Innholdsfortegnelse for August 24, 2018 i Baseball America

Ben McDonald sat in awe alongside his adviser, Scott Boras, when the two met with Donald Trump associates at Trump Tower in the spring of 1989. The real estate tycoon had an eye on forming a baseball league and he wanted McDonald as the first marquee player stolen from Major League Baseball. The Orioles made McDonald the first overall pick in the 1989 draft. The 6-foot-7 righthander carried Louisiana State to the College World Series that year and had starred in the 1988 Summer Olympics, racking up two wins for Team USA in a gold medal-winning performance. McDonald spent a few days on his first visit to New York City and was housed in a Trump Hotels suite that was “as big as my house” growing up in Denham Springs,…

When Adrian Beltre said last season that the media’s constant inquiries were his primary motivation behind his July surge to 3,000 hits, he was only partially kidding. The 39-year-old Rangers third baseman does not—repeat: does not—like speaking about himself, his accomplishments and what physical tools have allowed him to navigate 21 seasons in the major leagues. He claims to have no idea where he stands on the all-time hits list (he has entered the top 20) or how many home runs he needs for 500 (fewer than 35). He doesn’t seem remotely interested in catching Brooks Robinson for most games played at third base, even though he could take over the top spot next season. If not for the media and his son, Adrian Jr., Beltre says he wouldn’t have…

AMERICAN LEAGUE BEST HITTER 1. Mike Trout, Angels 2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox 3. Jose Altuve, Astros BEST POWER 1. Aaron Judge, Yankees 2. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees 3. Mike Trout, Angels BEST BUNTER 1. Dee Gordon, Mariners 2. Brett Gardner, Yankees 3. Delino DeShields Jr., Rangers BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Mike Trout, Angels 2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox 3. Jose Ramirez, Indians BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST 1. Jose Altuve, Astros 2. Jean Segura, Mariners 3. Andrelton Simmons, Angels BEST BASERUNNER 1. Dee Gordon, Mariners 2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox 3. Jose Altuve, Astros FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Dee Gordon, Mariners 2. Byron Buxton, Twins 3. Delino DeShields Jr., Rangers MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Mike Trout, Angels 2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox 3. Jose Altuve, Astros BEST PITCHER 1. Chris Sale, Red Sox…

@JCRASNICK David Ortiz arrived at Nationals Park on All-Star Game weekend with expectations of managing the World Team in the Futures Game, hanging out with his good buddy Torii Hunter and getting to know some of the bright young prospects in baseball when he wasn’t taking part in autograph sessions or interview scrums. Then someone brought up a topic that always makes a lefthanded power hitter squirm. No, not that topic. We’re talking about defensive shifts. “Besides them taking like 500 hits away from me?” said Ortiz, drawing laughs from everyone in his personal orbit. Before “launch angle” became part of the lexicon and a slugger’s manhood was measured by his exit velocity, Ortiz knew how it felt to look up and see three infielders stationed on the right side…

1. Willi Castro, SS, Tigers Acquired in trade that sent OF Leonys Martin to Indians Castro has the defensive chops to be an all-glove, no-hit shortstop for a team emphasizing infield defense. 2. Cody Carroll, RHP, Orioles Acquired in trade that sent RP Zach Britton to Yankees Carroll is a durable, big league-ready reliever who has touched 100 mph and throws an average slider. 3. Gilberto Celestino, OF, Twins Acquired in trade that sent RP Ryan Pressly to the Astros Celestino is a 19-year-old in short-season ball with a shot to be a fourth outfielder because of his glove in center field, strong arm and bat speed. 4. Dean Kremer, RHP, Orioles Acquired in trade that sent SS Manny Machado to Dodgers Kremer rode a 90-96 mph fastball, a curveball…

Minor League Baseball recently released its annual list of the teams that ranked among the top 25 teams in terms of licensed marketing sales, and there were some usual suspects and some newcomers. As usual, the list wasn’t ranked, so it’s unclear which team was the overall winner, but there were six teams that continued their streaks of dominance. Those six—the Durham Bulls, Trenton Thunder, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, El Paso Chihuahuas, Sacramento River Cats and Columbia Fireflies—have found themselves on the top 25 list every year since its inception in 1993 or for the entirety of their franchise’s existence. There were seven newcomers to the list this year: The Reading Fightin Phils, Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Albuquerque Isotopes, New Orleans Baby Cakes and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.…

SCENES FROM COOPERSTOWN Here’s what you missed lately if you’re not following us on social media—a front row seat at Cooperstown. National writer Kyle Glaser attended Hall of Fame induction weekend to witness a historic 2018 class—including Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome and Trevor Hoffman—be enshrined in Cooperstown. Follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleAGlaser PLUS Kyle wrote about the induction speeches, highlighting the development each member of the class made as a young player. Read all about it online: Search “2018 Hall Of Fame Class Took Different Journeys” at BaseballAmerica.com MIDSEASON TOP 10 PROSPECTS The BA prospect team brings you the most updated prospect coverage possible with Midseason Top 10 Prospects updates for all 30 teams. Find out who’s rising and who’s falling. Search “Midseason Top 10 Prospects By Team”…

