July 18, 2014

What Scouts Are Saying

July 17, 2014

by Baseball Prospectus

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Many of our authors make a habit of speaking to scouts and other talent evaluators in order to bring you the best baseball information available. Not all of the tidbits gleaned from those conversations make it into our articles, but we don't want them to go to waste. Instead, we'll be collecting them in a regular feature called "What Scouts Are Saying," which will be open to participation from the entire BP staff and include quotes about minor leaguers and major leaguers alike.

Major Leagues

Cubs 2B Arismendy Alcantara: “You hear all about the guys like Bryant, Almora, Baez, and now Russell, and rightfully so, but Alcantara might be the most complete player in their system. He brings advanced hitability, plus-plus speed, and impact defense. He's an exciting guy to watch and reminds me a little of Jose Reyes. I saw they said they aren't going to send Alcantara down just yet, and I would be surprised if he ever made it back to Iowa.”

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom: "Where did they get this guy? He sits 93-96 with really good offspeed stuff, especially his curveball, but what impressed me the most is his ability to locate his fastball up in the zone with two strikes as a putaway pitch. He's exciting, and you could make a case he's more advanced right now than Zack Wheeler."

Angels OF Mike Trout: "We all know his skill set is off the charts. He does everything spectacularly and just seems to keep getting better. Scary to think he can actually get better, isn’t it? The one thing I never get used to though is the sound of the ball off his bat. No matter where you are in the ballpark, you KNOW when Mike Trout makes contact. That’s something to behold and something I look forward to hearing time and time again."

Minor Leagues

Astros High-A RHP Mark Appel: "I put Mark Appel in as a no. 4 starter, and that's no slam dunk—moderate risk. The stuff is fine. Slider looked good and he had command of it in my look. But the fastball is flat and he can't spot it with his drop-and-drive delivery— forfeiting his 6-foot-5 height, really—with the backside collapse. I don't see it."

Rangers Double-A 3B Joey Gallo: "You want to see what 80 power is? That there is 80 power. But it’s not the power that impresses me so much anymore. We all know he has that. It’s his progress in pitch recognition. Gallo is not just going to be a home run hitter. He’s going to be an all-around force."

Astros High-A LHP Josh Hader: "That is not what a top prospect looks like... however, that looks like a surefire big leaguer to me. It's easy to get caught up in who has the highest ceiling and firmest stuff, but that guy goes out there and throws quality strikes with three different pitches, and he doesn't look like a fun guy to hit against."

Yankees Double-A RHP Jaron Long: "Could see big league time for the Yankees this year. He's a 6-foot right-handed pitcher that throws from a traditional arm slot and might sniff 90 on his best days. But all things considered, it's a win, since he was an undrafted free agent and began the year in Low-A Charleston."

Rays Short-Season-A RHP Gerardo Reyes: "He has very long fingers, and that is why there is crazy movement with his arsenal."