This is the first segment of my scouting notes from the July 14th Futures Game at Citi Field. While it’s impossible to write a full scouting report on one inning pitched or two at-bats, I’ve combined these write-ups with previous looks at these players to provide hopefully some interesting information.
These notes are in their raw form as I simply copied them from the database I keep of all prospect and then added some short narratives to hopefully make them readable.
1. Noah Syndergaard (RHP) – Double-A: New York Mets; Ceiling: #2 starter and possibly more
Skills
Fastball sat 94-96 MPH with a lot of late life
84 MPH slider – average
78 MPH curve – above average
Plus command
Scouting Notes
Syndergaard started the game for the US and looked the part. Tall with very good mechanics that allow his plus fastball to play up. Secondary pitches need work but the command is already above-average if not plus.
2. Rafael Montero (RHP) – Triple-A: New York Mets; Ceiling: #3 starter or late inning reliever
Skills
Fastball sat 94-95 MPH
84-85 MPH slider – above average; swing and miss pitch
Plus command
Scouting Notes
Small Dominican that lacks downward plane but has great command of his three-pitch mix. The book says he’ll be a bullpen guy but I believe the stuff says starter. He’ll always be a bit homer-prone but his lack of walks should limit the damage.
Slow curve at 74 MPH – great separation from fastball. Future above average
Command – average
Scouting Notes
Walker looked like he was amping it up as the side view showed a second gear. Balance and posture were excellent. Command was pretty good during the game. He’s nearly ready for the show and watch out for that cutter – could be nasty.
During the game, Walker had a chance to hang-out with his pitching idol Doc Gooden. I could see Gooden showing Walker grips and the kid taking it all in. It’s easy to compare the two physically but I’m not ready to comp Walker to Gooden. See more Walker information
4. Enny Romero (LHP) – Double-A: Tampa Rays; Ceiling: #3/#4 or MR
Skills
Fastball sat 93-94 MPH; topping out at 97 MPH
84 slider – average
81 hard curve/slurve – below average
Command – average
Scouting Notes
Threw the ball really hard with his fastball topping out at 97 MPH. Secondary pitches were below average. Poor posture as he over-arches his back ala Yovani Gallardo which is one of the reasons for his average command at best. That said, you can’t count out TB pitchers reaching their ceiling – See: Price, Moore, Archer, Cobb, and even Mike Montgomery looks better.
Plus-plus fastball; sitting 94-96 MPH and topping out at 98 MPH
Plus-plus hard hammer curve that is and will be NASTY.
Average command but the mechanics predict plus command
Scouting Notes
It was only one inning but WOW, Archie Bradley was good. The best of the day; edging out Walker and Syndergaard. The balance and posture of Bradley’s delivery was outstanding and with more experience, the command could be elite. Monster potential with a low-risk for injury given his delivery and mechanics. I’m all in!
Tremendous raw power with a huge display in BP. Also, hit a 95 MPH fastball to the wall off Kyle Crick
Speed was 4.19 trying to beat out a hit to SS
Fielding skills were better than what I would have thought. Nice footwork.
Scouting Notes
Carrying tool is his raw power and while there will be swing and miss in his game, the swing is good; shorter to the ball than what I would have thought. Yes, he does leverage the swing but I believe the hit-tool has a future above-average ceiling. The speed was a surprise and while he will not be a speedster, there is some stolen base upside.
Swing is still longer than what I would hope but he has a very good approach and his quick hands should enable him to have above average contact.
Very thin and will fill out as he matures; the power will increase but the speed will diminish
Poor routes to the ball on a couple of occasions (Yelich fly ball).
Scouting Notes
Disappointing overall game performance by Polanco after an excellent batting practice display. Needs to shorten up his swing as he was overwhelmed by elite velocity. However, the physical skills are there with plus speed and the chance for plus power once he matures. He is still very young and does not turn 22 until September. He’s still at least a year away from debuting in the Majors and 2-3 years before approaching his ceiling.
8. C.J. Cron (1B) – Double-A: Los Angeles Dodgers; Ceiling: 1st Division starter
Skills
Large human at 6-4 and 240+
Prodigious strength as was demonstrated in BP
Bat speed isn’t great but surprisingly good bat-to-ball skills
Scouting Notes
Cron really stood out as not only being the largest player on the field but his BP bombs were impressive. He looked terrible against Enny Romero as he struck out on three pitches with the last being a 95 MPH up in the zone in which he had no chance. Much better at-bat against Ynoa as he fought off a 94 MPH fastball to left for a single.
In looking at his stat line, eight home runs in 334 at-bats with an 87% contact rate and a 4% walk rate. Totally bizarre. Does not match what I saw. But his Cali-league induced 27 home runs with an 86% contact rate is crazy. Clearly a very aggressive hitter which jives with what I saw, but if he make that type of contact and with the raw power I saw, he could a special DH-type talent.
9. George Springer (OF) – Triple-A: Houston Astros; Ceiling: 1st Division starter with some all-star appearances
Skills
Plus raw power as demonstrated in BP
Good bat speed but with some length – will have swing and miss in his game
Above average speed – 4.15 to first
Above average defender
Scouting Notes
Athletic and chiseled. BP was impressive as he dipped his shoulder to put on the show. Plus raw power but the length in his swing will cause him to struggle with strikeouts. Ball jumps off his bat, so line drive rate should be high and with his speed, an above average BABIP will help support an average of .240-.260. However BA will be dependent on some luck factors; otherwise an awesome skill-set.
Future plus power due to projectable body and bat speed
Bat-to-ball skills still needs work; particularly against advanced pitchers
Scouting Notes
I only got a glimpse of Buxton last year in the fall instructs, so I was very much looking forward to seeing him in the Futures game. While the tools are clearly there, he was overmatched and didn’t have a great showing. BP was very ordinary – was he trying to hard? He struck out on a 94 MPH heater from De Paula that was out of the strike zone and again went down on a strikeout against Miguel Almonte.
With the exception of Addison Russell, Buxton was the youngest player on the US side, so I’ll give him a pass on this game. However, for those who think he’s Mike Trout – I don’t see it. Physically, much different players but I will say that physically, Buxton reminds me of Andrew McCutchen. Will he have the bat-to-ball skills of Cutch? Time will tell.
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