Penn League Report

Interview With Zach Stewart 7/27/11

Just hours before he was traded to the White Sox, Zach Stewart and I sat down and talked about what it was like the last time he was traded. In the summer of '09, the Reds swapped Zach Stewart with the Jays in exchange for a package centered around Scott Rolen. And today, ironically enough, he spoke with me about the transition of getting traded and the process of adjusting to a new organization. Here's the interview...

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Interview With Deck McGuire -- His First Day in Double-A

Download Deck McGuire Interview

The day started when Deck McGuire woke up, quickly hopped on a plane to Hartford, CT, from Dunedin, FL, and took a $60 cab ride to New Britain Stadium. This wasn't in the interview, but Deck described the cab driver as only talking about GPS's, and he was "weird." Twas a long day, as you can imagine. Unfortuantely for Deck, he was in charge of charting pitches during his first day with the Fisher Cats, a game that lasted thirteen innings! In any case, enjoy the interview.

Penn League Prospect Update: Jake Lowery, Alex Dickerson, Miguel Pena

Time for an update on a few guys worth keeping an eye on. In addition, I'll provide a usual scouting report. I'm going to try and get one of these out every couple of days going forward.

Jake Lowery -- Mahoning Valley Scrappers -- Indians: When Jake Lowery was selected in the 4th round this year by the Cleveland Indians, no one questioned his bat. Sure, he had and still has lots of work to be done as he's somewhat raw behind the plate and the bat isn't completely developed, but he's definitely opened up some eyes since the season started. Mainly with the stick.

I don't want to go too much in to detail because I'll want to save a full scouting report for a later post, but for stocky catcher who hits left-handed in his first season of pro ball, Jake Lowery is impressing the hell out of those who have seen him. Jake has some left-handed power and he's already slugged five home runs. To put that in to context, he's just fourth in the league in that very category, which is another point that proves how rare home runs are hit in this league. He's hit .262/.340 and has even shoved Alex Lavisky out of the starting role. Even though that's minor, it shows the Indians believe more in Lowery as a catcher, despite Lavisky's slow start to the season.

Alex Dickerson -- State College Spikes -- Pirates: The reason I bring Dickerson up is because of his special day today, which included his first career homer as well as a 2-4 showing at the plate. He's already gotten off to a hot start, hitting .300/.344 in 30 at bats for State College and moreso, he's playing first base. Interestingly enough, he's playing first base for the first time in six years, but he's definitely not an outfielder and it's surprising that Indiana didn't play him elsewhere during his time there.

Dickerson's best tool is his power, which might be his only tool but it's at least already developed. He's got a ways to go before the Pirates even think about preparing him for the Majors, but I expect them to refine his swing as he heads through the system. Granted, he isn't a bad hitter by any means but I fear his swing is too uppercut. Even so, he's someone to keep an eye on for the Spikes as he's not only talented, but advanced as well.

Miguel Pena -- Lowell Spinners -- Red Sox: Pena has an exciting arm. He throws at an over-the-top delivery with a free and easy motion. He's projectable both body as well as stuff wise. He features a fastball that sometimes sits in the low-90's, a slider, curve and even a change-up. He's got the whole arsenal, the question is will he remain with all four pitches going forward.

He has solid command of his fastball and slider but could use some refinery on with his change-up. This season, he boasts a 15/3 K/BB ratio in 15.1 innings, which is very solid. Continuing, he's put up a 2.35 ERA in two starts, but six appearances. He needs to grow in to his body, but has tons of time and is expected to continue to progress through the Sox system.

SI Yanks & Renegades Scouting Reports: 7-21-11

Last night, the Staten Island Yankees hosted the Hudson Valley Renegades for the fifth time this season. After playing three games in Hudson Valley, one of which, a double header that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, the Yanks were sure glad to be back at home. In a long, hot, and sweltering three-hour game the Yanks won 8-7, but it wasn't pretty.

I arrived at the ballpark having seen each team a good amount of times this year -- the SI Yanks six times and the Renegades twelve times -- so I knew which players I wanted to keep an eye on the most. One important thing I learned from a scout once was something called a "follow." Basically, you go to the park with a short list of players who your team wants you to scout and as the game progresses you will inevitably see other players who impress you. You put them on a list called the "follow list" and eventually keep an eye on them as much as you can.

So while I had Cito Culver, Mason Williams, Angelo Gumbs, Jeff Malm and Jason McEachern in mind, I was open to a few others who single-handedly impressed me. One of which was Brandon Pinder, a relief pitcher for the SI Yanks. Here are my reports...

Staten Island Yankees

Mason Williams --

When the Yankees selected Mason Williams in the fourth round of last year's draft, they envisioned a potential leadoff hitter and tablesetter to make his way throughout the system. Williams is already proving the Yankee scouts right for touting him and aside from that, he's simply playing outstanding baseball. Let alone his average that currently sits well in to the .300's, he's already at a very young age turning what were instincts and tools in to Major League assets.

