Galaxy Gas 2060.14 - Prospect Spotlight - Porter Ebert

[DugoutDesperado]

While waiting around the living room couch with the family in Floresville, Texas, Porter Ebert was watching the 2059 draft unfold wondering when his name would be called. The question would be answered in the 5th round when the Valencia Stars selected him with the 148th pick.

Soon after being picked, Porter learned that he was going to be penciled into the lineup with the Short Season A club at Saturn – not unreasonable for a 5th round pick that had contact, power and eye ratings right at average as a 20 year old.

Porter went on to spend the whole season at Saturn hitting .301 with an on-base percentage of .381 while smacking a couple of homers.

Defensively, Ebert threw out 21% of people trying to swipe a base and allowed only 2 passed balls in 414 innings of work.

Some would say that Ebert should have been promoted to the A level ball club in Redwood City but the Valencia brass decided to let him develop at the lower level. Expectations are the Porter will begin 2060 in Redwood City but will be moved to AA Jamestown in mid season. Porter was included with 69 other players on the Valencia spring training roster where he has hit .333 in a limited number of at bats. Look for Porter to get more chances during the second and third weeks of spring training.

[Trebro]

I see you also bring some of your top guys in to spring training not to keep but just to get a week or two of experience. I do wonder if that has any impact. Probably not but still feels like I'm following realistic things.

[DugoutDesperado]

I see you also bring some of your top guys in to spring training not to keep but just to get a week or two of experience. I do wonder if that has any impact. Probably not but still feels like I'm following realistic things.

I feel like I have had some luck with it in the past. Never really followed up on it in depth so I do not know if that luck is real or just perceived.

[JimSlade]

That's is a good question, regarding the value of bringing up young prospects for a taste of big league spring training. I occasionally do this, based on my "What would an organization do in real life?" approach to the game. If I were more analytical, I could track some of the real-life modeling I employ. I should pick a the not-easily measurable practice like this and see if I can track it...

[DugoutDesperado]

I want to say the Cubs did this in 1988 with Mark Grace when playing in AA the year prior. That is what I always think of when I bring up the youngsters anyway. Grace has a decent spring training and only played a month before being brought back up to the Cubs.

Part of it is that I hate leaving one of the 70 spots for spring training open and I don't see the need of bringing a 30 potential guy from AA up. May be more of a testament of the lack of farm system depth at the moment.

[BaseClogger]

I don’t necessarily think it helps their development but I do believe you get more updated scouting in the dev report (up or down) by giving them another sample in the spring.