#42 Andy Reichard, RHP. A+: 2-1, 6.57, 12.1 IP, 9 BB, 8 K's. Low A: 6-1, 3.39, 95.2 IP, 22 BB, 92 K's.
You look at the line from Augusta and it's not half bad. The only problem is it occurred after a demotion from San Jose at age 25. Rechard is one of those big RHP's from small programs that the Giants like to collect down in the draft. He's always tended to be a slow starter, so it's hard to tell if the Cal League was too advanced for him or if he was just off to a slow start. We'll see if he gets another chance next year.
#43 Chris Wilson, RHP. Rookie AZL: 0-0, 1.42, 6.1 IP, 0 BB, 10 K's, 1 Save. Low A: 0-2, 2.76, 16.1 IP, 6 BB, 18 K's, 4 Saves.
Wilson was drafted out of JC ball in 2008. He has been used exclusively as a closer in the organization from day 1, actually not really a good sign for his future. He has put up excellent K and BB numbers in the process. He got a late start on the 2010 season presumably rehabbing some sort of injury. I would expect to see him in the bullpen in San Jose in 2011.
#44 Ryan Verdugo, LHP. Low A: 4-1, 2.25, 32 IP, 14 BB, 50 K's. A+: 4-0, 30.2 IP, 19 BB, 44 K's. AFL: 4-1, 22 IP, 16 BB, 26 K's.
Verdugo is a guy who moved himself way up the Giants prospect ladder in 2010. He pitched out of the bullpens in Augusta and then San Jose putting up great K numbers. He then went to the AFL where he started 7 games, albeit none for longer than 4 innings. Still, the indication is that he will be a starter in 2011, possibly as high as AA level. I saw him pitch a couple of times for San Jose. He's a medium sized LHP with good velocity up to 92 MPH and a nice sharp breaking ball and average changeup. 2011 will be a critical year for him to see if he can take it to the next level.
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DrB, I'm curious why you feel that being used exclusively as a closer is not a good sign for his future. I don't have an opinion on that, nor have I heard anything like this before, so I'm very curious why this is so in your opinion. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVerdugo looks very interesting. Do you think he'll be a JSanchez-lite pitcher?
obsessive -
ReplyDeletemy thoughts on Verdugo led me to wonder the same thing. Seems to have some very nice K numbers, but struggled a bit with command. To further the comparison, if he is only throwing 92 and still racking up the K's, he must have a deceptive release or strange arm angle. Giants obviously think he has some potential throwing him in the AFL.
Never a problem to have young, potentially good LHP in the farm system. Be interesting to see how the BB's translate to starting for Verdugo.
OGC,
ReplyDeleteIf you follow minor league closers long enough, you learn that they very seldom make it to the majors, much less become closers. Most MLB closers convert from starting either in the high minors, or even after they make the majors. Pitchers who get assigned to closing right out of the draft are usually guys who are fairly polished but don't have a lot of projection. They pitch so few innings and are under pressure to close out the games, so they don't get the opportunity to try out new stuff and fail at it before they get good at it. It's almost like the organization says, "here kid, your pretty good now, but your not going to get any better. You're the closer."
As for Verdugo, I don't see him having the upside that Sanchez still has. Maybe halfway between Sanchez and Noah Lowry? Still, if he ends up as a back of the rotation lefty, he can fashion himself a nice little MLB career out of that.
I'm not a scout, but from what I saw, there was nothing that was out of the ordinary in Verdugo's windup and delivery. His arm angle is high 3/4's. He may hide the ball well. I wasn't able to discern that from my vantage point.
OGC, being slotted into a bullpen spot in the minors means you're going to get fewer innings to develop. Generally, teams put the best prospects into starting roles to a) give them more innings; and b) force them to develop their second and third pitches. It is sometimes to a team's advantage to put someone in a closer role if they are either a) convinced that this will be a future reliever; b) want them to move quickly through the system to help the big league club; or c) have an injury history or risk that prevents them from developing as a starter.
ReplyDeleteI like Verdugo and agree that he's raised his prospect profile quite a bit this past year. Will be very interesting if he's converted into a starter this year. The story is so familiar with him: improve your control and you'll be a big-leaguer.
Barnes and Verdugo back-to-back in the 8th/9th round of the 08 draft is pretty darn impressive. Even more impressive after taking Surkamp in the 6th. (We won't mention Aaron King in the 7th round that year). That's quite a haul of left-handed pitching!
This discussion jogged my memory a bit. Per your points, I do recall Rod Beck being a starter who they converted to closer because of concerns of his body type lasting long as a starter.
ReplyDeleteHowever, from what I recall, Russ Ortiz was a closer in college, and was kept a closer after we drafted him, until they decided that they needed a starting pitcher more. Perhaps he was the exception that proves the rule?