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38 Articles

Focused on the big picture

Katie Krall is always looking to the future. As a baseball operations analyst for the Reds, she might be considering the next game or opponent, or a move to be made. As an up-and-coming industry employee, she’s often also thinking about what her own future holds. There’s no doubt Krall is excited in her role in Cincinnati, and her short-term plans include helping herself and the organization to several championships. But in the longer term, both with experience working in the commissioner’s office and now with a team, Krall also has her sights set on her own upward projection. “I do want to be a (general manager) some day,” she said. “I definitely am intrigued by the notion of maybe being the first female commissioner, too. Working on the macro-level…

Focused on the big picture

GRADE A FOR PLAN B

Lefthander Michael Roth left the University of South Carolina as one of the most decorated college pitchers of all time and an undisputed campus legend in Columbia. While with the Gamecocks, Roth was a two-time national champion, first-team All-American, record holder for innings at the College World Series and owner of a complete game victory against Clemson in the 2010 CWS that will live forever in team lore. Not bad for a guy who viewed pitching as a “backup plan.” “They thought—and I thought—that my future was as a first baseman,” Roth said. Roth arrived on campus in the fall of 2008 looking to fill the first base position vacated by Justin Smoak, who had been drafted 11th overall that June. Roth kept pitching only at the behest of a…

GRADE A FOR PLAN B

STASHING SEASON

Remain vigilant in July and you will be rewarded in dynasty leagues. It’s a great month to acquire under-the-radar prospects who could one day develop into high-end prospects. The Rookie-level leagues opened in July this year, and even in a typical season the Arizona and Florida complex leagues are just beginning to kick into high gear in July. July is also the month when many prospects who excelled at High-A in the first half got bumped to Double-A to see if they can maintain their success against upper-level competition. This piece highlights eight of the most notable July popup prospects who could pay dividends in deep dynasty leagues. JAIRO POMARES, OF, GIANTS HIGH-A EUGENE (WEST) Pomares missed the first month and a half of the season with back issues, but…

STASHING SEASON

UPDATED TALENT RANKINGS

Change is just about the only constant in baseball. Prospect become big leaguers. Others change organizations. Some prospects stumble. Others triumph. That’s why Baseball America updates its prospect rankings and organization talent rankings each year at midseason. We think of them as snapshots rather than fixed images. Our 2021 midseason talent rankings were subject to more turmoil than usual. The biggest reason for that is that this time we are incorporating 2021 draft picks in our rankings. It’s also true that our preseason rankings stood on shakier ground than usual coming off the unusual player development in 2020. Stars matter more than depth in org talent rankings, and clubs with multiple Top 100 Prospects fare better than those with greater prospect stock. 1. MARINERS Up one spot The preseason No.…

UPDATED TALENT RANKINGS

YOUTH IS SERVED IN 2021 BEST TOOLS VOTING

Youth wasthe toptheme ofthe 2021 All-Star Game. A record 40 players were recognized as first-time allstars this season. The same makeover is taking place in major league Best Tools voting. The old guard is giving way to the new. Each year since 1988, Baseball America has asked major league managers to rank the top three players in their league in a variety of offensive, defensive and pitching categories. We skipped the exercise in 2020 because of the atypical schedule. Not only was it shortened to 60 games, but teams played only opponents in their East, Central or West regions. For the past several years, we have also welcomed input from coaches and analysts in big league front offices. The more data, the merrier. The Best Tools balloting data gathered this…

