Post by Commissioner Erick on May 16, 2020 11:34:28 GMT -5
The West Indies abandoned the ball they used last year and it opened up the strikeouts in the league. Overall, some superstars set the pace of the league, while a handful of clubs didn't try, turning in dreadful seasons with dreadful rosters.
3B: Starlin Balbuena—Royals
Balbuena had an absolutely monster season this year playing for a juggernaut Puerto Rico team that won the West Indies championship. Balbuena hit .436 with a .493 on-base percentage, all-time highs for the league. He scored 79 runs and produced 5.8 WAR, also league all-time bests. His 15 home runs were second in the league. He was spectacular and someone West Indian Short League fans will talk about for a long time.
Balbuena was obviously too good for the league, something that was evident before the season. He made it up to High-A with St. Louis last year and hit .317 with 18 steals and 2.7 WAR for them last year. Being signed to the Royals and playing his age-25 season, he was demoted to Short-Season ball. Balbuena has a fringe chance of playing in the majors, but is likely a Triple-A player when he tops out. His bat is way too good for Short-Season ball and he should never see another pitch in the level again.
1B: Eddie Vogler—Royals:
Vogler has now been featured in this space three seasons in a row for leading the league in home runs. He set a league-record 26 this year, driving in 90 runs, and producing 5.1 WAR. It's spectacular for the fans in Puerto Rico, but the third round pick in 2020 was selected to do more than tear up Short-Season ball. People are wondering if he'll hit in higher levels?
Now 25, the former Utah Ute likely doesn't have the hit tool to make it as a big league slugger, and his power may only be good enough for Triple-A. Vogler may never get that chance to take on that challenge though, if he's kept in Puerto Rico to traumatize short-season pitching.
SS: Emmanuel Sanchez—Brewers:
Sanchez led the league in stolen bases with 20 steals in 25 attempts, and tied for the league lead with 25 doubles. The doubles give him some pop as doesn't have much over-the-fence power, and the speed also makes up for that limitation. If you can't hit home runs, find a way to get to scoring position any way possible.
Sanchez signed for under $1 million in 2018 and his first real season of professional ball was 2022 in the West Indian league. He was overmatched, but his repeat year was obviously a success. A tremendous defender with tremendous speed, he's earned a trip to full-season ball. He may not have the juice to be a major leaguer, but looks like a valuable defensive middle infielder at any minor league level to help a pitching staff.
CF: Gregorio Mosquera—Dodgers
A scouting discovery out of the Dominican Republic late in 2018, Mosquera has always had great wheels. He spent his first three seasons in the Dominican Summer League where he was very raw his first partial year in 2020, and didn't run at all in 2021. In 2022 he hit 15 home runs, stole 22 bases and proved that he deserved to move up a level. This year, he hit a wonderful .322 with six triples and nine home runs. While he was caught stealing in half his 16 steal attempts, his defense remained top notch. He led the league in zone rating and was second in Center Field assists.
Mosquera hasn't translated his speed to being a good baserunner, as the steal percentage indicates. He doesn't have a great hit tool, nor is he a good bunter that could help out on that front. He has a good swing to left-center field, and with his speed, that leads to a lot of doubles. He may not be able to cut it past High-A, but his last two seasons in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica show that he's worthy of a full season gig perhaps in Great Lakes.
LF: Rafael Ramirez—Twins:
Ramirez finished the season second in average and RBIs, and third in WAR. He posted 12 home runs and 12 steals, a nice combination in a short-season league like the WISL. He only fanned 39 times and posted a 1.030 OPS. The only question is why was he in the West Indies Short League?
Ramirez was 27 and coming off reasonably effective stints in Double-A and Triple-A last year, and the last time he spent a full year at a level, he put up 3.2 WAR in High-A in 2021. A former Platinum Stick winner in the Florida State League, he had no business being in short-season ball. Fully developed, Ramirez looks like a Triple-A starter, which is where he should spent next season.
CF: Zach Farrar—Twins:
Farrar had a very solid, very balanced year for Grenada. His .324 average was seventh in the league and fueled top ten OPS component metrics. He was tied for third in runs and doubles, tied for eighth in RBIs, walked the fifth most times, stole the third most bases, and impressively, those 17 steals didn't come with a single time thrown out. He also provided strong defense at First Base.
An outfielder by trade, the Twins would be benefitted by the 2020 7th-round pick moving back to his natural Left Field. A good baserunner with a knack for finding gaps, the former Louisiana Tech Center Fielder unfortunately is already 25 and doesn't look like he has PBA potential. He's not a difference maker on defense, and while OSA thinks he has good gap power and a decent eye, that's not enough to catapult him to the majors. Bill Schmidt really likes his gap swing, but not much else. Ramirez may top out at A-Ball as a First Baseman, but has a chance to make it to High-A as a Left Fielder.
