Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, May 08, 2015 i Baseball America

APRIL 29 2001 IN THIS ISSUE: Hop on the bus: BA’s Lacy Lusk learns firsthand what life on the road is like for minor leaguers. ALSO: Cousins J.J. and John Hardy star as shortstops at different high schools, but both commit to play for Arizona. The Cubs and White Sox offer hope of contending at the same time for the first time since 2001. Here’s a look back: Another time, another place, and these could have been showdowns that would live in the memory of Chicago sports fans through many cold winters. Wouldn’t it be something if they did one day in the future? With a trip to the championship series on the line, the Cubs’ Corey Pattereson dug into the box to hit against the White Sox’s Danny Wright.…

Baseball Writer, ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts is in a hurry to achieve, so it’s only fitting that he’s making a big impression in a short time. Boston’s veteran players rave about Betts’ professionalism and unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Scouts love his fast hands and flair for busting it down the line on every ground ball. And if he performs to expectations, Red Sox fans will warm to him because he’s a 5-foot-9, 180-pound bundle of athleticism, baseball savvy and charisma. All of this comes as no surprise to Betts’ family members, who are bullish on his future for reasons other than his bloodlines. Former major leaguer Terry Shumpert is the brother of Betts’ mother, Diana Collins, and he’s been a profound influence in each step of…

SOX COMMIT TO SALEM With all the affiliation movement last offseason in the minor leagues, the Red Sox are making sure they will stay in Salem, Va., for the foreseeable future. The Red Sox already have a stable a playerdevelopment contract with Salem because Fenway Sports Management owns the franchise. Now the club has assured it will stay put with a 10-year lease at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Red Sox bought the team in essence to make sure they didn’t have to worry about having their high Class A affiliate in the California League, an idea now being copied by the Rangers (see Page 13). The agreement with city officials and club ownership was confirmed by Salem general manager Ryan Shelton, who said “in essence it assures the Red Sox…

Editor in Chief Baseball America johnmanuel @baseba llamerica.com Baseball America’s draft rankings, like our prospect rankings, attempt to reflect the industry consensus on players. For an amateur player, we’re trying to gauge where most teams have a player ranked—as a firstround talent, secondrounder, or whether or not he’s even getting crosschecked, a must for players going in the first 10 rounds. The more information teams have on players, though, the less there seems to be an industry consensus. Twenty and even 10 years ago, the top high school players separated themselves more, and got many more looks from top scouts. Today, our internal draft database is brimming with reports on high school players from various showcases, from Area Code Games and East Coast Pro to Perfect Game and Baseball Factory…

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Baseball America has a scouting report for every player who signed for $100,000 or more on the 2014 international market. After providing reports on each National League club’s top international signee in last issue, we turn our attention to the American League this time. BA subscribers can view more scouting reports on every player who signed for six figures or more at BaseballAmerica.com. Baltimore Orioles Their Orioles’ largest bonus of the year ($725,000) went to Cuban righthander Lazaro Leyva, a 20-year-old who didn’t play in Serie Nacional and had lived in Europe for a while before signing. Leyva is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and the Orioles say he has touched the mid-90s. His slider is below-average and he has minimal track record, aside from pitching briefly for Las Tunas in Cuba’s…

In Pursuit Of Pennants By Mark L. Armour and Daniel R. Levitt UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS, $34.95 E-BOOK AVAILABLE There are a large number of baseball books that are published every year. The list of significant baseball books is much smaller. It has been a good year for the baseball reader if we get two or three significant books that remain on bookshelves and are cited for years. To write a significant book, it has to go beyond the norm. Either the research/reporting has to reveal insights previously uncovered, it has to illuminate a topic that had been overlooked (harder and harder to do in this information age) or it has to assemble previous information in a cohesive form that has never been done before. It’s too soon to say…

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION SEASON STARTS: May 21. 2014 CHAMPION: Wichita Wingnuts. WHAT’S NEW: The Joplin (Mo.) Blasters join the league, bumping the number of teams to 13. The odd number will work without leaving teams idle because the league plays interleague games against the Can-Am League. The Amarillo Sox have also tweaked their name and will now be known as the Amarillo ThunderHeads. ATLANTIC LEAGUE SEASON STARTS: April 24. 2014 CHAMPION: Sugar Land Skeeters. WHAT’S NEW: The Atlantic League has been an innovator when it comes to pace of play. Many of the Atlantic League’s speed-up procedures have been adopted now by Major League Baseball as well, but the Atlantic League is going further, limiting teams to three on-field conferences per game. CAN-AM LEAGUE SEASON STARTS: May 21. 2014 CHAMPION: Rockland…