YOUTH IS SERVED IN 2021 BEST TOOLS VOTING

Going Streaking

Reds first baseman Joey Votto won his first beststrike• zone judgment category in the Nat-ional Leaguein 2011. He then embarked on a dominant run that saw him take the category seven times in the next nine seasons, not counting 2020, when BestTools was shelved in the 60..game season. Even when Votto didn't win the category in 2014 (Andrew McCutchen) or2021 (Juan Soto), he wun't far off the pace. He finished second both times. SEVEN STRAIGHT Nolan Arenado Best DefensiveThird Baseman (NL) THREE STRAIGHT Trea Turner Best Baserunner (NL) Josh Hader Best Reliever (NL) Matt Chapman Best DefensiveThird Baseman (AL) Matt Chapman Best Infield Arm (All TWO STRAIGHT Trea Turner Fastest Baserunner(NL) Luis Castillo Best Changeup (NL) Hyun-Jin Ryu Best Control (AUNL) Christian Vazquez Best Defensive Catcher (AL) J.T. Realmuto Best Defensive Catcher (NU) Matt Olson Best Defensive First Baseman (AL) KoltenWong Best…

BT21 SHO STOPPER SEPTEMBER 2021 Shohei Ohtani has broken the limits of what was thought possible in the major leagues. Through Aug. 22, Ohtani led the majors with 40 home runs and ranked third with a 1.003 OPS. He also had a 2.79 ERA in 18 starts and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, eighth in the majors. Ohtani’s two-way excellence is without precedent in the last 100 years. The Angels’ all-star is the first player to make multiple pitching starts in a season while leading the majors in home runs since Babe Ruth in 1919. He’s done it all while going 19-for-27 on stolen bases and even playing the outfield on occasion, though all his starts had come at DH. There are many factors driving Ohtani’s excellence, but his…

AMERICAN LEAGUE BEST TOOLS

BEST HITTER 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 2. Michael Brantley, Astros 3. Rafael Devers, Red Sox BEST POWER 1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 3. Matt Olson, Athletics BEST BUNTER 1. Cedric Mullins, Orioles 2. Cesar Hernandez, White Sox 3. Hanser Alberto, Royals BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Michael Brantley, Astros 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 3. Robbie Grossman, Tigers BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST 1. David Fletcher, Angels 2. Whit Merrifield, Royals 3. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Rangers BEST BASERUNNER 1. Whit Merrifield, Royals 2. Jose Ramirez, Indians 3. Cedric Mullins, Orioles FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels 2. Myles Straw, Indians 3. Byron Buxton, Twins MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 3. Tim Anderson, White Sox BEST PITCHER 1. Lance…

AMERICAN LEAGUE BEST TOOLS

NATIONAL LEAGUE BEST TOOLS

BEST HITTER 1. Juan Soto, Nationals 2. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 3. Nick Castellanos, Reds BEST POWER 1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves 3. Pete Alonso, Mets BEST BUNTER 1. Garrett Hampson, Rockies 2. Kolten Wong, Brewers 3. Victor Robles, Nationals BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Juan Soto, Nationals 2. Joey Votto, Reds 3. Freddie Freeman, Braves BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST 1. Adam Frazier, Padres 2. Yadier Molina, Cardinals 3. Luis Guillorme, Mets BEST BASERUNNER 1. Trea Turner, Dodgers 2. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Trea Turner, Dodgers 2. Jorge Mateo, Padres 3. Garrett Hampson, Rockies MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 2. Juan Soto, Nationals 3. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves BEST PITCHER 1. Jacob deGrom, Mets 2. Zack Wheeler, Phillies…

NATIONAL LEAGUE BEST TOOLS

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Baseball America asks minor league managers to choose the players with the most impressive scouting tools in their leagues. We call the exercise Best Tools and have been bringing it to you since 1983. Each year, minor league managers’ choices highlight familiar names as well as novel ones. Mainstream names and up-and-comers. We think Best Tools provides a valuable overview of minor league talent in a given season and that the results hold up over the years. Some players don’t stick around long enough in a single minor league for a managerial consensus to build around them. For others, their names appear frequently on the ballots we receive. These are their stories. 1. BOBBY WITT JR., SS, ROYALS DOUBLE-A NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TRIPLE-A OMAHA Entering the season, Witt was one of…

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE CORNER

The Coastal Plain League, brought to you by FloSports, is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 25th season in 2021, the CPL features 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,700 alumni drafted and 147 alums make their Major league debut-including World Series champions Justin Verlander and Ryan Zimmerman, as well as 2020 NL Rookie ofthe Year runner-up Alec Bohm. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok@CPLBaseball. ■ The Coastal Plain League had 50 players, both former and current, selected during the 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Trey Sweeney (Wilson) went 20th overall to…

COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE CORNER

TEAM USA TOP 10

USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team finished in July a summer unlike any before. Due to travel restrictions and the continued fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Team USA didn’t compete in any international competition overseas or on home soil. Instead, the 48-man roster competed in a series of 11 intrasquad scrimmages mostly in the footprint of the Appalachian League and capped off the schedule with a three-game series in North Carolina against the USA Olympic team. Unique circumstances aside, the CNT still provided a lengthy look at the best college players returning to campus for the 2022 season and a preview of what’s to come in the next couple of drafts. The following reports and rankings were developed after talking with Team USA coaches and major league scouts. 1 BROOKS LEE,…

TEAM USA TOP 10

Best Tools on Team USA

HITTING Best Hitter Jacob Berry, 3B/1B, Louisiana State Best Power Jacob Berry, 3B/1B, Louisiana State Best Discipline Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech Fastest Runner Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee Most Exciting Player Brock Jones, OF, Stanford PITCHING Best Pitcher Reggie Crawford, LHP, Connecticut Best Fastball Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas Best Breaking Ball Landon Sims, RHP, Mississippi State Best Changeup Paul Skenes, RHP, Air Force Best Control Reggie Crawford, LHP, Connecticut FIELDING Best Defensive C Logan Tanner, Mississippi State Best Defensive INF Brooks Lee, Cal Poly Best Defensive OF Drew Gilbert, Tennessee…

Best Tools on Team USA

CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 10

Baseball returned to Cape Cod this summer after the 2020 season was canceled by the pandemic, marking the first time the league had missed a season since the end of World War II. The Cape Cod League’s return was a welcome sight for many around the game and especially for the people on the Cape. The league drew large crowds all season, and the play on the diamond was its typically high level, despite some unusual circumstances. Like every other entity in amateur baseball, the Cape had to deal with an abnormally late draft date, which led to a midseason disruption of many rosters. USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team was also twice the size it normally is, which pulled more players away from the Cape. The flip side of that…

CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 10

Best Tools on the Cape

BEST BATTING PROSPECT 1. Brooks Lee, SS Cal Poly 2. Clark Elliott, OF Michigan 3. Tres Gonzalez, OF Georgia Tech BEST POWER PROSPECT 1. Chase DeLauter, OF James Madison 2. Tyler Locklear, 3B/1B VCU 3. Owen Diodati, OF Alabama BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Chase DeLauter, OF James Madison 2. Tres Gonzalez, OF Georgia Tech 3. Christian Knapczyk, SS Louisville FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Dominic Johnson, OF Kansas State 2. Eric Brown, SS Coastal Carolina 3. Tommy Troy, 2B Stanford MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Brooks Lee, SS Cal Poly 2. Brock Wilken, 3B Wake Forest 3. Chase DeLauter, OF James Madison BEST PITCHING PROSPECT 1. Bryce Hubbart, LHP Florida State 2. Adam Maier, RHP British Columbia 3. Paul Skenes, RHP Air Force BEST FASTBALL 1. Zach Maxwell, RHP Georgia Tech 2. Teddy…

Best Tools on the Cape

NEW DESTINATIONS

In another sign of the baseball world coming back to something resembling normal, college summer leagues returned to play in force this summer. It was a welcome return for college players, fans in the small towns where the teams often compete and for major league scouts who were able to spend long summer nights evaluating potential draft picks. There was also noticeably more summer ball than there has ever been. In addition to the usual standbys like the USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, the Cape Cod League and the dozens of smaller wood bat leagues that returned after absences in 2020, the MLB Draft League and a re-imagined Appalachian League popped up and began play in 2021. The two new leagues have similar overarching missions—the goal is to provide a…

