One of our readers requested that we post this video of Dodgers prospect Clayton Kershaw against the Red Sox on Sunday. Watch as he freezes Sean Casey with an amazing curve ball for the strike-out, to the delight of announcer Vin Scully. You can see why the 19-year old is being strongly considered for the rotation. Check it out:
Archive for the ‘Prospect YouTubes’ Category
Kershaw’s Killer Curve
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008Mets’ Fernando Martinez Says He’s Ready for the Majors
Thursday, February 28th, 2008Fernando Martinez recorded a single in Thursday’s game against the Cards, quite a feat considering the Card’s Anthony Reyes and Hugo Castellanos tossed 3 shut out innings each against a Mets team consisting mostly of regulars. How good is this guy? If Martinez keeps dazzling the Mets staff he will become the youngest player since Dwight Gooden to crack the Mets’ starting lineup. Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News reports that the 19-year-old Dominican phenom at center field could be a 30-homer threat, surpassing Martinez’s own personal goals of batting .300 with 20 hrs a season. Martinez is convinced he’ll be in the majors this season, but that remains to be seen. If he does, the Mets will certainly have to slide over him from his natural center field position (currently owned by Carlos Beltran) to right field. You have to love the Martinez’s enthusiasm though.
“This year,” Martinez said Tuesday, “you’ll see me.”
Here’s a video of Martinez at BP yesterday
Price OK After Experiencing Shoulder Pain
Thursday, February 28th, 2008After skipping his scheduled intrasquad start on Tuesday, Rays LHP David Price said he felt good on Wednesday and the tightness in his shoulder had subsided. Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey insisted that it was just a precaution for last year’s #1 overall draft pick out of Vanderbilt. Price is listed as day-to-day. Price is expected to start the season as high as AAA-Durham and should be on your fantasy radar as the season goes on.
Here is a video of Price on his first day in a Rays uniform:
Alexei Ramirez is a Savage
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that Alexei Ramirez will be the 15th Cuban to play for the White Sox, and fellow countryman Jose Contreras has nothing but praise for the young slugger.
“He’s a very good player, as you have heard. He can do a lot of things. He can throw, he can run. He can hit for power and average. That’s what I saw back then. That’s what everyone was talking about throughout these years, that he was one of the best players on the national team.”
Judging by his stats during his six seasons in Cuba, Ramirez should be worthy of fantasy attention. Ramirez hit above .335 three seasons and never finished below .308. Last year he had 20 HRs and 68 RBIs. According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune Ramirez only missed a HR by a few feet on Monday during an intrasquad game. Ramirez probably won’t have much power improvement until he puts on some weight. He is currently listed at 185 but “looks like he should be running in the Boston Marathon, rather than challenging for the White Sox’ opening at second base (compliments of Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun Times)
Savage? You decide.
Spring Training Prospect Roundup: Lincoln, Feliz, Andrus, Buchholz
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Now that spring training is well underway, here is some buzz from around the camps:
- Pirates prospect Brad Lincoln is making a return from reconstructive elbow surgery from April 3, 2007. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that the 22 year old threw his first bullpen session Jan. 28.
- While it might be a year or two away, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Rangers made a very strong deal when they traded away Mark Teixeira for prospects including short stop Elvis Andrus and pitcher Neftali Feliz. Both players are 19. Andrus has tremendous fielding and offensive potential and will most likely start at Double A Frisco this year. Feliz throws 95 mph with “no effort”, however the Rangers will probably bide their time with him to make sure he fully matures.
- Clay Buchholz bedazzled the Red Sox slugging section on Tuesday, facing David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Mike Lowell in a 40 pitch session, says Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald. Buchholz was “filthy” according to Kevin Cash. He is penciled in to start Sunday against the Twins. Needless to say, this is a sleeper stud that you should definitely draft in your fantasy league this year.
“Ladies and Gentlemen… Elvis has left the building.”
A Prospect of Character: Travis Snider
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Some great reading out of The Seattle Times this morning. Larry Stone writes that Snider has had to deal with quite a bit of tragedy in his young life, and he’s a better ball player because of it. Snider flat out tore up the AFL last season, and the stud hitting prospect was ranked #7 overall by Keith Law and #11 overall by BaseballAmerica. While we might not see him in the Blue Jays’ outfield this season, he’d definitely someone to watch in 2009.
Check out Snider rip a double to center in an Arizona Fall League game last year.
Jeff Clement Will Have To Wait A Year… Maybe
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times reports that Mariner’s Manager John McLaren would like to start top prospect Jeff Clement at catcher… in Class AAA Tacoma. The Mariner’s are coddling the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 draft, at least until Kenji Johjima’s contract expires after this season. However, the door is open for Clement to DH this year if Jose Vidro gets injured/keeps sucking.
Check him out in BP, and behind the plate:
Kosuke Fukudome Could Bat 3rd for the Cubs
Monday, February 25th, 2008Kosuke Fukudome could bat 3rd, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com:
When he was acquired, Lou Piniella projected Fukudome would hit either second or fifth, but lately is leaning toward inserting him third to get some speed and runners on base ahead of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.
Fukudome, a career .305 hitter with a .397 on-base percentage, should be a run-guzzling savage in front of Lee and Ramirez. He should provide fantasy owners with 15-20 HRs as well (he hit 34 in 2003, but ballparks in Japan are smaller).
See the man in action at batting practice last week:
Evan Longoria BP Session – 2/21/08
Monday, February 25th, 2008New Acquisition Volquez Impresses Reds, Is Armed and Ready
Monday, February 25th, 2008If it was up to Mario Soto, the Red’s Director of Dominican Operations, Edinson Volquez would already be starting. John Fay of the Enquirer writes that Volquez was throwing fastballs in the mid-90’s and a killer change-up in BP today, and was practically unhittable against Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Norris Hopper and Paul Bako. The only thing keeping Dusty Baker from promoting him immediately is his command. Once this guy gets called up he’s going to make the Josh Hamilton trade look unfair.
Volquez was 37-29 with a 3.64 ERA in six minor-league seasons. He struck out 618, walked 227 and allowed 490 hits in 594 innings.
According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News:
If Volquez doesn’t crack the rotation, he’ll most likely land at Class AAA Louisville, ready and armed to step in at the first sign of injury or ineffectiveness by a starter who starts the season in the rotation.
The guy is a savage, and just one of several Reds prospects to keep on the fantasy radar for this year. Check him out:
