Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, May 22, 2015 i Baseball America

APRIL 6 2009 » IN THIS ISSUE: Memphis paid up, and is paying the price, for the best and most expensive ballpark in the minors. » ALSO: Matt Wieters and David Price would rank higher in Top 100 than amateurs Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. Journeyman minor league reliever (and future best-selling author) Dirk Hayhurst offers a unique perspective on the best ballparks in the minors, including Frisco’s Dr Pepper Ballpark: “The nice thing about Frisco is it’s got easy access to the clubhouse, so you don’t have to spend all of your time out in the bullpen, even though you’re supposed to. The clubhouse has closed-circuit TV showing the game live, so you can watch what’s going on and get back out there if your pitcher gets in trouble.…

PHILADELPHIA Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons is equally adept at ranging to his left or right and charging groundballs on the run. He’s like a fourth outfielder with his ability to pursue pop flies and catch them without necessarily seeing them. He makes the Derek Jeterpatented pirouette play as well or better than the Captain ever did. And every throw he unleashes seems to arrive chest-high with Shawon Dunston-caliber authority. Amid all those wondrous feats, Simmons skews reality to the point where the people around him each day are forced to re-evaluate their definition of extraordinary, or eye-catching, or “special.” Ask manager Fredi Gonzalez or the Atlanta players about the latest addition to Simmons’ forehead-slapping catalog, and chances are they’ve already discussed the play ad nauseam in the dugout, the clubhouse,…

NFL TOP PICK WINSTON CAN’T PLAY BASEBALL Jameis Winston is probably too busy, but even if he wanted to, the NFL’s No. 1 overall draft pick can’t play pro baseball. Winston’s rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prohibits the quarterback from playing baseball, according to the Monday Morning Quarterback website (TheMMQB.com). Winston, who played two seasons of baseball at Florida State, was selected in the 15th round of the 2012 draft by the Rangers and is eligible to be selected this year during the draft on June 8-10. In 2014, Winston was 1-0 with seven saves and 31 strikeouts in 33 innings for Florida State. A longtime scout told Baseball America last January that Winston could have been a firstround pick if he showed a preference to play pro…

Every draft class gets evaluated at least twice by Baseball America— before the draft, with our Top 200 coming next issue, and in the fall, in our Draft Report Cards. Our #BA500 tries to reflect the industry consensus; we know all 30 clubs will have different draft boards, but if a player is a third-round talent on the majority of them, according to our best information, then we want him ranked in the 76-105 range. We have lots of information to distill, albeit far less than the clubs have. When I complained to a scout how challenging it was to get a handle on the 2015 draft class, he groused back, “Try being the ones deciding which ones to spend money on.” Point taken. Other takeaways from reporting on the…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ NEW YORK When Derek Jeter retired following the 2014 season, the Yankees had to go outside the organization for a replacement. They traded for the Diamondbacks’ Didi Gregorius, who might or might not be the long-term solution. However, there are indications at the low levels of the system that the Yankees might have another homegrown shortstop. “Those two guys could have a nice battle moving up,” assistant general manager Billy Eppler said of Jorge Mateo and Tyler Wade, who are at low Class A Charleston and high Class A Tampa, respectively. Mateo, a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic who signed in 2010, has wowed with high-end tools. “He is an outstanding runner, a 70 to 80 on the (20-to-80)…

ST. PETERSBURG This spring has been full of surprises for righthander Matt Andriese. First, due to a series of injuries to other starters, he found himself competing for a spot on the big league team when he otherwise would’ve been headed back for a second season leading the staff at Triple-A Durham. Next, he made the Opening Day roster, then made his big league debut out of the bullpen before making his first start. And perhaps oddest of all, he earned a save, pitching the last three innings of an April 25 blowout win against the Blue Jays, before getting a win. “I told my mom and dad and some friends, ‘Who would have thought I’d get a save before my first (win)?’ But it’s funny how things work out,”…

