Lawrie, Gindl, Alfonso

[John]

I had a chance to watch 3 minor league games this week. Lawrie is very impressive at the plate, tons of power, but needs to work on defense. Gindl can flat hit, great prospect. Both look like sure major leaguers. The Alfonso kid was very impressive, a no namer. Has a super quick release behind the plate. Swung bat well against Jenks and Dotel. Could be a sleeper down the road.

[tyguy20204]

Thanks for the info, John, I always enjoy reading first-hand impressions. I had never really heard of Derrick Alfonso before. I'll put him on my radar.

[sheetskout]

I love what Gindl has done since he was drafted. This is another pick that will make Zdurencik look like a genius. Obviously the knock on him is his height. BA also never gives the shorties their due but I see Gindl making one or two of their hot lists this year.

 

I'm totally rooting for him!

[wvpowerblkwel]

Gindl has hit .545 during the spring....I'd say he could be our big one to impress this year that nobody has been talking about much! Way to go Caleb!!

[Paris16]

Where is Derrick Alfonso? I've been a huge Louisville fan for many years. I've been following all their former players in the minor leagues. What are the Brewers doing with Alfonso? He is not listed on any of their rosters. I've watched the kid play over 100 games in College. He was very athletic and intense. I've never seen a better defensive college catcher. He threw out almost 50% of runners in his first three years as a starter in Louisville , helping land him on the Johnny Bench watch list for 2 years in a row. He then led the nation his senior year throwing out 63% of runners trying to steal against him without making a single error. He did an outstanding job handling a pitching staff and blocking the ball extremely well. He is a big reason Louisville played in the College World Series in 2006.

I followed him some at Helena last year. I know he had a wrist injury and a shoulder injury, which affected his swing and limited his playing time. Offensively, he has potential, but he was a very impatient hitter at Louisville. He showed power at Louisville and hit three homeruns at Helena last year. I'm assuming he's either been released or he's hurt (I haven't seen him on the disabled list). Although, I can't imagine the Brewers releasing a catcher with his defensive skills. I visited the Brewers minor league websites and I saw where most of the catchers are really struggling offensively - many of them hitting under .200. I guarantee very few of them can catch with Alfonso. If anyone knows if he's with another team or been released please let me know. If he's not hurt, and still with Milwaukee, I can't imagine why he's not in a least A ball. There aren't many catchers at any level that can catch and throw with this kid. He needs to be given a LEGITIMATE chance to see if he can hit at this level.

[HankSterling]

Caleb is a Hometown Boy for me. I knew he would do well. He is a rare combo of unbelievable talent and work ethic. Please Keep calling him short. It fuels him! He also has a Teamate from Highschool playing for Ft Wayne. They have a little competetive thing going on.

[BoKnowsBall]

I'm pretty sure he is in extended spring training but someone can correct me if I'm wrong

[Pudster13]

How do you pronounce Gindl's last name?

Is it "Jin-dell"?

[bullox]

I always thought it was ginn-duhl

[HankSterling]

Gindle......Gin_dill

[John]

If one of the previous bloggers is correct and Alfonso is still in extended spring training the Brewers need to move him. As I stated earlier, I saw him play in March and he can flat throw. He also swung the bat well. They have stolen 9 bases off Brewer catchers in Wisconsin in the last 2 games. They desperately need a catcher that can throw. I checked his stats at Louisville and he was one of the top defensive catchers in the nation his junior and senior year. They may not think he can hit, but the Brewers have seven catchers on their minor league teams right now hitting under .185. I can only go by what I saw in the 3 games I watched him play. I can tell you that he is head and shoulders above the other catchers I watched defensively, and he hit the ball hard 6 of his 9 at bats. It is hard to believe that a catcher who started four years at the Div. 1 level, on a team that won over 150 games, isn't able to make the minor league roster of any of the Brewer teams. He may be a no name, but he deserves a chance in an organization that doesn't have a talented group of defensive catchers.

[TheCrew07]

I agree, neither catcher in WI has played very well offensively or defensively.

 

I've been puzzled by Sean McCraw for some time, the acquisition, the placement, the playing time... he's never hit well, doesn't throw out many runners, I wonder what the organization sees in him.

[CheeseheadInIllinois]

I agree, neither catcher in WI has played very well offensively or defensively.

 

I've been puzzled by Sean McCraw for some time, the acquisition, the placement, the playing time... he's never hit well, doesn't throw out many runners, I wonder what the organization sees in him.

The couple of games I saw him when the Rattlers played in the Quad-Cities, he seemed pretty agile blocking balls, and when one did get by him, he got to it quickly and put himself in position to make a throw. Maybe given the control problems some of the Rattler pitchers have on occasion, he was brought in for that reason alone. Or maybe I just caught him on a good day.

[Paris16]

This is my second and last post on this kid. Does anyone know why Derrick Alfonso is still stuck in spring training? Here is what I don't understand. The Brewers have five catchers in their minor league system at the present time hitting below .180. They have seven catchers struggling mightily trying to throw out runners attempting to steal. Three are throwing out less than fifteen percent and one is throwing out eight percent.

Here is a kid who started all four years at the University of Louisville and caught almost 200 games. He threw out 63% of runners trying to steal against him his senior year and was regarded as one of the top catchers in the nation. He blocks balls well and calls a great game. Check Evan Frederickson's stats last year when Alfonso caught him to when other catchers caught him. He hits the ball hard, but needs to work on his patience at the plate.

Wisconsin has two catchers on their roster. One is swinging the bat great, but has only thrown out 3 of 33 runners attempting to steal. The other one hit .143 last year in the minors and is hitting .177 this year with 6 errors already behind the plate. With the lack of quality catchers in this organization, why is a catcher with his experience at the Division 1 level going back to rookie ball in Helena?

I watched the kid play with my cousin four years at Louisville. He has a tremendous work ethic, intensity, and plays with a lot of heart. He waled in at Louisville his freshman year with no catching experience and beat out 4 upper classmen. He helped put Louisville on the College baseball map. He is a no name who didn't sign for 400,000 like some other catchers. I hope someone important in the Brewer organization realizes that all he needs is a legitimate chance.

[statfan]

Alfonso is on the Helena Roster right now. I think he spent most of spring training playing with the Brevard group, but then at the last minute was assigned to extended. Who knows why? I was impressed by his bat and how he handled his catching duties in the spring games I saw, so extended surprised me. I did see that he only hit .227 last summer in the Pioneer League, though.

[Paris16]

Can't figure out why this kid doesn't get a lot more playing time behind the plate. He has less at bats this year (24) than any other player in the entire Brewer organization. The Manatees have very good defensive catchers in Maldonado and Delarosa; however, between them they have 300 at bats, 9 extra base hits and both are hitting under .196. Alfonso was regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in the nation during his college career. He has some pop at the plate and is throwing out almost 40% of runners during his young minor league career. Maybe I'm missing something, but 24 at bats is not much of a chance!! Would love to hear from Manatee fans who have seen him play.