Tag: 2013 MLB Spring Training

Electric Young Talent Worth the Price of Spring Training Admission

At this time last year, the presence of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout in big league camp dominated the spring training headlines. Fans from all over flocked to both Cactus and Grapefruit League games with the hope of catching a glimpse of either future All-Star.

That being said, this year’s assemblage of top prospects participating in major league spring training is far more impressive due to both the quality and quantity of high-level talent. In fact, every player who was recently ranked within the top 10 of Prospect Pipeline’s top 100 prospects will be on display over the month.

Furthermore, due to the vast number of players who have committed to participate for their respective countries in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, many of baseball’s top prospects should see consistent playing time early in the spring.

For those of you planning to catch a few games this spring—or for those who will be scouting from the couch via MLB.TV—I’ve composed a list of prospects with certain must-see tools who are well worth the price of admission.   

 

Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

I can’t say it enough: Billy Hamilton’s speed is unlike anything I’ve ever seen on the baseball field. It’s not that he’s just insanely fast; the 22-year-old outfielder is in perpetual motion on the field with lightning-quick feet that never stop moving.

Whether he’s stealing a base—something that he did a record-setting 155 times last season—running down a fly ball in center field or outrunning a routine ground ball to second base, Hamilton’s elite speed is on constant display, and arguably the most exciting tool in the minor leagues.

GIF: Hamilton races around the bases in 13 seconds for an inside-the-park home run. (Source video courtesy of MiLB.com.) 

 

Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Making an aggressive jump from Low-A to Double-A prior to the 2012 season, Taveras established himself as the best pure hitter in the minor leagues by batting .321/.380/.572 as a 20-year-old. Additionally, the left-handed hitting outfielder began to tap into his above-average raw power, as nearly 44 percent of his hits were for extra bases, including a career-high 23 home runs.

But beyond his eye-popping stats, what exactly distinguishes Taveras as the best offensive prospect? Well, he employs a powerful yet balanced swing that enables him to keep the bat head in the zone for an unusually long period of time without sacrificing power.

However, it’s his unparalleled hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball ability that separate him from all other highly regarded young hitters. In addition to his knack for consistent, loud contact, Taveras’ feel for driving the ball to the opposite field is already more advanced than a lot of major leaguers.

GIF: Here’s Taveras lofting a flyout to…Oh, wait. Nevermind. It’s an opposite-field home run. (Source video courtesy of MiLB.com.)

 

George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

As I detailed earlier in the week, there’s an impressive collection of power-hitting prospects participating in big league camp this year. However, if I were only allowed to watch one player this spring, it would be the Astros’ George Springer.

In his full-season debut last year, the highly athletic outfielder amassed 55 extra-base hits (24 home runs) in 128 games between High-A and Double-A. With legitimate plus raw power and a lofty bat path, Springer launches tape-measure home runs to all fields with ease. However, the 23-year-old’s all-or-nothing approach and raw pitch recognition led to an uncomfortably high strikeout total last season—one he’ll have to reduce next season in order to continue his ascension toward the major leagues.

One final piece of advice: Due to his propensity to swing and miss, Springer has developed a hit-or-miss reputation among scouts; he’ll look like the best player on the field in one game and completely overmatched in the next. Therefore, if you want to ensure a glimpse of his absolutely robust power, make sure to get to the field when the gates open and get a front-row view of his batting practice.

GIF: One of Springer’s two home runs at Double-A; I don’t know the exact distance of this mammoth blast, but I think that we can all agree that it’s very, very far. (Source video courtesy of MiLB.com.)

 

Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs

Signed to a nine-year, $30 million contract in late June, Soler made a strong initial impression last summer by batting .338/.398/.513 with eight extra-base hits and 6-6 ratio of strikeouts to walks in 20 games for Low-A Peoria. As a result, everyone is curious as to how the 20-year-old will fare against legitimate pitching this spring.

