Kala Ka'aihue

by mraver on Jun 30, 2007 11:49 AM EDT Comment 18 comments

So, what're the feelings on this fellow? He's been on an absolute tear after a dismal start to the season in high-A Mrytle Beach (that hitter's haven). The K-rate has been somewhat terrifying, and even after you toss out his poor April in which he struck out 21 times in 54 ABs, we're still talking about a guy with 50 Ks in 180 ABs through the next two months.

Of course, other than that everything is nice and shiney: he's walked in nearly 15% of his total plate appearances and has 16 HRs on the season. He's doing even better away from home (.900 OPS vs. 1.150).

Is KK destined to be a Three True Outcomes player? His K-rate, BB-rate, and HR-rate seem to point in that direction. If so, how good will he be? Are we talking Adam Dunn territory? Dunn had a higher minor-league BA than KK, along with a better K/BB rate, and Dunn went through the various minor league levels at younger ages than Kala (AA, AAA, and MLB by 21 while Kala turned 22 this year and is still in High-A).

John gave him a C+ coming into the year, saying he looked like a sleeper and was worth keeping an eye on. Do we have a better sense now of what kind of player he is? Or do we have to wait until a promotion to AA for the real test?

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I'm optomistic

cautiously optimistic. I love his power and his swing. I think the reason Dunn is a three outcome player is because he is so big and has the biggest uppercut swing I have seen. Ka'aihue is not like that. He has insane power obviously and is hitting the cover off the ball this month. I took a big gamble on him and put him at number two on the braves mid-season top prospect list. I have a gut feeling that last season was more telling of his discipline so while he is going to K a lot, KK shouldn't K that much.

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by was385 on Jun 30, 2007 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have him at 7 so I'm fairly optimistic as well.

#1 - Elvis Andrus - SS
#2 - Jason Heyward - RF (assuming he signs)
#3 - Tommy Hanson - RHP
#4 - Brent Lillibridge - SS/CF
#5 - Brandon Jones - CF/RF
#6 - Jo-Jo Reyes - LHP
#7 - Kala Kaaihue - 1B
#8 - Josh Fields - RHP (assuming he signs)
#9 - Neftali Feliz - RHP
#10 - Eric Campbell - 3B

That is my list and assuming Harrison gets called up instead of pulling a deal for a starter like we need and loses his eligibilty. We will see what happens, was385 and I have went over how I feel in general about the Braves system. :(

Jones was a tough one, really not sure how good he really is. If a deal happens, I think Jones is part of it so it really doesn't matter if that happens. I feel fairly good about the rest of the list...I think I'd put Freeman or Gilmore on there if Jones were moved.

by jfish26101 on Jun 30, 2007 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I went a little different route

RHP Tommy Hanson
1B Kala Ka'aihue
3B Eric Campbell
SS Elvis Andrus
LHP Matt Harrison
RF Brandon Jones
RHP Joey Devine
LHP Jo-Jo Reyes
RHP Neftali Feliz
OF Cody Johnson

I left the recent draftees off the list and the big shocker to a lot of people, I left Brent Lillibridge off the list (he'd be #11). I want to see Lillibridge do something against advanced competition (bashed single-A but he was old for the level last year). Hanson has mid-90's easy heat with movement, a good change, and a knee-buckling curve so I put him at one. Campbell is still one of my favorites and now that he is healthy he is hitting the cover off the ball. Kala got two, he is destroying Salty's SLG record at MB and I love his power and swing.

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by was385 on Jun 30, 2007 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question

Why so little love for Brandon Jones? I don't think he's going to be an all-star necessarily, but I see him as an above average guy in LF who could be more if he plays CF.

"You remind me of the ESPN commercials what have the guys asses talking for them..."-JT12340 to Bravesin07

by gatling on Jun 30, 2007 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like him

I just like everyone else in front of him more. I think the Braves system is quite underrated. It may not have a superstar but it has a lot of future contributors. I see Brandon Jones as a .270-.280 guy with 20-25 HRs, a good amount of steals, and good defense. He is going to be a good all-around player.

