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July 30, 2015
Eyewitness Accounts
July 30, 2015
by BP Prospect Staff
Brad Keller
|
Born: 07/27/1995 (Age: 19) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 5" |
Weight: 230 |
Tall, sturdy frame; not much room in the frame for good weight; low 3/4 delivery; above-average arm speed; stab in the back; drop-and-drive delivery; clean foot strike; moderate effort in the delivery; 1.10-1.19 to home with a runner on first. |
Mauricio Rubio Jr. |
07/26/2015 |
Kane County Cougars (Low A, Diamondbacks) |
07/22/2015 |
45/High |
40 - Swingman with middle relief fallback. |
2017 |
No |
Fastball |
50 |
55 |
91-94 |
|
Command - 30/40
Movement - 50/60
88-90 out of the stretch; moderate run; mixes in fastballs with moderate sink and cut; poor command; relies almost exclusively on showing different looks with the fastball. |
Slider |
30 |
40 |
80-83 |
|
Command - 30/40
Movement - 40/45
10-4 movement; inconsistent, lacks feel; flashes moderate bite; loses release point. |
Changeup |
40 |
45 |
83-86 |
|
Command - 30/40
Movement - 45/55
Flashes fade; inconsistent arm-speed replication; pitch gets firm; lacks feel. |
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Flowery Branch HS (Flowery Branch, GA).
Keller's fastball has three distinct looks as he can cut it, sink it and run it in on hitters. The different looks function as his secondaries, as his pitch mix is fastball dominated. The *actual* secondaries are underdeveloped; he doesn't have much feel for his slider nor his change. Keller works too quickly out of the stretch and loses velocity on his fastball as a result. Keller can learn a proper cutter and function as a sixth starter with middle relief as a fallback.
|
Lucas Giolito
|
Born: 07/14/1994 (Age: 21) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 6" |
Weight: 255 |
High 3/4 arm slot; low-energy delivery; won't wear himself out; loose arm action; creates easy velocity; looks effortless out of hand; even pace from start to finish; soft front foot landing; can drift towards first; will rush at times, especially with men on base; always has to be mindful of controlling large body; 1.27-1.35 out of stretch. |
Chris Mellen |
07/29/2015 |
Harrisburg Senators (AA, Nationals) |
07/28/2015 |
80/Moderate |
70; no. 2 starter |
2016 |
No |
Fastball |
60 |
70 |
93-95 |
96 |
Average command; ingredients for plus-to-better; flashed stretches of strong precision to target; shows downward finish, especially in the lower tier; on the heavy side; will induce ground balls; learning importance of moving ball to all four quadrants; at times late, slight cut when thrown to glove side; velocity started to drop a tick in fifth inning; still in earlier stages of building stamina. |
Curveball |
70 |
80 |
81-83 |
84 |
Excellent two-plane action; throws with a very loose wrist; consistent tight rotation and depth; power offering; will change shape depending on the situation; plus command; replicates release to that of fastball; confidence to use at any point in the count; will miss bats at the highest level; can be best in its class in MLB. |
Changeup |
45 |
60 |
80-83 |
85 |
Immature offering at times, but flashes quality action; needs some time to fully come along; arm-speed is there; release can be inconsistent; will fool; benefits from hitters having to combat near-elite curveball; may end up more of a weak contact-inducing pitch against major-league bats. |
Outstanding raw stuff; fastball/curveball can dominate outings at highest level down the line; gap exists with changeup, but runway to reach future grade and emerge as third weapon at disposal; overall package still in earlier stages of polishing rough edges and finer points of executing craft; expect growing pains in upper levels; built to log 200-plus innings a year; future rotation anchor; highly confident this arm can challenge as top of position during peak.
|
Colin Bray
|
Born: 06/18/1993 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Switch |
Throws: Left |
Height: 6' 3" |
Weight: 197 |
Primary Position: CF |
Secondary Position: LF |
Athletic body; high-waisted frame with room for some projection. |
Mauricio Rubio Jr. |
07/26/2015 |
May Through July, 2015 |
Kane County Cougars (Low A, Diamondbacks) |
2017 |
High |
45 |
40 - Fourth Outfielder |
No |
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Faulkner State College (Bay Minette, AL).
Colin Bray's glove will earn him some major league playing time as a fourth outfielder. His ability to read the ball and the jumps he gets meld with his athleticism, allowing him to cover a lot of real estate out in center field. Bray has enough arm for center as well. His lack of a hit tool will prevent him from attaining a starting role.
|
Matt Chapman
|
Born: 04/28/1993 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 2" |
Weight: 205 |
Primary Position: 3B |
Secondary Position: |
Strong kid, broad shoulders, well-proportioned; little physical projection remaining; mechanical movements, lacks fluidity in running motion. |
Wilson Karaman |
07/27/2015 |
6/11-12, 7/24. 7/26 |
Stockton Ports (High A, Athletics) |
Quiet confidence, goes about his business.
|
Chapman possesses prodigious raw power to all fields, routinely producing majestic fly balls with tremendous carry in BP. The game utility is limited somewhat by his hit tool; he struggles to generate consistent balance and timing with his weight transfer. His below-average barrel delivery tends to produce weak fly ball contact that will limit his batting average potential. The offensive profile on the whole will play up modestly thanks to an above-average on-base profile. The defensive package does not present a glaring weakness and is highlighted by an impact arm that plays to its potential thanks to solid body control and consistent setup mechanics.
This is a relatively high-probability prospect with the ability to develop into an above-average Major League third baseman with a well-rounded skill set.
|
Nick Plummer
|
Born: 07/31/1996 (Age: 18) |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Left |
Height: 5' 10" |
Weight: 200 |
Primary Position: CF |
Secondary Position: |
Not an ideal tall, long frame but one that can still handle some additional weight; already some physical development but body can sustain more; doesn't project to outgrow middle of the field unless weight gain is substantial. |
Jeff Moore |
07/28/2015 |
6/26/15, 7/1/15, |
GCL Cardinals (Rookie, Cardinals) |
2018 |
High |
50 |
40, fourth outfielder |
No |
Plummer doesn't have a high ceiling thanks to his limited power profile, but he does have a refined swing and advanced plan at the plate for a player approaching his 19th birthday. His patience at the plate has gotten him in trouble thus far as a professional, as his judgment of the strike zone is currently better than the umpires at his present level of competition, but that problem will solve itself in time.
His compact swing and good barrel control give him a chance to hit atop a big league lineup in a few years, and his plate discipline gives him a safety net in case the hit tool falls short. His lack of power means he'll have to earn his way on, but he embraces the roll of being a tablesetter. In the field, Plummer shows refined ability to track fly balls, though doesn't have the elite straight-ahead speed or range of a plus center fielder. Still, he should be able to remain in the middle of the field, at least through his prime.
Plummer's ability to play everyday will rest on his bat and whether he gets on base enough to justify it.
|
8 comments have been left for this article.
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I know what you mean, but saying of Giolito that he is "built to log 200-plus innings a year" seems a bit... I don't know... maybe deserving of a qualifier in there somewhere.