Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, June 03, 2016 i Baseball America

» IN THIS ISSUE: Dontrelle Willis helps his up-and-coming agent make it big in the baseball business. » ALSO: Minor league teams pull out all the stops to try to draw more femaie fans to the ballpark. Much as we all think we’re enlightened and progressive, baseball is still overwhelmingly a man’s world. From the field to the front office to the stands, men dominate. That’s not quite as true in the minor leagues, where the more family-friendly atmosphere draws more women. But men are still the ones who are the hardcore fans, by and large, the ones who have grown up watching and playing the game, the ones who seem to have the nuances of the game woven in their bones. Minor league teams have started to recognize this…

PHILADELPHIA When Braves third baseman Chipper Jones shared the news that the 2012 season would be his last in a majorleague uniform, it was primarily a question of convenience. He was 39 years old, the bat speed was lagging and he dreaded the prospect of a summer-long interrogation about his plans. So on a nondescript March day in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., he wrapped his present and future in a bow and set the rest of his life in motion. Little did Jones know that he was destined to receive an outpouring of affection, and a haul that would pave the way for the mother of all man caves. Mementos from Jones’ six-month farewell tour are on display throughout his home in Texas, the contents of which are currently being…

Three More Hit With Drug Suspensions Two players have been suspended for positive tests for drugs of abuse, and another has been suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Astros outfielder Marc Wik was suspended 50 games for a drug of abuse. The 23-year-old played every position but catcher, pitcher and center field a year ago. He was drafted in the 21st round in 2012 out of Chabot (Calif.) JC. Blue Jays righthander Clinton Hollon was suspended 50 games for a drug of abuse.After six appearances in 2013, Hollon had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and returned to the mound in 2015, making 12 appearances in short-season and low Class A. He said he was touching 96 mph in June, but he was suspended in August for using amphetamines.…

johnmanuel @baseballamerica.com So what would you do? Two of the top talents in the 2016 draft class are high school pitchers, New Jersey lefty Jason Groome and Kansas righty Riley Pint. Groome offers physicality and a potentially premium breaking ball, is just 17 and already is a beast at a listed 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. Even through an eligibility dust-up this spring, he has impressed scouts with his stuff and his ability to handle the scrutiny of being a top prospect, crucial when the industry entered the spring with significant makeup questions. Pint, meanwhile, has handled his own degree of being under the microscope with aplomb. He has one of the fastest arms scouts have seen in years, has hit a reported 102 mph and has four pitches to go with…

MARIETTA, GA. Josh Lowe loves baseball so much that as he draws closer to likely being drafted in the first round in June, he said that he and his family “eat, sleep and breathe” the sport. Sounds like hyperbole, right? A quick study reveals that the only exaggeration is in his skill set. The recently graduated third baseman/righthander from Marietta’s Pope High entered the Georgia Class 6A semifinals batting .407 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .605 on-base percentage, plus a 1.71 ERA, six saves and a 95 mph fastball. Those are definitive numbers, and he’s not the only seamhead from his home north of Atlanta. Nathaniel Lowe, a junior first baseman at Mississippi State, may be a first-day selection, and the Mariners in 1986 drafted their father…

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. The names haven’t changed. They’re the same ones Will Craig has known since his elementary school days, the same faces he used to see on the field in travel ball. In high school, too. Craig, Wake Forest’s two-way junior star, can’t help but look at the stats sometimes. He loves numbers. He’ll pull up the national leaderboards and see Nick Senzel—considered one of, if not the, best hitter in this year’s draft class—near the top of most categories. It’s the same Nick Senzel that Craig has played against since he was 8 years old. Other times, Craig will check out a mock draft—yes, he pays attention to those things— and he’ll smile as he sees Senzel’s name or Dakota Hudson or Jordan Sheffield or Wil Crowe among the…

Harvey Has Hernia Surgery BALTIMORE Righthander Hunter Harvey had successful sports-hernia surgery, and the Orioles hope the 2013 first-rounder will be pitching again no later than July 1. Dr. William Meyers performed the surgery on May 2 in Philadelphia. Players routinely are sidelined four to six weeks. “That came out good,” big league manager Buck Showalter said. Harvey experienced two setbacks this spring after leaving an exhibition start in the third inning with discomfort in his groin. The latest occurred at extended spring training and led to the examination and surgery. Harvey hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since July 25, 2014, at low Class A Delmarva, mostly because of a strained right flexor mass. He also sustained a fractured right fibula after being hit by a comebacker during…

