Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, September 25, 2015 i Baseball America

BRAVES STILL BUILDING Do you see the Braves as a top five or top 10 system? DARREN THOMPSON, @SPORTSNATION365 Sorry, Braves fans. I know this season— and especially August and September— have been painful to watch. Once 42-42, the Braves have easily been the worst team in baseball in the second half. Since that .500 high-water mark on July 7, the Braves’ 13-41 record (.241 winning percentage) is six games worse than any other team in baseball. Or consider this: a .241 winning percentage over a full season would give a team a 39-122 record. Braves fans hope the present pain will pay offin a long-term benefit. But while I see the Braves as a potential Top 10 system thanks to excellent depth, I don’t see any possible argument for…

Baseball Writer, ESPN.com jerrycrasnick @baseba llamerica.com PHILADELPHIA The outlook at Citizens Bank Park is much improved since Andy MacPhail’s introductory news conference, when he said his main functions as the Phillies’ president-inwaiting would be “to read, to watch and to listen.” If MacPhail is paying attention in his temporary role as special assistant to president Pat Gillick, he probably has noticed that things aren’t quite as grim or stagnant around the park as they were in late June. A Phillies team that looked lifeless under former manager Ryne Sandberg is playing with energy under interim manager Pete Mackanin, and Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera, rookies Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco, and second baseman Cesar Hernandez are among the young players on the roster who look as if they’ll be a…

DRAFT MOVING BACK TO THURSDAY IN 2016 After beginning the draft this year on a Monday, Major League Baseball said the first day of the 2016 draft will be Thursday, June 9. Baseball insiders had buzzed with talk that the MLB Network’s production of the first day of the draft, usually covering the first two rounds and compensation picks, would shift to Omaha, a topic NCAA officials acknowledged was a possibility. But the 2016 College World Series starts June 18, so the 2016 draft is set to start the day before super regionals, rather than before the CWS. With no teams in Omaha on June 9, there’s no reason to have the draft there. The draft historically started on the first Tuesday in June, but the date has moved in…

Editor in Chief Baseball America johnmanuel @baseballamerica.com Jerry Kindall won a national title as a player at Minnesota in 1956, played for the Twins’ 1965 American League pennant winner and then coached three national championship squads at Arizona (1976, ’80 and ’86), teams that featured players such as Ron Hassey, Terry Francona and Craig Lefferts. Kindall, 80, still broadcasts college baseball on the Pac-12 Network, and he’s still sharp. He’s what is known as a baseball lifer. I got a chance to watch an Arizona game back in March with Coach Kindall; it was the highlight of my spring. He dropped a “baseball lifer” on me that I took as the compliment that I know it was intended to be. At the same time, I know I’m not worthy of…

C WILLSON CONTRERAS CUBS Double-A Tennessee (Southern) The 2015 season represented just Contreras’ fourth as a full-time catcher after he converted from third base early in his career. A nondescript prospect who entered the season with a career .254 average, Contreras enjoyed a breakthrough season at Double-A Tennessee, winning the Southern League batting title (.333) while finishing just off the pace for doubles (34) and on-base percentage (.413). 1B A.J. REED ASTROS Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas) Reed, the College Player of the Year in 2014, looks like a second-round steal for the Astros after he turned in a dominating full-season debut in which he led the minors with 34 home runs, 127 RBIs, 113 runs, a .612 slugging percentage and 1.044 OPS. He placed second with 178 hits. He also…

The United States, led by lefthander Nick Pratto, defeated Japan 2-1 to capture the gold medal and their third straight 18-and-under world championship. Team USA became the first country to win three straight world titles since Cuba won four consecutive championships from 1984-87. Facing host Japan in the finals of the World Baseball Softball Confederation 18U World Cup at Koshien Stadium on Sept. 6, Team USA rose to the occasion. Outfielder Blake Rutherford, the team’s leading hitter in Japan, said winning the championship was the best achievement of his young career. “Just to be a part of something so special, and to be able to wear the USA across my chest and listen to the national anthem on the first-place podium with our gold medals is something that I will…