SP: Cody Ponce—Twins:
Ponce had a dominant year, leading the league in ERA, wins, WAR, innings, strikeouts, shutouts, FIP, WHIP, essentially every pitching stat you can imagine. This was to be expected as a 29-year-old who has made it as high as Triple-A in his career.
Despite a strong postseason, Grenada didn't even make it to the West Indian Championships, so what was the point of having him down there? He hasn't had much success in Triple-A, meaning he's a Double-A arm as a 29-year old. Released by Orix after a season in the Japanese Minors, Ponce's best bet may be trying to catch on in the Korean League.
CL: Brayan Salaya—Dodgers
After four seasons pitching for Dominica in the Brewers system, Salaya returned to the West Indies Short-League after signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers, where he led the league in Saves with 11. Salaya kept the ball on the ground, not allowing a home run, which gave him the ability to close out 11 of 12 save opportunities.
Salaya had two consecutive good years in the West Indies, but struggled in A-Ball with a 5.29 ERA and negative WAR. He doesn't have any major league upside, and is becoming too old for short-season ball. He'll spend most of next season as a 24 year old and has proven he's too good for the West Indies. It may be worth one more shot in A-Ball to see if he can stick as low minors depth, or if it's worth turning the roster spot over.
RP: Joe Reynolds—Royals
A sixth round pick this year, Reynolds had an immediate impact, leading the league in Holds with 15. He had a 2.92 ERA and struck out 46 batters in 37 innings as a 22-year old. With such a strong performance, Reynolds will almost certainly be called up to A-Ball next year.
OSA sees Reynolds as a clear major leaguer out of the pen with a power fastball and strong changeup making him a good reliever. Bill Schmidt sees Reynolds as a more fringe option, but definitely someone who should hold his own at Triple-A. He still has developing to do, but in full-season ball.
SP: John Boushelle—Brewers:
A 10th round pick in 2018, Boushelle produced a combined 4.5 WAR in A-Ball the past two seasons, but still wound up with 66.1 innings and 10 starts in Dominica this year. His 2.5 WAR was tied for second as a 26-year old.
Boushelle at a minimum should be in High-A based on his success not only in Short-A, but regular A-ball as well. He likely doesn't top out above Triple-A, but that's still a large step above Short-Season ball. With 17 starts and a 1.5 WAR in A-Ball this year, it's a shock that he was demoted instead of promoted.
SP: Jeff Burton—Twins:
Minnesota's first round draft pick this year, 18th overall, Burton started his career above Rookie Ball, and it was a smart choice. The 21-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat worked 16 starts at a 2.82 ERA. He went 9-2, struck out 98 in 95.2 innings, and only allowed six home runs in the high-octane environment.
OSA projects the lefty to have top-line potential with a strong fastball/cutter combination and a devastating changeup. Bill Schmidt is more tepid, but still sees a starter. All scouts see Burton as needing more work on his control. With his age, it wouldn't be the strangest thing to see him repeat the level, but he may have his ticket punched to Cedar Rapids and A-Ball.
SP: Josh Campbell—Royals:
Another member of the 2.5 WAR-squad, the 4th round selection from June's draft limited the longball to earn his WAR. He allowed only one home run, a stupendous amount, though it helps that he never had to face his offense. He did allow a .350 BABIP which led to a 4.17 ERA.
Campbell's a sharp cookie who graduated from Pepperdine last year. He doesn't have a great changeup but plays around with his cutter and slider grips to make it rough on right-handed pitching. If the changeup develops, OSA sees a major leaguer, and a Triple-A standout if it doesn't. Bill Schmidt only sees a Triple-A pitcher, but figures Campbell is close to reaching his max potential. As a 23-year old, Campbell should be working in A-ball next year, but his development speed, with such wide-ranging opinions on him, may need to be based on his performance at each subsequent level.
SS: Erik Benoit—Braves:
Basket Case Benoit was the fifth overall pick in 2022 and is the #25 overall prospect in the PBA. Acquired by Atlanta for Austin Meadows, he did not handle the trade well, producing -0.5 WAR for Barbados. He hit just .204 with a .269 slugging mark and just three extra base hits.
Benoit played mostly Shortstop in High School, but doesn't really appear to have the arm or the hands to stick there, and he's raw every place else. OSA sees a future All-Star, but Bill Schmidt sees a major leaguer with a more limited upside, and one that would not play well at First Base or DH. There's a wide range of outcomes for Benoit, and it may be smart for him to repeat Short-Season ball next year.
