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Christian Garcia DOB: 8/24/85 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 215 Bats: R Career Stats |
Signed as FA in 2011, Garcia became the reclamation project that will be cited for years, pitching in Harrisburg in April and in D.C. in October. Like Cameron Selik, he’s a converted catcher, but has had two TJs. Throws FB/CH/CV, the heat in mid-90s and a nasty change with late sink. There has been talk of him starting, but his ‘pen usage (B2B app. just five times) says otherwise. |
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Erik Davis DOB: 10/8/86 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
After finishing ’11 with five losses in six starts after being dropped down from AA to High-A, Davis appeared to have maxed out. Switched to relief in 2012, the Stanford grad picked up velocity, improved his control and increased his K rate all at AA, enough to earn both a look-see at AAA and a 40-man spot. Has a FB/KCV/CH combo and profiles as a middle reliever per Sickels. |
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Paul Demny DOB: 8/3/89 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
After spending three years in “A” ball (two in Low-A) working on his command, Demny was given the shot at AA in 2012 but appears to have hit his ceiling as a starter. Five of his last six appearances came out of the ‘pen. His secondary pitches (SL/CV/CH) have been iffy, but a switch to relief should give his FB a bump (already in the 90-95 range) and allow him to shelve one of his weaker pitches. |
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Nathan Karns DOB: 11/25/87 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 230 Bats: R Career Stats |
Readers of this site have heard about him for nearly two years, but for the rest of the Natmosphere, Karns was a bolt from the blue in ’12 — leading the organization in most categories to earn Pitcher of the Year. He features a 92-94 FB that has some sink, a hard low-80s CV and a CH that might be good enough to keep him starting instead of being converted into one of the hard- throwing RHRPs that are coveted in DC. |
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Rob Wort DOB: 2/7/89 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Career Stats |
Wort was an inaugural watchlister, but fell off the list after a lackluster 2011 that saw his ERA double, his BB rate triple. Much has been made about the K rate (15.1) but day- to-day watchers remember the midseason spate of blown saves along with a lot of long counts. But, he does bring the heat (93-95) and has a deceptive motion. |
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Neil Holland DOB: 8/14/88 Ht. 6′ Wt. 190 Bats: R Career Stats |
Thankfully, the P-Nats weren’t slaves to the save, using Holland in various situations. Of course, his penchant for generating GBs (91 in 61⅓IP), not giving up hits (6.5) or walks (2.1) made it easier. A sidearmer with a SK/SL/CH arsenal, tough on RHBs (.195) and keeps the ball in the yard (8HR in 147⅔ IP for his career). |
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A.J. Cole DOB: 1/5/92 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 180 Bats: R Career Stats |
This is the 2nd appearance on the watchlist for the 21-y.o., who was traded for Gio Gonz- alez then re-acquired for Mike Morse. 2012 was a rough one for Cole, getting lit up (7.82 ERA) in High-A Stockton for eight starts be- fore recovering with a 2.07 ERA in 19 starts with Low-A Burlington. Still trying to master his slurve, but his velocity has come back to the mid-90s and the A’s believed that his mechanics had been fixed by year’s end. Look for him to start 2013 in Potomac. |
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Aaron Barrett DOB: 1/2/88 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 215 Bats: R Career Stats |
A 9th-round pick out of “Ole Miss” in 2010, Barrett needed two seasons in the NYPL to work out the kinks but flourished in his first full season, going from Low-A to the AFL. Has a low-90s FB and decent slider, but more im- portantly keeps the ball down and gets a LOT of K’s (12.7/9 in ’12, 11.8 for his career). |
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Brian Rauh DOB: 7/23/91 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
Drafted in the 11th round from Chapman Univ. (CA), Rauh was bumped up midseason from Auburn to Hagerstown after just five appearances. His Suns numbers weren’t, um, scorching (4.76 ERA, 1.361 WHIP) but since promotions have become more scarce, it’s notable when a first-year player is moved up — especially one that turned 21 in July. |
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Pedro Encarnacion DOB: 6/26/91 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 175 Bats: R Career Stats |
Encarnacion was challenged with a jump from the GCL to Hagerstown but was hit hard in his first two starts and eventually sent down to Auburn. His season was uneven for the Doubledays, but like Rauh, it’s worth noting when a young pitcher moves ahead of the usual development path. |
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Will Hudgins DOB: 2/12/90 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
Hudgins parlayed his sole season as a start- ing pitcher for Notre Dame into becoming the 22nd round draft pick for Washington, then pitched well enough in the GCL to earn one of the few in-season promotions. Not much info out there on his velo or stuff, so this is mostly a gut pick. |
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Gilberto Mendez DOB: 11/17/92 Ht. 6′ Wt. 165 Bats: R Career Stats |
Mendez struggled after his late promotion to Auburn, but stays on the watchlist in part because of it. An ’11 IFA, his sopho- more season wasn’t quite as dominant, per- haps because it was his first as a reliever. Still striking out roughly a batter per IP, and it’s probably safe to bet he’ll begin the ’13 season in Auburn. |
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Daury Vasquez DOB: 11/21/92 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Career Stats |
Vasquez was a surprise promotion to the GCL after a pedestrian 2011 season (1-1, 1SV, 4.41ERA, 1.378WHIP) and it was com- pounded by the decision to put him in the G-Nats starting rotation, thus reminding us of the limitations of “scouting by boxscore.” |