At 19, Rangers 5-foot-7 shortstop Leury Garcia posted a respectable .262/.307/.323 line with 47 stolen bases in 56 attempts in 2010. An impressive athlete, his fluid movements and quickness really made him stand out on the diamond. If Garcia were a few inches taller, he would be receiving considerably more national attention than he has.

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During the “Sally” playoffs, I remember reading a response to the effect of, “the little guy?” from ESPN’s Keith Law when asked about Garcia which is a common occurrence. The young shortstop is simply too small in some circles to consider a legitimate prospect. However, if I were to bet on a small-in-stature player to break through from the “Sally” (not named Altuve), Garcia would be a good choice.

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Whenever I see Texas Rangers prospect Neil Ramirez, I find myself pulling for him. Whether it’s watching him order a burrito at Moe’s Southwest Grill (true story), or seeing him pitch, I root for him to do well which is strange for me. Maybe it’s the fact he has been much-maligned since signing for seven figures and then struggling as a pro for the better part of two years.

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In the start I saw Ramirez, he worked 87-91 MPH, touching 92 MPH on occasion. In the third inning, his velocity dropped to 85-88 MPH and his body language soured to the point where his confidence disappeared.

Ramirez mixed in a 72-74 MPH curveball with his signature big break. However, this curveball was less sharp than the previous year which was true of his entire arsenal. He mixed in a 78-80 MPH changeup at times which he showed a better feel for than the previous year, but it was obviously still a work in progress.

Throughout the start, Ramirez was staying a bit too tall and his over-the-top arm action looked unnatural for him. Additionally, his release point was inconsistent and it hurt his location.

Later in the season, something clicked and Ramirez finished with solid peripherals at the level including a 142/37 K/BB ratio in 140 1/3 innings pitched. A far cry from 2009 where Ramirez walked 41 in 66 1/3.

Fast forward to 2011 and Kevin Goldstein reported Ramirez has been clocked as high as 97 MPH and that both his breaking balls have shown improvement. Sometimes it just takes pitchers longer to develop and Ramirez may wind up being a prime example.

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In the South Atlantic League, 22-year old position prospects are few and far between as most have already graduated the full season Class-A ranks. For Rangers prospect Miguel Velazquez, it’s not a lack of talent, but problems off the field which has somewhat derailed his development as a prospect.

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In 2010, Velazquez posted a .270/.338/.425 triple slash across two levels including a .392 slugging percentage in just under 200 California League at bats. With a full season’s worth of at minor league at bats now under his belt, Velazquez needs to up his power production in 2011 to solidify his prospect status.

• Listed height/weight of 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, may be generous
• Looked closer to 6-foot-0, 215 lbs.
• Strong core; Big league body
• Agile for a prospect his size; Some explosiveness in his movements
• Able to handle fastballs at the belt and lower well
• Lacks truly explosive wrists; Bat speed a tick above average
• Struggled mightily with 88 MPH+ at the letters or higher
• Home run in game action showed significant power potential; Mistake hitter?
• Weight transfer sometimes takes him too far onto his front foot at times
• Swings over the top of breaking balls and changeups
• Has the ability to fight off tough pitches with two strikes
• Currently plays centerfield; Will need to move to a corner.
• Very good outfield arm; Showed excellent accuracy in game action
• Limited stolen base potential

In a bad year for hitting prospects in the Sally, I can run off the names of at least ten players I liked more than Velazquez in a matter of seconds. If I really take a close look at age-versus-level, that number grows even more.

Admittedly, I might be in the minority on this as a scout asked around and found Velazquez was considered a 55-60 all-around player by some.

However, his peak to me is as a fourth outfielder or starter on a second division team if his development is uninterrupted from here on out which is a mighty big IF. A more likely scenario is Velazquez becoming a AA/AAA player who sticks around for a number of years who maybe has a few isolated cups of coffee at the big league level.

