2014 Minor League Thread

[AZ_]

Indians at #10, 48 and 73

MLB.com Top 100 Prospects:

1 - Byron Buxton, OF (MIN)

2 - Xander Bogaerts, SS (BOS)

3 - Oscar Taveras, OF (STL)

4 - Miguel Sano, 3B (MIN)

5 - Archie Bradley, RHP (ARI)

6 - Taijuan Walker, RHP (SEA)

7 - Javier Baez, SS (CHC)

8 - Carlos Correa, SS (HOU)

9 - Kris Bryant, 3B (CHC)

10 - Francisco Lindor, SS (CLE)

11 - Noah Syndergaard, RHP (NYM)

12 - Addison Russell, SS (OAK)

13 - Gregory Polanco, OF (PIT)

14 - Jonathan Gray, RHP (COL)

15 - Nick Castellanos, 3B (DET)

16 - Jameson Taillon, RHP (PIT)

17 - Mark Appel, RHP (HOU)

18 - Albert Almora, OF (CHC)

19 - Robert Stephenson, RHP (CIN)

20 - Dylan Bundy, RHP (BAL)

21 - George Springer, OF (HOU)

22 - Travis d'Arnaud, C (NYM)

23 - Aaron Sanchez, RHP (TOR)

24 - Austin Hedges, C (SD)

25 - Kyle Zimmer, RHP (KC)

26 - Maikel Franco, 3B (PHI)

27 - Tyler Glasnow, RHP (PIT)

28 - Alex Meyer, RHP (MIN)

29 - Andrew Heaney, LHP (MIA)

30 - Henry Owens, LHP (BOS)

31 - Kevin Gausman, RHP (BAL)

32 - Kyle Crick, RHP (SF)

33 - Jackie Bradley, OF (BOS)

34 - Corey Seager, SS (LAD)

35 - Yordano Ventura, RHP (KC)

36 - Joc Pederson, OF (LAD)

37 - Billy Hamilton, OF (CIN)

38 - Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS (KC)

39 - Jorge Alfaro, C (TEX)

40 - Kohl Stewart, RHP (MIN)

41 - Eddie Butler, RHP (COL)

42 - C.J. Edwards, RHP (CHC)

43 - Max Fried, LHP (SD)

44 - Lucas Giolito, RHP (WAS)

45 - Austin Meadows, OF (PIT)

46 - Allen Webster, RHP (BOS)

47 - Gary Sanchez, C (NYY)

48 - Clint Frazier, OF (CLE)

49 - Jorge Soler, OF (CHC)

50 - Jonathan Singleton, 1B (HOU)

51 - Colin Moran, 3B (MIA)

52 - Lance McCullers Jr., RHP (HOU)

53 - Jesse Biddle, LHP (PHI)

54 - Mike Foltyniewicz, RHP (HOU)

55 - Marcus Stroman, RHP (TOR)

56 - Jake Odorizzi, RHP (TB)

57 - Garin Cecchini, 3B (BOS)

58 - Kolten Wong, 2B (STL)

59 - Rougned Odor, 2B (TEX)

60 - Lucas Sims, RHP (ATL)

61 - Blake Swihart, C (BOS)

62 - Mookie Betts, 2B (BOS)

63 - Zach Lee, RHP (LAD)

64 - Julio Urias, LHP (LAD)

65 - Jake Marisnick, OF (MIA)

66 - Delino DeShields Jr., OF (HOU)

67 - Alen Hanson, SS (PIT)

68 - Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (BAL)

69 - A.J. Cole, RHP (WAS)

70 - Erik Johnson, RHP (CWS)

71 - David Dahl, OF (COL)

72 - Michael Choice, OF (TEX)

73 - Trevor Bauer, RHP (CLE)

74 - Josh Bell, OF (PIT)

75 - Mason Williams, OF (NYY)

76 - Luis Sardinas, SS (TEX)

77 - Chris Owings, SS (ARI)

78 - Matt Wisler, RHP (SD)

79 - Braden Shipley, RHP (ARI)

80 - Matt Davidson, 3B (CWS)

81 - Justin Nicolino, LHP (MIA)

82 - Christian Bethancourt, C (ATL)

83 - Jimmy Nelson, RHP (MIL)

84 - Hak-Ju Lee, SS (TB)

85 - Rafael Montero, RHP (NYM)

86 - Matt Barnes, RHP (BOS)

87 - Casey Kelly, RHP (SD)

88 - D.J. Peterson, 3B (SEA)

89 - Arismendy Alcantara, 2B (CHC)

90 - J.O. Berrios, RHP (MIN)

91 - Jorge Bonifacio, OF (KC)

92 - Joey Gallo, 3B (TEX)

93 - Roberto Osuna, RHP (TOR)

94 - Taylor Guerrieri, RHP (TB)

95 - Edwin Escobar, LHP (SF)

96 - Trey Ball, LHP (BOS)

97 - Robbie Ray, LHP (DET)

98 - Stephen Piscotty, OF (STL)

99 - Rosell Herrera, SS (COL)

100 - Pierce Johnson, RHP (CHC)

 

[Huber.]

