Tropical Tidbits 34.01 - Finding Hidden Gems in Port St. Joe
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:50 am
Listen, when you have the worst system in the league, there isn't always that much to get excited about when it comes to a star prospect league like the FPL. However, we here in Jacksonville are always looking for ways to make chicken salad out of chicken shit. So here are a few players who may amount to something more than a pile of shit in their careers...
Starting Pitcher
*Kuang-yin Qiao (9/6/6 Talents)--The team's #1 prospect according to OSA. He has a solid fastball and elite change already. If the curve develops, he could be a back-of-the-rotation starter or a solid reliever. If not, he's probably a long reliever. HR and BB will be his issues.
*Carlos Lopez (7/7/5 Talents)--The 2031 1st round pick has not developed as planned. He'll likely never make it as a starter, but he may still make it as a middle reliever with a relief conversion, that is if the BB-rate is adequate.
*Takeo Aoki (7/7/6 Talents)--This year's 103rd overall pick already has a higher ceiling than the 2031 1st round pick. He could be a potential innings-eating #5 pitcher down the road.
*Glenn Johnston (8/6/6 Talents)--The 24 year old lefty is probably destined to be a LOOGY, but there is still a faint glimmer of hope that he could become a lefty, innings-eating #5.
Relief Pitcher
*Fernando Ortiz (10/6/6 Talents)--Ortiz was stellar in AA and could break camp in the bullpen, and his slider could make him dangerous against righties.
*Jose Carlos Soliz (9/7/5 Talents)--Lefty with a 99 mph 4-seam and a damn good cutter. Could easily earn a spot in the 2034 bullpen.
*Gabriel Gutierrez (9/6/6 Talents)--Undrafted out of high school and college, 'Bronco' has a decent curve/fastball combo and could be a replacement level reliever, maybe even more if he can improve his command.
Infield
*Antonio Baca (7/8/7/5/7 Talents)--This year's 1st round pick has the potential to be an everyday 3B down the road and already has a good enough bat at 19 to be considered in a platoon. Put up 15 HR and a 116 OPS+ in his pro debut with SA Paraiso and should hold his own here.
*Voitto Stromberg (6/5/6/8/8 Talents)--The team's #3 prospect and former scout find impressed during his time in the complex, but he has struggled to find results on the field. Has the potential at the plate and in the field to be a starting SS, but really needs to figure out how to turn that talent into results. He'll only be 21 next year, so there is still hope.
*Rafael Gonzalez (7/7/8/5/7 Talents)--54th overall pick this year had his struggles in his Rookie League debut and is still years away from being anything. The ceiling is still there for him to be at least a part-time 1B/DH at some point.
*Tim McKee (6/6/6/5/7 Talents)--The 185th pick in this year's draft has a good glove (possibly even good enough to try at SS) and showed good power in short-season A ball. He isn't sexy, but if he keeps hitting, he'll eventually carve out a career in the BBA.
*Ross Burnard (5/7/1/5/7 Talents)--The 2031 11th round pick hasn't had any bumps and isn't anyone a respectable team would put in a starting lineup. Still, I've seen worse shortstops in this league. Ross plays league average defense at short, can swipe a few bags, can find the gaps for doubles, and makes decent contact (though his swing produces too many GB to have a decent BABIP). Could get a crack if he ever finds himself on a rebuilding squad.
Outfield
*Jeremy Raines (6/6/7/5/6 Talents)--Former top 100 pick by Indy, Raines was picked up on a MiLC back in 2027 and has been a steady producer in the JAX system. Had a 109 OPS+ in AAA last year and could become a borderline BBA bat in the corners, just don't look at the defense.
*Luis Claudio (6/7/6/4/8 Talents)--203rd overall pick in 2031 struggled a bit in AA this year, but he was only 19 and has a good enough bat with good enough defense to become a 4th/5th OF.
*Jon Underwood (5/6/6/7/5 Talents)--Another Indy castoff that was a 1st round pick in 2026. He's a long-shot to contribute in Jacksonville, but I could see him being above replacement if given a chance. He did hit .312/.423/.623 with 22 HR in just 312 AAA plate appearances.
*Antonio Cortez (6/7/6/5/6 Talents)--4th round pick this year who clobbered the Rookie league at 17 (166 OPS+). His personality may ultimately hold him back, but he has plus defensive ability in right field with a good enough bat to perform in a platoon/backup role.