BEST PLAYER: Had Aaron Judge never been promoted from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and continued to punish Eastern League pitchers his name would be here. However, when the right fielder went up a level, his production decreased. That left the door open for Gary Sanchez, and the 22-year-old catcher walked through it in what some believe is a breakout season. “That’s not a popular pick for some but everything has improved all around,’’ assistant general manager Billy Eppler said of Sanchez, who had been previously described by some as a malcontent. “I don’t care where you come from (but) when you are 21 or 22, everyone grows. I never witnessed an attitude problem.’’ Sanchez, who signed for $3 million in 2009 out of the Dominican Republic, hit a cumulative…

NEW YORK | Mets For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BEST PLAYER: After three consecutive years drafting high school players with their firstround pick , the Mets selected Pacific-12 Conference player of the year Michael Conforto with their top pick in 2014. Thirteen months later, the left fielder made his major league debut. _ e 22-year-old Conforto hit a combined .297/.372/.482 with 39 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs, in 91 games at high Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton before debuting with New York on July 24. _ e following day he went 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a walk against the Dodgers. Known for his bat, Conforto has impressed manager Terry Collins with other facets of his game. “Where…

“We knew he had the arm and the range to play shortstop,” said Lorenzo Llanes, the scout who signed Seymour. “The rest was the footwork and things he will develop in the minors.” BEST PLAYER: No player shined brighter at Double-A Reading than switch-hitting catcher Andrew Knapp. He joined the club in late June and led the Fightin Phils’ surge to the postseason by hitting .360/.419/.631 with 34 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 55 games. Th e 23-year-old Knapp, a second-round pick out of California in 2013, may be more of an off ensive player, but team officials believe he can stay behind the plate if he continues to improve at the rate he did this season. Knapp had Tommy John surgery after the 2013…

BEST PLAYER: Double-A Birmingham shortstop Tim Anderson led the Southern League with 160 hits, 79 runs and 49 stolen bases while batting .312/.350/.429 in 125 games to ranking third in the batting race. The 22-year-old Anderson, selected 17th overall in the 2013 draft, could be in Chicago next season. Will he arrive as a shortstop? He committed a league-leading 25 errors this season and fielded shortstop at a .952 average, but the White Sox expect Anderson to remain at the position. “We view him as a shortstop, and I think most of the industry does as well,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “That’s a testament to the kid’s athleticism and the repetitions and his instruction and his ability to adapt.” Look for Anderson to start 2016 at Triple-A Charlotte. “He…

BEST PLAYER: When the Royals drafted Ryan O’Hearn in the eighth round in 2014, it did not appear they were selecting a powerhitting first baseman. He hit 11 home runs in three years at Sam Houston State, but his power production improved dramatically in pro ball. O’Hearn hit .263/.339/.478 with 27 homers and 77 RBIs in 127 games at two stops this season, which he began at low Class A Lexington. Though he spent only the first half with the Legends, he tied for the South Atlantic League lead with 19 home runs before a promotion to high Class A Wilmington on July 17. “When we signed him, we did ask him to swing the bat aggressively and to let his natural ability come out,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo…

BEST PLAYER: The Reds never panicked when Jesse Winker got off to a slow start at Double-A Pensacola—and it never seemed like the player did, either. The 22-year-old left fielder hit just .229 through the first two months of the season—a far cry from his accustomed level after winning the Arizona Fall League batting title. Still, Winker in those first 42 games walked 24 times and struck out 27 times. That was an encouraging sign, director of player development Jeff Graupe thought. He was right. From June 1 to the end of the season, Winker hit .310/.414/.497 with 11 home runs in 81 games, despite playing half his games at a home park that is tough for lefthanded hitters . He hit .282/.390/.433 overall. “Jesse, to go through the first…

LOS ANGELES | Angels For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/  BEST PLAYER: That third baseman Kaleb Cowart is even in this conversation is a reflection of how thin the Angels are in terms of position-playing prospects. But no one can deny that the 23-year-old has resurrected his career this season. A first-round pick in 2010, Cowart’s career stalled at Double-A Arkansas, where in 2013 and 2014 he hit a cumulative .222/.286/.312 with 12 homers in 933 at-bats. His struggles were so severe he gave up switch-hitting for a time, considered a move to the mound and was demoted to high Class A Inland Empire to start 2015. But with help from Inland Empire hitting coach Brent Del Chiaro, Cowart reverted to his old batting stance,…

