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

[Delandis]

Why do you hate position players?

I don't.

Its just that most of the high performing, minor league position players are early round picks.

[funclown]

I don't.

Its just that most of the high performing, minor league position players are early round picks.

Not true. You're forgetting players like... Terry 'Exorcist' Clark and of course DEATHERAGE!!!

[Delandis]

Not true. You're forgetting players like... Terry 'Exorcist' Clark and of course DEATHERAGE!!!

Deatherage Aka Mr. Bum Knee.

[funclown]

Deatherage Aka Mr. Bum Knee.

I just like saying his name.

[Delandis]

June 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

CF Jerry del Valle
AA-Richmond Riot(IND)
OSA: 4-5-2-4-5 | 5-6-2-5-6

-This 24 year old Venezuelan prospect was a 4th round pick by the Indianapolis Clown organization in 1999. Blessed with great speed and even better anticipation, Jerry can be a beast on the base paths and can also use that speed to cover considerable ground in center fielder. Jerry made his mark as a professional in his just 2nd year, earning a trip to the 2000 Bush League All-Star Game.

del Valle is known as a spray hitter, showing good contact ability that is evidenced by his +.300 career average so far in the minors. Jerry is also described as great team leader and pretty sharp to boot. Although Indy is known as utilizing a more patient approach to prospect development, Jerry probably isn't far from a jump to AAA and may even be ready for the BLB right now.

BLB Player Comparison:
CF Pete Lawson(HAR)

Honorable Mention:
CF Danny Martinez(AA-BAL)
SP Danny Velez (AA-DAV)

[Delandis]

July 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

SP Broderick Farquarson
AA-Eagle River Wolverines
OSA: 4-4-4 | 4-5-5

-We go international again with this 22-year old prospect from Canada. Selected in the 3rd round in 1999 by the Batavia organization, Broderick has done nothing but impress since becoming a professional player in the US. Broderick has already made two All-Star appearances (2000-A, 2001-AA) and has a good chance to win the AA-Outstanding Pitcher Award. So far this year, Broderick is 10-4 in 21 starts with 125K, 36BB, and just 4HRA in 121 IP. Not known foroverpowering stuff, Farquarson uses outstanding control of his four pitches to keep players off the basepaths. Broderick is definitely a player to watch and see if he can continue on to the bigs.

BLB Player Comparison:
SP Matt McCarty(WIL)

Honorable Mention:
CF Chris Valenzuela(AAA-DEN)
C Troy Hart (AAA-MOR)

[funclown]

July 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

SP Broderick Farquarson
AA-Eagle River Wolverines
OSA: 4-4-4 | 4-5-5

-We go international again with this 22-year old prospect from Canada. Selected in the 3rd round in 1999 by the Batavia organization, Broderick has done nothing but impress since becoming a professional player in the US. Broderick has already made two All-Star appearances (2000-A, 2001-AA) and has a good chance to win the AA-Outstanding Pitcher Award. So far this year, Broderick is 10-4 in 21 starts with 125K, 36BB, and just 4HRA in 121 IP. Not known foroverpowering stuff, Farquarson uses outstanding control of his four pitches to keep players off the basepaths. Broderick is definitely a player to watch and see if he can continue on to the bigs.

BLB Player Comparison:
SP Matt McCarty(WIL)

Honorable Mention:
CF Chris Valenzuela(AAA-DEN)
C Troy Hart (AAA-MOR)

You know, 1B Jon Montalbo is a third rounder? I wish I wrote interesting things or else I'd do I write up on him.

[Matt]

We love Broderick!

[Delandis]

You know, 1B Jon Montalbo is a third rounder? I wish I wrote interesting things or else I'd do I write up on him.

Maybe I'll make it a birthday present for you.

[Delandis]

April 2002 DMLLP Award Winner

2B R.J. Mangold
AA-Savannah Atlantics (DAV)
OSA: 5-6-3-3-5 | 5-6-5-3-5

-A 6th round pick straight out of Freyburg Academy in 1995, R.J. has always been an impressive player, even as a high school freshman. Mangold ended his high school career with an impressive .320 average and 48 career home runs (T-9th All Time). Mangold spent 5 years in Single Ball finally making his first jump to AA ball in 2000. After a subpar performance, R.J. was sent back down to Iowa City (A). After two more years in Iowa City, R.J was again promoted and has played well in Savannah so far.

BLB Player Comparison:
3B Ron Pillsbury(CAL)

Honorable Mention:
T.J. Stratman (DAL)
Heita Sakai (DAV)

[Lintyfresh85]

Fun stuff as always.

Interested to know why you compare him to Pillsbury... who I think could be a solid BLB'er if he wasn't playing for me and blocked by Betts/Kelch.

[Matt]

July 2001 DMLLP Award Winner

SP Broderick Farquarson
AA-Eagle River Wolverines
OSA: 4-4-4 | 4-5-5

-We go international again with this 22-year old prospect from Canada. Selected in the 3rd round in 1999 by the Batavia organization, Broderick has done nothing but impress since becoming a professional player in the US. Broderick has already made two All-Star appearances (2000-A, 2001-AA) and has a good chance to win the AA-Outstanding Pitcher Award. So far this year, Broderick is 10-4 in 21 starts with 125K, 36BB, and just 4HRA in 121 IP. Not known foroverpowering stuff, Farquarson uses outstanding control of his four pitches to keep players off the basepaths. Broderick is definitely a player to watch and see if he can continue on to the bigs.

Kid cracked the Top 100 and is looking good at AAA. Just waiting for another control bump that my scout thinks he has and up he comes to join a future (hopefully) very good starting rotation.

[Delandis]

Fun stuff as always.

Interested to know why you compare him to Pillsbury... who I think could be a solid BLB'er if he wasn't playing for me and blocked by Betts/Kelch.

Looking at the way his numbers are trending, I just think that is his ceiling in the league. Although, he may develop a little more power.

[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)

Nailed it with the inaugural pick.

ROY.

Killing it in year two.

[Delandis]

May 2002 DMLLP Award Winner

CL Bill Hernandez
AAA-Long Island Navigators (NYK)
OSA: 8-5-5 | 8-5-6

-I normally don't profile relief pitchers but I think this guy deserves it. 27 year old Dominican pitcher, Bill Hernandez went undrafted in the 1997 draft. Slow cooked through the well respected Pawtucket system, Bill stared to show flashes in 1998 posting a .91 ERA and .74 WHIP in 29 innings of work. The guys upstairs saw this and immediately promoted Hernandez to AA ball. Hernandez continued his meteoric rise through the Pawtucket system, with a 1.21 ERA and .94 WHIP in the 2nd half of 1998 in AA ball. In 1999, Hernandez was promoted to AAA ball, still performing well with a 2.52 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 64.1 IP.
Hernandez's world was turned upside down though, when he was included in a trade for Thang Mac and sent to New York. Hernandez was impressive through 2001 and now into 2002. The question now becomes, will he ever get a chance in The Show?


BLB Player Comparison:
CL Edgar Salaazar (WAS)

Honorable Mention:
Jamie Lafrano (LAD)
Todd Crisafi (LAM)