Pentecost Nears Return TORONTO The Blue Jays still see a promising future behind the plate for Max Pentecost, the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft who is steadily moving toward an on-field return after three shoulder surgeries. Making up for lost time is going to be the priority for the 23-year-old, since his last action on the field came in his draft year. He appeared in a combined 25 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and at shortseason Vancouver in 2014 before his injury woes began. The product of Kennesaw State hadn’t played since until May 12, when he went 3-for-4 as a DH for low Class A Lansing. “The best way to put that is: We’re confident in Max’s ability and confident that he’s got a chance…

A Thompson Turnaround NEW YORK While playing at Westminster Christian High in Miami, David Thompson broke Prince Fielder’s career prep home run record for the state of Florida. Thompson then had an accomplished career at Miami and landed with the Mets as a fourth-round pick in 2015. Now, the 22-year-old third baseman is off to a fast start at low Class A Columbia. He led the South Atlantic League with 36 RBIs through 32 games while hitting .299/.370/.496 with 16 extra-base hits, including three home runs. Thompson hit just .218 and slugged .320 in 59 games at short-season Brooklyn last season in his pro debut. The Mets believe he ran out of gas, having reported shortly after playing through the College World Series. “I was tired, but I just had…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ KANSAS CITY Right fielder Jorge Bonifacio appeared to be on a treadmill going nowhere the past two seasons at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, despite a breakout 2013 season. Bonifacio hit .298/.372/.429 in 88 games with three different clubs in 2013, when he did not turn 20 until June 4. He missed nearly six weeks that season with a broken hamate in his wrist, which he injured during batting practice in May. He earned a July 30 promotion to the Naturals and hit .301 in 25 games. Bonifacio spent the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons at Northwest Arkansas, hitting just .235/.303/.361 in 1,102 plate appearances. How much the broken hamate sapped his power in 2014, when he hit just four…

Moya Makes His Way To Detroit DETROIT Steven Moya enjoyed a breakout season at Triple-A Toledo. It was so impressive that it earned the corner outfielder a callup to Detroit on May 11, a night after the Tigers whiffed 20 times against Nationals righthander Max Scherzer. Through 31 games this season, Moya led the Mud Hens in just about every offensive category. Even with Tigers corner outfielders J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton locked up at least through the 2017 season, Moya found a path to the big leagues. Pitch recognition has always been an issue for Moya, who stands in at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds. That leaves the lefthanded batter with plenty of strike zone to work with. His problem in the past had been swinging at too many offspeed…

Cubs Get Hits In Lower Rounds CHICAGO Five years into president of baseball operations Theo Epstein’s regime, a minor league system that once looked top-heavy is showing signs of developing quality from the middle rounds—at least among hitters. Two of this year’s early success stories came from deep within the 2014 draft class: 14throunder Chesny Young, a righthanded hitting second baseman at Double-A Tennessee, and 16th-rounder Jason Vosler, a lefty-hitting third baseman at high Class A Myrtle Beach. Neither has a ton of power or speed. Vosler has a little more power, while Young is more of a threat on the bases. But both speak to a Cubs draft philosophy that might start producing big leaguers beyond the draft’s top 10 overall picks. “We try to look for certain profile…

Blessing In Disguise ST. LOUIS When the Cardinals had the chance, they opted not to add righthander Alex Reyes to the 40-man roster and end his suspension in time to have a normal season. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep a normal schedule. Throughout the final 39 games of his 50-game suspension for marijuana use, the organization’s top prospect made regular, scheduled starts in extended spring training. As the Cardinals readied for Reyes’ return on May 22 with a planned start at Triple-A Memphis, he had thrown nearly 40 innings, exactly the same as the starters already in the Redbirds’ rotation. “He’ll be ready,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “That was the idea.” Reyes, 21, pitched 62⁄3 innings and struck out 13 in his penultimate start of extended spring. His…

