Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, September 11, 2015 i Baseball America

LONG BEACH Josh Belovsky waited until the morning sun crept behind Blair Field and the cooling shadows stretched over the bright blue bleachers— then he made his move, to section 112, tucked near the upper-most corner of the stadium down the first-base line. This was where Belovsky, a Brewers area scout, spent the first day of the Area Code Games. He had to sit there. It was his way of honoring Bruce Seid, the man who hired him and the man who gave so much to the Brewers’ organization, the Area Code Games and to baseball for more than 17 years. A longtime Brewers area scout, then crosschecker, then scouting director, Seid would always sit in that right-field section during the Area Code Games. It’s the place where he thought…

Jerry Crasnick Baseball Writer, ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA Shelby Miller was a pre-kindergartener in Brownwood, Texas, when Tom Glavine and Mark Wohlers combined to beat the Indians 1-0 in the climactic game of the 1995 World Series. As a little boy with baseball on his mind, he soon discovered why Atlanta was the center of the pitching universe during a glorious 15-year stretch in the 1990s and early 2000s. The educational process has come full circle now that Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz have graduated to Cooperstown and Miller is the leader of a new Atlanta staff filled with enthusiastic 20-somethings. He is both inspired and humbled by the history that he’s trying to perpetuate. “We all want to be great, but I can’t say we’re going to be Tom Glavine,…

Mike Hessman’s home run in the seventh inning of the Hens’ contest at Fifth Third Field on Aug. 3 was his 433rd career home run in the affiliated minor leagues. That surpasses the 432 hit by Russell Loris “Buzz” Arlett from 1918-37. “I don’t follow the numbers,” the California native said when asked about the record. “After the season, I’ll probably do a little digging and see about the guys whose records I passed and think about what it means.” “They have been cheering me on all year,” Hessman said of his teammates. “I don’t like to talk about numbers and such, but they gave me words of encouragement every day. I was just happy to do it here at home for the good fans here in Toledo.” Besides his…

John Manuel Editor in Chief Baseball America johnmanuel @baseba llamerica.com When Texas head coach Augie Garrido addressed a Cal State Fullerton fundraiser in January, he hit on a theme that he has revisited and will revisit until he stops giving speeches. “The biggest thing wrong in our game today . . . is entitlement,” the winningest coach in Division I baseball history said that night, speaking of his 1975 team that went to the College World Series in its first year as a D-I program. “We weren’t entitled to anything. But we saw we had an opportunity, and we felt the responsibility to do our part.” Augie likely would blanche at the Under Armour All-America Game, a weekend in Chicago in which many of the top high school players in…

SPOKANE, WASH. Interleague all-star games have become more prevalent—the California League faces the Carolina League, the Pacific Coast League and International League meet—but Northwest League and Pioneer League officials knew they were taking a chance when they paired off their best players in the inaugural all-star contest between the leagues. It turns out the risk was well worth taking. An exciting contest ended in dramatic fashion when Tri-City’s Peter Van Gansen (Padres) drove in Spokane’s Yeyson Yrizarri (Rangers) with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Northwest League a 6-5 victory. “A tremendous game, wasn’t it?” Pioneer League president Jim McCurdy said. “It couldn’t really be a better game for everyone involved. It had it all.” Enough, McCurdy said, that the leagues plan to seek…

Owens Slides Up To Boston BOSTON Opportunity knocked for Henry Owens. He proved slower than expected to answer. The 23-year-old lefthander entered spring training regarded as the top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, someone whose steady track record of success suggested a likelihood that he’d be at or near the front of the list if the team needed rotation reinforcements. Beginning in spring training, however, Owens demonstrated a lack of control. Through 12 starts at Triple-A Pawtucket this year, he had yielded more walks (42) than any pitcher in the minors. His ability to limit opponents to a .196 average allowed him to maintain a solid 3.64 ERA, but Owens’ wildness permitted Steven Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brian Johnson to zoom past him as big league rotation options.…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports ATLANTA Of all the trades executed by president of baseball operations John Hart, the deal that sent Justin Upton to the Padres may produce the greatest return over the long haul. Jace Peterson has served as the Braves’ regular at second base since winning the job in spring training. Corner outfielder Dustin Peterson started hot at high Class A Carolina before injuries suffered in the team’s bus accident sidelined him for three weeks in May. Lefthander Max Fried is on the mend from Tommy John surgery, but he ranks as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. Center fielder Mallex Smith, the fourth piece in the trade, has proven he’s more than just a throw-in with…

Flexing Their Financial Muscle PHILADELPHIA The Phillies are using cash to help rebuild their minor league system. In early July, they spent $4 million on 16-year-old Dominican slugger Jhailyn Ortiz. Later in the month, they absorbed about $44 million to send Cole Hamels to the Rangers for five prospects plus big league lefthander Matt Harrison. The Phillies kicked in more than $9 million of Hamels’ remaining obligation through 2018 and also took on the $33 million left on Harrison’s deal. “We’re in a world where teams are buying talent,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “This is one of the ways we can use our economic muscle. I think in a lot of ways that’s what we did. We bought talent with talent, and we bought talent with dollars and…

Thompson Time CHICAGO Looking back, outfielder Trayce Thompson joined the White Sox pretty much right on schedule. When reserve outfielder J.B. Shuck landed on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, Thompson got the call from Chicago and arrived at U.S. Cellular Field from Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 3. “Getting the call, first, was more of a shock,” said Thompson, a second-round pick in 2009 out of Rancho Santa Margarita High in Santa Margarita, Calif. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s not like I never thought it would happen, but I just try to keep my head down, not really pay attention to stuff I can’t control. It’s definitely surreal.” Thompson, 24, had to wait to get his chance to show what he can do, but four…

Shortstop Surplus MINNEAPOLIS It’s shaping up as one of the great position battles in Twins history, an impossible-to-handicap match between several qualified candidates. Safe to say, the Twins can’t wait to find out who their starting shortstop will be. In 2019. “We’re about as deep at the most important position in the lineup as you could ask for,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president for player personnel. “We’ve already got three or four guys we really believe in, and Jermaine (Palacios) has been as impressive as the rest.” Palacios, 19, started the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League season 1-for-19. But the Venezuelan teenager, who signed for $70,000 a year ago, suddenly turned himself into the hottest hitter in the Twins’ system. He batted .513 over the next month to earn…

No Nerves CINCINNATI If righthander Keyvius Sampson was nervous making his big league debut, he sure didn’t show it. The 24-year-old came into the July 30 game for an inning of scoreless relief and then three days later made his first big league start, also against the Pirates, because of the trade of veteran Mike Leake at the July 31 trade deadline. Sampson lost his debut, but pitched well enough to earn a start five days later. In that start, he picked up his first win and earned a spot in the team’s rotation. But Sampson wouldn’t take that for granted. “We have so many guys throwing well in Double-A and Triple-A that anybody, any time, can come in here and try to compete for the fifth spot, or whatever…

ANAHEIM When the Angels signed Cuban middle infielder Roberto Baldoquin for $8 million in January, there was a hope the 21-yearold would take a fast track to the major leagues, perhaps reaching Anaheim in time to replace shortstop Erick Aybar, whose fouryear, $35-million contract expires after 2016. Baldoquin impressed the Angels so much with his skill set and maturity in spring training that he opened the season at high Class A Inland Empire, an advanced level for a prospect playing his first professional season. In hindsight, it may have been a little ambitious. The Angels haven’t quite jammed their foot on the brake pedal of Baldoquin’s development, but they are definitely tapping it lightly. Baldoquin got off to a sluggish start at Inland Empire, with a slash line of .154/.233/.205…

Bad Break SEATTLE With the Sept. 1 roster expansion just over two weeks away, Ramon Flores was a certain candidate to join the Mariners for the final month of the season. The 23-year-old outfielder was playing stellar baseball for Triple-A Tacoma after being acquired in a trade with the Yankees for Dustin Ackley. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Flores had notched at least one hit in 12 of his first 14 games as a Rainier, posting a .423/.524/.654 (22-for-52) average, including six doubles, two homers and seven RBIs with 11 walks. But it all came to an end on a rainy Friday night in Tacoma on the wet and soggy outfield grass of Cheney Stadium. Flores was chasing down a ball in the gap that had bounced off the wall. As he…

