Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 8, 2020 7:43:04 GMT -5
A different ball was used in the Short League this past season, suppressing BABIP. Let's see who the best and worst were in the new environment.
RF: Ernesto Roca—Twins
Roca had a fantastic season with a .290 average, 23 home runs, 62 RBIs, 55 runs, and a .977 OPS. He led the league in all those categories, winning the league's MVP as a result.
The 2021 fourth round pick is going to be 23-years-old next year and is already very well developed. Both Bill Schmidt and OSA think he should be in Triple A. Schmidt sees a solid major league starter who can contribute in all areas of the game. OSA sees more of a contributor than a starter, but everyone sees Roca as a future major leaguer, which isn't too shabby for a fourth round pick.
3B: Luis Silva—Twins
An incredible speedster, Silva was discovered out of the Dominican Republic back in 2017, was advanced out of the International Complex in 2018, and spent three of his first four years in rookie ball. He had a middling stint in Grenada as a 17-year-old in 2019, but was sent back to rookie ball for more seasoning. He had a huge 2022 though in his first stint back to the Spice Island, posting 22 doubles and 53 stolen bases to lead the league.
Nicknamed "Balls" for his gutsy baserunning and willingness to play in at third base, Silva is a fan favorite wherever he goes. OSA thinks he makes enough contact and plays enough defense to warrant a big league job down the road, with Bill Schmidt seeing a potential starter. Now that he's conquered Short-Season A-Ball, it may be time to see what Silva can do in a full-time environment.
SS: Aderlin Santana—Angels
A light hitter, Santana earned his keep with a combined 9.2 Zone Rating split between Second Base and Shortstop for the Trinidad Dragons. Santana had, by far, the best Zone Rating, as well as the most assists in the league, and made every single one of his routine plays at Shortstop.
Santana has great speed too, but he's not a good baserunner, and has a career .225 average in the Caribbean. He has no real future professionally, but pitchers in the Angels system love how the Dominican has their back in the low minors.
1B: Vladihen Semihatov—Twins
Semihatov was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 as a Russian who graduated from Kansas State University. He tore up the Gulf Coast League in his first full season, then led the West Indian Short League in on-base percentage in his second full year.
Semihatov is an advanced hitter with a sharp mind that's flexible enough to adjust to different situations. OSA sees him as a Quad-A hitter, but Bill Schmidt envisions a Major League career, at least as a backup. Both scouting services see him as deserving to be in full-season ball. Schmidt, in fact, may offer to place him in Double-A.
1B: Eddie Vogler—Royals
A third round pick in 2020, Vogler was featured in last year's writeup after leading the league in home runs. He repeated the level in 2022, returning to Puerto Rico to increase his home run count from 19 to 21.
Vogler is a classic slugger, as a big man who takes big uppercuts. He'll swing through pitches and make weak contact, but when he connects it goes far. His hit tool limits his ultimate potential, but he should be able to slug homers in Lexington as well as Puerto Rico.
RF: Edgar Herrera—Twins
Herrera had a strong year for Grenada, slugging 18 home runs with a .264 average, going for 3.0 WAR. He also played a pretty good right field with +3.5 Zone Rating, and is a good baserunner. His .831 OPS was good for a 158 OPS+ as the West Indian Short League experimented with a different ball that suppressed batting average.
Now 25, Herrera doesn't have much of a future with a professional team. However, he's been promoted to the Midwest League as of now, which seems like both his ultimate upside, and where he belongs in the present.
RP: Remo Colonnese—Braves
Colonnese led the West Indies Short League in ERA with a 1.35 mark in 12 starts. He also posted a 0.82 WHIP that tied for the league lead, thanks in part to a .177 opponent's average.
The young right-hander was discovered in 2017 in Venezuela and spent parts of four seasons in the West Indies Short League. After his strong season, he was promoted to full-season ball. His suspect control tempers any hope of a professional career, but he has a strong work ethic that may be able to beat the odds.
SP: Steve Bates—Twins
The 2021 third round pick led the West Indies in Wins and Strikeouts, with 10 wins and 106 whiffs in his first full season after being drafted out of Austin in 2021. A power pitcher through and through, Bates touches 100 on the gun regularly and overwhelmed the short-season hitters.
Bates' future hinges on his changeup. If it comes around, both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a fantastic arm that can be a strikeout-heavy, mid-rotation starter. If the starter doesn't come around, Bates becomes a setup man. Now 23, Bates is too good for the West Indies League and should be in A-Ball next year.
