Tweet
It was 91 degrees at 6:45pm when I pulled into Hammond Stadium for tonight's game between Jupiter and Ft. Myers. Luckily the overcast skies shielded me from the sun for most of the game. If you've been following the minor leagues, you'll know that Jupiter is not good; worst team in the Florida State League, in fact. That didn't stop a number of scouts from attending tonight's game in advance of the trade deadline. I noticed one scout from the Mariners, and another wearing what looked like a World Series ring. That scout left after 3 1/2 innings, either seeing everything he wanted to see or relocating to the air conditioned press box. Familiar face Danny Black, who played in the Marlins organization from 2010-2015, was the third base coach for the Hammerheads, who are managed this season by Todd Pratt.
Last year's report from July can be found here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-7-31
CF Jhonny Santos (Signed as a free agent, July 2, 2013; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Santos appeared in the game I wrote up last year that can be found at the above link. He was not as successful tonight as he was in that game, but he did go 1-4 with a walk. He grounded out twice and flied out, and didn't appear to be as fast as I expected; despite hitting leadoff, he has stolen just two bases this season. He did reach on an infield single when the first baseman was playing him way off the bag; Santos hit it to him and beat the pitcher covering first. His walk was on a 100-mph, 3-2 offering from Johan Quezada with two outs in the ninth. Santos showed good skills tracking balls in center.
2B Riley Mahan (3rd Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A+ Jupiter): Mahan is repeating the High-A level, at least for now, though he has shown across-the-board statistical improvement compared to 2017. He was the best hitter in the lineup tonight, going 3-5 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout. Mahan, a lefty, keeps his hands low in a slightly open stance. He's got a good body but thin legs. Two of his hits went the other way, while his third was a line-drive double down the right field line over the head of the first baseman. He lost his bat on a swing in the 8th, the second Hammerhead to do that in the game (blame the humidity?). He ended the game striking out on a high fastball.
C Nick Fortes (4th Round Pick, 2018; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins, A- Batavia, and A Greensboro): Another high pick in Jupiter, Fortes stands with a slightly open stance, hands high over his back shoulder. He was 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout. His KS was on an offspeed pitch (a theme of the night) in which he lost his bat in the process of the swing. He flew out and grounded out 5-3. Defensively, he allowed a stolen base with an inaccurate throw. Ft. Myers ran often on Fortes and Jordan Holloway; Fortes has allowed 37 stolen bases this season and caught 16.
1B Lazaro Alonso (Signed as a free agent, September 5, 2016; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Alonso was DH last year when I attended this match-up. He looked more decisive at the plate this year. He went 1-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. A beefy lefty with an open stance, he double to deep left for an RBI in the first inning. Alonso squared up on the pitch beautifully; it made a wonderful sound. He really steps in the bucket on the pitch when he's at the dish. His swing can still be out of control at times. Even his ground outs sounded good off the bat.
3B James Nelson (15th Round Pick, 2016; spent 2018 with A+ Jupiter): Nelson is another prospect repeating this level. Unlike Mahan, it's not going well. He was 0-4 with a strikeout and is still on the interstate when it comes to his batting average. He keeps his hands out away from his body before bringing them in on the pitch as what appears to be a timing mechanism. He K'd looking on an offspeed pitch. He had a bad swing on an offspeed pitch in his second at-bat that ended in a 6-4 fielder's choice. The infield played him up the middle. He couldn't beat out a dribbler in front of the plate in what was his best chance to get a base hit.
RF Isael Soto (Signed as a free agent, July 19, 2013; spent 2018 with A Greensboro): Soto is slowly climbing his way up the ranks of Miami's minor leagues, having started out as a 17 year-old in the Gulf Coast League in 2014. He went 0-2 with a run and two walks. Soto stands straight up in the box. The defense played him on the edge of the grass at third base, either expecting a bunt or just that he would go the other way as a lefty. He did ground out sharply to third, as well as hit into a 4-6-3 double-play. He walked in the 7th and 9th. On D, he misplayed a line-drive, but dove to make the catch.
LF Angel Reyes (Signed as a free agent, June 2, 2019; played for Lincoln and Wichita in the Independent League American Association in 2018; has also appeared for Sussex County in the Independent League Can-Am Association in 2019): It's been a strange journey for the Venezuelan Reyes. Originally signed by the Marlins as a catcher in 2012, he worked his way up to Jupiter in 2017. In the last week, he was rescued from independent ball for another go-round. Now an outfielder, after transitioning from catcher to second base, Reyes went 2-4. He had a good swing in flying out to deep left after fouling off a few two-strike pitches early in the game. He singled twice in the hole between third and short. Reyes showed a good, accurate arm in left making for a close play at the plate.
DH Michael Donadio (30th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A- Batavia and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Clinton in 2019): Donadio, listed as a left fielder, was 1-4 with a strikeout. A lefty, he gets into a pretty deep squat while standing close to the plate. He struck out swinging on an offspeed pitch; he tried to hold up but couldn't. He also grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, getting up the line quickly to make it close. His single was of the line-drive variety to right field. The last out he made was a pop-up that the pitcher fielded, though it almost went over his head as he called off the third baseman with no outs and runners on second and third in in the 9th inning.
