2011 Watchlist: RH Relievers

Josh Wilkie Josh Wilkie
DOB: 7/22/84
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 190
Bats: R
Career Stats
Sickels puts it best: “Even after five years of
minor-league success, scouts don’t care much
for Josh Wilkie. He doesn’t throw hard (85-89)
and his best pitch is his changeup. All he does
is throw strikes, collect grounders (2.58
GO/AO last year), and get people out.” His
AAA numbers have been sustained, so it’s
possible that Wilkie will get a chance, albeit
in long/middle relief and with a (very) short
leash, despite a long history of keeping the
ball in the yard (12HR in 309⅓ IP).
Adam Carr Adam Carr
DOB: 4/1/84
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 220
Bats: R
Career Stats
Drafted as a pitcher after a college career
as a hitter, Carr has had a long road to the
40-man roster. After spending ’09 as a starter
in High-A, Carr returned to Harrisburg for
another go ’round and came to camp with a
less-violent delivery that solved his command
issues and enabled him to become a two-
inning man out of the Harrisburg ‘pen and
the closer at Syracuse with a mid-90s FB
and a serviceable slider that he can either
throw for strikes or get hitters to chase.
Cole Kimball Cole Kimball
DOB: 8/1/85
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 225
Bats: R
Career Stats
Like Carr, 2010 was a breakthrough season
for Kimball, culminating in a trip to the
AFL and is now considered a dark horse to
make the big club bullpen out of spring
training. Spent his first three seasons
(06-08) as a starter before moving to the
‘pen in 09, in an apparent effort to learn
how to pitch vs. throw his mid-to-high 90s
heat, refining a mid-80s splitter and a
low-80s curve. Struck out 101 in 79 IP, but
also walked 39, so there’s some concern
that his command issues aren’t fully solved.
Rafael Martin Rafael Martin
DOB: 5/16/84
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 195
Bats: R
Career Stats
Perhaps a sentimental choice because of the
unlikely route
that Martin took to get from
the Mexican League to the Eastern League,
Martin posted a 3.61 ERA as a reliever with
respectable WHIP, BB, and K rates. He turns
27 in May, so with a full season of pro
baseball in the U.S., he’ll be expected to
show more at AAA in ’11.
Elvin Ramirez Elvin Ramirez
DOB: 10/10/87
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 208
Bats: R
Career Stats
Picked up in the Rule 5 draft from the Mets,
Ramirez is the classic gamble that the sudden
uptick in velocity (up to 100 m.p.h) seen in
the DWL and a drop in walks is a lasting
change. The 23-y.o. has appeared in just
three games at AA and has averaged 4.8 BB/9
in six minor-league seasons. A former
starter, Ramirez’s secondary pitches (CV,
CU, SL) are considered mediocre at best.
He’ll have to make the team out of spring
training, as the Mets are unlikely to refuse
him and/or clear waivers.
Rob Wort Rob Wort
DOB: 2/7/89
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 170
Bats: R
Career Stats
Dean Weaver was supposed to be the reliever
to watch in Hagerstown in 2010, but Wort
passed him by and finished up the season in
Potomac.He was on Sickels’s “cutting room
floor” with the abbreviated comment that he
“has potential as a relief sleeper.” In my
limited time seeing him (four appearances),
he showed an odd trend of pitching better
with runners on than the bases empty.
Dean Weaver Dean Weaver
DOB: 5/7/88
Ht. 6′ 4″
Wt. 207
Bats: R
Career Stats
Weaver finished the season strong (five hits,
no runs, five walks, 10K in last 10
appearances), but suffered through a mid-
season slump upon his return from the DL in
June and split time closing with Rob Wort
until Wort was promoted. An FIL invitee,
Weaver is likely to start in Potomac.
Ben Graham Ben Graham
DOB: 11/23/87
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 205
Bats: R
Career Stats
Graham was a two-level pitcher and an
invitee to the Florida Instrux, which puts
him on our watchlist. Graham throws sidearm
and most of his pitches have sharp
movement, except for a floating curve
that’s likely to be abandoned if it hasn’t
already.
Mark Herrera Mark Herrera
DOB: 3/11/90
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 230
Bats: R
Career Stats
Another one of the few bright spots in the
Vermont bullpen, Herrera features a low-90s
fastball and a mid-80s slider. He had a 2.88
ERA in 25 innings at Vermont, which earned
him an invite to the FIL.
Neil Holland Neil Holland
DOB: 8/14/88
Ht. 6′
Wt. 190
Bats: R
Career Stats
Holland was the sole Vermont pitcher named
to the 2010 New York-Penn League All-Star
team. He went 3-1 with three saves in 19
games with a 2.20 ERA, which also earned
him a trip to the FIL. Holland dropped his
arm angle during his college stint at
Louisville, and now throws an 86-88 FB, a
“frisbee” SL, and a CU as a sidearmer.
Wander Suero
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Wander Suero
DOB: 9/15/91
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 175
Bats: R
Career Stats
Suero was an 18-year-old in the DSL who
caught our eye during the process of
writing the season reviews, most notably
for his strikeout rate of 10.2 per 9IP.
Andy Santana
Photo Not Found
Andy Santana
DOB: 12/5/90
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 187
Bats: R
Career Stats
Santana didn’t pitch much in the DSL — just
13 games — but his age (19) and his W-L
record (5-0) not to mention his ERA (1.27)
stood out while I was doing the DSL season
review. Also posted a 1.165 WHIP and had
more innings pitched (28⅓) than hits
allowed (19).

One comment

  1. Wilkamania from last year. Good times. Don’t think he had a good Winter League, though. I thought he was getting close to that call up but a bad close to the year and Joe Bisenius shot the door on him.

    Rafael Martin seems to kind of stalled to me. Syracuse I guess?

    Keep in mind I’m giving these couple of impressions before the scouting reports come up.

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