Innholdsfortegnelse for October 5, 2018 i Baseball America

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE 1. ELOY JIMENEZ, OF CHARLOTTE (WHITE SOX) AGE: 21. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-4. WT: 205. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2013 (Cubs). Jimenez’s much-anticipated arrival at Triple-A proved to be warranted because he showed he was worthy of top billing Jimenez matched his production from Double-A, and he got better the longer he was in the IL, batting .388 with a 1.072 OPS in July and August. He has extraordinary plate discipline for a player with his experience, and his two-strike approach stands out. Bat speed and leverage for huge power tend to be staples when he’s in the batter’s box. His strength is an attention-getter, with the power likely increasing even more as he grows into his frame. “You see the physical attributes, the long arms,” Durham manager Jared…

SOUTHERN LEAGUE 1. ELOY JIMENEZ, OF BIRMINGHAM (WHITE SOX) AGE: 21. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-4. WT: 205. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2013 (Cubs). Jimenez has done nothing but mash since the White Sox acquired him from the Cubs as part of the Jose Quintana deal in July 2017. He convinced SL observers of his prodigious offensive talent in a 53-game look, then moved on to the Triple-A International League, where he also ranked as that circuit’s No. 1 prospect. All told, he hit .337/.384/.577 with 22 home runs in 108 games. Jimenez will be a high-impact major league hitter and could challenge for MVP awards. One SL manager invoked the name Miguel Cabrera when describing Jimenez’s swing. He keeps his lower half coiled, his arms relaxed and his front arm close…

CAROLINA LEAGUE 1. DYLAN CEASE, RHP WINSTON-SALEM (WHITE SOX) AGE: 22. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 190. DRAFTED: HS—Milton, Ga., 2014 (6/Cubs). Cease has long had an outstanding fastball, but the slender righthander took a step forward in 2018 because his curveball and his changeup have become viable second and third pitches. He also has improved his command. Cease’s 94-98 mph fastball is a little true, but he now gets more plane and sink, and it showed the late hop of a high-spin fastball. He has started to throw his 12-to-6 curveball as a viable two-strike finisher. It has plenty of depth and power, and generates swings and misses. It’s still inconsistent, but it’s an average pitch now with a chance to be plus. He now has started to throw…

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE 1. D.L. HALL, LHP DELMARVA (ORIOLES) AGE: 19. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 195. DRAFTED: HS—Valdosta, Ga., 2017 (1). The Orioles were careful with their 2017 first-round pick. Hall threw more than 80 pitches just three times and never topped 90. But within those parameters, he dominated. Over the second half, Hall allowed a mere 32 hits in 53.2 innings as he posted a 0.84 ERA in 11 outings. He didn’t allow more than one earned run in any of his final 13 appearances. “He was far and away the best pitcher I saw (in the SAL),” a pro scout said. Hall dominated hitters with a 92-96 mph fastball that seems to find another gear as it nears the plate. He’s better locating to his arm side…

@BaseballAmerica @BaseballAmerica BaseballAmericaMag ReadBA WHERE IN THE WORLD … … IS BEN BADLER? NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA Senior writer and international guru Ben Badler traveled to the Dominican Republic in September to attend Major League Baseball’s inaugural Trainer Partnership Program showcase. Search Trainer Partnership Program at BaseballAmerica.com @BenBadler @ben.badler BASEBALL PLAYERS ON THE GRIDIRON The Athletics drafted outfielder Kyler Murray (pictured) ninth overall in June and permitted him to return to Oklahoma this fall to play quarterback for the Sooners. He is a top Heisman Trophy candidate. Teddy Cahill highlights four other prominent two-sport stars, including California outfielder/quarterback Brandon McIlwain. Search Brandon McIlwain at BaseballAmerica.com BEFORE THEY WERE STARS We debut a new book title this fall that includes archival scouting reports for 120 big league stars of the…

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE 1. KYLE TUCKER, OF FRESNO (ASTROS) AGE: 21. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-4. WT.: 190. DRAFTED: HS—Tampa, 2015 (1) Tucker began the year billed as the top prospect in the PCL and lived up to it. He led the league with a .989 OPS, finished third with a .332 batting average, reached the 20-20 plateau and earned his first major league callup on July 7. Tucker’s swing is unconventional and gets long in the back at times, but his excellent hand-eye coordination and timing allowed him to consistently barrel the ball to all fields. He showed strong strike-zone discipline, remained poised in unfavorable counts and generated easy power with a smooth swing. Defensively Tucker reads the ball off the bat better in right field than left. He is…

