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Back in April, I posted a look at my Sleeper Alert! list from the 2013 Baseball Prospect Book. We have enough minor league data now to get a read for how the players on the list are doing, so let's take a look. This is players G through M.
Here are links to the original lists.
Sleeper Prospects for 2013, Part One
Sleeper Prospects for 2013, Part Two
Sleeper Prospects for 2013, Part Three
Tim Fedroff, OF, Indians: WHAT I WROTE IN APRIL: Age 26, Fedroff is not a hot prospect by any means but could have a future as a role player due to his on-base abilities. He hit .325/.393/.517 in Triple-A last year. He is more athletic than you would assume from his 5-11, 220 listing, though his tools limit him to left field. RESULTS: Well I took a shot on an older guy here and so far it hasn't worked out: .258/.353/.331 with 39 walks, 64 strikeouts, 10 steals in 260 at-bats for Triple-A Columbus. He's a solid Triple-A guy but just doesn't hit enough to force himself into the majors at this point.
Anthony Garcia, OF, Cardinals: WHAT I WROTE IN APRIL: Age 21, Garcia was an 18th round pick out of Puerto Rico in 2009 and has killed the ball at lower levels with a .285/.373/.503 career mark. The former catcher has a strong throwing arm to go with his power and would get more attention in a thinner farm system. I think he is a breakout candidate. RESULTS: Good power but not much else in the Florida State League, hitting .211/.275/.400 with nine homers for Palm Beach. Contact/plate discipline are problems, 12 walks, 59 whiffs in 190 at-bats. He was starting to heat up (.816 SLG in last 10 games) when he went on the disabled list last week, and at his age he still has a shot at improvement.
Greg Garcia, INF, Cardinals: APRIL: Age 23, this Garcia was a seventh round pick in '10 from the University of Hawaii and was Kolten Wong's infield partner in Double-A last year, where he hit .284/.408/.420 with 80 walks. He projects as a utility infielder with good on-base abilities and, like Anthony Garcia (no relation), he would get more notice in a thinner system. RESULTS: Mediocre performance for Triple-A Memphis so far: .248/.366/.338 with 25 walks, 21 strikeouts in 145 at-bats. Makes contact but lacks power.
Sam Gaviglio, RHP, Cardinals: APRIL: Age 22. Another Cardinal, which isn't on purpose I swear. A fifth-round pick in '11 from Oregon State, Gaviglio is about as good a prospect as you can be with a below-90 fastball. He sinks and cuts it, has a good changeup, gets tons of grounders, and throws strikes. Not an elite prospect, but he could turn into a useful utility pitcher. RESULTS: Lots of Cardinals, which wasn't intentional. Got off to a decent start at Palm Beach (3.67 ERA in five starts) but went on the disabled list in early May and hasn't returned.
Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates: APRIL: Age 19. Pirates fans are very aware of him, but he's often overlooked in broader discussions due to other pitchers in the system with more press. Fifth-round pick from high school in California in '11, he made good strides developing his curveball to go with above-average heat last summer. A potential workhorse starter. RESULTS: A definite breakout guy who is getting plenty of attention now thanks to a 2.83 ERA with a 85/36 K/BB in 57 innings for Low-A West Virginia, with a mere 28 hits allowed and a .148 average against. His walk rate is rather high but the stuff is first-class and the stats back it up.
Josh Hader, LHP, Orioles: APRIL; Age 19. A 19th round pick last June from high school in Maryland, Hader boosted his velocity into the 90s after signing while posting a spectacular 48/9 K/BB in 29 innings in rookie ball. Secondaries need work but mid-rotation potential. RESULTS: 1.94 ERA in 11 starts for Low-A Delmarva, with a 56/30 K/BB in 60 innings and just 39 hits, .186 average allowed. As with Glasnow, Hader needs to sharpen his command but has made a lot of progress in a short period of time.
