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Lucas Sims

Born: 05/10/1994 (Age: 20)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 195
Mechanics
Tall, thick build; strong lower half; innings-eater build; has the strength/size to withstand season's length; small crossfire action; short arm action; high back elbow to quick, small arm circle; small spine tilt and can get off balance; high-effort delivery; landing point can become inconsistent; repeats arm slot well; hips and shoulders can get out of unison and front side opens early when pitching to glove side; has a feel for pitching; mixes pitches well (understands what is working).
Evaluator CJ Wittmann
Report Date 07/25/2014
Affiliate Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A, Braves)
Dates Seen 7/21/14
OFP/Risk 60/moderate
Realistic 55; no. 4 starter
MLB ETA Mid-2016
Video No
Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
FB 55 60 91-94 95 Works down in the zone; downhill plane; small arm-side life down in the zone; can flatten at higher velocity; below-average pitch command with average control; struggled to command the pitch within the strike zone; held velocity well throughout outing.

With more command and consistent mechanics, trust the pitch will be a plus offering. Plus velocity band.

CB 55 60 76-80 81 Tight spin; hard bite with 11-5 shape; good depth in pitch; can get around and overthrow, making pitch slurvy; trust the pitch (went to it for strike when FB command varied and for K pitch); will add/subtract to vary depth.

Showed ability to throw for strike/chase pitch; with added FB command within zone, pitch will play to true offering off of FB as strikeout pitch.

CH 50 55 82-85 86 Consistent arm speed/action as FB; arm-side fade with vertical action; commands well within zone and plays off FB well; can get firm in upper velo band and lose true effectiveness; has feel for pitch; last piece to the arsenal.

Improved command/control within zone and consistent mechanics will let pitch play as a solid average.

Overall

Note: impressive move to first; plus athlete with quick feet and release; picked off two runners; 1.27-1.43 range to home from stretch.

Sims was having a few mechanical issues that were ironed out by game's end. That said, he was still about to strike out nine over seven innings while giving up just an unearned run. The stuff is very real and he has a chance to have three solid-average offerings. I love his build and determination on the mound and he held his velocity well throughout the outing. I think he has the makings of an innings-eating no. 3, and I trust him to hit that ceiling. There is still some polish needed with the FB command, but he showed the ability to throw his other offerings for strikes when the FB was not there and that was a huge plus for me. The stats do not match the scouting but this kid has good raw stuff and I trust he will turn it around down the stretch this year.


Tyrell Jenkins

Born: 07/20/1992 (Age: 22)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 204
Mechanics
High leg kick, knee all the way to chin; loose arm action; tall frame, ideal pitcher's body; creates great downward plane; throws with little to no effort in delivery.
Evaluator Jeff Moore
Report Date 07/28/2014
Affiliate Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A, Cardinals)
Dates Seen 7/18/14
OFP/Risk 55/High
Realistic 45, middle reliever
MLB ETA 2016
Video No
Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
Fastball 50 60 92-94 95 Strong velo generated from easy arm action and tall frame; fastball sits 92-94 mph, but can reach mid-90s when he overthrows with more effort in delivery; pitch features some arm-side run but not enough to miss bats; throws strikes but repeatedly misses within the strike zone; below-average present command;
Slider 45 60 78-79 Sharp break, but not big; present command is poor, consistently holds the pitch too long and pulls it down into the dirt; pitch is inconsistent but shows plus potential; when he threw it for a strike it showed plus break; command needs much improvement.
Change-up 40 50 82-84 Pitch shows good arm-side fade which gives it a chance to be an average pitch, but is thrown too firm; erratic command; most were missed down in the dirt;
Overall

Jenkins looks the part of a premium pitching prospect, with a tall, lean, athletic body and lose, free arm action. The velocity matches the description, with a low-to-mid-90s fastball coming out with virtually no effort in the delivery. The command is below average, as he presently throws a ton of bad strikes. With his combination of velocity and strong downward plane, however, the lack of command is the only thing keeping it from being a plus pitch.

The same can be said about his slider, which flashed the ability to tie up right-handed hitters but severely lacked consistency. He simply didn't throw nearly enough of them for strikes for hitters to have to worry about it. It's another potential plus pitch, but the gap between present utility and ceiling is large. His changeup doesn't have the same ceiling as the slider, with too far to go and not as good of a feel for the pitch, but it does generate some movement, which gives it a chance to have some utility.

