2012 Watchlist: Outfielders

Corey Brown Corey Brown
DOB: 11/26/85
Ht. 6′ 1″
Wt. 205
Bats: L
Throws: L
Career Stats
The lack of OFs at the AAA and MLB
level is what keeps Brown on the watchlist,
as he’s viable candidate to make the club
as 4th OF out of ’12 ST. Hit .287/.363/.434
in the 2nd half, but also had two sub-.600
OPS months (April, July), consistent with
his reputation as streaky and strikeout
prone.
Bryce Harper Bryce Harper
DOB: 10/2/92
Ht. 6′ 3″
Wt. 225
Bats: L
Throws: R
Career Stats
Harper’s strengths are well-documented.
His weaknesses remain on defense (13E in
133G), not a surprise given that ’11 was
his first as a full-time OF. LHPs gave him
trouble in AA, but his splits in the AFL were
nearly identical. Fans may want him on the
2012 Opening Day roster, but the smart
money is on him putting in time at AAA
until June.
Eury Perez Eury Perez
DOB: 5/30/90
Ht. 6′
Wt. 180
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
Defensively, Perez is ready: Takes good
routes, makes accurate throws, etc. The
question is whether or not he can hit when
small-ball is not an option. Needs to
rediscover the art of taking a walk if he’s
to fully exploit his speed and basestealing
skills, both of which are plus.
Destin Hood Destin Hood
DOB: 4/3/90
Ht. 6′ 1″
Wt. 225
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
One of the biggest surprises in ’11, Hood
finally tapped his raw talent and turned it
into some skills: more walks, more steals,
more power. Played RF mostly for the P-
Nats, but is better suited to LF where his
weaknesses (arm, range) are less exposed.
Brian Goodwin Brian Goodwin
DOB: 11/2/90
Ht. 6’1″
Wt. 190
Bats: L
Throws: L
Career Stats
Scouts believe Goodwin has the potential
to have five tools that range from average
to plus. Speed is his strongest tool, but
he’s still learning to employ it on the
basepaths and in CF. The Nats are said to
have spent most of instrux trying to use
his lower half to hit, a common problem
for collegiate batters.
Kevin Keyes Kevin Keyes
DOB: 3/15/89
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 190
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
Was Keyes 2011 season a breakthrough or
merely a matter of getting the metal out
of his swing and getting back into shape?
That’s the question Sickels implies in his
2012 book. Power has been his hallmark
since his freshman year at Texas, but the
scout’s reports worsened each year. Speed,
defense, and contact skills are considered
fringy to below-average but the plus
power is what will push him up the ladder.
Michael Taylor Michael Taylor
DOB: 3/26/91
Ht. 6′ 2″
Wt. 190
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
Converted from SS after the 2010 season,
Taylor is getting a lot of buzz from the
prospect gurus after a strong finish to the
’11 campaign (.291/.351/.498 in the second
half). Defensively, he is raw but scouts like
the potential, noting his speed, range, and
(obviously) the arm. Sickels has him as one
of his sleepers, saying he’s “just scratching
the surface.”
Randolph Oduber Randolph Oduber
DOB: 3/18/89
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 186
Bats: R
Throws: L
Career Stats
Injuries essentially cut his ’11 campaign in
half, so “The Groovin’ Aruban” could be
facing a make-or-break year as a prospect.
Scouts point to his struggles with contact
and plate discipline while praising his
above-average speed and power potential.
Billy Burns Billy Burns
DOB: 8/30/89
Ht. 5’9″
Wt. 180
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
A 32-Rd. pick in the ’11 Draft, Burns makes
it here as one the Auburn Top 5 position
players, i.e. his production. In 130PA, he
put up nos. that validate his reputed
strengths: speed (13SB in 32G), defense
(0E), and plate discipline (.367 OBP).
Caleb Ramsey Caleb Ramsey
DOB: 10/07/88
Ht. 6’2″
Wt. 215
Bats: L
Throws: R
Career Stats
Ramsey makes the cut as an FIL invitee,
but also put up decent numbers (.280/
.362/.347) for Auburn. Like a lot of the
’11 collegiate picks, he’s shown good
defense and good plate discipline. At 23,
he’s going to have to start fast to silence
the doubters.

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Narciso Mesa
DOB: 11/16/91
Ht. 5’11”
Wt. 175
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
Mesa makes the cut as one of the Top 5
on an otherwise abysmal G-Nat team in
2011. He put up a decent .286/.318/.411
line as a 19-y.o., quite the improvement
from his ’10 line of .224/.271/.286, so the
presumption is that there’s something the
Nats see in him that can’t necessarily be
divined from his stats.

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Estarlin Martinez
DOB: 3/8/92
Ht. 6’1″
Wt. 185
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
Four months younger than Mesa, but also
has another year of experience. His 2010
numbers were actually worse than 2009, so
his promotion to the GCL was similarly
unexpected. The #2 G-Nat was also 2nd
in HRs and RBIs to…

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Wander Ramos
DOB: 4/26/90
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 192
Bats: R
Throws: R
Career Stats
…who led the G-Nats with 12HR and 37
RBI. The power surge is tough to explain,
aside from simply repeating the level.
Maybe he can be written off as “too old”
(21), but a .653 SLG in the GCL is tough
to ignore.

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