Phil Irwin, RHP, Pirates: APRIL: Age 26, Irwin was a 21st round pick from Mississippi in '09. Overshadowed by more famous prospects in the Pittsburgh system, he doesn't have blazing stuff but simply gets people out by changing speeds, creating some stir by doing so this spring. He could sneak in some effective innings. RESULTS: Impressed folks in spring training and made one major league start in April, but went on the disabled list in Triple-A in May with a sore elbow.
Patrick Leonard, 3B, Rays: APRIL: Age 20, Leonard came from the Royals in the James Shields trade. An overslot-bonus fifth round high school pick from Texas in '11, he slugged 14 homers in rookie ball and showed a solid glove at third. This was a nice pickup for the Rays and I think he is a breakthrough candidate. RESULTS: Has not hit well at Low-A Bowling Green, just .207/.291/.290 so far with 22 walks, 56 strikeouts in 217 at-bats. Obviously not breaking out as hoped. Even his defense has been worse than expected and he's played a lot of first base this year. Still very young at age 20.
Kenny Long, LHP, Astros: APRIL: Age 24, Long was a 22nd round pick from Illinois State last year and blitzed through the minors with a 38/7 K/BB and just seven hits in his first 22 innings. His fastball barely breaks glass but he is extremely deceptive and could have a future as a LOOGY and source of quality filler innings. RESULTS: Did well in High-A Lancaster with one run in eight innings, eight strikeouts, two saves, but has failed to transition this to Double-A (9.31 ERA, 6/10 K/BB in 10 innings, 12 hits). More advanced hitters aren't fooled by his game. Can he adapt?
Tyler Lyons, LHP, Cardinals: APRIL: Age 25, Lyons was a ninth round pick from Oklahoma State in '10. You might miss him due to his 4.28 ERA in Triple-A, but his component ratios were very strong (resulting in a 3.19 FIP) and he commands three pitches. He is a fifth-starter or relief type, but these guys can sneak up on us. RESULTS: Hooray for sleepers; has made five major league starts with a 4.65 ERA and a 20/8 K/BB, 28 hits in 31 innings, 2.00 GO/AO. I still see him as a useful fifth starter/relief type.
Estarlin Martinez, OF, Nationals: APRIL: Age 20, Martinez is a speculative tools/upside player who hit .319/.385/.455 in the difficult New York-Penn League last year, showing improvement with his plate discipline and swing mechanics. Extremely raw when signed out of the Dominican in '09, he's made considerable progress turning his athleticism into playing ability. RESULTS: The power he showed in the NY-P last summer hasn't appeared this spring: he's hitting just .241/.346/.316 with 22 walks, 34 strikeouts in 133 at-bats for Low-A Hagerstown. On the positive side, he's stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts, and he's getting on base at a good clip. His swing mechanics are still a work in progress.
Nick Martinez, RHP, Rangers: APRIL: Age 22, drafted in 18th round from Fordham in 2011. Low-90s fastball and improved breaking ball resulted in 109/37 K/BB with an ugly 4.83 ERA but a much better 3.28 FIP last year in Low-A. However, 2013 spring training reports were not enthusiastic, so we'll have to see how this one pans out. RESULTS: Despite some negative reports from spring training, he's been very effective for High-A Myrtle Beach, posting a 2.84 ERA with a 58/24 K/BB in 73 inning with 67 hits allowed. He could get to Double-A later this summer.
Navery Moore, RHP, Braves: APRIL: Age 22, 14th round pick from Vanderbilt in 2011 but with talent to have gone much higher. Hits mid-90s on his best days and made progress with secondary pitches on way to 3.86 ERA with 84/45 K/BB in 103 innings last season. He closed in college, started in Low-A last year, but has arm to succeed in either role if his command (which can be erratic) holds up. RESULTS: Uninspired performance at High-A Lynchburg, with a 5.06 ERA, 50/28 K/BB in 75 innings, 84 hits. My thinking at this point is that he would do better in the bullpen.
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