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May 21, 2008

Future Shock

NL East Notebook

by Kevin Goldstein

Atlanta Braves

What, Even More Arms?: The Braves have one of the best systems in baseball when it comes to young pitching talent, but there hasn't been much focus yet on a pair of lesser-known arms who have been putting up impressive numbers early on in the 2008 season. Signed as a six-year free agent out of the Pittsburgh system, 24-year-old Dominican right-hander Luis Valdez slid into the closer role at Double-A Mississippi, and has been impressive both statistically and on a scouting level. Valdez has a 3.15 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings, and has been even better since moving to the end-game role, having yet to allow an earned run in the ninth inning, and striking out 13 over eight frames. His command is spotty and his delivery takes a lot of effort, but with a 92-96 mph fastball and a plus slider, he has true big league potential.

A fifth-round pick in 2003, Chris Vines had done little in his pro career, and began this year as just an extra arm in the bullpen at High-A Myrtle Beach. Then he was moved into the rotation when Tommy Hanson got bumped up to Double-A, and after posting a 0.66 ERA in 27 1/3 IP, with 30 strikeouts and five walks, he's back on the prospect radar. A 6'5" righty who throws downhill, Vines fills the strike zone with an upper-80s fastball that can touch 92 while keeping hitters off balance with a decent curveball and plus changeup. "For a guy like Vines, his order of importance is command, movement and then velocity," said one scout who recently saw Vines start. "There is not a lot of room for error with those guys and they have to show it every time out, but so far he's doing just that."

Florida Marlins

D-Mac Attack: Once one of the top power prospects in the game, third baseman Dallas McPherson missed all of last year recovering from the kind of surgery that one would expect to end a career–-having two vertebrae in his spine fused. Signed by the Fish to a Triple-A deal in the offseason, McPherson is mashing once again, batting .297/.396/.659 in 40 games for the Isotopes following a three-homer game on Monday. His defense (poor) and strikeout rate (58 in 138 at-bats) remain Branyan-esque, but with Jorge Cantu struggling both at the plate and with the glove of late, McPherson could get a look and add yet another home run threat to the Marlins lineup.