Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 5, 2018 18:35:14 GMT -5
We've taken a look at the best and worst of the Canadian Rookie League. Now let's examine the stars and disappointments of the other new minor league, the West Indies Short League, in an environment without strikeouts.
2B: Christian Santana—Dodgers: After a pair of non-descript seasons in short-season ball, the third time proved the charm for Santana. After hitting .258 and .259, his average exploded to a league-leading .362. Santana also led the league in OBP, OPS, and WAR, while his 75 RBIs topped that category. It was a major breakout that put Santana on the map.
Most scouts see this is Santana's ultimate upside. He lacks the power for third base, and the defense for shortstop. He's posted good BABIPs in the past, but his .368 last year was extreme. After three years in short-season ball, it's time for him to tackle full season play for the first time at age 23.
3B: Hunter Slater—Royals: One of the last picks of the 2018 draft, the 29th rounder led the West Indies Short League in home runs, popping 15 of them, three more than the second place hitter, and seven more than third. Slater also blasted 26 doubles, third in that category, and won a Gold Glove at third base.
Slater rarely played as a rookie before taking the West Indies by storm last year. He doesn't have much major league upside, but the power will play in the high minors and maybe overseas. An all-or-nothing slugger, if Slater can improve his eye or his hit tool, he'd be more than a low minors slugger to glance at.
CF: Ismael Alcantara—Dodgers: Despite being in the Dodgers system for three years, Alcantara's first playing time came in 2019, where he led the WISL in runs hits, steals, and doubles, with the last three being the best seasons in those categories in the league's history. Despite not hitting a single home run, Alcantara's slash-and-burn style spearheaded the league's best offense.
Alcantara has some major league potential. His hit tool that carved up short-season ball can play in the majors, as can his doubles power. With age, he should add some power to his frame as well. He has excellent wheels and an excellent glove in center that should be his carrying card. His wonderful 2019 should be the catalyst of a possible fourth outfielder career.
2B: Ricky Mota—White Sox: After being bounced all over the infield in Haiti in 2017 and 2018, the White Sox let Mota play exclusively second in 2019. He responded by winning a Gold Glove at second base, and posting the highest zone rating in the league. His offense couldn't live up to a .284 campaign in 2018, though he did hit eight triples this year.
As someone who can stick at short and play a spectacular second, Mota is someone who will have a role in the White Sox organization. Scouts also like his speed, and though he won't ever be a prolific base stealer, should contribute on the bases at times. Scouts differ on his hitting however. OSA sees a slasher, who will swing at anything with the hopes of hitting to the right-center gap. Bill Schmidt sees a slightly more mature and refined hitter that still needs to improve his recognition of breaking stuff. Chicago has already promoted Mota to full-season ball.
CF: Charles Reyes—Braves: After a horrendous 2017, followed by a 2018 where he didn't play, Reyes burst on the scene in Barbados and led the WISL in triples last year. He hit 10 triples, which was even more than his nine doubles. It's good that he's able to contribute in that category, as without the triples his one home run would lead to an inept slugging percentage.
Reyes has an immature approach where he tries to crush home runs but only has warning track power. It's doubtful he has the ability to consistently carry over the skill of crushing triples. Only 20, he'll have time to refine his bat further. Either way, we've buried the story with Reyes. His defense is game-changing and will give scouts a reason to keep track of Reyes' future.
SS: Oliver Carmona—Angels: After a season and a half raking in Los Angeles' Dominican league, Carmona has spent the last season and a half raking in Trinidad. His 2.7 WAR was third in the league after Carmona posted a robust 49 walk to 24 strikeouts. He hit nine triples and six home runs, and stole nine bases without being caught. His defense was so good that he won the league's Gold Glove.
Carmona's defense is major-league caliber, as is his base-running. The bat is advanced for the low minors, though scouts don't rave about it, citing his advanced discipline as a major reason for his success thus far. He'll play full season ball as a 22 year old with defensive bonafides and a track record of production.
SP: Nelson Hernandez—Brewers: Hernandez has pitched in Dominica each of his three seasons. He's also pitched full season ball this year and last year, including racking up 11 saves as a closer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last year. This year, he worked enough in Dominica to toss a 2.91 ERA, leading the league in the category.
Not a huge strikeout guy, Hernandez has refines his command to the point where he seldom walks anyone, yielding just 14 in 105 innings in the WISL. Essentially a two-pitch pitcher, his future success will be traced to a changeup that needs to come along for Hernandez to get people out in full season ball. There's enough stuff and control to dream of a future on a major league roster.
