Rookie League Report

He’s tearing the cover off the ball at AZL. Too good for that level, me thinks.

From ItD:

Out in Chi-city, as Kanye likes to call it, the Dodgers grabbed another win last night and man, did Kuroda look good (on TV, that is). What a huge boost to have him back and healthy

I have a child older than a fair number of the AZL Dodgers and a few of the Raptors. Sheesh.

I wonder how Ramon Jean’s last name is pronounced in the Dominican Republic, where he’s from. Probably similar to how Esteban Yan’s is pronounced.

I’ll be rooting for Songco, as both a North Valley local (Alemany HS in Mission Hills) and a contemporary of my daughter’s at LMU (she’s entering her junior year; I assume he must have been drafted out of his junior year.)

Has this been mentioned before?
From SI Jon Heyman

• Bernie Madoff, who stole billions from the Mets-owning Wilpons, their friend Sandy Koufax and thousands of others, wants leniency now. Let’s be serious. He ruined hundreds of hard-working, fine people who didn’t have the wherewithal of the Wilpons. He doesn’t cooperate to help others. All he does is speak up for himself and his own leniency. What a pig.

Some info from my pre-2009 rankings:

Clay Calfee – Clay Calfee is a big outfielder with a ton of power. Drafted out of Angelo State in Texas, Calfee left the college as their all time leader in home runs (28), RBI’s (171), and hits (239). In addition, during his final season at Angelo State, he hit an amazing .404 with 13 HR’s. After being drafted, he made his professional debut in the Pioneer League. While he struggled with a .232 average, he did manage to hit 8 HR’s and drive in 35. At 6’6", Calfee is prone to the strikeout, and doesn’t have much speed. He does project as a decent outfielder, however, as he only made 1 error last season. Because he is already 22 and a half, he’ll probably move up to Lo-A next season. He’ll have a big challenge in the Midwest league as it has historically been hard on hitters.

Ramon Jean – Ramon Jean was signed before the 2007 season, and had a solid debut in the Dominican Summer League. In 2008, Jean was moved to the GCL, and while his numbers were pretty average, he was one of the best offensive players on the team. As a 20 year old, he hit 4 HR’s in 111 AB’s and also stole 10 bases. Now 21, he is not a big guy plays solid defense at shortstop. He’ll most likely progress to the Pioneer League in 2009, but there is an outside chance that they’ll send him at Lo-A to see how he responds in a more advanced league.

Melvin Ray-Melvin Ray was one of the most interesting stories in the Dodgers 2008 draft class. Shortly after being drafted, Ray claimed to be an ancestor of Jackie Robinson. Whether he is or not, I don’t really care, but the fact that he even made such a claim moved him up a few spots on my list. Also, while his stats weren’t great through his first 15 games, he does have the athletic size to one day become a great player. Any 19 year old who is 6’4" and 205 lbs has a lot of potential in my book.

Brian Ruggiano-Brian was the second Ruggiano drafted by the Dodgers out of Texas A&M in the past four years, because they drafted his brother, Justin Ruggiano, in the 25th round of the 2004 draft. Justin is no longer with the Dodgers, as he was part of the Mark Hendrickson/Toby Hall trade in 2006, but he has made a name for himself by making it up to the Rays during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Brian will try and follow in his brother’s footsteps by making it to the big leagues, but didn’t get off to a good start. After hitting .315 with 9 HR’s during his junior season in college, he managed just a .241 average and 2 HR’s in his pro debut with the Ogden Raptors. However, based on his brother’s success after being drafted in the 25th round, I wouldn’t count out Brian as being an impact player just yet, even though he was a 23rd round pick.

Adrian Aviles-Even though Adrian Aviles is only 19 and half years old, 2008 was his third professional season. He hasn’t had a lot of success at the plate during any of the three seasons, but has improved each year. His .267 average is pretty good for the Dominican Summer League, especially since he ended the year on a high note, hitting .317 in the month of August. Although he hasn’t shown any power yet, he still has the potential to be a powerful left hand hitting outfielder. My guess is that Aviles will make the move to one of the Dodgers U.S. Rookie affiliates in 2009, and maybe that will jumpstart his offensive career.