SP: Freddy Villareal—Brewers
A Brewers draft selection back in 2019, Villarreal led the league in WAR with 2.6 last year. He whiffed 104 in 83.1 innings, and allowed only two home runs. The combination of striking hitters out and keeping the ball in the park led to Villarreal producing a 2.59 ERA.
OSA projects a little more control out of Villareal than Bill Schmidt, and as a result sees Villareal as a fringe major leaguer not a fringe Pacific Coast Leaguer. Both see him is an arm that should reach A-Ball next season.
RP: Robert Gutierrez—Twins
Gutierrez had a terrific year for Grenada, leading the league in saves with 21, and posting a 2.10 ERA. Gutierrez had a 0.90 WHIP and struck out 41 in 34.1 innings.
Both Bill Schmidt and OSA see a guy who should graduate to A-Ball, and who'll ultimately top out in Double-A. As a two-pitch pitcher without overwhelming stuff or good control, there's just so far he can advance before hitters figure him out.
SP: Miguel Urena—Dodgers
Urena threw the most innings in the West Indian League, hurling 93.1 frames over 16 starts. They were good innings as Urena struck out 101 and had a 1.9 WAR.
Urena's had some good seasons for Jamaica, but he hasn't progressed to full-season ball despite spending parts of five seasons for the Steel Pans. He's ultimately a two-pitch pitcher who may be able to make it to Triple-A. At 27-year-old, it's time for him to come stateside.
SP: Sergio Huron—Dodgers
A 2017 Scouting Discovery from Venezuela, Huron had a perfect year for Jamaica. He went 10-0 with a 1.54 ERA, producing 1.6 WAR. He allowed a .246 BABIP, which allowed him to post a strong 0.84 WHIP.
Huron doesn't have great stuff, but he does have good control. Ultimately, he likely lacks the stamina to be a starter either and should transition to the pen. If his stuff plays up in the pen, he could be the last man on a major league roster, or good depth in Triple-A. He's only 21, so it's possible his stamina improves as well. He's one to keep an eye on.
RF: Wing-Fung Qu—Brewers
A second-round pick out of Murray State after twice failing to sign with the Blue Jays, Qu left many disappointed with all the fuss. He hit just .162 with 71 strikeouts in 192 plate appearances. He did club 10 doubles and eight home runs, but the plate discipline wasn't there.
Bill Schmidt sees a weird player who'll work the count, bang out doubles and the occasional homer, and play respectable defense, but with no speed and a bad hit tool. OSA sees a legitimate masher, with a major-league hit tool. Despite being 23, he may need to repeat the level.
3B: Jhonkensy Noel—Brewers
An International Free Agent Signing in 2018, Noel got paid $4 million dollars to sign with Milwaukee and incubated from 2018 to 2021. He played in 17 games without starting in Rookie Ball in 2021, getting his feet wet to pro baseball. He played in 72 games, all starts, last season and hit for a .280 slugging mark with only 18 RBIs.
OSA sees Noel right now as a patient hitter with good pop for the low minors, but with a better eye than swing. Bill Schmidt likes Noel a little more, despite his rough year. Both scouts see Noel at least as having an upper-minors future, imagining his swing will come around and complement his advanced eye. Until then, he needs reps in the low minors refining his swing.
RP: Juan Ojeda—Angels
A scouting discovery in 2020, Ojeda was brought stateside in 2021 where he turned in a dismal performance in A-Ball, with a 12.55 ERA and a -1.6 WAR. The Angels demoted him in 2022, and he turned in a -1.4 WAR season that was worst in the league. He went 1-7 with a 6.42 ERA, allowed 11 home runs, and walked 27 in 54.2 innings.
Ojeda does not have professional stuff, does not know where his pitches are going, and frankly should not play baseball as a career or hobby, even in the low minors. He's not good at it.
RP: Jim Pennington—Royals
A sixth-round pick last year, Pennington spent the year in Puerto Rico as a 21-year-old, and was expected to have a good season. He walked a batter every other inning though, allowed a .402 BABIP, and went 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA on the season, with a -0.3 WAR.
Pennington's changeup will likely never develop, but he throws a cutter and a slider that both look like top-notch PBA pitches. Scouts see him as a definite pitcher in the big leagues, but he'll likely have to progress slowly and repeat the West Indian League to hone his control.
