By Michael N
January 17, 2003
Before delving off into the annual report, I’d like to make mention of something that, to my knowledge, has not been reported in the Houston media and may have a major impact on the Astro system. The current political turmoil in Venezuela could very well hinder the ability of several key Houston farmhands from acquiring visas to come to the United States and join their minor league squads. It’s a troubling situation and one we should all hope is resolved in a timely manner. If I am able to get good news on this front prior to anything being announced by Houston media or the Astros, I’ll pass it on in the Talk Zone. For now, though, on to the reports…
Last year the Minor Opinions annual listing of Top 10 prospects in the Astro system was preceded for the first time by a far greater number of reports on players in the organization than had been provided in the past as well as a contest for readers who chose to predict the final Top 10 list. The feedback after last season’s report was overwhelmingly positive and so this year the column will take a similar approach:
1. Below, by position, are 48 prospect reports covering players from AAA through rookie ball as well as recent draftees and Latin Summer League players. Additionally, 7 reliever reports are added but none of these pitchers are candidates for the final Top 10 list.
2. Following the prospect reports are instructions for a reader contest to determine who can most accurately predict the final MO Top 10.
3. The unveiling of the highly anticipated Minor Opinions 2003 Top Ten Prospect List in two weeks, along with the name of the contest winner.
As an aside, I may or may not have mentioned the following in a previous column but please indulge me. The fact is I dislike these kinds of lists. National crowning of a player as the #1 prospect in each system creates undue pressure/expectation and also does little to tell a reader whether the #1 kid in System A is or should be comparable to the #1 prospect in System B. Furthermore, choosing a player in the system over another at the #10 slot in the ranking is an almost completely arbitrary process. Yet for whatever reason, rabid sports fans in the United States have become accustomed (or should I say addicted?) to pre-season and post-season rankings. Newspaper, television and internet pundits trumpet their systems for ranking players but ultimately all the lists are simply a cheap way to incite buzz and, quite frankly, that’s one reason why this column is going through this process again (anything to get the AstroNation talking about Houston Astros baseball in the dead of winter, dontchaknow?).
Now while I may whine a bit and question the usefulness of rankings, as much information on players as can be gleaned from reliable sources is very useful in not only evaluating each individual player but the system itself as a whole. Clearly that has value to any hard-core fan, and it is without question the biggest reason why this column attempts to provide as much info as can be dug up on these kids we all hope will one day lead our beloved Astros to the promised land.
So, take the rankings themselves with a grain of salt and enjoy the individual reports, fellow Astro addicts.
CATCHERS:
John Buck – DOB: 7/7/80 Bats: R, Throws: R
Still very much viewed by most in the organization as the catcher of the (very near) future for the Houston Astros, Buck has above average skills as a receiver and enjoys universal acclaim for his handling of and rapport with his pitching staff. Most of you who have read these reports over the years know that I have high regard for Buck and seeing him perform in Round Rock last year only enhanced my view of his skills with the tools of ignorance. Unfortunately a similar positive feeling was not earned by watching him handle the stick last year.
Yes, Buck did do a very nice job in driving in runs during 2002. He deserves full credit for being a good situational hitter with ducks on the pond. However, he did not exhibit much patience in other situations and seemed to be intent on driving the ball instead of making consistent, solid contact. This is just my perception of his efforts but it seems to be born out in that for the second consecutive year Buck’s BB totals have decreased while his K totals have increased. At the same time, his batting average has gone from .282 to .263 and his OBP has dropped from .374 to .314 between the 2000 and 2002 seasons.
In Buck’s defense he did make the leap from low-A to AA and did suffer a hand injury during the first series of the season at El Paso. But it did not take long for him to get over the injury and he did hit well for the first couple of healthy months. However he seriously tailed off at the end of the season and his performance in the Arizona Fall League did not give indication he will get his offensive game back on track soon.
Honestly, I don’t see this trend ending at the beginning of next season as reports are that Buck will be assigned to AAA New Orleans where he will see a more steady diet of nasty sliders, curves and changeups. Let’s hope I’m wrong on this but I’d be more optimistic for an offensive turn-around if he were to spend a second season in AA at age 22.
2002 stats: .263/.314/.422 448 AB, 28 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 48 R, 89 RBI, 31 BB, 93 K
Hector Gimenez – DOB: 9/28/82, Bats: S, Throws: R
Quite simply put, the top position player to watch over the long haul in the Astros’ system. He’s still very young and has work to do offensively but there’s no one who could possibly question to enormous talent this kid possesses.
