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| Born: 03/15/1993 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 200 |
| Mechanics |
| Simple and repeatable movements from rocker step to balance point; gets through the first half of delivery with ease and in exactly the same way every time; moderate effort from balance to finish; strong legs create hard drive toward plate, working downhill with good momentum; short stride with consistent foot strike in line with plate; above-average to plus arm speed; high 3/4 slot; ball comes out of the hand with ease; will fall hard to first base at times, particularly when amped up and trying to execute a big pitch; maintains consistent delivery in stretch; mixes looks with slide step in 1.32-1.38 range and small leg lift in 1.37-1.47 range; finishes well in both windup and stretch; strong mechanical profile with athleticism and consistency. |
| Evaluator | Mark Anderson |
| Report Date | 08/17/2015 |
| Affiliate | Erie SeaWolves (AA, Tigers) |
| Dates Seen | 8/15/2015 |
| OFP/Risk | 60/Low |
| Realistic | 55, #3 Starter |
| MLB ETA | 2016 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| Fastball | 65 | 70 | 94-95 | 98 | Easy velocity; sat 94-95 across outing; consistently reached 96-97 mph when he needed more; commanded well to glove side, working in to LHH with ease; had difficulty moving fastball to arm side; fastball was hit by LHH when he tried to work away as he missed spots and caught too much plate; showed ability to keep pitch in lower third of zone and elevated when necessary; arm slot, height, and ability to throw ball to lower third allows for strong angle to the plate; pitch has natural arm-side life that keeps it off the barrel; overall, command still developing; potential plus-plus pitch that can dominate hitters. |
| Slider | 60 | 70 | 87-90 | Flashed as devastating offering; threw in zone for a strike or out of strike zone for as a chase pitch; showed ability to move to both edges; excellent velocity; maintains arm speed well; same slot as fastball; exceptional depth with late movement; pitch has tight rotation and darts down and slightly away from RHH as it approaches plate; demonstrated willingness to throw in any count; extremely confident in pitch; gained feel for offering as start moved along; lack of consistency early was only negative during out; second potential plus-plus offering with swing-and-miss potential. | |
| Changeup | 45 | 50 | 84-86 | Inconsistent offering throughout viewing; missed consistently to arm side early in start; gained feel as game moved along and began to move east-west; matches fastball arm speed well; pitch has same angle to the plate as fastball; at best, offers steep tumble, diving away from the strike zone; overthrew pitch during outing and needs to improve overall feel for pitch; threw in all counts and avoided predictable use; flashed above-average potential and has legitimate chance to be average offering. |
| Overall |
|
Strong, durable build; carries himself with confidence on the mound; aggressive with entire arsenal and showed willingness to challenge hitters; fastball and slider provide plus-plus duo that can torture hitters; changeup complements arsenal well and should provide average third pitch; must refine fastball command and improve consistent feel for secondaries throughout starts; potential workhorse starter that misses bats and contributes significantly to a championship caliber club. |
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|
| Born: 12/13/1996 (Age: 18) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 175 |
| Primary Position: SS | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Athletic frame with room for projection. |
| Evaluator | Mauricio Rubio Jr. |
| Report Date | 08/11/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 08/08/15-08/09/15 |
| Affiliate | South Bend Cubs (Low A, Cubs) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| Late 2017 | High | 55 | 50 – Everyday regular | No |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 60 | Plus bat speed; linear swing path; fluid swing; moderate barrel control; moderate hand-eye coordination; mild bat wrap; minimal load; moderate leg kick; up the middle approach; makes adjustments during at-bats to spin. |
| Power | 45 | Below-average raw power, all pull-oriented; will add strength as he grows; mild leverage in the swing; in-game power will be line drive in nature. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 45 | 4.35 to first in my viewing; lacks a second gear; baserunning IQ is high and it will help him take some extra bases, and steal a few extra bags but he won't be a big-time threat with his legs. |
| Glove | 55 | Fringe-average foot speed hinders mobility and range; shows aptitude for reading ball off the bat; advanced actions; gets overly flashy at times. |
| Arm | 55 | Plus arm strength with carry; accuracy gets loose on the run, missed down in my viewing when forced to throw on the move. |
| Overall |
|
J2 signing out of Venezuela for $1.7-million Torres is one of the youngest players in Low-A which makes his refined game that much more impressive. He has a good kind of aggressive approach in the batter's box and he manipulates the barrel well to get to spin and velocity alike. Torres has good instincts at short and he has the hands to play the position but limited foot speed hurts his range and might cause a need to move to third down the line where his plus arm-strength will still be an asset. |
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| Born: 03/02/1992 (Age: 23) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 200 |
| Primary Position: RF | |
| Secondary Position: CF | |
| Physical/Health |
| Compact, muscular frame; cut across the chest and arms, strong base, well-proportioned. |
| Evaluator | Wilson Karaman |
