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Yunesky Maya DOB: 8/28/81 Ht. 5′ 11″ Wt. 170 Bats: Right Career Stats |
Like it or not, Yunesky Maya bears the burden of being the first significant IFA since the scandal that forced out Jim Bowden and his success will forever be judged through that prism. Pedestrian in five Sept. starts, the hope is that Maya will regain his low-90s fastball. For now, his 72-82 curve is his best pitch and he’ll use his 83-87 change and his 82-85 slider to add or subtract speed. |
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Brad Peacock DOB: 2/2/88 Ht. 6′ 1″ Wt. 175 Bats: R Career Stats |
As a former SS, Peacock’s arm has always been a strength but in 2010, he seemed to turn it up a notch and was hitting 95 most nights I saw him pitch. Early in the season, he piled up the strikeouts, but it wasn’t until he mastered his breaking pitches (change and knuckle-curve) that he could pitch past the fifth and start to get noticed outside this space. He pitched in relief in the AFL, which has led to some speculation about his future, but he’s likely to start the 2011 season in the Harrisburg rotation. |
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Ryan Tatusko DOB: 3/27/85 Ht. 6′ 5″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
Picked up at the trade deadline from Texas, Tatusko and his “trademate” Tanner Roark helped pitch the Sens into the E.L. playoffs, elevating his fastball from the 93-94 range to as high as 97 m.p.h. His secondary pitches aren’t as advanced (though scouts believe his slider could improve) which could mean a trip to the bullpen, but he’s likely to begin 2011 in the Syracuse rotation. |
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Tanner Roark DOB: 10/5/86 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 220 Bats: R Career Stats |
Acquired in the Guzman trade, Roark is described by John Sickels as a finesse pitcher, though he’ll occasionally break 90. Mixes in changeup and curve (both solid) and consistently throws strikes (2.2BB/9 for Harrisburg, 3.1 for career). Has started, relieved, and finished games, which could earn him a cup of coffee a la Craig Stammen. |
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Brad Meyers DOB: 9/13/85 Ht. 6′ 6″ Wt. 195 Bats: R Career Stats |
Injuries limited Meyers to just six starts in 2010, and a second foot surgery this past fall could slow or delay his 2011 season. His stellar 2009 season (11-3, 1.72) keeps him on the radar, as does his classic four-pitch arsenal (FB, CU, SL, CH) that scouts describe as polished, pointing to the deception created by his long and lean frame. If/when he gets healthy, he’s a good bet to see time in the Syracuse rotation. |
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Marcos Frias DOB: 12/19/88 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Career Stats |
The 2010 season was the tale of two pitchers. Prior to his stint in the GCL, he was a prototypical raw thrower that had difficulty getting through the lineup twice, let alone three times. After, he was sharper, stronger and just plain better, winning his last two regular-season starts and both playoff starts against the league’s top two offensive teams. |
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Trevor Holder DOB: 1/8/87 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 185 Bats: R Career Stats |
Holder gambled on himself by turning down Florida after after his junior year at Georgia in ’08, but was hit hard in his first pro season in ’09 as fatigue set in from trying to pitch at the 91-94 range after throwing 88-92 the year before. Scouts noted the uptick in velocity was at the expense of movement. In 2010, Holder reset the pitch and regained both its sink and his confidence. Lacking a plus pitch, he’s projected as a long reliever but will likely start 2011 in the Harrisburg rotation. |
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Pat Lehman DOB: 10/18/96 Ht. 6′ 3″ Wt. 210 Bats: R Career Stats |
Lehman was a Sickels sleeper prior to the 2010 season, citing his plus slider and above- average command shown in 2009 at Vermont and Hagerstown. The long ball was Lehman’s weakness, with 14 given up in 97⅓ innings. However, he still managed to strike out better than a batter per inning. Likely to repeat at Potomac in 2011. |
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Paul Demny DOB: 8/3/89 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
Demny has the stuff that can make you say “wow,” but struggles with his control enough to negate it. He’s started 50 games for Hagerstown over the past two seasons and both our spies and Sickels wonder if a switch to the bullpen might be in order. |
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A.J. Cole DOB: 1/5/92 Ht. 6′ 4″ Wt. 180 Bats: R Career Stats |
Sickness, a slow start, and signability issues dropped Cole’s stock in his senior year, though he signed for $2M — a record for the 4th round. His fastball, which had dropped into the 80s during the spring, was clocked at 93 in the FIL, not far from the 95-97 range it had been in 2009. He’s expected to return to that speed as he matures, complementing the heat with an 11-5 “spike” curve and a changeup. Expected to begin 2011 at Low-A Hagerstown. |
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Taylor Jordan DOB: 1/17/89 Ht. 6′ 3″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Career Stats |
While he didn’t appear to be throwing that hard the night I saw him in Burlington in June 2010, Sickels says he can throw up to 95 mph with sink, citing a 2.05 GO/AO ratio. Needs to improve command and improve secondary pitches (that I did see). Could be a two-level pitcher in 2011 (A- and A+). |
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Tyler Hanks DOB: 3/19/90 Ht. 6′ 2″ Wt. 205 Bats: R Career Stats |
Probably most famous for his status as teammate of Bryce Harper at the College of Southern Nevada. Throws mid-90s heat with sink, similar to Jordan and a slightly better GO/AO ratio (2.32). Sickels says his slider needs work, the development of which could dictate his long-term role as a starter or a reliever. |
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Wirkin Estevez DOB: 3/15/92 Ht. 6′ 1″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Estevez led the GCL Nats in wins (6), games started (14), strikeouts (95) and was second in innings pitched as an 18-year-old. His 1.31 BB/9 was ninth-best in the league. A likely candidate to pitch in the GCL. |
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Anthony Marcelino DOB: 1/21/93 Ht. 6′ 3″ Wt. 175 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Marcelino split time between starting and relieving but still put up good numbers overall, with a 3.20 ERA (league average 3.37) and a 1.200 WHIP despite a high walk rate (4.0). A low strikeout rate (4.8) and 13WP in just 45 innings leads me to believe he’s likely to return to the DSL to improve his control. |
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Sue, reading your writup of Michael Allen…………. Paul Menhart @ Potomac really is the magic-man isn’t he?
I’ll bet he’s way underpaid relative to his value to a franchise.