As readers of this column probably remember, the Astro organization was interested in bringing Gimenez to the US before the 2001 season based on his defensive ability alone at age 18. Convinced by the directors of the VZ academy to keep him there for the 2001 campaign, Gimenez exploded with the bat and eventually garnered MVP honors in the VSL championship series.
In what is to my knowledge a totally unprecedented move, Gimenez completely skipped rookie and short-season advanced ball in 2002 and went directly from the VZ academy to low-A ball in Lexington. Despite having to limit his work due to back spasms which plagued him during the season, Gimenez impressed everyone with his mature attitude, poise and ability to handle pitchers despite a language barrier and his being the youngest player on the team (he did not turn 20 until after the season concluded).
While this reputation for play behind the dish and handling of pitchers preceded him, not many first-time observers were adequately prepared for the raw tools he flashed while at the plate. Gimenez clearly has the potential to be a legitimate power threat from the catching position. He has above-average bat speed and incredibly strong wrists that allow him to turn on just about anything a pitcher can offer. His swing has a natural loft to it and that possibly contributed to a high strikeout rate. But I’m not going to hold it against him too much given the leap he made between levels, the back problems he battled all year and the culture shock of moving to the US.
Gimenez will most likely be the everyday catcher for the new Salem affiliate in 2003. Do yourselves a favor and keep an eye on this young man. In tandem with Buck, he gives Houston arguably the best pair of young catching prospects in all of minor league baseball.
2002 stats: .263/.320/.434, 297 AB, 16 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 41 R, 42 RBI, 25 BB, 78 K
German Melendez – DOB: 9/13/81, Bats: R, Throws: R
Another exciting young Venezuelan catching import, Melendez is a very athletic catcher with good speed. However, in contrast to Gimenez, who is a year younger, German is not physically mature at 6′ and perhaps 165-170 pounds. He does, however, possess a very strong throwing arm and projects to be an above average defensive player.
Like most of the latest VZ crop of players, Melendez showed respectable control of the strike zone. He is somewhat limited with the bat at this point, though, and the safest bet for next season is that German will return for a second tour of duty with Martinsville or join the short-season advanced team in Tri-City.
2002 stats: .292/.362/.355, 141 AB, 6 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 23 R, 21 RBI, 17 BB, 27 K
INFIELDERS:
Chris Burke – DOB: 3/11/80, Bats: R, Throws: R (Second Base)
In my mind, Burke’s performance during 2002 was without question the most disappointing in the entire organization. But in his defense, he is, along with Tommy Whiteman, the poster child for what went wrong in not having a high-A affiliate for two years. Sending a big bonus baby back down to low-A Michigan or Lexington was not really an option but shipping him to a place like Salem instead of leaping a level to Round Rock could well have done Chris a world of good. Thankfully for the future that situation is now remedied.
One tendency in the Astros organization is to allow hitters who have had success in the past to continue doing what they’ve always done until it’s quite clear there is a problem. Well, 2002 proved there is a problem with Burke’s approach. From what I’ve seen, Burke has average (at best) bat speed and silly little trigger mechanisms with his hands which actually reduce the amount of time he has to react to the ball.
Combined, these things turned a guy who was an offensive machine at the University of Tennessee and a solid leadoff guy in his first exposure to pro ball to an opposite-field punch and judy hitter who was absolutely dominated by hurlers with good heat and the ability to bust him inside. There was also hope at the beginning of the year that Burke could handle shortstop duties, which would propel him that much quicker to the big leagues. Well, that isn’t happening. The guy is a good second baseman who moves well and gets rid of the ball quickly but in my opinion he’s simply not suited for short.
Burke went to the FIL and I really hope he got some excellent hitting instruction from a guy like Johnny Lewis. There’s no question that Burke has good physical tools. Despite being overpowered by AA pitching, he wasn’t a K machine. He’s very quick on the bases and in the field, he’s cocky and has consistently been very successful in all phases of the game prior to 2002. One can only hope that Burke was receptive to the kind of instruction he got at the FIL, implements said instruction and finds the same kind of success he’s had in the past in a repeat season at Round Rock during 2003.
