Minor League Update: A... (10/30)
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October 29, 2014 Minor League UpdateGames of Tuesday, October 28thTim Anderson, SS, White Sox (Glendale, AFL): 3-4, R, 2B. Amateur scouts still rave about Anderson’s tools, and if you look at him under that microscope, he stands out on a minor-league field, even when compared to his professional contemporaries. He’s still extremely raw as a baseball player, so his success to this point is a testament to his athletic ability, but concerns remain about his future. The White Sox have pushed him aggressively, as they’ve been known to do with top prospects, but it isn’t exactly giving him the time he’ll need to develop. Despite being in Double-A, he still has a long way to go before he’s ready to produce anything at the major-league level. Miguel Almonte, RHP, Royals (Peoria, AFL): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. It’s a good sign for Almonte that he’s still going strong at this point in the season, despite missing a start in June with elbow inflammation. He’s still short of his innings mark from last season, and his strikeout rate dropped this year, though scouts still rave about his arm. His offspeed arsenal still needs work, specifically his change-up, but at 21, there’s still time for that development to take place. Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres (Surprise, AFL): 2-3, R, 2B, HR, K. Renfroe has the right-handed power that the game, and specifically the Padres, direly need, but he’s still learning how to use it at the professional level, after a storied college career. Despite being a physical presence, he still has room to grow into his frame—and into his game at the plate. He’ll head to Double-A to start the 2015 season, but he should make the necessary adjustments to avoid being there for too long. Angel Villalona, 1B, Giants (Toros del Este, DWL): 0-4, 3 K. There was some hope that Villalona and his prodigious power would be able to make adjustment to Double-A despite missing two whole seasons due to murder charges his native Dominican, but the odds were against that ever happening from the start. At this point, it’s not looking good for Villalona to ever turn his raw tools into anything usable in game action. Chris Bassitt, RHP, White Sox (Glendale, AFL): 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Bassitt is already 25 and has a relief profile, which is exactly why he’s in the AFL to begin with. He got time in the majors this season, but the AFL is a great place to get another look at guys and get a jump on the evaluation process for the spring. He’s started in the minors, but he doesn’t miss enough bats to do it in the majors, and the hope is that his stuff will play up in shorter stints.
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Could you clarify the comment about Almonte's changeup needing work? Throughout his prospect career that is the pitch that he has received rave reviews for. What does he need to work on with his changeup? Does it really need more work than his breaking ball?
Love the update-it's a daily read for me-thanks for the research and work you put in!
An AFL source I've talked to who saw him recently came away unimpressed with the pitch and said it needed some work. He said the same thing about the curveball as well, so I don't know that one is any better or worse than the other at this point. It's not a huge knock on him to say that a 21-year-old needs to refine his off-speed stuff so I'm not too concerned about it.
Interesting that you got that comment Jeff, as historically Almonte's change has been graded as an above avg pitch with future plus potential. Having seen it action myself, it's a beauty, with excellent arm speed and good fade. Never hurts to get an opinion that deviates from consensus, but it might be an end of season/AFL thing. And to echo the good Pastor, thanks for a great daily read. I've enjoyed it all year.