'Under the Radar' Minor League Breakout Candidates 2011 (NL Position Players)

posted 4/6/11 3:01 PM PST
by Marc Hefferan

*Players considered to be 'under the radar' are in AA or lower and not ranked by Baseball America as a top 10 prospect or by Baseball Prospectus as a top 11 prospect in their respective organization.

NL EAST
Atlanta Braves
David Rohm, OF (Lo-A Rome) 2010 stats: .319 BA, HR, 24 RBI, 9 2B, 3B, 11 BB, 16 K, 3 SB in 36 games (Rookie Level)

In the past two seasons, the Braves have been graced with two gifted homegrown athletes in Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman. With Atlanta shoring up the right side of the field for years to come, Rohm would eventually love to create a good problem for Atlanta to have. Last year's 9th round pick out of Fresno Community College (CA), Rohm is a 'pure hitter' who can hammer the ball to all parts of the field. The 21 year-old carries a compact swing and should eventually turn doubles into home runs. Not a burner on the base paths, he shows above average speed for his 6-3, 215 lb frame and is an average defender with plenty of room to improve in the outfield after playing first base in college. He'll start the season with Lo-A Rome.

Florida Marlins

Kyle Jensen, OF 2010 stats: .272 BA, 18 HR, 86 RBI, 26 2B, 45 BB, 119 K, 5 SB in 125 games (Lo-A)

Having filled their system with slick middle infielders and power pitchers in previous drafts, the Marlins went looking for power bats and found one in Jensen. Drafted in the 12th Round out of St. Mary’s College in 2009, Jensen showcased his tremendous power in 2010 with 26 doubles and 18 home runs in his first full big league season. For his size (6-4, 230 lbs), he displays excellent speed and has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60 yd dash. Like any power hitter, Jensen has holes in his swing and will strike out a lot. With a 2.6 K/BB ratio, Jenson needs improved plate discipline while learning to lay off pitches out of the strike zone. He has played both OF corners but seems more suited for LF due to an average arm. He'll get his first shot at the Hi-A level in 2011 with the Jupiter Hammerheads.

New York Mets
Tillman Pugh, OF 2010 stats: .230 BA, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 4 2B, 3B, 15 BB, 16 K, 6 SB in 23 games (Rookie Level)

Pugh was drafted in the 16th round of the 2009 draft but declined to sign, instead opting to stay in school another year while admitting that he didn't feel he was ready to play pro ball. Much to the Mets' benefit, they selected the right-handed hitting outfielder in the 15th round of the 2010 draft. Pugh missed the first five weeks of his inaugural season after being struck in the face in his very first professional plate appearance. A highlight reel defender and pure raw physical athlete, the 22 year-old is an emerging hitter with blazing speed and above-average plate discipline. Although Pugh didn't hit much in his debut, his status as an elite center fielder in the system could soar with a full season to display his talents.

Philadelphia Phillies
Gauntlett Eldemire, OF 2010 stats: Did not play

Seldom does a player without a professional plate appearance catch my eye or grab my attention. The 'Under the Radar' feature is designed to be stats-driven and we generally don’t base our choices on player projection. However, the pre-season ‘Breakouts’ list allows for an exception to the rule. This leads me to Eldemire. Last year's 6th round pick out of Ohio University, Eldemire didn’t play pro ball in 2010 due to wrist surgery. The 22 year-old, described as a potential gold glover in a wide receiver's body, oozes five-tool potential. Eldemire needs to cut down his strikeouts and polish his base running skills, but his bat has developing loft and his stride is long and increases speed as he goes.

Washinton Nationals
Justin Bloxom, 1B/OF 2010 stats: .309 BA, 11 HR, 70 RBI, 29 2B, 4 3B, 27 BB, 77 K, 10 SB in 104 games (Lo-A)

No stranger to the 'Under the Radar' feature, Bloxom was my June 23rd pick as the UTR hitter of the week. The 22 year-old was on pace for a possible Sally League MVP run when his 2010 season came to an end on August 7th due to a knee injury. Bloxom demonstrates power from both sides of the plate and flashes surprising speed. His overall game projects best at first base or as a strong-armed right fielder. First base has become a positional strength with Chris Marrerro and Ty Moore each cracking several top prospect lists but I feel The switch-hitting first baseman has it in his game to bypass both on the depth chart. He'll likely start the year in Hi-A Potomac.

NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Matt Cerda, 2B/3B 2010 stats: .271 BA, 5 HR, 80 RBI, 21 2B, 6 3B, 68 BB, 68 K, 4 SB in 124 games (Lo-A)

Motivation and inspiration can come from the most unlikely source. In the case of Cerda, one person’s downward spiral can generate another’s uprising. On August 23, 2001 on little league baseball’s biggest stage, the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, the 4’10", 80 lb Oceanside, CA catcher suffered a crushing game-ending strike out. But this wasn’t your ordinary strike out. It came at the hands of then Bronx little league pitching phenom Danny Almonte. Having disappointed his teammates, Cerda’s strikeout was morally crushing. However, Almonte’s glory would soon come to a grinding halt once news broke that the hurler was 2+ years over the legal age limit for little league participants. Immediately, Cerda felt he needed justification. The spark plug infielder spent the next several years trying to prove that he was worthy. The Chicago Cubs drafted the now 5’9", 175 lb Cerda in the 4th round of the 2008 draft. As gritty and hardworking as they come, the left-handed hitter has superior plate discipline, good speed, and the defense to keep others in the organization looking over their shoulder. At only 20 years old, Cerda is set to play with Hi-A Daytona in 2011.

Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Dailey, IF 2010 stats: Did not play

As I stated earlier with my Phillies' choice of Eldemire, I rarely step away from the stat base of the 'Under the Radar Feature' criteria and choose a kid that I simply have a gut feeling about. Nevertheless, going by gut instinct occasionally garners the best result. Dailey is another one of those players. Listed at 5’10" and 170 lbs, Dailey is a born leader on the field with speed on the base paths and aggressiveness at the plate. Scouts consider the right-handed hitter an above-average athlete with a collection of skills unmatched in the system from a 19 yr old.  He is a superior defender with soft hands and a strong arm. Drafted in the 34th Round in 2010, the Reds hope that their small investment can reap huge awards.

Houston Astros

Jordan Scott, OF 2010 stats: .301 BA, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 6 2B, 2 3B, 14 BB, 33 K, 6 SB in 42 games (Rookie Level)

With a new emphasis on drafting athletes, Scott fits exceptionally well within this plan. A 14th round draft choice in 2010, Scott had a positive debut although he'll still need to cut down on the strikeouts and get better reads on the base paths to utilize his stolen base speed. The 19 year-old played mostly in left field last season but has the speed and arm to be a quality center fielder. Houston will be patient with this potential five-tool prospect so he won't open up with a full-season squad in 2011.

Milwaukee Brewers

Sean Halton, 1B 2010 stats: .280 BA, 10 HR, 88 RBI, 21 2B, 33 BB, 102 K in 127 games (Hi-A/Lo-A)

To even the casual minor league baseball fan, it remains no secret that the Milwaukee Brewers bear one of the lowest rated farm systems in the game. Hopefully, Halton can help. A 13th round selection out of NAIA powerhouse Lewis and Clark State (ID) in 2009, the 23 year old brings enormous size and epic power to a position that could very well be up for grabs if All-Star Prince Fielder decides to leave via free agency. The 6’5", 240 lb Halton probably will never be a gold glove winner, but he provides adequate defense at both first base and the outfield. The Brewers have advanced Halton two levels in each of his first two seasons. His 3:1 K:BB rate is normal for a ‘light tower’ power hitter, but strangely, Halton seemed to defy the odds with an increase in batting average and OBP after both '09 and '10 promotions. The right-handed batter is set to start the season in Double-A Huntsville and could put himself on the team's radar with another big season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Jarek Cunningham, 2B 2010 stats: .258 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 37 2B, 7 3B, 30 BB, 132 K, 11 SB in 121 games (Lo-A)

If there was an 'Under the Radar' Comeback Player of the Year award, Cunningham would be my unanimous choice. After missing his entire high school senior season due to a knee injury, Cunningham fell heavily down draft boards. The Pirates took a chance, luring him away from an ASU commitment and making him their 18th round draft choice in 2008. Cunningham’s debut was stellar, batting .318/.385/.507. But in spring training of 2009, Cunningham reinjured his ACL and missed the entire season. The right-handed batter finally played a full season in 2010 with Lo-A West Virginia, garnering mixed reviews with both his bat and defense. He showed impressive pop at the plate, feasting on fastballs early in the count, but bailed on breaking balls with an unwillingness to take walks. When he connects, the ball drives off his bat. With fringy defense, however, it’s hard to say where the Pirates may place the 6’1", 185 pounder. In 2011, Cunningham needs to prove he still has the highest ceiling of any infelder deep within the system.

St Louis Cardinals
Matt Adams, 1B 2010 stats: .310 BA, 22 HR, 88 RBI, 41 2B, 33 BB, 78 K, 5 SB in 121 games (Lo-A)

On a few occasions last season, I stepped a little to the left and revealed a somewhat sentimental side when discussing Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams. Adams is a native of Philipsburg, PA and graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola Area HS. It is the same high school and neighborhood where fellow 'Under the Radar' contributor Jim Brown and I grew up together. Am I biased? Sure, but Adams didn’t make my choice a difficult one. After leading the nation in hitting with a .495 average for Division II Slippery Rock (PA), the Cardinals got a steal when they drafted Adams in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft. A converted catcher, Adams is a solid defender and has played first base exclusively. The 22 year old is blessed with a superior bat and will have his share of strike outs but his walks should increase and he is a rare swing and miss. Adams spent all of 2010 in Hi-A Quad Cities, crushing 22 home runs with a slash line of .310/.355/.541. With the Pujols contract looming, now is the time for Adams to make St Louis’s decision on Pujols just a little complicated. Adams could see an aggressive push in 2011 with a start in Double-A Springfield.