Yanks Dig Deep To Find Cave NEW YORK Scouts had a hard time deciding where two-way standout Jake Cave profiled best in pro ball as he excelled at his Hampton, Va., high school in 2011. As a senior, he hit .594 with 16 extra-base hits and posted a .725 on-base percentage. On the mound, he went 6-3, 1.65 with 101 strikeouts in 55 innings. Hitter or pitcher? “Our guys liked him as a pitcher but more as a hitter,” assistant general manager Billy Eppler said of Cave, who bats and throws lefthanded. “He was a two-way prospect who some teams liked as a lefthanded pitcher. He got his fastball up to 94 (mph) and averaged 91 in high school. He had a feel for his changeup, and he had a…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ FORT LAUDERDALE Making his second Opening Day start in as many seasons, righthander Trevor Williams had a modest goal this time: Get an out. He initiated the 2014 campaign at high Class A Jupiter by allowing hits to the first two batters he faced. The third lined a comebacker off Williams’ right arm that prompted his removal from the game. The 23-year-old again received the firstgame assignment in 2015, this time at Double-A Jacksonville. He hung around considerably longer, allowing one hit and striking out nine over six shutout innings. For his career, Williams has averaged 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings. “I’ve never really been a strikeout pitcher,” said Williams, a second-round pick out of Arizona State in…

Glimpse Of The Future PHILADELPHIA A pair of 89-loss seasons sent the Phillies into rebuild mode. How soon will they get back to contender status? Keep an eye on Double-A Reading, where a foundation is taking shape on the mound. Reading opened with its best batch of prospects in years. The group includes a rotation of righthanders Aaron Nola, Ben Lively and Zach Eflin and lefties Jesse Biddle and Tom Windle. Only Biddle, a 2010 first-rounder who is showing signs that he’s ready to put it together, was in the organization before last June. The Phillies made Nola a first-round pick in 2014, and the others arrived in offseason trades that cost the club Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins. “It’s an exciting rotation,” assistant general manager Benny Looper said. “I…

Stock Falling CHICAGO As far as starts to the season go, this was not the one outfielder Jared Mitchell was looking for. Still hoping to prove he wasn’t a wasted first-round pick—the White Sox drafted the former Louisiana State baseball/football standout No. 23 overall in 2009—Mitchell went 2-for-27 (.074) with 14 strikeouts in his first eight games at Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox did not call up the 26-yearold left fielder when rosters expanded last September, and Mitchell was outrighted off the 40-man roster in November. “I’m using that as motivation,” he said. “If you take it the right way, take it in stride and use it as motivation, it can springboard me into a really good year this year.” Mitchell needs a good year. Considered a bona fide prospect…

Fastball Development MINNEAPOLIS Like a lot of 21-year-old pitchers in the low minors, lefthander Sam Clay needs to develop a pitch. Clay is a little unusual, though: He needs a fastball. “His path is sort of backwards from most pitchers,” vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “He’s got a legitimate, major league curveball, a plus-plus strikeout pitch. What he doesn’t have, though, is command of a fastball. For most guys, it’s just the opposite, but he just never learned to throw it.” That’s because Clay, a fourth-round pick in 2014 from Georgia Tech, was a quarterback in high school. “He was a football guy,” Radcliff said. “Then he discovered he can throw this pitch, and it’s taken him a long way.” It got the Buford, Ga., native to…

Youth Movement In Wisconsin MILWAUKEE When low Class A Wisconsin took the field for the first game of the Midwest League season, it had six players under the age of 20 on its 25-man roster. A few others had turned 20 earlier in the year. “I haven’t seen the ages for the league yet,” assistant general manager Gord Ash said, “but I suspect it will be if not the youngest, one of the youngest teams in the league.” Leading that group were the Brewers’ first three draft picks from 2014—lefthander Kodi Medeiros, who turns 19 in May, and shortstop Jake Gatewood and center fielder Monte Harrison, both 19. Sending so many young players to low Class A is a different approach for the Brewers, who have been conservative for the…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ARLINGTON The Rangers became the first team in more than a decade to have two Rule 5 picks on an Opening Day roster when outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and righthander Logan Verrett made the team. The Rangers selected the 22-year-old DeShields in December, plucking him from the Astros. He impressed with his speed and in other areas to convince Texas to put him on their roster. Verrett, though, didn’t join the Rangers until April 2, after they left spring training. They claimed him on waivers from the Orioles, who had selected him from the Mets, to be their long man. Each player made his big league debut April 8 at Oakland, with Verrett allowing two runs in 2⅔…

