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October 6, 2016

Eyewitness Accounts

October 6, 2016

by BP Prospect Staff

Jordan Montgomery

Born: 12/27/1992 (Age: 23)
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 225
Mechanics
Arm Action: Abbreviated extension in arm swing, mild arm wrap, free and easy action, full vertical extension at release

Delivery: Over-the-top slot, severe body tilt; average leg kick, average stride adds to height at release; moderate effort

Body: XL frame, filled-out; long, sturdy lower half, high waist; broad shoulders with mild slope; long levers

Control: 55/60
history of limiting walks; consistent throwing FB and CH for strikes, CB not far behind; improvement locating SL where most gains to be made

Command: 50/55
utilizes FB to both sides of the plate; advanced feel for CB and CH--meeds to minimize use up in zone; some feel for SL, though likely remains a fringe offering








Evaluator Adam Hayes
Report Date 09/07/2016
Affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA, Yankees)
Dates Seen 8/2/16
OFP/Risk 50/Low
Realistic 45: No. 5 Starter
MLB ETA 2017
Video Yes










Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
FB 60 60 91-92 93 Heavy downhill angle from high release, maintains angle up in zone; slight cut, run at times; worked to all quadrants of zone, misses most frequently to glove-side; held velocity into later innings, maintained velocity from stretch
CH 50 55 82 84 Maintains arm speed, quality velocity separation from FB; slight fade, solid drop; heavy use to armside, will leave it up in zone
CB 45 50 80 81 12-6 break, mostly vertical depth, slight horizontal sweep at times; will work to both sides of plate, inconsistent command, will leave elevated, miss high
SL 40 45 87 89 Two-plane break, more vertical tilt than sweeping action, mild bite; heavy glove-side use, struggles to control; throws early in counts as a strike-stealer
Overall

Montgomery was a fourth-round pick in 2014. He's a large-framed left-hander with a high release point and three average-or-better pitches, along with a fourth that shows some utility. The fastball plays up as a plus pitch, sitting 92 with pronounced downward plane; there's two-way action to it, and demonstrates the ability to work it effectively to both sides of the plate. The change is his best off-speed pitch, playing well off the fastball to generate swings and misses. The breakers are both functional, with the curve flashing as a potentially consistent average third pitch. This is a low-risk arm with enough stuff, control, and size to be a durable rotation piece. Likely role in the back of a rotation, with fallback potential of a tough-look lefty out of the bullpen.


Conner Greene

Born: 04/04/1995 (Age: 21)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 185
Mechanics
Body: Long, wiry frame, spindly levers; long, narrow torso with room to add; broad shoulders with moderate slope, narrow at waist

Delivery: High leg kick, lower-leg tuck, slight body coil; long stride, lead arm pulls torso open early, three-quarter release; mild effort, mild body tilt, recoil after release a bit violent

Arm Action: Slight wrist and arm wrap, otherwise free and easy action; plus arm speed


Evaluator Adam Hayes
Report Date 09/12/2016
Affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA, Blue Jays)
Dates Seen 8/27/16
OFP/Risk 55/Medium
Realistic 45: No. 5 Starter/Power Reliever
MLB ETA 2017
Video Yes




Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
FB 65 70 94-96 97 Generates sink to both sides of plate, run can be inconsistent, will flash plus movement; works side to side, keeps it down in zone consistently; command over control presently, maintained sitting velocity through start, touched 97 in 5th inning; maintains velocity from stretch
CH 50 60 85 86 Advanced feel, flashes plus fade with drop, healthy velocity separation from FB, can throw hitters off balance; lowers arm slot at release, tendency to elevate in zone
CB 45 50 83 85 12-6 shape, limited horizontal break, mostly vertical depth with sharp bite; shape can be inconsistent, flatten; uses low in zone, frequent low misses, release point raises when throwing
CONTROL 30 45 Struggles to limit walks; capable of throwing all pitches for strikes, tends to play off corners too much

COMMAND: 45/55
Feel to spot pitches, works effectively to both sides with the fastball, keeps the ball down
Overall

A seventh-round pick in 2013, Greene is a lanky right-hander with two plus pitches and a third average offering. The fastball can get to plus-plus, with sink and run to both sides of the plate and feel for manipulating it in spite of some struggles to control it at times. The fastball, changeup, and curve all come from different release points, which can impact deception. Limiting self-inflicted damage will be greatest impediment to success, and the control issues will limit the likely role to the back half of a rotation.