BEST PLAYER: Farm director Chris Gwynn stopped in to check on high Class A Bakersfield and watch a four-game series. Tyler O’Neill hit home runs in all four games. “One to right field, one to dead center, one to left field,” Gwynn said. “He got inside a fastball, got his hands through and crushed it.” The 20-year-old right fielder hit .260/.316/.558 with a California Leagueleading 32 homers and 87 RBIs. It earned him a spot in the Arizona Fall League. “He’s figuring it out,” Gwynn said. With the power comes strikeouts for O’Neill, who had 137 to go with 29 walks. “The toughest thing has been keeping him aggressive while getting him to shrink the strike zone and be more selective,” Gwynn said. “It’s a delicate balance there.” BEST PITCHER:…

BEST PLAYER: After a rough start to his pro career, Socrates Brito has emerged as one of the system’s best position-player prospects, a two-way outfielder with speed, gap power and range. The Diamondbacks renegotiated Brito’s signing bonus in 2010 when he was forced to serve a 50-game suspension at the onset of his career for violating the minor league drug program, but that has become a footnote in his steady rise that included a Futures Game appearance and September callup. The 22-year-old Brito hit .300/.338/.451 with 18 doubles, 14 triples, nine homers, 55 RBIs and 19 stolen bases at Double-A Mobile. While he may never walk much, improved plate discipline led to a reduced strikeout rate of 16 percent. He had nine assists while playing all three outfield spots, primarily…

BEST PLAYER: Shortstop Christian Arroyo dealt with injuries for the second consecutive season when an oblique issue in April forced him to miss a month at high Class A San Jose. But the 20-year-old dealt with adversity well and continued to shine as the most polished hitting prospect in the system. Arroyo hit .304/.344/.459 and finished seventh in the California League batting race despite being one of the circuit’s youngest players. “When you’re facing older pitchers, you have to make a lot of adjustments,” farm director Shane Turner said. “He had to pull more when they pitched inside, and he did. Then he started to see more breaking balls and he adjusted to that. He’s a very, very competitive kid.” Arroyo has good hands, an accurate arm and a solid…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA I used to think the trading deadline was overrated. Then the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays came along. Whatever we thought of the Blue Jays before July 29, the day Troy Tulowitzki cleared customs, it’s apparently as irrelevant now as whatever we used to think of Duke before Coach K came to Durham. In the 32 games since Tulo’s debut, the Blue Jays went 26-6. They scored a ridiculous 200 runs in those 32 games. That was the most in baseball. They allowed just 97 runs. That’s the fewest in baseball. “It just seemed like once Tulo showed up,” general manager Alex Anthopoulos says, “a switch got flipped. And it energized everybody.” But of course, Tulo was just the beginning of Anthopoulos’ entertaining pre-deadline wheel-and-deal-athon.…

OCTOBER 13 2001 » IN THIS ISSUE: Adam Dunn and his 32 homers gave Josh Beckett a run for Minor League Player of the Year. » ALSO: Our 17-year-old all-star team includes: Prince Fielder, Scott Kazmir, Johan Santana, and Denard Span. Blake Snell takes home our Minor League Player of the Year Award after posting a 1.41 ERA, matching the best since Justin Verlander’s 1.29 mark in 2005. His dominance compares to Josh Beckett’s 2001 campaign, so let’s take a look back at Beckett’s Player of the Year season. The Marlins were slogging through the final innings of another loss in late August when Al Avila’s cellphone rang. Avila, the Marlins’ assistant general manager and former scouting director, answered and immediately recognized the voice on the other end. “It’s your…

The final day of the minor league season is the ultimate getaway day. Bags are packed and a long season is almost in the books, making 3-2 counts nearly as rare as triple plays. Games aren’t phoned in, but there is a tacit understanding that the final day of a long season is one where the game is going to be played at a brisk pace. How big a difference is there? The average nine-inning minor league game this season took two hours, 43 minutes. On the final day of the regular season, the average nineinning minor league game took just 2:34 to play. The difference was most notable in the International League, where teams shaved 22 minutes off their average game time to clock in at 2:18 per game…

