MINOR LEAGUE/PROSPECTS Thread

Wow, we have 3 in the top 25 and one has already graduated.

The future is looking bright!

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=131723183&sid=milb

 

Right-Hander Norge Ruiz Leaves Cuba, Will Seek Deal With MLB Club
By Steve Adams [May 22, 2015 at 1:54pm CDT]

Cuban right-hander Norge Ruiz has left the island and will seek a contract with a Major League club, reports MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter). The 21-year-old Ruiz is one of the top prospects in Cuba, so interest in him would figure to be substantial.

Baseball America’s Ben Badler ranked Ruiz as the No. 8 prospect in Cuba (subscription-only scouting report is highly recommended) less than one month ago, with all seven of the players ranked ahead of him being position players. Ruiz’s age will make him subject to international bonus pools, but as Badler notes in a second piece, he’ll be eligible to sign in the 2015-16 signing period once he establishes residency and applies for free agency with MLB.

That he’s apparently ticketed to sign in the upcoming signing period as opposed to the current period will remove several clubs from the mix. The Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, D-Backs and Angels have all exceeded their 2014-15 bonus pools by more than 15 percent, meaning none of those teams will be able to sign an international amateur for more than $300K. Given Ruiz’s prospect status, that limitation will assuredly preclude any of the aforementioned clubs from signing him.

In the scouting report referenced above, Badler notes that Ruiz was the 2012-13 Serie Nacional Rookie of the Year in Cuba and writes that he “stands out in a country thin on Major League pitching prospects.” Per Badler, he features a fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 94 mph, which is complemented by a slider, changeup and splitter. At his best, Ruiz misses bats effectively and keeps the ball on the ground, as evidenced by a 62 percent ground-ball rate in 2014-15, according to Badler. He adds that Ruiz is a very good athlete and has feel for pitching beyond his years, giving him the potential to be a mid-rotation starter in the Majors.

While it’s early to know which teams will pursue Ruiz, it’s believed that the Dodgers are planning to go well over their pool and may already have a significant deal in place with Yadier Alvarez. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them add Ruiz as well. The Blue Jays (Vlad Guerrero Jr.), Twins (Wander Javier) and Phillies (Jhailyn Ortiz) may all have deals that would put them at or over their international budgets in place, according to Fangraphs’ Kiley McDaniel, though each of those clubs would have the ability to acquire enough international bonus money in trades to avoid incurring maximum penalties. (Teams can only acquire up to 50 percent of their originally allotted bonus pool via trade.) Additionally, the Cubs and Rangers will be able to spend aggressively again in the upcoming period and showed a strong willingness to do so in the 2013-14 period.

 

Fuck I don't want to trade De Leon haha

 

Like I think I stated earlier, when I saw him his velo was down around 88-91 T 92 but still had command, movement on all his pitchers and plus pitchability. Then he went on the 7 day DL for a back thing I think. Eventually people timed him up that day but my buddy who scouts said he's probably the best pitcher in the Cal League when he saw him later on. velo was 92-94 T95. with a plus slider & change. He legit.

 

The thing about pitching prospects is that you never know if they're going to cry on the mound after coughing up a couple of runs in the majors.

No real point to my post, other than pointing out James McDonald is a little bitch.

 

Just asked Keith on periscope for further information on Jose de Leon

He said that he spoke with scouts and a few pro directors and Joses name kept coming up. He potentially has 3 plus pitches where the fb is already plus. The deception is a major component to his pitches which helps them play up which projects to do the same at the big league level. Generally the industry was too light on him at the beginning of the year including the Dodgers

 

I heard through the grapevine even they didn't know he'd have that velo spike. Thought he was a filler/command guy at the draft up until last year. Sometimes you get lucky

 

Seager went 4-5 last night. Couple of doubles and a walk.

 

Seager? I hardly know her

 

Corey Seager is 5 for 5 today

 

5 for 5 with a 2B, a HR, and 5 RBIs. And the game is still going.

 

According to Seager's gamelog, his last 4 games:

12 for 17, 3 doubles, 3 HR's, 9 RBI's, 2 BB, 1 SO

 

Ian Thomas on the other hand got blasted. 2.1 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs.

 

Up to .316, 3 HR's, 14 RBI's at OKC.