*Eduardo Carrillo (6/7/6/4/7 Talents)--2030 2nd round pick is a 'tweener. He doesn't have the range to play the field, and doesn't have the bat to be a DH. If he ever realizes his initial potential projection, he could be a useful 1B/DH/PH. Otherwise, he'll crush AAA until he falls out of baseball.
Starting Pitcher
*Kuang-yin Qiao (9/6/6 Talents)--The team's #1 prospect according to OSA. He has a solid fastball and elite change already. If the curve develops, he could be a back-of-the-rotation starter or a solid reliever. If not, he's probably a long reliever. HR and BB will be his issues.
*Carlos Lopez (7/7/5 Talents)--The 2031 1st round pick has not developed as planned. He'll likely never make it as a starter, but he may still make it as a middle reliever with a relief conversion, that is if the BB-rate is adequate.
*Takeo Aoki (7/7/6 Talents)--This year's 103rd overall pick already has a higher ceiling than the 2031 1st round pick. He could be a potential innings-eating #5 pitcher down the road.
*Glenn Johnston (8/6/6 Talents)--The 24 year old lefty is probably destined to be a LOOGY, but there is still a faint glimmer of hope that he could become a lefty, innings-eating #5.
Relief Pitcher
*Fernando Ortiz (10/6/6 Talents)--Ortiz was stellar in AA and could break camp in the bullpen, and his slider could make him dangerous against righties.
*Jose Carlos Soliz (9/7/5 Talents)--Lefty with a 99 mph 4-seam and a damn good cutter. Could easily earn a spot in the 2034 bullpen.
*Gabriel Gutierrez (9/6/6 Talents)--Undrafted out of high school and college, 'Bronco' has a decent curve/fastball combo and could be a replacement level reliever, maybe even more if he can improve his command.
Infield
*Antonio Baca (7/8/7/5/7 Talents)--This year's 1st round pick has the potential to be an everyday 3B down the road and already has a good enough bat at 19 to be considered in a platoon. Put up 15 HR and a 116 OPS+ in his pro debut with SA Paraiso and should hold his own here.
*Voitto Stromberg (6/5/6/8/8 Talents)--The team's #3 prospect and former scout find impressed during his time in the complex, but he has struggled to find results on the field. Has the potential at the plate and in the field to be a starting SS, but really needs to figure out how to turn that talent into results. He'll only be 21 next year, so there is still hope.
*Rafael Gonzalez (7/7/8/5/7 Talents)--54th overall pick this year had his struggles in his Rookie League debut and is still years away from being anything. The ceiling is still there for him to be at least a part-time 1B/DH at some point.
*Tim McKee (6/6/6/5/7 Talents)--The 185th pick in this year's draft has a good glove (possibly even good enough to try at SS) and showed good power in short-season A ball. He isn't sexy, but if he keeps hitting, he'll eventually carve out a career in the BBA.
*Ross Burnard (5/7/1/5/7 Talents)--The 2031 11th round pick hasn't had any bumps and isn't anyone a respectable team would put in a starting lineup. Still, I've seen worse shortstops in this league. Ross plays league average defense at short, can swipe a few bags, can find the gaps for doubles, and makes decent contact (though his swing produces too many GB to have a decent BABIP). Could get a crack if he ever finds himself on a rebuilding squad.
Outfield
*Jeremy Raines (6/6/7/5/6 Talents)--Former top 100 pick by Indy, Raines was picked up on a MiLC back in 2027 and has been a steady producer in the JAX system. Had a 109 OPS+ in AAA last year and could become a borderline BBA bat in the corners, just don't look at the defense.
*Luis Claudio (6/7/6/4/8 Talents)--203rd overall pick in 2031 struggled a bit in AA this year, but he was only 19 and has a good enough bat with good enough defense to become a 4th/5th OF.
*Jon Underwood (5/6/6/7/5 Talents)--Another Indy castoff that was a 1st round pick in 2026. He's a long-shot to contribute in Jacksonville, but I could see him being above replacement if given a chance. He did hit .312/.423/.623 with 22 HR in just 312 AAA plate appearances.
*Antonio Cortez (6/7/6/5/6 Talents)--4th round pick this year who clobbered the Rookie league at 17 (166 OPS+). His personality may ultimately hold him back, but he has plus defensive ability in right field with a good enough bat to perform in a platoon/backup role.
*Eduardo Carrillo (6/7/6/4/7 Talents)--2030 2nd round pick is a 'tweener. He doesn't have the range to play the field, and doesn't have the bat to be a DH. If he ever realizes his initial potential projection, he could be a useful 1B/DH/PH. Otherwise, he'll crush AAA until he falls out of baseball.