2012 Arizona Fall League / Latin Winter League Thread

[Tedaldtada]

Salt River 6 Phoenix 3

 

Box Score

 

Hunter Morris was 1-5 with 3 K and his 3rd E on the AFL season.

 

Josh Prince is seeing beach balls in the box right now. On Thursday, he went 2-5 with 2 2B. Josh is from Sulphur, LA. [sarcasm]That stinks I would think.[/sarcasm] Lacking any type of discernible noxious stink, besides the smell of white hot fire, is Prince's line in the AFL. No one is predicting stardom from this kid, but he is likely just another example of a long line of solid, unheralded Brewers prospects that find ways to contribute at the MLB level.

 

It is kind of the Brewers way now. Churn out productive big leaguers year-after-year, receive little national credit, rinse, repeat. Guys like Josh Prince, Logan Schafer, Mike Fiers, Khris Davis, John Axford and even the Corey Hart's of the world were never followed with much fanfare (besides here!) yet success just seems follow.

 

I was ready to give up on Prince after his disastrous 2010 season. Whoops! Many of the uninformed still see the 2009 class as a total bust. But this is not the case. Hiram Burgos and Khris Davis were the 6th and 7th rounders. Scooter Gennett in the 16th. Mike Fiers in the 22nd! We still have some guys to dream on in Cam Garfield (2nd), Chadwin Stang (8th), Brooks Hall (4th) and Max Walla (2nd). Add in likely big leaguers RP Kyle Heckathorn (1S), UT Josh Prince (3rd) and 1B Sean Halton (13th) and you have a very solid class. I don't even know what category to put Kentrail Davis (1S) and Eric Arnett (1st) in.

 

Is there a star? Doubtful, but you cannot rule out some above average production from Fiers, Burgos, Kh. Davis or Gennett at this point. Not bad considering Mike Trout was robbed from underneath us and we were drafting at the end of each round (albeit with a few suppy picks).

 

Bruce Seid has been much maligned, but it is totally unfair. I, for one, am very happy with the looks of our system right now despite what Keith Law and the legion of anonymous scouts spew.

 

My point is that ramssuperbowl1999 is right to be snarky with these national prospect pundits and go underdog farm system!

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[ramssuperbowl1999]

It is kind of the Brewers way now. Churn out productive big leaguers year-after-year, receive little national credit, rinse, repeat. Guys like Josh Prince, Logan Schafer, Mike Fiers, Khris Davis, John Axford and even the Corey Hart's of the world were never followed with much fanfare (besides here!) yet success just seems follow.

 

I was ready to give up on Prince after his disastrous 2010 season. Whoops! Many of the uninformed still see the 2009 class as a total bust. But this is not the case. Hiram Burgos and Khris Davis were the 6th and 7th rounders. Scooter Gennett in the 16th. Mike Fiers in the 22nd! We still have some guys to dream on in Cam Garfield (2nd), Chadwin Stang (8th), Brooks Hall (4th) and Max Walla (2nd). Add in likely big leaguers RP Kyle Heckathorn (1S), UT Josh Prince (3rd) and 1B Sean Halton (13th) and you have a very solid class. I don't even know what category to put Kentrail Davis (1S) and Eric Arnett (1st) in.

 

Bruce Seid has been much maligned, but it is totally unfair. I, for one, am very happy with the looks of our system right now despite what Keith Law and the legion of anonymous scouts spew.

 

My point is that ramssuperbowl1999 is right to be snarky with these national prospect pundits and go underdog farm system!

I was being snarky with everyone. And I consider 2009 a poor draft.

 

Let's go down the list with guys you mentioned and list the ceiling (I'm leaving out Axford and Hart):

Josh Prince - Utility player or AAA/AAAA/up-and-down player

Hiram Burgos - Long reliever, maybe a #5

Mike Fiers - #3/4 starter

Khris Davis - Utility bat (will argue to the death)

Scooter Gennett - Fringe starter. If he doesn't walk more, potential AAAA player. (I can defend the low, low floor here more if needed.)

Cameron Garfield - Less-than-glowing defensive reviews and below average bat speed. Top 25 prospect in the organization and not likely MLB starter.

Brooks Hall - No velocity. Won't be a big league starter. May be a middle reliever.

Kyle Heckathorn - Middle reliever.

Sean Halton - Bench bat.

Max Walla - Likely AAAA player.

Kentrail Davis - Likely AAAA player.