RF: Ernesto Roca—Twins
Roca had a fantastic season with a .290 average, 23 home runs, 62 RBIs, 55 runs, and a .977 OPS. He led the league in all those categories, winning the league's MVP as a result.
The 2021 fourth round pick is going to be 23-years-old next year and is already very well developed. Both Bill Schmidt and OSA think he should be in Triple A. Schmidt sees a solid major league starter who can contribute in all areas of the game. OSA sees more of a contributor than a starter, but everyone sees Roca as a future major leaguer, which isn't too shabby for a fourth round pick.
3B: Luis Silva—Twins
An incredible speedster, Silva was discovered out of the Dominican Republic back in 2017, was advanced out of the International Complex in 2018, and spent three of his first four years in rookie ball. He had a middling stint in Grenada as a 17-year-old in 2019, but was sent back to rookie ball for more seasoning. He had a huge 2022 though in his first stint back to the Spice Island, posting 22 doubles and 53 stolen bases to lead the league.
Nicknamed "Balls" for his gutsy baserunning and willingness to play in at third base, Silva is a fan favorite wherever he goes. OSA thinks he makes enough contact and plays enough defense to warrant a big league job down the road, with Bill Schmidt seeing a potential starter. Now that he's conquered Short-Season A-Ball, it may be time to see what Silva can do in a full-time environment.
SS: Aderlin Santana—Angels
A light hitter, Santana earned his keep with a combined 9.2 Zone Rating split between Second Base and Shortstop for the Trinidad Dragons. Santana had, by far, the best Zone Rating, as well as the most assists in the league, and made every single one of his routine plays at Shortstop.
Santana has great speed too, but he's not a good baserunner, and has a career .225 average in the Caribbean. He has no real future professionally, but pitchers in the Angels system love how the Dominican has their back in the low minors.
1B: Vladihen Semihatov—Twins
Semihatov was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 as a Russian who graduated from Kansas State University. He tore up the Gulf Coast League in his first full season, then led the West Indian Short League in on-base percentage in his second full year.
Semihatov is an advanced hitter with a sharp mind that's flexible enough to adjust to different situations. OSA sees him as a Quad-A hitter, but Bill Schmidt envisions a Major League career, at least as a backup. Both scouting services see him as deserving to be in full-season ball. Schmidt, in fact, may offer to place him in Double-A.
1B: Eddie Vogler—Royals
A third round pick in 2020, Vogler was featured in last year's writeup after leading the league in home runs. He repeated the level in 2022, returning to Puerto Rico to increase his home run count from 19 to 21.
Vogler is a classic slugger, as a big man who takes big uppercuts. He'll swing through pitches and make weak contact, but when he connects it goes far. His hit tool limits his ultimate potential, but he should be able to slug homers in Lexington as well as Puerto Rico.
RF: Edgar Herrera—Twins
Herrera had a strong year for Grenada, slugging 18 home runs with a .264 average, going for 3.0 WAR. He also played a pretty good right field with +3.5 Zone Rating, and is a good baserunner. His .831 OPS was good for a 158 OPS+ as the West Indian Short League experimented with a different ball that suppressed batting average.
Now 25, Herrera doesn't have much of a future with a professional team. However, he's been promoted to the Midwest League as of now, which seems like both his ultimate upside, and where he belongs in the present.
RP: Remo Colonnese—Braves
Colonnese led the West Indies Short League in ERA with a 1.35 mark in 12 starts. He also posted a 0.82 WHIP that tied for the league lead, thanks in part to a .177 opponent's average.
The young right-hander was discovered in 2017 in Venezuela and spent parts of four seasons in the West Indies Short League. After his strong season, he was promoted to full-season ball. His suspect control tempers any hope of a professional career, but he has a strong work ethic that may be able to beat the odds.
SP: Steve Bates—Twins
The 2021 third round pick led the West Indies in Wins and Strikeouts, with 10 wins and 106 whiffs in his first full season after being drafted out of Austin in 2021. A power pitcher through and through, Bates touches 100 on the gun regularly and overwhelmed the short-season hitters.
Bates' future hinges on his changeup. If it comes around, both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a fantastic arm that can be a strikeout-heavy, mid-rotation starter. If the starter doesn't come around, Bates becomes a setup man. Now 23, Bates is too good for the West Indies League and should be in A-Ball next year.
