 |
|
| Born: 09/02/1994 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Left |
| Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 191 |
| Mechanics |
| Build: Short, thin; needs to add some strength in lower half but doesn't have a lot of room for growth in frame.
Mechanics: Low three-quarters arm slot; not smooth or fluid arm action, some violence in explosion towards plate, does not gather well at top of delivers, rushes through; does not use lower half enough; arm action is stiff and short on back end; short stride leaves him throwing uphill over his front side. |
| Evaluator | Jeff Moore |
| Report Date | 06/10/2015 |
| Affiliate | Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A, Cardinals) |
| Dates Seen | 06/05/2015 |
| OFP/Risk | 55/Moderate |
| Realistic | 50, No. 4/5 starter |
| MLB ETA | 2017 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 45 | 55 | 86-92 | 92 | Velocity: 55/55 Movement: 45/50 Command: 50/55 Wide range of velocity on fastball, added and subtracted with pitch throughout game; some arm-side run, not enough to generate consistent ground balls; can flatten out easily due to lack of height and lower release point, no downward plane; average command, might not have much room for improvement due to effort in delivery. |
| Curveball | 50 | 55 | 77-81 | 81 | Velocity: 50/50 Movement: 55/55 Command: 60/60 Short, downward movement, did not show good depth; was able to change shape and throw slower with more break at times; used sparingly early in game and only against lefties, used against righties only third time through the order; commanded it well, threw for strikes consistently and kept low in zone. |
| Changeup | 45 | 55 | 77-78 | 81 | Velocity: 50/50 Movement: 45/50 Command: 50/55 A work in progress but has the potential to be an effective third pitch; throws for strikes consistently; can get too firm and overthrow; works best in high 70s to create velocity differential from fastball; shows more consistent arm-side movement than fastball; replicates his arm speed well; comfortable throwing it to same-side hitters; will need some vertical movement to miss bats but has potential. |
| Overall |
|
A lack of size and fluidity to his delivery leave Kaminsky without much projection despite being just 20 years old. He shows good pitchability for a player his age, understanding how to add and subtract with both his fastball and curveball and showing a feel for the development of his changeup, which has the potential to be a third above-average offering. None of the pitches showed as potential plus offerings, however, leaving him with a relatively high floor, but a low ceiling as a back-end starter. |
 |
|
| Born: 03/31/1995 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 180 |
| Mechanics |
| Athletic frame with room for projection; up-tempo worker from the windup, slower out of the stretch; above-average arm speed; three-quarters arm slot; stab; head whack; spine tilt; clean drive and landing; easy delivery. |
| Evaluator | Mauricio Rubio Jr. |
| Report Date | 06/10/2015 |
| Affiliate | Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low-A, Rays) |
| Dates Seen | |
| OFP/Risk | 55/High |
| Realistic | 50 – No. 4 starter |
| MLB ETA | 2018 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 60 | 65 | 90-94 | Command – 40/50 Movement – 45/55 Can reach back for more velocity as the situation dictates; mild run; flashed above-average command; can elevate effectively. |
|
| Screwball | 50 | 60 | 74-79 | Command – 40/50 Movement – 50/60 Bat-missing potential at the highest level; 1-7 movement, flashed a few with sharp downward action, pitch got loose and flatter as the start progressed; command comes and goes on the offering. |
|
| Changeup | 40 | 50 | 80-84 | Command – 40/50 Movement – 40/50 Inconsistent offering; flashes above-average fade; below-average deception, arm speed matches the curveball and not the fastball; firms up and gets flat in the zone. |
|
| Curveball | 40 | 50 | 69-74 | Command – 40/45 Movement – 50/55 11-5 movement; inconsistent arm-speed replication; flashes sharp tilt; doesn't throw the offering for quality strikes. |
| Overall |
|
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft from Walters State Community College (Morristown, TN). Honeywell started his outing strong, displaying a plus fastball and flashing an above-average curve and a plus screwball. Honeywell waned after four innings however, as the plus fastball slid back into average territory and the secondaries weren't as crisp. Honeywell's frame can add good weight and his mechanics can allow his command to improve. |
 |
|
| Born: 03/26/1991 (Age: 24) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 205 |
| Primary Position: 2B | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Well proportioned, medium build; broad chest, sloped shoulders; physically mature. |
| Evaluator | Al Skorupa |
| Report Date | 06/12/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 05-25-2015; 05-26-2015; 05-27-2015 |
| Affiliate | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA, Yankees) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| Mid 2015 | Very Low | 50 | 50; Second-Division Second Baseman | No |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 55 | Average bat speed; even stance with wide base and knees spaced; arms start high and load at shoulder height; leg lift and smooth, efficient weight transfer; simple swing mechanics that he repeats well; line-drive swing plane; plus plate discipline; good plan of attack at the plate; identifies secondary pitches well and track well. |
| Power | 35 | 40 raw; mostly gaps; swing geared towards contact and line drives; does not sell out to drive ball in the air; uses whole field, but best power straight away; will jump on and hammer mistakes to pull side. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 45 | Below-average raw speed; plays slightly up because of Baseball IQ; below-average foot speed and acceleration; not a real stolen-base threat and shouldn’t be running, but can take one here and there if pitcher forgets about him. |
| Glove | 45 | Fringe-average range; actions and mobility fringy and hands inconsistent; capable of making tough play and then booting an easy one; below-average instincts and feel in the infield; below-average clock. |
| Arm | 45 | Below-average arm strength; above-average accuracy. |