I seriously doubt Burke will ever be anything resembling a power hitter. But if he can return to making solid line-drive contact, hit the ball in the middle of the field and use his speed to be a pain on the bases, he could still emerge as the leadoff option Houston envisioned when they selected him with the 10th pick in the 2001 draft.
One thing to keep in mind when pushing for Burke to fulfill the promise of a first round pick is that he’ll be playing all of the 2003 season as a 22-year old. He’s still very much a kid with time to hone his craft and fashion a solid major league career.
2002 stats: .264/.330/.356 481 AB, 19 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 66 R, 37 RBI, 39 BB, 61 K
Brooks Conrad – DOB: 1/16/80, Bats: S, Throws: R (Second Base)
The kind of grinder every true baseball fan loves. He’s got no outstanding skill or tool. He’s not particularly big nor does he have an outstanding pedigree. All he does is get the most out of his ability, play the game right and play it well. So much so that his fellow players voted him Battle Cat most likely to reach the majors first.
An eighth-round selection from Arizona State in 2001, Conrad has for two seasons now been a consistent, if not spectacular, producer. He ranked in the top three on his Michigan squad in virtually every offensive category this past season while leading the Midwest League in runs scored and finishing third in total bases and RBI. He may have a little more pop, a little less speed and not be the same kind of defender (he plays second base from short right field), but Conrad’s style somewhat reminds me of Billy Doran.
I fear that Conrad’s development may hit a snag soon in that a guy like Chris Burke is ahead of him. They are essentially the same age and both are basically limited to 2B duties. But if Conrad continues his excellent play with a fine season in Salem while Burke continues to struggle at Round Rock, it’ll be interesting to see how the organization handles the situation.
2002 stats: .287/.368/.477, 499 AB, 25 2B, 14 3B, 14 HR, 94 R, 94 RBI, 62 BB, 102 K
Adam Everett – DOB: 2/2/77, Bats: R, Throws: R (Shortstop)
Still eligible for this list based on the fact he received only 88 AB with the Astros in 2002.
The issue remains the same as it has ever since the Astros acquired him from the Red Sox. Can this kid hit enough at the major league level in order to get his glove on the field? To this point the answer from the Astros is “no” and time is running out for Everett to get chances to prove he can do it as he will turn 25 prior to Spring Training.
It seems I’m one of the few remaining persons who believes Everett can and will hit enough to be a useful major league player. Yet he still needs to get stronger so he’s not overwhelmed by inside fastballs. And despite his poor average with Houston, Adam did work 12 walks in 88 ABs so his OBP was over 100 points higher than his batting average.
Now, as to whether he gets the chance to prove his worth or not, that remains to be seen.
2002 stats (NOZ): .275/.331/.380, 345 AB, 16 2B, 7 3B, 2 HR, 51 R, 25 RBI, 24 BB, 59 K
2002 stats (HOU): .193/.297/.227, 88 AB, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 11 R, 4 RBI, 12 BB, 19 K
Ramon German – DOB: 1/15/80 Bats: S, Throws: R (Third Base)
A hand injury, a suspension for a brawl he participated in and an alteration in his batting style combined to slow German’s progress in 2002.
In 2000, this young switch-hitter from the Dominican had an outstanding year in rookie ball and then jumped to low-A with Lexington the following season. He encountered some bumps that season but finished very well and looked primed for a breakout repeat campaign with Lexington in 2002. It just wasn’t meant to be, apparently. From the outset he struggled and never really found a groove, having moved from a “bail and whale” style approach at the plate to a more closed and conventional stance. He then hurt his wrist and went on the DL, ultimately playing only 86 of a possible 140 regular season games. His production plummeted and staring at age 23 going into next season, German’s star has dimmed somewhat.
Despite the disappointing results of last year, there is no better or more obvious selection for the 3B job at Salem next year and so I anticipate German will be awarded the job. Ramon still has very quick hands and strong wrists at the plate with the potential to be a dangerous offensive force. But he needs to get back on track after what amounts to a lost season.
2002 stats: .241/.328/.393, 328 AB, 15 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 46 R, 49 RBI, 43 BB, 77 K
Valentin Mendez -DOB: 2/14/82, Bats: R, Throws: R (Second Base)
Coming to the United States after an MVP season with the Astros’ 2001 champion Dominican Summer League team, Mendez continued to display a very nice ability to discern a ball from a strike at the plate.