Godley Moves To Rotation PHOENIX As the Diamondbacks scouted righthander Zack Godley when he was a reliever the last two seasons, they became convinced of one thing—he had the body, the attitude and stuff to succeed as a starter. Godley’s return to the rotation this season has been nothing short of spectacular. After overpowering the California League at high Class A Visalia for three months and making a short stop at Double-A Mobile, he turned in three eye-popping starts with the parent D-backs in late July. Acquired along with righthander Jeferson Mejia last Dec. 9 in the deal that sent Miguel Montero and the $40 million remaining on his contract to the Cubs, Godley pitched six scoreless innings in an 8-3 victory against the Brewers in his July 23 big…

Chasing A New Role SAN FRANCISCO Chase Johnson struggled with control issues in his junior year at Cal Poly and ended up throwing just 17 innings over 10 relief appearances. So when the Giants drafted Johnson and immediately moved him into a starting role, rival scouts assumed it was to get additional innings to make up for lost development time. The industry consensus was that Johnson would advance as a reliever, and he had enough arm strength to justify a $440,000 bonus as a third-rounder in 2013. The Giants saw more than that. And now Johnson is filling in the rest of the picture. The 23-year-old righthander dominated the competition at high Class A San Jose, going 8-3, 2.43 in 20 games (18 starts) with 111 strikeouts and 34 walks…

Though Orleans’ prospect-laden roster captured scouts’ attention all summer, it was East Division rival Yarmouth-Dennis that finished the Cape Cod League season as the champion. Yarmouth-Dennis knocked off Orleans in the second round before defeating Hyannis in the championship series. It was the Red Sox’s second straight title and their fifth in 12 years under the direction of manager Scott Pickler. While the league featured good depth, scouts believed it lacked some of the highend talent that often summers on the Cape. Many elite pitchers played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team (A.J. Puk, Tanner Houck) or sat the summer out (Alec Hansen, Connor Jones). As a result, for the first time since 2011, a pitcher does not top BA’s rankings. The league also saw history made on the field…

LONG BEACH It’s too early for answers. The 2016 draft is a year away, and there’s still a spring season to play, still ground that can be made up or lost. So, while an excellent platform, this summer’s Area Code Games didn’t provide answers. They’re not meant to. Instead, they provided intrigue. They sparked discussion. They raised questions. There’s one question in particular, one question that was asked all throughout the week and will continue to be asked over and over again: Riley Pint or Jason Groome? Don’t expect an answer. And if you get one, don’t expect it to stay the same. Do expect to keep hearing the question until draft day—and after, and maybe well after that. In a gathering of the nation’s top high school talent in…

TAMPA East Coast Pro is not like any other showcase. The players run the 60-yard dash, take infield/outfield and batting practice, then play games, but the professional atmosphere makes ECP one of the most important amateur scouting event of the year. This year, ECP moved from Syracuse to Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training facility and home of the Florida State League’s Tampa Yankees. The weather didn’t cooperate; rain interrupted each day of the event until the final day, when clouds receded and the sun decided to show off its abilities. Still, the event happened, as the organizers, coaches, and players successfully maneuvered the weather to fit in all 12 games. Fitting in 12 games in four days is a significant challenge, even in perfect weather conditions. The job done…

Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, covering the period July 24-Aug. 13. For a complete list of transactions, visit baseballamerica.com/t/transactions. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Traded SS Cliff Pennington to Blue Jays SS Dawel Lugo. ATLANTA BRAVES: Traded RHPs Bronson Arroyo and Jim Johnson, LHPs Luis Avilan and Alex Wood, 2B Jose Peraza and cash to Dodgers as part of three-team deal in which Dodgers sent RHP Zack Bird, LHP Paco Rodriguez and 3B Hector Olivera to Braves and RHPs Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham and Kevin Guzman to Marlins, and Marlins sent RHP Mat Latos, 1B Mike Morse and cash to Dodgers and 2016 supplemental first-round pick to Braves. Traded 3B Juan Uribe and OF Kelly Johnson to Mets for RHPs John Gant and Rob Whalen. BALTIMORE ORIOLES:…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA Buying is fun. Selling is work. Buying is an adrenaline rush. Selling makes your brain cells throb. So when the smoke cleared after one of the most action-packed trading deadlines in history had stampeded over the finish line without the Padres, it was time to ask: Did they understand the difference between buying and selling? We thought this was going to be their show. We thought this was going to be their very own madcap auction of unworkable contracts and parts that didn’t fit. We thought by Aug. 1, we’d see so many Padres calling the moving vans, there might not be enough trucks in Southern California to hold all their stuff. So what the heck happened? Whatever happened to those four deals in…

