I don’t think there’s alot of guys we can put into this category.

I guess

I just define enigma as someone who has been around for awhile but hasn’t lived up to the billing.

I suppose he could be considered an enigma, given the spirited debates that have raged here over his strikeouts and velocity

Pretty big questions now regarding his athleticism, ability to stick at SS, and hit/power tools

talent is there, has yet to show any results.

meant to post, what about Fernando Martinez? [overhyped NY prospect, or the next Alex Escobar, or something good?] Or how about Tim Alderson?

but ian kennedy is a good example of an enigma, dominates every level at the minors but has struggled in his 59 innings in the majors spread across the last three years

Kyle Skipworth
Austin Jackson
Ben Revere
Michael Burgess

not as bad #’s, but might also apply:
Josh Vitters
Trevor Reckling (results were good, peripherals not so much)
Juan Francisco
Carlos Carrasco

Terrible season last year, but maybe he could be better this year, as he’s another year removed from TJ. Tons of talent and athleticism, but lacks experience and results.

or is he just a lost cause?

Is he the prospect that dominated the Florida State League or the prospect who struggled with his control in AA and the AFL.

Dellin Betances (see how he responds after TJ)
Michael Burgess
Philippe Aumont (looks like he could be a dominant reliever, but I think it will be interesting to see what the Phils do with him this season)
Neil Walker

I think Bumgarner, Ynoa, Johnson, Beckham, Moustakas are all good options. Mejia doesn’t seem to fit the bill to me, if he is in than someone like Drabek should be in. Maybe Wilmer Flores perhaps but he hasn’t done anything yet. Dewey would probably like to see Thole. :D

Sergio Santos is an interesting guy, moved to the mound after failing as a hitter. Those guys are always interesting, has some sick velocity.

Will Inman has always been a bit of a controversial prospect with his odd delivery but decent results until late.

Antonelli? Revere? Wood? Walden? Hewitt? Possibilities are endless. I think if John sleeps on it and gives us a better idea of what he is looking for we should be able to get 20+ names easily enough.

He is about as close to a modern-day Eddie Gaedel, which is always fun.

Moved from catcher to pitcher and has a laser fastball. I think a lot of people will be watching him.

Another one could be Tony delcamino(I spelled his name wrong, I’m sure, but can’t look it up on an Ipod…) anyways, he is a guy who switched positions (2b to C) and has a shot to be really good if he learns how to call a game

Jon Bachanov…..

I’m interested in seeing how he advances and starts to add innings to his appearances.

Came up, got a few at bats, went down, came up, got a few at bats, might not make the team. How come?

C’mon, people… an enigma is a puzzle, or a riddle, or a head-scratcher, and when referring to athletes it almost always has a mildly negative connotation (the tools are definitely there, but he just can’t seem to get it together, or he does it occasionally but not nearly often enough, and the key is that we don’t know exactly why). And John specifically said in his opener that he was referring to guys with BAD 2009 seasons. To my mind Joel Guzman, Andy Marte, Alex Gordon, Delmon Young, Austin Kearns, Daniel Cabrera, Fausto Carmona, Radhames Liz, Merkin Valdez and Jeremy Hermida are enigmas… Carlos Pena was an enigma for several years before landing in TB… but Bumgarner? The guy is at or near the top of everyone’s list of SF prospects and also in the overall pitcher top prospects lists… that he lost some velocity is a question to be aware of, but that isn’t an enigma to my way of thinking… an enigma is way bigger than that. And suggesting people who had stellar seasons, like Gaston or Clemens, is not exactly following the leader’s directive. I know, most of the guys I quote as enigmas are way past prospect status, but I’m using them as large examples of the kind of thing I believe John is looking for here. I guess the other thing that needs to be emphasized is the part about “we don’t know why”. Some of these guys who are enigmas to me as only a semi-knowledgable follower might be totally clear and understandable to most others who are closer to the game, in which case they are not really enigmas to anyone else, and that type of guy doesn’t belong on John’s list… we as a group have to be very puzzled as to why, or else the player is not an enigma.

performance is completely unexplained and that the baseball world totally misappraised.
I would like to nominate Conor Gillaspie for that honor. Many scouts and baseball people thought some rather obvious defiencies in fielding and power production would change in time. Boy, did they blow it! What did they miss?

I’m not sure how it is no one has brought him up. Horrible 2009 season. Awesome stuff. Something mental that keeps him from throwing strikes.

I’m thinking about Ricky Romero here.
He befuddled all comers for a few years until he was promoted to AAA and then the majors, where he inconceivably became useful and shrugged off the “bust” label.
If you don;t want to go that route, I would give a few more Jays’ examples - Arencipia (as already noted above), David Cooper and/or David Purcey ( I think he lost his eligibility though).
Thanks

Guys with great tools who don’t put it together aren’t enigmas. They’re just tools goofs, as Sickels would call them. Guys who get injured aren’t enigmatic either. Same with guys who get drafted high, but aren’t very good. Jordan Danks isn’t enigmatic. He’s a high risk player with great tools and questionable skills who looks great in a uniform. Fautino De Los Santos isn’t enigmatic. He got hurt. Neil Walker isn’t enigmatic. He’s mediocre.

I think he is a good example of an enigma and is completely different from everyone else listed. He does put up good numbers though. Still an interesting prospect to me being able to pitch with both hands.

?

If only because this dude is 21 years old and married to some crazy woman that’s 23 years his senior.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_T%C3%A1bata

Strikeouts didn’t seem all that different, was one of the top 2B prospects around pre-2008. What happened to that swing?

Not sure if he still qualifies as a prospect, but he’s definitely an enigma. He has big time velocity and good stuff, but he gives up significantly more contact than is to be expected. Is he a starter? A reliever? Where are the strikeouts?