Despite being in his fifth professional season, Jenkins still lacks experience and it shows. The package shows the potential for a mid-rotation starter if the changeup can develop into something hitters have to factor in, but more likely is a role as a reliever. The slider could be a real weapon against right-handed hitters if he can be more consistent with it, and he has the potential to add a few ticks of velocity to his fastball if he puts a little more effort in his delivery in short stints. All of that adds up to a potential reliever, and if he does end up with two plus pitches, he could find himself in high-leverage situations.


Luis Heredia

Born: 08/10/1994 (Age: 19)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 205
Mechanics
Listed at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds; closer to 240 pounds; thick, soft build but has gotten into better shape; wide hips and shoulders; will need to monitor weight at all points of his career; big upper-body lean toward third base with lots of head movement throughout his stride; achieves good separation between his upper and lower halves; creates momentum with his lower half; stiff landing out front; struggled to repeat delivery/landing point; long arm action with a deep plunge and a bit of wrist wrap in the back; arm is quick but will struggle to come through on time; high three-quarters arm slot; 1.3-1.4 to the plate.
Evaluator Ethan Purser
Report Date 07/28/2014
Affiliate West Virginia Power (Low A, Pirates)
Dates Seen 7/27/2014
OFP/Risk 45/High
Realistic 40; organizational arm
MLB ETA 2017
Video No
Pitch Type Present Grade Future Grade Sitting Velocity Peak Velocity Report
Fastball 45 55 91-93 94 Velocity: above average; reached back for 94 a handful of times in the outing; held velocity throughout outing. Command: fringe-average; average control; could throw the pitch over the plate but lacked the ability to get quality strikes throughout the outing; flashed the ability to work down and to both sides of the plate with the pitch; left the offering up and hittable at other times. Movement: fringe average; true fastball with little life; straight; good downhill plane from higher slot. While Heredia's control of this pitch is at least average, the command lags behind due to a propensity to work up in the zone. The movement of the pitch is fringy despite some downhill plane, and while he can reach back for a 94 when he wants it, the lack of movement limits the bat-missing potential.
Curveball 35 45 77-79 Command: poor; left the pitch up out of the strike zone; couldn't put it over early in counts to get ahead; below-average future command. Movement: below average; slurvy with an early hump; break isn't sharp; gets to the side of the ball and snap on pitch is inconsistent; casted pitch frequently; 11/5 break at its best. This was Heredia's secondary of choice on the afternoon, and while the movement will flash average on occasion, the feel for the pitch is poor and will ultimately limit the efficacy of the offering as he climbs the ladder.
Changeup 35 45 86-88 Command: poor; left it up and to the arm side; limited feel for the pitch; below-average future command. Movement: below average; firm in the upper 80s; struggled to get on top of the pitch and cut it to the glove side; turned over one with average life to the arm side with decent fade for a whiff. Comments: As is the case with the curveball, Heredia displayed limited feel with the changeup. The pitch is often too firm with inconsistent hand positioning at release. There is limited room for projection with the offering.
Overall

A former high-profile prospect, Heredia is taking a second tour through the South Atlantic League and is struggling with command and an inability to miss bats. This look was no different, as the Pirates prospect was very hittable in the zone and showed no secondary offering that could consistently miss bats as he climbs the ladder. This does not bode well for his future development, as the 19-year-old looked more like an inconsistent no. 5 starter/longman out of the bullpen than a future mid-rotation workhorse.


Chance Sisco

Born: 02/24/1995 (Age: 19)
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 193
Primary Position: C
Secondary Position: 3B
Physical/Health
Lean frame, good frame; legs have mild growth; upper half could see some muscle added; athletic build; does not scream athletic build but will surprise you.
Evaluator Tucker Blair
Report Date 07/20/2014
Dates Seen 7/18/14 – 7/20/14
Affiliate Delmarva Shorebirds (Low A, Orioles)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2018 High 55 50; Major League Regular Yes
Makeup

Nothing to note; showed some frustration after one poor AB; nothing out of ordinary.

Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 60 Keeps hands quiet; level swing; will occasionally show some lift; excellent at manipulating his path through zone; lowers shoulder at times and will get under pitches; plus bat speed; shows adept barrel-to-ball skills; ability to slash ball to all fields; loves the left-center gap; moderate load and stays relatively balanced throughout swing; hips do not torque enough for my liking but this allows him to stay balanced; good approach at the plate; keen eye with ability to recognize spin; hit tool will carry Sisco through the minors.
Power 45 Average raw power; likely plays down due to style of hitting; likes to use the entire field and does not sell out for power; swing is more linear than lift; plus bat speed and quiet swing could give him chance to hit double digit homers down the road.
Baserunning/Speed 45 4.29 home to first; decent athleticism and second gear; top gear is just not high; good speed for a catcher.
Glove 40 Footwork continues to be largest issues; does not set himself in position to block and/or frame pitches; feet can be sluggish; body will move toward ball but feet linger behind; disappointing showing from my last view in April where I thought it may start to show; athletic behind the plate; does not frame well; glove moves too much; can get sloppy at times on catching pitches; too many passed balls; real concern whether he can stick behind the plate; athleticism and tools are not matching.
Arm 45 Pop times of 2.09 and 2.10; disappointment from last viewing; arm strength is average; footwork and accuracy are worse than last time I viewed; arm is better than this showing; not quite average like my last viewing.
Overall

Sisco can hit. The hit tool is plus and will carry him through the minors. He shows enough ability at the plate for me to call him a regular major leaguer. However, there is a large concern with the catching ability, and I question whether he sticks there in the future.

He is athletic and played SS in high school, so a move away from catcher is realistic. The defense will likely never become anything more than fringe, and the bat may be best if away from the catching position, so he can focus more on hitting. I think it is realistic for the Orioles to keep Sisco as a catcher for now, with the idea of potentially moving him to third or left down the road. There might even be enough athleticism to play second, but that might be too optimistic.

Overall, Sisco is a good contact hitter who can spray the ball around the field, especially opposite field. His approach is advanced for a high school selection, but the defense will likely hold him from ever becoming a major-league catcher.


Gabriel Guerrero

Born: 12/11/1993 (Age: 20)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 190
Primary Position: RF
Secondary Position:
Physical/Health
Height and weight is accurate; good athlete; high waist; tree-trunk legs; body resembles his uncle Vlad; strength throughout; physically mature at 20; could see him gaining some bad weight in a couple years.
Evaluator Chris Rodriguez
Report Date 07/21/2014
Dates Seen 4/17, 4/18, 5/6, 5/22
Affiliate High Desert Mavericks (High A, Mariners)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Realistic Role Video
2017 High 60 50; Second-division RF No
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 55 Closed stance; very loose hands/arms; bat speed is plus; hand-eye coordination is very good; can put the barrel on the ball in any quadrant in the strike zone and even outside the zone; has a knack for hard contact; enjoys fastballs; pitch recognition and approach getting better; chases often; doesn't like to keep the bat on his shoulder; plus bat-to-ball skills, strength, and a better feel for hitting (which will come with time) should allow him to hit around .275-.285 at the highest level.
Power 55 Raw power is above average; doesn't display it in BP often, but he's capable of hitting tape-measure blasts; creates leverage and backspin; slight uppercut; mostly line-drive hitter at the moment; plus strength; back leg can slip out of the box (lunging) while he swings, which can sap some power; don't see a ton of homers like his uncle, but middle 20s isn't out of the question.
Baserunning/Speed 50 Clocked 4.25 to first; moves well for his size on the bases and in the field; good baserunner; 14 for 16 in steal attempts; can go first to third; will slow a step in a few years but speed can be a factor.
Glove 50 Shows good range in RF; athleticism is clear; routes can be a bit of a journey but he can make the adjustment; can boot a ball on the ground at times; don't think it would work in CF because he'll only slow down with age; corner guy only.
Arm 60 Arm is a weapon; throws are on a line and accurate with good carry; gets behind the ball before a throw to a base.
Overall

Guerrero has what you look for in an corner-outfield prospect; a large body with plus raw power and an above-average arm, in this case one with a rich lineage. He's impressed in my couple of looks this season, hitting the ball all over the field and on a line. He tends to expand the zone, and because of that still has a high risk tied to his name. The approach is getting better from previous reports though, which is promising. The next test is Double-A which will probably be late this season and all of next. If he can continue to refine his plate discipline during that time, a future first-division bat will start to look a little clearer. I like his chances.


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