| Report Date | 08/12/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 11 games May-July 2015 |
| Affiliate | Lancaster JetHawks (High A, Astros) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2017 | Moderate | 45 | 40/fifth outfielder | Yes |
| Makeup |
|
Excellent makeup; quiet, keeps his head down and goes about his business; puts in the work, busts his ass; every warm-up throw between innings is on a line and crisp, rarely checks up down the line. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 40 | Wide-spread stance, very quiet setup; minimal load with modest bat wrap, very quiet momentum shift to the back leg, front shoulder tucks in; steep angle into the zone, minimal leverage, handsy swing with premium barrel control; below-average bat speed with minimal lower-half engagement, short stroke, plus bat-to-ball; balanced, fluid in the top half, commands the zone against opposite-handed pitching; has a plan, disciplined in execution. |
| Power | 20 | Minimal leverage, top-spin contact to pull side; gap-to-gap hitter, rarely looks to extend and drive; strong enough to run into a few a year, limited in-game utility. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 55 | 4.07 average, max effort down the line; efficient running motion, gets low; raw reads, slow break on stolen base attempts, utility on the bases plays below raw foot speed; gets to second gear quickly. |
| Glove | 55 | Quality reads in center and right, first step is usually the right one; efficient route-runner, reads spin and trajectory; speed limits range, controls his radius, above-average closing speed; capable of handling all three outfield positions. |
| Arm | 50 | Solid-average arm strength, fundamentally sound field-and-transfer, gets body behind his throws; average carry, accurate, arm is stretched a bit in right but can play. |
| Overall |
|
Ramsay is a former seventh-round pick with a solid speed and defense skill-set, and strong work ethic. The offensive profile is limited though appropriately geared towards contact, with a short, quick stroke that maximizes efficiency to the ball, but limits his ability to drive it with any authority. He controls the zone well and will work a walk, and he can be a pest by spoiling and working pitchers. The utility of his speed is limited on the bases at present, but it helps him maximize his range in the field. He's an efficient route-runner with a nose for the ball who can handle all three outfield positions, and he profiles as a solid fourth outfielder with versatility and some on-base ability. |
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|
| Born: 05/19/1997 (Age: 18) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 185 |
| Primary Position: CF | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Lean body; explosive quick-twitch athleticism; wiry strength; body invokes Kenny Lofton. |
| Evaluator | Mark Anderson |
| Report Date | 08/17/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 7/24/2015 to 7/26/2015 |
| Affiliate | Auburn Doubledays (Short Season, Nationals) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2018 | High | 60 | 55; Above-Average CF | No |
| Makeup |
|
Showed extreme confidence on the field; never carried poor results in one phase of the game over to another; appeared to have fun with teammates and enjoy his time on the field. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 70 | Premium bat speed with barrel snapping through zone thanks to strong forearms and wrists; consistent trigger with mild leg kick and minimal hand load allows bat to get to the zone in consistent fashion; loud contact from linear swing allows for routine line drives to all fields; easy contact ability thanks to uncanny balance for his age; stands right on top of the plate allowing for good coverage; sees spin well and is willing to take pitches and work counts; gifted natural hitter that could hit .300 at MLB level. |
| Power | 40 | Minimal game power at present despite electric bat speed; has potential to add strength to wiry frame; combined with addition of some mild leverage in swing could result in 10-12 home runs and speed will help provide doubles and triples on line drives to the gaps. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 70 | Showed several times in 4.08-4.13 range during series; gets out of the box well and reaches top speed quickly; graceful runner that covers a ton of ground very quickly; shows instincts on the bases and gets good jumps against pitchers; stole second base easily on 1.34 delivery/1.87 pop; top-end speed plays well taking extra bases; impact speed with developing instincts that will result in 30+ stolen bases annually. |
| Glove | 60 | Reads ball well off the bat with quick first step; consistently showed proper direction with first step; routes were direct on balls to both sides; came in well on soft liners and showed ability to track balls over his head in center field; quick first step and plus-plus speed lend to good range in all directions; high-end defender at premium position. |
| Arm | 70 | Consistently showed plus velocity on throws from center field; unleashed several high-velocity throws worthy of plus-plus grades; throws were accurate to all bases and displayed good carry en route; arm plays well in center field. |
| Overall |
|
Impact defensive profile at up the middle position; speed plays on both sides of the ball; potential top of the order hitter that posts high averages, solid OBP, and wreaks havoc on the bases; potential to develop strength that augments premium bat speed and leads to some power; confident player with strong makeup; shows instincts on the field. |
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|
| Born: 07/06/1994 (Age: 21) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Height: 5' 10" | Weight: 170 |