FORT LAUDERDALE Listening to president of baseball operations Michael Hill explain it, the Marlins’ decision to eat the remaining $14.2 million on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s contract had as much to do with prospect J.T. Realmuto’s success as the veteran’s failure. Immediately after activating Saltalamacchia from the paternity list on April 27, the Marlins designated him for assignment, clearing the way for Realmuto to remain the club’s primary catcher. The Marlins summoned Realmuto from Triple-A New Orleans on April 13 when they lost backup Jeff Mathis to a fractured hand. Manager Mike Redmond quickly made it apparent that he had no intention of pinning the rookie to the bench. Redmond paired Realmuto with veteran Dan Haren against the Braves on April 15. Haren’s glowing review no doubt helped crystalize the notion…

WASHINGTON Righthander Rafael Martin’s route to the big leagues was unusual enough, but then he had the kind of debut that hadn’t happened in more than a half-century. The 30-year-old reliever didn’t even pitch in pro ball until after he’d spent four years working construction following his high school days in Mira Loma, Calif. He played in adult men’s leagues and eventually won a spot with Saltillo of the Mexican League in 2007 through a tryout camp. Martin ranked among the best Mexican League relievers with 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 2009, then signed with the Nationals the following February on the recommendation of Bill Singer, now the Nationals’ director of international scouting. Singer predicted five years ago that the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Martin would reach the major leagues, which…

DETROIT The Tigers want Joey Pankake to focus on playing second base this season. But they believe he can play almost anywhere on the field—and they believe he will give his all no matter where he plays. “He’s a baseball player,” director of player development Dave Owen said. “He’s coming out here and he’s going to get dirty with you. He likes to mix it up. “Obviously, we’ve got a short sample size with Joey, just getting him last year, but we like what we see.” The Tigers selected Pankake out of South Carolina in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. He hit .292/.345/.400 in 64 games at short-season Connecticut last season while playing 34 games at shortstop and 16 at third base. The Tigers moved the 22-year-old Pankake…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ CINCINNATI Sitting in a major league dugout less than two years after being drafted, righthander Michael Lorenzen spoke about his patience without a hint of irony. Lorenzen, though, has shown anything but patience as he’s rushed through the minors. A two-way standout at Cal State Fullerton, he stopped playing center field and focused solely on pitching once the Reds took him with the 38th overall pick in the 2013 draft. When someone pointed out that Lorenzen had pitched just 161 pro innings prior to his Reds debut, he was able to laugh at himself a little. “When you’re a competitor, you want to compete at the highest level as fast as possible,” said Lorenzen, 23.. “So I did everything…

PITTSBURGH John Holdzkom tries to keep everything in his baseball career simple. That is how he survived being cut by both the Mets and Reds and bouncing around various independent leagues without ever losing hope of someday making the major leagues. It is also why he didn’t make a big deal when he finally got to the majors last Sept. 1 with the Pirates, though many others did. Signed out of the independent American Association a little more than two months earlier, Holdzkom helped the Pirates reach the playoffs by allowing two runs in nine relief appearances. So it is only fitting that the 6-foot-9 righthander is staying even-keeled at Triple-A Indianapolis after failing to make the Opening Day roster. He had entered the spring pencilled in as the seventh-inning…

HOUSTON Righthander Daniel Mengden has one of the funkiest deliveries in the minors, so the Astros considered tweaking his motion after the 22-year-old entered pro ball with a stress fracture in his back. Doctors cleared Mengden to pitch late last season, and the 2014 fourth-round pick from Texas A&M kept his delivery, but with a few minor tweaks, after proving that he can repeat it successfully during instructional league. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Mengden stands with his feet wide and his glove covering his face. He then rocks back, slides his foot all the way across the pitching rubber and lifts his hands over his head in the windup. A big leg kick follows, and he nearly curls his entire front half with his left leg and left elbow practically touching…

ARLINGTON As good as he was during his first big league camp, righthander Alex Gonzalez remained an unknown to many casual Rangers fans who stick to the happenings of the big league club. Gonzalez, though, opened their eyes April 4 when the Rangers closed their spring exhibition schedule in a 4-4 tie against the Mets. He allowed three hits and struck out eight in five scoreless innings. Gonzalez might be the Rangers’ No. 2 pitching prospect, but he’s the one closest to the majors, and fans were clamoring for his promotion with Derek Holland injured and Ross Detwiler struggling. The Rangers, though, kept a steady hand. Gonzalez got his first taste at Triple-A Round Rock this spring after logging just 73 Double-A innings in 2014. He was also tasked with…

