Allyson Footer interviewed Jeff Bagwell on his thoughts on the kids in the Minor Leagues. Some of the highlights:
On Bud & the Boys:
He’s got a chance to really help us. I’m hoping he has a great Spring Training and can help us this year. He’s got an above-average fastball and an above-average breaking ball. It’s a fun to watch him. He’s got a good presence out there….
You’ve heard about a lot of these kids — about Brad James and Sergio Perez and Bud Norris, but they all got hurt last year. It’s a tough thing. It’s tough to get hurt in the Minor Leagues because you kind of get either forgotten or somebody goes right past you. This is our wave of kids that we have to look forward to this year and next year.
On what he saw at instructionals:
I saw the kids in Instructional League, also, the kids we just drafted last year. We had a nice Draft. We’ve got some kids that can really, really run. I didn’t see the pitchers who were taken high in the Draft, but those guys are supposed to be above average in every sense of the word.
Allyson also catches up with Ed Wade & Cooper on two arms that were the hopes of the system and have been dinged up and not come through yet.
“It’s high noon for both of them,” general manager Ed Wade said.
“He’s (Nieve) going to have to step up and show something in the spring,” Cooper said. “Right now, I’m thinking I’ll hand him the ball to see if he can become a starting pitcher. That’s probably where he fits right now, especially with our bullpen being as solid as it is.”
As for Paulino we learn that he pitched well in instructionals even though he never pitched winter ball as planned.
“Last year was a lost season for him,” Wade said. “We’re hoping he sees the opportunity he has here and takes advantage of it.”