Notes from the Field: April 20, 2017

Wilson Karaman
Michael Gettys, CF, San Diego Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore)

Hasn't taken steps to address previous concerns about hit tool; rigid one-piece weight transfer, struggles to time pitches; wraps his bat, lots of length into the zone; vulnerability to basic sequencing, expands north-south, big hole on the inner third, can only get there to clean pitches out when he cheats; will lose focus during at-bats, really wore his frustrations; generates decent bat speed with plane and strength to drive pitches in the lower quadrants; above-average raw power projects to play well below that, hard time getting the hit tool above a 30 based on prior looks and lack of demonstrated development in first two games this year; plus run tool remains, 4.28 off a high finish, will make mistakes on the bases; speed plays with utility in center, gap-to-gap range, fire hose with straight-line carry and plus-plus velocity; secondary skillset to project big-league future, hit tool deficit, concerns about focus and ability to block out negativity limit the projected ceiling at present.

Ruddy Giron, SS/3B, San Diego Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore)

Base has thickened, wider around the middle than end of last summer, still shows some quick-twitch reactions but doesn't translate to great athleticism; saw 2x at third base, has the reactions for it, still lacks for fluidity in his actions; struggles with internal clock and body control, jumpy hands, rushes plays; at the dish hitches hands up to trigger, launch remains inconsistent and elongated, has some bat speed but it's later and bat path is inefficient; leg kick, front foot gets down early, spends torque too early in swing sequence, loses loft; flatter bat path, doesn't drive pitches; average raw plays down to 40 game power; aggressive approach around zone, swing-and-miss issues limit hit tool to fringe-average projection; 40/30 player.

Mitchell White, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga)

Looked fine in the first, everything unraveled in the second, some his fault, most not, lifted with bases loaded and two out after 35-pitch inning, gassed for final ~10 of 'em. Prototypical starter's frame, good height, broad shoulders; athletic, fluid actions; projection for some additional strength; drop-and-drive, can lose tempo and pace; clean arm action, plus arm speed to high-three-quarters slot, mildly off-line with a bit of crossfire, clean strike and finish; athleticism to develop repeatable delivery; FB 93-94 (t95), life to both sides, draws late swings in zone, plane to drive it down in the zone, plus projection with average command; CT 88-91, flashed hard, late horizontal action, lacked feel and command of it in this start, left several flat and up, effective pitch to get in on lefties when on; CB 77-81, rounder and slower into zone to steal early strikes, effective strike-to-ball chaser at higher velo, tight pitch with quality depth, can lack for bite, couple knee-bucklers flashed above-average, effective third pitch; not a lot of conclusions to draw from a start like this, but raw material similar to what I saw last summer was there, athleticism, raw stuff, and command projection of a future 60, was pretty far from that grade on this night.

Garrett Hampson, SS, Colorado Rockies (High-A Lancaster)

Toned-down pre-pitch movements from college, still loads hands abruptly; steep into zone with very little power or plane; opposite-field approach, will get caught on inner third; evident plan at the plate, situational awareness, stays within himself; commands the zone well, stays inside it, capable of making in-swing adjustments to spoil pitches, quality bat-to-ball, will whiff some on account of deep counts; plus runner, four clocks clustered around 4.2, instinctual baserunner, reads pitchers well, quick release; solid fundamental defender at short, above-average range, moves well up the middle, internal clock gets a little quick at times, soft hands, fairly quick on the transfer; fringe-average arm strength, stretched at short; heady player, good bet to max out physical tools.

Joshua Turner
Dario Agrazal, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (High-A Bradenton)
Durable frame; endurance isn’t a question; some present thickness; lacks physical; controls his body well through delivery; works fast; drives forward; some pitchability; clean arm action, average arm speed, three-quarters slot; hips clear well, consistently over his front foot; clean finish; repeats well, above-average control across the board; average command; FB 89-94 (t96), 92-93 to start the game, velo increased as game went on; natural tail, fastball-heavy pitch selection; gets ahead with FB; likes to attack up and in to RHH; SL 82-84 (t86), changes speeds with it, two-plane break; replicated arm speed; little movement (in-zone sweep); moderate feel; CH 82-86 (t87); commanded lower quadrant of zone consistently; consistent execution, tumbles out of zone, go to pitch.