Olson’s Next Challenge OAKLAND A six-week cram course in the Arizona sun may pay lasting dividends for the Athletics’ top offensive prospect. Matt Olson spent all of spring training with the major league club, learning more than the layout of the new park in Mesa. “His confidence levels have always been high,” farm director Keith Lieppman said, “but the experience of being in big league camp, being around good players, has added to his game. He is on the rise, and he starts learning that he belongs there. “That may be the final piece. When it’s his turn, he won’t be so in awe of it.” The 6-foot-5, 230-pound first baseman even finished the spring with a trip to the Bay Bridge Series, a three-game set against the Giants played…

Development Pays Off PHOENIX Righthander Archie Bradley’s big league debut could not have gone much better. Not only did he help defeat the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw with six scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory, but with a single off Kershaw he collected as many hits as he allowed. Bradley, the Broken Arrow (Okla.) High prodigy selected seventh overall in 2011, won a spot in the rotation this spring with his poise on the rubber, his command of the zone and his ability to throw his curveball for strikes. “It’s exciting for him. Exciting for the ball club. Exciting for the organization,” big league manager Chip Hale said. Bradley showed poise despite the expected first-game excitement. He worked the count full eight times, including to the first five batters, but…

Easing Off The Gas SAN FRANCISCO It isn’t often you hear a young pitcher begin a sentence with, “You can be a power pitcher like a Nolan Ryan, but . . .” Make no mistake. Righthander Tyler Beede likes to register strikeouts as much as the next 21-year-old with an arm so prized he was twice drafted in the first round. It’s just that he’d prefer to avoid those four-plus walks per nine innings that often are part of the bargain. “When you see power pitchers, it’s tougher to stay consistent with their mechanics,” said Beede, the 14th overall pick out of Vanderbilt last June. “It’s harder to keep the ball down . . . This organization doesn’t want to walk guys.” So in his first spring as a professional,…

DURHAM, N.C. Tucked under Devin Hairston’s Louisville uniform is a silver chain, a sterling piece of jewelry of which he’s very proud. Still, the freshman tries to hide the chain while he’s on the field. It’s more for fashion than function. Then there’s Sutton Whiting, his senior teammate, the Cardinals’ leadoff hitter. He wears a silver chain of his own, but he doesn’t bother to hide it. He lets it hang loose over his uniform top. The glint of it is likely the first thing that catches an opposing pitcher’s eyes. “You’ve seen his chain, haven’t you?,” Hairston said, laughing. “It’s his swag piece is what he calls it.” “Swag,” as the kids say, is one of the cornerstones of Sutton Whiting’s game. He subscribes to Deion Sanders’ philosophy of…

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Released C Mike Blanke. Traded RHP Bradin Hagens to Rays for cash. Acquired OF Victor Reyes from Braves for 2015 supplemental second-round pick. Loaned SS Walter Ibarra to Monterrey of Mexican League. ATLANTA BRAVES: Signed OF Adonis Garcia. Re-signed RHP Matt Capps. Released RHP Todd Coffey, LHPs Luis Merejo, Wandy Rodriguez and Greg Smith; Cs Jesus Flores, Carlos Sanchez and Tyler Tewell; 1B Travis Mattair and OFs Blake Brown, Jose Constanza, Cody Livesay, Connor Obrochta and Fernelys Sanchez. Traded RHP Craig Kimbrel and OF Melvin Upton to Padres for RHP Matt Wisler and OFs Cameron Maybin, Jordan Paroubeck and Carlos Quentin and 2015 supplemental first-round pick. Traded OF Victor Reyes to Diamondbacks for 2015 supplemental second-round pick. OF Zoilo Almonte elected free agency. BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Signed RHP Devin…

