Sandber Pimentel, 1b, Athletics
Team: low Class A Beloit (Midwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .333/.391/.905 (7-for-21), 5 R, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO
The physical lefthanded hitter has muscled his way onto the prospect map with a loud full-season debut at Beloit. Pimentel’s nine home runs place him in a tie for the Midwest League lead, while his .530 slugging percentage also ranks him among the league leaders. His emergence, combined with that of shortstop and teammate Yairo Munoz, will go a long way toward replenishing an Athletics system that has lost Addison Russell, Billy McKinney and Daniel Robertson in the past calendar year.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Week 7 Hero of the Week
The reigning Kelly's Ace of the year stepped up this week to nail down the Hero of the week honors. Yondano Ventura went 1-1 in 14inn, 13K's, 2.57era, with a 0.79whip
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Week 6 Little Hero of the Week
Bradley Zimmer, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .500/.593/.864 (11-for-22), 9 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The No. 21 overall selection in the 2014 draft, Zimmer has thrived in his first taste of high Class A, and this week he put up a monster 1.457 OPS. Splitting time with Clint Frazier in center field, Zimmer has shown an impressive array of tools. He’s hit for average (.302) and power (his seven homers lead the Carolina League) while showing speed (19 stolen bases) and a strong batting eye. That kind of diverse skill set will make him an asset no matter which outfield spot he calls home.
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .500/.593/.864 (11-for-22), 9 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The No. 21 overall selection in the 2014 draft, Zimmer has thrived in his first taste of high Class A, and this week he put up a monster 1.457 OPS. Splitting time with Clint Frazier in center field, Zimmer has shown an impressive array of tools. He’s hit for average (.302) and power (his seven homers lead the Carolina League) while showing speed (19 stolen bases) and a strong batting eye. That kind of diverse skill set will make him an asset no matter which outfield spot he calls home.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Week 6 Hero of the Week
SP Noah Syndergaard went 11.1inn allowing only 9hits while striking out 11 batter and winning 1 game. Very good to see some of the young players coming up and adding to the MLB this year.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Week 5 Little Hero of the Week
Sandber Pimentel, 1b, Athletics
Pimentel signed with the Athletics for $160,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2011. He had showcased as an outfielder at the time and had a strong arm, but he was a slow, awkward runner, so Oakland moved him to first base.
Pimentel’s bat remains his calling card, but he spent three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. Following the 2014 season, the A’s brought him to Arizona for their instructional league, where he made a strong impression, and he continued to hit well enough in spring training that the organization skipped him over their short-season affiliates and sent him straight to low Class A Beloit.
Despite skipping two levels, Pimentel is having the best year of his career, batting .311/.403/.509 with 15 walks, 30 strikeouts and a career-best four home runs in 30 games. The lefthanded batter has a hit-first, power-second offensive profile, but the increased pop this season is an encouraging sign for a player who’s value is going to be entirely driven by what he does at the plate.
— Ben Badler
Pimentel signed with the Athletics for $160,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2011. He had showcased as an outfielder at the time and had a strong arm, but he was a slow, awkward runner, so Oakland moved him to first base.
Pimentel’s bat remains his calling card, but he spent three seasons in the Dominican Summer League. Following the 2014 season, the A’s brought him to Arizona for their instructional league, where he made a strong impression, and he continued to hit well enough in spring training that the organization skipped him over their short-season affiliates and sent him straight to low Class A Beloit.
Despite skipping two levels, Pimentel is having the best year of his career, batting .311/.403/.509 with 15 walks, 30 strikeouts and a career-best four home runs in 30 games. The lefthanded batter has a hit-first, power-second offensive profile, but the increased pop this season is an encouraging sign for a player who’s value is going to be entirely driven by what he does at the plate.