Columnist, MLB Network BOSTON It isn’t what some think it is with Dave Dombrowski. Remember, when he traded for Max Scherzer with the Tigers, Scherzer was 25 years old and had a 9-15 record in two professional seasons. It wasn’t as if he gave away one of the five greatest lefthanded pitchers in history, Randy Johnson, for three months of Mark Langston in 1989. The fact is that owner Charles Bronfman wanted Dombrowski to go for it in June to see if baseball could make it in the YouppiDome if the Expos won. Fact is, when the deal was made, Langston was one of the best in the game, and when it was made, Dombrowski’s trusted scout Gary Hughes admitted the three pitchers they traded— Brian Holman, Gene Harris and…

Design a breakout season for a pitcher, and it would look like Blake Snell’s 2015. A supplemental first-round pick of the Rays out of a Washington high school in 2011, Snell still had not progressed past A-ball entering the year. Then he opened the year with 21 scoreless innings to show he was too good for high Class A, en route to a 46-inning scoreless streak. He finished the year in Triple-A, posting the best walk rate of his career. Few pitchers have approached Snell’s success over the past decade. He finished 15-4, 1.41 overall that included 163 strikeouts in 134 innings. His 1.41 ERA, which led all minor league qualifiers, is the lowest for a full-season pitcher since Justin Verlander’s 1.29 in 2005, and he ranked among the leaders…

Yes, the minor league season is over. The players have packed up, gone home and are about to embark on a much-needed rest after non-stop baseball since February. That doesn’t mean your prospect fix will go unquenched until next year, however. Far from it. In fact, if you are in the Arizona area, the upcoming six weeks from early October until just before Thanksgiving might well be the most wonderful time of the year. That’s right, it’s Arizona Fall League season. As usual, this year’s rosters are highlighted by a number of top prospects. The Brewers’ Brett Phillips, the Phillies’ J.P. Crawford, Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer, Cardinals righthander Alex Reyes, and long-rehabbing Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar are just a few of the highlights of this year’s rosters. So read, enjoy…

BOSTON | Red Sox For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BEST PLAYER: For the Red Sox in 2015, there was more accurately an “infield of the year” at low Class A Greenville. Second baseman Yoan Moncada dominated in the second half in a fashion that affirmed his prospect standing. Third baseman Rafael Devers not only became the first 18-year-old Red Sox prospect with double-digit homers since Xander Bogaerts, but also made significant defensive strides. But 19-year-old Greenville shortstop Javier Guerra transformed from a player distinguished chiefly by his elite defense to one who made significant offensive adjustments that allowed him to impact the ball with head-turning frequency. He tied for the organization lead in homers with 15 while batting .279/.329/.447. “He might have the…

BEST PLAYER: One way to measure third baseman Richie Shaffer’s success this season is to look at where he finished, in the big leagues with the Rays. Another way is where he started, back at Double-A Montgomery after a disappointing 2014. In between, he combined the power he had and the discipline he needed at the plate to deliver the production all expected: 26 homers in 108 games, plus two in his first eight big league games during an August stint. “His bat potential came alive in 2015,” farm director Mitch Lukevics said, “He made the necessary adjustments, and his numbers proved that.” The Rays sent Shaffer a message when they sent him back to the Biscuits, but he showed them something with a good attitude and impressive results, leading…

BEST PLAYER: The Braves loved the potential of center fielder Mallex Smith—particularly his well above-average speed—when they acquired him from the Padres last December, though his overall game required polish. Smith accomplished just that by hitting a combined .306/.373/.386 in 126 games while splitting the slate between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. He led the organization in batting average and with 57 stolen bases . The 22-year-old’s defense also improved steadily, which could put the in line for a jump to the big leagues next spring. “Mallex improved in all phases of the game,” assistant farm director Jonathan Schuerholz said. “He got off to a slow start at Mississippi and then took off. He got off to a slow start at Gwinnett and then took off. He’s a good teammate…