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by was385 on Jun 30, 2007 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question...

and forgive me if this makes me sound like an ass, it's not meant to.

You say you are keeping Lillibridge out of your top ten because he only mashed against a lower level of competition at an advanced age. But you are putting Kala on the list at #2 when he is mashing at lower level at an advanced age? Something's not right here.

I hope the kid succeeds, he is on my list of sleepers and guys to keep an eye on for the keeper simulation league I am in. But as one other posted pointed out, his brother did the same thing a couple years ago at High Desert and then nothing once he was moved out of a hitter's park and had to face better competition.

Someone just said they are cautiously optimistic about Kala... but until I see what he does at a higher level (or dramatically reduces his Ks) I am cautiously cautious.

"Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young and 11 Tim Lincecums." -uga007

by Boxkutter on Jun 30, 2007 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His brother...

His brother put his numbers up in an extreme hitters environmnet. Myrtle Beach is about the opposite. It's been referred to as the place where hitting prospects go to die.

Toss me in with the "cautiously optimistic" crowd. His Kala's numbers (K and BB rates) this year are remarkably similar to last year's, the major difference being in BABIP (.230 last year vs. .350 this year). Now, this doesn't mean much without GB, LD, FB rates etc.

I guess we'll just have to wait until he gets a callup to AA, which should really happen at some point this year.

by mraver on Jun 30, 2007 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Park

Exactly. Ka'aihue is mashing in a park that really put Campbell and Saltalamacchia on the map big time. That and I have seen both of them play and KK's approach at the plate seems much better to me.

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by was385 on Jun 30, 2007 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I missed the sarcasm...

in the original post about Myrtle Beach being a "hitter's haven". I'm not a Braves fan so I don't keep track of their hitting/pitching environments. I had heard before that Myrtle Beach was a severe pitcher's park, but I had forgotten.

That said, I am still cautiously cautious until he moves up levels, which hopefully may be this season so we can see what he does against advanced hitting. Being 22 also, I would give his numbers a little more credit in AA than I would in A+ like he is at now. He's not ridiculously old for A+, but still a little old for it. Especially when you consider he is semi-repeating the level (almost 200 ABs there last season).

He's still a decent prospect, but I am taking a wait and see approach with him. Not sure of the exact state of the Braves minor leagues, but putting him at #2 would make it seem like they are in a sad state of affairs.

BTW, the latest numbers I found on the GB, LD, and FB rates are as such (for his first 226 ABs):
51 Groundballs
38 Line Drives
62 Fly Balls
12 Pop flies

"Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young and 11 Tim Lincecums." -uga007

by Boxkutter on Jul 1, 2007 6:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nope

the system is pretty good I just really have a good feeling from watching him and his numbers that he is going to be a good one.

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by was385 on Jul 1, 2007 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sad...

(depening on what you meant by sad I guess) but they wont be moving up past BA's 16th ranking this year in my opinion.

by jfish26101 on Jul 1, 2007 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe they will

Hanson had a huge breakout this year. KK is doing well, Cody looks a ton better, Harrison and Reyes are doing well again. This farm system has a ton of young arms and a bunch of them are maturing.

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by was385 on Jul 1, 2007 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Thorman has lost eligiblity and Salty and Escobar most likely will at this rate. Lerew got hurt again. I still think Devine and probably Harrison will lose eligibility in the second half trying to hang on to playoff hopes. I suppose they could move up but it unfortunately will not change my opinion much.

by jfish26101 on Jul 1, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't to different from my list.

I think it's a bit much to put Campbell above Andrus. Andrus is 3 years younger and playing at the same level with near the same success. Not only that but Andrus has more tools and a much higher ceiling.

I think Cody Johnson at 10 is a real stretch to.

by jfish26101 on Jun 30, 2007 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to see him

In AA first.

Mostly because his brother did the same thing (did really well at low levels), then did HORRIBLE in AA.

by doublestix on Jun 30, 2007 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade

If Atlanta is in the market for a veteran starter, Kala would be my first choice as a return for Matt Morris. I think that tells you what I think of him.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 30, 2007 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs