Felipe Hernandez, Valencia Stars
Birthdate: Jan. 28, 2008 (28 y, 7 m, 13 d) Born In: Santo Domingo, DIS, DOM Nationality: Dominican
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/197
Entry: 01/09/2025- Signed a minor league contract ($2,535,000 bonus) out of Dominican Republic with the Valencia Stars organization.
A huge bonus baby nearly a DECADE ago, the Stars are finally giving him a big league opportunity. Really nothing to see here.
Felix Camacho, Valencia Stars
Birthdate: Dec. 10, 2010 (25 y, 9 m, 0 d) Born In: Arraijan, PAN, PAN Nationality: Panamanian
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'0"/186
Entry: 01/29/2027 Signed a minor league contract ($520,000 bonus) out of Panama with the Valencia Stars organization.
Another bonus baby, Camacho could have been a good one but while he gained stuff over the years he lost all semblance of control. Hard to see him being anything more than a curiosity, but with a relief conversion might be a full on side show.
Weaver Ripley, Phoenix Talons
Birthdate: April 14, 2016 (20 y, 4 m, 27 d) Born In: Olympia, WA, USA Nationality: American
Position: CF Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/184
Entry: 2034 Draft - Round: 1, Overall: 5, Team: Phoenix Talons
Here we go- someone to be excited about. Curious they decided to start his clock now rather than wait until next May but who not. He's ready. Big power potential, big strikeout potential to go with it. Awesome defensive outfielder. This is why the Talons were entertaining offers on Thad Meyer- the sky is the limit.
Tom Jenkins, Edmonton Jackrabbits
Birthdate: Nov. 1, 2010 (25 y, 10 m, 9 d) Born In: San Diego, CA, USA Nationality: American
Position: 2B Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/207
Entry: 2030 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 99, Team: Yellow Springs Nine
First of all, that is one ugly mugshot. Yikes. As to what he offers to Edmonton, the easy answer is not much. A warm body to offer some badly needed infield depth in September.
Ramon Vazquez, Valencia Stars
Birthdate: Dec. 29, 2011 (24 y, 8 m, 12 d) Born In: Managua, MAN, NCA Nationality: Nicaraguan
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'6"/207
Entry: 2028 Draft - Round: 22, Overall: 548, Team: Montreal Blazers
Valencia seems to love these high stuff, low movement guys. I don't see much here, am I missing something?
Gabriel "Bronco" Gutierrez, Phoenix Talons
Birthdate: Feb. 12, 2012 (24 y, 6 m, 29 d) Born In: El Bagre, ANT, COL Nationality: Colombian
Position: P Bats/Throws: L/R Height/Weight: 6'6"/210
Entry: 03/14/2029- Signed a minor league contract with the Jacksonville Hurricanes organization.
Originally an undrafted free agent out of college, Gutierrez signed with the Phoenix organization in the offseason after becoming a minor league free agent from the Hurricanes organization. A rare righty whose stuff improves against lefty bats, despite his lack of movement could be a decent bullpen arm and fared well in his debut, earning a three inning save.
Luis Oliva, Long Beach Surfers
Birthdate: March 21, 2013 (23 y, 5 m, 20 d) Born In: Santo Domingo, DIS, DOM Nationality: Dominican
Position: P Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'5"/194
Entry: 01/27/2030- Signed a minor league contract out of Dominican Republic with the Atlantic City Gamblers organization.
Here's an interesting left-handed pitcher to take a peek at. Movement will be his nemesis, however with plus stuff and outstanding control in addition to a FIVE pitch arsenal he has a chance. Despite all of the tools you want from a starter, he has low endurance meaning he's best served as a reliever but he's not convertible. First two games were a success, as he vultured wins in both of them and has a 0 ERA and 0.43 WHIP.
Neil Johnson, New Orleans Crawdads
Birthdate: June 13, 2012 (24 y, 2 m, 28 d) Born In: Selma, CA, USA Nationality: American
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'0"/184
Entry: 2030 Draft - Round: 4, Overall: 126, Team: New Orleans Crawdads
Has outstanding endurance but his changeup never broke through, so he's a reliever, and one who will have to be used as a righty specialist. The kind of pitcher who could become a decent middle relief guy or never be heard from again.
Larry Ledezma, Edmonton Jackrabbits
Birthdate: May 28, 2012 (24 y, 3 m, 13 d) Born In: Yauco, PON, PUR Nationality: Puerto Rican
Position: C Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'1"/187
Entry: 2030 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 76, Team: Edmonton Jackrabbits
Ledezma has everything you're looking for from a backup catcher who can platoon with a lefty swinger. He can hit lefties, there's not a question. He's likeable, important for a catcher. His defense is slightly better than average. Regressed considerably in Class AA this year but to be fair, he should have earned a promotion to AAA based on his outstanding 2035 season in Saskatchewan.
Mario De La Cruz, Yellow Springs Nine
Birthdate: April 4, 2015 (21 y, 5 m, 6 d) Born In: Barquisimeto, LAR, VEN Nationality: Venezuelan
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'1"/176
Entry: 01/22/2032- Signed a minor league contract out of Venezuela with the Yellow Springs Nine organization.
