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California Prospect Watch 2057
10-09-2023
21 straight years in the playoffs has allowed management and fans to completely disregard their prospect talent pool for a long time. Using the minors and draft picks as a vessel for trading for veteran players served it’s purpose, but now that the streak is over, it’s time to take a look at the Kodiaks of the future!
AAA Level - Bakersfield 29-91 (56 games back… A complete debacle of a team)
AA Level - Sacramento 66-54 (11 game improvement over the previous season)
A Level - Moose Jaw 76 - 44 (8 game improvement over the previous season)
RL Level - Austin 77 - 43 (4 game improvement over the previous season)
Top Pitching Prospects
SP Benedict Zacarias had a strong second half to his fourth RL season after being acquired from Pawtucket in the Josiah Foust trade. A groundball specialist that can pitch deep into games has Kodiak brass excited about the ceiling for this 20-year-old fireballer. With four solid pitches, he’ll be starting the season in A ball and looking to expand on his 13 Austin RL starts that saw him carry a 3.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP!
SP Chase Lowe is a bit of a wild card. Kodiak scouts are not high on the former 2054 3rd round pick, but OSA seems to love his potential. He hasn’t had much success in Rookie ball, but with three pitches, incredible control potential, and a fastball that has been clocked at 101 MPH, there’s still a chance for the 20-year-old to make it to the BLB in the next 3-4 seasons!
Players That Appear to be Ready
SP Jeremy Vanover took a long time to develop after being picked in the 5th round of the 2050 draft, but debuted with the Kodiaks toward the end of last season. After tearing up the lower levels, Vanover struggled to adjust to AAA and the BLB, but management have high hopes for a pitcher that throws 98-100 MPH and has three solid pitches. Fans are hoping that an improvement in his control will allow him to build off his 8 BLB starts and 7.07 ERA.
1B/3B Kelvin Young got the call up to the big club in May, and after a quick start he struggled to make the adjustments as the pitching in the BLB quickly picked up on his tendencies. His defensive abilities are limited though, as team officials are hopefully that he can learn to play at least a competent 3B this coming season. Offensively, California is looking for big things from the former 1.22 pick in what will be his first full big league season next year.
LF/RF Adan Natoli also received a late season callup and raked first his first game throughout the rest of the season. Not a highly regarded prospect, Natoli has had to overcome not being able to play in the field as a deterrent to making an impact with the big club. Offensively though, Natoli thrived in his 27 BLB games, as he belted 30 hits and knocked in 12 runs!
Players That are Getting Closer
CF Mitt ‘Porker’ Saginashvili was acquired in 2055 in a lightly regarded trade with the Maine Guides. An elite gloveman with untapped offensive potential seems to be putting it together. A +9.4 ZR and 1.094 EFF in CF could have him in the BLB already, but his offensive skills still need to develop. A full season in A ball last year saw Porker rip 24 doubles, 6 triples, and 14 home runs. He’ll start in AA this year and may be with the big club by the end of the season.
SP Brenden De Jong was a 2051 7th round pick and has been a forgotten man in the minors. All he has done though is worked hard and fought his way onto the Kodiaks spring training roster this year. Scouts see incredible stuff and movement, which if he can harness his control, will make him a useful piece either out of the bullpen in long relief or a back-end starter.
This Year's Drafted Players, Not Already Mentioned, to be Excited About
C Turk Dorey looks to be the next great Canadian BLBer! A second-round pick, he tore up rookie ball in his first season. As a 21-year-old, he had a slash of 0.308/0.432/0.648 with 21 home runs and 53 RBI in 63 games. Highly intelligent, he also looks to be a solid defensive catcher as well. He will start the season in A ball and will be looking to make his BLB debut towards the end of the 2058 season.
LF/RF Spencer Stephens may be the most exciting player in the Kodiak system. Overlooked in the 2056 draft, he fell to the Kodiaks with pick #19. Scouts love his 5-tool ability. If he develops, 30/30 seasons definitely look to be in Stephens future. Still only 18 years old, he had a wildly successful first year in rookie ball hitting 0.267 with 21 HR and 63 RBI in only 64 games!
CF Jonathan Baird was California’s second 2nd round pick of the 2056 draft. After ripping 0.435 in 13 rookie league games, he was quickly promoted to A ball. In 52 games the 20-year-old continued his hot hitting with a 0.278/0.386/0.469 slash line that included 14 doubles, 4 triples, and 6 home runs. With a glove that plays at all three outfield spots, the hope is he will be in California by the end of next season!
IAFA Players to Watch
3B Mervin Teremesha was an international find out of Swaziland in December 2056. The recent #1 prospect in the Kodiak system debuted at #8 in the BLB Top Prospect list. At only 16 years of age, he still has a long way to go. Scouts are very excited about his contact and power potential.
P Schroder Partington was an international find out of Barbados in November 2055. California acquired the young RHP in the Julian Irwin trade. At 18 years old he had his first taste of rookie ball and didn’t disappoint. Although it was a 4-game sample, Partington went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and struck out 7 batters in 6.1 innings. If he can develop a third pitch, Kodiak fans are hoping the next Tony Ramos may be on the way!
