<< Previous Article
Painting the Black: Go... (05/09)
|
<< Previous Column
Eyewitness Accounts: E... (05/08)
|
Next Column >>
Eyewitness Accounts: M... (05/13)
|
Next Article >>
Interleague Report: We... (05/12)
|
May 9, 2014
Eyewitness Accounts
May 9, 2014
by Jason Parks and BP Prospect Staff
Alex Gonzalez
Born: 01/15/1992 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 2" |
Weight: 195 |
Physical frame; thick lower half; innings-eating horse; long stride to the plate; keeps good momentum and balance throughout; short arm action to 3/4 slot; stays closed a long time then explodes to plate; hips and shoulders rotate on time and arm comes through clean and fast; gets extended very well on FB; repeated mechanics much better than last year; not much physical projection left or needed; very good athlete. |
CJ Wittmann |
05/05/2014 |
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A, Rangers) |
4/27/14 |
65/low |
60; no. 3 starter |
Late 2014 |
No |
FB |
60 |
65 |
90-94 |
95 |
Three-way life; creates plane from tall frame; can cut it, sink it; throws FB with arm-side run at lower velo band; can improve with better command and consistency. |
SL |
60 |
60 |
84-87 |
88 |
Tight spin; sharp bite with tilt; shows good shape and has hard bite; can throw for strike and chase pitch; comes from same arm motion as FB, plays well off of it; uses outside corner and inside corner effectively. |
CH |
50 |
60 |
80-84 |
85 |
Arm-side sink with vertical action; can cut it at higher velo band; best when in lower velo band; needs to throw more in zone to become effective swing-and-miss pitch out of the zone; presently working on throwing CH away to RHH coming back to the plate. |
CB |
40 |
45 |
75-77 |
78 |
Showed shape and some depth; more of a change-of-pace pitch than weapon; presently below average but work in progress; plays well off FB because of arm action and loose wrist; presently working on pounding bottom of the zone to LHH. |
Chi Chi Gonzalez is an advanced college arm ready to move up through the system. The mechanics are much cleaner and the stuff is advanced. He is presently working on pitches but still has the swing-and-miss stuff to strikeout hitters in High-A. He holds velocity throughout his outing and can reach back for more when needed. He flashes two plus secondaries with a plus current FB that can be used as a weapon based on how he can manipulate it. The overall command profile needs refinement but the cleaner mechanics give me reason to believe it will play solid average to plus and as well as improving the CH.
|
Marco Gonzales
Born: 02/16/1992 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Left |
Height: 6' 1" |
Weight: 195 |
Clean arm action, above-average arm speed. Thick lower half helps keep him steady and repeat his mechanics well. Not overly athletic but enough to repeat his delivery and get off the mound to field his position. |
Jeff Moore |
05/07/2014 |
Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A, Cardinals) |
4/28/14 |
60/Low |
55, No. 3/4 starter |
Early 2015 |
No |
Fastball |
50 |
55 |
88-90 |
91 |
Works down in the zone; command was better to arm-side of plate; missed frequently on inner half but made a concerted effort to work inside on right-handed hitters to keep them from diving out onto outer half. Does not have velocity or movement to miss bats with FB in FB counts. Must command pitch to be effective. |
Curveball |
50 |
55 |
75-77 |
|
Not a power curve; big sweeping pitch with downward bite; plus command of pitch; will throw it to both sides of the plate against hitters of either handedness. Will definitely keep left-handed hitters off balance at the major-league level. Major-league righties might square it up if he leaves it in the zone. Better to righties when he buries it at their feet with two strikes. |
Change-up |
65 |
70 |
78-81 |
|
Definitely plus pitch with even more potential as fastball command improves. Will throw it to any batter at any time. Has plus arm-side fade and some had diving action. Will be a 70 pitch as soon as he can consistently make it dive as well as fade. |
Gonzales will go as far as his changeup will take him, which should be pretty far. His fastball isn't overpowering, but it also might be his third-best pitch. He's not going to overpower hitters, but being a lefty with a great changeup should be enough to make him a mid-rotation starter. Now that he's in full-season ball, he should move quickly and is clearly too advanced for the Florida State League.
|
Teoscar Hernandez
Born: 10/15/1992 (Age: 21) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 2" |
Weight: 180 |
Primary Position: CF |
Secondary Position: LF |
Athletic body; lean and strong; chest and legs are thick; 6-2/180 is close to accurate; maybe a little heavier; aggressive approach to the game; almost maxed out; body should maintain well. |
Chris Rodriguez |
05/04/2014 |
4/8, 4/10, 4/12, 4/17, 4/18, 4/22, 4/24 |
Lancaster JetHawks (High-A, Astros) |
2016 |
High |
55 |
50; Second-division starter |
No |
Good makeup; hustles out of the box and onto the field; always aware of the batter's tendencies in CF (shifted a certain way); can get frustrated during an at-bat and expand the zone; plenty of desire.
|
I was very impressed with the overall skill set of Hernandez. He's a player who can display all five tools in the same game and have a huge impact. The hit tool is a work in progress due to his approach, which I'm not sure he can tone down due to his aggressive tendencies on a baseball field. But with plus bat-speed and good hands, I believe the hit tool can reach league average going forward. The risk is tied to the hit tool, but I believe he can hit enough to allow his other tools to shine. Second-division starter for me with a chance for more if it all clicks.