| Overall |
|
50; second-division second baseman. Refsnyder will hit for average and get on base, but provides little in the way of speed, power, or defensive value. |
 |
|
| Born: 05/10/1993 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 240 |
| Primary Position: 1B | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| A big boy. Slightly portly but he carries the weight well with broad shoulders and well-proportioned lower-half. |
| Evaluator | Christopher Crawford |
| Report Date | 06/13/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 06/12/2015 |
| Affiliate | Lancaster JetHawks (High-A, Astros) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2017 | Medium | 45 | Bench bat. | No |
| Makeup |
|
Two-way player in college, appeared loose but focused. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 40 | Some feel for hitting, but a lot of things working against him; bat speed is only average, and while there's certainly strength in the swing, that along with the length leads to lots of swing and miss; swing does stay in the zone with leverage and creates backspin, so chance to hit for average isn't completely out of the question; did recognize spin well, wasn't going up to look for walks, but very patient in his three plate appearances, easy to see why his on-base percentage is so much higher than the batting average. |
| Power | 60 | Ball jumps off the bat; swing has some uppercut but it isn't forced, and he gets excellent hip rotation and weight with a short load; keeps his hands in and can crush anything middle-in, and arms are long enough to create extension and hit the ball out of the park the other way; won't turn any singles into doubles with speed, either. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 30 | Not an athlete; clocked at 4.37 on ground ball to second baseman; zero second gear; a clogger in every sense of the word, a guy you will need to pinch run for late in ball games. |
| Glove | 50 | Showed soft hands at first base, but footwork around the bag was very much a work in progress, and he looked anxious on some throws; lack of speed will keep this from ever being anything more than an average grade. |
| Arm | 60 | Former pitcher at Kentucky, throws hard zip and as you would expect from a former SEC pitcher, plenty of accuracy. |
| Overall |
|
It's important to keep in mind that Reed is still relatively new to being just a position player, so the progress he's shown is something to be admired. That being said, there's still a lot of work to be done here if he's going to be a regular at first base, and as impressive as the approach and power is, three true outcome players are an extremely volatile bunch. The ceiling is an average starter at first base capable of hitting 25 to 30 homers a year, with Matt Stairs off the bench as a floor. |
 |
|
| Born: 03/01/1993 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 211 |
| Primary Position: LF | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Sturdy frame; short arms; thick thighs; maxed frame. |
| Evaluator | Tucker Blair |
| Report Date | 06/13/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 6/9/15 – 6/11/15 |
| Affiliate | Binghamton Mets (AA, Mets) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2015 | Low | 50 | 45; Second-Division Starter | No |
| Makeup |
|
Professional on the field the entire series. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 50 | Above-average bat speed; uppercut swing; short arms help quicken bat through zone; lacks extension; quiet bottom half; mild load; stays balanced; recognizes spin; premium approach; uppercut and lack of extension will give issues handling hard run outside and FB on the hands inside. |
| Power | 50 | Plus raw power; uppercut swing and above-average bat speed; power can play average in game. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 40 | 4.32 home to first; lacks a second gear; speed plays slightly better in left field. |
| Glove | 40 | Adventurous in left field; below-average reads and routes; footwork is inconsistent; pure left-field profile. |
| Arm | 40 | Average arm strength; plays down and lacks carry due to short arms and poor footwork. |
| Overall |
|
Conforto displays an average bat, which will allow him to play as a regular in the majors. He is a left-field-only profile, which hinders his overall value. Conforto will hit enough to be a regular, but I did not see anything more than an average regular. There is minimal risk, as he was a seasoned college player. Round Drafted: first round (10th overall), 2014 |
Thank you for reading
This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.
Subscribe now
Then again, a #4 starter projection is nothing to sneeze at; I guess anytime I hear about a starting pitcher candidate, I hope/assume/expect he's going to be MOR (#3) or higher.
I do think he's a 2B. I just think he's fringe to below average defensively at 2B. He has made a tough play going up the middle and then shortly thereafter bungled an easy one in my viewings a couple times (going back previous seasons here as well). I think he will look better defensively on any given day, but in terms of what you're going to get regularly I think it's something short of an average defender at 2B. Different teams have different philosophies, but most would be fine with Refsnyder's defense if they believe in the bat. He really doesn't profile anywhere else, either. If you don't think he's a 2B at all he's basically a non-prospect/emergency LF. I did see him play the outfield in the Cape Cod League, but his footspeed/range isn't an asset out there either.
Thinking of the discussion about role 5's above here as well with these comments. Refsnyder will hit and get on base at a good clip. He' a big league regular 2B for me. Teams start worse players and I think in the minds of fans there are lots of Role 5s that FANS think are really good big leaguers, but teams/execs/scouts don't value quite as highly. Refsnyder just the kind of guy who can come in and start somewhere, do fairly well, hit for AVG and be a solution for the rest of the season... but when the front office regroups in the fall/winter they're going to be looking for a place to upgrade and 2B will look like someplace they can get better. His game has a whole lot of "near average" and not a lot of "impact."