Rising Stars Game Writeup

With the Rising Stars game nationally televised, below is my breakdown of what I saw:

RHP Jarred Cosart (Astros) - More of the same from Cosart, hard FB that doesn't generate swings and misses and he deteriorates into a thrower.  His CB was 78-82 that breaks early and doesn't elicit swings and misses and his CH was 85 and was a bit firm.

RHP Kyle Gibson (Twins) - My first look at Gibson and he wasn't as good as I heard he was in the beginning of the AFL.  His sinker was 92-95 w/ gd angle and generates a lot of groundballs, but he still doesn't have an avg secondary pitch for me, as his CH at 83-85 doesn't have a lot of life and his SL at 86-87 was cutlike and stayed on 1 plane.

RHP Chase Anderson (Diamondbacks) - Anderson was significantly better then the last time I saw him and he actually had the look of a # 4 starter for me.  His FB was up to 90-94 with gd life while his CH was an above avg to plus pitch at 81-82.  His CB was 76-78 and looked like it could have been more then an early count strike pitch.  Didn't even need to throw his cutter to get outs on this day.  He probably did the most of anyone to stand out.

LHP James Paxton (Mariners) - Better CB on this day and paired it with an above avg CH at 84.  He was up to 98 with his fastball and profiles as a # 3 starter, though I am not sure how healthy he will be.

RHP Michael Brady (Marlins) - Brady worked his sinker at 89-91 and paired it with a short SL at 79-80 and a firm CH at 86. 

LHP Daniel Huchingson (Mets) - Lacks the breaking ball to be a lefty out of the pen despite the boring action his 2-seamer features at 88-92.  The offspeed pitches will need to continue to develop.

RHP Aaron Barrett (Nationals) - Same things as before, as he worked 91-92 with his sinker and 83-85 with his plus SL.

RHP Tony Zych (Cubs) - For whatever reason, Zych chose to showcase his CB, which didn't do much for me, in addition to his FB at 95-97 with life.  His SL will need to continue to develop while his SF at 87 had some dive.

RHP Michael Tonkin (Twins) - SL wasn't as good on this day, which resulted in him getting knocked around.  Velo was 94-95, so he still profiles as a solid middle relief piece.

LHP C.J. Riefenhauser (Rays) - Short, stocky with a thick lower half, he worked 90-93 with ride and deception.  His CB was 76-79 w/ mdm dwnr and was an avg pitch, although he elevated it on this day.  Has a shot as a lefty reliever with this being my first look at him.

LHP Mike Belfiore (Orioles) - Same guy, 90-91 w/ a SL at 80.

RHP Victor Black (Pirates) - Same guy, power arm no strikes.  Worked 95-96 w/ a power CB at 84.

RHP James Simmons (Athletics) - Velocity was up from the previous games I saw him at 92-93, but he still has zero feel for spinning a breaking ball and that will hurt him.

LHP Grant Dayton (Marlins) - First look at the lefty whom I believe will have arm trouble based on his action.  He was 92-94 and paired it with a SL at 83-86 with sweep.

No one really jumped out offensively on this day besides possibly Brian Goodwin, but I have been all over him as a stud, so wasn't a surprise to see him swing it like that on this day. 

November 5 - Desert Dogs @ Saguaros

Pete Ruiz blew a 4 run lead in the 9th as the Dogs knocked off the Saguaros 6-5.  Some thoughts below:

SS Hak-Ju Lee (Rays) - Lee continues to be a pull heavy hitter whose bat looks slow out here.  Will try to be a speed and defense based SS based on his profile out here.

OF Bryce Brentz (Red Sox) - Brentz homered on a hanging slider to LF and is starting to do more things to stand out, as he also showed an above avg throwing arm in RF today.  Not sure how much average he will hit for, but he is growing on me as a potential above avg corner OF.

RHP Zeke Spruill (Braves)- Spruill started before leaving after being hit by a line drive.  He is a tall, slenderly built kid w/ little muscle definition and attacks hitters from a 3/4, SWU.  He worked 90-93 w/ run to his FB and paired it with 2 solid avg off-speed pitches in his CH at 84-85 and his SL at 82-83.  With his slender build, he likely profiles as more of a middle reliever then a back end starter.

RHP Kyle Heckathorn (Brewers) - Heckathorn is a tall, well proportioned righty who attacks from a 3/4, SWU.  His delivery is high effort and unathletic and he is going to have problems throwing consistent strikes.  He worked 90-93 with some life and deception on righties.  Doesn't really have another pitch, as his SL was 82-85 and was fairly soft out of his hand while his CH was 84-86 with gd armspeed, but lacked life.  Not sure if the FB is good enough to make him a big leaguer.

LHP Ryan Buchter (Braves) - Buchter was traded from the Cubs this year and is another tall, athletic kid with a well proportioned body.  He comes from a L 3/4, NWU.  He was 88-92 (up to 93) and paired it with a slurve at 77 that he only threw once and buried.  Didn't get a good feel for him, but appears to have the raw tools to be a 2nd lefty in the pen.

RHP Kirby Yates (Rays) - The short, stocky right hander w/ a thick lower half was 92-94 w/ ride, a CH at 84-86 w/ gd armspeed and fade and sink and a SL at 82 with 3/4 tilt.  Doesn't have an above avg offspeed pitch, but can likely fit in a pen as a low leverage middle reliever.

RHP Pete Ruiz (Red Sox) - Stuff was down significantly from when I saw him last, as he was 90-93 today w/ a big, slurvy CB/SL at 78-82. 

Got 2 games tomorrow, so life is awesome.