 |
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. |
 |
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 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 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 |
 No Photo Found |
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 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. |
No Photo Found |
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. |
RHSP…now the weakness of the minors without Cole? I’d say so.
I’m more worried about the lack of viable shortstops — nearly everyone has a “if they can stick” caveat.
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.