RF: Jimmy Torres—Braves
A third round pick this season, the 20-year old Torres was given an aggressive assignment to Barbados this year and he struggled mightily. Torres hit just .162 with five walks against 42 strikeouts. He added no speed and only played four games in the field. Torres only played 32 games, and still tallied -0.9 WAR.
Scouts agree that Torres has big power, but doesn't really contribute much else, though Bill Schmidt thinks Torres' patience could help with his power. With his hit tool so raw, and nothing but power as a calling card, it would be a shock to see the former Georgetown Hoya play full-season ball next year.
RP: Laurente Baffi—White Sox:
Baffi the Barbarian was named the 69th best prospect heading into the season and hurt his stock with a disappointing year in Haiti. Baffi has had an interesting career to date. Signed to a $5.2 million bonus out of Venezuela by the Royals, he was traded last offseason to Tampa in the Patrick Leonard trade, then flipped again as the sweetner to get out of Kevin Gausman's contract. He pitched 32.2 relief innings for the Revolutionaries, walking 28 and striking out 25. The 6-6 red-bearded Baffi may have been too intimidating for youngsters to hit, but it didn't matter if they never swung at all the balls he threw.
The Barbarian is only 18, and with a 7.99 ERA, the White Sox have no time constraint to promote him. With his height and build, OSA sees huge potential for Baffi the Barbarian to turn into a frontline starter. Bill Schmidt worries about his control, taking a conservative approach that Baffi can't haul in his mechanics and can't throw enough strikes to advance past the high minors. Either way, Baffi the Barbarian was one of the worst players in the West Indies and has one of the most exciting upsides.
RP: Ryan Whalen—Brewers
A third-round pick of the Brewers this year, the Cincinnati graduate did not turn in a good year in pro ball, working to a 6.86 ERA for the Dominica Parrots. Whalen showed the fastball/circle-changeup combo that led to him being picked so high, but four home runs and a .352 BABIP did him in.
It was a strange year as both OSA and Bill Schmidt found Whalen to be advanced for the level, with an advanced fastball and excellent development with his circle change. Both scouts see a future major leaguer, Schmidt a more developed arm will less-upside, and OSA a potential dominant arm with more work to do to reach the lofty heights. While he didn't have the best year, the stuff along should put at least in A-Ball next year, and he could be a quick riser.
3B: Starlin Balbuena—Royals
Balbuena had an absolutely monster season this year playing for a juggernaut Puerto Rico team that won the West Indies championship. Balbuena hit .436 with a .493 on-base percentage, all-time highs for the league. He scored 79 runs and produced 5.8 WAR, also league all-time bests. His 15 home runs were second in the league. He was spectacular and someone West Indian Short League fans will talk about for a long time.
Balbuena was obviously too good for the league, something that was evident before the season. He made it up to High-A with St. Louis last year and hit .317 with 18 steals and 2.7 WAR for them last year. Being signed to the Royals and playing his age-25 season, he was demoted to Short-Season ball. Balbuena has a fringe chance of playing in the majors, but is likely a Triple-A player when he tops out. His bat is way too good for Short-Season ball and he should never see another pitch in the level again.
1B: Eddie Vogler—Royals:
Vogler has now been featured in this space three seasons in a row for leading the league in home runs. He set a league-record 26 this year, driving in 90 runs, and producing 5.1 WAR. It's spectacular for the fans in Puerto Rico, but the third round pick in 2020 was selected to do more than tear up Short-Season ball. People are wondering if he'll hit in higher levels?
Now 25, the former Utah Ute likely doesn't have the hit tool to make it as a big league slugger, and his power may only be good enough for Triple-A. Vogler may never get that chance to take on that challenge though, if he's kept in Puerto Rico to traumatize short-season pitching.
SS: Emmanuel Sanchez—Brewers:
Sanchez led the league in stolen bases with 20 steals in 25 attempts, and tied for the league lead with 25 doubles. The doubles give him some pop as doesn't have much over-the-fence power, and the speed also makes up for that limitation. If you can't hit home runs, find a way to get to scoring position any way possible.
Sanchez signed for under $1 million in 2018 and his first real season of professional ball was 2022 in the West Indian league. He was overmatched, but his repeat year was obviously a success. A tremendous defender with tremendous speed, he's earned a trip to full-season ball. He may not have the juice to be a major leaguer, but looks like a valuable defensive middle infielder at any minor league level to help a pitching staff.