10-09-2023
21 straight years in the playoffs has allowed management and fans to completely disregard their prospect talent pool for a long time. Using the minors and draft picks as a vessel for trading for veteran players served it’s purpose, but now that the streak is over, it’s time to take a look at the Kodiaks of the future!
AAA Level - Bakersfield 29-91 (56 games back… A complete debacle of a team)
AA Level - Sacramento 66-54 (11 game improvement over the previous season)
A Level - Moose Jaw 76 - 44 (8 game improvement over the previous season)
RL Level - Austin 77 - 43 (4 game improvement over the previous season)
Top Pitching Prospects
SP Benedict Zacarias had a strong second half to his fourth RL season after being acquired from Pawtucket in the Josiah Foust trade. A groundball specialist that can pitch deep into games has Kodiak brass excited about the ceiling for this 20-year-old fireballer. With four solid pitches, he’ll be starting the season in A ball and looking to expand on his 13 Austin RL starts that saw him carry a 3.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP!
SP Chase Lowe is a bit of a wild card. Kodiak scouts are not high on the former 2054 3rd round pick, but OSA seems to love his potential. He hasn’t had much success in Rookie ball, but with three pitches, incredible control potential, and a fastball that has been clocked at 101 MPH, there’s still a chance for the 20-year-old to make it to the BLB in the next 3-4 seasons!
Players That Appear to be Ready
SP Jeremy Vanover took a long time to develop after being picked in the 5th round of the 2050 draft, but debuted with the Kodiaks toward the end of last season. After tearing up the lower levels, Vanover struggled to adjust to AAA and the BLB, but management have high hopes for a pitcher that throws 98-100 MPH and has three solid pitches. Fans are hoping that an improvement in his control will allow him to build off his 8 BLB starts and 7.07 ERA.
1B/3B Kelvin Young got the call up to the big club in May, and after a quick start he struggled to make the adjustments as the pitching in the BLB quickly picked up on his tendencies. His defensive abilities are limited though, as team officials are hopefully that he can learn to play at least a competent 3B this coming season. Offensively, California is looking for big things from the former 1.22 pick in what will be his first full big league season next year.
LF/RF Adan Natoli also received a late season callup and raked first his first game throughout the rest of the season. Not a highly regarded prospect, Natoli has had to overcome not being able to play in the field as a deterrent to making an impact with the big club. Offensively though, Natoli thrived in his 27 BLB games, as he belted 30 hits and knocked in 12 runs!
Players That are Getting Closer
CF Mitt ‘Porker’ Saginashvili was acquired in 2055 in a lightly regarded trade with the Maine Guides. An elite gloveman with untapped offensive potential seems to be putting it together. A +9.4 ZR and 1.094 EFF in CF could have him in the BLB already, but his offensive skills still need to develop. A full season in A ball last year saw Porker rip 24 doubles, 6 triples, and 14 home runs. He’ll start in AA this year and may be with the big club by the end of the season.
SP Brenden De Jong was a 2051 7th round pick and has been a forgotten man in the minors. All he has done though is worked hard and fought his way onto the Kodiaks spring training roster this year. Scouts see incredible stuff and movement, which if he can harness his control, will make him a useful piece either out of the bullpen in long relief or a back-end starter.
This Year's Drafted Players, Not Already Mentioned, to be Excited About
C Turk Dorey looks to be the next great Canadian BLBer! A second-round pick, he tore up rookie ball in his first season. As a 21-year-old, he had a slash of 0.308/0.432/0.648 with 21 home runs and 53 RBI in 63 games. Highly intelligent, he also looks to be a solid defensive catcher as well. He will start the season in A ball and will be looking to make his BLB debut towards the end of the 2058 season.
LF/RF Spencer Stephens may be the most exciting player in the Kodiak system. Overlooked in the 2056 draft, he fell to the Kodiaks with pick #19. Scouts love his 5-tool ability. If he develops, 30/30 seasons definitely look to be in Stephens future. Still only 18 years old, he had a wildly successful first year in rookie ball hitting 0.267 with 21 HR and 63 RBI in only 64 games!
CF Jonathan Baird was California’s second 2nd round pick of the 2056 draft. After ripping 0.435 in 13 rookie league games, he was quickly promoted to A ball. In 52 games the 20-year-old continued his hot hitting with a 0.278/0.386/0.469 slash line that included 14 doubles, 4 triples, and 6 home runs. With a glove that plays at all three outfield spots, the hope is he will be in California by the end of next season!
IAFA Players to Watch
3B Mervin Teremesha was an international find out of Swaziland in December 2056. The recent #1 prospect in the Kodiak system debuted at #8 in the BLB Top Prospect list. At only 16 years of age, he still has a long way to go. Scouts are very excited about his contact and power potential.
P Schroder Partington was an international find out of Barbados in November 2055. California acquired the young RHP in the Julian Irwin trade. At 18 years old he had his first taste of rookie ball and didn’t disappoint. Although it was a 4-game sample, Partington went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and struck out 7 batters in 6.1 innings. If he can develop a third pitch, Kodiak fans are hoping the next Tony Ramos may be on the way!