TEXAS LEAGUE 1. FERNANDO TATIS JR., SS SAN ANTONIO (PADRES) AGE: 19. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-3. WT.: 185. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2015 (White Sox). A left thumb fracture and ensuing surgery ended Tatis Jr.’s 2018 season in late July, but he clearly separated himself as the top position player prospect in the TL. All five of the 19-year-old shortstop’s tools drew plus grades from one evaluator. He’s made steady improvement with his speed, body and range. Tatis finished second in the league with an .862 OPS despite being its youngest player on Opening Day. Even on the rare days he didn’t get a hit, he found other ways to beat teams, drawing walks, stealing bases, and preventing hits with his glove. Though there were previous concerns about his ability to…

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE 1. ROYCE LEWIS, SS FORT MYERS (TWINS) AGE: 19. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 188. DRAFTED: HS—San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 2017 (1). The Twins made Lewis the first choice in the 2017 draft and then quickly hinted at his potential by promoting him from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to low Class A Cedar Rapids in his first season as a pro. He was impressive in the Midwest League both last year and upon his return there in the first half of 2018 before hitting his way to the FSL. Scouts like just about everything about Lewis, who has quickly become one of the game’s elite prospects. On defense, he has made people believe he can stick at shortstop by showing strong range and reactions with an…

HAVE A QUESTION? @jjcoop36 askba@baseballamerica.com Q Is there a reason or explanation as to why Kyler Murray has a such a poor arm rating? —SCOTT JEGLUM, @KINGJEGLUM A Our 2018 draft scouting report for Oklahoma outfielder Kyle Murray gave him a below-average arm in baseball, which understandably seems odd for the starting quarterback of a top college football program and a potential Heisman Trophy winner. As the scouting report noted, scouts watching Murray in the spring knew they weren’t seeing him at his best. He was going back and forth between baseball and spring football practice, which means he was throwing dozens of passes on the football field and then stepping onto the baseball diamond. So his arm was understandably tired. Drafted by the Athletics ninth overall, Murray’s arm probably…

EASTERN LEAGUE 1. VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR., 3B NEW HAMPSHIRE (BLUE JAYS) AGE: 19. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 200. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2015. Guerrero ran away with BA’s Minor League Player of the Year award and was the Eastern League’s best prospect by a wide margin. Many scouts tabbed him as an 80-grade hitter with 80-grade power on the 20-80 scouting scale before the season, and he spent the summer living up to those lofty expectations. Guerrero opened the year as the league’s youngest player and promptly destroyed the league with bat speed and a batting eye that both ranked as elite. He hit .402, and the only thing that could stop him was a knee injury that shelved him for a month. Everybody’s in on Guerrero as the best…

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE 1. JO ADELL, OF INLAND EMPIRE (ANGELS) AGE: 19. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-3. WT.: 208. DRAFTED: HS—Louisville, 2017 (1) Just one year removed from high school, Adell shot through the Cal League as he ascended three levels of the minors up to Double-A. He led the league in runs, extra-base hits (34) and total bases (130) during his time with Inland Empire, punishing older pitchers with light-tower power. Adell hammered both velocity and spin and drove the ball in the air to all fields. He occasionally got over-aggressive as he sought to do damage, but his special blend of physicality, bat speed and maturity checked every box of a future impact offensive player. Adell further showcased plus speed on the bases and a plus arm in the outfield.…

MIDWEST LEAGUE 1. ROYCE LEWIS, SS CEDAR RAPIDS (TWINS) AGE: 19. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-2. WT: 188. DRAFTED: HS—San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 2017 (1). The No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft lived up to expectation by showing plus tools across the board. He ranked among the MWL leaders in batting average (.315), stolen bases (22) and doubles (23) at the time of his promotion to the high Class A Florida State League in mid-July, even though he had been slowed by knee tendinitis. Scouts project Lewis to be a potential .300 hitter with plus power and plus speed, which makes him a potential 20-20 threat. Defensively, he should stick at shortstop with enough range, anticipation, hands and actions to be an above-average defender. His arm grades as above-average. Lewis…

MARK BARBAGELATA, a minor leaguer who played in the New York-Penn League for the Indians organization in 1982, died May 30 in Reno, Nev. He was 56. WALTER BEAUCHAMP, a minor leaguer who played in the Boston Braves organization in 1949 and played in the Georgia State and Georgia-Alabama leagues from 1950-51, died June 8 in Waterford, Conn. He was 90. JAMES CARPENTER, a minor leaguer who pitched in the Carolina League for the Cardinals organization in 1945, died June 9 in Virginia. He was 94. JAMES “SAM” CLAYPOOL, a minor leaguer who played in the Blue Ridge, Georgia State and Pennsylvania-Ohio-New York leagues from 1948-51 and 1953, died May 24 in Indiana, Pa. He was 88. THOMAS CLEMENTE, a minor leaguer who played in the Western Association as well…