NEW DESTINATIONS

HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE ALL-STARS

The summer showcase circuit is made up of several big events, but four of the biggest include Perfect Game’s National showcase in Tampa, USA Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline League in Cary, N.C.; the scout-run East Coast Pro in Hoover, Ala.; and the nationwide Area Code Games in San Diego. We highlight an all-summer team of standouts from those events below. Infielders are grouped into middle (MI) and corner (CI) groups. At this point, the 2022 high school draft class looks solid. The bats aren’t quite as loud as a year ago and shortstops and catchers specifically seem to be down, but there is a cornucopia of arms and a large number of players whose fathers Baseball America readers will recognize as former big league stars. C MALCOLM MOORE MCCLATCHY HS,…

HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE ALL-STARS

SOMETHIN’ BRUIN

For the first time in program history, UCLA ranks No. 1 in Baseball America’s college recruiting rankings after landing the top-ranked 2021 class. The Bruins’ class is led by a trio of players who ranked in the top 75 of the BA500 top prospects for the 2021 draft. Two other players in UCLA’s class ranked in the top 125 draft prospects before formally removing their names from draft consideration. “We’re really excited, to say the least, of the promise of this class,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “We’re excited in terms of the guys who are going to show up.” At the head of the Bruins’ incoming class is a pair of SoCal pitchers—righthander Thatcher Hurd and lefthander Gage Jump—and Malakhi Knight, an outfielder from Washington state. UCLA, like every…

SOMETHIN’ BRUIN

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Bryant Ward TOP RECRUIT Thatcher Hurd, RHP (No. 44) OVERVIEW: UCLA has long stood out for its recruiting prowess under head coach John Savage. Now, for the first time in the 22-year history of the recruiting class rankings, the Bruins have the top-ranked class in the nation. They had the third-ranked class after signing day and after losing only one of their recruits to the draft they climbed to No. 1. Both the depth and high-end talent of the class stand out. HITTERS: Outfielder Malakhi Knight (72) is an excellent athlete, a plus runner and is an advanced defender in center field. He has an unconventional swing and had some swing-and-miss issues this spring but excelled this summer in the West Coast League. If he finds consistency at the…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Craig Bell TOP RECRUIT: Pierce Coppola, LHP (No. 90) OVERVIEW: Florida’s class last year ranked No. 1 on signing day, but three members of that group were drafted in the first 30 picks. The Gators slipped out of the top spot as a result, but still extended their record streak of top-five recruiting classes to nine years. HITTERS: Outfielder Michael Robertson (92) has elite speed and is one of the fastest runners in the draft class. He’s a strong defender in center field and isn’t afraid to drag bunt or slap the ball the other way to get on base, where he is impactful. He gets the most out of his speed and should quickly give the Gators’ offense an added wrinkle. Outfielder Ty Evans (187) impressed last…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Mike Baxter TOP RECRUIT: Davis Diaz, SS (No. 68) OVERVIEW: The Commodores again land an elite class, as this is their fifth straight to land in the top five. Vanderbilt joins Florida as the only programs to bring in so many consecutive top-five classes. HITTERS: Diaz was drafted in the 12th round by the D-backs but did not sign and instead headlines the Vanderbilt newcomers. He has an advanced feel for the game and a well-rounded skill set, doing a bit of everything on the diamond. He has a compact swing, a good understanding of the strike zone and is a consistent defender in the middle of the infield. He also has some experience catching and his overall aptitude for the game and versatility will help him get…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Nate Thompson TOP RECRUIT: Peyton Stovall, SS (No. 33) OVERVIEW: The Razorbacks continue to recruit well, and this year their class is headlined by Stovall, the highest-ranked prep player on the BA 500 not to sign. HITTERS: Stovall came on strong all spring as he continued to build an impressive track record for hitting, rising into first-round consideration for some teams. Ultimately, he opted to uphold his commitment to Arkansas and figures to make an immediate impact in the lineup. The lefthanded hitter has a smooth swing, uses the whole field to hit and has above-average power potential. It will be interesting to see how Stovall fits into the Razorbacks’ infield. His arm strength led many scouts to believe he profiles best at second base, but he’s mostly…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Josh Elander TOP RECRUIT: Chase Burns, RHP (No. 49) OVERVIEW: The Volunteers have been recruiting well under coach Tony Vitello and Elander, who came to Knoxville in 2017. They broke through with a top-20 class in 2020, but their 2021 class takes it to another level. It is Tennessee’s first top-10 class since 2005 and comes at an exciting time for the program, following its first College World Series appearance since that same year. HITTERS: Shortstop Ryan Spikes (152) has a small frame at a listed 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, but an exciting skill set. He has a compact righthanded swing and makes consistent hard contact to go with plus speed. He’s played a lot of shortstop and his hands and infield actions fit up the middle, but he’s…