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In 2009, I had an opportunity to scout Wilmer Font who was at the time considered a flame throwing prospect with considerable upside.  In person, I was a bit underwhelmed as his big fastball lacked movement and his secondary offerings were rudimentary at best.  Of course prospects who throw 96 MPH are rare, so I highly anticipated the opportunity to scouting Font again.

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• Big, strong pitcher; Not particularly athletic
• Herky jerky mechanics; Currently rehabbing TJ surgery
• Fastball 89-92 MPH early
• Spent an inning working FB @ 94-96 MPH
• Fastball had no movement; Struggled to create downward plane
• Did not work fastball inside; Needs to work in side to have sustained success
• Curveball in the low-70′s
• Big, slow break; Much improved from 2009; Remains below average
• Arm action similar to his fastball
• Changeup in the low-80′s
• Arm action slows significantly tipping the pitch

Heading into 2011, Font is viewed as a reclamation project as Tommy John surgery has temporarily derailed his move up the organizational ladder.  At 20, Font still has time to regain the helium he once had.  And while I would never wish an injury on any player, I have to wonder if this surgery will force him to smooth out the mechanical kinks and develop his secondary offerings at a faster pace than if he had never been injured in the first place.

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Texas Rangers prospect Braden Tullis started his 2010 campaign with a bang, but ended with a fizzle after being moved into the Hickory Crawdads rotation.  Overall, Tullis’ peripherals were a mixed bag including strong ground ball/walk rates, as well as a high BABIP and decreased strikeout rate from his debut.  The Tullis I scouted worked out of the pen with precision dominating a Savannah Sand Gnats lineup including two of the three best prospects in the organization as viewed in some circles.  And while he was devastating a single time through the lineup, is there anything stuff-wise which would indicate a steep drop in performance the second or third time through a lineup?

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Physical Projection: Listed at 6’2″, 200 lbs., Tullis seemed smaller on the mound which may be attributed to his being well-proportioned throughout. Personally, I’d describe him as “stocky” and see minimal projection left in his frame. And while this may limit his top end velocity projection, it does allow Tullis to repeat his delivery with relative ease which is what allows him to pound the outer black with both his fastball and curveball.
Mound Presence: On the mound, Tullis was a bulldog as he attacked Sand Gnats hitters in the strike zone.  I did not have the opportunity to see him face adversity as his curveball and location left Savannah overmatched.  Throughout the outing, he was intensely focused on the job at hand.  Considering the perceived lack of confidence from fellow mound mates Neil Ramirez and Wilmer Font, it was a welcomed site and forced me to sit up and take notice.

Fastball: At 87-89, touching 90 MPH a handful of times, Tullis’ 4-seam fastball lacked the top end velocity one generally wants to see from right-handed pitchers.  In game action, he shied away from challenging batters on the hands with the pitch and seemed content to pound the outer black against less polished competition.  With Tullis using his curveball early-and-often, the fastball may have played up a couple of MPH as it definitely kept hitters off balance.  However, his 4-seamer was pretty flat and simply did not have the oomph for me to believe it’s a good enough pitch to keep hitters honest a second or third time through a lineup.

Tullis also mixed in a 2-seamer at 85-87 MPH which he worked off the outer black to right-handed hitters.  The pitch backed up nicely and had quite a bit of fade as well.  It’s a weapon he can continue to develop which could prove to be an equalizer against left-handed hitters.

Curveball: Tullis’ bread-and-butter, the 79-81 MPH offering had enough depth and sharpness for me to consider it an above-average pitch.  While not a true 12-6 breaker, his advanced command of the curveball allowed him to locate the pitch better than arguably any pitcher I saw all season.  Pitchers his age simply do not throw breaking pitches with such confidence based on the arms I’ve had the opportunity to scout.  I do have to wonder how Tullis’ reliance on his curveball at such a young age will effect his fastball development long term, but seeing a floor of a ground ball machine out of a big league pen is pretty good for a pitcher in the “Sally”.

