florida State.
41-1225 Tyler Cannon (Virginia) 21, 6-0, 205, S/R, SS: The junior's batting line: .362, 49 R, 18 2B, 34 RBI, .500 SLG, .458 OBP, 17 SB. He started as a freshman, and this is his first season switch-hitting. He's also played third.
42-1255 Marc Baca (UNLV) 22, 5-11, 170, RHP: Baca is a senior reliever. He was 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA, and must be a pitch to contact guy; he struck out 22 in 33-1/3 innings.
43-1285 Teddy Fallon (South Carolina-Upstate) 22, 6-2, 190, RHP: He's a senior closer with some control issues. Fallon was 2-0-1 with a 9.26 ERA in 34 innings; he struck out 38 - and walked 41.
44-1315 Dexter Bobo (Georgia Southern) 21, 5-11, 190, LHP: The junior was switched from starter to the pen this season. He was 2-2 with a 6.55 ERA and 32 K in 34-1/3 frames.
45-1345 Kevin Gelinas (Central Arizona JC) 20, 6-5, LHP: The soph starter was 7-7 with a 1.68 ERA. He struck out 79 batters in 53-2/3 innings of work; he's considered to have one of the top power arms in the juco ranks.
46-1375 Parker Bangs (South Carolina) 21, 6-2, 190, RHP: The soph served as a two-way player this season and hit .328 (39-for-119) in 40 games with five HR and 36 RBI, mostly as a DH. He also made 15 appearances on the mound and was 3-2 with a 5.88 ERA and struck out 39 batters in 33.2 innings pitched.
47-1405 Justin Earls (Georgia) 21, 6-2, 190, LHP: The junior reliever had an 0-1 record with a 7.31 ERA.
48-1415 Blake Brown (Normal West HS, Oka.) 6-0, 185, R/R, LF: Brown is batting .446 with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs and 19 stolen bases and a ,565 OBP. He has good speed and a strong throwing arm, good enough that he was 3-0 as a pitcher. Blake has good fundamentals and command of the strike zone. An excellent student (4.13 GPA), he signed with Missouri.
49-1445 Yasser Clor (UC-Berkeley) 21, 6-4, 195, RHP: The reliever throws in the high 80s to low 90s with a curveball, slider and change-up. The junior was 3-0 with 7.71 ERA. Cor was drafted straight out of high school in the 15th round by the White Sox in 2006. Curious about the name? He was born in Baghdad, Iraq.
50-1495 Matt Taylor (Columbus HS, Ga.) 18, 6-1, 190, LHP: Committed to Alabama. Taylor (13-1, 0.93 ERA) favors his fastball, but throws four pitches. He also plays center and hits OK, too, batting .430 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs.
Now That Was A Duel
Hey, Paul Maholm and Javier Vazquez showed how it's done. Maholm went seven innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits with eight Ks.
Meanwhile, Vazquez started out striking out the side in the first, and kept rolling, punching out a dozen in his eight innings of two-hit work.
The Braves scores first with two outs in the fourth, on a Jack Splat boot, stolen base, and single. Delwyn Young tied it the next set of at-bats when he hit his first dinger of the year. And so it remained until the ninth.
Andrew McCutchen led off with a single, reached second on Nyjer Morgan's bunt, and took third on Freddy Sanchez's grounder. Adam LaRoche was intentionally walked and took second without a throw (no, not another stolen sack for the suddenly git-up-and-go LaRoche; it was ruled defensive indifference. The Atlanta scorer gives him no love).
Lil' bro Andy fought Rafael Soriano to a full count, then lunged at the eighth pitch of his at-bat and singled up the middle past shortstop Yunel Escobar to plate the pair. Unless we're mistaken, Soriano has pitched every game this series. Bobby Cox must have a lot of confidence in him, but the hidden vigorish caught up to him today.
Steve Jackson pitched a one-hit eighth to get the win, and Matt Capps put the Braves away 1-2-3 in the ninth, striking out the last hitter. It was kinda fitting in a game pitched as well as this one that the first and last batter of the game were whiffed.
The Pirates are headed home to take on Jimmy Leland's Tigers. MLB.com has the pitching match-ups here.
-- Young's HR was the first for Pittsburgh in 323 plate appearances, dating back to Jason Jaramillo's blast against the Mets nine days ago.
-- RHP Charlie Morton, who lasted only one inning yesterday, still felt minor discomfort with his hammy today. He hopes to make his scheduled start Tuesday at Minnesota.
-- A little late, but Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote this in his "Rumblings and Grumblings" column about the Nate the Great deal:
Meanwhile, Vazquez started out striking out the side in the first, and kept rolling, punching out a dozen in his eight innings of two-hit work.
The Braves scores first with two outs in the fourth, on a Jack Splat boot, stolen base, and single. Delwyn Young tied it the next set of at-bats when he hit his first dinger of the year. And so it remained until the ninth.
Andrew McCutchen led off with a single, reached second on Nyjer Morgan's bunt, and took third on Freddy Sanchez's grounder. Adam LaRoche was intentionally walked and took second without a throw (no, not another stolen sack for the suddenly git-up-and-go LaRoche; it was ruled defensive indifference. The Atlanta scorer gives him no love).
Lil' bro Andy fought Rafael Soriano to a full count, then lunged at the eighth pitch of his at-bat and singled up the middle past shortstop Yunel Escobar to plate the pair. Unless we're mistaken, Soriano has pitched every game this series. Bobby Cox must have a lot of confidence in him, but the hidden vigorish caught up to him today.
Steve Jackson pitched a one-hit eighth to get the win, and Matt Capps put the Braves away 1-2-3 in the ninth, striking out the last hitter. It was kinda fitting in a game pitched as well as this one that the first and last batter of the game were whiffed.
The Pirates are headed home to take on Jimmy Leland's Tigers. MLB.com has the pitching match-ups here.
-- Young's HR was the first for Pittsburgh in 323 plate appearances, dating back to Jason Jaramillo's blast against the Mets nine days ago.
-- RHP Charlie Morton, who lasted only one inning yesterday, still felt minor discomfort with his hammy today. He hopes to make his scheduled start Tuesday at Minnesota.
