Off Topic
As noted in earlier segments of this series of reports, the calendar has turned to the latest stages of May, and that means that the draft is completed, and contracts are being negotiated. I’m as confident as anyone that our kids will soon be in camp. For us in the Office of Baseball Operations, that means it’s time to gather our thoughts and reassess where we are at. This in mind I respectfully present the next in a series of reports that attempt to categorize the depth of our minor league prospects. To do so, I’ve swiped a bit of a format from another team (loose lips sink ships, of course, so I’ll do the Bear necessities and not name the team for fear of being blamed for incriminating members of my team—yes, being a good leader is sometimes such a burden).
As a reminder, then, the Grading System used here is:
We are now moving around the infield, heading now to second base.
CURRENT SITUATION & FUTURE NEEDS
Dave Ackerman is here and from his time forward he will never grow older and never again be hurt. Okay, maybe that last is not true. He is, of course, here, and he’s having a massive effect on the team in every aspect that a guy can have an effect.
He’s 34, though. And he’s fragile. And he’s on a 1-season deal that doesn’t make any promises about tomorrow.
PROSPECT REPORT CARD
DISCUSSION
Let’s be clear. If Marcos Cortéz (who came out of the IC) grows into his ratings and does not increase his defensive acumen, and if he is placed at second base, that will be a disaster on the field. But it may still be worth it. The man projects to hit, and then hit some more. He can run a little, too. So if he can field even a little, well…and to be fair, his minor league numbers do not churn a scout’s stomach. At present, Cortez has skipped Short-A and is in Lake City playing moderately well. The timing of his project window would seem to open sometime in 2067.
So maybe the Krill can get Ackerman to hang in there one more year?
If not, questioning eyes would turn to ether Félix Connell, and older prospect who came some years back on a minor league deal, or Mitku Ndururi, arrived via a trade route and is finally working his way through the system far enough to be a reasonable candidate for the parent club. Defensively, Ndururi can probably handle the job well enough, now. He can run a little, and his bat is…well…it’s not horrible, but you’d like better for a long haul. Probably more a "B-" than a "B," but we'll go with it.
Javier Gallegos was the team’s #1 pick this year. The Krill would clearly like to seem him develop into a shortstop, and at 17 he’s going to get every chance to do that, but historically we think it’s a bad idea to pretend successful transitions to shortstop are just around the corner. So, no, Virginia, there is no shortstop in Javier Gallegos. What there could be is a solid power hitter who can handle the workaday plays at second. His window is a long way out, though.
And then comes Rodrigo Franco, who keeps being pushed to the end of the pile, but who just keeps playing winning baseball. At 24, his time is shortening. We’re rooting for him.
STRATEGIC POSITION
The front office can be forgiven the need to just chill out about second base for a year. Assuming the fragile Ackerman makes it through the year, anyway. They have Agatone Louganis as a backup, but to be clear, Louganis seems to have not come to play yet this season.
Anyway, a lot depends on Cortez and that glove/bat combo. Optimally, he’d have a rush of development, and be ready to play in 2066. We think that’s unlikely. But if there’s movement, and if the team loses Ackerman after only one season, that leaves the game theory “what ifs” to play. Would Ndururi or Connell serve for a season to give Cortez more time? Or would maybe Luis Zavala (who is most likely a 1B) develop up fast enough to handle 2B for a year?
There are some other permutations to fiddle with, too.
Yes, options abound.
Given our expectation that Cortez will almost certainly need to move to 1B, we’re guessing one of those options will have to be taken.
Geoff Vai
Principle Director, Office of Baseball Operations
As a reminder, then, the Grading System used here is:
A: star player just by developing to their potential
B: BBA regular just by developing to their potential or star potential but has some risk factors
C: potential is enough to make it to the BBA but beyond that uncertain
D: needs some bumps to have a BBA future or a lot of uncertainty around their potential
We are now moving around the infield, heading now to second base.
CURRENT SITUATION & FUTURE NEEDS
Dave Ackerman is here and from his time forward he will never grow older and never again be hurt. Okay, maybe that last is not true. He is, of course, here, and he’s having a massive effect on the team in every aspect that a guy can have an effect.
He’s 34, though. And he’s fragile. And he’s on a 1-season deal that doesn’t make any promises about tomorrow.
PROSPECT REPORT CARD
| Level | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcos Cortéz | A | 21 | 30/80 | 5/9 | 5/9 | 5/9 | 5/6 | 4/7 | 5/8 | A |
| Mitku Ndururi | AA | 21 | 40/40 | 5/6 | 5/6 | 5/5 | 7/9 | 2/2 | 5/5 | B |
| Javier Gallegos | SA | 17 | 35/45 | 4/6 | 4/6 | 4/6 | 6/8 | 5/8 | 4/5 | B |
| Félix Connell | AAA | 25 | 40/40 | 7/7 | 4/5 | 11/11 | 6/6 | 2/2 | 5/6 | C |
| Rodrigo Franco | AA | 24 | 40/40 | 6/6 | 6/6 | 7/7 | 6/6 | 2/2 | 5/5 | C- |
DISCUSSION
Let’s be clear. If Marcos Cortéz (who came out of the IC) grows into his ratings and does not increase his defensive acumen, and if he is placed at second base, that will be a disaster on the field. But it may still be worth it. The man projects to hit, and then hit some more. He can run a little, too. So if he can field even a little, well…and to be fair, his minor league numbers do not churn a scout’s stomach. At present, Cortez has skipped Short-A and is in Lake City playing moderately well. The timing of his project window would seem to open sometime in 2067.
So maybe the Krill can get Ackerman to hang in there one more year?
If not, questioning eyes would turn to ether Félix Connell, and older prospect who came some years back on a minor league deal, or Mitku Ndururi, arrived via a trade route and is finally working his way through the system far enough to be a reasonable candidate for the parent club. Defensively, Ndururi can probably handle the job well enough, now. He can run a little, and his bat is…well…it’s not horrible, but you’d like better for a long haul. Probably more a "B-" than a "B," but we'll go with it.
Javier Gallegos was the team’s #1 pick this year. The Krill would clearly like to seem him develop into a shortstop, and at 17 he’s going to get every chance to do that, but historically we think it’s a bad idea to pretend successful transitions to shortstop are just around the corner. So, no, Virginia, there is no shortstop in Javier Gallegos. What there could be is a solid power hitter who can handle the workaday plays at second. His window is a long way out, though.
And then comes Rodrigo Franco, who keeps being pushed to the end of the pile, but who just keeps playing winning baseball. At 24, his time is shortening. We’re rooting for him.
STRATEGIC POSITION
The front office can be forgiven the need to just chill out about second base for a year. Assuming the fragile Ackerman makes it through the year, anyway. They have Agatone Louganis as a backup, but to be clear, Louganis seems to have not come to play yet this season.
Anyway, a lot depends on Cortez and that glove/bat combo. Optimally, he’d have a rush of development, and be ready to play in 2066. We think that’s unlikely. But if there’s movement, and if the team loses Ackerman after only one season, that leaves the game theory “what ifs” to play. Would Ndururi or Connell serve for a season to give Cortez more time? Or would maybe Luis Zavala (who is most likely a 1B) develop up fast enough to handle 2B for a year?
There are some other permutations to fiddle with, too.
Yes, options abound.
Given our expectation that Cortez will almost certainly need to move to 1B, we’re guessing one of those options will have to be taken.
Geoff Vai
Principle Director, Office of Baseball Operations
