Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, March 25, 2016 i Baseball America

MARCH 31 1996 » IN THIS ISSUE: Rookie Alan Benes joins brother Andy Benes with the Cardinals. » ALSO: Profiles on two rookies about to take the Big Apple: Righthander Paul Wilson and a young shortstop named Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter isn’t looking for a handout. He’s worked for everything he’s ever gotten on a baseball diamond, and he’s not about to let that change now. So while the Yankees’ decision to give the 21-year-old every opportunity to be their everyday shortstop—a decision general manager Bob Watson said was made before he joined the organization last October—did indeed brighten Jeter’s winter, he’s not about to take anything for granted “I don’t expect anyone to give me a job,” he said after arriving at Yankees camp. “You have to win it…

Baseball Writer, ESPN.com GLENDALE, ARiZ. Todd Frazier’s biggest moment on a national stage in his first five major league seasons came on his final swing of the 2015 Home Run Derby, when he drove a pitch from his brother Charlie into the leftfield seats to set off a display of fireworks, hugs and hometown love at Great American Ball Park. Chaos made a return engagement a week before Christmas, when Frazier’s business and personal lives went seismic. On Dec. 16, the Reds traded him to the White Sox. Two days later, his wife, Jackie, gave birth to a 9-pound, 1-ounce bundle of joy named Kylie Kimberly. It was a head-spinning 48 hours for Frazier, who can be a bundle of joy in his own right. “It was nutty,” Frazier says.…

METS P.R. DIRECTOR SHANNON FORDE DIES Longtime Mets media relations director Shannon Forde died on March 5 after a long battle with the breast cancer she was diagnosed with in 2012. She was 44 and is survived by her husband and two children Shortly after the news was announced, the baseball world from New York and across the country reacted with near uniform feelings of grief. “Can’t get most of us to agree on anything. But if you saw the hundreds of us at Shannon’s dinner 4 years ago you’d understand her greatness,” tweeted Sweeny Murti of WFAN. “Very Sad to hear of the passing of @Mets Shannon Forde. A wonderful, dedicated member of the Mets family. Our deepest prayers are with you,” tweeted Mets Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.…

Editor in Chief Baseball America johnmanuel @baseba llamerica.com CHAPEL HILL, N.C. J.B. Bukauskas worked through four scoreless innings in his third start of the year, as North Carolina was en route to defeating visiting Fairfield at Boshamer Stadium as part of a three-game series sweep. The Tar Heels, on their way to a 10-1 start, were counting on Bukauskas to be a key piece of their weekend rotation, as he was as a freshman in 2015, and gave Bukauskas an 8-0 lead tthrough four innings. Bukauskas gave up two runs in the fifth, though, on a pair of hits sandwiched around a walk. He finished the inning and pitched into the sixth en route to his first victory of the season. The win pleased Bukauskas afterward, but not as much…

National Writer Baseball America bbadler @baseba llamerica.com Teams are running around trying to keep up with all of the Cuban players who have left the country looking to sign with major league clubs. The majority of those players profile as organizational roster filler at best, but there are several players ranging from young teenage prospects who would start out in Rookie ball up to immediate major league starters in their 20s and 30s who are available. Here is a rundown on the latest from 15 notable Cuban players who are available. 1. Yulieski Gurriel, 3b/2b Gurriel should immediately be an aboveaverage player either at third base (his primary position) or second base, where he also has experience, but he’s still far from being eligible to sign. Based on the precedent…

Waiting For The Wright Time SARASOTA, FLA. Orioles righthander Mike Wright can do the rotation math, but he isn’t consumed by the numbers. Wright reported to spring training with the mindset that he can earn a starting job. It doesn’t matter that the Orioles signed Yovani Gallardo to a two-year deal with an option, inserting him into the spot vacated by lefthander Wei-Yin Chen. “I’m pulling for everyone ahead of me,” Wright, who threw two scoreless innings against the Braves in the exhibition opener, said. “They’re all great guys, but there’s always things that happen. “(ctionChris) Tillman didn’t throw. That’s not to say he won’t by the time the season starts, and I hope he does. I wouldn’t wish an injury on anyone. But if I just shut it down…