-- A little late, but Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote this in his "Rumblings and Grumblings" column about the Nate the Great deal:
We've heard mixed reviews around baseball on the package the Pirates got back for Nate McLouth. But one scout who has seen a lot of all three players thinks all three could be stars.-- Keith Law of ESPN.com said this about the Buc's second day draft haul:
"I really like [left-hander Jeff] Locke," he said. "To me, he has a chance to be Jon Lester. And if [right-hander Charlie] Morton just throws strike one, he'll win 15-16 games a year, if not more. And one thing no one can dispute is that [outfielder] Gorkys Hernandez has five tools. Those tools still need a lot of work. But he can be a top-of-the-order guy who can give you power and produce runs. And he can run and throw and play some kind of center field. So to me, that was a deal where both teams got what they wanted and needed."
The idea of adding young arms who fell due to signability reasons is a sound one, and they added four good ones, two from my top 100 in Jordan Cooper and Zach Von Rosenburg and two who would have ranked in the next 50 or so players in Colton Cain and Trent Stevenson. Stevenson and Cooper both looked like top-two-round picks last summer, but neither had a good spring, with Stephenson losing a little velocity and Cooper pitching very inconsistently until late in the season. If the Pirates sign three of those four kids, it's a great draft, and if they sign two, it's still a good one.-- Man, the Pirates went young this year. In all, 21 out of the 51 players selected are either from high school or a prep school. Fourteen out of those 21 are pitchers. They'll have to add Clearasil to the trainer's bag.
The Gorkys Hernandez File
Name: Hector Gorkys Gustavo Hernandez, Jr.
Born: September 7, 1987 (Güiria, Sucre, Venezuela)
Height: 6-0; Weight: 175; Bats: R; Throws: R
Drafted: Signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers (2005)
Strengths: Hernandez was one of the best athletes in the Atlanta system. At the plate he displays solid gap-to-gap power and could hit 30-40 doubles annually at the Major League level; he also has well-above-average speed that allows his to steal bases at an 83% clip and generally cause havoc when he's on base.
He told Jay LeBlanc of the Washington Post where he wants to bat: "Leadoff, like Reyes, the shortstop of the Mets. I want to do the same things - bunt, get on base and run."
Defensively Hernandez covers tons of ground in center, gets solid jumps and has a strong arm.
Weaknesses: He must continue to improve his plate discipline as he strikes out too often and doesn't walk enough for a player that profiles as a leadoff hitter. He does have solid power; but it's doubtful that he'll ever hit more than 10 home runs a season at the MLB level, and he'll have to raise that .348 OBP if he's going to be a leadoff guy.
Another potential problem: after stealing bases at an 85% rate in the minors, he's 20-of-30 in AA, and that's not good enough.
One problem he couldn't help was falling behind uber prospect Jordan Schafer in the Atlanta pecking order, and becoming trade bait for Nate the Great.
Projection: Hernandez, 21, is the most highly regarded Brave and centerpiece of the McLouth deal. He's drawn comparisons to former Pirates and Cleveland Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton because of his speed and gap power from the leadoff spot. (Of course, he's also been compared to Nyjer Morgan, so...)
Hernandez is also considered an outstanding defender with great range and a strong arm. His estimated MLB arrival looks to be late 2010, more likely 2011. Our guess is that the OF of 2011, in the suits' mind, is Andrew McCutchen in left, Hernandez in center, and Jose Tabata in right, as things sit now.
Prospect Rankings (Baseball America)
2007 - #07 DET
2008 - #92 MLB
2008 - #05 ATL
2009 - #62 MLB
2009 - #04 ATL
Other 2009 rankings: Baseball Prospectus (#78), ESPN (#88), and ScoutingBook (#94)
Awards: Played in the Futures Game and was named Baseball America's "Fastest Runner" in the Brave system (2008); Named to the Futures Game, Midwest League mid and post season All-Star teams, and Midwest MVP (2007); GCL All-Star, leading the GCL with a .327 batting average (2006).
Bio: Detroit signed Hernandez as a free agent from Venezuela in 2005, then shipped him to the Braves as part of the 2008 trade that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to Detroit for Jair Jurrjens.
He made his professional debut in 2006 with the Rookie League GCL Tigers and earned All-Star honors after hitting .327 with five home runs, 24 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 50 games.
The Venezuelan followed that up by hitting .293 with four home runs, 50 RBI and 54 stolen bases in 2007 with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps. He was a Midwest League Mid-season All-Star and played in the Futures Game, and went on to capture league MVP and Post-Season All-Star honors.
While missing a month with a hamstring injury, Hernandez had a down year at High A Myrtle Beach, hitting .264 with a .348 OBP. But he showed enough to be selected to play in his second consecutive Futures Game.
He's at Altoona now, after starting the season off with AA Mississippi. Hernandez is hitting a combined .303, with a .348 OBP (yah, he seems kinda stuck on that number; it's also his minor league career OBP, too).
Jose Tabata is about ready to join the Curve after rehabbing a pulled hammy. We're looking forward to the watching he and Hernandez develop together; they should be on the same track to PNC.
Born: September 7, 1987 (Güiria, Sucre, Venezuela)
Height: 6-0; Weight: 175; Bats: R; Throws: R
Drafted: Signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers (2005)
Strengths: Hernandez was one of the best athletes in the Atlanta system. At the plate he displays solid gap-to-gap power and could hit 30-40 doubles annually at the Major League level; he also has well-above-average speed that allows his to steal bases at an 83% clip and generally cause havoc when he's on base.
He told Jay LeBlanc of the Washington Post where he wants to bat: "Leadoff, like Reyes, the shortstop of the Mets. I want to do the same things - bunt, get on base and run."
Defensively Hernandez covers tons of ground in center, gets solid jumps and has a strong arm.
Weaknesses: He must continue to improve his plate discipline as he strikes out too often and doesn't walk enough for a player that profiles as a leadoff hitter. He does have solid power; but it's doubtful that he'll ever hit more than 10 home runs a season at the MLB level, and he'll have to raise that .348 OBP if he's going to be a leadoff guy.
Another potential problem: after stealing bases at an 85% rate in the minors, he's 20-of-30 in AA, and that's not good enough.
One problem he couldn't help was falling behind uber prospect Jordan Schafer in the Atlanta pecking order, and becoming trade bait for Nate the Great.
Projection: Hernandez, 21, is the most highly regarded Brave and centerpiece of the McLouth deal. He's drawn comparisons to former Pirates and Cleveland Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton because of his speed and gap power from the leadoff spot. (Of course, he's also been compared to Nyjer Morgan, so...)