|
Joey Gallo
Born: 11/19/1993 (Age: 20) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 5" |
Weight: 205 |
Primary Position: 3B |
Secondary Position: RF |
Massive, thick frame; all of listed 6-foot-5; thought he could add weight and he has; lower half is very sturdy and muscular; wide, broad shoulders with lean muscle upper half; very good athlete for how big he is; very good control of limbs and body. |
CJ Wittmann |
05/04/2014 |
4/8-10/14; 4/26-28/14 |
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A, Rangers) |
2015 |
High |
70 |
50; Major-league regular |
No |
Gallo hit massive shots in BP that we all have seen before but that’s not what impressed me. He struggled against Manaea and arm-side stuff but made an adjustment each night. Gallo was sitting on breaking pitches and still driving fastballs. Against Almonte, he crushed a mistake to left-center for HR like he will usually do. His next at-bat, runners at first and second, he laid off a plus-plus CH (one of the best Almonte threw all night) just off the plate, fading away. I anticipated Gallo was going to swing out of his shoes but he took it. He then took a strike on the outer part of the plate, which was a pitch he could drive, but he chose to be patient. Almonte threw him a CH down and Gallo sat on it and drove it through the hole in between first and second, hitting behind the runners. His last at-bat against Almonte, the pitcher tried to come inside with 95. FB had heavy sink and started at Gallo’s hip and ended up on the inside corner. I saw Gallo shuffle out of the way of this pitch before. This time he opened the hips, kept hands inside the ball and got extreme extension post contact. The ball got lost in the night. The adjustments he’s made have impressed me. And even if the hit tool never reaches my projected assumption, I still think he’s Pedro Alvarez at the plate at least.
|
Chance Sisco
Born: 02/24/1995 (Age: 19) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 2" |
Weight: 193 |
Primary Position: C |
Secondary Position: |
Lean frame, growth left in lower half; projects for more power; might be shorter than listed; good frame for athletic catcher. |
Tucker Blair |
05/05/2014 |
3/8/2014 - 3/11/14, 4/12/14 - 4/13/14 |
Delmarva Shorebirds (Low-A, Orioles) |
2018 |
High |
55 |
45; offense-oriented backup catcher |
No |
Chance Sisco is relatively new to catching, and the inexperience shows at times. The most important factor to me has been the noted improvements since I first saw him in 2013. The footwork behind the plate has vastly improved, and I had serious questions about his ability to catch last year. The arm is average, yet accurate. It's not a detriment in his game, considering he still has room to grow into his frame and tack on some extra muscle. The swing is good and I believe the power should come down the line, even if it is not here yet.
|
Colin Moran
Born: 10/01/1992 (Age: 21) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 4" |
Weight: 215 |
Primary Position: 3B |
Secondary Position: |
Solid, prototypical third base frame; tall with room to add weight and strength. |
Jeff Moore |
05/08/2014 |
4/28/14, 4/29/14, 5/7/14 |
Jupiter Hammerheads (High A, Marlins) |
Late 2015 |
Moderate |
55 |
45, second-division regular |
No |
Looks disinterested on the field. Terrible body language, especially after making an out. Moves with no urgency.
|
The one tool that is supposed to carry Moran—the hit tool—did not impress me over a three-game stretch. He failed to put together quality at-bats, often making weak contact and swinging at pitcher's pitches. His approach does not lend itself to much power, so unless he adds significant strength, I don't see him becoming a home run threat. While he has no glaring weaknesses, none of his tools stand out. Couple that with what appeared to be a general disinterest in the game taking place around him and I came away feeling very underwhelmed with the player.
|
Jason Parks is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
Click here to see Jason's other articles.
You can contact Jason by clicking here
5 comments have been left for this article.
<< Previous Article
Painting the Black: Go... (05/09)
|
<< Previous Column
Eyewitness Accounts: E... (05/08)
|
Next Column >>
Eyewitness Accounts: M... (05/13)
|
Next Article >>
Interleague Report: We... (05/12)
|
RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS
Playoff Prospectus: Come Undone
BP En Espanol: Previa de la NLCS: Cubs vs. D...
Playoff Prospectus: How Did This Team Get Ma...
Playoff Prospectus: Too Slow, Too Late
Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and ALCS Gam...
Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and NLCS Gam...
Playoff Prospectus: NLCS Preview: Cubs vs. D...
|
MORE FROM MAY 9, 2014
What You Need to Know: Blue Jays Blasts
The Prospectus Hit List: Friday, May 9
Pebble Hunting: Starling Marte and the Upsid...
Minor League Update: Games of Thursday, May ...
Fantasy Starting Pitcher Planner: Week Seven
TTO Scoresheet Podcast: Finding Trade Target...
Daily League Strategy: Weekend Lineup Advice
|
MORE BY JASON PARKS
2014-05-19 - Monday Morning Ten Pack: May 19, 2014
2014-05-13 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 13, 2014
2014-05-12 - Monday Morning Ten Pack: May 12, 2014
2014-05-09 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 9, 2014
2014-05-08 - Eyewitness Accounts: Eyewitness Accounts: Ma...
2014-05-07 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 7, 2014
2014-05-06 - Eyewitness Accounts: Eyewitness Accounts for...
More...
|
MORE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
2014-05-21 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 21, 2014
2014-05-15 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 15, 2014
2014-05-13 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 13, 2014
2014-05-09 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 9, 2014
2014-05-08 - Eyewitness Accounts: Eyewitness Accounts: Ma...
2014-05-07 - Eyewitness Accounts: May 7, 2014
2014-05-06 - Eyewitness Accounts: Eyewitness Accounts for...
More...
|
|
|
|
Just wanted to thank everyone involved in putting these together. This new series is absolutely amazing.