Bruce_Blixton

It's amazing to see how much speed is currently in our system, Eddy Alvarez is 4th in SBs in the SAL, Engel is leading the Carolina League in SBs, Anderson leads the Southern League and Saladino, Leury Garcia and Micah Johnson are all in the top 10 in SBs in the International League. I can't remember a time when we've had so many burners in the minors.

QUOTE (MnSoxFan @ Jul 10, 2015 -> 09:46 AM) Chris Devenski, cripes, 1.32 ERA in AA Texas League, that is doing quite well I would say. He might mean Blair Walters who was also part of the package and has since been traded to the Braves, he's been holding his own in AA but by no means is dominating.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 30, 2015 -> 11:19 AM) Important - he TOUCHES mid-90s. His fastball is usually more 91-93, which is still a couple clicks faster than he was 2 years ago. ITs a sinker really. Ahhhh, that's a key difference, still if he can stay around 93 into the fifth and later then he could develop into a starter. Also a sinker/cutter mix must be a nightmare for hitters to face.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 30, 2015 -> 10:48 AM) 6 more scoreless for Marin, now at 28 straight. Prospect profile Article he wrote Those should help you out. Thanks, I didn't know that he raised his velocity to the mid-90s. If he can maintain that deep into games you have to believe he has a shot to crack the rotation with his type of control.

Marin has proven that he isn't just doing it with smoke and mirrors in AAA, I wonder what his realistic ceiling is? Long man out of the bullpen? #5 Starter? Higher?

I think this was a solid draft, Fulmer was a great pick with the team's track record of developing pitchers. Outside of him, I think the two prep players that we signed offer a lot to be excited about. Zangari has a lot of potential and big power which the system is starved of (plus the added benefit that he has a cannon for an arm in case he flames out at the plate and needs to transition to the mound). Comito sounds like the prototypical pitcher that this team's player development staff excels at developing, big kid with great stuff and just needs to learn the art of pitching. A number of people have mentioned the upside of B. Hickman, which I agree with, I think he can make an impact at the major-league level at the very least as a reliever, but he's another player that should do well with the team's development staff. If he can add a cutter or figure out a way to get some movement on his fastball, he could be lethal. The Sox also did a good job of identifying decent college players that have fallen for various reasons but still offer a ton of upside if they return to their previous level of play. In previous years they've made some very shrewd picks with Beck, Engel and Coats using this philosophy and this year I think that Stephens & Lassiter (possibly Schroeder) are those types of picks that could see quick rises through the system. The darkhorse pick that I like and am anxious to follow his path through the minors is Seby Zavala, I mentioned this in a previous post but his make-up and game reminds me a lot of Yan Gomes when he was drafted. They both transitioned to catcher from other positions which sets them apart on their athleticism and they both put up solid numbers for more unheralded colleges.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 05:46 AM) Out of the 10 players still unsigned (excluding Fulmer) is there one who is particularly promising? Out of the unsigned players, the other Hickman, Michael Hickman from Texas, is probably the only player that has potential and would be a great, but unlikely, signing.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 06:47 PM) What? He's started 30 of their 59 games this season, and pinch-hit in a further 16. He's also got a wRC+ of 154, making him a top 20 in the league hitter. We're not getting him for two guys who can't even strike guys out in the minors. Honestly I haven't looked at his stats recently, I'm surprised he's been doing this well. I do know that locally in L.A. a lot of people think he's a headcase and I get the feeling from local media that they're tolerating it due to his play. Having looked at his stats, I agree Beck+ won't get it done but I wouldn't be willing to give up anything higher than Trey or Hawkins for him since he's going to come with baggage.

I wonder what type of impact playing with Alexei and Abreu would have on Guerrero, it might help focus him and keep his head in the game. I wouldn't want to give up too much for him since the Dodgers have basically excommunicated him, maybe Chris Beck and James Dykstra?

Really like the Mike Hickman pick too, he's a longshot to sign but he's got a lot of potential.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 10:05 AM) Can you provide some tweets please? Here's a link to his Twitter account, basically he's been re-tweeting a bunch of messages about hearing his name soon in the draft. I could see this being a bonus pick but they could also hedge by picking another high-upside player that has slipped in a later round, kind of like Adam Engel a couple years back. There was a bit of a debate as to whether he'd sign or go back for his senior season since he had a pretty sub-par junior season.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Chris Comito, P, HS Is this our over slot guy? Hard to say. Not on BA's top 500, which you think he would be if he was. I wouldn't imagine it would take too much to lure a kid away from University of Iowa, also looking at his Twitter it looks like he really wants to be drafted.