SEPTEMBER 11 2006 » IN THIS ISSUE: D-backs prospect Carlos Gonzalez, 20, “has got the best swing in the (Cal) league,” according to a manager. » ALSO: Elvis Andrus tops Jose Tabata in Prospect Showdown. “He does everything you could want,” a scout says In an issue filled with summer league goodness— David Price wins Summer Player of the Year Award, Rick Porcello and Freddie Freeman rank among Area Code Games Top 10 Prospects—this note on converted catcher Josh Donaldson in the Cape Cod League stands out. After a sophomore season that included 10 home runs, Donaldson blossomed in the Cape Cod League. His final batting line of .302/.386/.456 was among the league’s best, and scouts praised the catcher’s offensive potential. Donaldson enjoyed the challenge of hitting with wood bats,…

BOSTON Late on Aug. 18, the Red Sox shocked the baseball world with the announcement of the hiring of Dave Dombrowski as their new president of baseball operations. With Dombrowski on board, Ben Cherington— a symbol of organizational stability whose 17-year tenure in the front office preceded the team’s owners—declined an offer to remain as the team’s general manager, instead opting to assist Dombrowski with his transition. In Dombrowski, the Red Sox add one of the most respected leaders and evaluators in the game. The team moved quickly to hire Dombrowski, less than two weeks after he’d been fired by the Tigers. “(Chairman Tom Werner) and I have no doubts that Dave is the right person to strengthen our baseball operations group going forward,” principal owner John Henry —for whom…

Peter Gammons Columnist, MLB Network TORONTO When the Yankees arrived at the Rogers Centre in the middle of August for the foreign version of a pennant race played over two weekends, they visited a team that had won 11 games in a row and trailed in two of their last 100 innings, a team mystics and statistics believed was bringing a great city into the 21st century. But, understand, this just didn’t happen in those crazy July days when general manager Alex Anthopoulos acquired Troy Tulowitzki and David Price. The roots go all the way back to Omar Minaya and the Montreal Expos. The thought process for this team’s construction goes back at least a year to frank selfanalysis. And when you see all those home runs fly around The…

For most of the regular season, Terrance Gore is not a big leaguer. The outfielder has made big steps forward as a prospect this year at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, but if you’re mapping out the Royals’ depth chart, Gore is not the first, second or third option to come up to the big leagues if there is an injury in the outfield. But when rosters expand in September, Gore knows that he’ll be headed to Kansas City. From April to August, baseball plays a game by one set of rules. Then as the nights start to get cooler and the games get more important, everything changes. That versatile pitcher who mops up lessimportant innings and then slides into a more significant role occasionally without complaint? He’s no longer all that…

TAMPA BAY | Rays For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ST. PETERSBURG Outfielder Mikie Mahtook has had an up-and-down season. He had been called up five times by the Rays by early August and sent back down to Triple-A Durham each time, never staying longer than 10 days. But even in staccato bursts, he had impressed the Rays with the same combination of power, speed and athleticism that made him the team MVP at Durham in 2014. “Mikie, I think every time he’s come up he’s looked more comfortable,” big league manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s had some really good at-bats, aggressive at-bats. And I think the more comfortable he gets, the better player we’re going to see. “He does a lot of things…

Mateo Sees Path To New York NEW YORK At one time, being a shortstop in the Yankees system was the precursor to being traded. From 1996 to 2014, Derek Jeter drew a fence around the position at Yankee Stadium that was impossible to penetrate. Jeter developed into a future Hall of Famer, and those with dreams of playing shortstop in pinstripes went elsewhere. Cristian Guzman, D’Angelo Jimenez and Joaquin Arias were talented shortstop prospects signed by the Yankees who were dealt, in part, because Jeter had a stranglehold on the big league position. Alfonso Soriano was among that group, but before dealing him and Arias to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez in 2004, the Yankees moved him to second base. “We had high expectations for Guzman and Arias,” said general…