BEST PLAYER: The Nationals had to wait until mid-June to add shortstop Trea Turner to their system. Once he arrived, it didn’t take the 22-year-old long for him to play his way out of the minors. Turner, the player to be named in the threeteam deal that sent Steven Souza to the Rays, couldn’t leave the Padres organization until the anniversary of his signing date. In the process, he tore up the Double-A Texas League with San Antonio. He built on that at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse before joining Washington in late August. Turner hit .322/.370/.458 in 116 minor league games this year with 24 doubles, seven triples and eight home runs. He also stole 29 bases in 35 attempts. “Performance-wise, he was solid on both sides of the…

BEST PLAYER: Barely a year after being selected in the first round of the 2014 draft, center fielder Bradley Zimmer has made such a seamless transition to pro ball that his major league debut could be less than a year away. The 22-year-old lefthanded hitter seems to be fast-tracking his way to Cleveland. In a combined 549 plate appearances at high Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Akron, Zimmer hit .273/.368/.446 with 46 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs, in 127 games. He chipped in with 63 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. “It’s not hard to look at Brad’s numbers this year and see that it’s been a special start to his career,” farm director Carter Hawkins said. “He’s been extremely consistent with the quality of his at-bats, has driven the…

MILWAUKEE | Brewers For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BEST PLAYER: The identity of the best player in the system is painfully obvious, and has been all season. That’s because Double-A Biloxi shortstop Orlando Arcia ranks as one of the top prospects in the game. The 21-year-old Arcia long has been considered a defensive whiz, with great range, a strong arm, smooth hands and great instincts at shortstop. At some point in the near future, he will be making use of those skills in the big leagues. Arcia this season hit .307/.347/.453 in 129 games as he continues to make strides in his quest to become a complete player. He showed budding power with 50 extra-base hits, including 37 doubles, while also stealing 25 bases…

BEST PLAYER: Josh Bell’s conversion from right field to first base, which began in instructional league last fall, was not without its problems early in the season, but shaky defense did not affect the switch-hitter at the plate. Bell hit .307/.376/.427 with five home runs in 96 games at Double-A Altoona, but also committed 13 errors at first base. He even hit a home run off Mariners prospect Edwin Diaz at the Futures Game. Promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 1, Bell hit .347/.441/.504 with two homers in 35 games. All told, he logged an .838 OPS with 65 walks and 65 strikeouts across two levels. “He got much better as the season went on,” said a scout from a National League team, “and the power is starting to come.”…

BEST PLAYER: Much to the Astros’ chagrin, first baseman A.J. Reed, the Southeastern Conference player of the year and BA College Player of the Year winner in 2014, arrived to spring training overweight. He topped 280 pounds and spent most of the spring and first month of the season getting into shape. Once he got closer to 260 pounds, however, the 6-foot-4 slugger began to shine. The 22-year-old Reed won the California League MVP award after hitting 23 home runs with 81 RBIs in 82 games at high Class A Lancaster. He didn’t slow down after a promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi, belting another 11 home runs before finishing the season with a combined .340/.423/.612 line and leading the minors with 34 homers, 127 RBIs, 113 runs and a .612…

BEST PLAYER: After taking off in 2014, when he survived the jump from low Class A Hickory to Double-A Frisco, right fielder Nomar Mazara continued his rise through the minors. The 20-year-old spent most of this season at Frisco, showing exceptional plate approach and maturity before doing the same in a brief stint at Triple-A Round Rock. Mazara combined to hit .296/.366/.443 with 14 homers in 131 games between the two levels. That includes a .358 average in 81 Triple-A at-bats. He was equally impressive in right field, showing off a strong, accurate arm while finishing second in the Texas League with 13 assists—and first with eight errors. “He’s still 20 years old, so the power numbers are still very good, and the at-bats day in and day out have…

BEST PLAYER: Even while slumping, shortstop Trevor Story has maintained the up-themiddle approach he implemented in the final month of 2014 at Double-A and carried into the Arizona Fall League. Not being pull-happy has resulted in better pitch selection and more of an attack mode that enables Story, 22, to better utilize arguably the best bat speed in the organization and access his natural power. Story’s strikeout rate dipped slightly in 2015, and he combined to club 70 extrabase hits, including a career-high 20 homers, at Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Albuquerque. He batted a cumulative .279/.350/.514 in 130 games. Improved footwork has helped a more nimble, agile Story play through the ball much better this year. He has a plus arm and strong range, especially to his back hand.…