That good report is tempered by some concerns, though. Coming from the Dominican, I fear that we may learn Mendez is 22 instead of 20. It’s also a legitimate concern that Mendez really does not have a solid position (14 errors in 52 starts at 2B with Martinsville), as he’s yet to show any outstanding ability with the glove. He primarily played 1B during the 2001 season in the DSL and with his lack of power that’s not really an option for the long-term future.
Mendez will likely play another year of short-season ball with Tri-City. Hopefully next season he deals effectively with his defensive deficiency, there’s no report of fudging on his birth certificate and he continues to work his way on base while developing some natural strength to drive the ball more often.
2002 stats: .307/.396/.392, 191 AB, 14 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 26 R, 38 RBI, 27 BB, 24 K
Saul Torres – DOB: 2/18/82, Bats: R, Throws: R (Third Base)
Torres played on the same championship Venoco team with Hector Gimenez in 2001 and the two combined to lead the offense of that team. In 2002, though, Torres started off the year horribly. It took a big rebound at the end of the season to finish on a high note and an overall respectable performance for the year.
Probably the best combination of size, power and natural ability to play 3B in the system, Torres also displayed a keen eye at the plate. One thing I always look for in a hitter is if he can post an OBP number 100 points or more higher than his batting average. Torres accomplished this during his first stint in the States and it bodes well for him.
Saul could stand some work on his defensive fundamentals (footwork, consistent release point on throws) but he’s agile enough to handle the hot corner and has enough of an arm to make the long toss. I project that he’ll return for another year in Martinsville or join Tri-City in 2003.
2002 stats: .271/.390/.375, 192 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 46 R, 28 RBI, 36 BB, 35 K
Tommy Whiteman – DOB: 7/14/79, Bats: R, Throws: R (Shortstop)
As stated previously in regard to Chris Burke, the lack of a high-A affiliation and the jumping of a level from low-A to AA contributed mightily to Tommy Whiteman starting off the year horribly. Shipped back to Lexington after barely two weeks in AA, Whiteman apparently worked on shortening his stroke to cut down on the big air he was creating on swings-and-misses. It worked, too, as Whiteman significantly cut down on his strikeout rate. This is a great sign as the natural strength in his 6’3″, 180-pound frame will lead to power down the line so long as he makes consistent contact with the ball.
Whiteman continued the pattern of making good contact during his play in the Arizona Fall League this year. Also of importance with regard to his performance in the AFL are the reports there should no longer be any concern whether Tommy can handle the shortstop duties as he sparkled in that role.
The defensive questions being laid to rest combined with his physical prowess and newfound control of the strike zone lead to the conclusion Whiteman is going to be fast-tracked if he at all proves himself on the AA level. Houston has not had anything approaching a legitimate offensive weapon at the shortstop position since the too-short career of Dickie Thon. Folks, we could very well be looking at such a player in the near future in Tommy Whiteman.
2002 stats (LEX): .303/.374/.483, 350 AB, 29 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 50 R, 49 RBI, 36 BB, 66 K
2002 stats (AFL): .330/.389/.474, 97 AB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 R, 16 RBI, 10 BB, 18 K
OUTFIELDERS:
Anthony Acevedo – DOB: 5/5/78, Bats: L, Throws: L
Acevedo was a 13th round selection from Fresno State in the 2000 draft who repeated low-A ball in 2002. Another casualty of the Astro system not having a high-A team for the second consecutive year. Anthony does not have a standout tool but is a solid player across the board. He is also a very mature and well-grounded person off the field who is notably liked and respected by his teammates.
During the 2002 season, Acevedo’s work on balance and patience at the plate paid off in a reduction of his strikeout totals from 130 to 89. Yet despite his imposing 6’5″ frame, he’s not really a classic power hitter. Anthony is more of a line drive guy with the ability to hit the ball in the gaps who tries to pattern his game after the likes of Tony Gwynn.
His manager at Lexington last year, JJ Cannon, was a firm believer that Acevedo will play in the major leagues at some point. But given that he’ll turn 25 early next season and still has not played high-A ball to this point, much less mastered the level, it seems a bit early to make that projection. Most likely Acevedo will join the new Salem affiliate in 2003. If he rips up the Carolina League he could be someone who vaults up the organizational ladder. If not, his prospects for the future are somewhat muddy.