Two Hammerheads To Watch MIAMI The Marlins value high Class A Jupiter corner outfielder Austin Dean for his intangibles just as much as for his raw ability. “He plays with intensity on a daily basis,” farm director Brian Chattin said. “He also has well above-average bat speed. He hasn’t demonstrated a ton of power yet, but as time goes on, we expect more of his raw power will translate into game power. The 21-year-old Dean, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthanded batter, hit .265/.313/.373 with five home runs through 114 games. The Marlins selected Dean in the fourth round of the 2012 draft out of high school in Spring, Texas. He enjoyed his finest pro season in 2014 at low Class A Greensboro, when he hit .308/.371/.444 with nine homers. While Dean’s…

Simms ‘Keeps It Interesting’ WASHINGTON Double-A Harrisburg righthander John Simms calls himself “socially lefthanded,” so it comes as no surprise that he brings his own coffee-related travel equipment on road trips. “I’m definitely a little bit different at times,” Simms said. “I like to brew my own coffee at the clubhouse, so I carry my stuff with me. I’ll always come out of left field with a couple comments. I like to keep it interesting.” Simms was on track for a degree in political science at Rice until the Nationals drafted him for a second time, again on the recommendation from scout Tyler Wilt. A 39th-round pick out of high school in The Woodlands, Texas, he jumped up to the 11th round in 2013 after his junior year with the…

Kaminsky Stays Grounded CLEVELAND He doesn’t have a classic pitcher’s body, but neither do a lot of successful major league pitchers. The Indians are betting on Rob Kaminsky’s stuff more his stature. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Kaminsky, who at the start of the season was the Cardinals’ No. 5 prospect, was acquired by the Indians in a trade deadline deal that sent veteran outfielder Brandon Moss to St. Louis. Pitching for high Class A Palm Beach, Kaminsky, at the time of the trade, was leading the Florida State League with a 2.09 ERA. In 94 ⅔ innings over 17 starts, he had allowed 82 hits, none of them home runs. In 217 minor league innings over the last three years Kaminsky had allowed just three home runs. “He’s a lefthanded pitcher…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PITTSBURGH Righthander Tyler Glasnow is now one step away from the major leagues. So is first baseman Josh Bell. The Pirates promoted their top two prospects to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona for the final month of the International League season. “We’re looking forward to having them take the next steps in their development and start facing that next-level caliber of player,” farm director Larry Broadway said. “Being in that city and that environment, they’re that much closer to Pittsburgh.” The 21-year-old Glasnow logged a 1.69 ERA in his first three starts at Indianapolis, allowing 16 hits in 16 innings with 18 strikeouts and 10 walks. The righthander went 5-3, 2.43 in 12 starts at Altoona, where he…

Extreme Makeover MILWAUKEE You can’t rebuild a farm system in one day, but the Brewers came very close. With a series of four trades, including three in the 24 hours leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, now-former general manager Doug Melvin acquired seven minor leaguers. The big trade sent center fielder Carlos Gomez and righthander Mike Fiers to the Astros for center fielder Brett Phillips, outfielder Domingo Santana, lefthander Josh Hader and righthander Adrian Houser. The Brewers also acquired one of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects, righthander Zach Davies, in a deal for outfielder Gerardo Parra. Toss in the players acquired in the top rounds of the 2015 draft, including outfielder Trent Clark, and the Brewers’ prospect list takes on a much different look. As Melvin pointed out,…

Crowded Hot Corner HOUSTON Now that superstar rookie Carlos Correa has established himself as the unquestioned starting shortstop, the Astros have an excess at third base with Jed Lowrie and Luis Valbuena splitting time. On top of that logjam, Double-A Corpus Christi third baseman Colin Moran and high Class A Lancaster third baseman J.D. Davis are making strong cases to eventually share the left side of the infield with Correa. Davis, 22, homered in six consecutive games from Aug. 4-9. The Astros’ third-round pick in the 2014 draft had 22 home runs and 88 RBIs this season while hitting .280/.360/.505. “You like the power, you like the approach, you like the potential he has to hit for average or power,” Astros farm director Quinton McCracken said of Davis. “He’s a…

Worth The Wait ARLINGTON Ryan Strausborger won’t be found on any lists of top Rangers prospects. He’s no Joey Gallo, who has the most raw power in the minors, and Strausborger is not Nomar Mazara, the do-it-all 20-year-old outfielder, or Jorge Alfaro or Nick Williams, who were coveted by another organization at the trade deadline. Yet Strausborger, at least five years older than those top prospects, finally got to make his major league debut Aug. 5, in part because the Rangers needed to jump-start fellow outfielder Leonys Martin with a stint at Triple-A Round Rock. But the 16th-round pick in 2010 then carved out a spot on the Rangers roster by having a proven track record against lefthanded hitters and an ability to do the little things off the bench…