DENVER The struggles shortstop Trevor Story endured at Double-A Tulsa in 2014 are paying dividends for him at the same level this year. After moving up from high Class A Modesto to Tulsa in late June, Story never found his footing and hit .200/.302/.380 in 56 games. At New Britain, where the Rockies’ Double-A affiliate now is located, Story hit .398/.505/.716 through 25 games. He led the Eastern League in average, onbase percentage, slugging, home runs (five) and runs (24). “I think experience is playing into it,” farm director Zach Wilson said. “The fact that he just came out of his first major league camp and had a good major league camp. He showed people what he could do, and you leave there with a sense of belonging and confidence.”…

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE 1. BB&T Ballpark, Charlotte Knights 2. Victory Field, Indianapolis Indians 3. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham Bulls PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE 1. AutoZone Park, Memphis Redbirds 2. Southwest University Park, El Paso Chihuahuas 3. Isotopes Park, Albuquerque Isotopes EASTERN LEAGUE 1. FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading Fightin Phils 2. Canal Park, Akron RubberDucks 3. Peoples Natural Gas Field, Altoona Curve SOUTHERN LEAGUE 1. Regions Field, Birmingham Barons (above) 2. Bayfront Stadium, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3. Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Suns TEXAS LEAGUE 1. ONEOK Field, Tulsa Drillers 2. Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco RoughRiders 3. Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi Hooks CALIFORNIA LEAGUE 1. The Diamond, Lake Elsinore Storm 2. LoanMart Field, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3. Banner Island Ballpark, Stockton Ports CAROLINA LEAGUE 1. BB&T Ballpark, Winston-Salem Dash 2. TicketReturn.com Field, Myrtle…

COLLEGE PARK, MD. Standing on the field after his Maryland team knocked off Cal State Fullerton 2-1 on a crisp April evening in College Park, Terrapins head coach John Szefc has a lot to take in. “It’s a great night,” he says. The school had marketed the visit from college baseball blue-blood Fullerton as one of Maryland’s biggest home weekends ever. A season-high 1,370 fans turned out for the April 17 series opener, which the program jazzed up complete with cheerleaders and the pep band stationed behind the home dugout. The win was exciting enough, but that was only half the day’s story for Szefc. “I think it’s going to just get better. I mean, I had a meeting at 2 o’clock today about our stadium project, because they’re going…

Jayson Stark Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA Poor Josh Hamilton. He might have been freed from captivity in Southern California, but he goes right to the top of a list nobody wants to join: The Worst Free-Agent Signings of All Time. And trust me, that’s a tough list to top. But here is my new, updated, post-Josha-palooza top five, with a few honorable mentions thrown in there for your second-guessing consideration: 1. JOSH HAMILTON, ANGELS (5 YEARS, $125 MILLION) OK, I know what you’re thinking: Was he really that bad— bad enough to rank above the others on this list? Well, I’ll concede that the guy did have a 21-homer, 32-double season in his first year with the Angels. And his 3.0 Wins Above Replacement over two seasons tops…

BALTIMORE Orioles first baseman Chris Davis launched a ball over the flag court in right field and circled the bases in relative silence in his home ballpark. Not a sound could be heard except for the muffled cheers emanating from a small group of fans peeking through the gates. The ball rolled to a stop in front of a men’s room entrance on Eutaw Street and sat there as though it were a random peanut shell or wad of paper. No one sprinted to retrieve it. A coveted souvenir from one of the team’s most popular players collected dust. This was just one of the many strange sites on April 29 when the Orioles and White Sox played the first game without a crowd. The official attendance was announced as…

Add another young Cuban prospect to the mix who will be drawing interest from major league teams. Yusnier Diaz, an 18-year-old outfielder who was one of the top young players on the island, has left Cuba to pursue a contract with a major league team. Diaz had a standout rookie year this past season (which ended in March) playing for Industriales in Serie Nacional, hitting .348/.447/.440 with 36 walks and 33 strikeouts in 250 plate appearances to rank sixth in the league in batting average. He got better as the season went along, batting .398/.481/.516 in 26 games in the second half. Diaz likely would have won the Serie Nacional rookie of the year award had he stayed in Cuba, but it instead went to Alfredo Rodriguez, a smoothfielding but…

