Scouting The Sally: Boston Red Sox Prospects

Bookmark this page and check it frequently. As the 2010 season progresses, I will continue to update this post with links to new Yankees prospect reports and video as it is published.

Michael Almanzar - Having entered the 2009 season as a borderline top-10 prospect within the organization, Almanzar crashed and burned in the "Sally" leading to a demotion and a fresh start in Greenville in 2010.

Read a scouting report on Michael Almanzar from 2009

Tim Federowicz - In 2009, "Fed" dominated the "Sally" prior to being promoted to high-A where his free-swinging ways seemingly caught up to him.

Read a scouting report on Tim Federowicz from 2009

Pete Hissey - From seven-digit signing bonus to sleeper prospect, Hissey improved throughout the season in Greenville and flashed tools which far surpassed his production.

Read a scouting report on Pete Hissey from 2009

Casey Kelly - After a meteoric rise to the top third of most prospect analysts top-100 lists, Kelly has shelved the idea of being a two-way player for the fast track to boston.

Read a comparison of Casey Kelly and Yankees prospect Manuel Banuelos
Read a game report on Casey Kelly from 2009

Will Middlebrooks - Still struggling to establish himself as more than a sleeper within the organization, Middlebrooks hopes to put it all together in 2010.

Read a scouting report on Will Middlebrooks from 2009

Stolmy Pimental - From Latin American afterthought to borderline top-10 prospect in the organization, Pimental has been quite a surprise having had nothing but success since the start of his professional career.

Read a game report on Stolmy Pimental from 2009

Anthony Rizzo - From battling cancer to top-100 status, Rizzo is a great success story with many chapters still left to write.

Read a scouting report on Anthony Rizzo from 2009
Read a comparison of Anthony Rizzo and Braves prospect Freddie Freeman

Oscar Tejeda - After struggling through both the 2008 and 2009 seasons with Greenville, Tejeda will spend 2010 working to revitalize his prospect status.

Read a scouting report on Oscar Tejeda from 2009.
Read a comparison of Oscar Tejeda and Tampa Bay Rays prospect Tim Beckham

Scouting The Sally: New York Yankees Prospects

Bookmark this page and check it frequently. As the 2010 season progresses, I will continue to update this post with links to new Yankees prospect reports and video as it is published.

Abraham Almonte - After spending 2008 and 2009 in Charleston, Almonte looks to improve his prospect status and cement himself as a top-20 player within the organization.

Read a game report on Abraham Almonte from late in the 2008 season.

Carmen Angelini - During a second trip through the "Sally", Angelini regressed and wound up being demoted back to short season baseball. In 2010, Angelini faces a make-or-break season.

Read a game report on Carmen Angelini from late in the 2008 season.

Manuel Banuelos - Banuelos burst onto the scene in 2009 and became a consensus top-6 prospect in the organization carving up South Atlantic League hitters. At 19, he will spend the 2010 season in Tampa and could find himself as a top-1oo overall prospect heading into 2011.

Read a comparison of Manuel Banuelos and Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly.
Read a game report on Manuel Banuelos from 2009.

Andrew Brackman - One can argue Brackman was the most disappointing prospect in baseball in 2009. From top-100 to "Sally" flop, he looks to rebound in 2010.

Read a game report on Andrew Brackman from 2009.

Corban Joseph - In 2009, Joseph rode a fantastic second half and surfaced as a top-12 prospect within the organization. The former 4th rounder will spend 2010 in Tampa and has an outside shot at top-10 status entering 2011.

Read a scouting report on Corban Joseph from 2009.

Dan Kapala - An older reliever, Kapala is a former college pitcher looking to solidify himself as a relief prospect within the organization.

Read a report on a quartet of relief pitchers including Dan Kapala.

Melky Mesa - A surprise top-20 prospect in the South Atlantic League, Mesa's production has not matched his tools. Mesa should spend 2010 in Tampa as he looks to continue his rise up the organizational ladder.

Read a scouting report on Melky Mesa from 2009.

