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August 11, 2016
Eyewitness Accounts
August 11, 2016
by BP Prospect Staff
Jordan Johnson
 |
Born: 09/15/1993 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 3" |
Weight: 200 |
Slender, well-proportioned frame, narrow shoulders with some slope, moderate muscle tone in upper body, could add additional strength; still shows baseline athleticism, tentative movements, lacked coordination and flow displayed in previous viewing; semi-wind, deeper rock with some effort into leg kick, abrupt hand break, poor timing into arm swing, mild stab, above-average arm speed, inconsistent arm slot, generally three-quarter, significant release point variance; backside collapse, more mechanical through drive, extreme length to slot, soft drive, not getting downhill; inverted strike, extremely firm, closed off at plant, extreme crossfire, comes around plant foot, dead-arm finish; struggled to repeat in the stretch, poor timing, hard strike, magnified release point inconsistencies; 1.25-1.48, occasional slide-step |
Wilson Karaman |
07/15/2016 |
San Jose Giants (High A, Giants) |
7/14/16 |
50/High |
40/Middle Reliever |
2018 |
Yes |
FB |
45 |
50 |
91-93 |
93 |
Plus velo, well below-average command, inconsistent finish; boring action, runs well to the hands right-on-right, average life, flattens out up in the zone; did not appear to feature a two-seam variant in this start, limited movement; struggled with consistent release all night, misses low to glove side and up over the heart; slingshot delivery lacks deception, lefties and righties alike saw it |
CH |
45 |
50 |
85-86 |
86 |
Hard change with split action, vertical movement, limited fade; confidence in pitch, works it right-on-right; feel and command have regressed, heavy use diminishes utility, too many starting below the zone, limited chase, lots of contact in-zone; some swing-and-miss potential, generated a handful |
CB |
40 |
50 |
78-80 |
81 |
11-5 hook, quality depth with late horizontal action; will roll it, inconsistent bite, bat-misser when he snaps it off, below-average command |
Johnson's mechanics and stuff have both taken considerable steps back since my last look in May, with poor results leading to tentative actions on the mound. His athleticism is still evident, and there are plenty of glimpses of the more fluid movement and delivery he showed earlier in the year. But the timing is a mess, leading to poor balance throughout the delivery and an arm slot that wandered all over the place in this start. The ensuing command was well below-average, with hard contact on the end of too many pitches. The raw ingredients of a mid-rotation starter are still in there, but he lacked for confidence and didn't look right in this start. The ceiling looks a lot farther away than it did two months ago, and the consistency and command issues are such that he's closer to an org arm if they represent a new normal.
|
Sandy Alcantara
 |
Born: 09/07/1995 (Age: 20) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 4" |
Weight: 170 |
Tall, slim frame, long legs, high waist, further growth and strength can be projected; three-quarter arm slot, above-average arm speed, clean arm action with moderate effort |
Nathan Graham |
07/26/2016 |
Peoria Chiefs (Low A, Cardinals) |
7/24/16 |
60/High |
50: No. 4 Starter/Set-Up |
2018 |
Yes |
FB |
80 |
80 |
96-98 |
100 |
Premium velocity, touched 100 multiple times; straight and heavy, late life, stays low and locates to both sides of the plate; maintains velocity from the stretch |
CH |
40 |
50 |
82-84 |
85 |
Straight change, good velocity separation, mild late fade, average command |
CB |
30 |
40 |
81-82 |
82 |
11/5 shape, average bite, inconsistent arm speed replication |
Signed as a 17-year-old from the Dominican Republic in 2013, Alcantara has seen his velocity steadily climb over the past three years. Now his electric fastball sits in the high 90's and will occasionally touch 100. He's tall and slim, and there is still projection left on his frame at 20. Both secondary pitches are raw and undeveloped but the change at least shows potential to develop into an average pitch. The fastball gives Alcantara a put-away pitch already, and if he maxes develop of the secondaries he could reach his ceiling of No. 3 starter or top closer.