2002 stats: .302/.386/.449 437 AB, 28 2B, 12 HR, 89 R, 80 RBI, 62 BB, 89 K
Freddy Acevedo – DOB: 8/23/81, Bats: R, Throws: R
In contrast to Anthony, Freddy Acevedo is more physically talented but far more raw as a player. A product of the Dominican Republic, Freddy has an above average arm and would properly be characterized as a classic right fielder. He also possesses major league bat speed with the ability to produce solid power. But his inability to make consistent contract has limited his progression at this point to a pair of stints with rookie level Martinsville.
In Acevedo’s favor, his second tour of duty in the Appy League was a far greater success. He went from being completely overmatched in 2001 to leading the M’stros in HRs, extra-base hits and RBI this past season. The problem is that he still strikes out about once every three ABs and is a free-swinger who seems incapable at this point of controlling the strike zone.
If Acevedo is able to discern the difference between a pitch to hit and a pitch to take in the future, he has the physical ability to be a helluva ballplayer. His inclusion on the Florida Instructional League roster this winter is an indication of the regard the organization has for his tools. Right now, the best guess is that Acevedo will join the Lexington club for the start of the 2003 season. If he continues to strikeout at such a high rate during spring training, though, it’s possible he could return for another year in short-season ball with Tri-City. I’m betting on the former, though.
Acevedo will play most of the 2003 season as a 21-year old, so there’s still plenty of time for him to turn tools into skills.
2002 stats: .284/.352/.476 208 AB, 11 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 39 R, 44 RBI, 18 BB, 67 K
Robinson Cespedes – DOB: 7/30/82, Bats: R, Throws: R
(ed. note – Cespedes’ age has been revealed to be two years older than was previously understood. Adjust the following report accordingly.)
A native of Venezuela, Cespedes has grown to 6’1″ and about 175 pounds from when he was signed as a 5’11”, 150 pound 16-year old. He has true CF defensive capabilities with excellent range and an above average arm.
During 2002, he made his US debut with Tri-City and for the first month of the season was about the only player on the team who approached effectiveness at the plate for the Valley Cats. Cespedes hit a tail spin at the end of the season and his final numbers are not all that impressive, though he did lead his team in total hits and extra base hits. However, I’m not all that concerned about his overall numbers as he was 19 years old during this first experience in America and he did not show a penchant for swinging without purpose as he struck out only 34 times in over 290 plate appearances. Also, Cespedes had two very fine years in the Dominican Summer League prior to coming to the States so I expect that with a little more exposure to the game here, he’ll do just fine.
Cespedes should continue to get stronger and I expect that he will develop gap power in time. As long as he remains patient at the plate and makes good contact, in a few years he could make himself into a viable candidate for play in the majors if not a top-flight prospect. He is well thought of by the man whose opinion of Latin American players I value most highly so keep an eye on him.
2002 stats: .266/.314/.350, 274 AB, 12 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 25 R, 23 RBI, 13 BB, 34 K
Victor Hall – DOB: 9/16/80, Bats: L, Throws: L
(ed. note – Hall cleared waivers but was reclaimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks when Houston decided not to keep him on the 25-man roster after Spring Training.)
Quite honestly, I don’t have the best of information about Hall. Most of you know he was acquired from the Colorado Rockies, who had selected him from Arizona in the 2002 Rule 5 draft, in exchange for Nelson Cruz. What I know about him is that he’s extremely fast, plays pretty good defense, has an adequate arm for center field and he relishes the role of leadoff hitter.
Hall has shown a decent enough ability to get on base in the lower levels but he doesn’t even have 200 ABs above high-A ball and he’s suddenly going to play in the majors? Unless he’s going to spend a year in the Glen Barker role of late-inning defense and pinch running, I just don’t see him contributing to the 2003 Astros. It seems safe to assume he’d be far better off playing a full year in Round Rock or New Orleans honing his skills and I hope some sort of arrangement has been made between the Diamondbacks, Rockies and Astros that will allow Hall to do so.
2002 stats (ELP): .286/.322/.373, 161 AB, 4 2B, 5 3B, 0 HR, 18 R, 12 RBI, 6 BB, 23 K
2002 stats (LAN): .278/.373/.378, 352 AB, 10 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 72 R, 32 RBI, 47 BB, 72 K
Charlton Jimerson – DOB: 9/22/79, Bats: R, Throws: R
Hoo, boy. Jimerson collected 172 total bases in the 2002 season then turned around and struck out 168 times. Am sure fellow columnist Arky Vaughan or some other stat god with a massive database could find someone who has accomplished this dubious feat but I’m hard pressed to think of any player who played full-time and had more Ks than total bases in a season. Egad that’s horrific.
