Feature Photo: Kyle Freeland, LHP, Rockies
Welcome to the first installment of our weekly newsletter covering the 2016 International League (Triple-A), Eastern League (Double-A) and Carolina League (High A), Notes from the East, edited by Chaz Fiorino. Chaz, Mark Shreve, Reggie Yinger, C.J. Wittmann, and Nick J. Faleris provide some first-hand notes and prospect spotlights, as well as other news, stats, and scouting reports from around the leagues this week.
Eastern League Prospect Profile
Kyle Freeland, LHP, Rockies (Double-A Hartford)
Ht/Wt: 6’3″/170 | B/T: L/L | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 22y, 11m
Prior to being taken eighth overall in 2014 MLB Draft, Freeland enjoyed one of the more impressive collegiate seasons you’ll see, striking out 128 batters to just 13 walks over 99.2 IP while holding the opposition to a sub-1.00 WHIP and .214 average. Injuries, including bone chips in his elbow and some shoulder fatigue, limited his innings in 2015, though he was able to make up for some lost time with 25-plus Arizona Fall League innings in which he flashed some of his previous dominance.
Through spring training and his first three starts of 2016, Freeland has looked every bit the force he was prior to his injury-filled 2015, wielding a arsenal stuffed with varying looks and velocities, including a three-way fastball ranging from the upper 80s to low 90s (touching 94), an easy plus slider with wipeout action, a hard cutter with short-slider depth and a two-look changeup that can come either with straight dive or more traditional circle-fade. He’ll even mix in a mid- to upper-70s curveball for a change-of-pace pitch that can work as an effective early-in-the-count strike.
In addition to his stuff showing well, Freeland has continued to pound the strike zone with all of his offerings, working effectively with his slider in particular. The pitch has been effective back-dooring to righties and as a swing-and-miss pitch down and away to lefties when he’s ahead in the count. He works out of a low slot, which he can vary for different looks and different shape on his pitches, and comes with some crossfire and effort. He has such impressive control of his body and feel for his mechanics, however, there’s little issue in regularly executing on his offerings and hitting his spots.
Freeland’s worked five, six, and then seven innings in his three starts, striking out 11 over those 18 innings pitched and walking just three. Previously viewed as a prospect likely to move quickly through the minors, Freeland appears to be back on the fast track and could be ready for a cup of coffee with the big club later this summer. –Nick J. Faleris
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2080 Top 125 Prospect Updates
-Yoan Moncada, 2B, Red Sox (#7): Moncada is currently on a nine-game hit streak as of April 19 at High A Salem. And when he’s reached base, he’s been running wild with 13 stolen bases to lead the South Atlantic League (along with four CS). Moncada stole 49 bases in 52 attempts while playing for the Class A Greenville Drive last year.
Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates
-Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates (#10): Glasnow has thrown 10 innings with 15 Ks, 3 BB, 7 H, and 2 ER. Glasnow has cruised so far at Triple-A Indianapolis, mainly featuring his plus fastball and curveball combination. Pirates GM Neal Huntington has expressed the importance for Glasnow to continue development by throwing his changeup more often as a third pitch.
-Trea Turner, SS, Nationals (#20): Turner built off a solid Grapefruit League showing and hit the ground running at Triple-A Syracuse, lighting up the league with a .357/.449/.548 slash line to go with a homer, 4 RBIs, and 4 SBs for the Chiefs through April 19th.
Jesse Winker, OF, Reds
-Jesse Winker, OF, Reds (#40): Winker earned his promotion to Triple-A Louisville after a solid Double-A campaign at Pensacola last year where he hit .282. While he’s hitting a robust .350 with a .438 OBP, there lacks any semblance of power early in the season – of his 15 hits, he’s registered a double and 14 singles.
Jorge Alfaro, C, Phillies (#48): Alfaro is is punishing Eastern League pitching to the tune of a league-leading .500 AVG and 1.276 OPS through 37 PAs for the Reading Fightin’ Phils through April 18th. He’s hit safely in all eight games he’s played, with his last seven games being multi-hit efforts. The Phillies are determined to get Alfaro and fellow high-profile prospect Andrew Knapp (C, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Triple-A) their reps by rostering them on separate minor league teams while Cameron Rupp and Carlos Ruiz man the position for the big club, but for now, Alfaro is living up to his ranking as the #1 catcher on our top 125 list. He’s certainly worth following closely. (Ed Note: Alfaro was placed on the DL April 19th with a strained oblique and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks).
-Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (#67): Judge got off to a hot start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting safely in 10 of his first 11 games and slashing .333/.360/.556 with two home runs and nine RBIs through April 19 (see profile below for more on Judge).