Jesus Montero - The undisputed number one prospect in the organization, Montero looks to ride a prolific bat to New York on the heels of being a near consensus top-6 prospect in all of baseball.

Read a game report on Jesus Montero from late in the 2008 season.

Austin Romine - The best all-around catching prospect in the Yankees organization, Romine looks to build on an MVP performance in the Florida State League and solidify himself as the Yankees catcher of the future.

Read a game report on Austin Romine from late in the 2008 season.

Bradley Suttle - After missing the entire 2009 season rehabbing from a shoulder injury, Suttle looks to re-establish himself as a legitimate third base prospect within the organization.

Read a game report on Bradley Suttle from late in the 2008 season.

Scouting The Sally: New York Mets Prospects

Bookmark this page and check it frequently. As the 2010 season progresses, I will continue to update this post with links to new Mets prospect reports and video as it is published.

Kyle Allen - I had the opportunity to see Allen on a half dozen occasions during the 2009 season. The former 24th round pick turned heads and peaked as the #7 prospect in the organization on post season lists.

Read a scouting report on Kyle Allen from 2009
Watch video of Kyle Allen pitching in 2009
Read a comparison of Kyle Allen and Jeurys Familia from 2009

Eric Beaulac - 2009 was a major success for Beaulac. He looks to open 2010 in Port St. Lucie and could move quickly with a couple of breaks.

Read a scouting report on Eric Beaulac from 2009
Watch video of Eric Beaulac pitching from 2009

Robert Carson - One of the more interesting pitchers in the organization, Carson's prospect status varies depending on how much leeway is given to him based on his having a durable build and being left-handed.

Read a game report on Robert Carson from 2009

Rhiner Cruz - Savannah's closer in 2009, Cruz looks to revitalize a career which was on life support after being released from another major league organization.

Read a report discussing a quartet of "Sally" relievers including Rhiner Cruz

Jeurys Familia - A breakout prospect in the Mets organization, Familia has consistently placed in the top twelve prospects on just about every organizational list.

Read a comparison of Jeurys Familia and Kyle Allen from 2009
Watch video of Jeurys Familia pitching from 2009
Read a scouting report on Jeurys Familia from 2009
Read an early season game report on Jeurys Familia from 2009

Wilmer Flores - In seeing 150-200 of Wilmer Flores' at bats, he is a young prospect full of potential, but not without serious flaws. After peaking as a top 50 overall prospect, Flores is still top 100 on a number of prospect lists entering 2010.

Read a scouting report with video on Wilmer Flores from 2009
Read a comparison of Wilmer Flores and Rays prospect Tim Beckham from 2009
Read a response to a scouts comments on Flores from 2009
Read an early season game report on Wilmer Flores from 2009

John Holdzkom - Having missed the 2009 season with major arm surgery, Holdzkom looks to work his way back in 2010.

Read a game report on John Holdzkom from late in the 2008 season.

Jefry Marte - A former top 100 overall prospect, Jefry Marte disappointed in 2009. Expected to repeat the "Sally" in 2010, he has an opportunity to regain some, if not all of his prospect momentum.

Read an early season game report on Jefry Marte from 2009
Read a response to a scouts comments on Marte from 2009

Francisco Pena - After spending two years in the South Atlantic League, Pena spent 2009 in Port St. Lucie. Peaking as a top ten prospect within the organization, he seeks to regain much of his prospect luster.

Read a game report on Francisco Pena from late in the 2008 season

Elvin Ramirez - 2009 was a lost year for Ramirez as he looks to make progress in 2010. Unfortunately for Ramirez, he is starting to run out of time.

Read a scouting report on Elvin Ramirez from 2009

Sean Ratliff - As a 4th round pick, Ratliff showed power and athleticism, but struggled in a number of areas prior to being promoted to Port St. Lucie. A strong 2010 will firmly cement Ratliff as a prospect to watch within the organization.