Tyler Beede

Born: 05/23/1993 (Age: 23)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 210
Mechanics
Body: Prototypical starter's frame; all, broad shoulders, strength in lower-half; durable, workhorse profile

Delivery: Semi-wind, quiet side-step into average leg-lift, straight-on front side, high lead arm through the drive; controls body throughout, clean extension over lower-half, direct lines to plate; plus delivery, definite starter kit

Arm Action: clean, compact, in-line circle coming out of the glove; average arm-speed, low-maintenance to a high three-quarter slot


Evaluator Adam McInturff
Report Date 09/26/2016
Affiliate Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA, Giants)
Dates Seen 3x (2016)
OFP/Risk 55/Low
Realistic 50: Regular No. 4 Starter
MLB ETA 2017
Video No




Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
FB 55 60 91-92 94 Two variants; two-seamer with longer arm-side run at 88-91, true four-seam at 93-94; advanced pitchability, adds and subtracts situationally, keen sense for when to reach back

Control/Command:
Impressive poise and polish, advanced feel to pitch; potential true plus control and command; consistently controls around the zone, best pounding two-seamer away from left-handers down and glove-side
CT 50 55 88-89 90 Cutter action at 86-90, flashes above-average late dart to glove-side; average present pitch, gives him a third fastball to show hitters as the lineup turns over; potential above-average pitch with increased repetition
CB 50 55 80 83 Power three-quarters breaking ball, slurvy tilt, will flash sharp, downer action; struggled to land in-zone for early strikes, ingredients of a zone-expanding swing-miss pitch
CH 45 50 82-83 84 Plays fairly straight, sells well with arm speed, generates above-average velocity separation; lacks bottom to miss bats, plenty of utility to stay off left-handed barrels
Overall

Ceiling: Impact starter w/ upper-third role in a rotation; sum-of-the-parts stuff, plus pitchability, winning makeup make him reliable rotation piece

Realistic: Regular back-rotation starter, dependable innings-eater, #4 type role; high floor, low-risk prospect

Beede demonstrates outstanding makeup and pitching IQ. He's a competitor on the mound with track record of winning. The delivery is highly polished, with good feel to move a solid-average mix of stuff around the zone. He's close to the majors and when he gets there will likely develop into at least a dependable rotation option, with intangibles that could play it up to more.







A.J. Simcox

Born: 06/22/1994 (Age: 22)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 185
Primary Position: SS
Secondary Position:
Physical/Health
Large frame, ideal body for position player, good looking athlete
Evaluator Steve Givarz
Report Date 09/26/2016
Dates Seen 15x April-August 2016
Affiliate Lakeland Flying Tigers (High A, Tigers)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2019 Medium 45 40: Utility Player No
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 40 Even, tall stance, short hand path, fair hands, average bat speed; line-drive swing path, uses the whole field, power is primarily pull-side; shows an eye and some zone command, tends to get aggressive early in count
Power 30 Well below-average power, not a part of game; lacks loft in swing, pop he has will play at full utility with doubles, limited over-the-fence power
Baserunning/Speed 50 Average runner, good runner, speed plays better than size suggests
Glove 55 Average present fielder, quality footwork, soft hands, confidence on the backhand; surprising lateral range given size, strong first step, body control to execute difficult plays
Arm 60 Plus arm strength, quality throws with mustard, accuracy comes and goes, fairly consistent with mechanics
Overall

Simcox won't bring much to the plate, but he profiles well as a utility infielder capable of bringing strong defensive value all over the diamond.