Advanced for a 19-year old, Williams has already shown glimpses of stardom. Mainly with his speed, but again, he's quite raw. He has a simple load and reads pitches pretty well, although at times he's really quick to the ball. Meaning, quite often he won't even read the pitch but simply swing at it without recognizing it's break or location. However, he makes contact really well and when he does, he can drive the ball more than most his age can.

From what I've seen, he's been better off against "stab" pitchers rather than "W" ones, but he'll get better and more acclimated to professional pitching as he makes way through the organization. His best tool as of yet is his outstanding speed, which you obviously cannot teach. Scouts at the park used their stopwatch only once, and for Williams. He's fun to watch run. More to the point, he takes solid routes in the outfield and he's a decent baserunner. He gets caught stealing more times than he should and makes the last out of the inning on the bases sometimes too, but this is the New York Penn League and if he was perfect, he wouldn't be here.

His approach at the plate is what I suggest is his biggest issue. He doesn't walk that much and swings early in the count, even at the first pitch at many times. He has a real good eye at the plate but needs to stay calmer which will eventually help his pitch recognition. Continuing, he has a real lanky frame, although he's strong and projects to put on some muscle. The Yankees have a real special talent in Williams, and I expect him to continue to progress at a normal rate.

Here's an interview I did with Williams: Download Williams Interview

Cito Culver --

Cito Culver might possibly be the most talked about player in the New York Penn League. He's a real special player, and somewhat underrated I think. Most of the people I've spoken to like him at the plate, and the ones who don't have their own opinion, but probably haven't done much scouting on the shortstop this season.

The bat is really underrated. He has tons of bat speed from each side of the plate and he's vastly improved this season alone, especially from the left side which he's been known to have the most difficulties. Unlike Williams, Culver has a calm and simple approach at the plate. He has an easy backload and he gets his front foot down in time from both sides. He has a two-handed swing and has driven the ball a lot this season, even the opposite way from each side of the plate.

He hasn't shown much power yet but there's no rush. He's extremely raw although he's definitely shown that he can hit. There are some questions about his defense at short, since he really doesn't have great range. However, he has a great arm and makes accurate throws, which is what you'd expect from a guy who threw 95 off his high school mound.

I'm excited for him, but expected him to show more power in the early going rather than just ground the ball to center field which he's done quite often. He'll develop better hitting tecniques which should be interesting and scary at the same time given his feel at the plate which has looked fantastic already. Many I've spoken to believe in him, but he's got a long way to go.

Here's an interview I did with Cito Culver: Culver Interview

Branden Pinder --

Pinder was really impressive when I saw him. He kind of reminded me of what Tommy Kahnle was to the SI Yanks last year. Great arm action, lots of arm strength, fastball sitting 94-95 with plus movement, gets lots of swings and misses, but no real secondary pitch.

He was consistently blowing fastballs by hitters sitting consistently at 94-95 and he even got four strikeouts on the first four batters he's faced. Eventually, batters will catch up to his fastball despite the movement considering he really throws nothing else. His arm action was most impressive though as he was real free and easy and able to throw at a consisteny over the top arm slot.

In addition, he has excellent command of that fastball and hit the glove several times exactly where the catcher wanted it. I could see him moving fast through the system, but he needs to develop a change up or slider or something of that sort. If he does, opposing batters better beware.

Hudson Valley Renegades

Jeff Malm --

Jeff Malm home run from last night

Malm is an extremely impressive hitter. The bat is there, and he's very advanced. He's shown that he can hit for power (leading the league with ten home runs) as well as average and if that's not enough, he hits to all fields. However, he's a lousy defender and is basically all bat.

Although he's played better at first base of late, it's going to be interesting to see how he plays out through the system. Again though, the bat is there and he's been real fun to watch hit. He gets the bat head out real quick and has great balance at the plate. He has a quick swing, but it's very flat and at times causes him to strike out too much. Nevertheless, the power is there and it should continue to develop for the former Nevada high school standout.

Scouting Report on Rays LHP Justin Woodall

There's a lot to admire in the arm of Justin Woodall. There's also a lot not to like. Let's start with the former.

I've had the chance to see Woodall pitch several times this year, and I've been impressed. For one thing, he has a live and loose arm. He's also a tremendous athlete. In fact, he was a cornerback at the University of Alabama just as recently as 2009. During all his time spent at college, he had never thrown a baseball, which was astonishing. Especially given the fact that he was rated the best athlete of the 2005 draft class according to Baseball America. The Mets took him then, but he opted to attend Alabama on a football scholarship.