Read a scouting report on Sean Ratliff from 2009

Josh Satin - A former 6th round pick, Satin will open 2010 in Port St. Lucie as an older player looking to move quickly.

Read a scouting report on Josh Satin from 2009

Jordany Valdespin - Considered a top 20 prospect within the organization by some, Valdespin has plenty to prove entering 2010 as a second baseman in needs of a full season's worth of at bats.

Read a scouting report on Jordany Valdespin from the 2009 season

Stefan Welch - As a player still looking to establish himself within the organization, Welch hopes to find a home in Port St. Lucie where he can receive a full season's worth of at bats.

Read a game report on Stefan Welch from late in the 2008 season

Game Report: Xavier Avery, OF, Baltimore Orioles

The South Atlantic League saw a number of "toolsy" center fielders pass through including former 2nd round pick Xavier Avery. On the surface, his .262/.306/.340 line is pedestrian with peripherals which show just how rough around the edges Avery is. In person, Avery's skill set is more impressive as he works off his best tool (speed) and uses it to carve out the rest of his game.

Strengths: A tremendous athlete, Xavier Avery had a lean, athletic frame, and uses his blazing speed in all areas of his game. On offense, his wrists are quick, and his bat is short through the strike zone. Avery worked deep counts and showed the ability to pepper ground balls back up the middle. With two hits and a walk on full counts, Avery played the role of prototypical lead off hitter perfectly. His K% dropping 6% from 2008 totals is also a positive sign. He did not attempt any steals, but legged out a couple of ground balls which put his wheels on full display. Avery also covered center field from gap to gap making a couple of highlight reel catches.

Weaknesses: Avery's build does not project for much future size or power potential. Add to this poor weight transfer during his swing and Avery projects as an outfielder with little to no power. With his skill set, Avery will have to show enough pop to keep opposing outfielders honest so the hits continue to fall in. Another concern is a walk rate of just over 5% which negatively effects his on base ability. In the outfield, he dropped a routine fly ball to end a game which people in the stands were still talking about the following night. On the evening I saw him play, another routine fly ball became an adventure caught just off of his hip. He made two impressive catches by running down hard hit balls down in the gaps, but the snags only seemed otherworldly because of poor route running.

Outlook: Having just turned twenty, Avery could find himself back in the "Sally" for another half season. However, his 2009 line was probably enough to warrant a promotion to high-A to start the 2010 season. Avery should be a one level per year player with a potential ETA of late 2012 at the earliest. At this point, he is still learning the game and needs substantial polish. Due to this, he runs a high risk of flaming out at the upper levels of the minor leagues.

Click HERE to watch my prospect video of Xavier Avery.

Miscellaneous Rays: Jacob Jefferies & Mike Sheridan

Jacob Jefferies and Mike Sheridan both have quite a bit in common from a baseball perspective. As college hitters with advanced approaches, the Rays selected both within the first five rounds of the 2008 draft to fill immediate organizational needs. However, 2009 did not turn out exactly as the Rays planned as both prospects disappointed at Bowling Green and their offensive strengths may have wound up working against them on the professional level.

Jefferies posted a .261/.326/.359 triple slash line as a sometimes catcher who also spent a significant amount of time as a designated hitter. His 8% K% jumps off of the page, as does his .268 BABIP. His 7.6% BB% is somewhat surprising considering his having the reputation of an "advanced" college bat.

In game action, he showed a level, line drive swing and the ability to work the gaps. However, his sweeping swing does not project much power for a prospect his size and will likely not play should he not stick at catcher. Behind the dish, Jefferies did not have any glaring weaknesses, but his size and perceived lack of mobility are an issue going forward. And with his splitting time behind the plate with a non-prospect, the Rays may see the writing on the wall too.

At .238/.278/.391, Sheridan showed some power potential, but struggled through a miserable 2009 season. With a BABIP of .229, he should improve, but his 5.3% BB% is terrible for a college hitter who turned 22 during the season. Similar to Jefferies, his 8.6% K% will keep prospect analysts intrigued for at least one more season. In Sheridan's case, his ability to make contact may be working directly against his on base skills which is a net negative.

