FanPost

Non-PuRP players to watch in 2017


MiFA

Evan Grills is a LHP who got bogged down in Lancaster. Finally in 2016 he showed that he could conquer the level and was quickly promoted to Corpus Christi and pitched well there and then to Fresno for 3 games where he pitched even better. He is a swing man that doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, Career 6.9 K/9, he does have good command, career 1.9 BB/9 and I think that is what makes him intriguing to the Rockies

Luis Ramirez is another LHP that AA is the highest level that he has reached. His problem is control, as his K numbers are great, 11.8 K/9, but the last 2 years his BB rate has been close to 5 BB/9.

Albuquerque

Most of Albuquerque’s pitching staff are either PuRPs or not eligible.

Shane Carle is a RP to keep an eye on if he can continue to increase his Ks.

Rayan Gonzalez has been getting a little buzz because he is starting to command and control his cutter this is huge because it is a wipeout pitch when its working.

Rosell Herrera is a guy that I’m watching carefully. His power never developed and he was moved off of SS and this took the shine off of Herrera. His game is OBP and creating problems on the basepaths.

Dillon Thomas is another intriguing OF that I think will play in Albuquerque. I got to see him play last year and he hit the ball hard but there just wasn’t much lift to it that day. Anyway, his overall numbers were just shy of what Raimel Tapia had in Hartford but he struck out twice as much. He hits a lot of doubles.

Anthony Bemboom was taken in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft. The Rockies think that he can be a MLB C based on his defense.

Hartford

Jehendi Jiminian spent his career as a SP but was moved to the BP last year. He increased his K rate last year and lowered his H/9 rate. If he can continue those trends he will be interesting.

Alex Balog was 1 of 3 players hurt by playing winter ball in Australia in 2015-16. He has had an oft injured career but if he can put up a year similar to his 2015 year, he may start to get some more buzz.

Luis Niebla was a 2015 AAA rule 5 pick. He had a nice 9.6 K/9 and a nice 6.8 H/9 but needs to cut down on walks.

French and Vasto have gotten enough votes that I will not get into them here.

Corelle Prime is a non-prospect to most. But Australia did hurt him IMO. I think he needed to repeat Modesto last year and I wonder how well he would have done in his 2nd stint there and how we would view him now if he did well. He is a big guy at 6’5" and will not turn 23 until February. He did cut his K rate and increased his walk rate last year. Now if he can only cut down on the holes in his swing. It is not uncommon for power hitters to develop slower than their counterparts.

Wes Rogers bat did not like Modesto. He had a sub 600 OPS at home and an above 800 OPS on the road. If he can hit similar like he hit on the road in AA then his 57 SBs should also increase.

Max White can do everything but hit the ball. If he can start cutting down on his K rate and increase his AVG (show more patience) then his other tools can go to work.

Lancaster

Adonis/Alexander Guillen is a 20 year old in Asheville that was used in high leverage situations. He had a 10.4 K/9 rate and a 8.8 H/9 rate but he needs to cut down on walks.

David Hill didn’t get enough love but a 9.0 K/9 vs. a 1.5 BB/9 should get your attention.

Asheville is hard but let just give some names

Jared Gesell, Justin Lawrence, and Justin Calomeni all had K/9 rates above 11.5 and Brandon Gold 8.4 K/9 vs. 0.7 BB/9 in Boise

Luis Castro took a while to get there but was one of the top 3 hitters in Boise.

Kenny Oakley, J. D. Hammer, Heath Holder, and Matt Dennis all had a 10 K/9 or better in Grand Junction.

Luis Guzman 8.4 K/9 vs 1.8 BB/9

Vince Fernandez a 20 year old 10th round pick had a hard time finding playing time in a crowded outfield but had the best SLG and OPS out of everybody not named Roberto Ramos in Grand junction last year.

Those are my non-PuRPS to watch. Who are yours?

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).