Danny Danielson-Danielson is a big kid out of Alabama who was the Dodgers 7th round pick in 2007. He had a solid debut in 2007 by recording a 3.48 ERA, .a 224 batting average against, and a strikeout per inning in the GCL. Things changed in 2008, though, because he was limited to only 10 innings of work. I do not think his limited workload was due to injury, however, because he made appearances during June, July, and August. Instead, I think the Dodgers were simply trying to bring him along slowly because according to Baseball America, he was overworked as a high school pitcher. Anyways, during his limited action, he pitched in 9 games, and allowed runs in only 2 of them. Not bad for a 20 year old with limited experience. In 2009, Danielson will have to pitch significantly more innings in order to improve, and he’ll probably get that chance in the Pioneer Rookie League.

Beyker Fructuoso-Beyker Fructuoso was the Dodgers big international signing in the summer of 2007. He is also an interesting case because even though he was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007 as a 17 year old, he never played in the Dominican Summer League. Instead, the Dodgers sent him straight to the Gulf Coast League, and apparently management knew what they were doing because he had a very successful professional debut. His 2.37 ERA was one of the best in the system for 2008, and he also almost struck out a batter per inning. In addition, batters hit only .229 against him, and he only allowed 2 HR’s during the entire season. Fructuoso played the role of both starter and closer during the 2008 season as he started 4 games, but also picked up 2 saves. He was limited to 38 innings because the Dodgers wanted to get him started slowly as he had no previous experience as a pitcher. At 6’3 and 195 lbs, Beyker has the size to be a very effective pitcher. He also still has some projection left as he will not turn 19 until the beginning of the 2009 season. He’ll probably start the 2009 season in the Pioneer Rookie League, although the Dodgers may want to challenge him again by sending him to Lo-A.

Roberto Feliciano-Considering that he was a 24th round pick, Roberto Feliciano did very well during his first professional season. Drafted out of Puerto Rico, this lefthander is a solid 6 footer who knows how to strike batters out. He whiffed 25 hitters in just 20 innings in the Gulf Coast League, and also amassed a decent 3.10 ERA. He pitched strictly out of the pen last season, but I don’t see why he couldn’t be a starter at some point in his career. I don’t know much else about Feliciano, except for the fact that he is currently playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and has allowed only 1 hit in almost 4 innings. He also has allowed 3 walks, however, so he may need to work on his control a little. At just 18 years old, Feliciano is still very young, and will definitely return to one of the Dodgers Rookie Leagues in 2009. While he probably won’t repeat the great season he had in 2008, I expect that he will continue to grow into a legitimate prospect.

Carlos Frias-Carlos Frias is another 19 year old prospect, but he is one step ahead of Daniel Tamares because he has already played one full season in the GCL. A 6’4 specimen, Frias forced the hand of the Dodgers to promote him after his stunning 2007 season where he had a 1.81 ERA and allowed only a .184 batting average. He did not disappoint in 2008 as he posted good numbers as one of the youngest players on the Dodgers GCL team. Also, instead of tiring during the long season, Frias seemed to get better as he ended the season with a 2.70 ERA in his final 17 innings. In 2009, I expect Frias to move up to the Pioneer League, and hopefully he’ll continue to improve. I have high hopes for Frias, and I can see him one day being a legitimate Dodger prospect.

More info from my 2009 Pre-Draft ranking:

Jerry Sands – Sands was the Dodgers 25th round pick in 2008 out of Catawba College in North Carolina, a NCAA division II school. During his 3 years at Catawba, Sands had a .381 career batting average and hit 61 home runs. His power numbers continued during his debut season with the Dodgers as he hit 10 HR’s in 46 games, which placed him second in HR’s in the GCL. His power comes from his 6’4" and 210 pound frame, which is ideal for a power hitting outfielder. Sands isn’t bad on the base paths or in the field either, as he stole 5 bases without being caught, and only made one error all season. While he only hit .205 during 2008, I attribute that to his adjustment to the professional level. I predict that Sands will jump to Lo-A in 2009, and if he has another power outburst, the Dodgers will be looking at late round gem.