Greene Anxious To Wear Blue DUNEDIN Conner Greene logged 132 innings while pitching at three levels in the Blue Jays’ system last year, more than double his total in 2014, but he’s got his eyes on a bigger workload, and for that he needs some bulk. “A huge goal is gaining weight for me right me now,” says the 20-year-old righthander. “I’m going to hopefully one day have a huge workload so I would like to be able to maintain strength throughout the season. I’m binge-eating, definitely a lot of burritos, a lot of protein shakes. It’s not working yet, but hopefully it will come around.” Lots of things have already come around for the 6-foot-3, 165-pound Greene, the Blue Jays No. 2 prospect and the team’s top pitching prospect.…

Morris Ready For Second Try PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. Righthander Akeel Morris still cherishes his major league debut, even if it left him with a 67.50 ERA that he is unlikely to reduce for a while. Morris had been summoned all the way from high Class A St. Lucie last June because he was on the 40-man roster and the Mets needed a safety net with their bullpen overworked. Before Morris returned to the minors, manager Terry Collins decided to give him a taste of the big leagues by inserting him against the explosive Blue Jays lineup. Entering last June 17 with the Mets trailing 3-0 in the eighth inning, Morris consecutively walked Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista to begin his appearance. Morris eventually surrendered a three-run home run to…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports GLENDALE, ARIZ. Jordan Guerrero combined to go 13-4, 3.08 in 25 starts last season with low Class A Kannapolis and high Class A Winston-Salem. Not only did the 21-year-old lefthander move up to 11th on the White Sox’s Top 30 Prospects list, he put himself squarely on the White Sox’s radar. Guerrero also received a non-roster invitation to Chicago’s major league spring training. “Awesome,” Guerrero said. “Just being here and learning from the veterans, watching guys like (Chris) Sale, watching everything they do and taking it all in. It’s like a dream come true.” Drafted in the 15th round in 2012 out of Moorpark (Calif.) High, Guerrero made seven relief appearances with Rookie-level Bristol that year. The following…

Quite The Act To Follow KANSAS CITY Brett Eibner is in his second big league spring training, but he will have a difficult task repeating his first. Eibner, the Royals’ second-round pick out of Arkansas in 2010, hit .500 with six home runs, four doubles and a triple for a 1.765 OPS in 16 games as a non-roster invitee. “I don’t see why not,” Eibner said of duplicating those numbers. “I’m feeling healthy. It was a great camp. I had a blast with it. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited. I’m not looking at putting any kind of number on it. I’m just looking at going out and doing what I can do. “I was real relaxed. I was looking at the opportunity I had and to take advantage…

Almora Gives Up The Social Life MESA, ARIZ. On Nov. 1, Cubs outfield prospect Albert Almora tweeted about how great the final game of the World Series was. On Nov. 13 he tweeted simply “#PrayForParis.” That’s it. Nothing since. And don’t expect to see any more this season. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft had an epiphany late one night, checking emails, texts, Instagram and Twitter—until realizing how late it was. “What am I doing?” he said to himself. “I’ve got to wake up at 5 to work out. This is my career. I’ve got to put my priorities in check.” It could turn out to be a key for Almora— who might be the top defensive outfielder in the system—if he can translate that into a…

Throw-In Gem JUPTER, FLA. The only member of the fourplayer deadline deal between the Red Sox and Cardinals in 2014 who was not a major leaguer is now the only member of it to still be with the Cardinals. Corey Littrell, a high Class A lefty at the time, came to the Cardinals along with veteran starter John Lackey in exchange for All-Star Allen Craig and starter Joe Kelly. Lackey left this past winter for the Cubs. Craig has struggled with Boston, who returned him to Triple-A last season. And Kelly is vying for a spot in the Red Sox rotation. Littrell, however, is on the rise. The 23-year-old starter went 9-9, 2.69 at high Class A Palm Beach in 2015, and that earned an invitation to major league spring…