The words “good enough” were never part of Ray Nemec’s vocabulary. One of the 16 original founders of the Society for American Baseball Research, Nemec loved baseball. He loved the history of it. He loved the way you could explain a players’ contributions through statistics. But it’s more accurate to say that he was an explorer. Nemec, who died in April at the age of 85, would spend hours, days, months finding the data that no one else had found. Nowadays when most people think of SABR, they think of sabermetrics. That is a very important part of the research that goes on among SABR members. But SABR has also always been about the history of the game, and Nemec was one of the giants of that field. Because of…

It was getaway day and a day game and it was a low-scoring affair. But even with all those qualifiers, what happened at Triple-A Albuquerque one day in early April was pretty remarkable. The Isotopes and Tacoma Rainiers played 11 innings, with Tacoma winning 3-1. But even though the game needed two extra innings, it still took just 2 hours, 42 minutes to play. What happened in Albuquerque is similar to what’s happening at minor league ballparks nationwide. It’s early in the season, early enough that every comment on any trend or possible trend for the 2015 season needs to include several admonitions about small sample sizes and regressions. That said, the new pace-of-play directives in the minors might be working just as well as they are at the major…

Columnist, MLB Network BOSTON It was one of those late March days a year ago, and a scout who had the Royals in his spring coverage went to the day game. Salvador Perez caught seven innings. The scout then went to a 6 p.m. game on the Surprise complex because it was for pitchers who needed work in a game between camp minor leaguers. The scout took his place behind home plate, and to his surprise, there was Salvador Perez, Kansas City’s then-23-year-old regular coming off a 2013 season in which he had caught 169 games between the minor and major leagues. “You caught in the heat this afternoon, what are you doing here?” the scout asked. “I’m going to catch all these guys someday,” Perez said. “It’s important to…

If you’re marketing a new book, your publisher is sure to want to tie it to Moneyball. “The Extra 2%” is Moneyball in a bad stadium. “Feeding the Monster” is Moneyball with money. So it’s not surprising that Big Data Baseball is billed as “Moneyball on Steroids” by its publisher. In reality, there never will be another Moneyball, for reasons both good and bad. For one, few authors can write with the eloquence that Michael Lewis made look easy, and few going forward will ever get the access he had. But just as notably, Lewis was writing to advance an idea, and as such, some of the core parts of the book—most notably how the A’s were going to revolutionize drafting—look laughably misguided in hindsight but worked well in the…

By Bill Pennington HOUGHTON MIFFLIN, $30 E-BOOK AVAILABLE In his 27-year career as an infielder and manager, Billy Martin fought with all kinds of people. He brawled with teammates, his players, marshmallow salesmen, Tigers fans—while managing the Tigers— his team’s traveling secretary, sportswriters and a guy in a hotel bar. The majority of Martin’s altercations were public and fueled by his propensity for alcohol. But what if Martin was born in 1948 instead of 1928? In his wellresearched book, Billy Martin: Baseball’s Flawed Genius, former Yankees beat writer Bill Pennington says that Martin’s life might have been an entirely different story. More than 25 years after Martin’s death on Christmas Day in 1989, Pennington writes that Martin’s drinking problem would be treated very differently now. “Ours is a culture in…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BOSTON Lefthander Henry Owens had a mission in the offseason. “I just ate everything in sight,” said Owens, 22. “Every day for breakfast I had four or five eggs, depending on how my stomach felt in the morning, three or four pieces of sausage, and two hashbrowns. “I’ll probably be getting a not-so-healthy report back (on a cholesterol test), but I feel healthy, so that’s OK.” The binge was purposeful. When the Red Sox selected Owens in the supplemental first round of the 2011 draft, the Huntington Beach, Calif., prep weighed perhaps 175 pounds, an unruly collection of limbs through which he tried to channel his talents. Now he weighs 220 pounds and aims to avoid the year-ending…

Persistence Pays For Dykstra ST. PETERSBURG Any first-round pick who doesn’t reach the majors until his eighth pro season is going to reflect on the path that led him there. That goes double for first baseman Allan Dykstra. The 23rd overall pick by his hometown Padres in 2008, Dykstra reached high Class A Lake Elsinore before San Diego shipped him to the Mets in March 2011. He went on to win Eastern League MVP honors at Double-A Binghamton in 2013 before testing the minor league free agent waters last fall. Dykstra signed in November with the Rays, who called him up April 8 to make his debut. Dykstra grew up with recurring hip issues that led to surgery—and two months in a body cast—as a high school freshman. The diagnosis…