Worth The Wait DENVER The Rockies remained steadfast with their development plan for righthander Jon Gray, leaving him at Triple-A Albuquerque until August despite their struggling rotation and a clamor from fans for his promotion. The third overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Oklahoma, Gray made his long-awaited debut at home versus the Mariners on Aug. 4. “There were several times this year where we could’ve brought him up out of need,” player development director Zach Wilson said, “and he would’ve been fine. “But ultimately it wouldn’t have been the best thing for him, because he might have come up, and all he would’ve become is a No. 4 or 5 starter. That’s not what we’re trying to create. What we’re trying to create is the ace who…

ALASKA LEAGUE CORBIN MARTIN, RHP Mat-Su (So., Texas A&M) Using an explosive four-seam fastball that sat 92-94 mph and touched 97 as well a hard 83-84 mph slider, Martin overmatched Alaska League hitter out of the Mat-Su bullpen, allowing just two unearned runs and 11 hits in 212⁄3 innings while striking out 27. Although he pitched exclusively in relief for the Miners this summer, he has the projectable frame and enough feel for his changeup that coaches didn’t think he would have a problem as a starter. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder boasts an easy and clean delivery that he can repeat consistently and could throw all three pitches for strikes, although it’s the four-seamer that turns heads. Experience, or lack thereof, was what made scouts and coaches most excited about Martin.…

USA Baseball’s 12U squad is champions once again. Team USA topped host Taiwan, 7-2, on Aug. 2 at Tainan Stadium to claim its second straight gold medal in the World Baseball Softball Confederation 12U World Cup. The win avenged a preliminary round 11-6 defeat to the host nation—Team USA’s only loss. Facing an early 2-0 hole in front of a sellout crowd of 11,000 fans, the Americans rallied to overcome their deficit and extend a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The rally started with three straight hits from Cody Schrier, Zach Torres and Jack Ryan, and was capped by a two-run home run from Davis Diaz. Diaz, an infielder and righthanded pitcher from Pittsburg, Calif., led the team with a .571 average, a .700 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases. He…

STEVEN COHN, @SPCOHN We’re a long way away from next June. At this time last year, no one was mentioning Arkansas’ Andrew Benintendi as a potential top 10 pick—some teams hadn’t even fully realized he’d be draft eligible—but after taking the summer off, he rocketed to near the top of the class, thanks to an amazing sophomore season. But as the summer showcases and college leagues wrap up, it is late enough in the process to have a solid idea of how next year’s draft class will shape up. The Phillies, Marlins and Rockies were the frontrunners for the first pick in the draft, with the A’s, Brewers, Reds and Red Sox not far behind. The good news for those teams? There are a number of realistic candidates to go…

Columnist, MLB.com ST. LOUIS It may sound like a cliché, but in St. Louis, it’s a way of life. It’s the Cardinal Way. It’s about playing the game the right way. It’s about winning. It’s about looking ahead. Most of all, it is not about individuals. It’s about an organization. “People might dismiss it, but you see the results, and you have to feel there is something to it,” general manager John Mozeliak said. The names on the backs of the uniforms change. The results, however, remain the same. “You have to look at the balance sheet,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “They have been to the playoffs 11 of the past 15 years, the World Series four times, and World (Series) champions twice. They lose players, and the guys…

ABERDEEN, MD. Dex McCall entered the New York-Penn League all-star game in a bit of a slump. The Tri-City (Astros) first baseman was just 4-for-30 (.133) in his last 10 games heading into the break, but his first-inning double that drove in two runs was the key hit in the North’s 4-2 win over the South before 3,622 at Ripken Stadium in August. McCall, drafted in the 31st round in 2014 by the Astros out of Hillsborough (Fla.) CC, was named the MVP. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk as the North’s designated hitter. Nestor Bautista of Batavia (Marlins) was the beneficiary of a three-run first inning, earning the win for the North. Williamsport’s Mitch Gueller, who as a 2012 supplemental first-round pick was the highest-drafted player to participate in…

