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 #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.

Caribbean Winter League Top Performer #11

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The Venezuelan and Dominican Winter Leagues are completing their playoffs but I figured that this would be a good time to take a closer look at some of the significant performers from both leagues. Originally, I created this thread as one very large article but, due to some formatting malaise, I have opted to split the article up into 11 tidy pieces.  Checking in at #11 is Cleveland Indians fireballer Adam Miller.

11.) ADAM MILLER—Cleveland Indians RHP

The fact that this guy is healthy again is music to the Indians’ ears.  Ranked as the Tribe’s #1 prospect last season, the lanky righthander was plagued all season by a chronic skin condition that continued to produce blisters on the fingers of his pitching hand.  Miller underwent surgery to address the problem, though the jury is still a long way out in regards to the long term success of the procedure.  There has been some allusion by the Indians organization that Miller will be converted to a late inning reliever.  While this could mitigate the future market value of Miller’s cards, it should be the best move for his future success.

Holy Smoak…Razor’s At It Again!

Posted by Jeremy on September 15, 2008 under Market Watch, Prospects in Products | Be the First to Comment

MLB Draft set shaping up nicely

Razor Collectibles increases its prospect count to 25 with its three most recent 2008 draft signees #11 pick Justin Smoak, #57 pick Robbie Ross, and #313 overall pick Robbie Weinhardt.  Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Justin Smoak—#11 overall Texas Rangers 1B

As if Texas needed MORE offense!

• Smoak is a power-packed switch hitter in the mold of former Rangers 1st rounder Mark Teixeira.  Smoak, the former South Caroline Gamecock, annihilated SEC pitching this spring hitting .383 with 23 HR 72 RBI scored 63 runs and garnered an impeccable 57 BB/28 K’s ratio en route to a .505 OBP.  Smoak continued his hot hitting .305 while smacking 3 HR and 6 RBI at full season Low-A Clinton.  Additionally, he is an adroit defender at 1B who could contend for Gold Glove awards on an annual basis.  Smoak may well be the most powerful hitter in the ‘08 draft and is on the fast track to the rapidly improving Texas Rangers.  Do not be surprised to see the Rangers shift super slugging rookie Chris Davis to 3B while issuing Hank Blalock his walking papers at the end of this season, thus prompting the accelerated development of Smoak.

Robbie Ross—#57 overall LHP Texas Rangers

Kasey Kiker Clone?

• Ross is a 5-11 175 lb. southpaw signed out of a Kentucky high school.  He features 3 MLB quality pitches including a 90-92 MPH fastball that can reach 94 at times.  He also has a good feel for his hard slider and has good fade to his changeup.  He was impressive as a prep pitcher going 5-1 with a 1.07 ERA and a 74 K/6 BB ratio in just 54 IP.  Ross signed late and did not pitch in any games for the Rangers’ affiliates this year.  He will likely report to an extended spring training before checking in with the Rangers’ NW League Spokane next summer.

Robbie Weinhardt—#313 overall RHP Detroit Tigers

Relief is coming to Detroit

• Weinhardt was a powerful relief pitcher at Oklahoma State University where he went 6-0 with a 3.89 ERA in 25 games.  Weinhardt struck out 70 hitters in just 44 innings while walking 20.  The Tigers moved him to Lakeland after his signing where he was equally impressive in 21 outings going 3-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 4 saves.  Weinhardt’s fastball peaks at 96 MPH and his mid-80’s slider features a sharp late break.  He has shown mental toughness and the ability to bounce back from tough outings.  The Tigers are desperate for quality late inning relievers with the malaise of Todd Jones, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney.  Weinhardt is an advanced college pitcher who should begin the season in AA with a promotion to Detroit happening at some point in ‘09.

When I spoke to Razor’s president Brian Gray, he told me that this set would feature 60 prospects that included about 30 draftees and 30 other prospects.  I will keep tabs on all the new signings and product details over the next few months.  Release date is set for some time in December following the issuance of the much anticipated 2008 Bowman Draft and Chrome set. 

Can Razor steal any of its thunder?  We shall see….stay tuned!