Long "Ding Dong" Chamberlain III, Des Moines Kernels
Birthdate: Sept. 12, 2016 (19 y, 11 m, 22 d) Born In: Liverpool, ENG, ENG Nationality: English
Position: RF Bats/Throws: S/R Height/Weight: 6'7"/246
Entry: 2034 Draft - Round: 1, Overall: 7, Team: Des Moines Kernels
Seems a bit premature to bring Ding Dong up to the big leagues, doesn't it? He still has considerable growth to be had in both contact and especially in power, and perhaps the Kernels are stretching in progressing him this soon. He was moved aggressively in the minors as well, and hadn't been dominating at AAA. Had his first BBA homer but has struck out 10 times already.
***Made debut earlier this season***
Matthew Mangual, now Phoenix- made debut w/Nashville
Birthdate: Jan. 7, 2015 (21 y, 7 m, 27 d) Born In: Calgary, AB, CAN Nationality: Canadian
Position: P Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'3"/183
Entry: 2033 Draft - Round: 2, Overall: 36, Team: Nashville Goats
Mangual just changed teams in a deadline trade and I see that he made his big league debut earlier in the year while with Nashville. He got lit up in two appearances at Hawaii in mid July and then went back down to the minors. The big question is whether he'll be just a loogy or if he can improve enough vs. righties to be more than that. TIme will tell.
Rodrigo Estrada, California Crusaders
Birthdate: Sept. 5, 2011 (24 y, 11 m, 29 d) Born In: Trinidad, SAN, CUB Nationality: Cuban
Position: 2B Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/191
Entry: 02/27/2029- Signed a minor league contract ($110,000 bonus) with the California Crusaders organization.
California signed him as an undrafted free agent after he failed to sign with New Orleans as a fifth rounder the year prior. He's shown good power and on-base skills throughout his minor league career as expected. That's going to be his bread and butter moving forward. He profiles more as a backup, which hurts him given he's limited to second base (or first base).
Norm McConnell, Hawaii Tropics
Birthdate: June 9, 2015 (21 y, 2 m, 25 d) Born In: Chicago, IL, USA Nationality: American
Position: P Bats/Throws: S/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/171
Entry: 2033 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 81, Team: Hawaii Tropics
A starter in high school, McConnell was immediately transitioned to serving as a closer in the Hawaii system with outstanding results. He has saved 95 games over four minor league seasons in the Tropics system. He profiles as a stud, but the results have not been good thus far. Too bad that changeup hasn't evolved as it's easy to dream on him as a starting pitcher but should become a premier reliever in the league.
Alfonso Navarro, Brooklyn Robins
Birthdate: July 9, 2014 (22 y, 1 m, 25 d) Born In: Petare, MIR, VEN Nationality: Venezuelan
Position: P Bats/Throws: S/R Height/Weight: 6'3"/183
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 6, Overall: 168, Team: Brooklyn Robins
Has everything you're looking for in a reliever- great stuff, and good enough movement and control. Didn't fare the best in his first major league exposure, and now the Robins will have to wait until next year to really see what he has as he's on the shelf for the season with shoulder inflammation.
Antonio Reyes, Las Vegas Hustlers
Birthdate: June 6, 2014 (22 y, 2 m, 28 d) Born In: Nueva Guinea, ATL, NCA Nationality: Nicaraguan
Position: P Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'1"/172
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 4, Overall: 121, Team: Vancouver Mounties
Reyes got his shot with the Hustlers when they decided they needed to throw some lefty arms in certain series. The results haven't been great. Reyes has been plagued by attitude issues and until those are resolved it'll be hard for him to establish himself as a big league arm.
Rafael Montoya, Des Moines Kernels
Birthdate: April 3, 2013 (23 y, 5 m, 0 d) Born In: Valencia, CAR, VEN Nationality: Venezuelan
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'0"/182
Entry: 04/28/2029- Signed a minor league contract out of Venezuela with the Long Beach Surfers organization.
Showed so little with the Surfers they released him seven days after he graduated from the international complex. Des Moines picked him up a few months later and over the past four seasons has grown into a borderline prospect. He made one spot start for the Kernels and struggled with control, strange because that's his strength...while not allowing a homer, strange because that's going to be his downfall. An interesting prospect to watch who might be a candidate for relief conversion.
