The Magnificent Seven
Or is it a Dirty Dozen?
I was gonna do a series of posts about the upper and lower minors, but Spec is killin' it on MarinersTalk w/r/t that, so I figured I'd do something a little more free-form. Just the guys who've caught my eye early. It wasn't too long ago that we were looking for the Three Little Pigs down on the farm, some bacon with ANY sort of sizzle. We have a lot more sizzle now.
Our 2008 top prospects were Clement, Aumont, Tillman, Triunfel, Balentien, Saunders, JCR, Mark Lowe, RRS and Tui.
5 years later and Clement is worthless, Aumont is still walking the universe, Tillman has a losing record and an ERA near 5 in the bigs, Triunfel is still in the minors while Balentien is in Japan... the only success is The Condor.
Our farm was BAD. Maybe these guys will all look that bad in 5 years... but I'm doubtin' it. We're a much better system now, and here are the guys heading it up, as well as some others worth watching.
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Nick Franklin: Dude started the year with the flu and missing some games. He's gone from playing 2/3 of his games at short, to half last year, to 1/3 this year. But as his fielding position gets easier his bat is really heating up. .410/.538/.623 is a decent line in 79 PAs, with 16 BB / 8 K. If only there were some place we could play a lefty (switch) with power, average and walks. Oh, wait...
Danny Hultzen: He'd fixed the walks. He kept the Ks. He was dominant... and then he strained his rotator cuff. So we're gonna miss him for a month, but his start was everything we could have asked. Hopefully he finds his groove again quickly. 2.78 ERA in 22.2 IP, 10 K/ 2.5 BB / 6.5 H per 9.
James Paxton: He has not fixed the walks. He's the same amazing/wild pitcher he has been in the minors. Well, not quite - he's gotten hit in the early going in Tacoma, which is not like him and the reason he's giving up runs. I have great faith in Paxton - he'll get it righted. 6.00 ERA in 21.0 IP, 9.5 K / 5 BB / 11 H per 9.
Mike Zunino: started off the season like a T-Rex shaking the earth, and now he seems to be struggling with those tiny T-Rex arms. Just a bad couple of weeks for the wunderkind with the power stroke (11/16 hits for extra bases) and the good D (40+% caught stealing career so far). He's got to cut down on the Ks and he'll be just fine. Minor tweaks before July. .222/.333/.542/.875, 10 BB: 24 K in 87 PAs.
Taijuan Walker: He's still tinkering with his offspeed and breaking pitches, and maintaining consistency. So here's Walker "struggling" with learning things: 1.55 ERA in 29 IP, 9.5 K / 5.5 BB / 4.5 H per 9. Had 7 Ks and 2 BB tonight, and is looking a lot like Hultzen looked last year. Did I mention he's 20, while repeating AA? Kid's a baller.
Brad Miller: He's struggling a little over the last week and a half, but that "struggle" is just bringing him back to the realm of mortal men. He's still playing SS most nights, and he and Franklin are fighting for middle infield supremacy. That's a battle worth watching. 278/.356/.478/.834, 10 BB: 21 K in 101 PAs.
Julio Morban: same ol' Morban. Yes for average and power, no for walks and health. Gotta start seeing some continued health for Julio soon, and 4 walks in a plate appearance wouldn't be anathema to me. Just occasionally. Still love that swing. .306/.342/.500/.842 in 38 PAs, with 1BB: 11K. He should probably go in the not-mentioneds like Stefen Romero due to lack of time in the field but I already wrote this, so deal with it.
Ji-Man Choi: The Mariners are letting him play a little third (his original position before we moved him to C and now 1B) so his formerly-broken back must be feelin' good. There's never been anything wrong with his bat, or his batting eye. He's only got doubles power so far, but at 22 years old and limited experience I can handle that. .303/.393/.539/.933, 11BB: 15K in 89 PAs.
Dan Paolini: I called him a Dan Uggla type when we drafted him. He's since been moved off 2nd to 1B last year and to DH and play LF this year. His bat keeps improving. For a guy who blew out his arm as a pitcher and only had one scholarship offer as a hitter, he's doin' mighty fine. .345/.453/.571/1.024, 17BB: 11K in 106 PAs. Look at that eye. I know it's High Desert, but it's still a nice start.
Pat Kivlehan: I love this guy. I know people are tired of hearing it. I don't care. I said before the year that I expected him to start slowly in the cold and the harder league thanks to his raw skills (and working on his 3B glove), then heat up in the summer as he gets more ABs under his belt. He's already improving in things like batting eye and K:AB which are crucial for him. He has great natural power that will start being applied soon, and then look out. .289/.341/.410/.750, 6BB: 12K in 91 PAs. With an up arrow.
Jabari Henry: I haven't said much about "The Other Jabari" because I wanted to see him in full-season ball (rookie ball #s for college hitters aren't worth much). I'm seeing him. He's been incredibly impressive in the first few weeks. He had good college power but it's his stellar batting eye that's making me really curious. Could we finally have a corner OFer with power potential? .385/.500/.523/1.023, 16BB: 7K in 84 PAs.
Tyler Pike: Lefty who doesn't throw hard, but does throw "hard enough." His offspeed and breaking stuff are weapons, as is his big brain and tough-as-nails approach. He's just 19 - he'll get better, and if/when that velo jumps a couple of MPH be VERY afraid. 2.75 ERA in 19.2 IP, 10K / 3 BB / 6.5 H per 9.
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Not mentioned and still interesting: Romero, E-Ram, Sanchez, Elias, Taylor (reached base in every game this year), Landazuri, Triunfel (I guess) Liddi, Peguero, Thames, Burgoon, Smith, LaFromboise, Moran, Ruffin, Guerrero, Lopes...
We have a LOT of interesting players. Enjoy the minor league season this year. It's a smorgasbord of goodness that will soon be complementing the big-league club in so many ways. The future is still very bright, and as the kids figure it out on the big club the present isn't looking so bad either.
~G
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