| Primary Position: CF | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Smaller, thin frame; listed height and weight are likely accurate; has surprising strength for size and frame; minimal projection remaining. |
| Evaluator | Mark Anderson |
| Report Date | 08/17/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 7/24/2015 to 7/26/2015 |
| Affiliate | Lowell Spinners (Short Season, Red Sox) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2018 | Moderate | 60 | 50; Average Regular | No |
| Makeup |
|
Appears quiet and reserved on the field; confident in what he's doing; interacted with teammates as expected in team environment. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 55 | Plus bat speed thanks to strong arms and wrists; shows pre-swing noise with hands but quiets quickly when he initiates slight leg kick; high hands drop slightly to set path toward hitting zone; swing has moderate leverage; takes aggressive swing and doesn't get cheated, but still controls barrel well and shows ability to make contact on a variety of pitches; willing to work counts and take pitches; demonstrated strong pitch recognition during series; natural hitting ability could play up slightly because of approach and willingness to wait for pitches that can be driven; potential above-average hitter with occasional seasons better than that. |
| Power | 55 | Flashes plus raw power in batting practice; will occasionally translate to game situations; more often shows above-average power in-game; leverage in swing allows him to lift ball and drive it out of the park; bulk of power is to pull side with limited demonstration of ability to drive ball consistently to opposite field; potential 20-25 home run bat at peak. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 55 | Few instances during series where he really got down the line on a dig; when he did, flashed 4.25-4.30 times; athleticism shows through when running; showed aggressiveness on the bases that translated to ability to take extra base and put pressure on defenders; potential to steal 20+ bases at MLB level; speed plays on defense as well. |
| Glove | 50 | Showed solid reactions to ball off the bat; average first step, typically in proper direction; moved well to both sides; occasionally struggled with balls hit directly at him; runs well enough underway to demonstrate above-average range to the gaps; routes were typically straight line with only occasional deviations. average up the middle defender with defensive profile that could play up on a corner. |
| Arm | 55 | Throws showed consistent above-average velocity; throws maintained velocity well and carried to all bases with ease; accuracy was generally good but faltered when situations required a quicker release and footwork was rushed. |
| Overall |
|
Broad skill set; five tools that could play average or better at peak; hit and power can carry profile with hit tool playing up thanks to approach and potential to get on base in other ways; solid runner that can handle center field at average level; sum of the parts is likely greater than any individual tool. |
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|
| Born: 06/02/1992 (Age: 23) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 265 |
| Primary Position: 1B | |
| Secondary Position: DH | |
| Physical/Health |
| Looks like an offensive lineman; big upper half, hulking shoulders, limited dexterity; heavy legs, limited athleticism; high-maintenance body does not project to age well. |
| Evaluator | Wilson Karaman |
| Report Date | 08/19/2015 |
| Dates Seen | 10 games May-July 2015 |
| Affiliate | Lancaster JetHawks (High A, Astros) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2017 | Extreme | 40 | 30 | No |
| Makeup |
|
Hard-worker, nose-to-the-grindstone type, has shown notable growth and offensive development this season. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 40 | Slight crouch, wide base; moderate load, hitch; high back elbow, rigidity in the forearms and wrists; has quieted lower-half noise, mild leg lift; improved consistency between shoulders and hips; leveraged swing with average bat speed; shows balance with moderate barrel control; aggressive in-zone, moderate command of the zone; tracks well, no platoon issues. |
| Power | 50 | Above-average raw, leveraged swing; average bat speed limits in-game utility, strong enough to drive it out to all fields; game power geared to the pull side, can extend and take it out to center. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 20 | Bottom of the scale runner, 4.66 average to first; no second gear, true base-clogger. |
| Glove | 30 | Choppy footwork around the bag, very limited range and mobility; below-average reaction times, average hands on balls he can reach; slow to the bag, limited stretch; solid on short-hops, average receiving. |
| Arm | 40 | Deliberate actions, slow in setup; average velocity to second; struggles to control body on tosses to first, below-average accuracy. |
| Overall |
|
McDonald is an all-bat prospect with very little margin for error; he demonstrates a solid approach at the plate, commanding the zone well and attacking decisively when he commits. He has shown commendable growth in toning down some of the early season noise in his swing, better engaging his lower half as the year has progressed and making the swing less dependent on raw strength. The power he has should play, but I worry about his ability to consistently handle high-octane velocity on the inner half. Very limited defensive profile leaves him best-suited as a DH prospect, putting enormous pressure on the hit/power combination to max out. Low-impact player may provide some value as a power bat on the bench or a second-division DH if he hits his ceiling in the batter's box. |
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