BOSTON From the time Kevin Cash was named Rays manager to the opening of the season, Chris Archer picked the brain of the former Indians bench coach on how Corey Kluber went from being a guy who in his second organization won his first major league game at age 26—a year in which his ERA was 5.14—to being the Cy Young Award winner two years later at 28. Cash got it. He knew Tampa was Archer’s third organization. Like Kluber, Archer at 26 has exceptional stuff, developing command and dedicated conviction to be great. The description Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway has of Kluber is that he is “obsessed” with being great. Which is a great thing. Like Gerrit Cole. Jose Fernandez. Trevor Bauer. Adam Wainwright. Clayton Kershaw. Madison Bumgarner.…

BALTIMORE The Orioles view catcher Chris O’Brien as more than the son of a former big league backstop, though they certainly hope he’s a chip off the old block. Baltimore acquired O’Brien and right hander Ben Rowen from the Dodgers for reliever Ryan Webb, Triple-A catcher Brian Ward and a supplemental second-round pick this June. The Dodgers released Webb, but the Orioles are holding on to O’Brien, whose father Charlie played for 15 seasons. “We have good reports on O’Brien,” executive vice president Dan Duquette said. “He’s an average catcher, and he’s got some potential with the bat. He’s also a switch-hitter, and he had a really good year with the bat last year, particularly lefthanded. “And he grew up around the game. His dad was an excellent catcher and…

TORONTO In a farm system stocked with power arms, Rowdy Tellez is among the few Blue Jays prospects to boast a big-time bat. The 20-year-old, lefty-hitting first baseman showed off his prodigious pop during his only Grapefruit League at-bat this spring, crushing a March 31 home run off the club offices beyond the right-field wall at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla. Already armed with an unforgettable name, Tellez’s mammoth drive against the Phillies made him memorable for different reasons. “It was awesome,” the 6-foot-4, 245-pound slugger said. “I was playing over at the minorleague complex when (minor league field coordinator) Doug Davis came over and said, ‘Hey, we got to go.’ I was, ‘All right.’ “(So I) hop in the van (and) come over, (but I) wasn’t expecting…

NEW YORK Champ Stuart’s baseball journey began in the Bahamas, continued at a North Carolina boarding school and included a stop at NCAA Division II Brevard (N.C.) before he became a sixth-round pick in 2013. The 22-year-old center fielder hit .256/.341/.340 and stole 29 bases in 33 attempts at low Class A Savannah last season, albeit while striking out 97 times in 285 atbats. He opened this season at high Class A St. Lucie. “Champ is an 80 runner on the (20-80) scouting scale, so that’s the tool that jumps out at everyone,” vice president of player development Paul DePodesta said. “However, he is also a patient hitter who understands the strike zone. And unlike most 80 runners he has the strength to drive the ball.” Said Stuart: “Anytime I…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports CLEVELAND A year ago at this time Justus Sheffield was a high school pitcher in Tennessee. Now the 18-year-old lefthander is in the rotation at low Class A Lake County, having made a very smooth transition to the professional ranks. “He’s got great stuff and attacks the zone,” Lake County manager Shaun Larkin said. “Justus keeps his composure. The moment never gets too big for him.” The 2014 Gatorade national player of the year at Tullahoma High, Sheffield went 10-0, 0.34 with 131 strikeouts in 61 innings. The Indians drafted him last year in the first round with the 31st overall pick, which the Indians received as compensation for losing free agent Ubaldo Jimenez. Sheffield shined in the Rookie-level…

KANSAS CITY Whit Merrifield hit .261 through his first four minor league seasons, making the second baseman/outfielder an unlikely candidate for the George Brett award as the organization’s top hitter. Merrifield won the award after a breakthrough 2014 season at Triple-A Omaha in which he hit .340/.373/.474 in 76 games. He then hit .386 with three home runs in 10 Pacific Coast League playoff games. Brett presented Merrifield with the plaque in a spring training ceremony. “He’s one of the greatest ever,” Merrifield said. “To have an award with his name on it is a true honor. To have him up there saying nice things about me is even cooler.” So what clicked for Merrifield at the plate last year? “I’ve had decent years before,” said Merrifield, 26, “but I’ve…