Changeup: Used sparingly, I would have liked to have seen more of the 81 MPH offering.  The pitch had similar depth and fade to his 2-seam fastball, but registered at 4-6 miles slower.  While not there yet, the pitch has significant promise.

Braden Tullis was a beast out of the Hickory pen, but I can understand why he struggled as a starter.  Going forward, he finds himself needing to add velocity, movement, or both to his 4-seam fastball while not sacrificing the command he already has.  Regardless, he’s still quite a find as an 8th round pick who signed for less than six figures.  In an organization which has spent quite a bit on arms who were disappointing to see in person, pitchers like Braden Tullis are a welcome sight.  It will be interesting to see how the Rangers organization chooses to develop him as I can see Tullis moving quickly as a reliever, but experiencing his share of growing pains in a minor league rotation.

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Earlier this season, I had the opportunity to catch a start by Texas Rangers prospect Matt Thompson in Savannah against the Sand Gnats, a New York Mets affiliate.  For whatever reason, the video was not ready when the game report of that start was published.  Check out his pre-game pen from that start and click on the game report link to learn more about the young prospect.

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Robbie Ross is a pitcher who plays to his strengths as well as any in minor league baseball. With a career GB% in the upper-60′s, BB% in the 5% range, and only two home runs allowed all season, Ross has shown the ability to induce poor contact while keeping free passes to a minimum which serves as an excellent recipe for success for any pitcher. However, does Ross’ polish hint at a pitcher with limited upside? Maybe so, but his present ability was enough to warrant a placement in the top-25 prospects I’ve scouted in the Sally.

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Physical Projection: Ross’ listed height/weight of 5’11″, 185 lbs. seemed a bit generous as he looked at least an inch shorter and fifteen to twenty pounds heavier in person. At present, he’s fully developed with strong legs and a mid-section which is softer than ideal. As Ross continues to mature, he will need to closely monitor his weight due to his body type. An average athlete, his mechanics were easy enough to repeat. However, his release point was inconsistent and Ross had to really come across his body to work the inner half of the plate. While Ross has impressive arm whip, his lack of leg drive made me question how much of his velocity was directly tied to his arm strength and whether incorporating his legs more could lead to a couple of more ticks on the radar gun.

Mound Presence: On a night when Ross lacked the ability to command his fastball, he fought admirably when others might have made a premature exit. While he walked only one batter, the seven hits allowed over five innings was due mostly to his leaving the fastball up and over the plate. The outing fit his profile in some ways as a potential innings eater with the ability to work through rough patches.

Fastball: Ross sat 89-90 MPH for most of the outing, touching 91 a couple of times. When down in the zone, the pitch showed significant life starting just above the knees and finishing at the ankles. It also featured some glove side run which handcuffed Sand Gnats hitters repeatedly. However, Ross’ fastball became a below-average pitch belt-high or above as it flattened out considerably sitting middle-out to right-handed hitters due to his not finishing. His having to come across his body to work the inner half of the plate forced him to change his release point considerably which makes him a bit less deceptive.

Slider: Surprisingly, Ross rarely used his slider in game action opting for a fastball-changeup mix instead. The one slider velocity reading I was able to pull was 84 MPH. In the bullpen, the pitch showed some drop and significant glove side run. It’s no doubt a major reason for his astounding ground ball rate, but is it only sharp enough to induce weak contact and not swings and misses due to its sweeping nature?

Changeup: At 79-82 MPH, Ross was able to pepper the outside corner to right-handed hitters. The pitch featured significant drop with a touch of late fade to his arm side. However, he will need to clean up his delivery when throwing the pitch because he visibly lets up on the pitch at times and finishes much taller than when he throws the fastball. It has the ability to be an above average to plus offering with refinement due to its outstanding movement, but it’s just not there yet.