At 6’3”, 205 pounds, Soler, 20, possesses a projectable blend of strength and athleticism that could result in 70-grade power at maturity. However, whether he ultimately reaches his high ceiling will depend on the development of his other tools.

Video: Thanks to Tim Sheridan, here’s a high-definition look at Soler’s first at-bat of the spring during Wednesday’s intrasquad game. Spoiler alert: It’s a no-doubt bomb.

 

 

Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets

Wheeler is one of six right-handed pitchers who ranked within the top 10 of Prospect Pipeline’s recently released top-100 prospects. In his first full season with the Mets last year, the 6’4” right-hander registered a 3.26 ERA with 148-59 K/BB in 149 innings across Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo.

Boasting an advanced four-pitch mix that’s highlighted by a plus, mid-to-high-90s fastball and sharp, late-breaking curveball, the 22-year-old is nearly big league-ready. With an explosive delivery and insanely quick arm speed, the ball seemingly jumps out of Wheeler’s hand. He’s certainly not afraid to attack hitters, as he’ll spot his fastball on the hands of both right- and left-handed hitters.

Wheeler’s ability to make hitters look absolutely foolish at the plate is well worth the price of admission. Due to the late arm-side life on his fastball, the right-hander draws tons of defensive swings from right-handed hitters and will also jelly-leg his share of batters with the devastating curveball.

GIF: Wheeler blows a mid-90s fastball by Francisco Cervelli in his Triple-A debut. (Source video courtesy of MiLB.com.) 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Seattle Mariners: Can Kyle Seager Build Upon Success of 2012?

Remember Kyle Seager?

Third baseman for the Seattle Mariners

It’s strange, for a guy that led his team in a handful of key offensive categories last year, you’re not hearing too much about him so far this spring. 

With all of the excitement surrounding Felix Hernandez’s contract extension, the additions of Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales, and the questions surrounding the young trio of Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, and Justin Smoak, Seager seems to be a bit of an afterthought.

I myself am guilty of this oversight given the fact that I lumped Seager in with the rest of the M’s youngsters during my 2013 season preview earlier this week. 

Yet when you really think about it, it seems ridiculous to ignore a player who in his first full season as a professional hit .259 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI as the M’s starting third baseman after he barely made the team’s opening day roster.

As we look ahead to 2013, the big question is whether Seager can build upon last year’s breakthrough performance or will he end up like Mike Carp?

Remember Carp and his breakout performance in the second half of 2011? 

On opening day in 2012 he was the team’s starting left fielder in Tokyo, but before most of us were even awake to get the final score, Carp was on his way to the DL after spraining his right shoulder.  From there things only got worse and just this week Carp was shipped off to Boston for either cash or a player to be named later. 

Could the same thing happen to Seager?

It’s possible, but I have my doubts. 

Looking back to last season, what impressed me most about Seager was his consistency.  Beyond a rough stretch at the end of June/early July, Seager made contact from April through October.  Every time you thought he would fade, he would go out and deliver a clutch hit to drive in two runs. 

While I doubt he will lead the M’s in home runs and RBI in 2013, it will be interesting to see how additions like Morse and Morales in the middle of the order will affect Seager‘s numbers.  Right now the current projections from Fangraphs have him hitting roughly .270 with 15 HR and 70 RBI. 

By themselves those numbers won’t quite amaze anyone, but if you add them to a reasonably healthy and more consistent lineup, perhaps the Mariners offense will actually start to frighten opponents?

It’s all part of a domino effect that will hopefully take hold this season, but even if it doesn’t I doubt Seager will embarrass himself.  

Deep down I believe Seager will remain a key fixture in Seattle as one of the team’s more productive players at the plate for this and several years to come.

Feel free to doubt him, as Kyle Seager is the kind of gritty player that is easy to underestimate, but in time I like to think both fans and foes alike will come to realize that he’s a keeper. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Daniel Bard Takes Positive Step Forward to Reclaim Career with Boston Red Sox

It may have been small, but Boston Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard recently took a positive step forward in his quest to reclaim his career.