SP: Freddy Villareal—Brewers
A Brewers draft selection back in 2019, Villarreal led the league in WAR with 2.6 last year. He whiffed 104 in 83.1 innings, and allowed only two home runs. The combination of striking hitters out and keeping the ball in the park led to Villarreal producing a 2.59 ERA.
OSA projects a little more control out of Villareal than Bill Schmidt, and as a result sees Villareal as a fringe major leaguer not a fringe Pacific Coast Leaguer. Both see him is an arm that should reach A-Ball next season.
RP: Robert Gutierrez—Twins
Gutierrez had a terrific year for Grenada, leading the league in saves with 21, and posting a 2.10 ERA. Gutierrez had a 0.90 WHIP and struck out 41 in 34.1 innings.
Both Bill Schmidt and OSA see a guy who should graduate to A-Ball, and who'll ultimately top out in Double-A. As a two-pitch pitcher without overwhelming stuff or good control, there's just so far he can advance before hitters figure him out.
SP: Miguel Urena—Dodgers
Urena threw the most innings in the West Indian League, hurling 93.1 frames over 16 starts. They were good innings as Urena struck out 101 and had a 1.9 WAR.
Urena's had some good seasons for Jamaica, but he hasn't progressed to full-season ball despite spending parts of five seasons for the Steel Pans. He's ultimately a two-pitch pitcher who may be able to make it to Triple-A. At 27-year-old, it's time for him to come stateside.
SP: Sergio Huron—Dodgers
A 2017 Scouting Discovery from Venezuela, Huron had a perfect year for Jamaica. He went 10-0 with a 1.54 ERA, producing 1.6 WAR. He allowed a .246 BABIP, which allowed him to post a strong 0.84 WHIP.
Huron doesn't have great stuff, but he does have good control. Ultimately, he likely lacks the stamina to be a starter either and should transition to the pen. If his stuff plays up in the pen, he could be the last man on a major league roster, or good depth in Triple-A. He's only 21, so it's possible his stamina improves as well. He's one to keep an eye on.
RF: Wing-Fung Qu—Brewers
A second-round pick out of Murray State after twice failing to sign with the Blue Jays, Qu left many disappointed with all the fuss. He hit just .162 with 71 strikeouts in 192 plate appearances. He did club 10 doubles and eight home runs, but the plate discipline wasn't there.
Bill Schmidt sees a weird player who'll work the count, bang out doubles and the occasional homer, and play respectable defense, but with no speed and a bad hit tool. OSA sees a legitimate masher, with a major-league hit tool. Despite being 23, he may need to repeat the level.
3B: Jhonkensy Noel—Brewers
An International Free Agent Signing in 2018, Noel got paid $4 million dollars to sign with Milwaukee and incubated from 2018 to 2021. He played in 17 games without starting in Rookie Ball in 2021, getting his feet wet to pro baseball. He played in 72 games, all starts, last season and hit for a .280 slugging mark with only 18 RBIs.
OSA sees Noel right now as a patient hitter with good pop for the low minors, but with a better eye than swing. Bill Schmidt likes Noel a little more, despite his rough year. Both scouts see Noel at least as having an upper-minors future, imagining his swing will come around and complement his advanced eye. Until then, he needs reps in the low minors refining his swing.
RP: Juan Ojeda—Angels
A scouting discovery in 2020, Ojeda was brought stateside in 2021 where he turned in a dismal performance in A-Ball, with a 12.55 ERA and a -1.6 WAR. The Angels demoted him in 2022, and he turned in a -1.4 WAR season that was worst in the league. He went 1-7 with a 6.42 ERA, allowed 11 home runs, and walked 27 in 54.2 innings.
Ojeda does not have professional stuff, does not know where his pitches are going, and frankly should not play baseball as a career or hobby, even in the low minors. He's not good at it.
RP: Jim Pennington—Royals
A sixth-round pick last year, Pennington spent the year in Puerto Rico as a 21-year-old, and was expected to have a good season. He walked a batter every other inning though, allowed a .402 BABIP, and went 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA on the season, with a -0.3 WAR.
Pennington's changeup will likely never develop, but he throws a cutter and a slider that both look like top-notch PBA pitches. Scouts see him as a definite pitcher in the big leagues, but he'll likely have to progress slowly and repeat the West Indian League to hone his control.