CHICAGO Javier Baez was last summer’s flavor of the month for an organization with a stockpile of top-ranked prospects. But after a demotion to Triple-A Iowa out of spring training and his absence the first 19 games of the season on bereavement leave, what’s next—and when—for the slugging middle infielder? April already represented the toughest start to a season in Baez’s life, and he didn’t play his first game until the final day of the month, tending to family after the sudden death of his younger sister the week of Iowa’s opener. Within four games back with the I-Cubs, Baez had his first homer and first three-hit game. But he’s no lock for a promotion anytime soon, no matter how good he looks, or how quickly. Three-time all-star Starlin Castro…

ST. LOUIS Shortly after Mike Matheny had to retire from the game, the Cardinals wanted to develop him as a future coach or manager. They hired him first as, effectively, a teacher— the professor of catching. His first graduate reached the majors in April. Matheny was there to see it, as the manager. “This is one of the great rewards of the job,” Matheny said. Cody Stanley made his debut on April 26 with a single in his only at-bat. Called to the majors for a cameo as the Cardinals became concerned about Yadier Molina’s health, the 26-year-old brought with him a .220/.313/.322 batting line through 19 games at Triple-A Memphis and a growing reputation as a rising backup option. Matheny’s first post-career role with the Cardinals was as a…

ANAHEIM Don’t let Nate Smith’s not-so-overpowering repertoire, which consists of a fastball he throws between 88-92 mph, a slurvy curve, slider and changeup, fool you. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthander is no pushover on the mound. “He’s a bulldog, a competitor—he’s no choir boy,” farm director Bobby Scales said. “In today’s landscape, he doesn’t throw hard, but he understands the value of changing speeds and eye levels, of mixing pitches. “He has good command of everything he throws. He’s on a really good path right now.” That path is looking more like a fast track. Smith, an eighth-round pick out of Furman in 2013, split 2014 between high Class A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas, where he went a combined 11-6, 2.97 in 21 starts, striking out 118 and walking 44…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ SAN DIEGO When the Padres included top shortstop prospect Trea Turner in a December trade, Jose Rondon seemed destined to begin this season at Double-A San Antonio. The Padres, though, opted to start Rondon at high Class A Lake Elsinore, where the 21-year-old played well last year, hitting .301/.371/.390 in 109 games and earning solid grades at shortstop. Turner probably will play shortstop in the Texas League until he joins the Nationals on June 13 as the player to be named in the offseason trade. Rondon responded to the disappointing news by hitting .283/.337/.380 through 23 games with the Storm. “Jose Rondon is absolutely a guy we’re excited about,” farm director Sam Geaney said. “His shortstop play has…

LOS ANGELES The Dodgers have acknowledged that their shortstop of the future’s path to the majors could begin 30 to 40 feet to his right. In the early weeks of the season, blue-chip prospect Corey Seager was playing third base “roughly once a week,” according to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, as part of a plan to make him a more ready option should the Dodgers need infield help. “The idea is, at some point this year or next year . . . if he’s only played shortstop, that obviously limits him to an injury (creating an opportunity) at that one position,” Friedman said. “Giving him reps at another position only helps him and helps us.” Seager started four of Double-A Tulsa’s first 20 games of the season at…

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. CARSON KELLY, C ST. LOUIS BORN: July 14, 1994. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 200. DRAFTED: HS—Portland, Ore., 2012 (2nd round). SIGNED BY: Matt Swanson. When Kelly signed with St. Louis, he was a third baseman. But when he was approached about moving behind the plate, he quickly took to his new position, showing…

BRYAN RAMSEY, CHICAGO Since the season began, top prospect Kris Bryant and No. 3 prospect Addison Russell have been promoted to the big leagues, so it’s worth asking: Who’s No. 1. Entering the season, the top five of our Top 100 Prospects included Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (No. 2), Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (No. 4) and Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (No. 5). A month into this season, those are still the three top names to consider. Each is healthy, producing and playing in either Double-A or Triple-A. To get a sense of who front offices consider the top prospect, we polled a cross-section of front-office officials to get their viewpoint. No one with the Astros, Dodgers or Twins was polled. The results? It wasn’t that close. Of the seven…

