Results tagged ‘ Washington Nationals ’
Prospecting for Carolina League prospects
With the season starting tomorrow night, it’s time to see who could make an impact on the seven other teams in the Carolina League. The prospect rankings used for this post are from Baseball America.
Francisco Lindor ranks among the best defensive infielders in the minors (lakecounty-sentinel.com).
Carolina Mudcats: For the second straight season, shortstop Francisco Lindor is the top prospect in the Indians’ organization. The 2011 first-round pick spent all of 2012 with Low-A Lake County, where he was the youngest everyday player in the league at 18.
Scouts say Lindor has an above-average arm and great instincts and rate him as one of the best defensive infielders in the minors. Lindor was given some spring training action for the Indians, hitting .292 while appearing in 10 games. He won’t turn 20 until after the season, meaning his best days are surely ahead of him.
Others to watch for: Outfielder Tyler Naquin (#3 prospect), infielder Tony Wolters (#17), right-handed pitcher Cody Anderson (#29) and outfielder Jordan Smith (#30).
Frederick Keys: After spending all of 2012 with Low-A Delmarva, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez could be set to make an impact for the Keys this summer. In 2012, the southpaw pitched 107 innings for Delmarva and posted a 3.70 ERA.
Rodriguez, listed as Baltimore’s number five prospect, was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela when he was 17. He will turn 20 during the Carolina League’s opening weekend, and the Orioles hope he will continue to climb toward his very ceiling in his age 20 season.
Others to watch for: Infielder Nick Delmonico (#4 prospect), left-handed pitcher Tim Berry (#11), outfielder Glynn Davis (#14), right-handed pitcher Devin Jones (#18), right-handed pitcher Zach Davies (#20), right-handed pitcher Tyler Wison (#26) and outfielder Brenden Webb (#27).
Lyncburg Hillcats: After his 2012 season was cut short by injuries, outfielder Matt Lipka will be back in Lynchburg to start 2013. The 14th-rated prospect in the Braves’ system, Lipka hit .271 in 51 games for the Hillcats before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
A former shortstop, Lipka was playing center field for the first time as a professional last year, and scouts say he showed good instincts. With his above-average speed, Lipka could turn into a very good defensive center fielder, but the Braves want him to prove he is healthy and continue to improve before giving him a shot at Double-A.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher Navery Moore (#15 prospect), right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime (#20), third baseman Kyle Kubitza (#25), right-handed pitcher Nate Hyatt (#26) and outfielder Robby Hefflinger (#29).
Like Lindor, Sardinas is among the top defensive infielders in the minors (dallasnews.com).
Myrtle Beach Pelicans: On July 2, 2009, the Rangers signed two 16-year old shortstops from Venezuela. The first one, Jurickson Profar, is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and is close to breaking into the big league lineup. The other signing that day, Luis Sardinas, will be a member of the 2013 Pelicans.
While injuries slowed his progress at the start of his minor league career, Sardinas was mostly healthy last year while playing for Low-A Hickory. He hit .291 and stole 32 bases in 2012 while also showing off a strong arm and overall plus skills in the field. He played mostly shortstop last season, but with Profar ahead of him, he could move permanently to second base, where he played 14 games in 2012.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher Luke Jackson (#6 prospect), infielder Rougned Odor (#11), infielder Drew Robinson (#21), outfielder Zach Cone (#24) and right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez (#27).
Potomac Nationals: After 109 games with Potomac, outfielder Michael Taylor earned himself the number 11 slot on the Nationals’ prospect list. Taylor was drafted as a shortstop, but was quickly moved to center field after turning pro. He is a very good defensive outfielder, but his bat trails behind his defensive skills.
Taylor hit just .242 last year and struck out more than 100 times for the second straight year, two big reasons why scouts believe he will repeat High-A this year. With improvements in his offensive game, though, Double-A should be within his reach before too long.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole (#4), right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan (#13), infielder Jason Martinson (#14), left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray (#18) and outfielder Billy Burns (#26).
