2064.05 - The Long Beach Independent - State of the Farm (Pitching)

[Lane]

GONZALES HEADLINES PITCHING PROSPECTS

October 15, 2064

As the attention of the league and most of the fans has turned to the BBA playoffs, Gary Tinstaap is here to provide you a look at the state of the Long Beach farm system in two (or three) parts. Here's the pitchers.

The headliner in the farm system is 2064 first overall pick Guillermo Gonzáles. He's a left handed power pitcher who sits upper 90s and touches 100 when needed. His three pitch mix of fastball, slider, and sinker result in a nearly impossible task for opposing left handed batters. Righties have it a bit easier, but with excellent control and electric stuff, he's no slouch. The front office handled him with kid gloves in his professional debut, limiting him to 40.1 innings over 12 starts at their rookie league affiliate, bringing his 2064 total to 109 innings including the college season.

Team sources indicate that Gonzales was frustrated spending the entirety of the professional season in rookie league, but we don't anticipate this changing the team's plan very much. To avoid overworking his arm, we'd anticipate the team aiming for about 150 innings next season. He's well developed for his age (he turns 21 in November) and should see time at multiple levels next year. A BBA debut in early 2066 seems likely.


Unfortunately for the team, there's a significant dropoff from Gonzales to the next rated starting pitcher prospects. Dan Endsley (6/4/4/5/5 potentials) and Herman Ney (6/5/5/5/8 potentials) are both rated 50 potential by OSA. They've both go warts, with Endsley being prone to allowing home runs, and Ney being short on stamina and having trouble making progress on his third pitch, a changeup. Neither will be a frontline starting pitcher, but if they reach their anticipated potential, they look like viable back-end starters.

At a similar level of potential future production, OSA lists four Surfer prospects at the 45 future grade. Toby Barham, Mahmud Kareef, Pedro Pimentel, and 2063 seventh overall pick Ricardo Martínez.

Barham, a 22 year old righty, has current/potential ratings of 5/6/6/5 and is just in need of polishing on his secondary arsenal (curve, change, split). A hard thrower with decent stamina, he could see success at the back end of a rotation.

Kareef was acquired last year in the trade with Charm City that sent CF Emílio Reyes to the Jimmies. Another righty, the 22 year old is behind in his development, but his 5/5/5/5/5 potentials indicate that he could be in the BBA someday. He will need significant improvement in his changeup to make that happen though. A move to the bullpen is more likely.

Next is another righty, 26 year old Pedro Pimentel. A fourth round draft pick in 2059, Pimentel has unlocked improved control in the minor league system, bumping him up to potential rotation contributor. The 6/5/5/6/8 ratings should play at the back end of a rotation. Poor intangibles won't help, but the Surfers generally have strong leadership that could mitigate those concerns.

Finally we come to Ricardo Martínez, who had a lot of buzz around his potential when drafted in '63. Since then, he's struggled with stamina, and his potential has deteriorated somewhat. Rating potentials of 5/6/6/6/8 are not terrible, but it would be better paired with above average stamina, rather than below average.

Overall, there are some pitchers here that could be contributors to the big league rotation soon, but without another ace or two, the starting rotation will not be the part of the team that propels them back into the playoffs.

[BaseClogger]

Barham is my favorite of the secondary group. He coulda gotten guys out in Long Beach in 2064.

[RonCo]

Team sources also suggest Gonzalez wants to pitch on the atoll.

[chicoruiz]

Just wondering... what kind of a pitch count will you keep Gonzalez on... Just in case I ever get a pitcher of that caliber.

[Lane]

Just wondering... what kind of a pitch count will you keep Gonzalez on... Just in case I ever get a pitcher of that caliber.

i'll definitely be conservative. probably low 90s most of he time in his first few years. if he gets to arb without serious injuries maybe i bump it up to high 90s. with his control, it shouldn't limit his innings count too much.