John Klima | February 26, 2010
Aroldis Chapman got paid and now begins the process of molding a great pitcher’s body and a big arm into a major league starter. This is the first rung of the ladder in professional baseball for Chapman, and Baseball Beginnings has exclusive footage of Chapman’s first on-the-mound bullpen as a paid pro. Have a look and then we will break him down.
John Klima | January 12, 2010
John Stevenson was one of the best minds I have ever met in amateur baseball. In his community in El Segundo, California, he coached for 50 years and made the playoffs 42 times. He ran practices like clockwork. He never cared where a guy would get drafted, but he wanted each guy to have success in and out of baseball. John never got caught up in the trappings of professional baseball. Business cards did not impress him. He was a teacher at heart.
Stevenson, who passed away Monday at age 76, won 1,000 games here in Southern California. For those of you around the country, I’d like to share a story I wrote about Stevenson in 2007, a tribute to a baseball guy.
John Klima | January 7, 2010
I had my second look of 2009 at Giants catcher Buster Posey in the Arizona Fall League. I first picked up Posey at the California-Carolina League All-Star game in July and picked him up again at the Fall League’s All-Star game in October.
I believe the reason Posey was still in the Fall League through the end of the season was not for the at-bats, but because he needs to catch. And I don’t think he becomes the everyday catcher until he proves that he can be a reliable everyday defender. A converted college infielder as everyone knows, Posey is pretty much the only guy who can block Posey.
John Klima | January 2, 2010
“Swish” was Bob Thurman’s nickname, long before it was a shoe logo. Thurman was a left-handed hitting outfielder and pitcher who played for the Homestead Grays in the last Negro League World Series in 1948. When he signed with the Kansas City Monarchs and eventually found his way to the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds, he had changed his age more than his socks.
“I have had my age put back so many times,” an amused and demurring Thurman wrote, “I can’t remember my real age.”
There is humor in history, but a lesson to be learned for today’s Major League teams that pursue Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman.
John Klima | January 1, 2010
Right-hander Matt Hobgood hasn’t spent the winter sitting on the couch watching Norco High graduate Toby Gerhart of Stanford make a run at the Heisman Trophy. Instead, Hobgood committed himself to a new off-season workout routine that he believes will help him progress as a new professional. Today Baseball Beginnings presents the conclusion of our exclusive Matt Hobgood interview.
John Klima | December 31, 2009
Matt Hobgood recently turned 19, a few months removed from his professional debut after the Baltimore Orioles made the Norco (Calif.) right-hander the team’s no. 1 pick and the 5th overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft. Hobgood, who signed for $2.5 million with a “22” mixed into the tail of that contract to reflect his favorite number, went to rookie ball where he is well aware that many observers expressed concern about results and diminished velocity.
Hobgood has always pitched with a chip on his shoulder. As an amateur, he believed he belonged in the same company as the other power arm starting pitchers in his draft class. He has heard the comments that his body is too big to allow for success over a long career. In all our conversations with Hobgood, he has made it a point to express his differing opinion.
Baseball Beginnings caught up with Hobgood recently, moments after the right-hander finished a winter workout. What we found was a young pitcher who recognizes that he wasn’t lights out in Bluefield, but on the other side of the coin, Bluefield is rookie ball for a reason.
John Klima | December 25, 2009
I blame Sports Illustrated for being sucker-punched by publicists pretending to be scouts. I blame the hype for getting in the way of player evaluation and not letting a player be the kind of player his physical nature and talents hint that he’s going to be.
John Klima | December 12, 2009
Here’s our breakdown of the three-team trade that got the Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson, who in addition to being a stud, also has read my buddy Jon Eig’s book, Opening Day. Yo, Curtis! Two words: Willie’s Boys!
John Klima | October 19, 2009
(photo: Baseball Beginnings)
Ryan Wheeler has been named the 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks minor league player of the year following his standout professional debut season at short-season Class A Yakima and Class A South Bend. Wheeler, a fifth round pick from Loyola Marymount, posted a 1.002 OPS (That is not a typo). Wheeler, who wasn’t drafted out of high school, began to blossom playing in the Cape Cod League and then carried over his wood bat comfort zone into pro ball. Every aspect of what we liked about Wheeler from a scouting point of view translated into performance as a pro. The road will get harder as he advances, but Wheeler helped himself in 2009. At Yakima, he withstood the elements and produced a nice triple crown line of .361-6-41, with 21 doubles and four triples and only 32 strikeouts in 263 at-bats. We’ll catch up with Wheeler this winter.
You can scout Wheeler for yourself here on Baseball Beginnings by clicking the links below. We have video of him as an amateur playing at LMU, as well as our exclusive scouting reports and Q&A.
Read Ryan Wheeler Q&A
Read Ryan Wheeler Scouting Report
Watch Ryan Wheeler Scouting Video
Read about Ryan Wheeler in the Cape Cod League
Catching up with Ryan Wheeler
John Klima | October 19, 2009
Jose Iglesias, reported as 19 years old, is a Cuban prospect signed by the Boston Red Sox for a reported deal of $8 million over four years, including a $3 million bonus. Baseball Beginnings obtained this video in Arizona. You can see a lot of Red Sox player development hallmarks with this guy. First, let’s start with the size and body type. This guy isn’t gifted with the long and lean frame, but he’s making up for it with his hands. The bat is the reason the kid is here and you’ll see it in the swing. He’s a flashy defender who wants you to be aware that he is a flashy defender. I don’t need to break this guy down for anyone, you’ll all see what they like as soon as you press play after the jump. (more…)