Salem Red Sox: The Red Sox number five prospect, left-hander Henry Owens, won 12 games for Low-A Greenville in his first professional season last year. Armed with a fastball, changeup, and two different types of breaking ball, the 2011 first rounder led all Red Sox farmhands with those 12 wins and finished second in strikeouts with 130.
The southpaw’s walk numbers were high in 2012, but improved control could limit his time in Salem and quickly send him up to Double-A before all is said and done. If the Red Sox struggle again in 2013, a September call-up to the big leagues may not be out of the question to get Owens’ feet wet.
Others to watch for: Catcher Blake Swihart (#6 prospect), third baseman Garin Cecchini (#7), shortstop Deven Marrero (#10), outfielder Brandon Jacobs (#13), second baseman Sean Coyle (#24), outfielder Keury De La Cruz (#25) and left-handed pitcher Miguel Pena (#30).
Zimmer will start the season with Wilmington but could elevate through the system quickly (mwltraveler.com).
Wilmington Blue Rocks: The top prospect in the Kansas City organization after the big Wil Myers-James Shields trade is right-handed pitcher Kyle Zimmer. Last year’s fifth overall pick, Zimmer has been confirmed as a member of the Blue Rocks’ 2013 staff.
After a giving up just one run in 10 innings for the AZL Royals after signing, Zimmer was promoted to Low-A Kane County and made six starts. He pitched 30 innings for the Cougars, posting a 2.43 ERA. With a fastball that reached 99 mph in college, Zimmer may be on the fast track to the big leagues if he can build upon his strong professional debut.
Others to watch for: Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (#4 prospect), left-handed pitcher Sam Selman (#6), third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert (#9), left-handed pitcher John Lamb (#11), right-handed pitcher Kyle Smith (#12), right-handed pitcher Angel Baez (#18), shortstop Jack Lopez (#19) and right-handed pitcher Robinson Yambati (#28).
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these players and other top prospects as they make their way to BB&T Ballpark this summer. The Carolina League is loaded in 2013.
- Rob
Playoff Predictions Sure To Be Wrong
Welcome to October baseball. Sure, the regular season spilled over to the month’s first few days, but the next four weeks of action is truly October baseball.
Many in the Dash’s front office are excited about the postseason, too. Here are 10 playoff predictions from those of us brave enough to publicly make them.
First, some trends:
- Detroit (tied for the worst record among playoff participants) and Atlanta (could be eliminated as early as tonight) both received three votes for the World Series title.
- Baltimore, Oakland, San Francisco, St. Louis and Texas will not win it all according to all 10 voters, while Baltimore, St. Louis and Texas did not even reach anyone’s Fall Classic prediction.
- Only one person (me) predicted the Rangers, who have won 18 playoff games over the last two years, to reach the ALCS.
- Six people picked Detroit to reach the World Series, while five pegged Atlanta as the pennant winners on the Senior Circuit. Detroit v. Atlanta represents the most popular World Series prediction.
Here are all of the individual predictions. Give us your picks in the comments!
The majority of our voters think Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers will reach the World Series (Orlin Wagner/AP).
Sarah Baumann (Group Sales Representative):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: New York and Atlanta
World Series: New York
Brian Boesch (Guy Who Writes This Blog):
Wild Card: Texas and St. Louis
ALDS: Texas and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: Detroit and San Francisco
World Series: Detroit
Nikki Caldwell (Associate Director of Events & Marketing):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
Brandon Cathey (Director of Marketing and Communications):
Wild Card: Texas and St. Louis
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: Detroit and San Francisco
World Series: Detroit
C.J. Johnson (Vice President, Ticket Sales):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: New York and Washington
World Series: Washington
Chipper Jones is aiming for one more run in the playoffs with the Braves (AP).
Trey Kalny (Director of Game Entertainment):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Washington and Cincinnati
LCS: Oakland and Cincinnati
World Series: Cincinnati
Caleb Pardick (Associate Director of Creative Services):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Detroit
Russell Parmele (Group Ticket Sales Manager):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Atlanta and San Francisco
LCS: Oakland and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
Kayla Sherrill (Sales Coordinator):
Wild Card: Texas and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Cincinnati
World Series: Cincinnati
Brandon Stump (Business Development Representative):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
No matter what happens, playoff baseball is here! What a great time of the year.