I kind of like the Zavala pick, he switched to catching full time this season and was able to carry his offensive game forward. He actually kind of reminds me of Yan Gomes, recent position change, played in a less heralded baseball program and not much hype going into the draft.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 09:11 AM) I went to the same high school as Stadler and have a brother who's a student there and a brother who's a teacher and football coach there. Just texted them to ask about Stadler, and here's what they say: "No. Too mentally weak. Just got beat up in his last high school start too." "He is 6'8" and has a straight fastball that reaches about 88. He is soft with no offspeed pitches. One of the best players on North just scoffed at that text because Fitz isn't very good." I haven't seen him pitch so I don't know, but what do you see in him? Wow, that's a pretty deep scouting report, thanks for all the inside info. Honestly I see his size and always think of projectability, add in the fact that he's a local kid I would imagine the Sox scouting staff could get a really good look at him as well. His commitment to ASU also suggested that the potential is there but it sounds like he needs to go to college to get more mentally mature and work on his stuff.

The Sox will definitely be drafting a high-upside prep player today, the question is who will it be? Edit: My choice is Fitz Stadler, 6'8" local kid with a lot of potential as a starter.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 09:35 PM) Has a career line of .293/.372/.466 in 1500 minor league player appearances but hasn't been given a chance yet. He has to be awful defensively because I see no reason to keep him in the minors in favor of Flowers. I think they've been taking it slow with him since he was still relatively new to baseball when they drafted him out of Pitt, he was recruited as a QB but only concentrated on baseball full time his last season or two there. I'm sure they want him to be comfortable with managing the game and making decisions become instinctual before calling him up.

Congrats to Montas on the no-hitter! I'm actually encouraged by the fact that he was able to toss the no-hitter despite only fanning 3, it suggests that he's learning how to actually pitch rather than just overpower hitters with his stuff. On a side note, it was a match-up of potential future aces down in Kanny with Spencer Adams squaring off against Tyler Kolek. Looks like Adams was able to outduel Kolek for the first 4 innings before Kolek was yanked and Adams was subsequently dinged up for 3 runs in the fifth. Hopefully this will be the first of many tilts between the two as they rise through the minors.

#232 - Casey Schroeder - C - Coastal Carolina Switch-hitter, Callis and Mayo were just raving about his athleticism. Can't have enough catching in the system. A couple of prep players that could be interesting names after the 10th: Fitz Stadler, Glenbrook South kid committed to Arizona St. so signability is an issue, John Aiello, switch-hitting SS/3B that had TJS last season seems similar to Trey Michalczewski, & Chris Andritsos, 6'4" righty that has seen his velocity dip this spring but has the projectability and apparently a great mental make-up, also a signability issue.

I really like the Hickman pick, he sounds like a really good kid with a great head on his shoulders. I think the Sox can help develop him as a pitcher, he definitely has a major league starter's frame.

I don't mind what Hahn & co. are doing right now if they are in fact saving $$$ for a bigger splash past round 10, I'm also kind of surprised Blake Hickman has lasted this long. New to pitching having made the transition from catcher, also he's from the southwest side of Chicago if I'm not mistaken. Raw with a big frame plays to our system's strengths.

I'm surprised Demi Orimoloye is still on the board, really big kid that is still raw but has the physical tools to become a monster. Might be an interesting pick but I'm not sure if we can afford him.

Good to see Cose back in the saddle and picking up where he left off before the back injury. It sounded career-threatening so I'm glad that he even made it back, let alone being effective.

I can't recall a draft prospect rising faster than Jay has the past couple of weeks, he's gone from a late first round pick in most mock drafts to the #1 overall pick? I'm more than a little wary of that type of hype.

Carlos Rodon - SP Frankie Montas - RP (elite closer) Tyler Danish - SP Spencer Adams - SP Chris Beck - Initially a SP but quickly moves to the bullpen Jordan Guerrero - RP (potential as a filthy late-inning guy) Jace Fry - SP Myles Jaye - AAAA Luis Martinez - too early to tell, needs a lot more development Nolan Sanburn - RP David Trexler - RP Andre Wheeler - RP James Dykstra - AAAA Andrew Mitchell - RP Thad Lowry - SP Brian Clark - RP Yency Almonte - too early to tell, needs more development Aaron Bummer - who???

Jason Coats leading off for Charlotte, 2-4 with no Ks and he even had a steal. Really impressed with how well he's been able to adjust to each promotion.