CF: Gregorio Mosquera—Dodgers
A scouting discovery out of the Dominican Republic late in 2018, Mosquera has always had great wheels. He spent his first three seasons in the Dominican Summer League where he was very raw his first partial year in 2020, and didn't run at all in 2021. In 2022 he hit 15 home runs, stole 22 bases and proved that he deserved to move up a level. This year, he hit a wonderful .322 with six triples and nine home runs. While he was caught stealing in half his 16 steal attempts, his defense remained top notch. He led the league in zone rating and was second in Center Field assists.
Mosquera hasn't translated his speed to being a good baserunner, as the steal percentage indicates. He doesn't have a great hit tool, nor is he a good bunter that could help out on that front. He has a good swing to left-center field, and with his speed, that leads to a lot of doubles. He may not be able to cut it past High-A, but his last two seasons in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica show that he's worthy of a full season gig perhaps in Great Lakes.
LF: Rafael Ramirez—Twins:
Ramirez finished the season second in average and RBIs, and third in WAR. He posted 12 home runs and 12 steals, a nice combination in a short-season league like the WISL. He only fanned 39 times and posted a 1.030 OPS. The only question is why was he in the West Indies Short League?
Ramirez was 27 and coming off reasonably effective stints in Double-A and Triple-A last year, and the last time he spent a full year at a level, he put up 3.2 WAR in High-A in 2021. A former Platinum Stick winner in the Florida State League, he had no business being in short-season ball. Fully developed, Ramirez looks like a Triple-A starter, which is where he should spent next season.
CF: Zach Farrar—Twins:
Farrar had a very solid, very balanced year for Grenada. His .324 average was seventh in the league and fueled top ten OPS component metrics. He was tied for third in runs and doubles, tied for eighth in RBIs, walked the fifth most times, stole the third most bases, and impressively, those 17 steals didn't come with a single time thrown out. He also provided strong defense at First Base.
An outfielder by trade, the Twins would be benefitted by the 2020 7th-round pick moving back to his natural Left Field. A good baserunner with a knack for finding gaps, the former Louisiana Tech Center Fielder unfortunately is already 25 and doesn't look like he has PBA potential. He's not a difference maker on defense, and while OSA thinks he has good gap power and a decent eye, that's not enough to catapult him to the majors. Bill Schmidt really likes his gap swing, but not much else. Ramirez may top out at A-Ball as a First Baseman, but has a chance to make it to High-A as a Left Fielder.
SP: Cody Ponce—Twins:
Ponce had a dominant year, leading the league in ERA, wins, WAR, innings, strikeouts, shutouts, FIP, WHIP, essentially every pitching stat you can imagine. This was to be expected as a 29-year-old who has made it as high as Triple-A in his career.
Despite a strong postseason, Grenada didn't even make it to the West Indian Championships, so what was the point of having him down there? He hasn't had much success in Triple-A, meaning he's a Double-A arm as a 29-year old. Released by Orix after a season in the Japanese Minors, Ponce's best bet may be trying to catch on in the Korean League.
CL: Brayan Salaya—Dodgers
After four seasons pitching for Dominica in the Brewers system, Salaya returned to the West Indies Short-League after signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers, where he led the league in Saves with 11. Salaya kept the ball on the ground, not allowing a home run, which gave him the ability to close out 11 of 12 save opportunities.
Salaya had two consecutive good years in the West Indies, but struggled in A-Ball with a 5.29 ERA and negative WAR. He doesn't have any major league upside, and is becoming too old for short-season ball. He'll spend most of next season as a 24 year old and has proven he's too good for the West Indies. It may be worth one more shot in A-Ball to see if he can stick as low minors depth, or if it's worth turning the roster spot over.
RP: Joe Reynolds—Royals
A sixth round pick this year, Reynolds had an immediate impact, leading the league in Holds with 15. He had a 2.92 ERA and struck out 46 batters in 37 innings as a 22-year old. With such a strong performance, Reynolds will almost certainly be called up to A-Ball next year.
OSA sees Reynolds as a clear major leaguer out of the pen with a power fastball and strong changeup making him a good reliever. Bill Schmidt sees Reynolds as a more fringe option, but definitely someone who should hold his own at Triple-A. He still has developing to do, but in full-season ball.
SP: John Boushelle—Brewers:
A 10th round pick in 2018, Boushelle produced a combined 4.5 WAR in A-Ball the past two seasons, but still wound up with 66.1 innings and 10 starts in Dominica this year. His 2.5 WAR was tied for second as a 26-year old.