After three seasons as one of the most dominant setup men in baseball, Bard converted to starting last season, which turned out to be an unqualified disaster.

Prior to last year, the hard-throwing right-handed Bard had combined for a 2.88 ERA and better than a strikeout per inning out of the bullpen.

In 2012, he lost his control and went 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA in 17 games (10 starts), while earning a highly publicized demotion to the minors after a particularly wild start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

He enters the 2013 season without a guaranteed roster spot and many questions about whether he can regain his previous form. His first spring action of the year should give hope that he is getting himself back on the right track.

On Thursday, Bard was tapped to start Boston’s first spring game; a matchup against Northeastern University.

The Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber wrote at first it appeared Bard had picked up right where he left off last season. He gave up a single to the Huskies’ Connor Lyons, and started off the next hitter, Michael Foster, with two balls before bouncing back to strike him out.

Instead of relying on his mid-90s fastball, Bard regained his composure by utilizing an improved slider, which he told Lauber he has improved by working with new teammate Joel Hanrahan, who has his own dominant version of the pitch:

I think we’re similar pitchers. We both have experience in the late innings with good fastballs and put-away sliders. We’re not pinpoint guys. That’s where I got in trouble last year, trying to be someone I wasn’t. Attack the zone. Challenge the hitter. That’s kind of what he does, too, so he’s a good guy to watch.

Bard went on to finish his outing by striking out the side on 18 pitches, including 13 strikes.

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham noted that Bard didn’t appear to be pressing. This was something the pitcher agreed with, stating, “This was the first real adrenaline rush, and it was a lot of fun.”

While it was a dominant outing, the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton reported that Bard’s fastball command did not appear to be back to the same level it was prior to last year. However, new manager John Farrell didn’t seem too concerned and struck a more positive note:

At times, he leveraged [his fastball] downhill, his delivery was on time. There were other times you could see him come off the pitch where he’d run it up and in to a right-hander. That’s not totally unexpected.

According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Bard cited a mental break from baseball as a major reason for feeling like he can put last year behind him:

I didn‘t think about baseball much for about two months. I think that was the best thing for me, just to break some of those bad habits that I built mechanically. I picked up a baseball in December and started fresh. There’s nothing like a tough season in the offseason for motivation, just for working out, things like that. I think it was a productive offseason.

Abraham reported that Farrell warned against taking too much away from just one good outing:

I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight. The one thing that we want to do is establish the aggressiveness first. If we have to make adjustments to gain more consistent command, that might be the case. First step is more from the mentality side of things.

Bard’s encouraging first action of the spring may have come across weaker competition, but it should be viewed as a positive nonetheless. A major component of pitching is confidence, and if he can forget his previous problems, he will be a lot closer to getting his career back.

Bard knows he has to make the Red Sox and fans believe in him again, according to a comment reported by WEEI’s Rob Bradford:

The last time I really came into camp with something to prove was my first big league training in ’09… It’s not that much different this year, besides the fact that everyone knows my name and knows who I am. But I feel like I have something to prove.

So far, so good. If Bard can continue building upon the small successes, he will hopefully find himself completely back and contributing to the Red Sox in no time.

Statistics via BaseballReference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB 2013: Reviewing Each Team’s Offseason, and Previewing Each Team’s 2013

It’s been a wild ride this winter with big-name free agents signing their typical lucrative contracts, and teams making trades to potentially better themselves for the upcoming season (and possibly beyond).

We now sit just a little more than a month away from Opening Day. So with that in mind, with the offseason dust just about settled, it’s time to take a look at where each team sits with its roster.

Let’s recap each team’s major moves this offseason and preview what their lineups and pitching rotations will look like in the season ahead. Keep in mind, as of the publishing of this article, free agent standouts Kyle Lohse and Jose Valverde (among a few others) still remain unsigned.