Cubs vs Astros to win WS in 2019.

 

[Soar]

Twins could have a very bright future.

 

[macbdog]

Cubs vs Astros to win WS in 2019.

Maybe. You pair all that young talent the Cubs have with a well over 100m payroll? You basically have what the Red Sox have. Houston has to prove they will spend, though, once they get out of this current phase. Not sure yet, though, Crane could well be MLB's version of Haslam.

 

[AZ_]

Ranking all 30 farm systems
Updated: January 28, 2014, 9:47 AM ET
By Keith Law

1. Houston Astros

On the one hand, when you pick first overall every year, you should probably end up with a pretty good farm system, and the Astros' top five prospects are all first-round picks. On the other hand, the Astros have done everything they needed to do to restock what was a few years ago the worst system in the majors, like exceeding MLB's recommended signing bonuses for Lance McCullers Jr. and Rio Ruiz in 2012, or landing prospects like Jonathan Singleton, Domingo Santana and Asher Wojciechowski in trades.

They've become more aggressive in Latin America, as well, after years of dormancy following the departure of legendary Venezuelan scout Andres Reiner in 2005, and have been willing to endure some brutal seasons at the major league level in pursuit of the goal of strengthening the weak system. They have depth and they have a couple of high-ceiling guys at the top of the system, getting close to the point where the light at the end of the tunnel no longer looks like an oncoming train. It's been ugly, Astros fans, but hang in there.



2. Minnesota Twins

The Twins have more high-end talent -- I'm referring to players who have both high ceilings and also have a reasonable probability of getting close to those ceilings -- than any other organization right now. They have a pair of potential future MVP candidates in Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, with more power arms than this system has had in ages. They don't quite have Houston's depth, but the gap between the systems is quite small.



3. Pittsburgh Pirates

Almost everything went right for the Pirates in 2013 -- and I'm only talking about their farm system. They bounced back from failing to sign their first-round pick in '12, Mark Appel, by landing the best prep hitter in last year's class in Austin Meadows, while several prospects already in the system took huge steps forward into my overall top 20.



4. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are absolutely loaded with bats, but they could use a few arms; either arm, not terribly picky, must throw at least 92 mph.Their top four prospects are all impact position players, three because of how they'll hit, one (Albert Almora) because of his defense/offense combination. With those prospects joining what they already have in the majors, they could have one of the NL's best offenses by 2016.



5. Boston Red Sox

They rival Houston for the best top 10 of any team, with as many prospects on the top 100 as the Astros have, and while they don't have Houston's depth, Boston's system is pretty deep, with at least a half-dozen pitching prospects who reasonably project (that is, not just pie-in-the-sky forecasting) as No. 4 starters or better. And that ignores the part about their best prospects being position players who hit and most of whom play very good defense. When a defensive whiz like Christian Vazquez, a catcher who can hit a little, can't crack your top 10, you're doing a lot of things right.


17. Cleveland Indians

Danny Salazar reaching the majors was great for the system, but deletes him from the Indians' top 10, and they had several prospects who had disappointing years, none more than former No. 3 overall pick Trevor Bauer, whose stuff wavered and who couldn't throw strikes. Aggressive promotions for Dorssys Paulino and Jose Ramirez hurt their performances, although both are still promising middle infield prospects.

AL Central:

#2 - Minnesota
#7 - Royals
#17 - Indians
#27 - White Sox
#28 - Tigers

 

[Gunther]

Nice to see this. I always have fun at Akron games. A good time for little money, and a chance to see major league talent play. Good for them.

Akron RubberDucks plan $3.5 million in improvement to Canal Park

By KEVIN KLEPS
12:33 pm, January 28, 2014

The name and fierce logo won't be all that's new at Canal Park this season.


The Akron RubberDucks, the renamed Class AA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, have announced $3.5 million in additions to Canal Park, the team's home.