— Ben Badler
Monday, May 11, 2015
Week 5 Hero of the Week
Over the past 7 days the newest Hero has shined the brightest, Dilson Herrera. He went 5/13 1HR 3RBI 2RUNS and a walk.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Week 4 Little Hero of the Week
The Little Her of the week:
Rafael Devers, 3b, Red Sox
Team: low Class A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .500/.500/1.050 (10-for-20), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 0 BB, 5 SO
The Scoop: Devers doesn’t turn 19 until the offseason, but that hasn’t stopped him from tearing up the South Atlantic League. He ranks among the league leaders in average (.353) and slugging (.518) and already has more multi-hit games (10) than hitless games (seven). Devers’ bat has the potential to be special, and he’s got the arm to play third base, but scouts are split on whether he’ll eventually outgrow the position and move across the diamond to first base.
Runner ups
Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Mets
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.20, 2 GS, 15 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 18 SO
The Scoop: Syndergaard on Thursday put together perhaps the game of the year for a pitcher. Not only did he fire eight innings of two-run ball with eight punchouts and no walks, but he also finished a triple short of the cycle at the plate. (Bonus points for logging a 72 game score while toeing the rubber in Albuquerque.) Oh yeah—he struck out 10 over seven shutout innings the start before that. Syndergaard has worked to a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year, and he’s done so in one of the least pitcher-friendly environments in baseball.
A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .385/.433/1.000 (10-for-26), 7 R, 1 2B, 5 HR, 13 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: The reigning College Player of the Year enjoys his time in the California League. The two-way standout from Kentucky clubbed five home runs this past week, including a three-homer game with nine RBIs on May 6. He’s been a bit of a three true outcome player thus far, with more than 49 percent of his plate appearances ending in a walk (16.7 percent), strikeout (25.8 percent) or home run (0.49 percent). Reed leads the league in walk rate and ranks second in isolated slugging (.316).
Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-1, 1.64, 2 GS, 11 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 5 BB, 16 SO
The Scoop: OK, so McCullers isn’t the prospect to see even on his own Double-A team, at least not until the Astros promote Carlos Correa. Nevertheless, McCullers has overpowered Texas League hitters. With an ERA of 0.72, he has 37 strikeouts in 25 innings, mixing a mid-90s fastball with a wicked breaking ball to put hitters away. The control is still a work in progress, but that too is trending in the right direction.
Rafael Devers, 3b, Red Sox
Team: low Class A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .500/.500/1.050 (10-for-20), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 0 BB, 5 SO
The Scoop: Devers doesn’t turn 19 until the offseason, but that hasn’t stopped him from tearing up the South Atlantic League. He ranks among the league leaders in average (.353) and slugging (.518) and already has more multi-hit games (10) than hitless games (seven). Devers’ bat has the potential to be special, and he’s got the arm to play third base, but scouts are split on whether he’ll eventually outgrow the position and move across the diamond to first base.
Runner ups
Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Mets
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.20, 2 GS, 15 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 18 SO
The Scoop: Syndergaard on Thursday put together perhaps the game of the year for a pitcher. Not only did he fire eight innings of two-run ball with eight punchouts and no walks, but he also finished a triple short of the cycle at the plate. (Bonus points for logging a 72 game score while toeing the rubber in Albuquerque.) Oh yeah—he struck out 10 over seven shutout innings the start before that. Syndergaard has worked to a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year, and he’s done so in one of the least pitcher-friendly environments in baseball.
A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .385/.433/1.000 (10-for-26), 7 R, 1 2B, 5 HR, 13 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: The reigning College Player of the Year enjoys his time in the California League. The two-way standout from Kentucky clubbed five home runs this past week, including a three-homer game with nine RBIs on May 6. He’s been a bit of a three true outcome player thus far, with more than 49 percent of his plate appearances ending in a walk (16.7 percent), strikeout (25.8 percent) or home run (0.49 percent). Reed leads the league in walk rate and ranks second in isolated slugging (.316).
Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-1, 1.64, 2 GS, 11 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 5 BB, 16 SO
The Scoop: OK, so McCullers isn’t the prospect to see even on his own Double-A team, at least not until the Astros promote Carlos Correa. Nevertheless, McCullers has overpowered Texas League hitters. With an ERA of 0.72, he has 37 strikeouts in 25 innings, mixing a mid-90s fastball with a wicked breaking ball to put hitters away. The control is still a work in progress, but that too is trending in the right direction.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Week 4 Hero of the Week
Zach Cozart was named Hero of the week for the 2nd week in a row for his line of 8/26 1HR 3RBI 2Runs 1BB and a steal
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Week 3 Little Hero of the Week
Bradley Zimmer, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .545/.615/.727 (12-for-22), 6 R, 4 2B, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The Scoop: The 21st overall pick in last year’s draft, Zimmer has yet to meet a real challenge in pro ball while showing off five-tool ability. He aced the short-season New York-Penn League last year and has zoomed to a hot start in the Carolina League this April. Zimmer leads the circuit in hitting (.357), home runs (four), on-base (.452) and slugging (.586), while spending time in both center and rigth field.
also having great weeks was
Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Mets
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Syndergaard had by far his best outing of the season against Albuquerque on April 27. The big righthander is blessed with some of the best pure stuff in the minors, and consistency remains the only box he needs to check before becoming a viable option for the major league club, which doesn’t need pitching reinforcements at this point.
Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Mark Appel isn’t the only Astros pitcher thrilled to put high Class A Lancaster in his rear-view. A back injury may have worsened McCullers’ below-average control in 2014, but his four-inning, no-walk outing this week is the first time he’s worked that long without issuing a free pass since a June 2013 start at low Class A Quad Cities. His 94-96 mph fastball and power breaking ball give him one of the best one-two punches in the minors, and he’s put his weaponry to good use in 2015 in now allowing an earned run through 14 innings.
Raimel Tapia, cf, Rockies
Team: high Class A Modesto (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .316/.391/.789 (6-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Tapia tapped into the favorable hitting conditions at Lancaster and High Desert this week to club four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Nicknamed “Straight-Ball Tapia” for his ability to hit a fastball but not much with a bend in it, he has nevertheless started well at Modesto, hitting .321 with 10 doubles and 17 strikeouts in 19 games.
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .545/.615/.727 (12-for-22), 6 R, 4 2B, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The Scoop: The 21st overall pick in last year’s draft, Zimmer has yet to meet a real challenge in pro ball while showing off five-tool ability. He aced the short-season New York-Penn League last year and has zoomed to a hot start in the Carolina League this April. Zimmer leads the circuit in hitting (.357), home runs (four), on-base (.452) and slugging (.586), while spending time in both center and rigth field.
also having great weeks was
Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Mets
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Syndergaard had by far his best outing of the season against Albuquerque on April 27. The big righthander is blessed with some of the best pure stuff in the minors, and consistency remains the only box he needs to check before becoming a viable option for the major league club, which doesn’t need pitching reinforcements at this point.
Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Mark Appel isn’t the only Astros pitcher thrilled to put high Class A Lancaster in his rear-view. A back injury may have worsened McCullers’ below-average control in 2014, but his four-inning, no-walk outing this week is the first time he’s worked that long without issuing a free pass since a June 2013 start at low Class A Quad Cities. His 94-96 mph fastball and power breaking ball give him one of the best one-two punches in the minors, and he’s put his weaponry to good use in 2015 in now allowing an earned run through 14 innings.
Raimel Tapia, cf, Rockies
Team: high Class A Modesto (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .316/.391/.789 (6-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Tapia tapped into the favorable hitting conditions at Lancaster and High Desert this week to club four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Nicknamed “Straight-Ball Tapia” for his ability to hit a fastball but not much with a bend in it, he has nevertheless started well at Modesto, hitting .321 with 10 doubles and 17 strikeouts in 19 games.
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