- Brian
Thompson, Barton, Alums to Fall League
Taylor Thompson is heading to the Arizona Fall League along with five Dash alums (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
The Arizona Fall League rosters have been released for this autumn’s action, and the Dash are represented well. Current Winston-Salem closer Taylor Thompson, along with five former Dash stars and current White Sox farmhands, will suit up for the Salt River Rafters.
Thompson will join outfielder Trayce Thompson, hurlers Andre Rienzo and Santos Rodriguez and infielders Carlos Sanchez and Andy Wilkins in the AFL. Winston-Salem trainer Cory Barton will also head to Arizona in the same role with the Rafters.
All six White Sox representatives have played in Winston-Salem during their minor league careers. They will join highly-touted prospects from Arizona, Colorado, Toronto and Washington’s farm systems.
Taylor Thompson is 2-1 with a 2.59 earned run average in 30 relief appearances this season. After battling some injuries in the first half, the Montgomery, Ala., native has responded with a second-half ERA of 0.60 in 30 innings of work.
Three other soon-to-be AFL players donned the Dash purple in 2012. Rienzo made four starts and posted a 1.08 ERA in 25 innings before earning a promotion to Double-A Birmingham, where he is 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA. Sanchez is now with Triple-A Charlotte after hitting .315 with 42 RBI and 58 runs scored with Winston during the season’s first three months. Trayce Thompson is also in Triple-A Charlotte following a promotion today. He still leads the Carolina League with 90 RBI and is tied atop the circuit with 22 homers.
Rodriguez was with Winston-Salem throughout the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. In the CL, Rodriguez amassed a 4-3 record and a 3.69 ERA in 72 appearances largely out of the bullpen. He is now with Triple-A Charlotte after boasting a 2.81 ERA in Double-A Birmingham this season.
Finally, Wilkins is with Birmingham, where he is hitting .236 with 17 homers and 66 RBI. The former Arkansas slugger hit .278 with 23 long balls and 89 RBI for the Dash last season.
This season marks the 20th in AFL history. The season runs from October 9 until the annual championship game November 17.
- Brian
Thompson’s Homers Earn Praise
Photo courtesy of Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash.
Dash slugger Trayce Thompson has a share of the Carolina League lead with 22 home runs this season, and his power efforts have earned him a spot on a prestigious list.
The Joe Bauman Home Run Award, which began in 2002, is presented every year to the top regular season home run hitter in minor league baseball. In addition to the overall leader, the top home run hitter at each level of the minors will receive an honor.
Last season, Winston-Salem slugger Ian Gac won the Class A honor with 33 home runs, and now Thompson is aiming to become the second Winston whacker to make his way onto the list. Only one other Carolina Leaguer–Kinston’s Matt Whitney in 2007–has taken home the Class A crown.
Thompson is competing with players from 60 total teams in five leagues. Here is the current race:
1. Matthew Skole – 24 (Hagerstown Suns, Washington’s Low-A affiliate)
2. Telvin Nash – 23 (Lancaster JetHawks, Houston’s High-A affiliate)
T-3. Trayce Thompson – 22 (Winston-Salem)
T-3. Aaron Baker – 22 (Frederick Keys, Baltimore’s High-A affiliate)
T-3. Jared Clark – 22 (Modesto Nuts, Colorado’s High-A affiliate)
T-3. Dusty Robinson – 22 (Stockton Ports, Oakland’s High-A affiliate)
T-3. George Springer – 22 (Lancaster JetHawks, Houston’s High-A affiliate)
8. Miguel Sano – 21 (Beloit Snappers, Minnesota’s Low-A affiliate)
T-9. five players tied with 20 home runs
With the way Thompson is swinging the bat, it is very possible the Dash could go back-to-back in Class A this year. We’ll keep you posted.
- Brian
