Off Topic
As members of the Yellow Springs Nine head to Fools Gulch for Spring Training, it’s time for us baseball writers to have fun taking a look at the players in the organization and pretend like we know who it going to make a difference. In the past we’d wait until later in the year and do a prospect review, but this time we figured why not go full Monty and do it all at once, right?
Today we’re going to talk about the left field position, focusing first on the guys we expect to see in Yellow Springs, and then a few others down deeper in the organization who could crack the lineup over the next several years.
Yellow Springs
| Player | Age | B | OVR | HITTING | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rex Foster | 22 | L | 70/70 | 9/11/8/5/7 | 6/6/5 |
| Luis Costello | 29 | R | 55/55 | 6/6/8/6/7 | 7/8/7 |
As long as he returns from his hamstring issue late last year, Rex Foster is a beast among beasts. Hitting against almost solely right-handed pitching, he drilled BBA hurlers for a .312/.391/.635 slash with 29 homers and 15 doubles. In only 389 injury-clipped at bats. Even that was good for 3 WAR. Fingers crossed he’s healthy, because we’re probably going to need it.
Will Foster Return
to Form?
Look for him to platoon with Luis Costello again this year. Costello is a veteran in the last year of his contract, but a guy who—as long as he’s also healthy—has put up rock-solid numbers against RHP.
If Costello isn’t ready to go, the team signed veteran Benton Allen last year as backup insurance. It’s unlikely, but there’s always the chance Allen out-plays Costello for the RHB part of the platoon. Of course, some are also suggesting that Foster be put into the rotation against LHP, too, so we’ll see what happens.
BEST CASE PROJECTION: Foster is healthy, plays almost full time and competes for a Sawyer Silk.
CONCERNS: Foster rips his hamstring again, this time worse. Costello’s aging is also worth some fretting over.
Prospects
| Level | Player | Age | B | OVR | HITTING | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Jose Gonzalez | 24 | L | 40/40 | 5/8/6/5/6 | 6/7/7 |
| AAA | Benton Allen | 30 | R | 50/50 | 6/6/7/4/7 | 6/6/5 |
| A | Maximo Garcia | 19 | L | 20/45 | 6/6/6/5/7 | 6/6/7 |
| A | Ricardo Blanco | 21 | L | 45/45 | 5/5/7/6/4 | 5/6/5 |
The corner outfielder roles are another place you see holes shining through. Both Allen and Gonzalez (who was a 1-time first round pick, but who has had a hard, hard road through the minors) are better thought of as AAA injury insurance at this point. Both could play, and you could see both having their moments, but they are too old to be traditional prospects and are not the kind of players that divisions are won with.
Maximo Garcia came over in a late season trade with Phoenix. He’s interesting, but needs work. As does Blanco, who has been having a helluva time convincing us he’s real despite some good daring do. 5 WAR in AA, and a solid winter league have our attention, though. So, go ahead, Ricardo, we’re watching.
| Level | Dark Horses | Age | B | OVR | HITTING | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | None | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Oh, sure, there’s a few guys we could throw on here, but let’s get serious. No other left fielder really blips the meter right now with a great boost by that random development god in the clubhouse.
OVERALL FARM SYSTEM STATUS: Assuming the spring goes as expected, We’re thinking the corner outfield is a place where we could use a few good men.