Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #1

Posted by Jeremy on January 19, 2009 under Prospects in Products | Be the First to Comment

1.) KENDRY MORALES—Los Angeles Angels 1B

The only smile that could rival Mark Teixeira’s $180 million grin has to be that belonging to the new L.A. Angels’ 1B Kendry Morales.  The exodus of the big switch-hitter now gives this young Cuban an opportunity to show Halo Nation what he can do from both sides of the plate.  His DWL performance has to be giving Angels GM Tony Reagins a good feeling that he made the right decision.  Morales has destroyed minor league pitching over the past few seasons but his MLB pedigree has yet to match up.  Cuban players seem to have a difficult time adjusting to the MLB game despite the fact that the level of talent is quite comparable.  That being said, Kendry is still just 25 (let’s hope) and on the cusp of entering the prime productive seasons of his career.  His cards are at bargain basement prices right now but that could all change if he develops into the .300 hitting power bat that the Angels believe him to be.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #2

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2.) FERNANDO MARTINEZ—New York Mets OF

Martinez performed well at AA last year as a teenager (.287 8 HR 43 RBI 20 doubles), but he has yet to be able to put together a fully healthy season.  He has the tools to hit for big average and power numbers as soon as his skills become more refined.  F-Mart’s sterling showing in the Venezuelan Winter League gives some optimism that he could find his way to the sparkling new confines of Citi Field sooner rather than later.  All eyes will be on this potential superstar in the Grapefruit League this spring.  His upside is virtually limitless but he will be hard pressed to crack the Mets’ opening day lineup.  Expect him to start the season at AAA Buffalo before making his much anticipated MLB debut later this season.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #3

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3.) JUAN FRANCISCO—Cincinnati Reds 3B

It’s been quite a homecoming for the big lefty-hitting denizen of the hot corner.  The average, HR’s RBIs and runs scored are all immensely impressive, but the fact that he has cut back his strikeouts and is working counts more effectively is a positive sign for Francisco.  Just this past season, Juan’s 19 BB/123 K’s put a big black smudge on his otherwise snappy FSL season.  The Reds have depth at 3B with Todd Frazier and Neftali Soto also in the mix.  Francisco has more power potential than either one of these guys but the plate discipline absolutely must improve if he is to sustain his level of success.  AA should offer a substantial challenge for the 21 year old and how he handles it will serve as a primary indicator of the success, or lack thereof, that we can expect from him in the future.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #4

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4.) PABLO SANDOVAL—San Francisco Giants 3B/1B

Pablo “Pass the Biscuits” Sandoval made a huge splash with the Giants last season destoying NL pitching to the tune of a .345 BA with 3 HR and 24 RBI in 41 games.  Benji Molina’s presence behind the plate has given the Giants the ability to move Sandoval to the infield corners where his slick glove work, to the delight of the organization, belied his rotund frame.  Pablo’s VWL stats gives some reason to believe that the power he demonstrated in minor league action last season (20 HR 96 RBI 38 doubles) could well return to the Bay Area for 2009.  The big key with him will be his conditioning.  The major league season is a grind and carrying the extra weight only increases the risk of nagging injuries and hindered performance.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #5

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5.) JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA—Texas Rangers C

How much should we glean from Salty’s DWL statline?  He has essentially reversed all of the disappointing numbers he put up in Texas during this brief stint.  His 3 HR in 200 AB’s has morphed into a bomb in every 7 AB’s in the DWL.  His 31 BB/74 K ratio is now a svelt 17 BB/13 K’s and his batting average enjoyed a 110 point boost.  Jarrod has all the tools in place to be an outstanding power hitting catcher but his poor fielding may well relegate him to the role of 1B or DH in the near future.  Taylor Teagarden’s superb late season showing has muddied the waters a bit for Salty, but there have been several reports that the Red Sox are interested in trading for either him or Teagarden to eventually replace the venerable Jason Varitek.  This bears watching as both Teagarden and Saltalamacchia are too talented to lanquish in a platoon situation.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #6

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6.) JULIO BORBON—Texas Rangers OF