The Mariners, foundering in the American League West despite large free agent expenditures to Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz the past two offseasons, fired general manager Jack Zduriencik after seven seasons. Expected to compete for a pennant, the Mariners were fourth in the AL West when Zduriencik was dismissed. Cano rebounded from an awful first half and Cruz has shown customary power, but overall the team had been a great disappointment after a strong 2014. “We are very disappointed with the results this season, and are not satisfied with the current operation,” Mariners president Kevin Mather said. Jeff Kingston, Seattle’s assistant GM since 2010 and a former executive with the Padres, was named interim GM. Mather added, “We have reached the point when change of leadership of our baseball operations…

Columnist, MLB.com COLORADO SPRINGS Joba Chamberlain is never one to back down from a challenge. He is not about to start now.   Chamberlain, 30, spent much of the latter half of 2015 in the minor leagues, working out of the bullpen for the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Royals. It was the first time Chamberlain has been in the minors for reasons other than a medical rehab since he debuted in the Yankees system in 2007. And that was a whirlwind tour in which he spent time at high Class A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before finishing up in the big leagues. This time, there’s no quick fix. Released by the Tigers in June, Chamberlain initially went to Triple-A Buffalo with the Blue Jays,…

When A.J. Reed steps into the batter’s box, you can see the paunch. It’s that little bit of the gut that hangs over the belt. It’s that extra 20 pounds that leaves a number of scouts a little queasy. Baseball uniforms aren’t really slimming. They flatter the fittest and belittle everyone else. Whether he’s wearing a Lancaster JetHawks or a Corpus Christi Hooks uniform, Reed isn’t being flattered. But then Reed swings the bat. And good things happen. Singles, doubles, home runs. Very good things happen, a lot. No minor league hitter had more home runs this year than Reed’s 34. No one topped his .612 slugging percentage or his 1.044 OPS. Sure, he started the year in the hitting paradise of high Class A Lancaster, but his stats barely…

BEST PLAYER: The debate within the organization over its minor league player of the year figured to be a short one. First baseman Trey Mancini is a slam dunk. The 2013 eighth-round pick out of Notre Dame has put up big numbers at two levels, batting a combined .341/.375/.563 with 43 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs and 89 RBIs in 136 games at high Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. “Mancini’s understanding of the strike zone has made great strides,” farm director Brian Graham said. “He’s obviously shown the ability to hit the ball for more power this year. “He’s used the whole field, which is probably the best part of his offensive approach. He’s shown the ability to drive the ball, he’s put together quality at-bats. It’s his…

BEST PLAYER: Center fielder Anthony Alford began the season as a bit of a wild card as an uber-talented athlete but raw baseball player, because playing football in high school split his focus. In his first three years as a pro, Alford had just 262 plate appearances, 152 of them coming in the Australian Baseball League last offseason, so 2015 was supposed to be about making up for lost time. Instead, the 21-year-old has emerged as one of the club’s top prospects, graduating from low Class A Lansing to high Class A Dunedin without missing a beat. A 2012 third-rounder, Alford has shown gap power, speed, strikezone discipline and a willingness to take walks. He hit .298/.398/.421 between the two levels while stealing 27 bases in 34 attempts. “He’s truly…

BEST PLAYER: Shortstop J.T. Riddle, who had never played above low Class A Greensboro prior to this season, advanced from high Class A Jupiter to Double A Jacksonville in the second half. The 23-year-old Riddle has put himself in line for a potential shot at the majors by hitting a combined .283/.323/.368 at three stops, which includes one game at Triple-A New Orleans. The Marlins have used the former Kentucky standout primarily at shortstop, though he has played second base and third base also. A 13th-round pick in 2013, Riddle has value as a lefthanded hitter who profiles as a utility player. He hit five homers this season, but that could increase when he fills out his 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame. The Marlins like his defensive actions, citing his above-average hands…

MINNESOTA | Twins For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BEST PLAYER: For two years, general manager Terry Ryan grew accustomed to answering questions about when Byron Buxton would be promoted to the majors. Now that he has, Ryan said, “it seems to me that we have transferred all those questions from Buxton to (Max) Kepler.” Kepler, a 22-year-old native of Germany, has blossomed into the all-around hitter the Twins foresaw when they signed him as a 16-yearold. He piled up 32 doubles, 13 triples and nine homers at Double-A Chattanooga, and his 67 walks and 63 strikeouts there prove he has a firm grasp of the strike zone. “Nobody here ever gave up on him,” vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “He can…