DeLoach Opening Angels’ Eyes LOS ANGELES You won’t find Tyler DeLoach on any top prospect lists. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound lefthander’s stuff, which consists of an 89 mph fastball, sweeping slider and changeup, doesn’t warrant that kind of attention. You will, however, find DeLoach in big league camp with the Angels this spring, which is as much a testament to his performance and resolve as his potential to pitch in a major league rotation. “What he’s done year after year is prove to people he belongs,” Mike LaCassa, the team’s director of minor league operations, said. “You see that on the mound in his attitude and his understanding of how to pitch.” DeLoach was a 26th-round pick out of UNC Wilmington in 2012, and he didn’t make an affiliate out of…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PHOENIX The stakes are significantly higher for shortstop Trevor Story this spring. A year ago, Story was in big league camp for the first time, a non-roster invitee wearing No. 77 and gaining some exposure and some experience before disappearing from the major league scene. “Last year was kind of an introduction,” Story, 23, said, “but I feel like this year’s a little more serious.” That’s because shortstop Jose Reyes is on paid administrative leave and likely facing a suspension, the result of an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife. In Reyes’ absence, Cristhian Adames, Rafael Ynoa, Daniel Descalso and Story are competing for the shortstop job. “The intricacies of the position have really improved for him…

Preller Pleased With Progress SAN DIEGO It’s typical for a new front office to laud the changes it makes to a farm system. Padres general manager A.J. Preller is no different in that respect from several of his predecessors in the GM job. As spring training began this year, Preller spoke about numerous changes he made in scouting and player development after becoming GM two seasons ago. “I really like the direction that that’s heading in, in terms of our coaching staff, our instructional league program, our spring training program, (and) year-round development,” he told the Padres’ flagship radio station, 1090 AM. “You see it in the bodies of the minor league players that are here at minor league minicamp. You see it in the way our system is structured,…

Kevin Gowdy found that baseball grabbed him at an early age. Yes, he played soccer, basketball, basketball, flag football and also fell in love with tae kwon do, in which he earned a black belt. But there was something about baseball, and especially pitching, that just clicked for Gowdy from a young age. As an 8-year-old, Gowdy started taking pitching lessons. For many 8-year-olds, a pitching lesson is an exercise in trying to stay focused long enough to get something out of any given session. But for Gowdy, those lessons were always serious business. To get to the big leagues, you have to work, and even at that tender age, Gowdy wanted to work. He asked important questions and learned drills that he could do on his own. By the…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA There once was a time in baseball— heck, in all sports—when players abused their spouses and were playing games the next day, as if nothing of any significance had happened. Well, guess what? Luckily, we don’t live in that world anymore. Even Aroldis Chapman understands that now, I’m guessing. He was suspended on March 1 by commissioner Rob Manfred for 30 games. And he accepted his sentence, with no appeal. He accepted it even though he had said, emphatically, just a few days ago: “I never hurt anybody.” He accepted it even though he insisted again, in a statement that day: “I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening.” He accepted it even though there was no precedent, in the history…

FROM STAFF REPORTS For the second year in a row, Giancarlo Stanton will have a chance to hit a home run in North Carolina. Last season, the Marlins’ superstar slugger clubbed a ball out of NewBridge Bank Park when Miami came to Greensboro for an exhibition game against the team’s low Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. If he goes deep this time, however, it will count. Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association on March 8 announced the Marlins and Braves will play a game at a newly constructed field in Fort Bragg, N.C., on July 3 to honor the U.S. military. The 12,500-capacity ballpark will be built through the financial support of MLB and the union and, after the July 3 game, will…

STAFF REPORT Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman accepted a 30-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy, MLB announced on March 1. Chapman agreed not to appeal the suspension, levied as a result of an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend last October. Chapman will be allowed to participate in spring training and the suspension will begin on Opening Day. The earliest he can return is May 9 against Kansas City. Chapman will lose 30 days of pay— $1,857,377.05—and 30 days of major league service time, but will still qualify for free agency after the season. Had he been suspended more than 46 days, he would not have qualified for free agency and still be under the Yankees’ control for 2017. The suspension is the first under…