Hernandez is also considered an outstanding defender with great range and a strong arm. His estimated MLB arrival looks to be late 2010, more likely 2011. Our guess is that the OF of 2011, in the suits' mind, is Andrew McCutchen in left, Hernandez in center, and Jose Tabata in right, as things sit now.
Prospect Rankings (Baseball America)
2007 - #07 DET
2008 - #92 MLB
2008 - #05 ATL
2009 - #62 MLB
2009 - #04 ATL
Other 2009 rankings: Baseball Prospectus (#78), ESPN (#88), and ScoutingBook (#94)
Awards: Played in the Futures Game and was named Baseball America's "Fastest Runner" in the Brave system (2008); Named to the Futures Game, Midwest League mid and post season All-Star teams, and Midwest MVP (2007); GCL All-Star, leading the GCL with a .327 batting average (2006).
Bio: Detroit signed Hernandez as a free agent from Venezuela in 2005, then shipped him to the Braves as part of the 2008 trade that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to Detroit for Jair Jurrjens.
He made his professional debut in 2006 with the Rookie League GCL Tigers and earned All-Star honors after hitting .327 with five home runs, 24 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 50 games.
The Venezuelan followed that up by hitting .293 with four home runs, 50 RBI and 54 stolen bases in 2007 with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps. He was a Midwest League Mid-season All-Star and played in the Futures Game, and went on to capture league MVP and Post-Season All-Star honors.
While missing a month with a hamstring injury, Hernandez had a down year at High A Myrtle Beach, hitting .264 with a .348 OBP. But he showed enough to be selected to play in his second consecutive Futures Game.
He's at Altoona now, after starting the season off with AA Mississippi. Hernandez is hitting a combined .303, with a .348 OBP (yah, he seems kinda stuck on that number; it's also his minor league career OBP, too).
Jose Tabata is about ready to join the Curve after rehabbing a pulled hammy. We're looking forward to the watching he and Hernandez develop together; they should be on the same track to PNC.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bench Comes Through
Hey, if you ever need the recipe for making chicken salad out of chicken feathers, just call Jeff Karstens.
Replaced in the rotation by Charlie Morton and relegated to the bullpen, what sweet irony to replace Morton an inning into his Pirate career and come away with the win.
The same can be said for Craig Monroe. He might be the sixth outfielder now that Delwyn Young is getting his at-bats in right field. But he came on and scored what proved to be the winning run on a pure hustle play, scoring from second on an infield single and making a couple of nifty grabs in the outfield.
Behind Karsten's sharp 4-2/3 innings of relief and Monroe's aggressive baserunning, the Bucs took a 3-2 win from the Braves.
The Pirates started the game the same way they ended it, by leaving the bases juiced without scoring. They only had six hits, but drew seven walks and stranded a dozen, going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
But in between, they scraped together enough offense in a well pitched, well played game to claim the victory. Karstens had a lot to do with that, giving up just four hits by using his heater more and curve less.
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And the Pirates, thanks to Karstens and Monroe, didn't have any weak links tonight.
-- Brandon Moss struck out twice, and with two runners on, was pinch-hit for by red hot Eric Hinske. Hinske struck out.
-- Monroe was thrown out last night with two outs trying to score from first on a double when the Braves put together a pair of on the money throws to nail him with ease. Once bitten, twice shy? Nah.
When Adam LaRoche rolled a two-out ball up the middle that second baseman Kelly Johnson flipped to Yunel Escobar trying for a force, Monroe never looked back on his scamper home. Escobar helped out, falling asleep for a second before he realized Monroe was going home, and his throw home was late and well up the line.
It was almost a carbon copy of the play that cost the Bucs Monday's game, when Freddy Sanchez flipped the ball the Jack Wilson, allowing the run to score.
-- Though there is no official word on Morton's injury, apparently his hammy was tight before the game and didn't loosen up when he pitched, so he was sat down as a precaution. Karstens was warming up during the first, so he was loose and ready. Maybe he's better off when he doesn't have four days to obsess over his next start.
-- Nyjer Morgan and Andrew McCutchen made a couple of nice running grabs, and made a couple others look easy. Speed is a beautiful and uncoachable thing.
-- Tyler Yates returned to Pittsburgh, where more tests will be run on his right elbow. Yates had to stop throwing on Tuesday after the pain in his elbow returned.
-- Jose Tabata returned to Altoona tonight after missing time with a right hamstring strain. He didn't last long; after two at-bats, he left the game with a hamstring cramp.
-- Old news, but we forgot to post it yesterday. Neil Walker, the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2004, will miss 3-5 weeks because of a dislocated pinky finger.
Replaced in the rotation by Charlie Morton and relegated to the bullpen, what sweet irony to replace Morton an inning into his Pirate career and come away with the win.
The same can be said for Craig Monroe. He might be the sixth outfielder now that Delwyn Young is getting his at-bats in right field. But he came on and scored what proved to be the winning run on a pure hustle play, scoring from second on an infield single and making a couple of nifty grabs in the outfield.
Behind Karsten's sharp 4-2/3 innings of relief and Monroe's aggressive baserunning, the Bucs took a 3-2 win from the Braves.
The Pirates started the game the same way they ended it, by leaving the bases juiced without scoring. They only had six hits, but drew seven walks and stranded a dozen, going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
But in between, they scraped together enough offense in a well pitched, well played game to claim the victory. Karstens had a lot to do with that, giving up just four hits by using his heater more and curve less.
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And the Pirates, thanks to Karstens and Monroe, didn't have any weak links tonight.
-- Brandon Moss struck out twice, and with two runners on, was pinch-hit for by red hot Eric Hinske. Hinske struck out.
-- Monroe was thrown out last night with two outs trying to score from first on a double when the Braves put together a pair of on the money throws to nail him with ease. Once bitten, twice shy? Nah.
When Adam LaRoche rolled a two-out ball up the middle that second baseman Kelly Johnson flipped to Yunel Escobar trying for a force, Monroe never looked back on his scamper home. Escobar helped out, falling asleep for a second before he realized Monroe was going home, and his throw home was late and well up the line.
It was almost a carbon copy of the play that cost the Bucs Monday's game, when Freddy Sanchez flipped the ball the Jack Wilson, allowing the run to score.
-- Though there is no official word on Morton's injury, apparently his hammy was tight before the game and didn't loosen up when he pitched, so he was sat down as a precaution. Karstens was warming up during the first, so he was loose and ready. Maybe he's better off when he doesn't have four days to obsess over his next start.