Nick Senzel

Born: 06/29/1995 (Age: 21)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 205
Primary Position: 3B
Secondary Position: 2B
Physical/Health
Body: Average height; strong, sturdy build; boxy, muscular look; physical similarity to Brett Lawrie

Swing: Wide, square base, crouch at the knees; strong, high handset with wrapped bat; quiet head and hands through load and trigger, balanced, quick, short, efficient into the zone, sweet right-handed stroke
Evaluator Adam McInturff
Report Date 09/26/2016
Dates Seen July 2016
Affiliate Dayton Dragons (, Reds)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2017 Low 60 55: Above-Average Regular Yes
Makeup

Breezed through low minors and didn't seem challenged there

Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 60 Short, fluid, balanced path to the ball; hard contact, ability to spray line drives or open up and get to his power; simple, quiet trigger allows him to stay back on breaking stuff, commits late, able to spoil good pitches, limited holes in swing; potential plus tool
Power 60 Doubles and over-fence power, best game power to pull-side; situational awareness, will expand swing and get aggressive with pull-side lift in appropriate counts; raw will play to full utility in-game
Baserunning/Speed 50 Average athleticism and straight-away speed; stolen bases not a huge part of his game, not a liability on the bases
Glove 50 Average defender at third, instinctual player; average first-step, moderate range, reliable hands; competent corner infield glove who could likely slide in at 2B to get his bat in the lineup
Arm 55 Solid-average arm across the infield; clean transfer and footwork, accurate with carry, looks the part finishing plays with his arm from third base.
Overall

Ceiling: First-division infielder, able to hit for plus average and power.



Realistic: Lack of jaw-dropping carrying tool, well-rounded tool set doesn't play into consistent top-of-the-league production; high-floor player, safe bet to develop into an above-average regular.

SUMMARY: Polished college bat was best in class; potential impact cornerstone piece and long-term big leaguer. Middle-of-the-order offensive upside for average and power; average glove with a solid arm; best position is third base, versatility to second.











Richard Urena

Born: 02/26/1996 (Age: 20)
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 185
Primary Position: SS
Secondary Position:
Physical/Health
Lithe, narrow frame; wiry, lean strength in limbs
Evaluator Adam Hayes
Report Date 09/27/2016
Dates Seen 8/25-27
Affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA, Blue Jays)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2018 Medium 50 40: Utility Infielder Yes
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 45 Switch-hitter, left-side only in looks; noisy, multi-stage hand load, high leg lift into stride, will get caught out on front foot; short swing path, plus bat speed; aggressive, all-fields hitter, contact-oriented approach, below-average contact quality, walks will be infrequent, some swing-and-miss
Power 30 Fringe raw to pull side, can generate some distance to middle of the field, limited carry; aggressive approach, will attempt to ambush early fastballs and sell out for power, quality of contact will limit power production; footspeed to stretch hits for extra bases
Baserunning/Speed 60 4.13 home-to-first from left side; gets out of the box on bunts; has not shown to be an active base-stealing threat
Glove 55 Versatile defender, demonstrates quality body control; capable charging balls, soft on the backhand; moderate range up-the-middle, will get handcuffed waiting on late hops
Arm 55 Above-average arm strength, accuracy from left side, velocity is just average, but throws hold their lines
Overall

A heralded J2 signing in 2012, Urena is a switch-hitting shortstop with above-average glove and arm tools and plus speed, though he tends to play below the tools offensively and on the bases. His offensive game is built on plus bat speed, but he shows an aggressive approach and produces inconsistent contact quality, which limits both the hit and power tools. And the speed plays more in the form of quickness; he'll bunt for base hits, but he has not shown base-stealing acumen, pushing the tool's utility down on the bases. He boasts a capable glove and arm at short, and that combination gives him projection as a big league-average shortstop, with a utility-infield floor if the bat stalls out.






























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