Columnist, MLB Network DUNEDIN, FLA. On this day, Jose Bautista is sparring with the media about reports of his contract demands—reported to be $150 million for five years—which he believes to have been leaked by Rogers Communications, Blue Jays ownership, aimed at making a 35-year-old man to be colored as greedy. Bautista was a 20th-round draft pick in 2000 who after being waived, picked in the Rule 5 draft, bounced in a threeway trade, waived and claimed again before, in his 11th season, hitting 54 home runs, only to have a blogger who’d never met him suggest it must have been steroids that led to his breakout as a star. Bautista evokes emotional responses; one retired Yankees Hall of Famer early in March angrily suggested Bautista should be brushed back…

CLEARWATER, FLA. As spring training kicked into gear, Mark Appel went about his business quietly and methodically in Phillies camp. No one in the clubhouse sized up the 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander and whispered, “Oh, that’s him.” Appel surely wasn’t anonymous, but there was a just-another-guy quality to him as he blended into a new environment. Maybe that’s a good thing. “I never want to live in the past,” Appel said. “When I got drafted into pro ball I didn’t want to live in the past and be defined by being the first overall pick.” With the Astros, Appel was never going to shake that distinction. He was drafted first overall out of Stanford in 2013 and signed for $6.35 million. When his development sputtered and his toughness was questioned and…

The 2015 rookie class may not be matched for another decade. The guys who were supposed to be great were great, from Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstops Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor, to Mets flamethrower Noah Syndergaard. The 2014 draft delivered fast-moving first-rounders, from pitchers Aaron Nola and Carlos Rodon to the Mets’ Michael Conforto and the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber, who became key playoff performers as rookies. Then surprise contributors of all stripes buttressed the class. Few expected the Giants’ Matt Duffy to become a more than suitable replacement for Pablo Sandoval, or for Rule 5 draft pick Odubel Herrera to match Duffy with an identical .762 OPS, or for 20-year-old Roberto Osuna to lead big league rookies with 20 saves and help lead the Blue Jays to…

GREENVILLE, N.C. Evaluators have a seen a lot of Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel. He’s an alumnus of powerhouse program Farragut High in Knoxville, Tenn., where he played alongside fellow prospects Philip Pfeiffer, Nicky Delmonico, A.J. Simcox and Kyle Serrano. Senzel participated in the showcase circuit leading up to his senior high school season. He produced for the Volunteers for his first two years on campus, then emerged as a potential firstround pick when he showed loud offensive tools in the Cape Cod League last summer. But what evaluators have seen from Senzel lately has him racing up the 2016 draft board. Senzel’s best tool is his righthanded bat. He has a compact swing, plus bat speed and exceptional strike zone awareness. He controls the inside part of the strike…

From One Setback To Another FORT MYERS, FLA. Last July, Michael Kopech learned that his appeal of a 50-game suspension for a positive test for the stimulant Oxilofrine had been rejected. His first full professional season with a Red Sox affiliate had come to an unexpected, crashing halt. The 19-year-old was frustrated, angry and disappointed. But his team’s continued faith in him also renewed his feeling of purpose. Now Kopech has tested that faith again after breaking his right hand in a spring altercation with a teammate. Kopech, 19, had been impressive in his pro debut thanks to arm strength. His mid-90s fastball eclipsed 100 on occasion, and his power curve proved sufficient to achieve success in low Class A Greenville. But while those raw materials were impressive, he didn’t…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ORLANDO, FLA. Space was so tight this year at Champion Stadium that several of the younger players have had to double up on lockers. Prospects Rio Ruiz and Braxton Davidson were among that group, with Dave Trembley, the Braves’ farm director, saying he wanted them to watch Nick Markakis prepare. “I can teach you how to play, I can teach you the fundamentals, but I can’t show you,” Trembley, who paired several other prospects with established big leaguers, said. “The best teacher is the guy who’s done it.” Obtained from the Astros prior to the 2015 campaign, Ruiz endured a difficult first season as a member of the Atlanta organization. The third baseman batted .233/.333/.324 at Double-A Mississippi,…