KANSAS CITY Roughly a month into the season is a little early to get too excited. The four-time defending American League Central champion Tigers, however, are feeling pretty good about the way things are coming together. After losing the first two of a four-game series against the Royals that carried into the early days of May, the Tigers responded with a pair of victories— including a complete-game effort by David Price—and claimed a split in the series. Detroit left Kansas City atop the AL Central by a half-game over the Royals, just like when the Tigers arrived in the City of Fountains for the weekend showdown. So what’s to get excited about? Plenty. The Tigers’ record was among the best in the majors, along with the Astros, Cardinals and Royals.…

BOSTON Humberto Quintero has caught a number of pitching luminaries in parts of 12 big league seasons. He’s worked with the likes of Roger Clemens, Felix Hernandez, Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavy. That perspective informs his view of Triple-A Pawtucket lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez. When Quintero catches the 22-year-old, he recalls another former Astros teammate. “Andy Pettitte, but the only thing is, Andy threw, like, 90,” said Quintero, who caught Pettitte in Houston in 2005-06. “(Rodriguez) throws kind of like him, where the ball moves a lot, and he’s got a good changeup and good slider. He’s really good. He’s going to do well.” Signed out of Venezuela in 2010, Rodriguez focused on working down and away from hitters while coming up in the Orioles system. Red Sox officials encouraged him…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ATLANTA The Braves made it clear to righthander Alec Grosser that in order to have success as a pro starter, he must be able to throw three pitches with consistency. That means throwing his presently belowaverage changeup at least 10 percent of the time, but that has presented a challenge for the 20-year-old early this season at low Class A Rome. “As a high school guy, I know I have a lot to learn and I need to have patience,” said Grosser, an 11th-round pick in 2013 out of Alexandria, Va. “I’ve mostly been a slider, two-seam sinker, four-seam fastball guy. I didn’t throw the changeup in high school, and that’s the pitch I’m trying to add.” Through his…

PHILADELPHIA The Phillies sure got their money’s worth out of Carlos Ruiz, who signed for $8,000 out of Panama in 1998, but at age 36, he is the oldest regular catcher in the majors. Who’s next? “It’s an area of strength,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of the team’s minor league catching stock. Big league backup Cameron Rupp, a 2010 third-round pick from Texas, is a candidate to succeed Ruiz when his contract expires after 2016, but he’s 26 and not an accomplished major league hitter at this stage. Beyond Rupp, the Phillies are high on a number of their prospect backstops, including Gabriel Lino, 21; Andrew Knapp, 23; and Deivi Grullon, 19. Lino, acquired from the Orioles for Jim Thome in 2012, opened the season as the starter…

CHICAGO The White Sox should get a better feel for Kyle Drabek’s ability now that his feet are on the ground and he can fully concentrate on pitching. To say the least, it was a whirlwind couple of weeks for the 27-year-old righthander. On March 27, Chicago claimed Drabek on waivers from the Blue Jays. He made the cross-country trek from Dunedin, Fla., to Glendale, Ariz., and pitched in one Cactus League game, throwing 11⁄3 scoreless innings. Drabek made Chicago’s Opening Day roster as a reliever but first made another crosscountry trip, this time to Charlotte for an exhibition against the club’s Triple-A affiliate. “I was spinning a little bit,” he said. Drabek appeared in three games for the White Sox, but he didn’t last long. Chicago outrighted him off…

MINNEAPOLIS Sure, any outfielder drafted by the Twins out of Bradley is going to draw comparisons with a certain hero from the team’s two World Series champions. So when Max Murphy, a ninth-round pick, tore up the Rookie-level Appalachian League during his 2014 pro debut, the Twins couldn’t be blamed for wondering if they had another Kirby Puckett in their system. But that’s not the comparison the Twins make with the 21-year-old corner fielder. “He kind of reminds us of Dan Gladden,” vice president for player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “He’s a similar body type—not big—but he can run, and he hits the ball hard the way Gladden did.” Gladden, now a Twins radio broadcaster, was the starting left fielder on the 1987 and 1991 World Series winners, so it’s…