#6 OREGON STATE

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Rich Dorman/Ryan Gipson TOP RECRUIT: Jacob Kmatz, RHP (No. 136) OVERVIEW: The Beavers haven’t had a Top 25 class since 2016, when Adley Rutschman arrived in Corvallis. While this class probably doesn’t have a future No. 1 overall pick in it, its standout players and balance of hitters and pitchers set Oregon State up well for the future. HITTERS: Shortstop Mason Guerra (181), the Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, has some impressive raw tools. He has plus raw power that plays to all fields and a plus arm, which works well on the left side of the infield. If he can show a bit more consistency at the plate, he has a big ceiling. Outfielder Tyree Reed (275) in 2018 starred for USA Baseball’s 15U National Team…

#6 OREGON STATE

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Norberto Lopez TOP RECRUIT: Lorenzo Carrier, OF/RHP OVERVIEW: After landing the topranked 2020 recruiting class, Miami has another strong class in 2021. As they did with their 2020 class, the Hurricanes have some exciting arms in the group to go with some athletic position players teeming with upside. HITTERS: Carrier, the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year, was ranked just outside the top 100 of the BA 500 before he officially removed his name from the draft. He has two-way potential as an outfielder/righthander but his biggest impact is likely to come as a hitter. Long and lean at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, he’s a good athlete, a plus runner and has power potential. On the mound, his fastball sits around 90 mph, and he has good feel…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Matt Reida TOP RECRUIT: Camden Hayslip, OF (No. 118) OVERVIEW: The Crimson Tide have recruited well since coach Brad Bohannon arrived in Tuscaloosa. This class takes it to another level, however, as Alabama has its first top-10 class since 2012. It navigated the draft well, losing just supplemental first-rounder Noah Miller, and now has a group of newcomers ready to buttress a team that in June returned to regionals for the first time since 2014. HITTERS: Hayslip is an excellent athlete who drew scholarship offers as a football player before quitting the sport to focus on baseball. Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, he has a powerful lefthanded swing and drives the ball with authority. His speed and athleticism give him a chance to play center field for the…

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Josh Jordan TOP RECRUIT: Alex Mooney, SS (No. 65) OVERVIEW: In eight years under head coach Chris Pollard and Jordan, Duke has leapt forward as a program. Their efforts in recruiting have played a key role in the Blue Devils’ rise, and this year’s class takes it to another level. This is Duke’s highest-rated class, highlighted by Mooney, who is one of the highest-rated incoming freshmen in the country. HITTERS: Mooney is a heady, aggressive player with a well-rounded skill set that will play right away in college. He has good feel for the barrel, makes a lot of contact and has an aggressive approach at the plate. He has solid power potential to go with above-average speed, giving him intriguing offensive upside. He’s a steady defender at…

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE

RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Jake Gautreau TOP RECRUIT: Andrew Walling, LHP OVERVIEW: Coming off the first national championship in program history, Mississippi State has another strong recruiting class under head coach Chris Lemonis and Gautreau. It’s full of athleticism, both among position players and pitchers. HITTERS: Third baseman Aaron Downs (422) has a strong, physical build at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds and a lot of upside. He’s been up and down offensively over the last couple years, but if he can put everything together, he has the raw tools to be a middle-of-the-order hitter. Matt Corder, a junior college transfer, is an excellent athlete and can play anywhere on the diamond except catcher. He has above-average speed, righthanded power potential and two-way promise thanks to a good fastball-slider combination. Catcher Gray Bane has…