Stassi’s Makeover Pays Off CLEARWATER, FLA. If it weren’t for a complete remake of his swing, first baseman Brock Stassi wouldn’t be in his first big league camp. Heck, he might be out of baseball. Phillies minor league officials debated Stassi’s future when they met to set rosters before breaking camp a year ago. “We have to make some tough decisions,” farm director Joe Jordan said. “I don’t know that we seriously considered (releasing him), but his name came up and a lot of guys in the room defended him. Thank goodness they did because he really stepped up.” Stassi, a 33rd-round pick who signed for $1,000 out of Nevada in 2011, returned to Double-A for a second straight season and hit .300 with 15 homers, 90 RBIs and a…

Armstrong In MLB Not A Stretch CLEVELAND There are multiple reasons why Shawn Armstrong’s resume as a relief pitcher appeals to Indians officials. In 50 innings over 46 appearances with Triple-A Columbus last year Armstrong didn’t give up any home runs while averaging 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings, the second-highest ratio for any relief pitcher (minimum 45 innings pitched) in all of minor league baseball. “He has a nice fastball with some extra giddy-up that hitters have to respect. He’s an interesting guy,” said Indians manager Terry Francona. Francona got a first-hand look at Armstrong last year, when the 25-year-old righthander made eight appearances for the major league club in August and September. Selected in the 18th round out of East Carolina in the 2011 draft, Armstrong has made a…

Graham’s Loss Is Twins’ Gain FORT MYERS, FLA. The Twins promise to give J.R. Graham a second look this spring. They have to, because they might not recognize him otherwise. Graham, who stuck with Minnesota last season to fulfill Rule 5 requirements that prevented him from being sent down, didn’t feel like a major leaguer last winter, and not just because of his so-so 4.95 ERA. “I wasn’t sleeping well at night, and I didn’t feel that great during the day. I wasn’t in shape,” Graham said. “I finally realized I needed to eat better.” He dumped his pizza-and-beer dinners, his burger-and-fries late nights. He jettisoned the pasta, candy, fried foods and alcohol from his diet. And by the time he reported to training camp, he weighed 175 pounds, or…

Arcia’s Makeup Leaves A Mark MARYVALE, ARIZ. You will get an argument from no one that shortstop Orlando Arcia is the Brewers’ No. 1 prospect. But Brewers manager Craig Counsell says what makes Arcia truly special is not just his sublime offensive and defensive skill set. “His personality and makeup, that enhances his tools,” Counsell said. “He loves the game. That’s what stands out on the back fields of spring training, from watching him play. He plays the game from his heart.” Asked if the high expectations placed on a top prospect could drag Arcia down, Counsell added, “His personality and style of play almost welcomes it. That’s a compliment. I think he welcomes the spotlight. I think he enjoys the competition.” The countdown to Arcia becoming the Brewers’ starting…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ARLINGTON, TEXAS—Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson were 18 years old and fresh off being drafted, and Nomar Mazara was 17 and in the United States for the first time. In the summer of 2012, and in subsequent stops together in the minor leagues, Gallo, Brinson and Mazara decided they were the future of the Rangers. They might be right. Gallo (No. 10 overall prospect), Brinson (No. 16) and Mazara (No. 21) found themselves together at big league spring training for the first time last month, and are likely to open the season at Triple-A, just a phone call away from making Arlington their permanent workplace. “It started as a fantasy, coming into rookie ball and meeting those guys…

Mets May Regret Meisner Move OAKLAND It is the cost of winning. The Mets desperately needed another reliever to help battle for the pennant, and they made the difficult call to trade away prospect Casey Meisner for veteran Tyler Clippard. New York went on to reach the World Series, and Oakland came up with a potential gem. “That one hurt,” said Mets minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick. “He’s got all the makings of a special guy.” Meisner is raw. At the age of 20, he is still learning and growing into his body. He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 195 pounds. His future is a whole lot of “ifs”—if he can add strength, if he can be consistent with his curve, if he can continue developing his already plus change.…

