Prospects 60-80, Second To Last

Took a bit of time to compile this next range and it’s changed about a dozen times including in the last five minutes of putting it together. That just goes to show you how fluid this list really is and how much you could really argue up and down for placement for one person over another.

Hey that leads us into our all too familiar disclaimer:

Disclaimer: I have said it with all previous incarnations and of course I’ll repeat it now. This is an arbitrary list and there is room for argument just about everywhere and anywhere. But, we’ve done it enough internally and this is what we came up with.

This list is not done professionally. We all freely admit that we are amateurs and that this has been done entirely in recreation and the majority of it was compiled by using information that has been posted elsewhere and is freely available for others to find themselves while incorporating their on field production. I, nor anyone else, is claiming this is a better product than what anyone else has done and it’s most importantly in an effort to give some of these players the credit and recognition they are due in this organization that we love.

Alright, if you need it here is review:

I – II – III – IV

And we’re just about there…

61. Felipe Burin, 2B, Arizona Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: He was putting up some gaudy numbers in VSL. He finally got promoted to Arizona and I had high expectations for him but I think It was a little too unrealistic. He fell off a bit once in Arizona but considering all of what moving from South America to Arizona entails he still did really well.

62. Victor Sanchez, RHSP, (Unassigned)

Thoughts: Sanchez was considered the top arm in international free-agency and while that’s exciting he hasn’t been assigned just yet. A good gauge for him would be recent top flight arms coming from Venezuala such as Juan Urbina (Mets) and Adonys Cardona (Blue Jays). Both of whom premiered stateside the year following signing with their respective teams. 

63.Yordi Calderon, 3B, Venezuela Summer League

 Thoughts: Calderon was one of the top offensive bats in the VSL this past year and at only 17. He showed power, a bit of speed and some on base skills too. The strike outs were up there too. But, I’m not so worried about that just yet. I’m worried that he’ll end up being forced to first base. 

64. Ivan Ramirez, C, Arizona Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: Ramirez worked with Roger Hansen but due to injuries he didn’t see much in the way of game time. I’m still really excited about him and he only just turned 19. His offensive production last year was solid and I expect that he’ll continue to produce. But, the biggest question is whether he’ll be able to stick behind the plate. Much like Choi he’d be a boon behind the plate but if he moves off he’d most likely move to first and it remains to be seen whether his offense would be good enough to make him a regular.

65. George Mieses, RHSP, Clinton Lumberkings (A- ball)

Thoughts:  “El Toro”, as Mieses is called, had a bit of an underwhelming season. His curve ball was inconsistent and –though he throws mid 90s– his fastball is a bit straight. Which leads to him being extremely hit able. He gets a lot of sink on his fastball and it’s called “a heavy fastball” which explains his consistent ground ball rates.

66. Julio Morban, OF, Clinton Lumberkings (A – ball)

Thoughts: Morban swings-and-misses too much. Of course that is kind of the theme for the organization right now. But, Morban doesn’t profile to have the power to go with those huge misses. He just needs to make more contact. The speed is there and he’s a solid defender. So there is plenty of potential there.  He just needs to make more contact.

67. Jake Shaffer, OF, Jackson Generals (AA)

Thoughts: The problem that I have with Shaffer is he fell off a cliff mid June. His wOBA went from being near .400 to below .300. The interesting thing about it is that he also went from driving the ball 20+% of the time to less than 15%. Then went on the disabled list in August. So there is the possibility that he started to struggle, got injured and just never recovered from that.  

68. Steven Hensley, RHSP, Jackson Generals (AA)

Thoughts: I like Hensley. The problem with him is that he’s injured. ALL.THE.TIME. He starts getting into the flow of the season and then he goes down. It’s really too bad. He runs a 4-seam fastball in around 92-93 –when healthy– and has a tight slider that flashes as a potential plus pitch. Those two pitches alone could potentially make him a very useful piece in the bullpen and that’s where his future is at this point. I wrote about it earlier this month and I’ll continue to say it all off-season. Watch out for Hensley, if he comes into camp healthy, he could be a dark horse for the 2012 bullpen straight out of spring training.

69. Dennis Raben, 1B/DH, High Desert (A+)

Thoughts: What a waste. Raben really torched High Desert pitching all year, putting up a wOBA of .419 and a wRC+ of 145. Sure he is 24 and yes he did it in High Desert. But the thing you have to remember is wRC+ is weighted against the rest of the league. HE WAS THAT MUCH BETTER. Then he got injured. Again. Dennis Raben and Steven Hensley share the trophy for most interesting “what if’ they stayed healthy”. It’ll be interesting to see if he even makes it back from yet another injury.