“I don’t even think it has to do with offense or defense, but it’s just my mentality of the determination to do what I love to do and to think I could get better every day.” “Some days offensively you don’t feel fine and defensively you don’t feel fine, but your mind is what keeps you going and gets you believing that you’re OK.” “I always hate striking out. Once I get two strikes, for me it’s ‘put the ball in play.’”…

In a high-scoring game, hitters stood out more than pitchers in the Futures Game, which had a bit of everything, from triple-digit velocity to a slew of home runs and advanced offensive approaches from young hitters. Here we present the signature displays from the 2018 game. BEST PLAYER FERNANDO TATIS JR. SS, PADRES The 2015 international signing class is shaping up to be an incredible group. Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is a 19-year-old star in the big leagues. Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the best prospect in baseball. Outfielder Leody Taveras (Rangers) and shortstop Andres Gimenez (Mets) are the best prospects in their organizations. Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya, Royals outfielder Seuly Matias, Rays shortstop Lucius Fox, Twins shortstop Wander Javier, Braves outfielder Cristian Pache and Cubs shortstop…

@TRACYRINGOLSBY Rene Lachemann, who spent 53 straight years in pro ball as a player, coach or manager, was speaking at a Boy Scouts banquet in Cheyenne, Wyo., when he was asked about his favorite big leaguer. “I used to think nobody could ever match Brooks (Robinson)…” Lachemann replied, before he went into detail about the exploits of Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. “I’ve seen him do something and say, ‘I’ve never seen that before,’ and the next game I’m saying it again.” When that story was related to Larry Bowa, the former big league shortstop, manager and coach laughed. “I was like that with Schmidty,” Bowa said of his long-time Phillies teammate Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Famer. Then along came Arenado. “I don’t know if he knows it, but…

@JOE_SHEEHAN Growing up as a Yankees fan in New York in the 1980s, managerial firings were as much a part of my childhood summers as sunburn and stickball, Mr. G and Mr. Softee. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner—the original one, the Boss, not the cleaned-up version on the monument out in center field—rarely went through a summer without changing the team’s skipper, whether things were going well or not. The Miller Brewing Company would eventually memorialize these practices in a commercial where Steinbrenner fires manager Billy Martin. That’s how much a part of the game Steinbrenner’s antics were. So it’s interesting, in the wake of Mike Matheny’s firing by the Cardinals on July 14, to see just how rare that kind of move has become. The Cardinals were 47-46 when they…

HAVE A QUESTION? Q How many baseball players are in each organization? —JAKE KLINGMAN, SILVER SPRING, MD. A That seems like a simple question, but the answer is actually somewhat complicated. During the offseason, each organization may have as many as 40 players on its major league roster, 38 on its Triple-A roster, 37 on its Double-A roster and 35 on every other roster. So a club with a standard setup of seven minor league affiliates would be allowed to have up to 290 players under contract. While no organization ever maxes out every possible roster spot, they generally have around 275-280 players under contract at one time. Therefore, one of the benefits of having an extra minor league affiliate is the ability to sign additional players. Thanks to a…

The Cape Cod League annually provides a platform for college players to improve their draft stock. These three pitchers stood out most. JOHN BAKER, RHP BALL STATE Baker had an excellent summer, going 3-2 (2.38 ERA) with 31 strikeouts and two walks in 34 innings for Cotuit. When he left the Cape in mid-July after hitting his innings limit, he led the Cape in ERA and innings. Listed at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, Baker typically throws his fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s, touching 94 mph. He has a full four-pitch arsenal and pounds the strike zone. That overall package gives him a chance to start in pro ball. ALEK MANOAH, RHP WEST VIRGINIA Scouts have been watching Manoah closely since he was in high school in South Florida.…

GERRY BELKO, who pitched in the Pioneer League for Pocatello in 1954, died April 23 in Sandy, Utah. He was 86. DANIEL BERGER, who played in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League in 1950 died in April in Kingsport, Tenn. He was 87. WALTER CARLSON, a righthander who pitched in the Appalachian and New York-Penn leagues in 1961, died April 11 in Fiddletown, Calif. He was 75. VAUGHN ESHELMAN, a lefthander who pitched for the Red Sox from 1995-97, died July 24 in Magnolia, Texas. He was 49. Eshelman was drafted by the Orioles in the fourth round in 1991 before being acquired by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 1995 season. He made 83 appearances (30 starts) in his three-year major league career, going 15-9, 6.07 with…