Admittedly, Robbie Ross was more impressive on paper than in person on the evening I was able to watch him throw. However, after seeing a number of other left-handers pass through this season, my opinion of Ross has grown and I currently regard him as the third best lefty I’ve seen behind teammate Robert Erlin and Rockies uber-prospect Tyler Matzek. Ross will never be a dominant pitcher, but he’s a high floor prospect who has three pitches which grade out as average or better which leaves him far ahead of other Sally pitchers. Of course Ross has received a promotion recently and may wind up being the rare pitcher whose numbers don’t take much of a hit due to his ground ball tendencies and the abundance of “fence swingers’ the CAL has become known for.

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It’s not often a player seemingly comes out of nowhere and makes me giddy with excitement. This season, I can only think of three players who fit the bill; Astros farmhand Jose Altuve, Braves prospect Robinson Lopez, and the Rangers Robert Erlin. Backed by a pinpoint fastball and arguably the best curveball I’ve laid eyes on this season, Erlin gutted the Savannah Sand Gnats in a preview of the damage he would inflict across the entire league. With a 1.66 ERA, .193 BAA, and 80/13 K/BB ratio, to call Erlin’s season dominating is an understatement. Erlin was the best pitcher on the multi-million dollar Hickory Crawdads staff.

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Physical Projection: Yes, Erlin is not the ideal size for a pitcher, but I’d argue it works well for him. He’s small and compact which, combined with his athleticism, makes for easily repeatable mechanics. Erlin’s clean arm action and effortless velocity leads me to believe he could gain an additional tick or two on the radar gun as he continues to mature. I can see him developing along the lines of a pre-injury Randy Wolf who was one of the better left-handed pitchers in the game through his mid-twenties.

Mound Presence: Like a chef, Erlin filleted opposing batters with ease. At no point did he look out of sync and his demeanor was calm and focused. Lefties in the Sally tend to dominate with inferior stuff and Erlin took that dominance to a new level. The combination of stuff and location was simply above the league and I’m pretty sure Erlin knew it. However, his confidence was more quiet than a Tyler Matzek and it came across as a professional approach well beyond his years.

Fastball: Erlin peppered the corners with a four-seam fastball registering at 88-89 MPH. At no point did he have to reach back for a little extra. However, his arm action was so easy, I have no doubt 91 MPH would be there if he had needed it. While the pitch did not have great movement, his ability to locate and widen the strike zone six inches on either side of the plate made it a great asset. He also threw a couple of 2-seam fastballs, one registering at 84 MPH on the radar gun. This pitch had more run and drop than the four-seam fastball. While I’m not sure the drop in velocity will play at higher levels, the slider-speed offering has some potential.

Curveball: The best curveball I have seen this season, it has the potential to be a true plus offering. Thrown in the mid-70′s, its 12-6 break made the pitch a true knee-buckler. As he continues to develop the offering, a couple of extra ticks on the radar gun may add the bite needed to make it a swing-and-miss pitch at the upper levels. Most young hurlers fall in love with strong curveballs and will try to live off of it versus inferior competition. Not Erlin, as he instead chose to work off his fastball and use the curveball primarily as an out pitch.

Changeup: At 71-72 MPH, his changeup may have too much velocity separation from his fastball as a 16-18 MPH difference can cause the pitch to be less deceptive. However, with solid arm action and so much fade and drop that I’m not sure Erlin knew exactly where the pitch was going, an average pitch now could easily become an above-average or plus pitch later on with continued development.

In thinking of who Erlin reminded me of in terms of players I’ve scouted, Casey Kelly came to mind as a pitcher with an average fastball he could move in-and-out at will and very strong secondary offerings. With Kelly being a top-30 overall prospect, Rangers fans have plenty to be excited about in Robbie Erlin and I suspect the Rangers will not hesitate to push him hard in 2011 once he has a full season’s worth of innings under his belt.

