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Steve Givarz Nick Storz, RHP, Poly Prep Country Day (NY) Seen in a 4 IP start on 3/22; also saw at ECP last summer. Definitely a big boy; have to worry about body as he gets into pro ball. More athletic than he appears. Pitches from a full windup with a full arm circle and some slight stiffness but above-average arm speed; three-quarters slot. Short-strider. FB 91-93 (T94); velo dropped to 88-90 after three innings; still building up arm strength; lacked movement; could locate to both sides but was more comfortable arm-side. CB 76-78; somewhat slurvy; lacked consistent shape; had good depth and action; could locate for strikes; struggled to finish hitters with it; often left up; potential above-average offering. CH 81-84; only threw three in-game; got on side of ball; clear third offering. Did make a fielding E1 as he struggled to get off mound. See as a back of the rotation pitcher; or set-up.
Bryce Montes De Oca, RHP, University of Missouri
Seen in a 6 IP start on 4/8. Extra-extra large frame with a muscular, developed body; lacks remaining projection; athletic. Pitches from the stretch-only; plus arm speed; three-quarters slot; simple up and down mechanics. FB 92-94 (T96); quality sink; struggled to locate at times; can throw over plate but struggles with command; seemed to struggle with release point. CB 80-82; 11/5 shape; quality action and plus bite; sharp; has a lot of depth and can fool hitters. No CH thrown in this outing. 1.28-1.33 in stretch. Definite bullpen arm; will draw comps to current Dellin Betances given size and arsenal. See as a late-inning reliever; could be more if he throws strikes on a more consistent basis.
Ryan Avidano, LHP, University of Georgia
Seen in a 3 IP relief app on 4/8. Doesn't have a lot of projection remaining. Pitches from a full windup from the first-base side of the rubber; long arm action; average arm speed; high-three-quarters slot. Slightly closed off when pitching in the stretch. FB 89-91 (T92); lacks movement; struggled late as he fatigued; better locating to arm-side. CB 76-78; decent shape but was inconsistent between 1/7-2/8; had good action but wasn't always the sharpest; could spot it against LHH; not a swing/miss offering but can locate and use against both sides. 1.06-1.08 SS; 1.20-1.26 stretch. Poor delivery and athleticism; lacked balance over the rubber and would fall off at times. Has some value to an organization as a matchup lefty.
Trey Harris, RF, University of Missouri
Seen in 2 games; both in RF on 4/6; and 4/8. Not very muscular; just large; could stand to subtract some; has strength; could improve size in pro ball. Has rhythm with hands; can get too uphill with swing and look to elevate everything, but has bat speed to catch up to velocity; aggressive approach; looks to pull the ball early in counts. Plus raw power; has strength; loft; and some bat speed to take it out from LF-CF; plays down in-game due to aggressiveness and approach. Fringe-average runner; 4.38 H-1B; gets to top speed somewhat fast and can maintain it; did not see attempt a SB in viewings. Average arm strength; not a weapon; can overthrow and allow advancement of runners. Well-below-average fielder at present; struggles with reads and routes; saw take poor judgement on balls and leap at the wall; only to miss it by 10 or so feet; might be more of a left fielder than right fielder given defensive struggles and arm. Has power and some feel to hit with some speed; just not sure about ultimate spot defensively. See as a reserve/DH/LF.
Greg Goldstein OF Marty Costes, University of Maryland, Draft-eligible sophomore Stout, not much projectability left in his body; athletic given his frame. Above-average bat speed; swings hard without much adjustment when he has two strikes on him. Compact swing with mild leverage to increase his ability to hit for power; has raw power to all fields that will play in games, but is not as comfortable controlling the barrel and poking pitches on the outside edge of the plate the other way. More of a fly ball hitter; at his best when he turns on pitches on the inside part of the plate; has muscled some balls out the other way. Has no problem catching up to fastballs up in the zone because of his bat speed. Stiff at the plate; not much movement in the hands, but remains balanced and poised. Will take odd routes to fly balls at times because he’s not fluid in the field; has made a couple of flashy plays because of his slightly above-average ball skills, but he can be nothing more than an average defensive right fielder because of his average arm strength and lack of quickness and fluidity in his movements; average speed.
Costes is a power-first hitter that is always looking to drive the ball, especially when they are on the inside part of the plate. His hit tool will lag behind his power because he doesn’t show an ability to settle down his swing in situations when he needs to. His fielding profile will limit him to right field. Has the potential to become an above average power hitter because of his pure strength and bat speed, but his lack of flexibility as a hitter will limit his big league potential.
RHP Jake Hohensee, University of Nebraska, Junior
Saw for 8.1 IP on 4/7/17. Older junior at 23 years old who had TJ surgery last season; larger guy, conditioning could be a problem. Has choppy motion with a three-quarters arm slot and a high leg kick; not athletic on the mound, delivery lacks easy repeatability because of all the moving parts and considerable effort; doesn’t stay balanced and falls off the mound when releasing the ball. Averaged 87-89 (T90) on the fastball with average command and control. Best pitch is the curveball, 75-78 mph, has 12-6 action with sharp movement at times, still inconsistent, but uses it to put hitters away, can throw for strikes; bite and location got better as the game progressed; frequently went to it during tough situations. Flashes a slurve as well, but was mostly a two-pitch pitcher during this outing; Energetic kid who screams after big outs.
Hohensee is a starter at Nebraska, but has all the makings of a reliever in the minor leagues. His choppiness and lack of balance in his throwing motion will make it hard for him to sustain himself for multiple innings. Outside of his curveball, his pure stuff is nothing more than slightly below-average at this point, which will make it difficult for the right-hander to become an impact late inning reliever at the next level. His two-pitch approach and expressive demeanor also signals a move to the bullpen. There is some risk with the injury history as well. The deceptiveness of seeing an unconventional pitcher like Hohensee come out of the bullpen may help his success, but he projects as more of high-level minor league organizational depth in the bullpen if he remains healthy.
If I worked in a baseball front office, I would almost certainly lose my job for drafting Montes de Oca way too early. He is easily my favorite pitcher in this draft. I’m happy to see that he got some coverage at BP. I’m also glad that he is healthy again and making pitches like at 1:05.
Notes from the Field: ... (04/11)
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If I worked in a baseball front office, I would almost certainly lose my job for drafting Montes de Oca way too early. He is easily my favorite pitcher in this draft. I’m happy to see that he got some coverage at BP. I’m also glad that he is healthy again and making pitches like at 1:05.