Begin Slideshow


MLB Spring Training 2013 Schedule: Matchups Fans Must Watch

The 2013 Major League Baseball spring training schedule has been released and while it might not seem important to watch the MLB‘s preseason, that doesn’t change the fact that there are some must-see matchups.

Some of these matchups will feature players in new places who are going up against their old mates, as well as some major new additions to teams that plan on making a push for the postseason in 2013.

Let’s take a look at some exciting games to look forward to this spring.

The full 2013 spring training schedule can be found on MLB.com.

 

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers: Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1:05 p.m. ET

This will be the second game of the spring for the reigning American League champion Tigers, and it will also be the first chance we get to see the plethora of new names on the Blue Jays’ roster.

Toronto was the beneficiary of the latest firesale from the Florida/Miami Marlins organiztion when they acquired Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio during the offseason.

The addition of these players has created quite the buzz around the Blue Jays for the 2013 season, and that’s before I even mention Melky Cabrera, who was set to win the National League batting title last season before testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Also potentially participating in this game will be Miguel Cabrera, last year’s triple crown winner, and the return of Victor Martinez after he missed the entire 2012 season.

 

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox: Sunday, Mar. 3, at 1:35 p.m. ET

The 2013 season will be yet another chapter in the most heated rivalry in sports between the Yankees and Red Sox.

This year has a little extra fire added to the mix as former Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis will join the Yankees after signing a one-year deal during the offseason.

Youk was traded out of Beantown to the Chicago White Sox last season.

Granted, spring training lineups are a little unpredictable, but this game could be the first chance we have to see a cleanly-shaven Youk going up against his former mates.

Sadly, we likely won’t be seeing any head hunting or charging the mound, but it will still be weird to see Youkilis playing against the Red Sox—especially while wearing the pinstripes.

 

Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels: Thursday, Mar. 21, at 9:05 p.m. ET

Considering this matchup is so late in the spring training schedule, there’s a good chance many of the stars on each team will be in the lineup.

So that means we will likely have an opportunity to see the Angels’ star-studded lineup that will include Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo.

Perhaps a bigger storyline in this spring contest is the return of Hamilton to face his former team, the Rangers.

Hamilton left the Rangers this offseason for an incredibly lucrative deal with the Angels and that has left many Rangers fans upset with the slugger. To make matters worse, Hamilton had some disparaging comments against Rangers fans recently (per Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com).

Clearly, this is no longer just a heartfelt return to play his former team and is likely the first chapter in a long season of hearing boos whenever he goes to play in Texas.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


All 30 MLB Teams’ Top 5-Tool Prospect in Spring Training Camp

Some of the top tools and pitches in the minor leagues will be on display this spring, as many of the game’s top prospects have been invited to participate in big league spring training. Whether it’s Billy Hamilton’s speed, Wil Myers’ power or Gerrit Cole’s fastball, the future of baseball will undoubtedly be on display over the next month.

A true above-average-to-plus tool causes a prospect to stand out on the baseball field, primarily because they make the execution seem so effortless and fluid. At the same time, loud tools can also be misleading; they all-to-often obscure present value and inflate future projections.

As part of my ongoing spring training coverage, I thought that I’d begin the week with a look at each team’s “toolsiest” prospect in big league camp. Unfortunately, there are several organizations without a tools-rich position player. Therefore, I instead decided to highlight the team’s top pitching prospect when applicable.

Some of the overall scouting reports contained in this article are derived from Prospect Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, which was unveiled last week. For this piece, however, I’ve also included scouting grades—based on the 20-80 scouting scale where 50 represents major league average—for each prospect’s notable tools. Additionally, I’ve offered my prediction about each player’s chances of making the Opening Day roster, as well as their estimated time of arrival in the majors.

Begin Slideshow


Boston Red Sox: Why the Team Shouldn’t Give Up on Alfredo Aceves Yet

Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Alfredo Aceves recently made headlines with a puzzling lackluster performance during a practice drill. Despite concerns that such actions could negatively impact a team newly committed to a positive clubhouse, Boston shouldn’t give up on him yet.

