MBBA hidden gems perhaps? (JL-Midwest)

[bschr682]

Im going to be looking through the minor leagues and pointing out some of the players that could be the next wave of regulars in the mbba. Not necessarily star players as most of those guys have been pegged already. Some of these guys will be folks you never heard of. To be included here the player has to meet the following criteria:

1. No major league service time. If a player has that he's already a bit of known quantity.
2. 24 years old or younger. At 25 if a player hasn't had his shot at the bigs it starts getting dicey as to whether he'll ever have an impact. Not impossible obviously but not likely.
3. The player can not have been named to the MBBA top prospect list.
4. None of the rookies just selected in the draft will be on these lists. Its way too soon to see what these new guys will look like.

MADISON WOLVES

RF Michael Schoenfeld

There's a lot to like about Schoenfeld. He has an outstanding arm and given enough time in RF, should be a plus defender there. No blazing speed but won't clog the bases either. He has average contact at the moment but projects to get better. He has plus gap ability and won't strike-out a whole lot either. At only 23 years of age there is still plenty of upside to this guy.

SP Terry Dumont

Dumont has had some incredible development so far. When he was drafted in '97 his cut-fastball sat in the 92-94 mph range. Three short years later, he has cranked up that velocity to the 97-99 mph range. With his excellent work ethic and tender age of 21 there is no reason his velocity can't get even higher. Currently listed as a starter, his makeup suggests a move to the bullpen where he will dominate. If he gets lucky and develops a 3rd pitch he could make a viable starter.

OMAHA BARNSTORMERS

RF Pedro Flores

Hard to find a batter that qualified but Flores with some luck shows some promise. He's rediculous defensively and should be a CF not in RF. Very dangerous on the bases and with his gap ability he should be great at XBH. Only average contact right now but has great intangibles so maybe he gets a bump. Without a talent bump in contact he is a defensive replacement at best but if he were to get lucky he could find himself in someone's CF.

Cl Joey Stevens

Omaha has some impressive arms on the way to the big leagues but here is a guy who might be overlooked. This guy was quite the fastball which he can crank up to triple digits. He also is sporting a developing changeup which should give him a rediculous 1-2 punch. He has an average curve but he doesn't quite have the stamina to utilize his 3 pitch arsenal and become a starter. He sports a great work ethic but Steven's isn't the brightest bulb. Left as is he has a shot at a bullpen spot somewhere. Perhaps a candidate for a pitching specialization? Perhaps Omaha sends him to college? Time will tell.

PHOENIX TALONS

1B Mark Nichols

Nichols projects to be an outstanding hitting. Plus contact, plus-plus gap ability, a little bit of power, a keen eye at the plate and a great ability to not strikeout. He's a switch hitter which is always a plus. However he does have some drawbacks. Not that great defensively and his intangibles aren't good at all. Whether he fully develops or not is unknown but if he even comes close this guy will be a regular in the big leagues.

SP Moises Rentas

This young lefty is showing some real promise. Great stamina and a nice 5 pitch arsenal. He can fire his fastball up to 98 mph and has shown just enough control to make it as a starter. Worst case scenario with this guy is being a LOOGY in someone's pen. Best case scenario he could be a decent #4 pitcher.

CHICAGO BLACK SOX

RF Roberto Martinez

Martinez is a young outfielder with some upside. He's played exclusively RF where he's ok defensively but i think a move to LF would make him even more valuable. He has blazing speed but his average instincts and skills will keep him from being an elite base stealing threat. He has some decent gap ability and shows some great promise in the contact department. I don't see this guy as an all-star but i think he will be a regular somewhere.

Cl Denis Charette

Almost all of chicago's young pitching is years away from the bigs and this guy is no exception. At only 19 Denis has a long time to develop yet. He has outstanding stamina but his two pitch arsenal will keep him from being a starter. Throws decently hard at 92-94 and has some great ability to keep baserunner's from stealing. Denis has already received some favorable talent bumps and if the trend continues he will make a decent bullpen pitcher. Is Chicago going to gamble and use a specialization to make this guy a starter? We shall see.

[7teen]

Nice thus far. Dumont was picked up in the Steadman deal. I figured you might go with Garciasince somehow he doesn't make my top 20 prospects list.

[bschr682]

I chose Dumont just to point out his crazy development so far.

[Greeney03]

NIce write up!

I agree with both players in my team (OMA)

I will definitely evaluate my OFs next year. It's going to be a busy off-season for me for sure. I also had my eye on Joey Stevens as my bullpen need a lot of work.

[aaronweiner]

Stevens is clearly too good for A ball but he might struggle when he makes the leap to AA.

I also identified Dumont as a player who might be really good for a starting pitcher conversion, maybe. He does have good stuff.

[Shugi]

CHICAGO BLACK SOX

RF Roberto Martinez

Martinez is a young outfielder with some upside. He's played exclusively RF where he's ok defensively but i think a move to LF would make him even more valuable. He has blazing speed but his average instincts and skills will keep him from being an elite base stealing threat. He has some decent gap ability and shows some great promise in the contact department. I don't see this guy as an all-star but i think he will be a regular somewhere.

I thought about moving him to LF, especially since Faulkner is quite likely to be our top RF prospect/ player for the years to come. Will see, what i dont like is that his numbers dropped this year in AAA compared to last year, his work ethic is a bit a concern here. Might end up starting next year in AA, to train for LF a bit there and to see if he can raise his AVG considerably (should be higher imho with his speed and contact)

Cl Denis Charette

Almost all of chicago's young pitching is years away from the bigs and this guy is no exception.

Oh how true!

At only 19 Denis has a long time to develop yet. He has outstanding stamina but his two pitch arsenal will keep him from being a starter. Throws decently hard at 92-94 and has some great ability to keep baserunner's from stealing. Denis has already received some favorable talent bumps and if the trend continues he will make a decent bullpen pitcher. Is Chicago going to gamble and use a specialization to make this guy a starter? We shall see.

Might well be, but first i want to see him next year get some innings in the Single-A again. Low leverage situations as mop up etc., and go from there. But honestly, i dont like starters with low intelligence too much. I know, they only need to think every 5 days, but still ..

[recte44]

Bear in mind that the intangibles like work ethic, intelligence, etc. can be improved on during the offseasons with the Participation Point Rewards program (see Constitution).

[Shugi]

good point, thx But still hes young enough to wait with that gamble for one more year i think, and on the other side i like not-that-intelligent closers .. (why i'm thinking of someone called Papelbon like now? )

[Greeney03]

Stevens is clearly too good for A ball but he might struggle when he makes the leap to AA.

Indeed. I will definitely evaluate him next year. I might leave him in A next year up until the All-Star break, but we'll see.