Top Prospect Recaps; 41-45. Buxton Leads Class
By Jason Mast
Aug 20, 2013; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Fort Myers Miracle center fielder Byron Buxton (7) runs to second to steal the base during the sixth inning against the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
We continue our recap of our pre-season top 115 prospect list with numbers 41 through 45;
#45 – Albert Almora, outfielder, Chicago Cubs
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 170
Born: April 16, 1994 (age 19)
2013 Stats (A Kane County): .329/.376/.466, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 4 SB, 17 BB, 30 SO, 61 G (272PA)
Heading into 2013…A strong defender in center with a clean line drive swing, Almora performed well after being drafted in the the first round in 2012, and looked to carry that success over into full season ball in 2013.
Now that the 2013 season is over… Almora missed significant with injuries – first wrist, then groin – but he was stellar when on the field. He continued his torrid average from last season, while improving his plate discipline (he only walked twice in 145 PA last year) and using his speed to collect extra bases on balls in the gap.
Looking ahead…. Almora will of course have to stay healthy and learn to walk more, but if he does, he’s poised to be one of the top outfield prospects in baseball for the next couple season. He has gold glove potential in center, the ability to hit .300, and should add a little bit of power as he fills out. He is only 19 and has yet t play a full professional season, but it would not surprise me if the Cubs were aggressive and let him start next year in High-A and possibly promote him as the season progresses.
Stock: Up
#44 – Carlos Martinez, right-handed pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 165
Born: September 21, 1991 (age 22)
2013 stats (MLB): 2-1, 5.08 ERA, 21 G (1 GS), 28.1 IP, 24 SO (7.6 SO/9), 9 BB (2.9 BB/9), 1.412 WHIP)
2013 stats (AAA/AA): 6-3, 2.49 ERA, 16 GS, 79.2 IP, 72 SO (8.1 SO/9), 28 BB (3.2 BB/9), 1.167 WHIP,
Heading into 2013…With an above average three pitch repertoire – plus mid 90’s fastball, plus hard curve, and average change up – Martinez dominated in the minors and showed the potential to be a top of the rotation starter. Success in the minors could yield a September call up.
Now that the 2013 season is over… Martinez didn’t have to wait until September for his promotion as his brilliance in AA and a hole in the St. Louis bullpen prompted GM John Mozeliak to give him the nod on just May 3. He was never particularly outstanding in the majors, and he bounced up and down between St. Louis and AAA Memphis (where he was absolutely dominant) throughout the year. He finally impressed out of the pen in the last month of the season and the Cardinals put him on the postseason roster.
Looking ahead…. The Cardinals often like to give their top pitching prospects a year of experience out of pen before handing them a rotation spot, so Martinez could replace Trevor Rosenthal as set up man in 2014, before stepping into a starting role the following year.
Stock: Up
#43 – Zach Lee, right-handed pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 190
Born: September 13, 1991 (age 21)
2012 Stats (Double-A Chattanooga): 10-10, 3.22 ERA, 28 G (25 GS), 142.0 IP, 33 BB (2.2 BB/9), 131 K (8.3 K/9), 1.171 WHIP
Heading into 2013… A first round pick out of high school, Lee had always shown athleticism and raw stuff, although it had yet to translate into signficant minor league success. The Dodgers were hoping that would change in his first season at AA in 2013.
Now that the 2013 season is over…Lee finally used his four pitch, fastball-slider-changeup-curve mix to shut down the competition in AA. His command was exemplary (2.2 BB/9) and he missed enough bats to get by (8.3 SO/9)
Looking ahead…. While he has four pitches he can throw for strikes, none of them are particularly eye-opening, and he likely has the future of a middle of the rotation starter. He could be in the big leagues by next summer.
Stock: Up
#42 – Jackie Bradley, outfielder, Boston Red Sox
Height/Weight: 5’10″, 180
Born: April 19, 1990 (age 23)
2013 Stats (MLB): .189/.280/.337, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, 31 SO, 10 BB, 37 G (107 PA)
2013 Stats (AAA): .275/.374/.469, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 7 SB, 75 SO, 41 BB, 80 G (374 PA)
Heading into 2013… The athletic Bradley was terrific in his first full minor league season, and looked to be the heir to Ellsbury once Jacoby left for free agency after the 2013 season.
Now that the 2013 season is over…Red Sox GM Ben Cherington saw enough in Bradley to hand him the starting left field job out of spring training. That experiment went over rather poorly as Bradley looked completely outmatched, hitting below the mendoza line and striking out 31 times in just 107 plate appearances. He played well, however, once back in the minors as he got on base at a .374 clip and hit for more than enough power for a center fielder (.469 Slg).
Looking ahead…. Although his stock has fallen some thanks to his struggles in the majors this season, his defense and minor league success still point to him being the replacement for Ellsbury in 2014. He could wind up being a very similar player.
#41 – Byron Buxton, outfielder, Minnesota Twins
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 188
Born: December 18, 1993 (age 19)
2013 Stats (combined between the team’s A Cedar Rapids and A+ Fort Myers): .334/.424/.520, 12 HR, 77 RBI, 55 SB, 76 BB, 105 SO, 125 G (574 PA)
Heading into 2013… Taken with the second overall pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton was as athletic as any player in the game. He had legitimate five tool potential and the chance to break out as one of the game’s top prospects in 2013.
Now that the 2013 season is over…Buxton’s stock more than just improved in 2013 and by the All star break, he had become the consensus number one prospect in all of baseball. Mike Trout-Lite is not an unreasonable comparison, as Buxton has clearly shown the ability to walk, hit for average, steal, and hit for some power at an age when most professional ball players are still working out their kinks in rookie ball.
Looking ahead…. The power will improve as Buxton fills out, just as it did for Trout, and he could be patrolling center in Target Field as soon as this september. He could be an all star and MVP candidate as soon as 2015.
Stock; UP!