Posted By John Klima on February 8, 2010
I’ll take Money Tools over Moneyball any day of the week. Georgia High School outfielder Kevin Jordan has the athletic ability to possess money tools, which boils down to power and speed. Have a look.
Posted By John Klima on February 8, 2010
Outfielder Matt Miraldi has a pro body, and easy swing and a strong frame. If he’s going to play in the big leagues, power will have to be his ticket because he won’t posses another standout tool. Watching a guy hit with metal against soft pitching isn’t the best way to get a clean evaluation of a hitter, but what you can tell is that he wants to lift the ball, and continuing to develop that ability to lift and drive on a more consistent basis, coupled with his frame, will give him the best chance to succeed as a pro.
Posted By John Klima on February 7, 2010
It’s a heavy high school baseball week here at Baseball Beginnings. We’ll look at Kevin Jordan, Griffin Murphy, Reggie Golden, Nick Kingham, Tyrell Jenkins and Kris Bryant. We’ll also clear the pro-side notebook and have a last look at the pitchers I caught in the Arizona Fall League. (Disclosure: I did not actually ‘catch’ them. But I did sit behind home plate.)
Posted By John Klima on February 7, 2010
Rico Noel and I had an interesting talk last summer, discussing the increasing value on speed and defense at the major league level. As a player who grew up watching the steroid era, Noel was pleased that his skills were coming back into favor. That’s good, because like a lot of middle infielders we have scouted on this site, Noel isn’t going to be the eye-pleasing 6-5 guy. Height is the most overrated aspect of player development, pure and simple. Noel is going to give himself a chance to succeed because he will be able to run, bunt, put the ball in play, play multiple infield positions, and defend. He’ll need some polish as he improves, but from a pure scouting point of view, I’d have no problem turning this guy in because I know good minor league instructors can make a big leaguer out of him.
Posted By John Klima on February 7, 2010
Cody Hawn reminds me of Matt Stairs. What we have here is a left-handed hitter who can flat-out-hit and would hit for modest power at the major league level. When you scout Hawn, what you need to do is not pay attention to his body type and pay attention to his hands. If he can play a position, be it first base or left field, he will climb the ladder as a pro. This is the kind of guy who will require the right situation and an organization that believes in him. If he finds it and he hits, he could find regular at-bats. If he doesn’t, he might become a left-handed bench player at best.
Posted By John Klima on February 6, 2010
Right-hander Seth Rosin is the Friday night starter for Minnesota this spring. He’s lost some weight from when I saw him in the summer and worked to improve his breaking ball. What I saw in the Cape when Rosin was pitching for Hyannis was the makings of a big, durable, innings-eating middle of the order major league starter. Some guys got all the luck, and Rosin being 6-6, well, that means whoever signs him is going to give him every chance to grow into a big league role. For me, Rosin is a throwback kind of guy, a Midwestern ox, a workhorse, take the ball every fifth day and get deep into the game. I like pitchers who are built for the long haul, whose physical stature hint that they can run like a good engine for seven innings.
Posted By John Klima on February 6, 2010
Chris Sale showed up in the Cape Cod League last summer committed to prove that he had matured into a professional prospect. We’ll have a Q&A with him this spring, but for now, here’s a look at who might be the first college left-hander off the 2010 draft board.
Posted By John Klima on February 5, 2010
Brian Ragira has a college commitment to Stanford. If he gets there, he’s going to be a good college player from the start. If he turns pro out of high school, he’ll get a ton of at-bats with wood and learn how good he can be. There’s a lot to like with this player, whose hands and offense project him to be an everyday major league outfielder. The bat is his money tool and he doesn’t have a below average tool, which is very nice to find. For me, I’d like to see him turn pro after high school, get those 2,000 minor league at-bats, and hit from day one in the big leagues.
Posted By John Klima on February 5, 2010
Tony Wolters is regarded as one of the top shortstop prospects in California for the 2010 MLB draft. He put himself on the map when he was named MVP of the Aflac game. A very handsy hitter.
Posted By John Klima on February 4, 2010
Sean Coyle should fit in nicely as a second baseman, wearing powder blue in college baseball at North Carolina. Here’s a look at him, then we’ll break him down.