-- Nyjer Morgan and Andrew McCutchen made a couple of nice running grabs, and made a couple others look easy. Speed is a beautiful and uncoachable thing.
-- Tyler Yates returned to Pittsburgh, where more tests will be run on his right elbow. Yates had to stop throwing on Tuesday after the pain in his elbow returned.
-- Jose Tabata returned to Altoona tonight after missing time with a right hamstring strain. He didn't last long; after two at-bats, he left the game with a hamstring cramp.
-- Old news, but we forgot to post it yesterday. Neil Walker, the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2004, will miss 3-5 weeks because of a dislocated pinky finger.
The New Dawn, Day 2
And here come the rest of the pack...
04-115 Zackry Dodson (Medina Valley HS, Tex.) 6-1, 190, LHP: Signed with Baylor. He has a good heater in the 91-92 MPH, good curve, working on a changeup. His mechanics are still rough. He went 10-0 with a 1.20 ERA while striking out 129 batters in 64-1/3 innings pitched. He also hit .465 with 11 home runs. Said to want a million dollar contract, so has a good chance of staying with the Bears.
05-145 Nate Baker (Mississippi) 6-3, 205, LHP: The junior was used as a utility man for Ol' Miss, making spot starts and in the pen for a relief role during the weekend, when the conference games are played. Baker appeared in 20 games for the Rebels this season, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA.
06-175 Zack Von Rosenberg (Zachary HS, La.) 6-5, 205, RHP: Signed with LSU. He hits 88 MPH, and has good off-speed pitches including a slow curve and a changeup. Thought to be a late first or second rounder, he was rated as HS prospect #41 by Max Super Preps.
07-205 Trent Stevenson (Brophy Jesuit Prep, Ari.) 6-6, 174, RHP: Signed with Arizona. Stevenson’s fastball is at 93-94 MPHl. He also throws an upper-70s slurve and has a a good changeup.
08-235 Billy Cain (Waxahachie HS Tex.) 18, 6-3, 225, LHP: Signed with Texas, has 95 MPH heat and not much else at this point. Still, rated 41st by Baseball America among high school prospects.
09-265 Brock Holt (Rice) 21, 5-10, 165, L/R, 2B: Junior has outstanding defensive skills and is a good hitter with gap power and decent speed.
10-295 Joey Schoenfeld (Corona Santiago HS Cal.) 6-2, 187, R/R, C: Signed with Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. He hit .366/3/15; was expected to go higher in draft.
11-325 Aaron Baker (Oklahoma) 6-2, 232, L/R, 1B: The junior hit nine homers and drove in 22 runs in Big 12 play (15 home runs and 56 RBI overall in 2009). He has driven in 167 runs in his overall career, eighth all-time at Oklahoma, and the Bucs sure can use a productive stick.
12-355 Jeffrey Inman (Stanford ) 6-2, 185, RHP: 19th round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals out of high school, but instead elected to come to Stanford. Hardest thrower on the staff with a fastball in the low 90's that can top out at 95 MPH. Excellent control and also throws a curve ball and change-up.
13-385 Walker Gourley (Eastern Wayne HS, NC) 6-1, 180, R/R, SS: Signed with Eastern Carolina. He can play behind the plate as well as any infield position, doesn't project as pro middle infielder. His versatility, ability, and speed make him an interesting prospect.
14-415 Marcos Reyna (Bakersfield College) 6-2, 185, RHP: Threw a perfecto for Bakersfield. He's topped out at 93, touched 94, and has a good curveball. The freshman is just coming into his own; thought to have great upside.
15-445 Peter Bako (Connors State College) 6-1, 180, L/R, C:The Toronto native was a freshman and hit .382/3/25.
16-475 Matt Den Dekker (Florida) 6-1, 205, L/L, CF; His season stats - .296, 61 R, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .422 SLG, .420 OBP, 15-16 SB-ATT. Dekker is supposed to be quite toolsy; he even pitched for the Gators. He's a steal at this spot if the Bucs can tease his talent out of him; his sporadic bat is what dropped him to them. Dekker was rated among the top 50 position players available.
17-505 Jordan Cooper (Shelbyville Central HS, Ten.) 6-3, 195, RHP: Cooper struck out 80 in 48 innings as a high school senior while going 7-1 with a 1.47 ERA. Cooper features a low-to-mid 90s fastball. He was rated the #81 HS prospect by Baseball America, and signed with Kentucky.
18-535 Ryan Beckman (Grayson County CC, Tex.) 6-4, 180, RHP: He's a JC freshman and went to the same high school as current Pirate Andy LaRoche; that's about all GW could dig up.
19-565 Josh Urban (Dripping Springs HS Tex.) 6-5, RHP: A Texas recruit, Urban piled up the strikeouts, fanning 98 batters in 60 innings.
20-595 Sam Spangler (Hawaii) 6-2, 185, LHP: The sophomore was was 5-3 with four saves and a 4.17 ERA in 19 appearances in 2009. He had 48 strikeouts in 45-1/3 innings pitched.
21-625 Phillip Irwin (Mississippi) 6-3, 220, RHP: Junior went 8-3 with 3.84 ERA.
22-655 Carmine Giardina (Tampa) 21, 6-3, 215, LHP: Drafted by Boston in 2006 out of HS. Was 5-1, 6.15 ERA in college this year, with 54 K and 33 BB in 45-1/3 innings.
23-685 Jose Hernandez (Texas - San Antonio) 5-11, 190, R/L, LF: Hernandez batted .360 and led his team with 61 RBIs while slugging .739. He also showed power, as he notched 44 extra-base hits. He's a transfer from Long Beach. Senior plays the corner and has gap power.
24-715 Jason Erickson (Washington) 6-1, 195, RHP: Senior was 5-4 with 4.34 ERA; was Husky's top pitcher in 2008 until he broke his hand. He was a late draft pick of the Reds in 2005.
25-745 Aaron LaFountaine (John W. North HS, Riverside, Cal) 6-0, 150, L/L, CF: he's a burner, stole 25 bases and hit .388.
26-775 Matt Dermody (Norwalk HS, Ia.) 6-5, 190, LHP: He was 6-3 with a 0.78 earned-run average and 130 strikeouts last season. Signed with Iowa. Scouts feel he's very projectable. He touches 87 mph with a fast and loose arm; keeps the ball down and has a good change.