SS Gunnar Schubert (28th Round Pick, 2018; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins, A- Batavia, A Greensboro, and A+ Jupiter): Across four levels last year, Schubert played no less than eight with a team and no more than 17. So his time was spread pretty equally. Schubert was 0-4 with an RBI and a strikeout, another one whose average is just below the Mendoza Line. A red-head (hey, this is a COMPREHENSIVE scouting report) with a bubble butt (again, COMPREHENSIVE), Schubert was the rare one to strike out on a fastball. He grounded out three times, once resulting in an RBI. There were lots of swings and misses from him. He showed good awareness defensively.
SP Jordan Holloway (20th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins and A- Batavia): Much has been made of Holloway's comeback from Tommy John surgery and his stats thus far this year point to it being a success. But success eluded him tonight, as he took the loss. His line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, two home runs allowed. And it seemed worse than that. Holloway's fastball reached 98, but was mostly in the 95-97 range. He also had a similar pitch that was 90-91. His offspeed was 82-85 for a nice speed difference. Holloway's wind-up is nearly from the stretch, though he takes a step back as he stands perpendicular to the plate. He has a clean delivery and good size (6'6", 215 lbs). He pitches downhill with force. The first home run was on a 97 mph fastball; he just wasn't missing many bats with his pitches. And there were some hard hits off him. Holloway works quickly with no one on. He didn't get his offspeed over consistently for strikes and got deep into counts too often (90 pitches in five innings). He did get more swings and misses as the night progressed. The second HR was on a hanging breaking ball. The umpire appeared to have a small strike zone for both sides.
RP Colton Hock (4th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A Greensboro): Hock surrendered three earned runs on three hits in one inning of work, walking one and striking out two. His fastball was 92-93 with a high of 95. It looked like he had a slider at 82 mph-ish and a curve at 78 mph that caused at leas one hitter to buckle at the knees. The final strikeout was on a beauty of a curve too, so he has a nice one when he can harness it. Hock goes from the wind-up and puts his head down a bit when bringing his knee up. Another good-sized pitcher (6'4", 220 lbs). His first strikeout was on some high heat at 94 mph. He's not afraid to pitch inside but in this inning, he missed all over the place: High, low, inside, and outside.
RP Vincenzo Aiello (28th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Aiello threw just 14 pitches in his two innings of work, striking out two. He tossed a lot more offspeed pitches than the previous two pitchers, with his fastball between 92 and 94, and an 84-85 mph offspeed pitch. He has just decent size, at least, compared to the other two. He comes to the plate from a closed stretch. There's a bit of deception in his delivery and he stiffens the front leg when extending toward home. His pitches got a number of Miracle players to chase out of the strike zone, something neither Holloway nor Hock did regularly.
I probably won't make it to game two or three of this series, but will try to get to at least one more when Jupiter comes around again later in the summer.
Last year's report from July can be found here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-7-31
CF Jhonny Santos (Signed as a free agent, July 2, 2013; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Santos appeared in the game I wrote up last year that can be found at the above link. He was not as successful tonight as he was in that game, but he did go 1-4 with a walk. He grounded out twice and flied out, and didn't appear to be as fast as I expected; despite hitting leadoff, he has stolen just two bases this season. He did reach on an infield single when the first baseman was playing him way off the bag; Santos hit it to him and beat the pitcher covering first. His walk was on a 100-mph, 3-2 offering from Johan Quezada with two outs in the ninth. Santos showed good skills tracking balls in center.
2B Riley Mahan (3rd Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A+ Jupiter): Mahan is repeating the High-A level, at least for now, though he has shown across-the-board statistical improvement compared to 2017. He was the best hitter in the lineup tonight, going 3-5 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout. Mahan, a lefty, keeps his hands low in a slightly open stance. He's got a good body but thin legs. Two of his hits went the other way, while his third was a line-drive double down the right field line over the head of the first baseman. He lost his bat on a swing in the 8th, the second Hammerhead to do that in the game (blame the humidity?). He ended the game striking out on a high fastball.
C Nick Fortes (4th Round Pick, 2018; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins, A- Batavia, and A Greensboro): Another high pick in Jupiter, Fortes stands with a slightly open stance, hands high over his back shoulder. He was 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout. His KS was on an offspeed pitch (a theme of the night) in which he lost his bat in the process of the swing. He flew out and grounded out 5-3. Defensively, he allowed a stolen base with an inaccurate throw. Ft. Myers ran often on Fortes and Jordan Holloway; Fortes has allowed 37 stolen bases this season and caught 16.
1B Lazaro Alonso (Signed as a free agent, September 5, 2016; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Alonso was DH last year when I attended this match-up. He looked more decisive at the plate this year. He went 1-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. A beefy lefty with an open stance, he double to deep left for an RBI in the first inning. Alonso squared up on the pitch beautifully; it made a wonderful sound. He really steps in the bucket on the pitch when he's at the dish. His swing can still be out of control at times. Even his ground outs sounded good off the bat.