An athletic crouch and load served as a precursor to one of the shorter left-handed swings in the "Sally". Sheridan is able to create backspin and could surge should he adjust his approach and learn to work deeper counts and wait for better pitches to drive. In speaking to his brother at a game, Sheridan's philosophy was to hit the first decent fastball he saw. This needs to change! The issue is Sheridan is is currently 22 1/2 leading me to question whether it is ultimately possible.

Overall, the trifecta of Tim Beckham, Jefferies, and Sheridan represent key pieces of a rather drab 2008 draft class. With hindsight being 20/20, I can comfortably say the Rays would surely take a do-over if they had those picks again.

Scouting Report: Oscar Tejeda, SS, Boston Red Sox

Find more videos like this on ProspectTube.com

One of the more frustrating prospects in terms of tools meeting production in the South Atlantic League, Oscar Tejeda's prospect status seems stuck in neutral. On tools alone, Tejeda is one of the top twelve prospects I saw in the "Sally" this season. However, his game is still so raw at this point, it's difficult to project if or when his all-around game will take off; especially when his numbers remained stagnant for two consecutive seasons.

Strengths: Having just turned twenty, Tejeda is still relatively young for the South Atlantic League even after almost 750 at bats at the level. With the classic lean and long shortstop build, he is not at risk of outgrowing the position. In watching him turn a tremendous double play in which he leaped over a sliding Josh Satin and threw a laser to first base, Tejeda showed enough for me to believe he can stick.. Throughout the series, his agility was on display as his smooth movements and arm action allowed him to make all of the plays at shortstop. With an athletic stance which included a semi-deep crouch, Tejeda showed enough bat speed to lace a line drive to the second baseman off of 94 MPH heat.

Weaknesses: Tejeda has stagnated in terms of baseball development and put up even lesser numbers his second time through the "Sally". His mechanics are a mess and his "Sammy Sosa" double toe tap simply does not work for a bottom of the order bat. Tejeda also features plenty of excess bat wagging and body movement which negatively effects his timing. Add to this a tendency to pull off the baseball and a propensity to look lost at the plate and he is in need of a complete overhaul mechanically. With his build and long strides on the base paths, Tejeda looks like he should be more of a base stealer. However, his speed is enough of an issue for some to question whether or not he has the lateral movement and range to stay at shortstop. Additionally, his lack of growth puts his overall makeup in question in terms of being "coachable".

Outlook: After two years in the South Atlantic League, Tejeda still does not seem ready to move to high-A from an offensive standpoint. It is difficult to see him progressing to the highest level when he is already struggling to make adjustments in the lower levels of minor league baseball. Maybe he needs a push to Salem to shock his system, but the promotion will not have been earned. Tejeda has the tools to regain his prospect status, but needs to change his approach drastically and become more open to making adjustments.

Spreading Myself Too Thin

Hello all,

I know I've been a bit slow with new reports for the past couple of weeks, but my job(s) and the hours they are requiring have hit me in the face like a sledgehammer these past couple of weeks. Couple it with graduate school and I can barely keep my head above water.

On the baseball side of things, I've been working on a few prospect profiles for First Inning Media's Digital Prospect Guide. My old friends over at Amazin' Avenue also hit me up for a couple of organizational previews for their annual so be on the lookout for that.

Reviews: Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook

Even though I spend most of my time covering prospects in the South Atlantic League, I'm always up for a good prospect annual read for any big league organization. Lucky for me, I was able to get my hands on an advanced copy of the "Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook" by Seth Stohs of Sethspeaks.net.

With my owning Aaron Hicks, Adrian Salcedo, and Kyle Gibson in deep dynasty fantasy baseball leagues, I was eager to glean any information on the trio. Not only did I find a wealth of information on them, but I was also exposed to a number of other Twins prospects including outfielder Max Kepler who has since been added to my mental watch list.