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Prospect Spotlights – International League
Ben Gamel, OF, Yankees (Triple-A, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
Ht/Wt: 5’11″/185 | B/T: L/L | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 23y, 11m
Gamel really stood out in a three-game look last week at Pawtucket . The 23-year-old left-handed hitter had a quick, smooth, line-drive stroke, batting at the top of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup. He showed the ability to spray line drives to all fields while consistently squaring up the baseball with hard contact gap-to-gap. Gamel started the first game in left field and subsequent games in center field. Defensively, Gamel showed athleticism, instincts, and first step quickness to cover ground in the outfield with average arm strength. Gamel also showed the instincts and ability to steal a base. Gamel looked to be an average runner and clocked at 4.19 from HP-to-1B from the left side. All in all, he appears to be a guy with potential five average tools across the board that can do a little bit of everything; despite no plus tool. The bat potential probably profiles Gamel best in center field, but he offers the defensive versatility to handle all three outfield positions. Gamel was 6-for-13 with two walks and two strikeouts during the series. – Chaz Fiorino
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (Triple-A, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
Ht/Wt: 6’7″/275 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 23y, 12m
The soon to be 24-year-old immediately stood out in a three-game look I had last week at Pawtucket, which is not saying much given his 6’7”, 275-pound frame. This was my first time seeing Judge, and I was surprised to see the athleticism, lateral movements and ability to run given his size. At the plate, Judge actually showed a short, line-drive oriented swing with a two-handed finish. The raw power and bat speed combination is well above average (click here for video of his first Triple-A home run), but Judge can get himself into trouble when he tries to sell out for over-the-fence power. Judge appeared to be trying to shorten things up and keep things simple at the plate, with a line-drive, all fields approach. Defensively, Judge showed above-average arm strength; more specifically on a throw from right field to third base which showed why Judge profiles perfectly in right field. He has surprising first-step quickness and long strides that help him cover plenty of ground in right field to be an average defender. Judge was 6-for-15 with zero walks and four strikeouts during this three-game series – Chaz Fiorino
Prospect Spotlights – Eastern League
Clint Frazier, OF, Indians (Double-A Akron)
Ht/Wt: 6’1″/190 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 21y, 7m
Frazier showed the same improvements to start the 2016 season that I saw to end the 2015 season. The improvements to lay off chase pitches out of the zone. Opposing pitchers tried to work Frazier on the outside of the strike zone during a three game series, but he was able to go the other way on several fastballs, resulting in line drive doubles. Although he saw a steady diet of fastballs away, his only strikeouts were on sliders where he was out in front on. When he made contact, he showed a line-drive swing, and was able to spray the ball to all parts of the field. Defensively, Frazier played left and right field during the three games series and showed average ability on his routes to the balls. Overall, Frazier finished the three game set 5-for-13 with two extra base hits and three strikeouts. – Reggie Yinger
Ramiel Tapia, OF, Rockies
Raimel Tapia, OF, Rockies (Double-A Hartford)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/160 | B/T: L/L | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 22y, 2m
It’s been a very slow start for Tapia in his first spin through the Eastern League, with the lefty bat collecting just two extra base hits in 60-plus plate appearances. Tapia is currently slashing a meager .212/.311/.250 with minimal hard contact. Though Tapia has shown good feel for the barrel in the past, he lacks a certain intimidation factor when it comes to in-game pop. Eastern League arms seem to be testing him this April, often pounding fastballs on the inner-half early and mixing-in soft stuff away when ahead in the count.
Hitting is about adjustments, and Tapia’s hand-eye coordination and contact ability should give him a leg up in figuring out those adjustments as he continues to climb the developmental ladder. Still, early returns – admittedly very early returns – in Double-A have reinforced some concerns that Tapia and his unorthodox approach, combined with below-average raw power, could open the door for more advanced arms to get aggressive and force him to hit from behind and, ultimately, put bat to ball on pitcher’s pitches. –Nick J. Faleris
Christian Arroyo, SS, Giants (Double-A Richmond)
Ht/Wt: 6’1″/180 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 20y, 10m
Arroyo enjoyed a breakout 2015, following-up his impressive High A showing with a loud Arizona Fall League and earning a 2016 promotion to Double-A Richmond despite starting the season at just 20-years-old. The precocious middle infielder came out of the gates raking, but has slowed down some over his past couple series, striking out in about 20% of his plate appearances over his last seven games.
Arroyo keeps a pretty compact stroke to contact, and there’s enough bat speed there to impact the ball at contact and drive the gaps with occasional over-the-fence pop. Though not an imposing physical presence, Arroyo is put together well and should be able to keep upper-level arms honest as he continues to mature, possibly projecting to 15 or so home runs a year with a gang of doubles to boot. Already showing impressive feel for contact, Arroyo’s next developmental hurdle will be refining his approach and learning how best to work more advanced arms to find his pitch to drive.
With Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik currently up the middle in San Francisco, there’s little reason to rush Arroyo, and it would make sense for the Giants to start experimenting with Arroyo around the diamond once he’s settled in to the Double-A game. He has his supporters at each of three infield positions, and could even fit as a corner-outfield option as part of super-utility role. –Nick J. Faleris
Prospect Spotlights – Carolina League
Tanner Scott, LHP, Orioles
Tanner Scott, LHP, Orioles (High A Frederick)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/220 | B/T: R/L | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 21y, 8m
The powerful lefty has opened the season throwing his big fastball 96-to-98 mph, (T- 99). He’s had command issues, with seven walks over five appearances, but opposing hitters still can’t put good swings on his electric fastball. During his last outing, he strictly stuck to his fastball while flashing his inconsistent slider (79-to-81 mph) and a below-average changeup (90 mph).