3B James Nelson (15th Round Pick, 2016; spent 2018 with A+ Jupiter): Nelson is another prospect repeating this level. Unlike Mahan, it's not going well. He was 0-4 with a strikeout and is still on the interstate when it comes to his batting average. He keeps his hands out away from his body before bringing them in on the pitch as what appears to be a timing mechanism. He K'd looking on an offspeed pitch. He had a bad swing on an offspeed pitch in his second at-bat that ended in a 6-4 fielder's choice. The infield played him up the middle. He couldn't beat out a dribbler in front of the plate in what was his best chance to get a base hit.
RF Isael Soto (Signed as a free agent, July 19, 2013; spent 2018 with A Greensboro): Soto is slowly climbing his way up the ranks of Miami's minor leagues, having started out as a 17 year-old in the Gulf Coast League in 2014. He went 0-2 with a run and two walks. Soto stands straight up in the box. The defense played him on the edge of the grass at third base, either expecting a bunt or just that he would go the other way as a lefty. He did ground out sharply to third, as well as hit into a 4-6-3 double-play. He walked in the 7th and 9th. On D, he misplayed a line-drive, but dove to make the catch.
LF Angel Reyes (Signed as a free agent, June 2, 2019; played for Lincoln and Wichita in the Independent League American Association in 2018; has also appeared for Sussex County in the Independent League Can-Am Association in 2019): It's been a strange journey for the Venezuelan Reyes. Originally signed by the Marlins as a catcher in 2012, he worked his way up to Jupiter in 2017. In the last week, he was rescued from independent ball for another go-round. Now an outfielder, after transitioning from catcher to second base, Reyes went 2-4. He had a good swing in flying out to deep left after fouling off a few two-strike pitches early in the game. He singled twice in the hole between third and short. Reyes showed a good, accurate arm in left making for a close play at the plate.
DH Michael Donadio (30th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A- Batavia and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Clinton in 2019): Donadio, listed as a left fielder, was 1-4 with a strikeout. A lefty, he gets into a pretty deep squat while standing close to the plate. He struck out swinging on an offspeed pitch; he tried to hold up but couldn't. He also grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, getting up the line quickly to make it close. His single was of the line-drive variety to right field. The last out he made was a pop-up that the pitcher fielded, though it almost went over his head as he called off the third baseman with no outs and runners on second and third in in the 9th inning.
SS Gunnar Schubert (28th Round Pick, 2018; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins, A- Batavia, A Greensboro, and A+ Jupiter): Across four levels last year, Schubert played no less than eight with a team and no more than 17. So his time was spread pretty equally. Schubert was 0-4 with an RBI and a strikeout, another one whose average is just below the Mendoza Line. A red-head (hey, this is a COMPREHENSIVE scouting report) with a bubble butt (again, COMPREHENSIVE), Schubert was the rare one to strike out on a fastball. He grounded out three times, once resulting in an RBI. There were lots of swings and misses from him. He showed good awareness defensively.
SP Jordan Holloway (20th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2018 with GCL Marlins and A- Batavia): Much has been made of Holloway's comeback from Tommy John surgery and his stats thus far this year point to it being a success. But success eluded him tonight, as he took the loss. His line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, two home runs allowed. And it seemed worse than that. Holloway's fastball reached 98, but was mostly in the 95-97 range. He also had a similar pitch that was 90-91. His offspeed was 82-85 for a nice speed difference. Holloway's wind-up is nearly from the stretch, though he takes a step back as he stands perpendicular to the plate. He has a clean delivery and good size (6'6", 215 lbs). He pitches downhill with force. The first home run was on a 97 mph fastball; he just wasn't missing many bats with his pitches. And there were some hard hits off him. Holloway works quickly with no one on. He didn't get his offspeed over consistently for strikes and got deep into counts too often (90 pitches in five innings). He did get more swings and misses as the night progressed. The second HR was on a hanging breaking ball. The umpire appeared to have a small strike zone for both sides.
RP Colton Hock (4th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A Greensboro): Hock surrendered three earned runs on three hits in one inning of work, walking one and striking out two. His fastball was 92-93 with a high of 95. It looked like he had a slider at 82 mph-ish and a curve at 78 mph that caused at leas one hitter to buckle at the knees. The final strikeout was on a beauty of a curve too, so he has a nice one when he can harness it. Hock goes from the wind-up and puts his head down a bit when bringing his knee up. Another good-sized pitcher (6'4", 220 lbs). His first strikeout was on some high heat at 94 mph. He's not afraid to pitch inside but in this inning, he missed all over the place: High, low, inside, and outside.
RP Vincenzo Aiello (28th Round Pick, 2017; spent 2018 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Aiello threw just 14 pitches in his two innings of work, striking out two. He tossed a lot more offspeed pitches than the previous two pitchers, with his fastball between 92 and 94, and an 84-85 mph offspeed pitch. He has just decent size, at least, compared to the other two. He comes to the plate from a closed stretch. There's a bit of deception in his delivery and he stiffens the front leg when extending toward home. His pitches got a number of Miracle players to chase out of the strike zone, something neither Holloway nor Hock did regularly.
I probably won't make it to game two or three of this series, but will try to get to at least one more when Jupiter comes around again later in the summer.
Comment