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Brad Keller

Born: 07/27/1995 (Age: 19)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 5" Weight: 230
Mechanics
Tall, sturdy frame; not much room in the frame for good weight; low 3/4 delivery; above-average arm speed; stab in the back; drop-and-drive delivery; clean foot strike; moderate effort in the delivery; 1.10-1.19 to home with a runner on first.
Evaluator Mauricio Rubio Jr.
Report Date 07/26/2015
Affiliate Kane County Cougars (Low A, Diamondbacks)
Dates Seen 07/22/2015
OFP/Risk 45/High
Realistic 40 – Swingman with middle relief fallback.
MLB ETA 2017
Video No
Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
Fastball 50 55 91-94 Command – 30/40
Movement – 50/60

88-90 out of the stretch; moderate run; mixes in fastballs with moderate sink and cut; poor command; relies almost exclusively on showing different looks with the fastball.

Slider 30 40 80-83 Command – 30/40
Movement – 40/45

10-4 movement; inconsistent, lacks feel; flashes moderate bite; loses release point.

Changeup 40 45 83-86 Command – 30/40
Movement – 45/55

Flashes fade; inconsistent arm-speed replication; pitch gets firm; lacks feel.

Overall

Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Flowery Branch HS (Flowery Branch, GA).

Keller's fastball has three distinct looks as he can cut it, sink it and run it in on hitters. The different looks function as his secondaries, as his pitch mix is fastball dominated. The *actual* secondaries are underdeveloped; he doesn't have much feel for his slider nor his change. Keller works too quickly out of the stretch and loses velocity on his fastball as a result. Keller can learn a proper cutter and function as a sixth starter with middle relief as a fallback.


Lucas Giolito

Born: 07/14/1994 (Age: 21)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 255
Mechanics
High 3/4 arm slot; low-energy delivery; won't wear himself out; loose arm action; creates easy velocity; looks effortless out of hand; even pace from start to finish; soft front foot landing; can drift towards first; will rush at times, especially with men on base; always has to be mindful of controlling large body; 1.27-1.35 out of stretch.
Evaluator Chris Mellen
Report Date 07/29/2015
Affiliate Harrisburg Senators (AA, Nationals)
Dates Seen 07/28/2015
OFP/Risk 80/Moderate
Realistic 70; no. 2 starter
MLB ETA 2016
Video No
Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
Fastball 60 70 93-95 96 Average command; ingredients for plus-to-better; flashed stretches of strong precision to target; shows downward finish, especially in the lower tier; on the heavy side; will induce ground balls; learning importance of moving ball to all four quadrants; at times late, slight cut when thrown to glove side; velocity started to drop a tick in fifth inning; still in earlier stages of building stamina.
Curveball 70 80 81-83 84 Excellent two-plane action; throws with a very loose wrist; consistent tight rotation and depth; power offering; will change shape depending on the situation; plus command; replicates release to that of fastball; confidence to use at any point in the count; will miss bats at the highest level; can be best in its class in MLB.
Changeup 45 60 80-83 85 Immature offering at times, but flashes quality action; needs some time to fully come along; arm-speed is there; release can be inconsistent; will fool; benefits from hitters having to combat near-elite curveball; may end up more of a weak contact-inducing pitch against major-league bats.
Overall

Outstanding raw stuff; fastball/curveball can dominate outings at highest level down the line; gap exists with changeup, but runway to reach future grade and emerge as third weapon at disposal; overall package still in earlier stages of polishing rough edges and finer points of executing craft; expect growing pains in upper levels; built to log 200-plus innings a year; future rotation anchor; highly confident this arm can challenge as top of position during peak.


Colin Bray

Born: 06/18/1993 (Age: 22)
Bats: Switch Throws: Left
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 197
Primary Position: CF
Secondary Position: LF
Physical/Health
Athletic body; high-waisted frame with room for some projection.
Evaluator Mauricio Rubio Jr.
Report Date 07/26/2015
Dates Seen May Through July, 2015
Affiliate Kane County Cougars (Low A, Diamondbacks)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2017 High 45 40 – Fourth Outfielder No
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 40 Above-average bat speed; linear swing path; some pre-swing noise; slight hitch with the swing; gets hands going late; moderate barrel control; mild load; swing gets unbalanced against off-speed; shows ability to use all fields.
Power 20 40 raw power, 20 in-game; minimal strength; gap-oriented power game; minimal over-the-fence power.
Baserunning/Speed 60 Consistently in the 4.15 range to first; fluid athlete with a second gear; ability to read pitchers is still developing but has shown progress; will be a factor on offense and defense.
Glove 60 Covers a lot of ground; reads ball very well off the bat; takes proper and efficient routes to flyballs; cuts off balls in the gap.
Arm 55 Above-average arm strength; plus accuracy; ball carries.
Overall

Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Faulkner State College (Bay Minette, AL).

Colin Bray's glove will earn him some major league playing time as a fourth outfielder. His ability to read the ball and the jumps he gets meld with his athleticism, allowing him to cover a lot of real estate out in center field. Bray has enough arm for center as well. His lack of a hit tool will prevent him from attaining a starting role.


Matt Chapman

Born: 04/28/1993 (Age: 22)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 205
Primary Position: 3B
Secondary Position:
Physical/Health
Strong kid, broad shoulders, well-proportioned; little physical projection remaining; mechanical movements, lacks fluidity in running motion.
Evaluator Wilson Karaman
Report Date 07/27/2015
Dates Seen 6/11-12, 7/24. 7/26
Affiliate Stockton Ports (High A, Athletics)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2017 Moderate 55 50 Yes
Makeup

Quiet confidence, goes about his business.

Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 40 Wide base, quiet at setup, slight crouch; minimal load, slight hitch, hands will drift forward at initiation of weight transfer; drops back shoulder, below-average barrel control; plus bat speed with leverage; minimal stride; timing issues, gets to his front side too quickly, loses fluidity in top half; can square velocity, vulnerable to soft stuff; propensity for weak fly ball contact; moderate command of the zone, will expand up, average recognition.
Power 60 70 raw; strength to all fields, high fly balls with backspin and extreme carry; in-game utility limited by hit tool.
Baserunning/Speed 45 4.28 on a dig; higher effort running motion, choppy strides with significant arm pump; aggressive runner will look to take the extra base, picks up coaches well, shows baserunning acumen.
Glove 55 Aggressive posture at set-up, small crow hop with consistent balance at pitch; quick feet, gets clean breaks to the ball, strong cross-over step; above-average lateral range; some stiffness to the ground, average mobility; improved receiving actions, softer to the ball; above-average charge and transfer.
Arm 70 Canon; well above-average arm strength, minimal tail, accurate; controls body well to release; makes up for some length in the setup with velocity.
Overall

Chapman possesses prodigious raw power to all fields, routinely producing majestic fly balls with tremendous carry in BP. The game utility is limited somewhat by his hit tool; he struggles to generate consistent balance and timing with his weight transfer. His below-average barrel delivery tends to produce weak fly ball contact that will limit his batting average potential. The offensive profile on the whole will play up modestly thanks to an above-average on-base profile. The defensive package does not present a glaring weakness and is highlighted by an impact arm that plays to its potential thanks to solid body control and consistent setup mechanics.

This is a relatively high-probability prospect with the ability to develop into an above-average Major League third baseman with a well-rounded skill set.


Nick Plummer

Born: 07/31/1996 (Age: 18)
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Height: 5' 10" Weight: 200
Primary Position: CF
Secondary Position:
Physical/Health
Not an ideal tall, long frame but one that can still handle some additional weight; already some physical development but body can sustain more; doesn't project to outgrow middle of the field unless weight gain is substantial.
Evaluator Jeff Moore
Report Date 07/28/2015
Dates Seen 6/26/15, 7/1/15,
Affiliate GCL Cardinals (Rookie, Cardinals)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2018 High 50 40, fourth outfielder No
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 55 Quiet stance, short load; quick hands, short line-drive oriented swing path, plus bat control, whole field approach; very patient hitter, works counts, embraces leadoff profile.

High strikeout totals a byproduct of patient approach, not contact issues.

Power 30 Not likely to produce over-the-fence power; won't have bat knocked out of his hands but power will come from gaps and speed; line-drive stroke does not produce fly ball trajectory.
Baserunning/Speed 60 Plus runner, gets to top speed quickly, limited wasted motion.
Glove 55 Up-the-middle defender, should have no problem remaining in center field; solid route runner; strong first step; smooth actions tracking fly balls; not a true gap-to-gap defender but should be able to remain in center field until he loses a step.
Arm 40 Below average-arm, passable for center field but would only play in left if he has to move to a corner.
Overall

Plummer doesn't have a high ceiling thanks to his limited power profile, but he does have a refined swing and advanced plan at the plate for a player approaching his 19th birthday. His patience at the plate has gotten him in trouble thus far as a professional, as his judgment of the strike zone is currently better than the umpires at his present level of competition, but that problem will solve itself in time.

His compact swing and good barrel control give him a chance to hit atop a big league lineup in a few years, and his plate discipline gives him a safety net in case the hit tool falls short. His lack of power means he'll have to earn his way on, but he embraces the roll of being a tablesetter. In the field, Plummer shows refined ability to track fly balls, though doesn't have the elite straight-ahead speed or range of a plus center fielder. Still, he should be able to remain in the middle of the field, at least through his prime.

Plummer's ability to play everyday will rest on his bat and whether he gets on base enough to justify it.


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backwardgalaxy
7/30
I know what you mean, but saying of Giolito that he is "built to log 200-plus innings a year" seems a bit... I don't know... maybe deserving of a qualifier in there somewhere.
jalee121
7/30
Kane County is now affiliated with the Diamondbacks. Sorry, I hate to be that guy...
jonjacoby
7/30
was wondering how the guys listed as Diamondbacks draftees ended-up on the Cubs when I couldn't think of a trade between the two teams.
TheArtfulDodger
7/30
No need for apologies. Updated.
alvinfan
7/30
Giolito sounds a lot like Lance McCullers, except for the slow Change, and better command. Velocity very similar, too.
chapmantime
7/31
There's also the prototypical starter build for Giolito to McCullers' more modest physique.
DeathSpeculum
7/30
wow. 30 power on plummer?! that was a shock
davejsch
7/31
Giolito is a fun prospect to keep track of because of the ceiling and injury concern. Would you think that from a development planing viewpoint, he will stay in AA the rest of the this year. Then split time between AA and AAA next year with perhaps a cup of coffee when rosters expand depending on innings. Then in 2017, he will be one of those guys we talk about as a service time minor leaguer like Bryant was this year. Does this seam reasonable?