27-805 Wes Luquette (Isadore Newman HS, La.) 6-0, 200, C: Top QB, signed with LSU for baseball. Rifle arm, 4.6 forty, very athletic.
28-835 Kyle Hooper (Saugus HS, Cal.) 6-4, 195 RHP: Hooper was 10-5 in 66-1/3 innings, with 62 K and 25 BB.
29-865 Michael Heller (Cardinal Mooney HS, Fla.) 6-2, 180, RHP/1B: Heller hits between 91-94 miles per hour with his fastball. The slider and changeup are effective. He's also hit 11 HR and driven in over 50 RBI in his past two seasons. Heller is a Florida recruit.
30-895 Ty Summerlin (Southeastern Louisiana State) 22, 5-10, 170, L/R, SS: Hit .327/4/44 in 2009 after .342/8/60 in a monster 2008.
Hey, the suits did what they said they would. No super stars, but a lot of quality; certainly more than they're going to be able to afford even without a Pedro or Aaron Crow contract to carry.
Not many position players of note (though they did seem to corner the catcher market), but a lot of tantalizing arms. Now comes the fun part; seeing who they sign. Neal Huntington said 21 of the team's 30 selections have asked for more than six figures. Eight-to-ten million doesn't get ya what it used to.
04-115 Zackry Dodson (Medina Valley HS, Tex.) 6-1, 190, LHP: Signed with Baylor. He has a good heater in the 91-92 MPH, good curve, working on a changeup. His mechanics are still rough. He went 10-0 with a 1.20 ERA while striking out 129 batters in 64-1/3 innings pitched. He also hit .465 with 11 home runs. Said to want a million dollar contract, so has a good chance of staying with the Bears.
05-145 Nate Baker (Mississippi) 6-3, 205, LHP: The junior was used as a utility man for Ol' Miss, making spot starts and in the pen for a relief role during the weekend, when the conference games are played. Baker appeared in 20 games for the Rebels this season, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA.
06-175 Zack Von Rosenberg (Zachary HS, La.) 6-5, 205, RHP: Signed with LSU. He hits 88 MPH, and has good off-speed pitches including a slow curve and a changeup. Thought to be a late first or second rounder, he was rated as HS prospect #41 by Max Super Preps.
07-205 Trent Stevenson (Brophy Jesuit Prep, Ari.) 6-6, 174, RHP: Signed with Arizona. Stevenson’s fastball is at 93-94 MPHl. He also throws an upper-70s slurve and has a a good changeup.
08-235 Billy Cain (Waxahachie HS Tex.) 18, 6-3, 225, LHP: Signed with Texas, has 95 MPH heat and not much else at this point. Still, rated 41st by Baseball America among high school prospects.
09-265 Brock Holt (Rice) 21, 5-10, 165, L/R, 2B: Junior has outstanding defensive skills and is a good hitter with gap power and decent speed.
10-295 Joey Schoenfeld (Corona Santiago HS Cal.) 6-2, 187, R/R, C: Signed with Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. He hit .366/3/15; was expected to go higher in draft.
11-325 Aaron Baker (Oklahoma) 6-2, 232, L/R, 1B: The junior hit nine homers and drove in 22 runs in Big 12 play (15 home runs and 56 RBI overall in 2009). He has driven in 167 runs in his overall career, eighth all-time at Oklahoma, and the Bucs sure can use a productive stick.
12-355 Jeffrey Inman (Stanford ) 6-2, 185, RHP: 19th round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals out of high school, but instead elected to come to Stanford. Hardest thrower on the staff with a fastball in the low 90's that can top out at 95 MPH. Excellent control and also throws a curve ball and change-up.
13-385 Walker Gourley (Eastern Wayne HS, NC) 6-1, 180, R/R, SS: Signed with Eastern Carolina. He can play behind the plate as well as any infield position, doesn't project as pro middle infielder. His versatility, ability, and speed make him an interesting prospect.
14-415 Marcos Reyna (Bakersfield College) 6-2, 185, RHP: Threw a perfecto for Bakersfield. He's topped out at 93, touched 94, and has a good curveball. The freshman is just coming into his own; thought to have great upside.
15-445 Peter Bako (Connors State College) 6-1, 180, L/R, C:The Toronto native was a freshman and hit .382/3/25.
16-475 Matt Den Dekker (Florida) 6-1, 205, L/L, CF; His season stats - .296, 61 R, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .422 SLG, .420 OBP, 15-16 SB-ATT. Dekker is supposed to be quite toolsy; he even pitched for the Gators. He's a steal at this spot if the Bucs can tease his talent out of him; his sporadic bat is what dropped him to them. Dekker was rated among the top 50 position players available.
17-505 Jordan Cooper (Shelbyville Central HS, Ten.) 6-3, 195, RHP: Cooper struck out 80 in 48 innings as a high school senior while going 7-1 with a 1.47 ERA. Cooper features a low-to-mid 90s fastball. He was rated the #81 HS prospect by Baseball America, and signed with Kentucky.
18-535 Ryan Beckman (Grayson County CC, Tex.) 6-4, 180, RHP: He's a JC freshman and went to the same high school as current Pirate Andy LaRoche; that's about all GW could dig up.
19-565 Josh Urban (Dripping Springs HS Tex.) 6-5, RHP: A Texas recruit, Urban piled up the strikeouts, fanning 98 batters in 60 innings.
20-595 Sam Spangler (Hawaii) 6-2, 185, LHP: The sophomore was was 5-3 with four saves and a 4.17 ERA in 19 appearances in 2009. He had 48 strikeouts in 45-1/3 innings pitched.
21-625 Phillip Irwin (Mississippi) 6-3, 220, RHP: Junior went 8-3 with 3.84 ERA.
22-655 Carmine Giardina (Tampa) 21, 6-3, 215, LHP: Drafted by Boston in 2006 out of HS. Was 5-1, 6.15 ERA in college this year, with 54 K and 33 BB in 45-1/3 innings.
23-685 Jose Hernandez (Texas - San Antonio) 5-11, 190, R/L, LF: Hernandez batted .360 and led his team with 61 RBIs while slugging .739. He also showed power, as he notched 44 extra-base hits. He's a transfer from Long Beach. Senior plays the corner and has gap power.
24-715 Jason Erickson (Washington) 6-1, 195, RHP: Senior was 5-4 with 4.34 ERA; was Husky's top pitcher in 2008 until he broke his hand. He was a late draft pick of the Reds in 2005.