|
Tomas Nido
 |
Born: 04/12/1994 (Age: 22) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 0" |
Weight: 205 |
Primary Position: C |
Secondary Position: |
Present strength, projection to add additional good weight without compromising agility |
Thomas Desmidt |
07/31/2016 |
9x April-July 2016 |
St. Lucie Mets (High A, Mets) |
2019 |
Moderate |
55 |
50: Major League Regular |
Yes |
Carries himself with maturity, all business, handles staff well, leadership qualities; low heart-rate player, doesn't get too high or low
|
Drafted in the 8th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft from Orangewood Christian HS (Maitland, FL). This is Nido's fifth year in pro ball, and the standout raw power he was touted to have out of high school is slowly coming around. He makes hard contact in games, with a fluid swing that produces line drives that have loft to all fields. On the defensive side, Nido is a solid receiver with a plus arm and solid presentation skills. With an ongoing offensive breakout this year, he's now a two-way prospect with the upside of an above-average big-league starting catcher.
|
Jose Trevino
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Born: 11/28/1992 (Age: 23) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 5' 11" |
Weight: 195 |
Primary Position: C |
Secondary Position: |
Compact frame, stocky, wide shoulders, weight around the middle, high maintenance frame, light on his feet, solid agility
|
Wilson Karaman |
06/27/2016 |
4/14, 4/17, 4/30, 6/21, 6/26 |
High Desert Mavericks (High A, Rangers) |
2018 |
Moderate |
50 |
45/Second Division Catcher |
Yes |
High baseball IQ, professional approach in the field, evident leadership skills, strong situational awareness, constant communication, will show some fire
|
Drafted in the 6th round (2014) out of Oral Roberts, signed to a marginally below-slot deal. Trevino exudes leadership and commands the field from behind the dish, where he shows the baseline skill set to become a solid-average backstop at the highest level. There's some lag time with the bat, and he'll never be an on-base asset , but the bat-to-ball skills and nascent game power are there for him to hold his own in the box as well. Average regular potential if the bat maxes out, with enough defensive value and leadership acumen to fill a second-division role if it doesn't.
|
Richard Urena
 |
Born: 02/26/1996 (Age: 20) |
Bats: Switch |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 0" |
Weight: 185 |
Primary Position: SS |
Secondary Position: |
Medium frame, lean, slender body, evenly proportioned; still quite young, room to add additional muscle |
Steve Givarz |
07/22/2016 |
6/23-6/25/2016, 6/27/2016 |
Dunedin Blue Jays (High A, Blue Jays) |
2018 |
High |
55 |
45: Utility Player |
No |
Urena has a major-league floor as a utility player due to a plus arm that will play all over the field and enough feel to hit to warrant regular at-bats. He is getting better at the plate and has shown similar progress defensively as the year has gone on, though there's still a long way to go if he's going to develop into an everyday player.
|
Andrew Knapp
 |
Born: 11/09/1991 (Age: 24) |
Bats: Switch |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 1" |
Weight: 195 |
Primary Position: C |
Secondary Position: 1B |
Average frame, lean strength, broad torso, sturdy lower half |
Adam Hayes |
07/23/2016 |
9x April-June 2016 |
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA, Phillies) |
2017 |
Low |
40 |
40/Offense-first backup C |
Yes |
Offense-first catcher with chance at future average hit tool. Switch-hitter, though more capable from the left side. Knapp shows above-average bat speed and an ability to barrel balls, though h expands the zone and is highly vulnerable to swinging and missing, limiting the impact of his hit tool and capping the utility of his above-average raw power. He uses all fields from the left side, with fringe-average power potential. Below-average glove behind the plate will limit his playing time and role. He possesses plus arm strength, though accuracy and consistency are lacking. Speed is a non-factor, though there is effort made on the base paths. Profiles as a bat-first backup catcher, assuming he is not moved full-time to first base.
|
Eloy Jimenez
 |
Born: 11/27/1996 (Age: 19) |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
Height: 6' 4" |
Weight: 205 |
Primary Position: LF |
Secondary Position: RF |
Tall, athletic build, projection remains in upper body |
Nathan Graham |
07/31/2016 |
5/26, 5/29,6/3, 6/7, 7/8 |
South Bend Cubs (Low A, Cubs) |
2018 |
Medium |
70 |
60: 1st Division Outfielder |
Yes |
Still just 19, Jimenez has the tools to become a future All-Star player. Already tall and athletic, there is room for even more upper-body muscle growth as he develops. He projects three above-average or better game tools, with a swing and approach to hit 30-plus home runs at his peak. He hits with confidence and authority. The speed is currently above-average but will settle in at average as he fills out. The defense is raw, but there is enough athleticism to become league-average. This is an elite prospect with a high ceiling and a realistic path to a first-division career as a corner outfielder.
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