Jimerson remains, by far, the finest defensive outfielder in the Astros’ system and probably the best overall athlete, too. As happens so often, unfortunately, he has yet to turn those physical tools into useful baseball skills. Charlton did go to the FIL for additional instruction but I have to wonder if he can turn it around quickly enough (he turned 23 in September) to have a chance at a very good career in MLB. He’s not so old that he should be forgotten but it will be very telling as to his future where Jimerson is assigned for next season. If he repeats low-A at 23, he’d better tear it up. Should he be sent to high-A, he can struggle a bit and still be given some slack as he’s at least making progress up the ladder.
Jimerson is a smart guy and understands the value of hard work given his difficult upbringing and the example his sister set by raising her little brother. All we can hope for is that with additional experience and instruction he can become the monster player his physical presence leads scouts to drool over. Honestly, if this guy ever learns to make consistent contact and control the strike zone (a stretch at this point) he can be the kind of player Cesar Cedeno was in his prime. He’s that multi-talented.
2002 stats: .228/.295/.392, 439 AB, 22 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 65 R, 57 RBI, 36 BB, 168 K, 34 SB, 9 CS
Jason Lane – DOB: 12/22/76, Bats: R, Throws: L
I’ve become a fan of Lane. Not that I unduly pooh-poohed his ability in the past, it’s that he has faced every hurdle the minor leagues and the Astros’ system has placed in front of him and been successful at every turn. He deserves proper credit and praise for having done so.
In 2000, Lane split duty between first base and the outfield. In 2001, Lane spent the majority of the season in left field. In 2002 he took on the chore of manning one of the most difficult outfield positions in all of baseball, covering the vast center field expanses of Zephyr Field in New Orleans, and by most accounts he did a fairly decent job. Much like Berkman in Houston, Lane won’t win raves or anything for his play in center but the guy has made himself into a serviceable defensive outfielder capable of playing anywhere the manager throws his glove.
What has never been much of a question is Lane’s power with the bat. He’s a legitimate power source capable of providing the kind of offense one expects from a corner outfielder. After his monster season in Round Rock during 2001, Lane went to New Orleans and experienced something of the “Ginter effect”; that is getting fed a steady diet of junkballs instead of the fastballs he saw at AA and struggling to produce as expected. Despite the struggles versus expectation, Lane managed to lead the Zephyrs in most offensive (non-rate) categories. I also have little doubt that his power numbers would have been much higher were the left-center power alley in New Orleans not in the vicinity of 415 feet. Even so, Lane earned a late-season call up to Houston and, voila, he morphed into the offensive force of 2001 in an impressive showing with the Astros.
As to whether he’s going to receive a call-up to Houston in the near future, that remains very cloudy. Lane really has nothing much more to prove as far as his ability to play major league baseball and he is deserving of an opportunity to do so. But with the ridiculous number of outfielders currently on the 25-man roster, Lane looks to be the kid on the wrong side of the chain link fence begging for a chance to get on the field.
At 26, something needs to happen soon as far as getting a chance at the major league level so as to establish himself and fashion a decent career on the big stage. With a couple of months to go before Spring Training, Gerry the Hun could still ship off an OF or two and injury is always a possibility, so having the depth a guy like Lane provides is a nice luxury. A very nice luxury indeed.
2002 stats (NOZ): .272/.328/.472, 426 AB, 36 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 65 R, 83 RBI, 31 BB, 90 K
2002 stats (HOU): .290/.375/.536, 69 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 12 R, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 12 K
Hamilton Sarabia – DOB: 6/11/82, Bats: L, Throws: R
After Hector Gimenez, perhaps the offensive leader of the latest VZ academy grads described to me by Andres Reiner as the best group perhaps since the original class signed in 1990-1991.
Sarabia has been likened to Bob Abreu in that he hits left-handed and has the same kind of very quick, compact stroke with tremendous bat speed likely to develop into a power stroke as he gains more experience and physical maturity. He is also patient at the plate and willing to spray line drives all over the field.