Mengden Comes Out Firing OAKLAND With an exaggerated delivery and a broad mustache, rigthhander Daniel Mengden pitches with a flair that the oldtimers would have adored. “He’s like the old throwback, with the high pants and a handlebar mustache,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “He has a gritty, hard-core attitude on the mound. He comes right at you, like an old Western sheriff.” Mengden dominated at Double-A Midland to such an extend—he went 2-0, 0.78 in four starts, striking out 28 in 23 innings—that the Athletics quickly promoted him to Triple-A Nashville, where he tossed six shutout innings in his first start. He credits his impressive start to his offseason training program at Fairchild Sports Performance in Houston, where he worked intensely to gain strength. “The offseason is really crucial,”…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PHOENIX In town to scout University of San Diego shortstop Kyle Holder last spring, scouting director Deric Ladnier stopped by UC San Diego to see righthander Justin Donatella, whom scout Jeff Mousser was planning to turn in as a potential late-round pick. “I watched him pitch for two or three innings and I said to (Mousser), ‘Don’t let me forget about Justin Donatella,’ ” Ladnier said. He didn’t forget, and Donatella’s first month in full-season ball has been hard to forget. Through seven starts at low Class A Kane County, he went 4-1, 1.41 with four walks, 28 strikeouts and no home runs allowed in 38 innings. The Diamondbacks took Donatella in the 15th round in 2015 because…

Allen Puts In The Work SAN DIEGO Austin Allen, at 6-foot-4 and close to 250 pounds, looked more like a first baseman than a catcher. His lefthanded bat has more value at catcher, the position he played at Division II Florida Tech, so with his first full season looming, the 22-year-old made a few adjustments to prepare. Allen, a fourth-round pick in 2015, maintained a better diet with help from low Class A Fort Wayne manager Anthony Contreras, who served as his “accountability coach.” Last offseason, Allen improved his fitness through workouts with Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, who shares the same agent, and reported to spring training at 225 pounds. He also flattened his swing. “It’s not going to be an easy road for him (to stay at catcher), to…

PHILADELPHIA The replay machines first started humming on the final day of March 2014, with a 105-second review of a call at first base in Pittsburgh. Can we all agree that baseball hasn’t been the same since? Once upon a time in this game, if an umpire called you out, you were out. If he called you safe, you were safe. About all you could do if you disagreed was kick dirt or heave the nearest base into the outfield. Not any more. It’s now three seasons and nearly 3,000 replay reviews later. The bottom line? “We have done what we hoped to do, and I think most people in baseball are happy we have instant replay in place,” said Braves vice chairman John Schuerholz, the original chairman of baseball’s…

STAFF REPORT Jose Reyes, on paid administrative leave since Feb. 23 following allegations of a domestic abuse incident involving his wife in Hawaii, accepted a suspension without pay from Major League Baseball through May 31. The suspension is retroactive to Feb. 23, meaning any compensation Reyes received since he was placed on paid leave must be returned to the Rockies. The suspension will cost Reyes approximately a third of his $22 million salary. Reyes agreed to the suspension and will not appeal, MLB said. He can take part in extended spring training for the remainder of his suspension and can begin a rehab assignment June 1. Reyes was arrested in October after allegedly assaulting his wife in Hawaii. TV station KHNL, an NBC affiliate, reported that the alleged incident took…

STAFF REPORT Raul A. Mondesi, son of the former major leaguer Raul Mondesi and the Royals’ top prospect, was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. According to the New York Post, Mondesi— who made his major league debut in the World Series last year against the Mets— was supposed to have been suspended for 80 games, but MLB and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement to reduce the suspension to 50 games after Mondesi showed the substance (Clenbuterol) was inadvertently ingested in cold medicine. In a statement, Mondesi, 20, took “full responsibility.” “I took an over-the-counter medication (Subrox-C), which I bought in the Dominican Republic to treat cold and flu symptoms. I failed to read the labeling on the medication or consult with my trainer…

BOSTON When the news came that Garrett Richards likely needs Tommy John surgery, the reality hit the Angels that they were in a place from which they may not be able to escape. Andrew Heaney was already on the disabled list, C.J. Wilson trying to come back from surgery, Tyler Skaggs trying to come back, and what Mike Scioscia is left with is the soul of Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago, Nick Tropeano, Cory Rasmus and the just-acquired Jhoulys Chacin. This happens in a division where Oakland has already lost Jarrod Parker to a broken elbow and Chris Bassitt to Tommy John while awaiting the return of Henderson Alvarez. And the Rangers are monitoring the rehab starts of Yu Darvish, and the Astros just got back Lance McCullers, taking his rehab…