25-745 Aaron LaFountaine (John W. North HS, Riverside, Cal) 6-0, 150, L/L, CF: he's a burner, stole 25 bases and hit .388.
26-775 Matt Dermody (Norwalk HS, Ia.) 6-5, 190, LHP: He was 6-3 with a 0.78 earned-run average and 130 strikeouts last season. Signed with Iowa. Scouts feel he's very projectable. He touches 87 mph with a fast and loose arm; keeps the ball down and has a good change.
27-805 Wes Luquette (Isadore Newman HS, La.) 6-0, 200, C: Top QB, signed with LSU for baseball. Rifle arm, 4.6 forty, very athletic.
28-835 Kyle Hooper (Saugus HS, Cal.) 6-4, 195 RHP: Hooper was 10-5 in 66-1/3 innings, with 62 K and 25 BB.
29-865 Michael Heller (Cardinal Mooney HS, Fla.) 6-2, 180, RHP/1B: Heller hits between 91-94 miles per hour with his fastball. The slider and changeup are effective. He's also hit 11 HR and driven in over 50 RBI in his past two seasons. Heller is a Florida recruit.
30-895 Ty Summerlin (Southeastern Louisiana State) 22, 5-10, 170, L/R, SS: Hit .327/4/44 in 2009 after .342/8/60 in a monster 2008.
Hey, the suits did what they said they would. No super stars, but a lot of quality; certainly more than they're going to be able to afford even without a Pedro or Aaron Crow contract to carry.
Not many position players of note (though they did seem to corner the catcher market), but a lot of tantalizing arms. Now comes the fun part; seeing who they sign. Neal Huntington said 21 of the team's 30 selections have asked for more than six figures. Eight-to-ten million doesn't get ya what it used to.
The Charlie Morton File
Name: Charles Morton
Height: 6'5"; Weight: 218 pounds; Bats: R; Throws; R
Born: Nov. 12, 1983 (Flemington, N.J.)
High School: Joel Barlow HS (Redding, Conn.)
Strengths: Fastball that touches 96-97 and a twelve-to-six curve, along with an average to above-average power slider and so-so change. It's said that he's finally developed confidence and an aggressive attitude towards pitching, and that's keyed his turn-around. The light seemed to go on in the Arizona Fall league in 2007.
Weakness: Morton has always been one of the biggest enigmas in the Braves’ farm system. Blessed with outstanding stuff, Morton was never able to put up a consistent season. He struggled with the mental side of the game, and never developed much confidence in himself.
Morton struggled in limited time at the Major League level with Atlanta last season, showing only flashes of dominant stuff on the mound.
Another problem was physical; he had right back inflammation and pains that no one could quite identify. He was given cortisone and rest as a treatment. The Braves docs said it was nothing structural, and put him on an off-season exercise program to strengthen the area.
Whether that was the result of overwork or something that's always looming isn't really known; it doesn't seem to bother him this year. But we'd rather they could put a name to the injury. Morton also lost 25 pounds during the 2008 season. Pain? Pressure? Bad grits? But again, he seems strong this season.
Projection: Morton has good velocity, and a plus curve and slider. He's got AAA figured out, with a 2.05 ERA in 2008 and a 2.27 ERA so far this year. If he is just a late bloomer that finally saw the light, he has the potential to be a #3 or #4 pitcher in the show.
But there is that rough intro to the bigs last year hanging over him. If he stays confident and aggressive, he'll find the Pittsburgh staff much easier to crack than Atlanta's. If not, hey, he's got to be better than JVB.
Bio: Morton, 25, was the Braves' third-round draft pick (95th overall) in 2002 from Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn. It was a pretty good draft for the Braves; it included Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, and Chuck James.
Morton began his professional career for the GCL Braves in 2002 at the age of 18, starting five games in eleven appearances. He was 1-7 with a 4.54 ERA and showed absolutely no control, walking almost seven guys per nine innings.
The suits moved him up to short-season Danville in 2003. Appearing in 14 games, starting 13, he posted a 2-5 record with an 4.67 ERA. His BB/9 came down to 4.17 and his K/9 went up to 7.67.
He spent the next two years at Class A Rome. In the first year, he was 7-9, with a 4.82 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 5.20 BB/9, and 7.80 K/9. In the second season, his peripherals were better, but had a 5-9 record with a 5.20 ERA. He was starting to take on the odor of a career minor-leaguer.
Still, he went on High A Myrtle Beach in 2006. Same ol', same ol', except worse. His walks and WHIP went up, strike-outs down, and he posted a 6-7 slate with a 5.40 ERA.
But the Braves apparently saw something they liked and moved him up another level to AA Mississippi in 2007. And the light finally went on. He started off awfully, but every month his line got better. Morton finished the year at 6-9 with a 4.29 ERA, and got a chance to play in Arizona during the winter break.
Playing for the Peoria Javelinas, he started five games and went 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA. The Braves put Morton on the 40-man roster after he threw a five-inning no-hitter in front of GM Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox. He said that he was finally believing in his pitches. It showed.
Morton was sent to AAA Richmond after a strong camp, and posted a 2.05 ERA with a 5-2 record. He then got the call to an injury-ridden Atlanta. That wasn't exactly an epiphany, as he tried to pitch through a balky back and finished up 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA in 16 games, appearing just once in relief in the last few weeks of the year.
Now he's off to the best start of his eight year career. Morton was 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts for Class AAA Gwinnett, then pitched seven shutout innings in his debut with Indy.
Neal Huntington assured us he'll be up soon, and some observers think he's already better than half the current Pirate rotation. And hey, Huntington was true to his word; Karstens was moved to the pen and Morton is on the 25-man, in the rotation, and starting tonight.
The question remains: is Charlie Morton the perfect example of patience paying off when dealing with a high school kid that jumped straight into professional ball, or is he a AAAA pitcher? We'll find out soon enough.
Height: 6'5"; Weight: 218 pounds; Bats: R; Throws; R
Born: Nov. 12, 1983 (Flemington, N.J.)
High School: Joel Barlow HS (Redding, Conn.)
Strengths: Fastball that touches 96-97 and a twelve-to-six curve, along with an average to above-average power slider and so-so change. It's said that he's finally developed confidence and an aggressive attitude towards pitching, and that's keyed his turn-around. The light seemed to go on in the Arizona Fall league in 2007.