Hamilton is not likely to develop into a superior defensive player so he’ll probably be restricted to left field. But he is very aggressive by nature, has a strong desire to succeed and is a very intelligent, natural ballplayer. I mentioned his name to at least three people I know who had never heard of Sarabia and had the ability last year to see him at Martinsville. All came away very impressed, particularly with his approach at the plate.
Obviously it’s still very early but Sarabia is one to keep an eye on.
2002 stats: .282/.382/.353, 238 AB, 9 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 50 R, 32 RBI, 34 BB, 44 K, 18 SB, 4 CS
Todd Self – DOB: 11/9/78, Bats: L, Throws: R
Self came to the system as the 15th round selection in the 2000 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette. He’s a big guy at 6’5″ and has split time between 1B and right field during his professional career.
After spending a couple of years in the short-season ranks with Auburn and Pittsfield, Self graduated to Michigan last year and broke out, eventually ending the season tied with Brooks Conrad for the team lead in XBH (53), RBI (94) and slugging percentage (.477) while leading the Battle Cats with an OBP of .394.
The biggest issue for the lefty-swinging Self, though, is his age. He played all of last year as a 23-year old in low-A ball. His advanced age does not mean he cannot succeed as he moves on, as evidenced by the rise of players like Lane, Morgan Ensberg and Keith Ginter. What it does tell us is that there’s not much margin allowing him to take a couple of years to master each level and expect to forge much of a career in the bigs.
He’s one to keep an eye on at Salem next year. If he does well, he could have a future in baseball. If he does not do well, he could very quickly fall off the map.
2002 stats: .310/.394/.477, 491 AB, 36 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 81 R, 94 RBI, 65 BB, 104 K
Henri Stanley – DOB: 12/15/77, Bats: L, Throws: L
What a totally wonderful story the career of Henri Stanley has become. Most Astro fans probably know by now that he was a non-drafted free agent signed as roster-filler after his senior season at Clemson in 2000. All the guy has done since then is hit with the very best at his level each of the last two years in the Astros’ system.
Stanley hit well with Michigan in 2001 but as a 23-year old in low-A ball his performance was somewhat dismissed. Elevated two levels to Round Rock, Stanley had to fight for playing time and won it convincingly, eventually leading the Express in virtually every major offensive category by the end of the season and opening enough eyes to secure for himself a 40-man roster spot this winter.
Henri was a crowd fave in Central Texas for his hustle. The guy simply does not take a play off. He busts it down to first, will take an extra bag at the right time and has good range in the outfield. He plays smart baseball and Express fans appreciated his style of play.
There is, however, one glaring weakness to his game as well as another I think he may be able to address. The biggest problem is that Stanley has one of the weakest throwing arms for an outfielder I’ve seen in a long time. I really don’t know how he’s going to be able to remedy that situation and it may limit him to left-field duty or as a utility player should he reach the big stage. The lesser issue is that he has a very long swing, which I believe is the big reason he struggles against left-handed pitching, and that problem will only be exploited further as he moves from AA to AAA and possibly the majors. With some tinkering he may be able to make adjustments and eliminate or lessen this weakness. He’ll get the opportunity to do so in New Orleans this year and I wouldn’t hastily bet against his doing so.
2002 stats: .314/.408/.542, 456 AB, 36 2B, 10 3B, 16 HR, 90 R, 72 RBI, 72 BB, 85 K
Gavin Wright – DOB: 5/6/79, Bats: R, Throws: R
Finally a full and healthy season for Wright after several years in the system and the results were so-so.
In a brief call-up to Round Rock at the end of the 2002 campaign, Wright flashed some of his athleticism and skill as an outfielder (putting Mike Rosamond to shame) as well as an even swing which looks to have some gap power. He’s still somewhat skinny, though, and he needs to cut down on his strikeouts and increase his OBP so he can take advantage of his good speed.
Wright turns 24 years old early in the 2003 season. With barely a moment of experience above low-A ball on his resume, it seems as though he will need some sort of breakout campaign with Salem or Round Rock next year in order to legitimize his case for future consideration as an Astro. Wright has the tools and attitude necessary to make these things happen. For his sake we can only hope those raw attributes turn into skill successfully applied on the job.
2002 stats: .296/.346/.410, 517 AB, 23 2B, 6 3B, 8 HR, 73 R, 57 RBI, 40 BB, 92 K