Wilson Karaman
Ibandel Isabel, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga)
Big, hulking frame, heavy-footed, effort in movements; huge leg kick, loads hands low off back hip, hitch lakcs barrel control, inconsistent launch point, slow-developing trigger; big separation, extension, above-average bat speed underway, effort to generate it, strength swing; struggles mightily with timing, extreme vulnerability to spin, expands up against velo, down against soft, swing-and-miss in and out of zone; massive power, 80-grade raw, loud contact when he catches one, elite exist velocities, hit balls carry to all fields; 20 runner, 4.57 is fastest clock out of four, no second gear, will subtract runs on the bases; slow first step at first, lacks mobility, stiff hands, multiple boxed balls in the dirt, will pull himself off the bag, poor defemsive instincts; 30 hit/glove projection, 20 runner, below-average arm…but that power stroke, man.
Jesus Tinoco, RHP, Colorado Rockies (High-A Lancaster)
Tall, well-proportioned, athletic frame, wiry musculature; tall posture, mildly up-hill through takeaway and moderate leg kick, inconsistent timing with occasional deceleration into drive; deep hand break, big spine tilt, can get unbalanced, effort and extension to over-the-top slot; arm swing can get a little deep, but compact for length; hard drive, explodes off the rubber, foot strike gets firm, will jostle himself out of competitive pitches when unbalanced; significant recoil, violence in finish; FB 93-95 (t97), showed cut varietal at 91-93, creates plane, natural sink, quality offering with plus raw material, command questions knock it down to a 55 pitch; SL 86-90, vertical action, will flash two-plane snap and finish; trust and confidence in pitch, dropped multiple in on 3-2 counts; solid-average potential; CH 88-90, hard with sink, can get BP fastball-y, demonstrated feel, looks to steal early strikes and grounders, mild swing-miss, average potential pitch; Tinoco has three workable pitches, highlighted by fa astball that is up several ticks from reports last year.
Greg Goldstein
Tyler Watson, LHP, Washington Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown)
Saw for 2.0 IP; tall guy that has some weight to him; still has the frame to add some more muscle; decent athlete; left start early; slow and deliberate motion; hitch in his delivery; hand stab; slight leg kick; average arm speed; moderate effort; clean finish; 1.26 to home; repeats delivery well; FB 88-90, (t93); little life; missed around the zone when he did miss; controlled pitch well, but needs to work on hitting the corners; missed both low and high; CH tumbles in the zone with late movement; CB has 1/7 shape, above-average bite, but could get tighter; has the ability to throw for strikes; control (50,55); command (40,45); realistic No. 5 starter.
Luke Williams, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies (Low-A Lakewood)
Skinny; still has some room to add strength; lacks load; compact, linear swing; below-average bat speed; balanced throughout stroke; average bat control; lacks the bat speed to be a dynamic major league hitter; struggled with breaking balls; will be late on velo; below-average physical tools keep him from barreling a lot of pitches; can add some weight, but won’t make much of a difference; average runner; average arm strength; strong fundamentals in the field; stays down well on hot shots; average movement skills to both side; isn’t the athlete to make many flash plays; moves well enough to play second base; org infielder.
Nick Banks, OF, Washington Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown)
Compact stroke; mild leverage; balanced; leeps his weight back well; hits the ball where it’s pitched; can’t seem to handle movement and creates some weak contact; average barrel control; below-average raw power because of smaller frame; doesn’t have enough leverage or bat speed to make up for a lack of natural strength in his upper body; gap power; 4.21 home to first; above-average arm strength; above-average range; takes good routes that allow his speed to translate in the field; potential second-division starter.
Steve Givarz
Sean Poppen, RHP, Minnesota Twins (High-A Fort Myers)
Seen in a 2 IP start shortened by rain. Ideal pitcher’s body, still lean and wiry and can add strength to frame. Pitches from a FWU, drop and drive delivery, low elbow, lacks plane for size, above-average arm speed, three-quarters slot. FB 92-94 (t95), plus sink/run, quality movement, knows how to use it and gets groundballs effectively, ran under RHH hands for Ks. CH 84-86, plus fade, has confidence in offering, can use to both LHH and RHH, chase offering. SL 85, fringe-average offering, short break with early action, almost cut-fastball like, has feel in pitch and velocity, could be a future average offering. A 19th-round senior sign from Harvard in 2016, Poppen has…popped up this year.
Zachary Jackson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin)
Seen in a 1 IP relief app on 6/23, as well as a 1/3IP outing in 6/29. Acting as closer for ballclub. Extra-large frame and body, intimidating presence on the mound, lacks remaining projection. Pitches from the stretch only; long, deep arm action with a plunge, above-average arm speed, overhand. High front shoulder, extends glove-side, large leg lift, has a head whack. FB 93-94 (t95), heavy offering, often left up, but has good sink when located at bottom of the zone, will be effectively wild, not a spotter, but can locate in parts of the plate. CB 86-87, 12/6 shape with extreme hard downer action, quick and sharp, hitters struggle to see it out of hand and look foolish, just really inconsistent offering, doesn't throw it for strikes, more a s/m offering out of the zone. CH 86-87, almost SF like action, falls off table, late action, s/m offering. Really interesting arsenal featuring 3 above-average to plus offerings, doesn't have the strike throwing to start but would be a good late-inning bullpen arm, strong interest.
Kirby Snead, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin)
Seen in a 1.1 IP relief app on 6/23. Large frame and build, lacks remaining projection. Pitches from the stretch only, compact arm action, chickenwings ball, average arm speed, slot in between low-three-quarters and side-arm. FB 89-90, fringe-average sink, controls well arm-side, struggles more so glove-side, will be an issue given lower slot and delivery. SL 78-80, sweeping action with good depth and break, comfortable throwing to LHH, can drop for strikes on the outer half v. RHH, future average offering. No CH thrown, looks to be a two-pitch pitcher. Fields position well and is athletic. See as a matchup LHR, would acquire.
Thank you for reading
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One note, it would be helpful if the authors or editors could clean up some of the shorthand or abbreviations so we wouldn't have to wonder / ask for clarification.
I've noticed that some of the writers provide a more finished product, while others literally use their 'notes from the field'. Both are illuminating, but the more clearly written pieces work better for me.
Cheers.