Shipley Looks To Set PHOENIX Righthander Braden Shipley admitted he made it a little more difficult on himself in his first major league spring training camp last season, and a slight mechanical malfunction did not help, either. But Shipley regained his form in the second half of 2015 at Double-A Mobile, and he remains the organization’s top pitching prospect, all the wiser from another year of experience. “I think going into the season I was trying too hard to put myself into a position to get called up,” Shipley said of his 2015 experience. “When you put that sort of pressure on yourself, it just kind of gets to you. I think it just kind of caught up to me a little bit,” Shipley, 24, got off to a strong…

Crick At A Crossroads SAN FRANCISCO Kyle Crick’s fastball is not straight. His path from top prospect to the big leagues has taken an indirect path as well. Now on the 40-man roster but no longer a pup, Crick is entering a season that Giants manager Bruce Bochy termed as “critical for him.” “This is an important year for him,” Bochy said. “He’s had his ups and downs. I’ll sit down and talk with him. This is a critical year for him. He’s at an age where he has to make progress, because he’s got the equipment to pitch up here.” Crick’s mid-90s fastball is no longer the firmest in the system but it remains one of the liveliest. A supplemental first-round pick in 2011, Crick has shown the stamina…

Pod 1, Game 1 HUNTINGTON BEACH (CALIF.) HIGH NICKNAME: Oilers COACH: Benji Medure 2015 RECORD: 25-8 TOP PROSPECTS: RHP Hagen Danner (2017, UCLA), LHP/OF Nicholas Pratto (2017, Southern Cal), RHP Logan Pouelsen (UCLA) NOTABLE BASEBALL ALUMNI: Rays C Hank Conger, Reds RP Collin Balester.k OTHER ALUMNI: Chiefs/Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez. POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, NEW YORK NICKNAME: Blue Devils COACH: Mattew Roventini 2015 RECORD: 19-4 TOP PROSPECTS: SS/3B Daniel Bakst (Stanford), RHP Nicholas Storz (2017, LSU) NOTABLE BASEBALL ALUMNI: Red Sox minor league OF Kevin Heller, former Braves minor league 2B JJ Franco OTHER ALUMNI: NBA center Joakim Noah, actor Calvert DeForest MATCHUP: The Oilers, ranked No. 1 nationally in the preseason, will rely on the power arm of junior righthander Danner as they aim to neutralize Poly Prep’s…

CHRIS GERE, @TOPGERE There are lot of ways to answer this question. We already took a look at some prospects who just missed when we announced our Top 100, so today I’ll highlight some sleeper prospects who are further off the radar. All of these are higher-risk prospects who could flame out, but they all have some aspect that also make big steps forward possible in 2016. HARRISON BADER, OF/PAUL DEJONG, 3B, CARDINALS: Take your pick of which one breaks through this year, but both Bader and DeJong fit a pattern that has been successful for the Cardinals for many years: college players who can hit but face defensive questions. Their logic is that dedicated, intense instruction can fix a lot of defensive issues. Bader hit well at Florida but…

Columnist, MLB.com SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, with a long stride and the hair that waves in the wind, Jeff Samardzija has that mound presence that can intimidate. With an arsenal of as many as seven pitches and a fastball that is a solid mid-90s, he can overpower. And as a former All-America wide receiver at Notre Dame, whose father was a semipro hockey player, Samardzija can compete. What’s been missing in Samardzija’s big league career has been the gaudy kind of stats that would seem to come natural with that size, power and competiveness. Welcome to San Francisco, Jeff Samardzija. You have entered the world of manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti, who embrace the chance to add Samardzija to their lengthy list of pitching success.…