What that means is despite being a 23-year old pitcher who throws 92 on average in the New York Penn League, he's a fantastic athlete who has the slightest bit of tread on his arm, something very tough to find in professional pitchers at this level. Woodall has a very exciting arm, an arm that features a fastball with some bore that ranges in the 91-93 range. In addition, he throws it for strikes and has real quick arm action, almost as if he's throwing a football.

He throws from an over the top angle and is consistent with all his pitches. One of the biggest things I look at when scouting pitchers is whether or not they throw on a downhill plain. Most of the time, pitchers, regardless of height, succeed better and get a ton more whiffs -- basically there pitches are harder to pick up thus making them harder to hit and lay off -- if he throws on downhill plain. Woodall does so, and it'll help him going forward, especially being left-handed.

Woodall features the aforementioned fastball that I discussed, a slider which he throws in the 82-84 range and a change up which needs refining. He has lots of trouble throwing strikes but at the same time is extremely tough to hit, which is why I think he has value as a potential lefty out of the pen despite being a 23-year old in short season A-ball. As I said, there are some negatives regarding Woodall. Aside from difficulties throwing strikes, the age factor again comes in to play. Tim Collins for instance is two years older than Woodall and in the Major Leagues. There are a lot of differences between the two, but both are left handed feature similar stuff. What does that say about Woodall? Even though he was drafted a year later than Collins was signed, it's still worth something given the potential road to the show that he'll take. Does it really make sense to call up a 27-year old albeit left-handed and major league ready (this is obviously fast-forwarding to the year 2014)?

Who knows, but as of now the Rays posess a very likeable intriuging left-hander who's already opened up some eyes within the Rays system. It's rare that you see someone of his age still have a "prospect" tag upon him. He's really not that kind of prospect. Brandon Gomes was called up as a 26-year old though, which is why I believe in Woodall eventually pitching in the Rays pen should things go right.

Getting Up to Date With Renegades 1B Jeff Malm

The man who formerly served as the primary 1st baseman to Eric Hosmer (in high school summer leagues) joined me a for a minute or two to talk his recent success over the past week. Jeff is hitting homers each and every day it seems and currently leads the NYPL in that very statistic. Do listen...

Interview

Interview with Rays Compensation Pick Kes Carter

Rays 1st rounder out of Western Kentucky Kes Carter sat down for a few minutes with me and talked his final college season, the draft, and the latest unfortuante injury of his. Kes when healthy, profiles as a solid hitter with good contact and a nice plate approach. He's an outfielder and has pretty good range, especially for a center fielder. Have a listen...

Interview

Interview with Red Sox Prospect Will Middlebrooks

Following a Futures Game appearance in which he opened the eyes of many, Will Middlebrooks joined me for a quick interview. Have a listen if you dare...

Interview

Scouting Report on Astros/Valley Cats OF Justin Gominsky

In the 11th round of the 2011 Draft, the Astros selected a lanky, toolsy outfielder out of the University of Minnesota by the name of Justin Gominsky. Gominsky, a senior at the time signed quickly and entered pro ball just in time for the New York Penn League to start. I had the chance to see him play last week several times, and I liked what I saw.

Justin Gominsky represents a rare group of college players who still behold the "high upside" tag. Sure, he's 21 and didn't display superstar tools in college, nor in high school, but he's still somewhat raw for someone of his age group and from the people I've spoken to he's expected to continue to develop

Gominsky is stacked with physical ability. He's a big and tall guy, and with a projectable frame he'll likely fill out a bit. He's already strong and has the ability to drive the ball to each gap and even out of the park, but power isn't likely his strongest suit. His bat speed was impressive and his speed up the line was too. In other words, he could be a real threat for any team at the top of the order.

Scouting Report on Mets OF Javier Rodriguez

I was in Staten Island last night (7/5/11) for the SI Yanks vs. Brooklyn Cyclones affair, and boy was it a doozy. First and foremost, what a ballpark the Yanks play at. I was sitting in the scout section which was only a few rows up from the field and I was still able to see the Manhattan skyline. On to the baseball, I got to see a few decent prospects. Two of which I've already written about, and simply want to touch on a different prospect. That would be Javier Rodriguez of the Cyclones. Before I discuss what I saw, here's a video I got of his 8th inning home run. That was officially the first time I caught a homer on tape in person.

 

There's a lot to like about Rodriguez, but there's almost an equal amount of negatives regarding him. Starting with the negatives, he was selected in 2008 and he's still in the NYPL. He spent some time in Savannah this season, but hit around .200 and got assigned to Brooklyn to start the year. Jay Austin and Aaron Hicks are two outfielders of similar mold who are already at High-A, given their raw labels, comparable to Rodriguez, coming out of High School. Rodriguez doesn't have great plate coverage, but has good plate discipline and isn't too aggressive with his approach.