A mid-May look at how the first round may shake out: 1. PHILLIES: A.J. Puk, lhp, Florida 2. REDS: Kyle Lewis, of, Mercer 3. BRAVES: Riley Pint, rhp, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Overland Park, Kan. 4. ROCKIES: Mickey Moniak, of, La Costa Canyon HS, Carlsbad, Calif. 5. BREWERS: Corey Ray, of, Louisville 6. ATHLETICS: Jason Groome, lhp, Barnegat (N.J.) HS 7. MARLINS: Delvin Perez, ss, International Baseball Academy, Ceiba, P.R. 8. PADRES: Taylor Trammell, of, Mount Paran Christian School, Kennesaw, Ga. 9. TIGERS: Nick Senzel, 3b/ss, Tennessee 10. WHITE SOX: Braxton Garrett, lhp, Florence (Ala.) HS 11. MARINERS: Blake Rutherford, of, Chaminade Prep HS, Canoga park, Calif. 12. RED SOX: Zack Collins, c, Miami 13. RAYS: Ian Anderson, rhp, Shenendohowa High, Clifton Park, N.Y. 14. INDIANS: Alex Kirilloff, of, Plum…

The chance to define yourself—that is the ultimate gift of the social media era. Whoever you think you are, whoever you want to be, your brand, your persona, your identity, it is yours to shape, to build and display. It’s your personal exhibition to the world. When Corey Ray joined Twitter in June of 2011, as a teenager, he didn’t overthink it. There was no grand marketing scheme. His username, his new identity, sprouted from the first three words that popped into his head: @FutureIs_Bright. “(I was) just optimistic,” Ray explains, “and I work hard, and the way that I work it’ll pay off eventually, and eventually I’ll do some great things.” Ray couldn’t have picked a name more apt, more prescient. @FutureIs_Bright is the perfect representation of his modest…

PRINCE GEORGE, VA. Colonial Heights (Va.) High ace Noah Murdock faced a difficult test when he matched up against Prince George (Va.) High, a team with a strong baseball tradition and a lineup filled with fundamentally sound players. Prince George eventually got the best of Murdock, but the righthander showed potential that could get him drafted high in 2016. Murdock defines projection. He stands at 6-foot-7, 180 pounds and is as thin as high school pitching prospects come, but he has a high waist and wide, sloped shoulders. He has a frame that looks like it could pile on muscle as Murdock matures. That maturity likely will happen at Virginia, though. Murdock is committed to play for the Cavaliers next year and has been very clear about his desire to…

Swihart Still Aims For Catcher BOSTON For Blake Swihart, the long-term goal remains unaltered. “I still love catching and want to be a catcher,” he said. But while he continues to do daily catching drills and continues to get regular playing time behind the plate, his job description at Triple-A Pawtucket has expanded to include time in left field. With both Swihart and Christian Vazquez in the organization and the Red Sox rotation struggling early, Boston elected to commit to Vazquez at the big league level while optioning Swihart to Pawtucket. That path was chosen both because of the team’s high regard for Vazquez’s work behind the plate and in hopes of letting Swihart prepare to serve as a depth option both behind the plate and in the outfield over…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ATLANTA Third baseman Austin Riley has discovered the pro game is not as easy as he made it look after signing with the Braves as a supplemental first-round pick in 2015. Selected out of a Mississippi high school, Riley wound up tying for second in the organization with 12 home runs after playing 58 total games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and Appalachian leagues. He he hit .304/.389/.544 and earned the distinction of top power hitter in the system. Riley turned 19 five days prior to Opening Day this year, and through his first 31 games at low Class A Rome he hit .244/.292/.403 with strikeouts nearly 32 percent of the time. On the positive side, 13 of…

Joseph’s Gets His Chance PHILADELPHIA Last October, the Phillies removed first baseman Tommy Joseph from the 40-man roster. He cleared waivers and remained in the organization, but the exit ramp was approaching—and he knew it. “I hadn’t been a very reliable player,” said Joseph, 24. “(The Phillies) could have easily kicked me to the curb and said I was never going to figure it out. But their patience has always been unbelievable, and they gave me another opportunity.” The surprise of minor league camp, Joseph has carried that success into the regular season. Through his first 26 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he hit .352/.375/.626 with 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs.’ As a reward, Joseph was given his first big league call-up on May 13 and started at…