He has the arsenal to be a big league reliever according to 2080’s most recent report, but Scott needs to continue developing his slider and bump it up to an average pitch to keep progressing. – Reggie Yinger
Mike Papi, OF, Indians (High A Lynchburg)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/190 | B/T: L/R | Age (as of April 1, 2016): 23y, 6m
After a career high four home runs in 2015, the former 1st-round pick from the University of Virginia has already matched last year’s home run total in his first 10 games this year. One of those was on a fastball up in the zone on a 2-0 count, in which Papi was able to square-up the pitch and hit it over the fence in right center field. On another home run swing, he did a good job going down in the zone for the fastball by dropping the barrel, but not his hands. After striking out 118 times in High A in his 2015 campaign, Papi has taken a better approach against sliders and changeups, laying off those pitches in the dirt, and his overall approach and pitch recognition skills have shown clear improvement since my viewings in 2015. He’s hitting a solid .302 in his first 55 PAs, but his .456 OBP shows that he’s making the right adjustments this year. – Reggie Yinger
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This Week at 2080 Baseball…
Reports Filed:
David Hess, RHP, Orioles (Double A Bowie)
Ben Heller, RHP, Indians (Double A Akron)
Stefan Crichton, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves (High A Carolina)
Erick Fedde, RHP, Nationals (High A Potomac)
Justus Sheffield, LHP, Indians (High A Lynchburg)
Click here to view our updated report library covering other prospects from around the minor leagues.
Video Library
No first-hand video this week for the International League, Eastern League & Carolina League, but be on the lookout for new video in next week’s edition! For now, take a look at our video library of other prospects from around the country.
2080 Content
2080 Contributor Lisa Winston is having a ball tracking the major league debuts that have been happening since Opening Day. Her latest Les Debutantes column covering week two, can be found here, but for more reading check out the gang of players debuting in week one by clicking here for the A.L., and here for the N.L. debuts.
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News and Notes
- The Phillies’ Zach Eflin (RHP, Lehigh Valley) and Jorge Alfaro (C, Reading) were named the International League Pitcher and Eastern League Players of the Week.
- John Sickels from Minor League Ball profiles OF Mike Mahtook, who finds himself back at Triple-A Durham this year after 41 games with the Rays in 2015, trying to make his case for a more permanent home on the Rays’ major league roster.
- Red Sox Aaron Wilkerson (RHP, Portland) was named the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week after his 3 starts, going 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA in 16.2 IP, allowing 6 H, 1ER, 3BB, and punching out 22.
- The Indians’ Mike Papi (OF, Lynchburg) was named the Carolina League’s Player of the Week after recording his first multi-home run game of his career and his 4th home run of the year.
- The Braves’ Max Povse (RHP, Carolina) was named the Carolina League’s Pitcher of the Week after striking out 14 batters in 13 innings and allowing just four hits.
- Tim Pearel from the Richmond Times-Dispatch discusses the rapid rise of Matt Winn from a 14th-round draft pick last year to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2016.
- John Meoli from the Baltimore Sun profiles Trey Mancini, who despite winning the Eastern League batting title in 2015, will once again start the year with the Double-A Bowie Baysox in a move that came as a surprise to many.
- Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com has an excellent breakdown of the conundrum facing the Phillies as catchers Andrew Knapp (Triple-A Lehigh Valley) and Jorge Alfaro (Double-A Reading) both start out strong for their minor league clubs.
- Sean Miller of New Jersey Advanced Media has a nice profile of Tyler Wade and Dustin Fowler, both 21-year-old Yankees draft picks from 2013 who started the season together at Double-A Trenton.
- He may not make the big leagues, but boy has OF Carlos Moncrief showed some perseverance. He’s starting the year with the Richmond Flying Squirrels – his 16th pro team since being drafted in 2008. A quick profile by the Richmond Free Press is here.
- Matt Huegel of SoxProspects.com with a great profile on Red Sox 3B Sam Travis being “obsessed with winning”, including quotes from Triple-A PawSox manager Kevin Boles and director of player development Ben Crockett.
- Jomar Reyes (3B, High A Frederick) speaks with Jon Meoli about being the youngest player in the Carolina League, off-season conditioning and goals moving forward.
- Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal on Red Sox prospect Brian Johnson (LHP, Triple-A Pawtucket) settling down in his first start back after returning from an ulnar nerve issue in his left elbow last season and a toe injury from Spring Training.
- Bill Brink from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes a look at Pirates’ prospects Jameson Taillon (RHP) and Tyler Glasnow (RHP) who are off to good starts at Triple-A Indianapolis.
- The Portland Press Herald takes a look at current High A Carolina League Red Sox prospects that could soon be on there way to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.
- Craig Forde of MiLB.com profiles Rockies prospect David Dahl being finally healthy and showing off his prodigious power while putting his injuries behind him.
- C. Trent Rosecrans of Cincinatti.com looks at why Robert Stephenson (RHP) was sent back to Triple-A Louisville, with quotes from Reds manager Bryan Price, after holding the Rockies to just three hits and a run over seven innings on Tuesday.