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE

Rest Of The Best: Recruiting Classes Nos. 11-25

11. NORTH CAROLINA STATE RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Chris Hart TOP RECRUIT: Payton Green, SS (No. 112) 12. TEXAS CHRISTIAN RECRUITING COORDINATOR: John DiLaura TOP RECRUIT: Thomas DiLandri, OF (No. 139) 13. WAKE FOREST RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Bill Cilento TOP RECRUIT: Josh Hartle, LHP 14. LOUISIANA STATE RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Dan Fitzgerald TOP RECRUIT: Luke Leto, RHP/3B (No. 277) 15. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Ted Silva TOP RECRUIT: Eric Hammond, RHP (No. 97) 16. SOUTH CAROLINA RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Chad Caillet TOP RECRUIT: Michael Braswell, SS/RHP (No. 111) 17. DALLAS BAPTIST RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Cliff Pennington TOP RECRUIT: Ryan Johnson, RHP/1B (No. 188) 18. GEORGIA RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Scott Daeley TOP RECRUIT: Dylan Ross, RHP (No. 114) 19. FLORIDA STATE RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Mike Metcalf TOP RECRUIT: Jackson Baumeister, RHP (No. 83) 20. LOUISVILLE RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Eric Snyder…

Rest Of The Best: Recruiting Classes Nos. 11-25

ORGANIZATION REPORT American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season and then a knee injury sustained in spring training this year put third baseman Coby Mayo’s professional debut on hold. But it never tested his patience or impacted his development. His days were coming. And the lofty expectations surrounding the fourth-round pick would be justified. The 19-year-old Mayo made a big splash in his early games in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, displaying the power and plus arm that had scouts flocking to Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla. That tool set had the Orioles willing to give Mayo, who grew to 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, a $1.775 million bonus that was well above the $565,600 slot value. Mayo hit .329/.440/.566 with four home runs and 13 walks in 25 games…

ORGANIZATION REPORT American League

ORGANIZATION REPORTS National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Pick a batted-ball metric—average exit velocity, max exit velocity, hard-hit percentage—and there’s a good chance third baseman Deyvison de los Santos will be at or near the top of the leaderboard in the D-backs’ system. “He hits the ball as hard as anybody in our organization—and that’s big leagues down,” D-backs farm director Josh Barfield said. The results reflect that. In 25 games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, de los Santos hit .329/.421/.610 with 11 extra-base hits, including five home runs, in 95 plate appearances. The D-backs promoted the 18-year-old to Low-A Visalia in early August. Though he struck out 25% of the time in the ACL, de los Santos had also shown a willingness to take his walks. He drew 13 before his promotion. His hitting…

ORGANIZATION REPORTS National League

QUANTITY OVER QUALITY

The 2021 trade deadline was one of the wildest in recent memory. Teams made a total of 50 trades between July 22-30, with Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Joey Gallo, Nelson Cruz and Craig Kimbrel among the long list of stars sent to new teams. Ten players who were all-stars this season were traded, as were 63 prospects. The prospects on the move included catcher Keibert Ruiz, shortstop/outfielder Austin Martin and righthander Josiah Gray, all of whom ranked on the midseason Top 100 Prospects. Righthanders Joe Ryan and Simeon Woods Richardson, who ranked on previous Top 100s and were members of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, also were traded. The hope of every team that traded veteran stars at the deadline is that the…

QUANTITY OVER QUALITY

Top five players traded at the deadline since 2001

Here is a look at the top five players who were traded as prospects in a deadline trade since 2001. 1. COREY KLUBER, RHP The Padres traded Kluber to the Indians as part of a three-team deal that brought Ryan Ludwick to San Diego at the 2010 trade deadline. Kluber went on to become a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland and led it to the 2016 AL pennant. 2. ADRIAN GONZALEZ, 1B The Marlins drafted Gonzalez No. 1 overall in 2000 and traded him to the Rangers at the 2003 deadline deal for closer Ugueth Urbina. Gonzalez needed another trade to the Padres in 2006 before blossoming into a five-time all-star who hit 317 career home runs and won four Gold Glove awards. 3. JOSH DONALDSON,…

