MBBA hidden gems perhaps? (JL-Pacific)
Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 3:48 pm
Im going to be looking through the minor leagues and pointing out some of the players that could be the next wave of regulars in the mbba. Not necessarily star players as most of those guys have been pegged already. Some of these guys will be folks you never heard of. To be included here the player has to meet the following criteria:
1. No major league service time. If a player has that he's already a bit of known quantity.
2. 24 years old or younger. At 25 if a player hasn't had his shot at the bigs it starts getting dicey as to whether he'll ever have an impact. Not impossible obviously but not likely.
3. The player can not have been named to the MBBA top prospect list.
4. None of the rookies just selected in the draft will be on these lists. Its way too soon to see what these new guys will look like.
VANCOUVER MOUNTIES
SS Vincent Adams
This guy is a defensive stud (although 2B would be a more favorable position for him) and a terror on the basepaths as well. Pretty good intangibles. Unfortunately his contact projects to be average at best and right now that will keep him from being anything more than a fringe player. However if you factor in his defensive prowess, his baserunning skills and his already proven gap ability, this guy has a legit chance. If he gets even 1 measily bump to his contact talent, he will make a big league roster. Not a star obviously but on a team that values defense he would hold some value.
Cl Christian Nichols
How has this guy not made the top prospect list? Sports a fastball/changeup combo that are both literally as good as it gets. Throws upwards of 97 mph. Great stamina. Only 21 years old. The only thing that could hamper this guy is his control which is only average. If this guy isn't a perfect candidate for a starting pitching conversion then nobody is.
CALIFORNIA CRUSADERS
CF Julien Drolet
Wow the cupboards are so bare in California. So heres a long shot. 22 years old. great gap ability and avoids the strikeout. Average contact but good intangibles so he needs to be hoping for a contact bump. Definitely a great defender and slightly above average on the base paths. If Drolet stays on his current path he will top out as a AAA player but if he gets lucky he could make someone's bench.
Cl Marcello Palladio
Above average movement and control. 5 pitch aresenal but unfortunately not the stamina to be a starter. Has a high enough g/b ratio that a good defense will make a noticeable difference in his career. Fastball tops out at 97 mph. Palladio could be a nice bullpen piece especially if a pitcher specialization is used.
VALENCIA STARS
3B Roosevelt Daniel
At the young age of 21, Daniel has been playing pro ball since '97. Listed as a 3B but his lack of arm strength and range suggest a move to 1B in the future. Daniel projects to have above average contact, power and a keen eye at the plate leading him to be a pretty good hitter. His poor intangibles are a concern but if he does develop to his potential there's a lot to like about him.
Cl Alfonso Bonilla
Bonilla is currently listed as a closer but his poor control will hold him to more of an average relief role. He has 3 plus pitches with his fastball touching 95. He has great stuff and projects to have good movement but as previously stated control will be an issue. If he gets lucky enough to gain some control (and his intangibles are good enough that it is a strong possibility) then he could develop into quite a useful pitcher.
HAWAII TROPICS
C Alejandro Nunez
Going with a longshot here, Nunez is listed as a catcher but his poor D should provoke a move to 1B. Projects to have slightly above average contact and gap ability. Not a base stealer but won't clog the bases either. Low work ethic is a slight concern but if Nunez does develop I could see him being a bench bat. Unfortunately he doesn't have the power or an extreme contact ability to ever really garner a starting 1B job but he is only 18 so theres a lot of time for him to change.
Cl Wally Walker
Wally is a very interesting case. He's only 15 years old! He sports a 2 pitch arsenal. An ok fastball made better by the fact that it can touch 96 and a devestating slider. His movement and control need some work as they project to be only average but like I said hes 15. He has a lot of time to develop yet. Unfortunately for him he has already had 1 major injury and his intangibles are ok at best. Perhaps Wally will gut it out and eventual make a big league club. But who's club? hes going to be able to be a minor league free agent in his early 20's probably before he's fully developed. Who's going to keep giving this kid a chance? We will have to wait for that answer.
1. No major league service time. If a player has that he's already a bit of known quantity.
2. 24 years old or younger. At 25 if a player hasn't had his shot at the bigs it starts getting dicey as to whether he'll ever have an impact. Not impossible obviously but not likely.
3. The player can not have been named to the MBBA top prospect list.
4. None of the rookies just selected in the draft will be on these lists. Its way too soon to see what these new guys will look like.
VANCOUVER MOUNTIES
SS Vincent Adams
This guy is a defensive stud (although 2B would be a more favorable position for him) and a terror on the basepaths as well. Pretty good intangibles. Unfortunately his contact projects to be average at best and right now that will keep him from being anything more than a fringe player. However if you factor in his defensive prowess, his baserunning skills and his already proven gap ability, this guy has a legit chance. If he gets even 1 measily bump to his contact talent, he will make a big league roster. Not a star obviously but on a team that values defense he would hold some value.
Cl Christian Nichols
How has this guy not made the top prospect list? Sports a fastball/changeup combo that are both literally as good as it gets. Throws upwards of 97 mph. Great stamina. Only 21 years old. The only thing that could hamper this guy is his control which is only average. If this guy isn't a perfect candidate for a starting pitching conversion then nobody is.
CALIFORNIA CRUSADERS
CF Julien Drolet
Wow the cupboards are so bare in California. So heres a long shot. 22 years old. great gap ability and avoids the strikeout. Average contact but good intangibles so he needs to be hoping for a contact bump. Definitely a great defender and slightly above average on the base paths. If Drolet stays on his current path he will top out as a AAA player but if he gets lucky he could make someone's bench.
Cl Marcello Palladio
Above average movement and control. 5 pitch aresenal but unfortunately not the stamina to be a starter. Has a high enough g/b ratio that a good defense will make a noticeable difference in his career. Fastball tops out at 97 mph. Palladio could be a nice bullpen piece especially if a pitcher specialization is used.
VALENCIA STARS
3B Roosevelt Daniel
At the young age of 21, Daniel has been playing pro ball since '97. Listed as a 3B but his lack of arm strength and range suggest a move to 1B in the future. Daniel projects to have above average contact, power and a keen eye at the plate leading him to be a pretty good hitter. His poor intangibles are a concern but if he does develop to his potential there's a lot to like about him.
Cl Alfonso Bonilla
Bonilla is currently listed as a closer but his poor control will hold him to more of an average relief role. He has 3 plus pitches with his fastball touching 95. He has great stuff and projects to have good movement but as previously stated control will be an issue. If he gets lucky enough to gain some control (and his intangibles are good enough that it is a strong possibility) then he could develop into quite a useful pitcher.
HAWAII TROPICS
C Alejandro Nunez
Going with a longshot here, Nunez is listed as a catcher but his poor D should provoke a move to 1B. Projects to have slightly above average contact and gap ability. Not a base stealer but won't clog the bases either. Low work ethic is a slight concern but if Nunez does develop I could see him being a bench bat. Unfortunately he doesn't have the power or an extreme contact ability to ever really garner a starting 1B job but he is only 18 so theres a lot of time for him to change.
Cl Wally Walker
Wally is a very interesting case. He's only 15 years old! He sports a 2 pitch arsenal. An ok fastball made better by the fact that it can touch 96 and a devestating slider. His movement and control need some work as they project to be only average but like I said hes 15. He has a lot of time to develop yet. Unfortunately for him he has already had 1 major injury and his intangibles are ok at best. Perhaps Wally will gut it out and eventual make a big league club. But who's club? hes going to be able to be a minor league free agent in his early 20's probably before he's fully developed. Who's going to keep giving this kid a chance? We will have to wait for that answer.
