Watchlist: RH Starters

Paul Demny Paul Demny
DOB: 8/3/89
Ht. 6’2″
Wt. 200
Bats: R
Career Stats
With the trade of Brad Peacock and the
loss of Brad Meyers to the Rule 5 draft,
the 22-year-old Demny is now the top
“northpaw” in the system. Throws mid-90s
heat but has trouble keeping the ball in
the yard (22HR including 4HR in playoffs)
and doesn’t have much in the way of
offspeed stuff.
Alex Meyer Alex Meyer
DOB: 1/3/90
Ht. 6’9″
Wt. 220
Bats: R
Career Stats
Meyer is tall, throws hard, and could be
the RH version of Randy Johnson. He
could also be the next Andrew Brackman.
Like most uber-tall pitchers, repeating
his delivery is the skill he has yet to
master. His stuff (high-90s FB, high-80s SL)
has had scouts in a tizzy for several years
now, despite his mechanical flaws. Should
he fail as a starter, scouts believe he
could still succeed as a reliever, likening
him to Daniel Bard.
Wirkin Estevez Wirkin Estevez
DOB: 3/15/92
Ht. 6’1″
Wt. 170
Bats: R
Career Stats
“For The Weekend” skipped the GCL after
leading the ’10 DSL Nats in wins, starts,
and strikeouts. Hit and K ratios weren’t
special, but showed a knack for keeping
the ball down (1.33 GO/AO) and in the
yard (2HR in 67⅓IP). At 20, it’s hard to
call if he’ll go to Hagerstown or repeat
Auburn in ’12.
Taylor Hill Taylor Hill
DOB: 3/12/89
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 233
Bats: R
Career Stats
Hill began the season in the ‘pen and
finished in the rotation for Auburn, posting
a losing record (0-2) but strong peripherals
(0.9BB, 7.8K, 9:1) in limited innings. Throws
a SI/SL/CH combo and gets a lot of
grounders. Current velo 88-92, but scouts
like his size and believe there’s room for
improvement.
Brian Dupra Brian Dupra
DOB: 12/15/88
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 205
Bats: R
Career Stats
Dupra seems to have “figured it out” in ’11,
his senior year with Notre Dame after
three unimpressive seasons prior,
dropping from a 6+ to a 3.11 ERA. Throws
mid-90s heat, but as seen firsthand,
inconsistent offspeed stuff. Some scouts
say he’ll profile better as a middle-to-
long reliever

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Nathan Karns
DOB: 11/25/87
Ht. 6’5″
Wt. 230
Bats: R
Career Stats
The ’09 twelth-rounder finally took the hill
in ’11, overpowering GCL bats with 26K in
18⅔IP before making eight starts for
Auburn, where he was more human (3.44
ERA) and much more wild (6.6BB/9). Prior
to 2010 shoulder surgery, he was throwing
low-90s heat along with a CV and a CH.
Would not surprise me if he started in ’11
primarily to prove his health before
moving to the bullpen in ’12.
Manny Rodriguez Manny Rodriguez
DOB: 1/12/89
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 205
Bats: R
Career Stats
Another Sickels pre-draft favorite,
Rodriguez is a converted position player
(3B) that can bring the heat. The what-
if is obviously whether or not he can
master his secondary pitches before the
metaphorical clock runs out on him.

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Gilberto Mendez
DOB: 11/17/92
Ht. 6′
Wt. 165
Bats: R
Career Stats
Another ’11 IFA, Mendez dominated in the
DSL, posting a 7-0 record with 66K in
65⅔IP as an 18-y.o. His 1.142WHIP was
the best among the starting pitchers for
the D-Nats.

No Photo Found
Ivan Pineyro
DOB: 9/29/91
Ht. 6’1″
Wt. 198
Bats: R
Career Stats
Pineyro led the D-Nats staff in GS, IP, and
Ks as a 19-year-old in his first pro season.
Second to Mendez in WHIP with a mark of
1.191 while posting a 2.20ERA.

3 Responses to Watchlist: RH Starters

  1. James says:

    RHSP…now the weakness of the minors without Cole? I’d say so.

    • Luke Erickson says:

      I’m more worried about the lack of viable shortstops — nearly everyone has a “if they can stick” caveat.

      • James says:

        My guess is nearly every system has a lack of viable shortstops though. Good MLB shortstops are just so hard to come by. Right handed arms on the other hand seem to be about 40% of major league drafts.

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