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.