The Nine skipped him directly from Class A to AAA this season and he fared well enough to earn a big league promotion. He's a relief prospect who has good stuff and movement though may struggle with control and like a lot of these guys, against lefties. Already earned a win in his second BBA appearance.
Francisco Herrera, Madison Wolves
Birthdate: Dec. 31, 2009 (26 y, 8 m, 10 d) Born In: San Miguelito, PAN, PAN Nationality: Panamanian
Position: SS Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'1"/208
Entry: 12/27/2027- Signed a minor league contract out of Panama with the Madison Wolves organization.
All glove utility man who earned a promotion after spending nine seasons in the Wolves system despite putting up a .548 OPS for South Bend (AAA) this year. A guy like this can help a team, just don't expect too much.
Frits Brinson, Huntsville Phantoms
Birthdate: Sept. 1, 2016 (20 y, 0 m, 9 d) Born In: Sint Nicolas, ARU, ARU Nationality: Aruban
Position: P Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'3"/197
Entry: 2034 Draft - Round: 4, Overall: 102, Team: Nashville Goats
Extremely quick progression through the minor leagues, Brinson at 20 years old is a fully developed lefty who will be just fine as a LOOGY and potentially a bit more than that. Keep an eye on him.
Andy Moore, Hawaii Tropics
Birthdate: Oct. 23, 2014 (21 y, 10 m, 18 d) Born In: El Paso, TX, USA Nationality: American
Position: C Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'3"/209
Entry: 2032 Draft - Round: 2, Overall: 44, Team: Hawaii Tropics
Made it all the way from Short Season A ball to the bigs this year. Moore is exactly the type of player Hawaii should be checking out right now, and we'll see if he is their catcher of the future or just a better than average backup who is the short half of a platoon.
Jose Harrara, Brooklyn Robins
Birthdate: Feb. 1, 2015 (21 y, 7 m, 9 d) Born In: Arlington Heights, IL, USA Nationality: American
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'8"/212
Entry: 2032 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 77, Team: Brooklyn Robins
Let's forget about the average movement and control for a moment and focus on his strengths. Even with his curveball less than 50% developed, he's a 9 stuff guy right now with a 101 mph fastball. Should his curve develop he could be a 12/5/5 pitcher and that'll play no matter what the other ratings are to a point. Huge righty who is already a big dude, keep an eye on his weight down the road.
Raul Hernandez, New Orleans Crawdads
Birthdate: Dec. 11, 2014 (21 y, 8 m, 30 d) Born In: Masatepe, CAR, NCA Nationality: Nicaraguan
Position: 1B Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'2"/211
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 19, Overall: 546, Team: Huntsville Phantoms
Doesn't it always seem like Jim has one first base slugger after another always in the pipeline? Well, here's the next one. Might be a little premature to bring him up but on the heels of 33 homers in Triple-A the Crawdads will get a glimpse of their next slugging star this September.
Masaharu Suzuki, Edmonton Jackrabbits
Birthdate: May 26, 2014 (22 y, 3 m, 15 d) Born In: Shizuoka, SHI, JPN Nationality: Japanese
Position: LF Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'7"/212
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 11, Overall: 299, Team: Edmonton Jackrabbits
With nothing left to play for this year, it was due time for Edmonton to see if they had anything in this big left-handed Japanese slugger. So far so good, he's slugging .909 and may be forcing his way into the team's plans for the future, though the new GM might have other opinions.
Arturo Barron, Phoenix Talons
Birthdate: Aug. 5, 2014 (22 y, 1 m, 5 d) Born In: Buenos Aires, BUE, ARG Nationality: Argentinian
Position: 2B Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'1"/174
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 91, Team: Jacksonville Hurricanes
Elite second base defense and big time power are Barron's calling cards. He hit 39 homers at Ashland (AAA) this year and forced his way to the big leagues. Limited to second base and hits lefties better than righties, but let's not get too nitpicky. Despite his warts Barron is a player to watch.
Mubale Petiri, San Antonio Outlaws
Birthdate: July 22, 2014 (22 y, 1 m, 19 d) Born In: Lomé, MAR, TOG Nationality: Togolese
Position: P Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6'2"/173
Entry: 2031 Draft - Round: 3, Overall: 84, Team: San Antonio Outlaws
San Antonio will give him every chance to stick as a starting pitcher, though his control may ultimately limit him to relief. At this point there's nothing stopping the Outlaws from giving him an extended trial run in their rotation and see what happens.
John Garcia, Madison Wolves
Birthdate: Nov. 3, 2013 (22 y, 10 m, 7 d) Nationality: Puerto Rican
Position: RF Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'1"/198 Entry:
2033 Draft - Round: 15, Overall: 439, Team: Madison Wolves
Anytime a fifteenth rounder makes the big leagues you have to call it a win. Still can't figure out why Garcia looks so pissed because he never thought he'd make it. Now he looks like he could be a real big part of Madison's future with the bat, though he's never going to win any awards in left field (a right fielder he's certainly not).