This guy wants to make the Rangers opening day roster….badly.  Borbon had an immensely successful 2008 season splitting time between High-A Bakersfield and AA Frisco batting .321 with 7 HR 58 RBI and 53 SB.  Borbon then went to play in the Arizona Fall League and now is finishing up his Dominican Winter League tour.  He rivals former Frisco teammate Jose Vallejo as the speediest player in the Rangers’ organization.  Despite his low HR totals, Borbon is not a slap hitter.  He has decent gap power that produced 32 doubles last season and with his wiry strength, there is optimism that he could become a 10-15 HR guy.  He’s an ideal leadoff or #2 hitter who will tandem nicely with Elvis Andrus atop Texas’ lineup.  Borbon signed a 4-year $1.3 million MLB contract in 2007.  with that in mind, it is easy to see why the Rangers would like to get his bat and legs into the lineup as soon as possible.  There is a flotsam of decent outfielders on the Rangers’ 40 man roster (David Murphy, Nelson Cruz, Marlon Byrd, Brandon Boggs, Greg Golson) but none of them have the complete package of tools that Borbon possesses.  The Rangers have made it known that they would like to enhance their pitching depth and it is quite conceivable that their trading chips reside in the list of names mentioned above.  Keep a close watch over that development as this spring progresses as the exodus of extra OF’s only expidites Julio’s journey to the major leagues.  It will happen at some point in 2009 and the Rangers will be better for it.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #7

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7.) CARLOS CARRASCO—Phliadelphia Phillies RHP

Carrasco has carried the momentum that he had from AAA Lehigh Valley down to the hitter-friendly Venezuelan Winter League.  Carrasco has been the top pitching prospect in the Phillies’ farm system for the past couple of seasons with very good pitches, a 91-94 MPH fastball with good movement, a slurve and a changeup that has been lauded as being the best in Philadelphia’s farm system.  The World Champs have several options to fill the #5 spot in their rotation including southpaw Kyle Kendrick and mediocre veteran righties Adam Eaton and Chan Ho Park.  Carrasco’s upside is surpassed only by postseason hero Cole Hamels.  He has tossed nearly 200 innings this past year which could affect the amount of work that Philly decides to give him in spring training.  He will likely go back to Lehigh Valley to start the season, but in the event of an injury or struggle from the #5 starter, Carrasco’s name will be the first one called as a replacement.  He will get his shot at some point in 2009!

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #8

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8.) GERRARDO PARRA—Arizona Diamondbacks OF

The trade for Dan Haren prior to last season depleted the Diamondbacks of many of their fine offensive talents.  Parra was left as their premeire offensive prospect and he put up solid numbers at both High-A Visalia and AA Mobile (.286 6 HR 52 RBI 28 SB).  Parra will likely be limited to a corner OF spot which means that he will need to develop more pop than he has shown.  7 HR and 20 doubles in Venezuela is a very positive sign of things to come.  Currently, there is no vacancy in the Diamondbacks’ OF with Justin Upton, Chris Young, and Conor Jackson filling out the roster.  Current Arizona 1B Chad Tracy becomes a free agent after the ‘09 season which should move Conor Jackson back to 1B if the D’Backs decide not to replace him. Parra should start at AAA Tuscon this season before being called up to the big club late this season.  With his speed and tremendous plate discipline, he would make a fine top of the order hitter.

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #9

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9.) JESUS GUZMAN—San Francisco Giants 3B

Hitting .301 with 25 HR and 112 RBI at the Seattle  Mariners’ High-A affilate wasn’t enough to earn him a contract renewal so the A’s signed him to a one year minor league deal.  He then spent time in three separate stops and put up a sizzling .349 BA with 17 HR and 88 RBI.  That wasn’t enough to impresse the offensively defunct Athletics so they Rule-5′ed him and the boys from the other side of the bay picked him up.  Guzman continued to mash in the VWL earning MVP honors as well as the honor of being designated to AAA Fresno to start the season.  Where’s the love for Jesus?  It most certainly does not reside in his glove.  Guzman played at every infield position as well as in the outfield for AA Midland in ‘08 and he failed to impress at any one of them.  Despite his fine VWL campaign, his 12 errors are still an indicator of an inability to establish any defensive continuity.  Sometimes in the glitz and glam of the offensive statistics, we fail to remember that the value of a baseball player transcends what he can do with the lumber.  Guzman must improve with the leather if he wants to stick with the Giants or any other organization

Top Caribbean Winter League Performer #10

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10.) MIGUEL MONTERO—Arizona Diamondbacks C

After a very promising minor league career, Montero’s MLB numbers have been woefully deficient.  Last year, the left-hand hitting Arizona backstop split time with Chris Snyder and managed a mediocre .255 BA with 5 HR and 18 RBI in 184 AB.  The bright spot for the 25 year old Venezuelan is the fact that he still has 20-25 HR potential and has also been linked to the Boston Red Sox as a potential replacement or suppliment to current Red Sox captain Jason Varitek.  A move to Fenway could provide a substantial boost to the market for Montero’s cards.