RP: Carlos Luna—Brewers: Like Hernanzez, Luna has split the last two seasons between A-ball and Short Season ball. By preventing home runs, he managed to win 10 of 15 starts this year, leading the league. He worked in relief in Wisconsin as well, allowing just a 1.91 ERA in 42.1 innings. Luna has experience internationally as well—however, it's one he'd like to forget. He allowed three walks and four runs while recording only one out for Panama in the 2018 World Baseball Classic.
As a starter, Luna may not have a major league future, but with three good pitches, he should be able to get to Triple A out of the pen. We've likely seen the last of him in Short Season ball, but depending on what happens with the WBC rosters this year, we may not have seen the last of him in international play.
SP: Julio Benitez—Brewers: After a very strong year in two rookie leagues in 2017, plus a very good 2018 in the Canadian Rookie League, Benitez was released by San Francisco. Milwaukee picked him up, made him Dominica's closer, and Benitez led the league in saves with 16. Always stingy with home runs, Benitez yielded just one in 26 innings.
Now 25, Benitez could be a starter in the majors if his changeup ever comes around. If not, bullpen arms are always valuable. He still has a lot of work to do to reach his potential and he's not getting any younger, but Benitez has really done well in short-season play. He'll get a chance to prove himself in full season ball this year.
RP: Carlos A. Herrera—Brewers: Herrera is, you guessed it, another member of the Brewers organization. He teamed with Luna and Hernandez with nine quality starts, led the league in opponents average, and was second in WAR, mainly on the back of 97.1 quality innings. He also worked in High-A to a 1.57 ERA in 34.1 innings.
Herrera is mostly a finished product and doesn't appear to be the kind of pitcher who will thrive above Double A. He's dominated both Low-A and High-A and just turned 22, so the hope is that there's more untapped potential there.
RP: Moises Gomez—Twins: Gomez came back from a torn elbow ligament that robbed him of a 2018 season to lead the WISL in holds in 2019. He accomplished the feat by appearing in 46 games and working 57.2 innings—not by being particularly good as evidenced by his negative WAR, and 40 walks.
Scouts vary on Gomez' upside. OSA sees someone who can work in the high minors at least, with an excellent curveball. Bill Schmidt sees organizational fodder. Either way, Gomez will work next season as a 23-year old and needs to show signs of progress now that he's shaken off his injury.
SP: Mike Salvatore—Reds: Third in FIP and fourth in WAR, Salvatore allowed only three home runs to get in the good graces of advanced metrics. His standard metrics weren't as kind, as he went 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA.
Salvatore was a fifth round draft pick in 2018, who dominated the Arizona league his rookie year before being sent up the chain. OSA likes his four-pitch mix and good control, seeing him as a guy who can work in the upper minors, while Bill Schmidt is more pessimistic. It's been hinted that Salvatore has some potential as a second baseman, but after a .484 OPS in 34 plate appearances, plus a shortage of tools, that may have been a college skill that won't translate to the professional leagues.
C: Derek Capitillo—Reds: After a really strong 2018, Capitillo was expected to be one of the best hitters in the West Indies Short League. Instead, he hit .199 and knocked in only 17 runs in a disappointing campaign. He had a 58 OPS+ and a negative WAR.
Capitillo isn't going to have a major league career, but he could have helped Cubs finish out of the basement in the Lee league. Now, after such a disappointing year, and after three seasons in the West Indies League, Capitillo appears to be heading nowhere very quickly.
C: Junior Melo—Reds: Continuing the series on disappointing Reds catchers, Melo had a .327 average in rookie ball last season, before putting up an .891 OPS in Cuba. Returning to the level, he was expected to dominate but he only hit .246 with a .384 OBP.
Melo has good leadership qualities and Bill Schmidt likes his patience and gap power. A third straight year in short-season ball may not be ideal, but if Melo has a good season, he can begin to fulfill his destiny as a triple-A backup catcher.
RP: Jorge Gonzalez—Angels: After a pair of years with 1.88 ERAs, and after 16 saves in the WISL last year, Gonzalez was expected to be a dominant closer this year. Instead, he walked 53 batters in 54.1 innings and went 0-4 with an 8.28 ERA in 2019.
The lefty Gonzalez has a good enough fastball and slider to pitch in the upper minors, but doesn't have good control and doesn't have a way to retire righties with regularity. Is he given yet another year in Short-A, or will the Angels remember his good 2017 and 2018 seasons and push him to full season ball?
SP: Jhoniel Sepulveda—Braves: Sepulveda pitched well in the Barbados bullpen in 2018 and even saw time in full season ball, turning in a respectable 4.36 ERA out of the pen. Repeating short-season A-ball, Sepulveda walked 35 batters in 65 innings, and turned in a 4.71 ERA, disappointing considering how he had fared okay at a higher level the year before.