Weakness: Morton has always been one of the biggest enigmas in the Braves’ farm system. Blessed with outstanding stuff, Morton was never able to put up a consistent season. He struggled with the mental side of the game, and never developed much confidence in himself.
Morton struggled in limited time at the Major League level with Atlanta last season, showing only flashes of dominant stuff on the mound.
Another problem was physical; he had right back inflammation and pains that no one could quite identify. He was given cortisone and rest as a treatment. The Braves docs said it was nothing structural, and put him on an off-season exercise program to strengthen the area.
Whether that was the result of overwork or something that's always looming isn't really known; it doesn't seem to bother him this year. But we'd rather they could put a name to the injury. Morton also lost 25 pounds during the 2008 season. Pain? Pressure? Bad grits? But again, he seems strong this season.
Projection: Morton has good velocity, and a plus curve and slider. He's got AAA figured out, with a 2.05 ERA in 2008 and a 2.27 ERA so far this year. If he is just a late bloomer that finally saw the light, he has the potential to be a #3 or #4 pitcher in the show.
But there is that rough intro to the bigs last year hanging over him. If he stays confident and aggressive, he'll find the Pittsburgh staff much easier to crack than Atlanta's. If not, hey, he's got to be better than JVB.
Bio: Morton, 25, was the Braves' third-round draft pick (95th overall) in 2002 from Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn. It was a pretty good draft for the Braves; it included Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, and Chuck James.
Morton began his professional career for the GCL Braves in 2002 at the age of 18, starting five games in eleven appearances. He was 1-7 with a 4.54 ERA and showed absolutely no control, walking almost seven guys per nine innings.
The suits moved him up to short-season Danville in 2003. Appearing in 14 games, starting 13, he posted a 2-5 record with an 4.67 ERA. His BB/9 came down to 4.17 and his K/9 went up to 7.67.
He spent the next two years at Class A Rome. In the first year, he was 7-9, with a 4.82 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 5.20 BB/9, and 7.80 K/9. In the second season, his peripherals were better, but had a 5-9 record with a 5.20 ERA. He was starting to take on the odor of a career minor-leaguer.
Still, he went on High A Myrtle Beach in 2006. Same ol', same ol', except worse. His walks and WHIP went up, strike-outs down, and he posted a 6-7 slate with a 5.40 ERA.
But the Braves apparently saw something they liked and moved him up another level to AA Mississippi in 2007. And the light finally went on. He started off awfully, but every month his line got better. Morton finished the year at 6-9 with a 4.29 ERA, and got a chance to play in Arizona during the winter break.
Playing for the Peoria Javelinas, he started five games and went 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA. The Braves put Morton on the 40-man roster after he threw a five-inning no-hitter in front of GM Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox. He said that he was finally believing in his pitches. It showed.
Morton was sent to AAA Richmond after a strong camp, and posted a 2.05 ERA with a 5-2 record. He then got the call to an injury-ridden Atlanta. That wasn't exactly an epiphany, as he tried to pitch through a balky back and finished up 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA in 16 games, appearing just once in relief in the last few weeks of the year.
Now he's off to the best start of his eight year career. Morton was 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts for Class AAA Gwinnett, then pitched seven shutout innings in his debut with Indy.
Neal Huntington assured us he'll be up soon, and some observers think he's already better than half the current Pirate rotation. And hey, Huntington was true to his word; Karstens was moved to the pen and Morton is on the 25-man, in the rotation, and starting tonight.
The question remains: is Charlie Morton the perfect example of patience paying off when dealing with a high school kid that jumped straight into professional ball, or is he a AAAA pitcher? We'll find out soon enough.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Take It, I Don't Want It...
After playing 15 innings of fundementally sound baseball in last night's loss, the Bucs turned the tables and gave the Braves a 4-3 win tonight.
First, JR decided to sit Freddy Sanchez. Why tonight is the question, when the perfect opportunity was fast approaching with a night game followed by day game the next two outings. It cost him.
Maybe he wanted Delwyn Young to get a start; maybe the computer kicked out some match-up he liked; maybe he really thought Sanchez needed a blow; who knows?
The Big O had one of his better showings, throwing inside and generally keeping the ball down. He gave up a two-out run in the third when Young made a diving stop of a grounder, got up - and threw home instead of first, where the lumbering Chipper Jones would have been an easy inning-ending out.
It was Jack Splat's turn in the sixth, when he let a leadoff grounder play him and deflect off his glove. That runner eventually scored.
In the seventh, Young didn't cover first on a sac bunt - a sac bunt! - and guess what runner came home as the winning run.
Not that the bats picked it up. They had all their runs in the column by the fourth; like last night, they snoozed over the final five frames. They didn't leave as many runners, but still went just 1-for-6 with guys in scoring position.
That's two games that they've let get away; they have to pick up their heads and start playing solid ball before the season gets away, too.
-- Jen Langosch of MLB.com reports that:
First, JR decided to sit Freddy Sanchez. Why tonight is the question, when the perfect opportunity was fast approaching with a night game followed by day game the next two outings. It cost him.
Maybe he wanted Delwyn Young to get a start; maybe the computer kicked out some match-up he liked; maybe he really thought Sanchez needed a blow; who knows?
The Big O had one of his better showings, throwing inside and generally keeping the ball down. He gave up a two-out run in the third when Young made a diving stop of a grounder, got up - and threw home instead of first, where the lumbering Chipper Jones would have been an easy inning-ending out.
It was Jack Splat's turn in the sixth, when he let a leadoff grounder play him and deflect off his glove. That runner eventually scored.
In the seventh, Young didn't cover first on a sac bunt - a sac bunt! - and guess what runner came home as the winning run.
Not that the bats picked it up. They had all their runs in the column by the fourth; like last night, they snoozed over the final five frames. They didn't leave as many runners, but still went just 1-for-6 with guys in scoring position.
That's two games that they've let get away; they have to pick up their heads and start playing solid ball before the season gets away, too.
-- Jen Langosch of MLB.com reports that:
(Charlie) Morton will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday to take (Jeff) Karstens' spot in the rotation. The fact that Karstens was needed in relief during Monday's 15-inning affair could be playing a role in this decision. But it's no secret that the Pirates were already looking for a way to get Morton into the big league mix.-- Tyler Yates has been shut down again; he was a side session away from rehabbing in the minors.
Pittsburgh is expected to send left-hander Tom Gorzelanny back to Indianapolis, where he can re-enter the Indians' rotation. Karstens would then provide the Pirates with a long-inning option out of the bullpen.