Fulmer Blazes Trail To Majors CHICAGO Off to their best start in a decade, the White Sox showed they are serious about staying competitive this season by releasing ineffective lefthander John Danks and eating the remaining $11.9 million on his contract. The ripple effect reached all the way down to Double-A Birmingham, where righthander and top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer has shown steady improvement. The eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Fulmer broke slowly from the gates with the Barons, losing his first three starts while allowing 12 runs on 12 hits and 10 walks in 13 innings. The 22-year-old Vanderbilt product struggled with his fastball command early on. Over his next three starts at Birmingham, all wins, Fulmer settled in and gave up just five runs on 14…

No First Chance For Chargois MINNEAPOLIS Righthander J.T. Chargois earned all-Conference USA honors at Rice when the Twins drafted him in 2012. The switchhitting first baseman/DH compiled a .422 on-base percentage and had a 33-game onbase streak during his junior year. So when the Twins used a second-round pick on him, they considered letting him bring along his first baseman’s mitt for, oh, zero seconds. “We wouldn’t be doing our job if we let a talent like that play first base,” vice president for player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “Yeah, he’s a good player. He could have been a minor league first baseman—but we want him in the major leagues.” The 25-year-old probably will get there this season, because the Twins wisely focused on Chargois’ other baseball asset: A fastball…

Herget Works In Reverse Now CINCINNATI The Reds have taken several college relievers in the last couple of years and tried them as starters—from Tony Cingrani to Michael Lorenzen to Nick Howard. While Cincinnati has had varying degrees of success with those pitchers, they have made a concerted attempt to maximize each of those pitchers’ talents. The team has done the opposite with righthander Jimmy Herget, a 2015 sixth-round pick from South Florida. The Bulls’ Friday starter for all three years in Tampa, Herget went 24-11, 1.96 and was named to the allconference team in the American Athletic Conference in both 2014 and 2015. Reds amateur scouts saw a fastball in the low 90s and a good slider, to go along with a delivery that was universally described as “funky.”…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ HOUSTON Righthander Francis Martes shot through the system in 2015, beginning at low Class A Quad Cities and ending with three starts at Double-A Corpus Christi. But the beginning of this season has offered a reminder Martes is still just 20 years old. He won’t turn 21 until November and has much to refine before he ascends to Houston. Martes, the system’s top pitching prospect, has struggled with command in several of his early-season starts in the Texas League. After opening April with six innings of one-hit ball against Tulsa, the young power pitcher saw his ERA rise to 7.56 over his next four starts. “It’s been up and down,” Corpus Christi manager Rodney Linares said of Martes’…

Diaz Moves To The Bullpen SEATTLE The Mariners’ minor league starting pitcher of the year for the past two seasons is now a reliever. Righthander Edwin Diaz began the conversion on May 10. “The guy has a chance to be a pretty good reliever,” general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “Edwin has plus fastball velocity, plus fastball life and what at times is a plus breaking ball. “The changeup has never really been easy for him. It’s not the most conventional arm action and delivery you will ever see. So the likelihood of him picking up that third pitch was maybe a little bit more remote.” Diaz, 22, was a third-round selection in 2012 out of the Caguas Military Academy in Puerto Rico. This season he went 2-3, 3.10 in five…

Young Reliever Shows Poise DENVER Reliever Carlos Estevez had hoped to make his big league debut in September. The 23-year-old righthander never expected that memorable moment would come on April 23. And after making just five appearances at Triple-A Albuquerque to start the season, Estevez never imagined that soon after reaching the majors, manager Walt Weiss would be using him in pressure situations. Weiss said that “obviously, the sheer stuff ” was intriguing with Estevez. But a 96-99 mph fastball, a plus slider that he only began throwing after the 2014 season and a very good changeup weren’t the determining factors that led Weiss to summon the 6-foot-4 Estevez with little wiggle room. “His demeanor and his mentality, that’s been a big factor,” Weiss said. “That’s why I moved him…

Arroyo Looks Up To The Best SAN FRANCISCO Shortstop Christian Arroyo was playing in the Arizona Fall League when he heard that Brandon Crawford agreed to a sixyear, $75 million extension with the Giants. Arroyo’s initial reaction was not dread or jealousy at seeing his preferred position effectively blocked. Instead, he texted a congratulatory note to Crawford . . . and was surprised when he received one back, telling him to keep doing well in the AFL. “I thought, ‘How do you know about the Fall League?’ ” Arroyo said. “He’s winning Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger. He’s got a lot going on. But I’ve kind of picked up on that from the (veterans) here. You don’t think they’re ever watching, but they see more than you think.” Count Buster…