With eighty plus pages of prospect profiles, a handful of prospect interviews, top prospect lists, and more, it's a great read for Twins fans who are ready to take that next step into true prospect "geekdom"

I wish Seth all the best of luck in his venture. It's obvious he put in a significant amount of effort into this project as the writing and page design is clean and of high quality. Overall, an excellent read and definitely worth the $13.95 asking price.

Scouting The Sally Live Chat: February 2nd @ 8:30 PM EST.

Join me and Mike Rathburn of Around the Cooler as we talk fantasy baseball prospects, keepers, and more.

Scouting Report: Wilmer Flores, SS, New York Mets

Wilmer Flores' 2009 season started with a thud and ended with a fizzle. In-between was a period of productive baseball which saw Flores' batting average approach .300. Due to poor power numbers and a likely position change in the future, Flores' prospect stock has taken a hit as the 2010 season creeps closer. With his being so young, does he deserve a mulligan for a seemingly disappointing season in Savannah?

Physique & Athleticism: Flores' conditioning improved drastically throughout the season. A source reported to me Flores had drastically improved his eating habits leading to his becoming a much leaner 6'3". With little muscle development, Flores will take a couple of years or more to fill out his frame. He projects for additional size through the shoulders, but it is too early to say how much muscle his frame can carry considering his age and the possibility he is not done growing.

In terms of athleticism, Flores' movements can look a bit uncoordinated and awkward. While this may simply be a sign of a big kid who simply has not grown into his body, his slow feet and elongated baseball movements can not be ignored. A good plyometric program could do Flores wonders.

Offense: With explosive wrists and excellent hand-eye coordination, Flores has barely scratched the surface in terms of offensive development. At his peak, Flores showed the ability to pepper line drives to all fields with a knack for staying back on breaking balls. When seeing the ball well, he worked deeper counts which led to much better pitches to hit and consistently hard contact. By August, Flores began to show his age as he seemingly hit a wall overnight. His pitch recognition and swing mechanics regressed leading to Flores' batting average dropping close to thirty points.

At present, Flores' hitting mechanics can be downright messy. With his upright stance, he is prone to changing his eye level during his stride causing him to swing under the baseball. He also has no discernible load and his front elbow drifts away from his body causing his back elbow to drop as a first movement to the ball. This creates bat drag through the strike zone and led to a number of weak pop-ups to the right side. His mechanics do not allow him to free up his hands which limits his power and leaves him susceptible to fastballs in. This, along with Flores' not incorporating his hips to generate power, is what has suppressed whatever power Flores does have.

Defense: While Flores is unlikely to stay at shortstop, to assume he has no defensive value is an unfair assessment. His defensive movements are awkward which hides the fact his hands are fantastic. He adjusts quickly to bad hops and is a hoover on balls in front of him. The first rule a shortstop is taught it to charge everything and Flores is one of the best I have in this regard. Over the course of the 2009 season, his arm strength and throwing mechanics improved as he flashed a solid average arm. Lateral range will always be a major question mark due to lack of foot speed, but he has enough going for him defensively to project as a solid corner infielder with the ability to play left field as well.

Speed: With the nickname of "Tortuga" or turtle in Spanish, speed will certainly never be a part of Flores' game. When running, he has a foot which dangles loosely leading scouts to wonder whether Flores suffered a foot injury as a child.

Wilmer Flores' evaluations vary wildly as he was probably the most difficult player to scout in the "Sally". One evening, he smokes Julio Teheran for two line drive singles, and the next, he goes 0-4 with three weak pop-ups to the right side. Over the course of 200 or so at bats, I witnessed the full spectrum of what Flores is capable of and remain bullish he can be an impact prospect if he is;

1. handled by the Mets organization with kid gloves
2. overhauls his swing mechanics

Both may be difficult as the Mets organization is known for rushing its top talent and Flores developed a reputation for being a bit lackadaisical both on and off the playing field. After only marginal success in 2009, I would leave him in Savannah until the 2010 all-star break before a promotion to Port St. Lucie.