DelPrez's Monthly Minor League (Late Round) Players to Watch

[Gyrodork]

Nice, El Presidente. I'm afraid Flores is turning out to be a bit injury prone. I'm trying to get my hands on some deer antler spray.

[Delandis]

June 2000 DMLLP Award Winner

Zach Amaral (SP)
AA-Battle Creek Flakes
OSA: 5-4-2 | 6-4-4

-Drafted late in the 3rd round by the 7X champion Colonials, Zach is quietly but steadily growing into a kid with real potential. According to OSA, the former USC Trojan star has 4 average-to-above average pitches, including a heater that has been clocked at 100 mph. In true Colonial fashion, keeps the ball out of the air, with an impressive 62% GB.

Despite giving up just 8 ER in 6 starts, Amaral did only go 2-3 but had a 1.76 ERA with 54 K and just 13 BB. He also only allowed 2 HR over that same span. Also these performances span over both Single A and AA stints as Amaral was recently promoted to AA. Looking over Amaral's history, his success isn't to surprising as he once struck out 17 batters in a college game and has pitched a 9K, 2BB no hitter this year.

He doesn't look like a Pancho (Herrera) or Gus (Jenkins) but make no mistake, this kid does have talent. Will it be enough to get him to the BLB as part of the new generation of Colonial pitchers? Only time will tell.

Honorable Mention:
Tommy Robbins-SP (AA-PHI)
Jerry Del Valle (AA-IND)

(P.S)-For some reason I've been having font issues with the editor. It will not accept the changes to the font above and that's why "Looking over..." is in a different font.

[Delandis]

July 2000 DMLLP Award Winner

Leo Fernandez(SP)
AAA-Trenton Liberty
OSA: 5-5-4 | 5-5-5

-In the 1995 draft, Leo was the 12th pick in the 5th round. Known for his unwavering love of his alma mater, Leo was a pretty good pitcher in college. Although he only posted a 3.63 ERA in his collegiate career, Fernandez did have one standout season in his sophomore year, striking out 78 batters in just 62 innings with an impressive 1.87 ERA to match. After being drafted by the Freedom organization, Fernandez remained at the Fort Myers (A) club for 6 years. In 1998 and 1999, Leo posted a sub-3.00 ERA for the 1st (and 2nd) time in his professional career. He even recorded a 3-hit shut out against my beloved Orlando Blackbirds (A)last year.

Fast forward to 2000and at 26 years old, Fernandez finds himself at the AAA level and pitching well last month. In the month of July, Fernandez went 4-0 including a no-hitter versus the Detroit Titans (AAA) on 7/5/00.

Does he have the goods to play at the BLB level? We'll just have to wait and see if Manager BradZ extends Fernandez a hand that holds an opportunity.

Honorable Mention:
Dave Miller (1B)-(AAA-WAS)
Gong-sun Tsai (AAA-SYR)

[BradZ]

July 2000 DMLLP Award Winner

Leo Fernandez(SP)
AAA-Trenton Liberty
OSA: 5-5-4 | 5-5-5

-In the 1995 draft, Leo was the 12th pick in the 5th round. Known for his unwavering love of his alma mater, Leo was a pretty good pitcher in college. Although he only posted a 3.63 ERA in his collegiate career, Fernandez did have one standout season in his sophomore year, striking out 78 batters in just 62 innings with an impressive 1.87 ERA to match. After being drafted by the Freedom organization, Fernandez remained at the Fort Myers (A) club for 6 years. In 1998 and 1999, Leo posted a sub-3.00 ERA for the 1st (and 2nd) time in his professional career. He even recorded a 3-hit shut out against my beloved Orlando Blackbirds (A)last year.

Fast forward to 2000, and at 26 years old, Fernandez finds himself at the AAA level and pitching well last month. In the month of July, Fernandez went 4-0 including a no-hitter versus the Detroit Titans (AAA) on 7/5/00.

Does he have the goods to play at the BLB level? We'll just have to wait and see if Manager BradZ extends Fernandez a hand holding an opportunity.

Honorable Mention:
Dave Miller (1B)-(AAA-WAS)
Gong-sun Tsai (AAA-SYR)

Organizational soldier. I'll probably give him a cup of coffee this September to say thanks.

Or I could just trade him to Denver where he could probably be the Ace of the rotation.

[umd]

Organizational soldier. I'll probably give him a cup of coffee this September to say thanks.

Or I could just trade him to Denver where he could probably be the Ace of the rotation.

Carlos jokes just don't get old. I think there are more Carlos jokes now than funclown. Happy birthday funclown!

[Ryan]

Organizational soldier. I'll probably give him a cup of coffee this September to say thanks.

Or I could just trade him to Denver where he could probably be the Ace of the rotation.

Boom-Bam!

[funclown]

Carlos jokes just don't get old. I think there are more Carlos jokes now than funclown. Happy birthday funclown!

Yeah. Guess I'm fairly tame now. Rebuilding does that

[Pat]

April 2000 DMLLP Award Winner

Nick Cortes (SP)
AAA-Richmond Rams (WAS)
OSA: 4-4-4 | 4-4-5

-At 6'5, 210 lbs, there is no question that Cortes has the physical tools to play at the big league level. Undrafted in the 1997 draft, Washington took a low risk chance with Cortes, signing him 3 days after the draft. Cortes really started to show a bit of promise his 2nd year as a professional, tossing a 1-hit shutout against the Myrtle Beach Shorebirds (AA) with 10 K and just 1 BB in August of 1998. Cortes stayed in AA for the entire 1999 season, throwing another 1-hit shutout against the Richmond Riot (AA) in May 1999.