Boushelle at a minimum should be in High-A based on his success not only in Short-A, but regular A-ball as well. He likely doesn't top out above Triple-A, but that's still a large step above Short-Season ball. With 17 starts and a 1.5 WAR in A-Ball this year, it's a shock that he was demoted instead of promoted.
SP: Jeff Burton—Twins:
Minnesota's first round draft pick this year, 18th overall, Burton started his career above Rookie Ball, and it was a smart choice. The 21-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat worked 16 starts at a 2.82 ERA. He went 9-2, struck out 98 in 95.2 innings, and only allowed six home runs in the high-octane environment.
OSA projects the lefty to have top-line potential with a strong fastball/cutter combination and a devastating changeup. Bill Schmidt is more tepid, but still sees a starter. All scouts see Burton as needing more work on his control. With his age, it wouldn't be the strangest thing to see him repeat the level, but he may have his ticket punched to Cedar Rapids and A-Ball.
SP: Josh Campbell—Royals:
Another member of the 2.5 WAR-squad, the 4th round selection from June's draft limited the longball to earn his WAR. He allowed only one home run, a stupendous amount, though it helps that he never had to face his offense. He did allow a .350 BABIP which led to a 4.17 ERA.
Campbell's a sharp cookie who graduated from Pepperdine last year. He doesn't have a great changeup but plays around with his cutter and slider grips to make it rough on right-handed pitching. If the changeup develops, OSA sees a major leaguer, and a Triple-A standout if it doesn't. Bill Schmidt only sees a Triple-A pitcher, but figures Campbell is close to reaching his max potential. As a 23-year old, Campbell should be working in A-ball next year, but his development speed, with such wide-ranging opinions on him, may need to be based on his performance at each subsequent level.
SS: Erik Benoit—Braves:
Basket Case Benoit was the fifth overall pick in 2022 and is the #25 overall prospect in the PBA. Acquired by Atlanta for Austin Meadows, he did not handle the trade well, producing -0.5 WAR for Barbados. He hit just .204 with a .269 slugging mark and just three extra base hits.
Benoit played mostly Shortstop in High School, but doesn't really appear to have the arm or the hands to stick there, and he's raw every place else. OSA sees a future All-Star, but Bill Schmidt sees a major leaguer with a more limited upside, and one that would not play well at First Base or DH. There's a wide range of outcomes for Benoit, and it may be smart for him to repeat Short-Season ball next year.
RF: Jimmy Torres—Braves
A third round pick this season, the 20-year old Torres was given an aggressive assignment to Barbados this year and he struggled mightily. Torres hit just .162 with five walks against 42 strikeouts. He added no speed and only played four games in the field. Torres only played 32 games, and still tallied -0.9 WAR.
Scouts agree that Torres has big power, but doesn't really contribute much else, though Bill Schmidt thinks Torres' patience could help with his power. With his hit tool so raw, and nothing but power as a calling card, it would be a shock to see the former Georgetown Hoya play full-season ball next year.
RP: Laurente Baffi—White Sox:
Baffi the Barbarian was named the 69th best prospect heading into the season and hurt his stock with a disappointing year in Haiti. Baffi has had an interesting career to date. Signed to a $5.2 million bonus out of Venezuela by the Royals, he was traded last offseason to Tampa in the Patrick Leonard trade, then flipped again as the sweetner to get out of Kevin Gausman's contract. He pitched 32.2 relief innings for the Revolutionaries, walking 28 and striking out 25. The 6-6 red-bearded Baffi may have been too intimidating for youngsters to hit, but it didn't matter if they never swung at all the balls he threw.
The Barbarian is only 18, and with a 7.99 ERA, the White Sox have no time constraint to promote him. With his height and build, OSA sees huge potential for Baffi the Barbarian to turn into a frontline starter. Bill Schmidt worries about his control, taking a conservative approach that Baffi can't haul in his mechanics and can't throw enough strikes to advance past the high minors. Either way, Baffi the Barbarian was one of the worst players in the West Indies and has one of the most exciting upsides.
RP: Ryan Whalen—Brewers
A third-round pick of the Brewers this year, the Cincinnati graduate did not turn in a good year in pro ball, working to a 6.86 ERA for the Dominica Parrots. Whalen showed the fastball/circle-changeup combo that led to him being picked so high, but four home runs and a .352 BABIP did him in.
It was a strange year as both OSA and Bill Schmidt found Whalen to be advanced for the level, with an advanced fastball and excellent development with his circle change. Both scouts see a future major leaguer, Schmidt a more developed arm will less-upside, and OSA a potential dominant arm with more work to do to reach the lofty heights. While he didn't have the best year, the stuff along should put at least in A-Ball next year, and he could be a quick riser.