As spring training began, Cliff Lee’s agent Darek Braunecker announced Lee will not pitch in 2016 and is likely to retire. If this is the end for Lee, it’s the end of an excellent career. The Cy Young Award winner and ERA champ in 2008, Young made four all-star appearances and went 143-91, 3.52 in his career. Lee will be remembered as a pitcher who had arguably the best control and command of any lefthander of this generation. On four different occasions Lee led the majors in walk rate. His 1.9 walks per nine innings ranks 78th on the all-time list, and his 0.76 BB/9 in 2010 is the ninth-best season since 1900. Lee had stuff to go with pinpoint control. His 10.3 strikeouts per walk in 2010 is the…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. With catcher Justin O’Conner sidelined due to a herniated disc, Nick Ciuffo got to walk down the hall from the minor league side of the Rays’ facility to lend a hand during the first days of camp. “It’s always fun when you get to come over—it’s kind of like the winter development camp where you get a little taste of what you have to look forward to,” Ciuffo said. “I call those doors the doors to Narnia . . . When you cross those doors you go into Narnia and you kind of go into a fairytale land because of how nice it is over here.” Ciuffo, 21, hopes he isn’t that far away from…

Montgomery Ready To Rebound TAMPA Over the past year or so, the Yankees and talent evaluators outside the organization have talked up homegrown prospects Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Gary Sanchez, Jorge Mateo and Greg Bird. The buzz picked up traction after all five did very well last season. Now, the Yankees refuse to include them in any deal. The hope is they can become the backbone of the big league club in the near future. However, there are no guarantees. The latest example of that is righthander Mark Montgomery. After the 2012 season, when he worked for high Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, the 11th-round pick in the 2011 draft from Longwood was being compared to David Robertson thanks to a freakish slider that made hitters look silly. In…

White Has Speed All Over JUPITER, FLA. Center fielder Isaiah White, the Marlins’ eighth-ranked prospect, was shocked when a reporter told him his bat speed has been compared to former big league star Gary Sheffield. “I know I have some bat speed but … ” White, 19, who has studied Sheffield’s swing for years but had never heard that comparison, said. “Now that you say that, it gives me more confidence.” White, a 6-foot, 175-pounder and the Marlins’ 2015 third-round pick out of Greenfield High in Wilson, N.C., has a game built on speed—with his bat and his feet. In the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last season, White stole 13 bases and was not caught. He hit .294/.321/.381 in 35 games, with seven doubles and two triples. He almost homered,…

Baez Ready For Second Verse VIERA, FLA. If 21-year-old righthander Joan Baez heads back to low Class A Hagerstown to start this season, he’ll have the chance to build on his successes and his failures. Baez, a 6-foot-3 Dominican who signed for $7,500 in April 2014, has hit triple-digits on the radar gun. He impressed enough at extended spring training last year to earn a promotion to Hagerstown in June. In Baez’s South Atlantic League debut, he pitched scoreless ball into the fifth inning. In the two starts after that high point came the low points. He gave up five runs (all earned) in five innings and then eight runs (all earned) in one inning. Then it was off to the Rookielevel Gulf Coast League and short-season New York-Penn League…

Ziomek Brings Lefty Funk LAKELAND, FLA. The Tigers added three talented young lefthanded starters to their system last season when they dealt David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline. But they already had a pretty good lefty prior to that. Kevin Ziomek turned in a strong season in his first year at high Class A Lakeland in 2015 to follow an excellent 2014 at low Class A West Michigan. Ziomek is in big league camp for the first time and was the first pitcher to take the mound for the Tigers this spring. He started Feb. 29 in the annual exhibition game between the Tigers and Florida Southern. “He’s kind of a tall, lanky lefty with a funky delivery,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “That’ll probably…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ GOODYEAR, ARIZ. Both Rookie Davis and Cody Reed, two of the top pitching prospects in the Reds’ system, immediately thought about the same thing when they were traded. Reed (who came to the Reds from Kansas City last year in the Johnny Cueto deal) and Davis (a part of the Aroldis Chapman trade with the Yankees) immediately thought about the fact that changing leagues meant they’d have to hit. “National League—great,” Reed remembers thinking. Reed’s inflection on the word great made it clear that he didn’t think it was great. Davis may have used the same word, “great,” but there was no tinge of sarcasm in his voice. “After the trade, I talked with Mr. (Walt) Jocketty and…

