Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Unexpected – to say the least!
Last week, the Chicago Black Sox added a couple of talented prospects through avenues that haven't proved especially fruitful in recent seasons. The Sox signed one promising International Free Agent for a sizable bonus and a second for next to nothing thanks to a scouting discovery in the Middle East.
Taki Goto
Emir Harith
Second baseman Emir Harith, 17, was discovered on a scouting trip to Iraq, and agreed to a minor league deal.
Both players have been assigned to the club’s International Complex, where they will train for a season or two before entering the Chicago minor league system.
Scouts like the offensive potential of both players, which is something the Sox minors could use after the club spent the last two seasons concentrating almost solely on pitching in the amateur draft.
Goto, according to the scouts, currently rates 20/55 on his overall potential. His skill ratings currently are 1/7 for contact; 2/9 for gap power; 1/7 for home run power; 1/7 for eye/plate discipline; and 1/5 for avoiding strikeouts.
His defense is more lackluster: he rates at a 1 for all three outfield positions and at first base. His scouting report lists his outfield range at 5; his error rating at 4; and his arm at 6.
Goto’s speed is rated at a 7, his stealing ability at a 7, and his overall baserunning at a 7.
Assuming he develops as projected, Goto figures to hit around .270 and has “above average power potential, the kind that could generate 35 homers a season.”
Harith, meanwhile, profiles as a classic slugger in the making. Scouts grade him as 20/60 overall, and classify him as an extreme pull hitter with “the potential to hit for plus power.”
His scouting report grades his skills at 1/5 for contact; 2/9 for gap power; 1/8 for home run power; 1/7 for eye/plate discipline; and 1/3 at avoiding strikeouts.
Like Goto, scouts are more skeptical of Harith’s defense. They grade his infield range at 5; his error rating at 5; his arm rating at 2; and his double play ability at 8.
“Our hope is that their defense will improve some through working with our coaches, once they’re mature enough to enter our minor league system,” said Benny Vitale, Chicago’s general manager.
“We are pleased, though, to find talent through some unexpected quarters. The quality of the International Free Agent class was such that we felt it worth the investment to go after some hitting, and our coaches felt that Mr. Goto was someone we could both sign and nurture. And the discovery of Mr. Harith in our annual Middle East scouting trip … well, that was a most pleasant surprise. We look forward to the contributions both of these young men will make to the future of the Black Sox organization.”