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The hardest thrower I had the opportunity to see in 2009, Wilmer Font touched 96 MPH, but struggled against a poor Sand Gnats offense.  This video is from the middle of the 2009 season.  I’ll have more video in the near future as I shot a few more minutes of footage in April of 2010.

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Matt Thompson is gaining momentum in prospect circles as he currently boasts the most impressive stat line in the Hickory Crawdads four million dollar rotation. After seeing his name pop up on a number of other sites, I figured why not chime in with a game report from a recent start. During his April 26th start versus Savannah, Thompson scattered seven hits over six innings while giving up one earned run. He chipped in seven strikeouts and a lone walk. An impressive start indeed, but does the raw stuff match the impressive peripherals?

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Physique and Athleticism – With an ideal pitcher’s frame, Thompson has the thick hips and trunk one looks for in a durable starter. His over-the-top arm action is clean, but limits movement on the fastball. His motion is also easily repeatable which has led to a low walk rate and gives Thompson the ability to pound the black on either side of the plate. While Thompson has plenty going for him, his present size and body type limit his projection physically which keeps him as more of an innings eater.

Mound Presence – In working off of the curveball, Thompson made me a bit uneasy as one generally wants to see a pitcher attack hitters in the “Sally”. However, he spent much of the appearance working off of his curveball which can be viewed as both a good and bad thing. It’s great to see a pitcher at this level who trusts his breaking pitch enough to throw it any count, but it left me wondering if this was a regular occurrence or simply the focus of this particular outing. If this is the norm, it raises the question of whether throwing so many off-speed pitches could affect his ability to build arm strength. Overall, Thompson showed supreme confidence on the mound, and never came close to losing his poise even with runners frequently on base.

Fastball – Thompson’s four-seamer sat 88-90 MPH, topping out at 91. His arm action was free and easy in the upper-80′s, but hitting 90+ required a little extra oomph. In time, continued physical maturation should allow him to consistently work in the 90-91 range. What the pitch lacked in movement, he made up for in location and the ability to move the pitch in and out. For a pitcher like Thompson, added movement to his fastball will make the pitch far more effective than a mile or two on the radar gun. With his over-the-top arm action, I wonder where that movement is going to come from? Until it becomes less hittable, it’s hard to give it more than a borderline average grade. With a GO/AO ratio of better than 2-1 due to a strong curveball, a little sink and fade to Thompson’s fastball would be a huge boon to his prospect status.

Curveball – His best pitch, it had sharp downward action which bordered on “wipeout offering” down in the zone. At 76-78 MPH, Thompson showed enough confidence in the pitch to throw it any count. In setting up hitters, Thompson frequently worked “backwards” using his curveball to set up his fastball. While the pitch raises his overall floor and allows him to dominate the current level of competition, his other offerings are going to be what ultimately determines whether his repertoire is good enough for the rotation long term.

Changeup – Reported to be about average by Jason Parks of BBTIA, I was not able to collect a single radar reading on his changeup in game action as he reportedly threw the pitch just three times. In knowing Thompson’s changeup is his weakest offering, and his being staked to a double-digit run lead early, it would have been a perfect opportunity to focus on the pitch and throw it a number of times. Thompson’s hesitation to incorporate a third offering with a large lead left me wondering how much confidence he has in the pitch? It’s definitely something to monitor going forward and limits his projection in my mind until I receive additional information about the offering.

Overall, Thompson was efficient and put together a strong performance. However, a lack of velocity and quality third offering limits his ceiling. While his numbers are dominant across the board except for his H/IP totals, Thompson reminds me of a number of other pitchers who have graduated the “Sally” only to struggle at the high-A level. Padres prospect Dexter Carter and Red Sox farmhand Stolmy Pimentel have similar repertoires to Thompson in terms of a relatively flat fastball and curveball which flashes plus. From watching them live and following their subsequent struggles, Thompson has some work to do before I become a buyer.

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