Eric Arnett - Middle reliever.

 

Fiers looks like a stud. Great pick. I think he can anchor down the middle/back-end of a rotation for a while, which is awesome. Scooter Gennett might start at 2B, though if he doesn't, since he's defensively limited to 1 position, he's not a real prospect any more. Hiram Burgos is a likely long reliever or organizational arm. Then it's a ton of middle relievers and bench/utility players. While it's nice to have those guys, that's a pretty poor crop of MLB talent considering all of the picks we had.

[Mudville9]

http://ht.ly/2sT70y

 

Josh Prince at #4. Also, possible Rule 5 guy at the bottom of the article would be a nice pick up for us with our bullpen problems this year. Santos Rodriguez lhp. High walks, but not many dingers so maybe they wouldn't be quite so detrimental?

 

Sorry. This is a Baseball America article in case you were wondering. The link is off Twitter.

[Mass Haas]

Here's my twitter timeline from late Sat. / very early Sunday -- winter league updates on Donovan Hand, Taylor Green, Jean Segura, and Jesus Sanchez.

 

The one AFL post in the timeline with this update -- turned out Josh Prince's 5th consecutive multi-hit game was a three-hit effort, not just two.

[Mass Haas]

Rob Wooten gets the win Sunday in Venezuela, and a Jean Segura Sunday Dominican update.

[Tedaldtada]

Surprise 6 Phoenix 1 (10/26)

 

Box Score

 

Jimmy Nelson and Kyle Heckathorn were the first two Arid Land Canines to appear and they promptly gave up all 6 opposing runs in just 4 IP. Both guys had been fairly un-hittable up till then. Luckily Johnny Hellweg saved some Brewers face with a nice scoreless 9th inning with a K. What a superb trade to land Segura, Hellweg and Pena. Just an obvious move now that you look back.

 

Hunter Morris went 1-3 with a BB. Khris Davis was 1-4 hitting behind Morris.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

 

Nelson is just a beast of a power pitcher. I can see how he is dominant when his FB is at it's peak (95-97 MPH). Today the FB (and a cutter) were sitting 92-94. He supplemented that with a mid-80's breaking ball and what appears to be a devastating change. He got Red Sox masher Bryce Brentz twice with the change up. In the first AB, Nelson started him with a FB strike and called-strike change. Brentz then flailed at the very next pitch, a change up, for the K. In his second AB, Brentz managed to work the count to 2-2 before again swinging at and missing the change up. A swing and miss change is a big deal for a power pitcher like Nelson. If you like the way Wily Peralta pitches, then you should like Jimmy Nelson.

 

Heckathorn was all over the map on Gameday. They basically could not tell what the heck-athorn he was throwing. My best analysis is he was sitting 92-94 with a FB, 84-86 with a cutter, and 84-86 with a slider. The slider was a swing and miss pitch when commanded.

 

Hellweg was simply amazing. He sat 96-98 with a FB and a cutter. Then, he came a few times with a 83-84 slider. That is nasty. Throw strikes my man, and you will find success with that arsenal and pitch plane.

 

Phoenix 8 Scottsdale 8 F/10 (10/27)

 

Box Score

 

Josh Prince, the king of Arizona, went 3-6 with a 2B. Khris Davis hit 3rd, and finished 2-4 with a BB and a SF. Brock Kjeldgaard managed 3 PA's before being removed due some lineup shuffling. He finished 0-1 with a BB and a SF.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[ramssuperbowl1999]

One thing that just had me floored was one pitching sequence with Hellweg in particular:

Pitch 1 - 98 mph cutter for a called strike

Pitch 2 - 84 mph slider for a called strike

Pitch 3 - 98 mph fastball for a ball (just missed up and out)

Pitch 4 - 98 mph fastball for a ball (outside)

Pitch 5 - 85 mph slider for a swining strike (at the bottom of the zone)

 

 

It just shows you how dominant he'd be if he could get ahead of people and how high his ceiling is. The fact that his fastball has so much run that pitch f/x can't figure out if he's actually cutting it or not is also just amazing.

[Tedaldtada]

Salt River 9 Phoenix 2

 

Box Score

 

Josh Prince (0-4) and Hunter Morris (1-4 2B) were the only Suds Boys to see action on Monday.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

Mesa 7 Phoenix 5

 

Box Score

 

Hunter Morris (2-4 2 2B) and Josh Prince (1-4 HR BB OF Assist) had big games. Khris Davis was 0-4 before being pinch run for in the 8th.