70. Anthony Fernandez, LHSP, Clinton Lumberkings (A – ball)

Thoughts: Fernandez is an interesting case. He struggled in his first few starts in Clinton and yet the organization promoted him up to High Desert in early May. He comes back to Clinton in mid June after just getting pumbled and he just flips a switch. He ended the year in Clinton with a FIP of 3.33 a GB% of 57% and a K% of 21%. He was getting ground ball outs and he was missing bats. He would have been higher on this list but taking in his early struggles into consideration I’m still a bit skeptical. He throws about 91-93 with a decent change and an average curve. It’ll be interesting to see how he does in High Desert next year.

71. Charles Kaalekahi, RHSP, Arizona Mariners (Rookie ball)

Thoughts: Part of why he’s on here is because he had a few interesting performances, including a 5 inning, 11 strike out performance against the Arizona Rangers. He’s not a hard thrower from all accounts I’ve found he sits in the low-90’s. I have no information on his off-speed pitch but I just seem to have his name come up in various conversations. He’s deffintley worth keeping an eye on.

72. Alexy Palma, OF, Venezuela Summer League

Thoughts: The power isn’t quiet there yet, but his plate discipline is intriguing as well as his contact rates. He’s one of the top position player products headed to the states next year. I’m not sure what exactly

73. Dylan Unsworth, RHSP, Pulaski Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: “Sharkie” has been an intersting little pitcher, much in the way Erasmo Ramirez has been the last couple of years. He throws strikes, doesn’t walk people and gets quiet a few ground balls. He’s a back-of-the-rotation arm… but if he can find the rythem in his curve or a bump in his velocity he could be a bit better than that.

74. Kyle Hunter, LHSP, Everett Aquasox

Thoughts: Forget about Hunter being a 30-some odd round pick from 2011 draft. He has a good change-up and though he throws in the high 80s touching 91. He has interesting arm side movement and as I said at the time of his draft, he maybe my favorite 30+ round pick ever by this organization. I really wishthe organization would give him a chance to start with either Clinton or HD in 2012 but most likely he’ll be in the ‘pen.

75. James Zamarripa, CF, Arizona Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: I think of Zamarripa one word comes to mind. “Engima”. I was a little lost when they decided to use the 8th overall pick on him this past june, and I still don’t quiet “get it”. He doesn’t have a lot of power and his speed game isn’t going to play up if he doesn’t make more consistent contact. But, he’s only 17 and was one of the youngest guys in the league.

76. Nicholas Valenza, LHSP, Arizona Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts:  Valenza may not ever make it to –or even past– Clinton (A ball). But despite his short stature (5’10 –closer to 5’8) he throws 91-92, touching 93. He also has the makings of an interesting curveball that needs more time to develop. Ultimately he is most likely a bullpen guy but I’m glad to see the Mariners starting him out in the rotation. 

77. Kevin Rivers, OF, Clinton Lumberkings (Low – A)

Thoughts: Rivers had a nice little underground following at the beginning of the season. And while he didn’t have a bad season, per se, he didn’t have the type of season that most expected out of someone playing against younger talent. I’m still not writing him off and I’m pretty sure he’s going to rake big numbers in HD, but whether he’s anything more than a platoon bat or more likely a pinch hitter is doubtful.

78. Angel Raga, RHRP, Pulaski Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: Jay Yiench described him as a live arm prior to the season and I think Raga has made good on that– posting 47 K’s in 44 IP. He’s a little old for his level but he lost time due to arm injuries. He could be an interesting bullpen option next year in Clinton or even in High Desert.

79. Willy Kesler, RHSP, High Desert Mavericks (High – A)

Thoughts: There is a lot to like about little (I say that in jest) Willy Kesler. His heavy two-seam fastball brings upwards of 55-60% ground balls and he misses a few bats with his off-speed pitches. He’s most likely a 6th or 7th inning guy (ala Jamey Wright) but that has value.

80. Luke Taylor, RHSP, Arizona Mariners (Rookie Ball)

Thoughts: I like Luke Taylor unabashedly and without apology. He’s a big body kid that’s raw and has need of more time on the mound. A former shortstop he started pitching his last year in HS and was touching the high-80s, low-90s. But he’s got the size (6’6) as well as working out mechanics and still only 19.