NL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks
David Nick, 2B 2010 stats: .251 BA, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 22 2B, 7 3B, 41 BB, 97 K, 12 SB in 128 games (Lo-A)

After being lauded for his bat and defensive prowess, the Diamondbacks heavily targeted Nick before drafting him out of Cypress High (CA) in the 4th round of the 2009 draft. Nick brings to the table an unconventional swing and unique defense that some say should be left alone because he has made it work. Others feel that Nick’s game and habits could be easily exposed as he reaches higher levels. In 2010, the 6’2", 175 lb Nick leapfrogged Short-Season Yakima with an assignment to Lo-A South Bend. His overall stats declined, but the organization wasn’t deterred and wanted to continue pushing the tenacious 20 year-old. The right-handed batter has baseball intellect well beyond his years and with Kelly Johnson’s future uncertain after 2011, Nick’s path to Arizona is clear. He'll begin the season with Hi-A Visalia and could reach Double-A Mobile before long.

Colorado Rockies
Rafael Ortega, OF 2010 stats: .358 BA, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 17 2B, 3 3B, 28 BB, 42 K, 23 SB in 71 games (Short-Season)

The Rockies' success scouting the international market has been very well documented. With the organization littered with encouraging youngsters, none may hold more promise than Ortega. A 16 year-old international signee out of Venezuela in 2008, Ortega played the ’08 and ’09 seasons in the Dominican Summer League and showed that Colorado’s investment was wise. His two seasons saw a combined slash line of .300/.372/.375 with 56 stolen bases. Playing center field and batting leadoff for Short-Season Casper in 2010, Ortega's game took off. He hit .358 with 7 HRs and 23 SBs and finished the season ranked in the Pioneer League top 10 in seven statistical categories. His tall thin frame allows for plenty of room to grow. The 19 year-old has an off-the-charts motor and has been praised for his capacity to learn, his desire for the game, and his passion to win. If he doesn't start the season with Lo-A Asheville, he should get there eventually in 2011.

Los Angeles Dodgers
J.T. Wise, C 2010 stats: .309 BA, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 23 2B, 26 BB, 61 K in 86 games (Lo-A)

After the 2008 trade of catcher Carlos Santana, the Dodgers were in need of some organizational catching depth and drafted Wise in the 5th Round in the 2009 draft. A good defender with superior arm strength, throwing out 38% of base stealers, the 24 year-old also impressed with the bat in his first full big league season. Wise’s K/BB rate could improve and he’s slow on the base paths, but he displays plus power with good contact. With no real star catcher in the system, a solid season in Hi-A Rancho Cucamonga could make Wise the premiere minor league catcher the Dodgers so desperately need.

San Diego Padres

Jonathan Galvez, SS 2010 stats: .259 BA, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 19 2B, 3 3B, 58 BB, 121 K, 18 SB in 114 games (Lo-A)

Signed as a 16 year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, the Padres felt Galvez had the potential to have a solid bat that would eventually produce power.  Playing at times against competition 3-4 yrs older than he was, Galvez put up impressive offensive numbers during his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League. His defense, however, showed holes as he committed a combined 26 errors at SS and 2B. Galvez hit .259 with 10 HRs and 18 SBs as a 19 year-old with Lo-A Fort Wayne but again, his defense was shoddy. At this point in his development, the right-handed hitter projects as an offensive second baseman due to his aggressive approach and physical tools. The Padres will continue to be aggressive with the youngster as he's ticketed for Hi-A Lake Elsinore. 

San Francisco Giants
Chris Lofton, OF 2010 stats: .268 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 5 2B, 2 3B, 22 BB, 41 K, 15 SB in 52 games (Short-Season)

Most multi-sport athletes bask in the option of choosing their path to bigger and better things. The San Francisco Giants are glad that Lofton chose them. A 9th round draft choice out of Jones County Community College in the 2010 draft, Lofton opted to sign with the Giants despite signing a letter of intent to play cornerback for the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Lofton is a superior athlete and the Giants envision him utilizing his explosive speed in center field and on the base paths. He was drafted with a questionable bat but surprised at Short-Season Salem-Keizer with a .268 average, 2 HRs and 15 SBs. The Giants rated recent 1st round draft choice Gary Brown and Lofton as the best athletes in their system heading into the 2011 season. Lofton’s lefty bat and defensive skills give him the chance to become a paramount center fielder. A possible assignment to Lo-A Augusta should test the young speedster in 2011.

Click HERE to see the 'Under the Radar' NL Minor League Breakout Candidates 2011 (Pitchers)

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