Black , Pounders, Chambers Join Bucs
The Bucs took Victor Black, 6-4, 205 pound junior RHP from Dallas Baptist University, in the supplemental round. He can hit 95 MPH and has a good slider, with a work-in-progress changeup. Black was 6-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 88-2/3 innings, with 99 strike-outs and 40 walks. He faced better competition than you’d think with Dallas Baptist, as he often pitched mid-week against Big 12 competition.
He's made a big jump this year; he had control issues as the first two years and is a project of sorts. Black, 21, didn't pitch until he was a high school senior, so he still has room to improve and some upside, although some think he may end up in the bullpen. He was drafted out of high school by the Mets, and was expected to go in the supplemental - second round range.
In the second round, they took 6-5, 240 pound RHP Brooks Pounders, 18, from Temecula (Cal.) Valley HS. He throws an average heater, but has command of four pitches, a rarity for a young pitcher, and good control.
Here's what MLB.com has to say about him:
He's made a big jump this year; he had control issues as the first two years and is a project of sorts. Black, 21, didn't pitch until he was a high school senior, so he still has room to improve and some upside, although some think he may end up in the bullpen. He was drafted out of high school by the Mets, and was expected to go in the supplemental - second round range.
In the second round, they took 6-5, 240 pound RHP Brooks Pounders, 18, from Temecula (Cal.) Valley HS. He throws an average heater, but has command of four pitches, a rarity for a young pitcher, and good control.
Here's what MLB.com has to say about him:
Control: Throws strikes, has above-average fastball command. Will be a plus command guy in the future.The third round pick was Hillsborough CC centerfielder Evan Chambers. He's a 5-9, 210 pounder that hit .324/11/39 in 188 at-bats. Chambers is a speed guy that stole 27 bases in 29 tries, and is a plus defender. The 19 year-old was drafted out of high school in 2007 by the Rockies in the 17th round. He looks like a serious reach, though; Baseball America had him as a 5th-6th round pick.
Poise: Good poise, works quickly, and has a no-nonsense attitude on the mound.
Physical Description: Big-body guy; doesn't look very athletic, but actually is fairly athletic when it comes to repeating his delivery. Kind of a Jonathan Broxton type.
Strengths: Four at least average pitches from a high schooler. Works fast and throws strikes, the type who can throw a two-hour game.
Weaknesses: Will have to maintain his body. To get into the upper echelon, some would like to see an increase in velocity.
Summary: Pounders might be more substance than style. He doesn't seem to have the best body in the world, but he's more athletic in his delivery than you'd think. He won't light up a radar gun -- something that might hurt his Draft status -- but he does have four pitches he can throw for strikes as a high schooler. That kind of pitchability doesn't grow on trees, especially from the prep ranks.
And It's Tony Sanchez...
Hey, Pittsburgh shouldn't have half the drama of last year's first-round soap opera signing. C Tony Sanchez, 2009's top pick from Boston College, is ready to play, and at slot, too.
Some think the Pirate suits had the bones of an agreement reached with him over dinner a few days ago. Could be; we won't quibble much with the choice or the philosophy behind it. Everything we read about this draft pretty much said it was a free-for-all after the RHP Stephen Strasburg and 1B/OF Dustin Ackley.
Sanchez, 21, a junior form Miami, FL, is a 6-1, 220 pound RH catcher who is supposed to have spectacular defensive skills. He hit .346 with 14 HR and 51 RBI this year; in his college career, he batted .326 with 24 HR and 124 RBI. And Sanchez can run a little, too; he's not a plodder. So he's a kid with a good mitt, some pop, and pretty productive with guys on base.
The drawbacks are that he can't hit a hook, his weight could be a problem down the road - he weighed over 250 pounds at one point of his BC career - and he was ranked as a late first round selection by Baseball America coming into tonight, although he was said to have picked up some love in the past couple of days.
The MLB.com report on him:
The obvious question is that after the Nate McLouth trade, does the presence of Sanchez, Jason Jaramillo, and Robby Diaz grease the skids under the oft injured and 28 year-old Ryan Doumit?
Or is it just a best player available pick in a position that the Bucs are shallow at, organizationally? Time will tell; the suits have made no bones about stockpiling players for some flexibility.
Pittsburgh has three more selections to go in tonight's lottery; 49th in the second round to replace 2008's Tanner Scheppers non-signing, 53rd in the second round, and 84th in the third.
Some think the Pirate suits had the bones of an agreement reached with him over dinner a few days ago. Could be; we won't quibble much with the choice or the philosophy behind it. Everything we read about this draft pretty much said it was a free-for-all after the RHP Stephen Strasburg and 1B/OF Dustin Ackley.
Sanchez, 21, a junior form Miami, FL, is a 6-1, 220 pound RH catcher who is supposed to have spectacular defensive skills. He hit .346 with 14 HR and 51 RBI this year; in his college career, he batted .326 with 24 HR and 124 RBI. And Sanchez can run a little, too; he's not a plodder. So he's a kid with a good mitt, some pop, and pretty productive with guys on base.
The drawbacks are that he can't hit a hook, his weight could be a problem down the road - he weighed over 250 pounds at one point of his BC career - and he was ranked as a late first round selection by Baseball America coming into tonight, although he was said to have picked up some love in the past couple of days.
The MLB.com report on him:
College catchers are always a premium commodity and Sanchez has emerged as one of the better options in this year's group. He's a solid catch-and-throw guy behind the plate, with good overall defensive skills. He also can swing the bat some, with a little power, giving him an intriguing all-around package. He's struggled with conditioning in the past, but he seemed driven to get himself into shape.In the last 72 hours, he vaulted the injured Kyle Gibson and pricey Aaron Crow to the top of the Bucco list. And he fits into the theory that in a deep but not star studded draft, it's better to pick a player that will leave some loot for later picks.
The obvious question is that after the Nate McLouth trade, does the presence of Sanchez, Jason Jaramillo, and Robby Diaz grease the skids under the oft injured and 28 year-old Ryan Doumit?
Or is it just a best player available pick in a position that the Bucs are shallow at, organizationally? Time will tell; the suits have made no bones about stockpiling players for some flexibility.
Pittsburgh has three more selections to go in tonight's lottery; 49th in the second round to replace 2008's Tanner Scheppers non-signing, 53rd in the second round, and 84th in the third.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)