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

The United States and Japan have long been home to the two top professional baseball leagues in the world. International success has not necessarily followed. Since baseball became an official medal sport at the Olympics in 1992, the U.S. won gold only once in 2000 and Japan failed to win a gold medal in five tries before organizers dropped baseball from the Olympic program following the 2008 Summer Games. Baseball’s return for the Tokyo Olympics gave Japan a prime opportunity to end that drought. Playing on its home soil under immense pressure, the host nation did just that. Japan beat Team USA 2-0 in the gold medal game at Yokohama Stadium to win its first Olympic gold medal in baseball. Japan went undefeated in the tournament and left no doubt…

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

Top 10 Prospects At The Tokyo Olympics

1. JULIO RODRIGUEZ, OF, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AGE: 20. TEAM: MARINERS Rodriguez hit .417, third-best in the tournament, with two doubles, a home run, four RBIs and a stolen base to live up to his reputation as a precocious, game-changing offensive talent. His two-run homer in the first inning opened the scoring for the D.R. in its bronze medal game win. 2. TRISTON CASAS, 1B, UNITED STATES AGE: 20. TEAM: RED SOX Casas homered in three straight games for Team USA, including mammoth shots in all directions that showcased his plus-plus, all-fields power. He tied with big league veterans Danny Valencia (Israel) and Hyun-Soo Kim (South Korea) for the tournament lead in homers with three, led the tournament with eight RBIs and was named to the all-Olympic team. 3. KOUDAI SENGA,…

Top 10 Prospects At The Tokyo Olympics

Jarren Duran makes an impression on the field and off

Justin Horowitz is a riser in the Red Sox front office. He began as a baseball operations intern, moved up to scouting assistant, became an area scout, was promoted to crosschecker and is now a special assistant in Boston’s amateur scouting department. In his one year as an area scout in Southern California, he scouted and signed Jarren Duran out of Long Beach State. Horowitz joined the BA podcast to discuss what he saw in Duran in college and the changes Duran made to become starting center fielder for the Red Sox. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The full podcast can be heard on BaseballAmerica.com BASEBALL AMERICA: When was the first time you saw Jarren Duran and when did he first pique your interest? JUSTIN HOROWITZ:…

Jarren Duran makes an impression on the field and off

ART DITMAR, a righthander who pitched in the major leagues for nine seasons, posted a 72-77, 3.98 career mark and won a World Series with the Yankees in 1958, died June 11. He was 92. AL EISELE, a righthander who pitched in the minor leagues from 1959-62, died June 29 in Falls Church, Va. He was 85. Eisele went on to found “The Hill,” a publication dedicated to covering politics in Washington, D.C. NINO ESCALERA, an outfielder who became the first non-white player to play for the Reds during the 1954 season, died July 3 in Las Piedras, P.R. He was 91. Escalera collected 11 hits in 69 at-bats during his lone season, but his impact on the sport went far beyond his play on the field. HELEN FOX, a…

SOME PLACE LIKE HOME

Imagine you’re hired for a job with a company with multiple branches around the country. Right after you accept the job, you get an email telling you to hop on a plane and get to Bowling Green, Ky., for an urgent work assignment. The job is probably going to take five months. You’re a diligent, focused employee. So you drop everything and head to Bowling Green. You do the work. The job involves a lot of nights and weekends and a lot of travel, but you enjoy your vocation. You’ve long dreamed of doing this. So you do it. And just two months into your five-month stint in Bowling Green, your company tells you that you’ve done a great job. In fact, you’ve done such a good job that they…

SOME PLACE LIKE HOME

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Baseball America (Digital) Subscription June 1st, 2024 Issue

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