Ryan LaMarre impressively wins his first trip onto the ballot. I'm wondering, it must be just name recognition at this point, right? Not much has been made about his impressive base-stealing year, but a prolonged slump in April and a huge BABIP swing in May (.403) make me not too thrilled with that season, in that run environment, from someone who should be so far ahead of his peers there. Let's hope he makes major improvements in Pensacola next season.
Same choices as yesterday, vote now.
Junior Arias, 3B, 20, BA-UR, Sickels-#19
(Billings) .251/.320/.452/.772, 8 HR, 30 RBI
Pros: Toolsy. Will be a monster at the plate if he can get his mechanics together and figures out how to hit. Time is on his side.
Cons: Still really raw. Went up a rookie ball level and numbers didn't improve. Does not walk.
Sean Buckley, 3B, 22, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Billings) .289/.372/.551/.923, 14 HR, 41 RBI
Pros: Showed a ton of power potential, hitting 14 HR in 225 AB. Good bloodlines.
Cons: Struck out a lot, needs to curtail that. Doesn't have a track record for hitting for average in college.
Tim Crabbe, RHP, 24, BA-UR, Sickels-#14
(Dayton) 3.65 ERA, 24.2 IP, 25 K, 7 BB, 1.17 WHIP
(Bakersfield) 3.41 ERA, 111.0 IP, 123 K, 46 BB, 1.29 WHIP
Pros: Two above average pitches, profiles as a solid reliever. Put up good numbers in the Cally League, which is a pitcher's nightmare.
Cons: Needs a 3rd pitch if he wants to be a starter. Kind of old for his level, so needs to go to AA and pitch well.
Drew Hayes, RHP, 24, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Dayton) 1.35 ERA, 60 IP, 89 K, 27 BB, 0.93 WHIP
Pros: Dayton's shutdown closer in 2011. Throws 3 pitches with good velocity on his fast ball (91-94).
Cons: Needs to improve command with his fastball and secondary pitches.
Chris Manno, LHP, 23, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Hagerstown) 1.04 ERA, 43.1 IP, 69 K, 15 BB, 0.81 WHIP
(Bakersfield) 0.53 ERA, 17.0 IP, 31 K, 6 BB, 0.71 WHIP
Pros: Amazing numbers since being traded, especially for the league environment. Deceptive delivery, with major league bullpen potential.
Cons: Below average fastball velocity. Secondary pitches need work.
Gabriel Rosa, 3B, 18, BA-UR, Sickels-#17
(AZL Reds) .245/.314/.406/.719, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Pros: Good speed on the basepaths, and scouts love his plate approach.
Cons: Rookie debut wasn't spectacular, still a very raw talent.
Josh Smith, RHP, 24, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Dayton) 2.97 ERA, 142.1 IP, 166 K, 33 BB, 1.09 WHIP
Pros: Struck out a lot of hitters last year, was the ace for a playoff team.
Cons: According to most scouting reports, doesn't really project as anything other than a back-of-the-rotation starter at best. Low 90s fastball, and his out pitch is a breaking ball that could get exploited by better hitters at higher levels.
Kyle Waldrop, OF, 20, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Billings) .273/.305/.471/.776, 5 HR, 29 RBI
Pros: Former football recruit and huge left handed bat. Broke out slugging .471 for Billings in 2011.
Cons: Plate discipline is an issue.
Ryan Wright, 2B, 22, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Billings) .298/.348/.522/.870, 7 HR, 32 RBI
(AZL Reds) .318/.375/.636/1.011, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Pros: Showed good power potential. Should advance fast through the system. Versatile in the field.
Cons: Could walk more. Attended a school that jch likes.