Major League Baseball is investigating the Red Sox over their 2015 international signings, focusing on whether the team signed multiple Venezuelan players in “package deals” and whether that would be considered a circumvention of MLB’s international bonus pools, according to multiple international sources. During the process, MLB officials questioned players as young as 16 individually, according to multiple sources, and threatened to suspend them if they were not truthful. The commissioner’s office acknowledged the questioning but said no players were threatened with suspension. The Red Sox were extremely aggressive in Venezuela last year, with the majority of their top signings coming from that country. Several of those players came from the same trainers, a common practice referred to as a package deal that involves signing multiple players from the same…

JOHNNY ARMSTRONG, ORANGE, TEXAS One of the biggest strengths of this year’s draft class is the impressive top-end talent and depth of the high school pitching. And that’s a worry of sorts for scouting directors and general managers, because there is a belief that picking a high school pitcher near the top of the draft is a risky gambit. It’s an understandable concern. High school pitchers taken in the first round in recent years have had a rocky road, especially when it comes to health. Of the 15 high school pitchers who were drafted and signed in the top 20 picks since 2010, nine have had a serious injury. Seven have had Tommy John surgery. And some of the pitchers who were considered exceptional prospects coming out of high school—Dylan…

DENVER John Young played the game of baseball. He coached. He scouted. Most of all, however, Young helped change the direction of baseball. It was Young, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, who became concerned during his days in scouting about the lack of black prospects. And he did something about it. Young was the driving force behind the creation of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), which has grown from an 11-player tryout camp in its inception in 1989 to its current status of 300 leagues in 200 cities not only in the United States, but also Canada, the Caribbean and South America. Young, who had diabetes, died in a Los Angeles-area hospital on May 8, three days after he had initially been admitted for amputation of…

1. A.J. PUK, LHP FLORIDA The top-ranked player in Florida’s top-ranked 2013 recruiting class, Puk has developed into a potential top overall pick in college. He broke out as a sophomore, helping Florida to the College World Series and then pitching for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. A Preseason All-American, Puk was inconsistent at the start of the season and was briefly sidelined by back spasms. But he has since rounded into form and again looks the part of dominant starter. Puk throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s and thanks to the downhill angle and the excellent extension his 6-foot-7 frame enables him to get, the pitch plays up even further. Puk’s slider and changeup both could use further refinement, but both have a chance to develop…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ST. PETERSBURG First baseman Casey Gillaspie learned three different lessons in 2015. First for the 2014 first-round pick from Wichita State was the reward for his hot start at low Class A Bowling Green. He hit 16 homers and drove in 44 runs in 64 games to earn a promotion to high Class A Charlotte. Next came the frustration of the July 2 broken left hand that forced him to miss seven weeks and derailed the rest of his season. And then the reality check of competing with the best prospects in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .191 in 89 at-bats. “It was tough for me missing the second half of the season, pretty much knowing that…

Refsnyder Tries Outfield Again NEW YORK Rob Refsnyder broke into pro ball as a right fielder at low Class A Charleston in 2012, about a month after the Yankees made him a fifth-round pick from Arizona. Believing his bat didn’t have enough power to play on a corner, the Yankees moved Refsnyder to second base the following season. This spring they looked for a backup third baseman, so they tried the 25-year-old at the hot corner. Eventually, the Yankees settled on utility infielder Ronald Torreyes for the major league roster, and Refsnyder returned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. On the way out the door he mentioned the possibility of playing right field again. That happened on May 3, and Refsnyder knows that more positions will equal more opportunities to see the big…

Hood Pursues First Love MIAMI Destin Hood’s love for baseball began at age 4, when he would slide head first into second base. “Baseball was intriguing,” said Hood, a 26-year-old native of Mobile, Ala. “I loved the crack of the bat. I loved to wear the cap—putting it on straight, not backward. I wanted to be professional.” But Hood also was a gifted all-around athlete. As a 6-foot-2, 190-pound high school football star, he signed to play wide receiver at Alabama. This was February 2008, which was coach Nick Saban’s first full recruiting class for the Crimson Tide. That class included future Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram, star wide receiver Julio Jones and several future NFL defensive standouts. Hood, though, didn’t feel the same passion for football that he…