Spring Surprise ATLANTA The Braves played musical chairs with three rookie relievers one week into the regular season. Wildness led to righthander Juan Jaime being designated for assignment after two outings, and fellow righty Sugar Ray Marimon, a minor league free agent import, stepped into his place. Marimon’s arrival from Triple-A Gwinnett could herald a more prominent role for 25-year-old righthander Cody Martin, the 2011 seventh-round pick who has been one of the bigger surprises so far this year. The Braves did not protect Martin on the 40-man roster last fall, but no team selected him in the Rule 5 draft. A closer at Gonzaga but starter in pro ball the past three seasons, he had shown the ability to throw four pitches for strikes while logging a 3.07 ERA…

Catching Up WASHINGTON As the starting catcher and a middle-of-the-order hitter at low Class A Hagerstown, Raudy Read will have to be strong to make it through a long first full season. Based on how he played this spring, Read looked ready for the challenge. “He took a step forward this spring training, adding some lean muscle to his powerful frame,” farm director Mark Scialabba said. “He continues to make strides behind the plate with his receiving and execution of the game plan.” Suns manager Patrick Anderson inserted the 21-year-old Read into the No. 5 hole in the lineup when the team began its South Atlantic League season. Current Double-A catcher Pedro Severino and high Class A catcher Spencer Kieboom had success in Hagerstown, and Read has a strong skill…

Lindor’s Future Is Near CLEVELAND The destination wasn’t a surprise, nor were the marching orders. When the Indians sent No. 1 prospect Francisco Lindor to Triple-A Columbus at the end of spring training, the only uncertainty was when he would return to Cleveland. Not if, but when. Lindor is the Indians’ shortstop of the future, and the future could be just weeks— not months or years—away. He has rocketed through the system, stopping at every level, but not spending much time at any of them. The final step is Columbus, where he headed after an impressive big league spring training. The Indians made it clear during the offseason that the plan was to start Lindor in Triple-A. “He had a terrific spring with us,” big league manager Terry Francona said,…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ CHICAGO The biggest talent deficit in the Cubs’ top-rated farm system is by far starting pitching, both in top-level prospects as well as depth. And the scarcity just got a little bit worse with the decision at the outset of 2015 to use top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards out of the bullpen at Double-A Tennessee. “We certainly in no way, shape or form have given up on him as a starter,” general manager Jed Hoyer said of the 23-year-old, “but we also realize we’ll probably have to manage his innings a little bit this year. “And starting him off in that role allows us to do that to start the year, and then we can make an assessment…

Morris Gets Shot With Bucs PITTSBURGH Once thought to be a future fixture in the Brewers’ lineup, first baseman Hunter Morris now will try to revive his career with a division rival. The Pirates acquired the 26-year-old lefthanded hitter for a player to be named in a trade made during the final days of spring training. He begins the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. “He’s been an offensive player in the past,” big league manager Clint Hurdle said. “He had some challenges the last couple years with health. There’s offensive upside, and he’s a capable defender. He’ll add to our depth at Triple-A.” The Brewers selected Morris in the fourth round of the 2010 draft from Auburn. Two years later, he was their minor league player of the year after hitting…

McCullers Strikes Back HOUSTON Though Lance McCullers Jr. wasn’t officially invited to big league camp, the righthander made the most of his opportunities in Grapefruit League games. He impressed manager A.J. Hinch with his repertoire in one scoreless inning of relief against the Pirates on March 17. Equally important, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound McCullers drew raves for his mound presence and the way he carried himself in the clubhouse. The 21-year-old looked and acted like he belonged. “He’s got major league bloodlines, and you can tell how he carries himself,” Hinch said. “He’s got a great presence to him, good demeanor and good stuff. His fastball/breaking ball is real.” A 2012 supplemental first-round pick from high school in Tampa, McCullers went 3-6, 5.47 at high Class A Lancaster last year, logging…

