Cody Hall is in a hurry to reach the major leagues. He is big at 6'4", 220 lbs and throws hard. He strikes people out and doesn't walk a lot. Pitching at 2 levels in 2013, High A and AA, he put up a combined line of 4-2, 1.80, 60 IP, 15 BB, 75 K, 10 Saves. He was rewarded with an assignment to the AFL where he appeared in 9 games with mixed results: 0-0, 3.00, 9 IP, 4 BB, 7 K's.
This performance will be a non-factor in his future. It was a small sample size in a hitter's environment. He didn't pitch badly. I expect he will start next season in either Richmond or Fresno depending on roster needs. Either way, he'll be a callup option for the bullpen during the 2014 season. He has a high probability of having a significant MLB career as a reliever.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was impressed with Hall in the outing I saw on MLB Network. Looks large and in charge like Heath Hembree. Impressive fastball, but I didn't see a whole lot in the way of a breaking ball. If I remember correctly, he threw a couple pitches that faded like a changeup... I know most of those guys have sliders, but I don't remember him throwing one. That might be the only thing holding him up at this point.
ReplyDeleteGreat scouting profile, has a very good fastball he puts on the black. Throw strikes relievers! But look at the insane H/9 he put up over those two levels - 4.8 H/9, to go with 4.93 K/BB to go with 11.10 K/9. The Giants have so many hard throwing relievers the only way to sort them is with prove out like this. Why should we care how old he is? This is where the age/level guys need to cool their jets. The only thing Hall has to watch out for is Derek Law might have passed him because of his impressive stuff. But both those guys are breathing down Hembree's neck big time.
ReplyDeleteGreat time to be a Giants fan. We had a rough year in the show, but the minors really took a big step forward. And this is where I just don't get all the whining among certain Giants prospect hounds. From bad draft position the Giants have 3-4 interesting bats, a slew of starting pitching prospects and a slew of pen arms. Sometimes prospects don't work out. For every major league team. The 2010 draft is looking weak, but the 2011 draft is looking country strong. Grabbing a sleeper like Hall is sweet drafting.
Don't know if you included Villalona in the 3-4 interesting bats group. He has that hard to find true power tool. He has ground to make up after being out of organized baseball for two years. 2014 could be the year he really breaks out. He is a better athlete than most people think, and that comes straight from the guy who hit him hundreds of ground balls last year in San Jose as he worked at playing 3B.
DeleteI'm not giving up on Villalona or Brown yet. Villalona has drawn praise recently as well in the AFL for cat-like reflexes. I'd add Panik, but the big guns are Susac and Williamson. And then the scrappers like Duffy, Jeremy Sy and Ryan Jones. The Yoots Gustavo and Arroyo. The corner bats (old) Duvall and (young) Ryder Jones. And Ragira/Horan as well from 2013 draft. That's over a baker's dozen of interesting talent.
DeleteAnd critics of Panik might want to go see how Corey Spangenberg is doing. Or Levi Michael. Or Trevor Story for that matter. Drafting is hard as hell, the Giants are pretty pragmatic about it. Same crew has been doing it with bumps and bruises for many years.
Teach him a cutter... worked for Kenley Jansen. Obviously not everyone turns a new pitch into a plus pitch, but as far as easy to teach, I feel like the cutter is probably numero uno.
DeleteAs far as prospects go, couldn't agree more. I have no idea where all the whining comes from! We're having guys blossom on a yearly basis now, especially on the pitching side. If even half these guys that are crawling out of the woodwork amount to something then our farm is going to be bursting at the seems with talent.
Even better about HALL is that the Tigers drafted him in 2010 and for some ungodly reason, released....Great move by the Giants to be aware and scoff him up............As evidenced by his placement on the 40 man roster yesterday despite coming off TJ surgery, another reliever the Giants smartly picked up as a FA and think real highly of is 25 year old Hunter Strickland who briefly destroyed the CAL league last year....There were also comments that the Giants were really going to fast track him before the injury....Unfortunately, he had the TJ issue...I look forward to him coming back also maybe even with a few extra mph
DeleteSteveVA
Hall started off real well for Richmond last year but, by the end of the year, he was getting smacked around for big homers as batters were sitting and waiting on his fastball...The batters that could catch up to it, sent it a long way..I think he needs some work on his off speed pitches (maybe an entire year) before he reaches the ML , if not, he is going to get destroyed,,,
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
I'd agree completely. This is why Derek Law with that back turn and funk is gonna pass him up. He needs something besides the fastball.
DeleteYou may be right - the talent is there, he needs to work on his off speed pitches and then, he could be very good. Almost the same story as Hembree - one year (more or less) in Fresno to work on them (don't worry about the early numbers; watch for signs of progress towards the end).
Delete