Schrock Plays To Strengths WASHINGTON Low Class A Hagerstown second baseman Max Schrock knows what he is— and he’s fine with that. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Schrock was a 13th-round pick last year even after having a successful college career at South Carolina. As a minor leaguer, he has played the game the same way he did growing up in the Chapel Hill, N.C., area while cheering for similarly built Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox. Through 30 games with the Suns, Schrock hit .336/.403/.429 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (nine) and 11 stolen bases. “I’m a smaller guy, so I’m not going to hit 20 or 25 home runs,” said Schrock. “It’s my job to get on base any way I can and slap the ball around a little…

Krieger Starts Pro Career Hot CLEVELAND Second baseman Tyler Krieger made up for the slight delay to his pro career with a hot start at low Class A Lake County this season. The 22-year-old ranked among the Midwest League’s leading hitters in the first six weeks of the season and was a big reason why the Captains had the best record in the league. “Tyler is a baseball guy. He eats, sleeps and breathes it,” director of player development Carter Hawkins said. In his first 30 games, the switch-hitting Krieger batted .351/.423/.430 with 14 walks and 31 strikeouts. The Indians made him a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in 2015. Following his sophomore year, Krieger had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He played his junior…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PITTSBURGH The Pirates usually promote their prospects at a deliberate pace, but lefthander Brandon Waddell is bucking that trend. The lefthander reached Double-A Altoona on May 4 after just 11 pro starts. He went 4-0, 0.93 in five starts at high Class A Bradenton to start the season, then won his Altoona debut by allowing two runs in 62⁄3 innings against Erie. Through eight starts this season, he went 7-0, 1.51 with 38 strikeouts, four walks and 28 hits allowed in 48 innings. The Pirates selected Waddell in the fifth round of last year’s draft after he helped Virginia capture the College World Series title. In fact, he was the winning pitcher in the finale. Bradenton manager Michael…

The Importance Of Economy MILWAUKEE Through his first six starts of the season, the only issue Josh Hader was having was pitch counts. The 22-year-old lefthander was dominating the hitters he did face while pitching for Double-A Biloxi. And he was beginning to become more economical with his pitches. But Hader logged just 29 innings over his first half-dozen starts, qualifying for a victory with the requisite five innings just three times. Through eight starts overall, Hader went 1-1, 0.89 with 54 strikeouts and 13 walks in 41 innings. Opponents hit .200. “We were careful with his pitch counts coming out of spring training,” farm director Tom Flanagan said. “He had some high pitch counts, but he has been doing a better job of that lately. He has been throwing…

Long Looks Like A Big Leaguer ANAHEIM It’s far too soon to tell whether righthander Grayson Long will develop into a major league starter. After all, the 2015 thirdrounder hasn’t completed a full season of pro ball yet. But Long sure looks the part. One glance at his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, and it’s easy to see why the 22-year-old already has gained a reputation as a rotation workhorse, and why he projects more as a starter than a reliever. “He’s a big, strong kid from Texas,” director of minor league operations Mike LaCassa said. “He’s what a starter looks like, that’s for sure.” Long, who threw 96 innings for a Texas A&M team that fell one win short of the 2015 College World Series, was the first pitcher selected by…

Mazara Makes His Case To Stay ARLINGTON One month into the career of 21-year-old right fielder Nomar Mazara and most Rangers fans are convinced he should be in the major leagues to stay. His debut on April 10 was mouth-watering enough, with singles in his first two at-bats and a solo homer in his third. One of the Rangers’ hottest hitters through mid-May, Mazara’s defense proved to be far better than what the Rangers saw this spring, his first in the big league clubhouse. Mazara ranked among the American League leaders in batting average (.333) and on-base percentage (.392) in April, and the AL selected him as its rookie of the month. His .852 OPS was the highest in Texas club history by a qualifying rookie in the season’s first…

Back On The Sidelines LOS ANGELES The Dodgers have suspended shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena—again. The 26-year-old Cuban infielder began the season at Double-A Tulsa but was disciplined for “repeated failure to comply with the terms of his contract,” according to director of player development Gabe Kapler. The suspension (without pay) is intended to cover the remainder of the 2016 season. Kapler offered no specifics, using the same wording the Dodgers used a year ago when they also tried to suspend Arruebarrena for the 2015 season. That suspension was eventually reduced to 30 days, and he wound up playing in 53 games, mostly at Tulsa. Arruebarrena is in the third year of a fiveyear, $25 million deal he signed in February 2014. The Dodgers called Arruebarrena to the majors four times in…