The team will open “The Game Grill + Bar” — a year-round restaurant — on Saturday, March 22. The 4,000-square-foot establishment will be located in the space formerly occupied by Wing Warehouse and Menches Brothers. The space will feature “folding-glass walls” that will be opened to allow fans to get a better view of the game.

The restaurant is part of $3.5 million in improvements being made by RubberDucks owner Ken Babby. According to a news release, Babby has invested $5.6 million in the ballpark since he took ownership in October 2012. Prior to the 2013 season, the Akron team, then known as the Aeros, unveiled a $1.65 million HD video board that is the largest in Double-A baseball.

In addition to “The Game,” the RubberDucks will introduce new picnic and premium areas in left and right field this season.

The picnic area and stands in left field will be known as “Fowl Territory.” The area will contain picnic tables that can be rented out by corporations for outings or be used by families. There also will be all-you-can-eat seating options in “Fowl Territory” for certain dates on the RubberDucks' schedule.

The first two rows of the left-field stands will feature “Duck Row” seats with 360-degree swivel capabilities, a drink rail, wait staff and an upgraded menu.

“Tiki Terrace” in right field will include 191 premium picnic seats. The area will feature a “Tiki Bar” that will seat 23 guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

The RubberDucks also will use the upper level above “The Game” as a private party area that will be called “The Duck Club.” The space can hold up to 150 people.

The team says all the companies working on the Canal Park renovations are from the Akron area.

“First and foremost, we recognize we are a local community business,” Babby said in the news release. “As a result, I believe it is our duty to look first to local partners and suppliers when it comes time to do business.”

The RubberDucks' home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. Akron opens its season at Binghamton (N.Y.) on Thursday, April 3.

LINK

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Wow. Amazing job by the new ownership group. I worked there as an intern in 2010 and they are improving on everything hundredfold. Love the tiki bar idea and the renovation to the restaurant. That was perhaps the most misappropriated space in the entire park. It'll now be a focal point and prime spot.

 

[MoFlo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Willy Castro, 16-year-old who got a hit off Danny Salazar on Friday, was signed by the Indians for $850,000 last year in Dominican.</p>&mdash; paul hoynes (@hoynsie) <a href="https://twitter.com/hoynsie/statuses/442034914998099968">March 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Anyone know anything about this kid?

 

[BimboColesHair]

Anyone know anything about this kid?

Willy Castro, SS, 6'0" 150lbs, R/R, Dominican Republic

Trainer: Luis Martinez

Age:16.2 years

Castro grew up around baseball. His father, Lilian, currently works in the Mets organization. He's a good hitter, arm is average but it can be improved with strength gains. Runs bases well, and has some power. Solid fielder with good actions. Cleveland is interested in him, but reports say he is looking for $825,000 to $900,000. Really stood out at the MLB Amateur Prospect League where he went 3 for 4 with a double, 2 walks, and 2 stolen bases.

 

[AZ_]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Willy Castro, 16-year-old who got a hit off Danny Salazar on Friday, was signed by the Indians for $850,000 last year in Dominican.</p>— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) <a href="https://twitter.com/hoynsie/statuses/442034914998099968">March 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Anyone know anything about this kid?

Shortstop the Indians signed out of the Dominican last year.

Signed him to a pretty good deal ($800-900K) range, so they obviously think pretty highly of him. Considering he's playing in this country at 16 is a pretty good sign as well, as most of those kids are more likely to stay in the DSL for a while.

Wonder if he'll actually play in the AZL this season.

 

[EdMonix11]

RHP's, and former Indians high $$$ draft picks, Jake Sisco and Dillon Howard retire from professional baseball. Why on earth does Brad Grant still have a job?

 

[macbdog]

RHP's, and former Indians high $$$ draft picks, Jake Sisco and Dillon Howard retire from professional baseball. Why on earth does Brad Grant still have a job?

Wait a minute- a 2nd and 3rd rounder from a baseball draft have failed? Stop. The. Presses.

 

[AZ_]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jason Knapp (ex-PHI/CLE) up to 95 for <a href="https://twitter.com/Pelicanbaseball">@Pelicanbaseball</a> in relief</p>&mdash; keithlaw (@keithlaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithlaw/statuses/453942679672721409">April 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

this OT but I do not have any idea if you any of you guys follow College Baseball but I have a buddy who went to my high school who was a grade below me who plays for Vanderbilt and has a 20 game hit streak going right now. His name is Xavier Turner and plays 3rd base

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

two years away cus he is a Sophomore but he could factor into the Indians draft plans because when we were in High School the Indians scouted him quite a bit at our games