WEEI’s Alex Speier reported that during his first live batting practice pitching of the spring, Aceves had to be prodded multiple times by the coaching staff to throw full-speed, as the drill was intended.

After the practice, the Red Sox refused to directly address the matter. According to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber, manager John Farrell commented, “The one thing I’ll say is he didn‘t go through the drill as intended, and we’ve addressed it.”

CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam tweeted that a source confirmed Aceves was testing his new manager:

In a separate article, Lauber reported that Aceves’ agent arrived at Boston’s camp and met with general manager Ben Cherington the day after the incident. He was assured by Cherington that his client is still valued by the team, but it was made clear that further insubordination would not be tolerated.

Aceves was also considered a distraction towards the end of last season, earning a three-game suspension from an argument with manager Bobby Valentine. He also tussled with teammate Dustin Pedroia in the dugout during a game.

Despite his boorish behavior, Aceves shouldn’t be given up on just yet.

Filling in at closer last year, he disappointed by going just 2-10 with a 5.36 ERA in 69 games. However, his true value may be his production from the 2011 season, when he had a 10-2 record and 2.61 ERA in 55 games.

The Red Sox placed an emphasis this past offseason on remaking their roster into a group of cohesive, team-first guys. In doing so, they also assembled one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball and did not need to bring Aceves back. However, he was signed to a $2.65 million contract, even though he had no guaranteed spot on the team.

Aceves’ greatest value is his versatility and durability. He can pitch in any role, and do so effectively on short rest.

During his career, he has pitched in 37 games on no rest, and has gone 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA, while allowing just a .196 batting average.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford wrote that Aceves was brought back because, “the reward is simply worth the risks.”

Bradford went on to report that Aceves’ 2013 salary isn’t guaranteed (if behavior is an issue) and that Boston does have options on how to handle him.

He still has a minor league option and could be sent to Triple-A if he doesn’t win a roster spot out of spring training.

He could be released or traded, although, it’s unlikely he would bring back much in return given his recent antics.

Finally, he could earn his spot on the team. His rubber arm makes him a candidate to start or come out of the bullpen, so he could either make it on his own merits or by necessity if the team suffers any injuries.

Aceves may have angered many people, including fans, with his display of disrespect, but it’s not a good enough reason to simply get rid of him at this point. The Red Sox hold all of the cards. They can either work to get him in line and take advantage of his talent, or they can determine he is too much of a liability and cut their losses.

Ultimately, it will largely be up to Aceves. Boston is clearly trying to build something after a miserable 93-loss 2012 season, so he can either decide to be part of it, or continue his poor behavior and have the decision made for him.

Statistics via BaseballReference

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Ranking the 10 Most Intimidating Power-Hitting Prospects of Spring Training

Many of the game’s top prospects have been invited to big league camp this spring, which indicates that they’re within a few years of reaching the majors. This year’s group of top-ranked prospects is highlighted by a core group of promising sluggers, including Wil Myers, Mike Olt and Xander Bogaerts.

In fact, had the Twins extended an invitation to third baseman Miguel Sano, the only prospect in the minor leagues with 80-grade power (at least in my opinion), then all of the top young power hitters would have been represented.

Here’s a look at the 10 most intimidating power-hitting prospects participating in major league spring training.

 

*All scouting grades refer to the 20-80 major league scouting scale, where 50 represents average.

*Some offensive scouting reports have been derived from individual player profiles that appeared in Prospect Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects.

Begin Slideshow


Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester Questions Whether He Can Ever Really Be an Ace

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester has enjoyed much success during his career, but it’s always seemed that he’s never reached his full potential. Declining production and his own surprising recent comments have further questioned whether he can ever really be an ace.

The left-handed Lester overcame a battle with a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2006 to become the winning pitching in the clinching Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.

After his postseason heroics, Lester won 65 games during the next four seasons, while never posting an ERA higher than 3.47.

His best season came in 2010, when he went 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA and 225 strikeouts.