Almost Ready SEATTLE Spring training is long for any baseball player. But for lefthander Danny Hultzen, it’s bordering on an eternity. When players broke camp for the 2015 season, the No. 2 overall pick in 2011 stayed behind in Arizona to participate in extended spring training. Seattle’s decision was based on caution. After spending all of 2014 recovering and rehabbing from reconstructive shoulder surgery, the 25-year-old Hultzen finally is healthy—and the Mariners want the former Virginia star to stay that way. So the Mariners decided to pitch him in the warm weather of Arizona and the controlled environment of extended spring for at least the first month of the season. “I just think you have to be cautious with him,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He had a significant surgery…

Lesson Learned DENVER The Rockies told lefthander Sam Howard that working down in the strike zone was his winter priority. And from his first bullpen session in spring training, it was apparent he made the most of his offseason. “It translated into games,” player development director Zach Wilson said. “Honestly, I can’t remember one outing over the course of spring training where he was out over the plate. It was down. It was down with effect, a lot of groundballs and a lot of swings and misses . . . “You could tell he came in with a different perspective on what it means to be a professional pitcher. He basically dominated spring training.” A third-round pick last year from Georgia Southern, Howard, 22, is learning to harness his stuff…

Blake Hickman has always possessed special arm strength. He’s always had special athleticism, with a unique blend of body control and fast-twitch ability. Hickman has always had the raw materials to develop into an elite pitcher, but there was one thing getting in the way: Hickman’s love of catching. “When I had to stop catching, it was very hard,” Hickman said. “I’d been doing it ever since I was 5 years old.” Hickman was the catcher at the on-therise program at Simeon Academy in Chicago on a deeply talented team, leading a squad that included Corey Ray (Louisville) and Ro Coleman (Vanderbilt). With advanced catch-and-throw skills, he brought plenty of defensive talent to the program at Iowa when he arrived on campus in 2012. His hometown Cubs drafted him in…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA Remember when $100 million used to be a lot of money? As in: Steinbrenner money, Fenway money, Chavez Ravine money—and that was about it? Well, you know what they call a $100 million payroll in baseball in 2015? A bargain. If you look closely at the Opening Day payrolls of all 30 teams, you’ll notice something amazing. You know how many franchises started this season with payrolls of $100 million or more, according to the annual estimates by The Associated Press? How about 22. As recently as a decade ago, in 2005, that number was three. As recently as three years ago, in 2012, it was just nine. But nowadays, there is so much money flowing into this sport—even at a time when a…

How To Grade Makeup Are there plans of adding to the grading system that takes intangibles into account. What makes pitchers like Chris Heston or Jake deGrom exceed expectations? TRACY FAY, BRADFORD, VT. Yes, makeup is important for baseball players, but it is impossible to grade as an intangible. We try to gather as much background information as we can—and a good scout can try to get a good feel for a player’s makeup—but it’s often more noticeable in its absence. As far as the two pitchers you asked about, those are two very different pitchers in my mind. DeGrom never made a Top 100 Prospects list and he topped out at No. 10 on the Mets’ Top 30, but his case is one of a late bloomer. DeGrom was…

Columnist, MLB.com DENVER Wil Myers was the young phenom with the Royals. He was the key offensive player the Rays received in a trade for James Shields. Now with the Padres, he’s just one of the guys. And he has a point to prove. “He told me early in spring training that he heard little whispers this winter that maybe he was not the player everyone made him out to be,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “I think that bothered him.” Right now, it’s Myers who is bothering opponents. “More than anything,” Myers said, “I am playing with a chip on my shoulder. Last year was the first bad year I had in my pro career. When Tampa traded me away, I felt they had given up on me.” Myers…

Don Slaught’s current job is going pretty well, so you won’t find him complaining much. But should you prod just a bit, he will hint at one regret. “I wish I could play with the knowledge that I have now,” says Slaught, a platoon catcher in the majors in the 1980s and ’90s who tallied more than 1,000 hits with teams such as the Royals, Rangers and Pirates. “There were things that I was still doing wrong that could have helped me even more.” What Slaught is modestly omitting is that his batting average did steadily ascend during his career. In fact, he hit .264 in 1986, .283 in ’88, .300 in ’90 and a robust .345 in ’92. By the time he retired in ’97, Slaught’s resume included six…