Stewart Making Progress BALTIMORE Though the numbers suggest that outfielder D.J. Stewart has gotten off to a slow start in his first pro season, the Orioles are pleased with his progress as he begins to get more comfortable at the plate. Stewart, the organization’s first-round pick this year out of Florida State, hit .238/.303/.374 through 38 games at shortseason Aberdeen. He collected four doubles, two triples, four home runs and 14 RBIs. Stewart hit safely in eight of 10 games from July 31 to Aug. 9, going 13-for-39 (.333). As the 25th overall pick in the draft, Stewart knows that expectations are heightened. He’s the first outfielder taken by the Orioles in the first round since Nick Markakis in 2003. “I feel like that won’t change anything with me,” Stewart…

Jays Pitchers Fly The Coop TORONTO Over a four-day span leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, the Blue Jays dealt 11 minor league pitchers in four separate trades. Factor in three prospects moved to the Athletics for Josh Donaldson plus two more to the Dodgers for international bonus pool space, and the farm system has been thinned. The upper levels are largely barren, but for perhaps the first time under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the Blue Jays are deeper overall in position players than pitchers, led by on-the-cusp outfielder Dalton Pompey, who’s sizzling at Triple-A Buffalo. Speedy outfielder Roemon Fields just reached Buffalo, five-tool outfielder Anthony Alford, slugging first baseman Rowdy Tellez and two-way shortstop Richard Urena have earned promotions to high Class A Dunedin, while international free…

Smoker Savors Second Chance NEW YORK Double-A Binghamton lefthander Josh Smoker is making the most of a second chance in affiliated ball. The Mets signed Smoker in April after bird dog Paul Fletcher, the pitching coach at York of the independent Atlantic League, watched a bullpen session on eve of the season. Since that point, the 26-year-old reliever has advanced from low Class A Savannah to high Class A St. Lucie in mid-May to Binghamton in early July. Through 34 games, Smoker had struck out 11.5 and walked 2.6 batters per nine innings, while allowing 34 hits, including only one home run, in 42 innings. The Nationals originally made Smoker a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 out of Calhoun (Ga.) High, but he failed to advance past high Class A…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ KANSAS CITY Marten Gasparini was scuffling in the Pioneer League, hitting .205/.275/.346 on July 27 with Rookie-level Idaho Falls. But within the next nine games, Gasparini, 18, hiked his batting average 51 points, his on-base percentage 45 points and his slugging 73 points. Gasparini hit safely in eight of the nine games, including six-multi-hit games. He logged four triples, drew four walks, scored nine runs and drove in nine runs. He hit .455, going 15-for-33 in that span. “His last month he’s really done well,” Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp said. “The first month he struggled, adjusting to the league, and (since) has done very well.” The Royals signed Gasparini—who is from Ruda, Italy—to a $1.3 million…

Good First Impression DETROIT Matt Boyd was not the most highly touted prospect that came to the Tigers in the trade that sent David Price to the Blue Jays. But the lefty made an excellent first impression on the Tigers and their fans. Boyd allowed just one run in seven innings of work against a tough Royals lineup on Aug. 5 and earned his first career victory in his Tigers debut. The majority of Tigers fans at Comerica Park gave him a standing ovation after he outpitched Royals ace Johnny Cueto. “He pitches up very well with his fastball,” big league manager Brad Ausmus said. “He has kind of a riding fastball, good finish, gets a lot of fly balls, a lot of foul balls, even some swings and misses.…

Shapely System CHICAGO The Cubs tried to make bigger trades at the deadline, trades that would have had more long-term value to the big league club than the acquisitions of rent-a-righties Dan Haren and Tommy Hunter. So what happened? The Rangers landed Cole Hamels from the Phillies in an eightplayer deal heavy in prospects and even got Philadelphia to include $9.5 million. The Nationals acquired Jonathan Papelbon and cash from the Phillies for righthander Nick Pivetta. Other teams made big deals for prospects, and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said the Cubs have entered the phase of their rebuild in which prospects are viewed as “currency” for trades as much as potential core players. “Our players were in demand,” Epstein said. “It’s just that a lot of the guys…