Lester appeared to be well on his way to becoming an ace after that string of successful seasons. WEEI’s Alex Speier pointed out that the southpaw was only the 16th pitcher since 1901 with four consecutive seasons between the ages of 24-27 to qualify for an ERA title and have an ERA+ of 120 or better. Of those 15 predecessors, nine are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

On the verge of true stardom, Lester’s numbers have gone down in the past two seasons, culminating in last year’s disappointing 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA.

He has been honest in acknowledging how poor his performance was in 2012, particularly in comments made to the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton:

“It can be intimidating,” Lester said of the city, “especially when you have seasons like last year. You know you suck, and your teammates are trying to pick you up, and everyone else knows you suck, and you’re trying to break even on the deal. It’s tough.”

Some numbers provided by FanGraphs.com offers possible explanations for Lester’s decline. His average fastball velocity of 92.0 mph last year was his lowest mark since 2008. Additionally, his cutter, which ESPN.com’s Buster Olney statistically proved was the best in baseball in 2011, was thrown nearly 50 percent less often in 2012 than the previous year.

Despite the decline in stuff, Lester has remained durable, throwing at least 191.2 innings in each of the past five seasons. Still just 29, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to return to being an effective pitcher, or perhaps even better than before, as long as he is healthy.

However, statistical indicators aren’t the only reasons to doubt Lester can ever become the true ace of a pitching staff. Recent comments he has made have rubbed some the wrong way about how he is approaching his struggles and future development.

He told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that he finds a lot of the expectations heaped upon him as unrealistic and unfair:

What next level is there? That’s the thing that frustrates me. People don’t consider me an ace or don’t consider me a frontline starter…What extra level is there to it? Am I supposed to win 25 games every year? It’s not possible.

How many games did I lose when I gave up three runs or less? I can’t control the outcome of the game. I can only control being healthy every five days and going out there and pitching. That’s what I consider an ace…I don’t know what people want from me for the next level. So I’m not concerned about the next level.

WEEI’s Kirk Minihane was disgusted with what he heard from Lester, writing:

It seems that Lester is offended by the possibility that some might expect him to be more than he has been. Again, no one has ever suggested Jon Lester should win 25 games. But there was an ‘extra level’ that many if not most anticipated Lester would reach, and for Lester not to think that level exists is telling at best and damning at worst.

Put it another way: Don’t ever expect that 22-6, 2.60 season from Jon Lester, because it sure seems Lester doesn’t expect it from himself.

Whatever Lester has classified himself as in the past, he is at least eager to regain that form, as he told Bradford:

The past two years have been kind of reality grabbers and knocked me back into thinking what I have got to do to get back to being me. I think the offseason was a good time to reflect and figure out who I am. Just look back and say, ‘This is me, and this is not me,’ and make adjustments off of that.

Lester will be the longest-tenured starter on Boston’s staff this season and has experienced the most previous success. Like it or not, any hopes for team success in 2013 will rest largely on his left arm, so his ability to embrace and produce in the role of an ace will be of the utmost importance.

Statistics via BaseballReference

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Ranking the Projected Starting Infields of All 30 MLB Teams

Spring training is finally among us, and with only 42 days separating us from MLB Opening Day, teams everywhere have their work cut out for them as they prepare for a regular-season marathon.

Teams like the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays made major improvements to their lineups and rotations this offseason, and they promise to make a big splash once the season gets underway.

The next month-and-a-half will provide teams the opportunity to tune their lineups in any way possible to give them the upper hand, and even though a season brings about unpredictable obstacles, it’s hard to beat a balanced attack.

Infields make up an important core of a team’s efforts, with their defense holding up a pitcher’s efforts and their bats accounting for half the lineup.

Here is where lineups all around the league stack up as teams begin making tweaks leading up to April.

Begin Slideshow


Copyright © 1996-2010 Kuzul. All rights reserved.
iDream theme by Templates Next | Powered by WordPress