Fast forward to the new millennium, and Cortes was nearly unhittable at the AA level in April. Going 3-0 in 4 starts with a nasty .58 ERA with 30 strikeouts and just 3 BB, Cortes earned AA Mash Pitcher of the Month Award. In response to this impressive performance, Cortes was promoted to the AAA level club, continuing to impress and may likely be seen at the BLB level sooner than later.

Honorable Mention:
Loui-Gabriel Trahan (AA-BAT)
Goro Morinaga (AA-PAW)
Artie Waters (AA-CAL)

Since his Triple-A call up, Cortes is now: 7-3, 2.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 158 ERA+. He pitched 8.2, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 13 GB 5-0 win over one of the leagues best Triple-A teams, Bakersfield Cannons. He turns 24 in December and is unlikely to get a September call up nor a Spring Training invite next year. My rotation is loaded and there are a few others in Triple-A, Seth Brewer, Gerard Champagne and Seth Schnitzler, who will get a look first.

[Pat]

Honorable Mention:
Dave Miller (1B)-(AAA-WAS)
Gong-sun Tsai (AAA-SYR)

What a find Dave Miller has been. Originally drafted by the Snappers, 102nd overall in 1995. He lasted one full year in the organization, being cut six days after his one-year anniversary with the club. Singed one week later to D.C., Miller has been quite the surprise. He struggled that year, and much of the next, but has since been on a steady climb. In 1998, Single-A, .261 with a .737 OPS. In 1999, Double-A, .281 with a .792 OPS. In 2000, Triple-A, he is hitting .313 with a .848 OPS, more walks than strikeouts, and nine stolen bases to only one time caught. He's a liability defensively at 1B or LF, but could be a nice trade chip down the road. Won't turn 24 until the season is over.

[BradZ]

July 2000 DMLLP Award Winner

Leo Fernandez(SP)
AAA-Trenton Liberty
OSA: 5-5-4 | 5-5-5

Gave him the call after Fitz and Goei came up a bit gimpy at the same time. He battled and didn't completely suck, but he'll be back on the farm before too long.

[Delandis]

April 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

Tommy Hunt(SP)
AAA-Trenton Liberty
OSA: 5-4-5 | 5-4-5

-I know that I said that this award would only go 3.15 selections and beyond, but I've decided to extend the nominations to all 3rd round selections. With the addition of high number of compensation picks given every year, it is now that much harder to find that gem in the late round.

This month's winner was a no-brainer for me. 28-year old pitcher, Tommy Hunt was simply amazing to begin the year. In 4 starts, Tommy was nearly unhittable winning all 4 games, striking out 27 while walking only 3. Drafted way back in the 1994 draft as the 75th overall selection, Hunt had shown a lot of promise, even being selected to the 1995 Bush League All-Star Game. With Philly's rotation playing well so far it is unlikely that Hunt will see any BLB action this year.

Honorable Mention:
Seishisai Nomura (SP)-(AAA-NYK)
Danny Flores (3B) (AA-LOS)

[Delandis]

May 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

SP Ted Cooley
AAA-Silver City Outlaws(LAM)
OSA: 6-4-4 | 6-4-5

-This kid has not only a DMLLP Award, but may also find himself in the One Man's Trash Thread one day. Ted went undrafted in the 1995 draft to the Washington Bats. It was not surprising that Cooley wasn't drafted, seeing that he never posted an ERA below 4.00 in four years at Maine West High School. However, the Bats organization which is known for finding talent where no one else can, took a chance on the kid who pitched relatively well in his month as a professional.

Unfortunately for Cooley, he was a cut casualty in Eugene (A) but was called 2 months later by the Dinos organization following the end of the minor league season. Uncharacteristically, Cooley toiled over the next 3 seasons and eventually helped the Redhawks (A) win a title in 1998. Cooley struggled his next two years in AA and as a result, was cut by the Dinos organization in November of 2000.

Now in the year 2001 and at 24 years old, a more mature Cooley has been given one more chance but this time by the Bandits organization and has not squandered it. Earning the Wort(AA) Pitcher of the Month for May, Cooley went 5-0 in 6 starts giving up just 6 ER in 46.2 IP. The kid posted a 1.16 ERA with 60 K over that time. The kid looks to have top shelf velocity with a nasty curve to boot. If his control continues to develop, Los Alamos may have found themselves a true diamond in the rough.

Honorable Mention:
SP Cho-yeong Lee-(AAA-LAD)
1B Jon Montalbo-(AA-PAW)

[Pat]

Taught 'em everything he knows.

[spot]

May 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

SP Ted Cooley
AAA-Silver City Outlaws(LAM)
OSA: 6-4-4 | 6-4-5

Just saw this. He made his debut this past sim. I have had enough of some of the back-end rotation guys and he has been stellar.

He picked up a win, and threw 124 pitches, but that's about it. 7IP, 12 hits, 5ER. Interested to see what he does this sim.

[Jistic]

Why do you hate position players?