The Captain’s Catcher’s Award recognizes the defensive qualities of minor league catchers. Inspired by the catching skills and character of Jason Varitek, this award is only about catching and who plays the position to the fullest. The best catchers are detail oriented and driven to improve their performance behind the plate. Leadership, dedication, the ability to call a game, blocking, receiving, and making plays are the primary qualities sought after—with the ultimate goal of protecting home. AUSTIN HEDGES, C SAN DIEGO BORN: Aug. 18, 1992. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 190. DRAFTED: HS–San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 2011 (2nd round). SIGNED BY: Josh Emmerick. Hedges has been considered one of the best defenders in the minor leagues for years. Last year, his bat and to some extent his glove tailed off…

BIOGRAPHIES ■ BASEBALL MAVERICK. By Steve Kettmann (Atlantic Monthly Press, $26). Surprisingly candid biography of storied career of general manager Sandy Alderson. ■ BILLY MARTIN. By Bill Pennington (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30). The troubled but talented player and manager was both a great and terrible fit for his times. ■ CHRISTY MATHEWSON, THE CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN. By Bob Gaines (Rowman & Littlefield, $38). A looks at Mathewson’s impressive career and his deep faith. ■ THE CLOSER. By Mariano Rivera and Wayne Coffey. (Little, Brown & Company, $28). The game’s greatest closer tells the story of his career. ■ GIL HODGES. By Mort Zachter (University of Nebraska Press, $34.95). Biography of long-time player and manager who kept his humanity through a life in the game. ■ JOHN “FLASH” FLAHERTY. By Jim Pransky…

Keller Catches Buck’s Eye BALTIMORE Though he had final roster decisions to make in spring training, big league manager Buck Showalter brought over righthander Jon Keller from minor league camp because he wanted to take a closer look at one of the organization’s better pitching prospects. It never hurts to take another glimpse into the future. A 22nd-round pick from Tampa in 2013, Keller gained notice last season at low Class A Delmarva by striking out 66 in 57 innings while allowing 39 hits and walking 14. That earned him glowing reports that filtered up to Showalter. “The Keller kid is impressive if he stays healthy,” Showalter said. “His numbers are legit.” The 22-year-old Keller, whose fastball reaches the mid-90s, earned the organization’s pitcher-of-the-month honors for June 2014 after he…

Fields Gets A Second Chance TORONTO Two summers ago, outfielder Roemon Fields sold hats in a Seattle mall and delivered mail for the post office. Now he’s a prospect in the Blue Jays system, thanks to a former coach’s invitation to play in a Prince George, B.C., tournament, his brother Anthony convincing him to go, his manager giving him time off work and a scout who had never signed a player. “I thought I was done with baseball,” said the speedy Fields, 24, whom Toronto challenged this season at high Class A Dunedin. Far from it, as it turns out. Fields went undrafted both out of high school and college, even though he worked out for the Royals in 2012 while playing at Bethany (Kan.). After the 2013 draft came…

Tough-Look Lefty NEW YORK Lefthander Chase Huchingson compiled a 1.61 ERA and stuck out 68 batters in 45 relief appearances at Double-A Binghamton in 2013. Lefthanders went 9-for-72 (.125) against him. However, his season ended abruptly that August when he received a 50-game suspension for a second violation involving a drug of abuse. The suspension carried into 2014, and Huchingson struggled upon his return. Now, the 26-year-old is back for a third year at Binghamton. He appears to be back on the radar, too, though the acquisitions of veteran bullpen lefties Jerry Blevins and Alex Torres affords more time for Huchingson to develop. Big league manager Terry Collins first became impressed with him in 2010, when the Mets signed Huchingson as a nondrafted free agent from Central Arkansas. He topped…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ DETROIT Second baseman Javier Betancourt is a slick fielder, but the Tigers believe that the 19-year-old will hit, too. He hit .269/.307/.344 with six home runs and 54 RBIs in 2014 in his first season at low Class A West Michigan. “He’s a very advanced kind of kid offensively,” farm director Dave Owen said. “He swings the bat well, really has some awareness of his barrel, so he’s doing a nice job. We really like where he is and really expect good things out of Javier. He’s a smart baseball player.” Betancourt, who signed out of Venezuela in August 2011, isn’t a power hitter, but he makes consistent contact. He struck out 81 times in 134 games last…