 

Johnny Hellweg came on to pitch the final two innings. He was not his best. 2 IP 2 H 2 R 1 ER 3 BB 1 K 3:0 GO:FO.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Kudos to RHP Donovan Hand down in Venezuela.

 

Second consecutive quality start (the local ownerships in these Latin leagues tend to like that), even if it did come in an eventual 4-3 loss.

 

Box

 

6.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (one charged run scored after he was pulled)

 

Love the randomness of the names in Latin box scores. 2004-2009 Brewer OF Freddy Parejo, who last saw affiliated action with Houston in 2010, with an appearance.

 

Hand will turn 27 next April, and will be entering his 7th (and final team controlled season, barring a 40-man roster addition) with the Brewers in 2013. Easy guy to root for in terms of a big league Brewer debut at some point.

[Mass Haas]

In the Dominican, Taylor Green (11-for-37, .297) singled twice to snap a dry spell, and Jean Segura was 0-for-4 but walked twice in an extra-inning game.

[Tedaldtada]

Scottsdale 6 Phoenix 2

 

Box Score

 

Khris Davis (0-1 3 BB) and Hunter Morris (1-4) hit 3 and 4.

 

Nick Bucci started. He was fantastic until he ran into 4h inning trouble. 3.2 IP 4 H 4 ER 4 R 2 BB 6 K 1 WP 3:1 GO:FO The peripherals were decent, especially the K's and GO's.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

Phoenix 5 Salt River 2

 

Box Score

 

Josh Prince was on base 5 times in 5 trips. 3-3 with a 2B and 2 BB including a bunt hit to lead off the game.. He was also caught stealing and picked off. That has been happening a lot lately to Josh. Hunter Morris was 0-4 with a Sac Fly.

 

Jimmy Nelson started the game. He worked around 5 walks to post a scoreless outing over 11 outs. Kyle Heckathorn relieved in the 4th and finished with 4 scoreless outs himself.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Quiet day in the Latin Leagues Friday Brewer-wise, but SS Hector Gomez posted one of his very few crooked-number days as a Brewer, 3-for-5 with a double. No longer on the 40-man, but he will be in spring training with the big league club.

[Mass Haas]

Use one of your 15 monthly JSOnline views for Tom H.'s Josh Prince article

[JohnBriggs12]

Here's hoping Prince's performance in the desert isn't a mirage.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Ariel Pena (Greinke trade) saw his team surrender nine first-inning runs Sunday, and unfortunately he was part of that, though he wasn't exactly tagged (not good, though):

 

Aguilas Top of the 1st

 

Omar Luna singles on a line drive to center fielder Leonys Martin.

Tim Fedroff called out on strikes.

Hector Luna reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Daniel McCutchen. Omar Luna to 2nd.

Oscar Taveras walks. Omar Luna to 3rd. Hector Luna to 2nd.

Miguel Tejada doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Engel Beltre. Omar Luna scores. Hector Luna scores. Oscar Taveras scores. Miguel Tejada to 3rd on the throw.

Chris Coghlan called out on strikes.

Francisco Pena walks.

Pitching Change: Ariel Pena replaces Daniel McCutchen.

Efren Navarro walks. Francisco Pena to 2nd.

Juan Lagares strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Ariel Pena. Miguel Tejada scores. Francisco Pena to 3rd. Efren Navarro to 2nd. Juan Lagares to 1st.

Omar Luna singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Leonys Martin. Francisco Pena scores. Efren Navarro scores. Juan Lagares to 3rd.

Tim Fedroff singles on a ground ball to right fielder Vladimir Guerrero. Juan Lagares scores. Omar Luna scores. Tim Fedroff to 3rd. Fielding error by right fielder Vladimir Guerrero.

Hector Luna singles on a ground ball to shortstop Dee Gordon. Tim Fedroff scores.

Pitching Change: Willy Lebron replaces Ariel Pena.

Oscar Taveras reaches on a fielding error by first baseman Michel Abreu. Hector Luna to 2nd.

Miguel Tejada grounds out, shortstop Dee Gordon to first baseman Michel Abreu.

[Mass Haas]

Jean Segura reached base three times in his Dominican game Sunday. Perhaps most impressively, he walked twice, and along with his small-sample .934 OPS after 11 games, is his six walks vs. seven K's in 46 AB's.