Chris Jacobs – When you look at Chris Jacobs, you see an athlete. At 6’5" and 260 lbs, there was no doubt that he would play a professional sport, it was just a matter of deciding which one. Well, Chris made that decision early during his high school career as he put all his time and energy into baseball. Even though wasn’t drafted until the 17th round in 2007, he feels that he made the right decision, and I for one agree. At just 20 years old, Jacobs hasn’t yet found his power stroke at the professional level, but as most people know, power is the last tool to develop. He has already shown a great deal of patience at the plate, which showed in his .380 on base percentage for 2008. He also improved his batting average from .250 in 2007 to .271 in 2008. In addition, he only made 2 errors in the field last season, so hopefully he continues to provide solid defense as he moves up through the system. When the power finally does come, the Dodgers could have a monster hitter on their hands. He’s already demonstrated that he can put on a show during batting practice, so he simply needs to transition that into games. 2009 should be an exciting season for Jacobs because he should get the chance to play in a few more games. After being limited to 30 games in 2007 and 43 games in 2008, I would hope that the Dodgers would move Jacobs up to Lo-A where he can get full season under his belt. If he does end up playing in at least 100 games, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacobs hit at least 12 HR’s in 2009.

Pedro Guerrero – When people hear the name Pedro Guerrero, they will probably think of the Dodgers infielder/outfielder from 1978 through 1988. This Pedro Guerrero, however, is a Dodger shortstop who is only 20 years old and played in the Gulf Coast League in 2008. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2006, Guerrero played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his U.S. debut. He is a lanky player, and will probably not stay at shortstop as he is 6’3", and made 12 errors in only 32 games last season. He is probably better suited as a 3rd baseman or outfielder, but if he does make that move, then he needs to improve his offensive game. As a professional, he only has 4 HR’s to his credit, and has yet to hit above .290. Nevertheless, Guerrero is still young, and I expect him to have a good season next year in the Pioneer Rookie League.

Austin Yount – Austin Yount, nephew of hall of famer Robin Yount, was drafted by the Dodgers out of Stanford in the 12th round of the 2008 draft. Even though he was known more as pitcher during his days at Stanford, the Dodgers saw something in his offensive abilities, and are grooming him as a 3rd baseman/utility player. I’m not really sure what the Dodger scouts saw in him at the plate during his college days, as he only had 1 career HR and hit a combined .257, but whatever it was they saw, it paid off as he had a solid debut in the Pioneer League. In fact, he ended the year hitting .357 in the month of September as the Ogden Raptors were making their playoff push. While Austin isn’t a big player, the argument could be made that neither was his uncle Robin, and look what kind of career he had. I think that Austin had the bloodlines to one day make it to the major leagues, but at 22 years old, he’ll have to move quickly. With a good season, he’ll make his way onto the Dodgers prospect radar.

Kyle Orr – Kyle Orr’s ranking is based mostly on projection, because his stats during the last two seasons have been pretty dismal as he has hit a combined .226 during 2007 and 2008. But believe me, there is plenty of potential for this big 1st baseman who was drafted out of Canada in 2006. While he was strongly committed to play at the University of Kentucky, the Dodgers were able to sign Orr with a $435K signing bonus and an additional $100K going toward a college education if he ever chooses to get one. At 6’5", Orr has been putting on shows during batting practice since high school. He has legitimate raw power, even though he only has 8 HR’s as a professional so far. He is also a gritty player, and has a strong arm. His biggest struggle comes against left handed pitchers, as Orr hit only .079 against south paws in 2008. Without much speed or defense, he is going to have to get it done with his bat, and hopefully will improve as he gets older. Orr is still just 20 years old, so he has plenty of time to develop his game. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers kept Orr in extended spring training, and then returned him to the Pioneer League for another season of growth. If that is the case, then I would expect him to post much improved numbers in 2009, especially in the area of power.