MILWAUKEE The Brewers never have known quite what to do with Tyler Thornburg. After selecting the 5-foot-11 righthander in the third round of the 2010 draft out of Charleston Southern, the Brewers kept Thornburg in a starting role as he rose through the minors. In three stints with Milwaukee in 2012, he made eight appearances, five in relief. In 19 outings with the Brewers in 2013, Thornburg pitched 11 times in relief, but when they needed a starter later in the season, he filled in brilliantly, going 2-1, 1.47. The Brewers had no room in the rotation at the outset of 2014, but instead of returning Thornburg to the minors as a starter, they kept him as a long reliever. He pitched so well that he quickly rose to a…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ OAKLAND After more long bus rides than he could ever count, utility infielder Tyler Ladendorf figured something out: slowing the game in his head could hasten his rise to the majors. “That’s what I learned to do last year,” he said. “Take it one pitch at a time and slow the game down. I feel like I really turned the corner at (Triple-A) Sacramento last year.” The 27-year-old from the Chicago area has spent seven seasons tooling around the minors, since the Twins made him a secondround pick in 2008—out of Howard (Texas) JC—then traded him to the Athletics a year later for shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Ladendorf made all those years in the minors pay off when he made…

SEATTLE Even a day later, the excitement still lingered in lefthander Danny Hultzen’s voice as he talked to the media about first official start of the season for Double-A Jackson on May 1 against Pensacola. With his father in the stands watching and Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik also in attendance, Hultzen pitched 31⁄3 innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts. He threw 58 pitches, 38 of them for strikes. “It was awesome, I’ve been looking forward to that day for a really long time,” said Hultzen, 25. “I did my best just to calm down and enjoy it. Sitting out for so long, you get the itch to play really easily.” Hultzen, a Virginia product, has missed the better part of…

PHOENIX Shortstop Domingo Leyba opened the season as the second-youngest player in the California League, but that wasn’t apparent from his early season performance. The high Class A Visalia switch-hitter batted .257/.267/.305 with 27 hits, 18 RBIs and five stolen bases through 24 games. Leyba will not turn 20 until Sept. 11. The Diamondbacks acquired Leyba and lefthander Robbie Ray in the Dec. 5 threeteam trade that sent Didi Gregorius to the Yankees. Despite his 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame, Leyba’s bat contains “surprising pop,” vide president of baseball operations De Jon Watson said. “He definitely drives the baseball from both sides of the plate,” Watson said. “There is some (Erick) Aybar in there. He doesn’t have quite the same run tool, but he is slashy from both sides, with occasional pull-side…

SAN FRANCISCO Failure is a powerful teacher for minor league players. It can provide valuable lessons for managers and coaches, too. Rookie manager Jose Alguacil is receiving the sternest of seminars. His Double-A Richmond club lost its franchise-record 15th straight game on May 3 after blowing a fourrun lead in the seventh inning. Two days earlier, they lost 1-0 and wasted a fine outing from prospect righthander Kyle Crick. Richmond chief operating officer Todd Parnell vowed to wear a full uniform and refused to take a shower until the club won. The team invited fans to bring horseshoes and other good-luck trinkets to the ballpark. Good luck getting Alguacil to find any humor in it. One of the most upbeat and cheerful members of the minor league field staff, he…

Why wait until they leave Cuba? As the Cuban players continue to exit the country at a rapid pace, here are reports on the top 10 prospects to watch who are still in Cuba. 1. Yulieski Gourriel, 3b/2b A star in Cuba for more than a decade, Gourriel, 30, has a well-rounded skill set. He has plus bat speed and squares up all types of pitches with good hand-eye coordination and barrel control. He stays within the strike zone and uses the whole field, and with plus raw power on the 20-80 scale, he offers a balance of being able to hit for average, get on base and hit for power. When Gourriel plays for his Industriales team in Cuba, he’s a third baseman, where he is an above-average defender.…

WILMINGTON, DEL. Every baseball game this spring involving St. Mark’s High, located near Newark, Del., has seen unusual displays of brotherhood. When St. Elizabeth coach Tom Beddow handed St. Mark’s counterpart Matt Smith the lineup for the first of the rivals’ two games at Wilmington’s Canby Park, he also gave Smith a card, signed by his team. It was for Billy Phillips, the St. Mark’s senior all-state player and Maryland signee who had just been diagnosed with leukemia. Players on opposing teams have also taken to wearing orange wristbands—the color is the symbol for leukemia awareness—with hashtag BP15, Phillips’ initials and his graduation year, written in marker. Even Maryland stitched #BP15 on the back of its baseball caps. From the moment news spread of Phillips’ illness, such displays of support—often…