 

***

 

In Venezuela, newcomer Arcenio Leon walked one in an otherwise scoreless inning:

 

Lara Bottom of the 8th

 

Freddy Galvis remains in the game as the shortstop.

Luis Valbuena walks.

Pitching Change: Arcenio Leon replaces Moises Melendez.

Jose Lopez grounds into a force out, shortstop Freddy Galvis to second baseman Jose Pirela. Luis Valbuena out at 2nd. Jose Lopez to 1st.

Guillermo Quiroz walks. Jose Lopez to 2nd.

Robert Perez grounds into a double play, pitcher Arcenio Leon to second baseman Jose Pirela to first baseman Ernesto Mejia. Guillermo Quiroz out at 2nd.

 

***

 

New 40-man roster reliever Jesus Sanchez allowed a run in two innings:

 

La Guaira Bottom of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Jesus Sanchez replaces Rafael Cova.

Miguel Rojas flies out to center fielder Brandon Boggs.

Miguel Gonzalez flies out to right fielder Mario Lisson.

Rafael Ortega grounds out, pitcher Jesus Sanchez to first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo.

 

La Guaira Bottom of the 7th

 

Erold Andrus remains in the game as the center fielder.

Ehire Adrianza lines out to shortstop Andres Blanco.

Cesar Suarez grounds out, third baseman Chris Nowak to first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo.

Darin Ruf singles on a ground ball to center fielder Erold Andrus.

With C. J. Retherford batting, wild pitch by Jesus Sanchez, Darin Ruf to 2nd.

C. J. Retherford singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mario Lisson. Darin Ruf scores. Retherford out at 2nd on the throw, right fielder Mario Lisson to first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo to shortstop Andres Blanco.

 

***

 

Finally, also in Venezuela, RHP Donovan Hand has been a manager's dream -- he posted another strong five-inning start (box / recap), and teammate Rob Wooten picked up the save. Nice job, gentlemen!

[Mass Haas]

As per Brewers PR man John Steinmiller--

 

You might have noticed that a few Brewers prospects are missing from box scores. OF Brock Kjeldgaard broke his left foot on Oct. 27 after he fouled a ball of his foot. He has returned to Milwaukee where he will have surgery this week by Dr. Richard Marx. He expects to be ready in time for Spring Training and finished his stint in the Fall League hitting .385 with four home runs and nine RBI in just seven games.

 

RHP Santo Manzanillo has returned to the Brewers facility in the Dominican Republic where his is rehabbing from a sore right shoulder. He pitched in only three games, tallying 2.0 innings of relief.

[Mass Haas]

SS Yadiel Rivera getting psyched about the Puerto Rican League kicking off this week

[Mass Haas]

Jean Segura continues his strong Dominican Winter Season (.978 OPS thru 12 games); 3-for-5 with a double Monday

[Mass Haas]

More on Hunter Morris

[nate82]

Here's hoping Prince's performance in the desert isn't a mirage.

 

I found this to be very interesting: http://baseballprospectnation.com/2012/10/31/scouting-report-josh-prince-of/

 

Summation: Does a variety of things at an acceptable level. Defensive versatility is most notable attribute. Potential to defend at a quality level at all OF positions as well as SS, 2B and possibly 3B, if given the opportunity. Arm is solid and can play everywhere but is stretched a little for the left side of the IF. Speed is highest rated tool and he should steal 20 bases a year in the big leagues, with enough playing time. Bat won’t play. Doesn’t impact the ball and despite very strong approach at the plate, advanced MLB pitchers will take advantage of him. Power is not part of his game. Potential super-utility profile with tons of versatility while hitting in the bottom of a lineup.

 

Relative Risk: Low. Low expectations and proximity to the big leagues mitigates risk.

 

Future: Prince is playing well in the AFL this fall and should move on to Triple-A in 2013. The Brewers would do well to play him all over the field next year to prepare him for his eventual MLB role. Could see Milwaukee next year but more likely in 2014.

[Mass Haas]

Hellweg Turning Up The Heat in Arizona Fall League

[Mass Haas]

Latin action Wednesday --

 

Your Jean Segura morning update

 

***

 

Hector Gomez still struggling outside of his one big game last week

 

***

 

Reliever Jesus Sanchez stranded two runners as he entered a two-out, 1st and 3rd situation. He then allowed two ground ball singles in the following frame, got a line out, was lifted, and one of his runners subsequently scored. He earned a "hold".