Sepulveda doesn't forecast to have stuff to forecast a career above the mid minors, so he'll need to produce results in order to justify being moved up the ladder. Proving he can conquer short-A ball is imperative for Sepulveda's career.
2B: Christian Santana—Dodgers: After a pair of non-descript seasons in short-season ball, the third time proved the charm for Santana. After hitting .258 and .259, his average exploded to a league-leading .362. Santana also led the league in OBP, OPS, and WAR, while his 75 RBIs topped that category. It was a major breakout that put Santana on the map.
Most scouts see this is Santana's ultimate upside. He lacks the power for third base, and the defense for shortstop. He's posted good BABIPs in the past, but his .368 last year was extreme. After three years in short-season ball, it's time for him to tackle full season play for the first time at age 23.
3B: Hunter Slater—Royals: One of the last picks of the 2018 draft, the 29th rounder led the West Indies Short League in home runs, popping 15 of them, three more than the second place hitter, and seven more than third. Slater also blasted 26 doubles, third in that category, and won a Gold Glove at third base.
Slater rarely played as a rookie before taking the West Indies by storm last year. He doesn't have much major league upside, but the power will play in the high minors and maybe overseas. An all-or-nothing slugger, if Slater can improve his eye or his hit tool, he'd be more than a low minors slugger to glance at.
CF: Ismael Alcantara—Dodgers: Despite being in the Dodgers system for three years, Alcantara's first playing time came in 2019, where he led the WISL in runs hits, steals, and doubles, with the last three being the best seasons in those categories in the league's history. Despite not hitting a single home run, Alcantara's slash-and-burn style spearheaded the league's best offense.
Alcantara has some major league potential. His hit tool that carved up short-season ball can play in the majors, as can his doubles power. With age, he should add some power to his frame as well. He has excellent wheels and an excellent glove in center that should be his carrying card. His wonderful 2019 should be the catalyst of a possible fourth outfielder career.
2B: Ricky Mota—White Sox: After being bounced all over the infield in Haiti in 2017 and 2018, the White Sox let Mota play exclusively second in 2019. He responded by winning a Gold Glove at second base, and posting the highest zone rating in the league. His offense couldn't live up to a .284 campaign in 2018, though he did hit eight triples this year.
As someone who can stick at short and play a spectacular second, Mota is someone who will have a role in the White Sox organization. Scouts also like his speed, and though he won't ever be a prolific base stealer, should contribute on the bases at times. Scouts differ on his hitting however. OSA sees a slasher, who will swing at anything with the hopes of hitting to the right-center gap. Bill Schmidt sees a slightly more mature and refined hitter that still needs to improve his recognition of breaking stuff. Chicago has already promoted Mota to full-season ball.
CF: Charles Reyes—Braves: After a horrendous 2017, followed by a 2018 where he didn't play, Reyes burst on the scene in Barbados and led the WISL in triples last year. He hit 10 triples, which was even more than his nine doubles. It's good that he's able to contribute in that category, as without the triples his one home run would lead to an inept slugging percentage.
Reyes has an immature approach where he tries to crush home runs but only has warning track power. It's doubtful he has the ability to consistently carry over the skill of crushing triples. Only 20, he'll have time to refine his bat further. Either way, we've buried the story with Reyes. His defense is game-changing and will give scouts a reason to keep track of Reyes' future.
SS: Oliver Carmona—Angels: After a season and a half raking in Los Angeles' Dominican league, Carmona has spent the last season and a half raking in Trinidad. His 2.7 WAR was third in the league after Carmona posted a robust 49 walk to 24 strikeouts. He hit nine triples and six home runs, and stole nine bases without being caught. His defense was so good that he won the league's Gold Glove.
Carmona's defense is major-league caliber, as is his base-running. The bat is advanced for the low minors, though scouts don't rave about it, citing his advanced discipline as a major reason for his success thus far. He'll play full season ball as a 22 year old with defensive bonafides and a track record of production.
SP: Nelson Hernandez—Brewers: Hernandez has pitched in Dominica each of his three seasons. He's also pitched full season ball this year and last year, including racking up 11 saves as a closer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last year. This year, he worked enough in Dominica to toss a 2.91 ERA, leading the league in the category.
Not a huge strikeout guy, Hernandez has refines his command to the point where he seldom walks anyone, yielding just 14 in 105 innings in the WISL. Essentially a two-pitch pitcher, his future success will be traced to a changeup that needs to come along for Hernandez to get people out in full season ball. There's enough stuff and control to dream of a future on a major league roster.
RP: Carlos Luna—Brewers: Like Hernanzez, Luna has split the last two seasons between A-ball and Short Season ball. By preventing home runs, he managed to win 10 of 15 starts this year, leading the league. He worked in relief in Wisconsin as well, allowing just a 1.91 ERA in 42.1 innings. Luna has experience internationally as well—however, it's one he'd like to forget. He allowed three walks and four runs while recording only one out for Panama in the 2018 World Baseball Classic.