Exit (Velocity) Strategy ST. LOUIS Paul DeJong was the Cardinals’ fourth-round selection in June, and any questions about how the team pulled him from Illinois State inevitably lead to the speed of his bat—or the speed of the ball heading out. The 22-year-old third baseman advanced swiftly to low Class A Peoria, where he hit .310/.407/.465 with 13 extra-base hits and 18 walks through his first 33 games. Including his 10 games at Rookie-level Johnson City, DeJong has dotted his early results with six homers and a 1.024 OPS. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he has numbers beyond his size. “I’m not the 6-foot-4 masher,” said DeJong, which is pronounced De-Young. “I try to use my body the best I can. I’m not going to use only one part to be…

Taking Pride In The Grind OAKLAND After spending his early years in California, Mikey White followed in the footsteps of his father, a former Alabama football player, to go to college in Tuscaloosa. He hit .389 as a junior and .308 over his threeyear career for the Crimson Tide before the Athletics selected the shortstop in the second round of this year’s draft. And, he just kept hitting, batting .315/.405/.459 for short-season Vermont before being promoted to low Class A Beloit. The opening came because of a wrist injury to top prospect shortstop Franklin Barreto, and caused a shift through the organization. “He’s an offensive-minded shortstop,” said farm director Keith Lieppman. “He makes the routine plays and is very solid on a dayto-day basis. He grinds it out and has…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports SAN DIEGO Hunter Renfroe transformed himself from a raw college freshman into a triple crown threat in the Southeastern Conference. It took him three years to turn his doubleplus raw power into on-field results, but the wait was worth it. Renfroe bashed his way into the first round of the 2013 draft, where the Padres selected the Mississippi State right fielder 13th overall. So when Renfroe had deep struggles this April and May at Double-A San Antonio, scouts pointed to his track record as a slow starter who showed that, in time, he can adapt and thrive. Renfroe hit just .224/.278/.324 with two home runs through the first two months and 45 games in the Texas League this…

Buehler Will Require Patience LOS ANGELES The Dodgers emerged from the trade-deadline season with their clutch of top pitching prospects still intact. But righthander Walker Buehler won’t be joining them any time soon. The first-round pick in the 2015 draft had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 5. Most optimistically, Buehler could pitch in instructional league next year. Most realistically, the Dodgers won’t see the Vanderbilt product on a mound again until spring 2017. Despite the delayed start to Buehler’s development, general manager Farhan Zaidi said the organization had no regrets about taking Buehler with the 24th pick in the draft. “None at all,” Zaidi said. “I would rather we took a guy where we really believe in the talent, even though it might be an extra year, over a guy…

COOPER JOHNSON, WHITE SOX CARMEL CATHOLIC HS, MUNDELEIN, ILL. Johnson’s bat took a while to come around, but he reached base in five of his 13 plate appearances and earned his way onto this team with his excellent defense. Johnson has very quick feet and a strong receiving hand. Questions remain about his bat, but he solidified himself defensively this week, and he did show intriguing bat speed at the plate. Johnson is committed to Ole Miss. Underclassmen Standouts The Area Code Games concluded with an underclassmen portion, bringing a large contingency of college coaches to Long Beach to evaluate and potentially recruit some of the country’s top rising juniors. Many prospects at the event have high ceilings, but here’s a quick look at a few interesting youngsters, all of…

SAN DIEGO The Perfect Game All-American Classic is a major highlight of the summer showcase circuit for many high school baseball players. For eight players participating in the event at Petco Park, however, an even more memorable opportunity awaited. The second round of trials for the 18U National Team began the next day Cal State Fullerton’s Goodwin Field. The 28-man roster was trimmed to the final 20-man roster after BA went to press. “Representing your country is something special,” West outfielder Mickey Moniak (La Costa Canyon High, Calif.) said. “You’re representing the guys who are overseas fighting, you’re representing your family. “I’m having fun with everything, but that’s definitely the biggest deal for me this summer.” Moniak was to be joined at the trials by five of his West teammates…

AJAX, ONTARIO The top Cuban national team—or at least what remains of it—won the bronze medal at the Pan American Games, while another Cuban team that went to the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam won the championship against very poor competition. After watching the Cuban team in person both at their warmup series in North Carolina and in Canada at the Pan American Games, we have plenty of information to assemble reports on the notable players with major league potential. Alfredo Despaigne, of Despaigne, 29, skipped the team’s trip to North Carolina because he has been playing in for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, where he was hitting .263/.345/.539 in 44 games. There shouldn’t be any rust for Despaigne to shake off, but the Pan Ams may have been…