BEST PLAYER: Right fielder Mike Gerber started hitting at short-season Connecticut shortly after the Tigers drafted him in the 15th round in 2014. He hasn’t stopped. The 23-year-old Creighton product hit .292/.355/.468 in 135 games with 70 RBIs at low Class A West Michigan. He also stole 16 bases in 20 attempts. “He’s been very consistent,” farm director Dave Owen said. “He’s played the most games. He’s got doubled digits in doubles (31), triples (10) and home runs (13). It’s just been a very, very solid year . . . It’s been a really good learning experience and a good year for him to grow as a baseball player.” The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Gerber led the Midwest League with 54 extra-base hits. After performing well as an advanced college player in…

BEST PLAYER: Catcher Willson Contreras, a converted third baseman, has developed into what Cubs officials call the best catch-andthrow receiver in the system—even if slugging 2014 first-rounder and former Double-A Tennessee teammate Kyle Schwarber passed him on the way to the big leagues this season. The 23-year-old Contreras enjoyed a true breakout season, hitting .333/.413/.478 in 126 games (including eight at third base) and winning the Southern League batting title with a 4-for-4 day on the final day. He also ranked second in the SL in on-base percentage and with 34 doubles. Despite Schwarber’s gaudy numbers in the minors and majors, Contreras is the better catching prospect. BEST PITCHER: When high Class A Myrtle Beach righthander Duane Underwood developed a sore elbow in June, it sent a collective chill down…

BEST PLAYER: By the time Stephen Piscotty elbowed his way into the big league lineup, the Cardinals conceded that one question the organization had to confront was whether it kept him at Triple-A Memphis too long. The 24-year-old debuted July 21 and in his first 44 games with the Cardinals hit .331/.366/.528 as an immediate and consistent source of production. He did so while playing first base plus all three outfield positions— and flaunting a new swing. That was one benefit of Piscotty’s second tour of the Pacific Coast League. The 2012 sandwich pick took the calculated leap this past winter to remake his swing. He wanted to tap into the power he believed he had and changed his focus to “getting extra-base hits.” The consistent playing time and added…

BEST PLAYER: Every time the Athletics throw a challenge at Chad Pinder, he responds. Last year, they wanted the former Virginia Tech third baseman to learn second base. This year, following the trades of Addison Russell and Daniel Robertson, the A’s moved Pinder to shortstop. He responded by owning the position and showing that may well be his future home. All that, and he hit .317/.361/.486 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs for Midland to be named the Texas League MVP. “He developed an approach and work ethic that parallels what’s going on in the game,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “He’s routine-oriented. He’s got a plan, and he sticks with it.” The 23-year-old has shown the potential to be either a multi-position player or a middleinfield regular. BEST…

LOS ANGELES | Dodgers For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BEST PLAYER: A series of promotions for his peers elevated shortstop Corey Seager to the No. 1 spot in the midseason prospect rankings. The 21-year-old responded—by struggling. He hit .203 in July at Triple-A Oklahoma City before rebounding. That is just what the Dodgers had hoped to see. “He’s had some really good stretches, and some stretches where he’s struggled—which is actually a good thing and something we wanted to see him experience,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “Being in Triple-A, obviously, is as close as you can get to the major leagues in terms of simulating pitch selection. .” The same progression has been evident in Seager’s learning a new position as…

BEST PLAYER: Center fielder Travis Jankowski, fully recovered from a fractured wrist that marred his 2014 season, hit .335/.413/.425 in 97 games between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso to earn an August promotion to San Diego. Jankowski played to his strengths this year in the minors, taking advantage of his plus speed by getting on base with line drives and walks. He swiped 32 bases in 43 attempts between San Antonio and El Paso. “He has a chance to be a pretty interesting, dynamic player,” assistant general manager Josh Stein said. “With speed being my best tool, any ball I can put on the ground I know I can leg out,” Jankowski said. The 24-year-old has hit just three homers in 1,300 minor league at-bats, and big league…