Tucker Won’t Change His Game BRADENTON, FLA. Shoulder surgery is delaying Cole Tucker’s development as a prospect, but he insists it is not going to slow him down once he returns to the field. The 19-year-old shortstop had a torn labrum repaired in his right shoulder last August, ending his first full professional season after 73 games with low Class A West Virginia. He was the Pirates’ first-round draft pick—24th overall—in 2014 from Mountain Pointe High in Phoenix. Tucker’s rehab has gone so well that he is hopeful of returning sometime in May at high Class A Bradenton. He is getting anxious to hit the field after missing his last game on July 28. “I’m just going to play like I used to,” Tucker said. “I’ll play with a lot…

Experience Guides Gustave HOUSTON Hard-throwing righthander Jandel Gustave was somewhat comfortable when he reported to his first major league spring training with the Astros in February. Unlike the other prospects who had been invited to camp by the Astros for the first time, Gustave, 23, arrived at Osceola County Stadium with plenty of experience, considering he spent last spring training with the Royals and the Padres attempting to stick as a Rule 5 pick. Although he had never pitched above low Class A Quad Cities before 2015, Gustave was somewhat of a hot commodity during the Rule 5 draft in December 2014. The Red Sox picked him and then traded him to the Royals, who gave him a look before they attempted to put him through waivers. The Padres then…

Heredia Ready To Get Going SEATTLE On his first day in camp, Guillermo Heredia was in his Mariners uniform before most players had arrived in the clubhouse. After two years away from baseball, a defection to the U.S., showcases for professional teams and waiting for his contract to become official, Heredia was just happy to be part of a team again. “This is a very big deal for me,” Heredia said through an intepreter. “I’ve prepared a long time for this.” Heredia’s journey has been well-documented. Rumors of an unsuccessful defection attempt in 2014 led to a four-year suspension in Serie Nacional, Cuba’s professional league. Heredia defected in January 2015, establishing residency in Mexico. He lived in Miami the past year, working out and preparing for showcases for major league…

Dodgers Land Another Cuban LOS ANGELES As a wave of Cuban players have made its way to the United States over the past few years, no team has invested more heavily than the Dodgers. The results, however, have been mixed so far. The Dodgers have signed nine players out of Cuba over the past four years (starting with Yasiel Puig), committing more than $200 million in salaries and bonuses. So far, only Puig has emerged as a star. Infielders Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena have also played in the majors but Arruebarrena is off the Dodgers’ 40-man roster after disciplinary issues a year ago. Hector Olivera was signed but traded to the Atlanta Braves before reaching the majors. The Dodgers’ latest trip to that part of the talent universe landed…

LOS ANGELES Alec Hansen entered the season with the burden of expectations. The Oklahoma righthander was voted a Preseason All-American by MLB scouting directors, the same group of people that would spend the spring evaluating him as the potential top overall draft pick. Whether it was that pressure or something else, Hansen did not start the season well. He walked four batters and gave up three runs in one inning against Northeastern on opening weekend. He was slightly better a week later at Sam Houston State, but still walked three and didn’t make it out of the fourth. Hansen was able to put all that behind him March 5, in this third start of the season. Facing UCLA in the Dodger Stadium Classic, he delivered his best start of the…

Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, covering the period Feb. 19-March 3. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Signed RHP Matt Capps and OF Rickie Weeks. ATLANTA BRAVES: Signed RHP Carlos Torres and OF Jeff Francoeur. BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Signed RHPs Nate Adcock and Sam Deduno. 1B Efren Navarro elected free agency. RHP Brady Wager voluntarily retired. BOSTON RED SOX: Signed RHP Carlos Marmol and OF David Murphy. Released RHP Reed Reilly. CHICAGO CUBS: Signed LHP Manny Parra, 1B Matt Clark and OFs Ryan Kalish and Shane Victorino. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Signed RHP Kameron Loe and SS Jimmy Rollins. CLEVELAND INDIANS: Signed OF Will Venable. Re-signed C Omir Santos. DETROIT TIGERS: Signed RHP Lucas Harrell and 3B Casey McGehee. HOUSTON ASTROS: Signed LHP Neal Cotts. KANSAS CITY ROYALS: Signed RHP…