Antonio Castillo – In 2007, Antonio Castillo posted an ERA of 1.75 and allowed a batting average against of only .178 in 46 innings. After such a great season, there is no way that Castillo would be able ever repeat such a performance, right? Well in 2008, Castillo was not only able to repeat his performance, but he was able to do better. In approximately 69 innings, Castillo had a 1.18 ERA, struck out over a batter per inning, and allowed a .160 batting average. He also finished the year with a 0.53 ERA in the final month of the season, and allowed only 1 HR all year. Statistically, he had the best year out of all of the Dodger minor league pitchers. However, Castillo is already 20 and a half years old, has only played in the Dominican Summer League, and is definitely undersized for a pitcher. At 5’11", he is one of the rare pitchers who are less than 6 feet tall. Nevertheless, Castillo is a lefty and seems to have the advantage when he takes the mound against any batter. In 2009, I predict that Castillo will play for one of the two Dodgers Rookie League squads, and will face a much greater challenge than he did in the DSL

Elisaul Pimentel – Elisaul Pimentel has moved quickly through the Dodgers system since being signed as an 18 year old in 2006. He made his professional debut in 2007 in the Dominican Summer and had a mediocre season, yet the Dodgers promoted him to the Gulf Coast League at the beginning of 2008. The move paid off as Pimentel put together a very solid season during his time in the GCL, even though is win-loss record didn’t show it. During one game in August, he even took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. Based on that success, the Dodgers decided to promote Pimentel again as he was moved to the Pioneer League toward the end of the 2008 season. While he struggled in his two appearances there, the promotion was an encouraging sign for Elisaul and his development path. Pimentel ended the season with a combined 2.70 ERA and a .221 batting average against, both stats which ranked in the top 20 in the Dodgers system. In 2009, he will probably return to the Pioneer League, with a promotion to Lo-A possible later in the season.

Edwin Contreras – Signed out of Mexico in late 2006, Edwin Contreras made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2007 and did very well. Because he was still just 19 to start the 2008 season, the Dodgers returned Contreras to the GCL, and this time he did even better. He had a perfect 5-0 record, posted a WHIP of 1.02, and allowed only a .219 batting average. In addition, his 2.30 ERA led all Dodger minor leaguers in that category (besides those playing in the Dominican Summer League). Really the only statistic that Contreras lacked was his ability to strike batters out, but that will probably come as he matures. At 6’2", Contreras has the build to be successful professional pitcher. However, he is only listed at 165, so he’ll have to put on some muscle if he wants to continue climbing the later. In 2009, Contreras will most likely make the jump to Lo-A, and he’ll be primed for another great season in the pitcher friendly Midwest League.

Luis Ferreras – In 2007, Luis Ferreras had an amazing debut in the Dominican Summer League as a 17 year old. He had an ERA that was below 1, held batters to a .183 batting average, and picked up 12 saves. Therefore in 2008, even though Ferreras only had one year of professional experience and was only 18 years old, the Dodgers allowed him to pitch in the GCL, LoA, and even in AA. While he saw mixed results in 2008, Ferreras gained plenty of valuable experience that he will be able to use throughout the remainder of his career. Also, he is just 19 years old, so Ferreras has plenty of time to grow and mature into a legitimate Dodger prospect. The one knock on Ferreras’ 2008 performance was his ability to strike batters out. However, I wouldn’t be too concerned about that statistic because he had decent strikeout numbers in 2007, and also because he was trying to adjust to more advanced hitters during 2008. The other knock on Ferreras is his size, and that is something he will have to work on during the offseason. In 2009, I expect Ferreras to start the year at LoA, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was again moved up to HiA or AA at some point during the season.

Matt Magill – Matt Magill was picked late in the 2008 draft due to his college commitment to Cal Poly. The Dodgers were able to sign him by early July, however, and he paid immediate dividends by having a good debut in the Gulf Coast League. At 6’3", Magill has a very projectable frame that is ideal for a pitcher. He only throws about 90 mph right now, but projects to throw a little harder when he fills out. He also has a great slider, which is currently his best pitch. Matt is only 19, so he is still very young and has plenty of time to improve. He’ll probably play in the Pioneer Rookie League next year after an extended stay in spring training.