Orlando Takes Long Road KANSAS CITY Outfielder Paulo Orlando made his major league debut on April 9, but he was anything but the typical rookie. Orlando is from Brazil, where soccer is kingpin and baseball fields are rare. The country has birthed just three big league players, the others being Indians catcher Yan Gomes and Marlins righthander Andre Rienzo. Orlando ran 200- and 400-meters sprints for the Brazilian junior Olympic team and also played soccer. Japanese kids introduced him to baseball as a youth. Orlando is 29, which is much older than most rookies. “I’m not that young, but I feel like I’m 17 years old,” Orlando said after walking in his first plate appearance and using his sonic speed for a triple his next time up. The Royals added…

Son Of Prodigal Expo Returns CINCINNATI Chad Wallach had never played before 50,231 fans before, much less been heartily cheered by them, but that happened in the Reds’ exhibition in Montreal. Batting in the eighth inning in the second of two exhibition games at Olympic Stadium, Wallach was introduced to the crowd as “the son of former Expos third baseman Tim Wallach,” first in French and then in English. “It was awesome,” Chad said after the game. “That just really showed me how popular my dad was here—just to get that kind of ovation. I know it was because of my dad, but I really appreciated it.” Wallach then struck out. When the Reds told Wallach he was making a detour to the Montreal exhibitions before starting the season at…

Harris Makes History ST. LOUIS Triple-A Memphis manager Mike Shildt asked righthander Mitch Harris to join him in the lobby of the team hotel, one day before the Redbirds were to fly to another Pacific Coast League city. Shildt invited his 29-year-old closer down to tell him he’s about to make history. Harris became the second-ever Navy graduate to reach the big leagues, following Nemo Gaines, who received a cup of coffee with the 1921 Senators. “Remember those days if you wondered on the ship if you’d ever make it . . . (and) what was your end goal?” Harris recalled Shildt asking him. “It’s nice to finally say that the dream has begun to come true. Obviously, just making it is part of it. Staying is the better half.”…

Bring In The Humidor ANAHEIM Lefthander Andrew Heaney, whom the Angels acquired from the Marlins via the Dodgers for Howie Kendrick, and righthander Nick Tropeano, acquired from the Astros for Hank Conger, entered spring training in a competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Neither offseason acquisition won. The Angels opted to take advantage of early off days and open the season with a four-man rotation, and Heaney and Tropeano both reported to Triple-A Salt Lake. But there was at least one consolation for Heaney, Tropeano and their pitching teammates at Triple-A: conditions at Salt Lake should be a little more hospitable this season. Following the lead of fellow Pacific Coast League clubs in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs, Salt Lake installed humidors to store baseballs at their ballpark,…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ LOS ANGELES Righthander Joe Wieland went a long time between visits to a major league mound. Given the fragile state of the Dodgers’ rotation, he might not have to wait long for a return visit in 2015. Acquired as part of the trade with the Padres that centered around Matt Kemp and Yasmani Grandal, Wieland opened the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City but represents a key part of the depth chart. “The way I look at it: When I come up, I’m not going back down,” Wieland said this spring. “That’s my mindset. You give me that chance I’m going to take advantage of it.” When he does get to Chavez Ravine, it will cap a difficult comeback…

Depth Charge SAN DIEGO The Padres farm system is almost unrecognizable compared to the one general manager A.J. Preller inherited last summer. Preller has dealt several of the system’s most publicized prospects, including most recently top righthander Matt Wisler in the trade with the Braves that landed closer Craig Kimbrel 24 hours before Opening Day. Scouts project the 22-year-old Wisler as a mid-rotation starter. In addition to trading Wisler and a dozen other prospects, Preller reportedly offered the system’s top slugger, Hunter Renfroe, and stud defensive catcher Austin Hedges to the Phillies, according to USA Today, in a rejected trade proposal for Cole Hamels. Despite the exodus, the Padres say a number of intriguing, if less widely recognized, talent remains in the system. “We still have a lot off good…

For the second consecutive spring, scouts are flocking to North Florida Christian High in Tallahassee, Fla., to see one of the Sands brothers on the mound. Last year, it was for Carson Sands, who was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round. This year, the main attraction is his younger brother Cole. With two brothers just a year apart in school, it is tempting to compare them. But they are two very different pitchers, starting with which arm they use to throw. Carson is a lefthander, while Cole is righthanded. The differences extend to their builds (at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Cole is the more physical), their personalities (Cole is more vocal, North Florida Christian coach Mike Posey said) and even their breaking balls (Carson uses a 12-to-6 curveball, while…