As a starter, Luna may not have a major league future, but with three good pitches, he should be able to get to Triple A out of the pen. We've likely seen the last of him in Short Season ball, but depending on what happens with the WBC rosters this year, we may not have seen the last of him in international play.
SP: Julio Benitez—Brewers: After a very strong year in two rookie leagues in 2017, plus a very good 2018 in the Canadian Rookie League, Benitez was released by San Francisco. Milwaukee picked him up, made him Dominica's closer, and Benitez led the league in saves with 16. Always stingy with home runs, Benitez yielded just one in 26 innings.
Now 25, Benitez could be a starter in the majors if his changeup ever comes around. If not, bullpen arms are always valuable. He still has a lot of work to do to reach his potential and he's not getting any younger, but Benitez has really done well in short-season play. He'll get a chance to prove himself in full season ball this year.
RP: Carlos A. Herrera—Brewers: Herrera is, you guessed it, another member of the Brewers organization. He teamed with Luna and Hernandez with nine quality starts, led the league in opponents average, and was second in WAR, mainly on the back of 97.1 quality innings. He also worked in High-A to a 1.57 ERA in 34.1 innings.
Herrera is mostly a finished product and doesn't appear to be the kind of pitcher who will thrive above Double A. He's dominated both Low-A and High-A and just turned 22, so the hope is that there's more untapped potential there.
RP: Moises Gomez—Twins: Gomez came back from a torn elbow ligament that robbed him of a 2018 season to lead the WISL in holds in 2019. He accomplished the feat by appearing in 46 games and working 57.2 innings—not by being particularly good as evidenced by his negative WAR, and 40 walks.
Scouts vary on Gomez' upside. OSA sees someone who can work in the high minors at least, with an excellent curveball. Bill Schmidt sees organizational fodder. Either way, Gomez will work next season as a 23-year old and needs to show signs of progress now that he's shaken off his injury.
SP: Mike Salvatore—Reds: Third in FIP and fourth in WAR, Salvatore allowed only three home runs to get in the good graces of advanced metrics. His standard metrics weren't as kind, as he went 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA.
Salvatore was a fifth round draft pick in 2018, who dominated the Arizona league his rookie year before being sent up the chain. OSA likes his four-pitch mix and good control, seeing him as a guy who can work in the upper minors, while Bill Schmidt is more pessimistic. It's been hinted that Salvatore has some potential as a second baseman, but after a .484 OPS in 34 plate appearances, plus a shortage of tools, that may have been a college skill that won't translate to the professional leagues.
C: Derek Capitillo—Reds: After a really strong 2018, Capitillo was expected to be one of the best hitters in the West Indies Short League. Instead, he hit .199 and knocked in only 17 runs in a disappointing campaign. He had a 58 OPS+ and a negative WAR.
Capitillo isn't going to have a major league career, but he could have helped Cubs finish out of the basement in the Lee league. Now, after such a disappointing year, and after three seasons in the West Indies League, Capitillo appears to be heading nowhere very quickly.
C: Junior Melo—Reds: Continuing the series on disappointing Reds catchers, Melo had a .327 average in rookie ball last season, before putting up an .891 OPS in Cuba. Returning to the level, he was expected to dominate but he only hit .246 with a .384 OBP.
Melo has good leadership qualities and Bill Schmidt likes his patience and gap power. A third straight year in short-season ball may not be ideal, but if Melo has a good season, he can begin to fulfill his destiny as a triple-A backup catcher.
RP: Jorge Gonzalez—Angels: After a pair of years with 1.88 ERAs, and after 16 saves in the WISL last year, Gonzalez was expected to be a dominant closer this year. Instead, he walked 53 batters in 54.1 innings and went 0-4 with an 8.28 ERA in 2019.
The lefty Gonzalez has a good enough fastball and slider to pitch in the upper minors, but doesn't have good control and doesn't have a way to retire righties with regularity. Is he given yet another year in Short-A, or will the Angels remember his good 2017 and 2018 seasons and push him to full season ball?
SP: Jhoniel Sepulveda—Braves: Sepulveda pitched well in the Barbados bullpen in 2018 and even saw time in full season ball, turning in a respectable 4.36 ERA out of the pen. Repeating short-season A-ball, Sepulveda walked 35 batters in 65 innings, and turned in a 4.71 ERA, disappointing considering how he had fared okay at a higher level the year before.
Sepulveda doesn't forecast to have stuff to forecast a career above the mid minors, so he'll need to produce results in order to justify being moved up the ladder. Proving he can conquer short-A ball is imperative for Sepulveda's career.