Tweet
A late rally attempt by Jupiter wasn't enough to thwart Ft. Myers in a game the Hammerheads eventually dropped, 7-4. It was the first game of a three-game set in South Florida. I noted two scouts in attendance, one from the Reds and another from an unidentified team. What follows are my impressions, thoughts, and notes from the game:
CF Jeremias Pineda (Signed as a free agent, March 26, 2016; spent 2015 with Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz of the Mexican League; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2016): Pineda is no stranger to the Twins organization, having played with them from 2012-2014. He was 1-3 with two walks and two strikeouts. Pineda squared to bunt on the first pitch of the game, but ended up striking out looking at a fastball. He attempted a bunt again in the third, but missed. Pineda's base hit in the 5th inning just got under the diving glove of the Ft. Myers SS. He has a decent arm in center - a one-hop throw to first almost doubled up a runner after Pineda grabbed a liner for an out. He gets low in his stance at the plate. Bunting was on his mind again in the 7th, sending one foul before eventually going down swinging on a 96 mph heater.
LF Junior Sosa (Signed as a free agent, November 11, 2015; spent 2015 with A+ Bradenton and AA Altoona in the Pirates organization): Sosa is listed on the roster as a player/coach, and he's been bouncing around the minors since 2008. Sosa was 0-4 with a strikeout. Like Pineda, his strikeout was swinging on a 96 mph fastball. A lefty at the plate, Sosa attempted a drag bunt early on, and when fielded by the catcher, Sosa was hit in the helmet with the throw as he was running to first. He was called out and didn't like the call. He was also credited with a 1-3 sacrifice in the 3rd, a much better bunt. At the plate, Sosa chokes up slightly on the bat.
RF John Norwood (Signed as an undrafted free agent, August 5, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro): Norwood was originally drafted in the 12th round in 2011 by Toronto, but instead went to Vanderbilt. Norwood has climbed the organizational ladder one step each season. Against the Miracle, he was 1-5 with a double, an RBI, and a strikeout. Norwood, as did about three others, wore an ankle brace on his left foot when hitting. He struck out on a weak swing early on an offspeed offering. The Ft. Myers OF played him more straight-away than others in the lineup, which they mostly played to go the other way. In the 3rd inning, the second baseman was actually playing behind the 2B bag defensively with Norwood at bat. He doubled off the wall in right field in the 7th, a hard shot. In the field, it appeared he was slow to reach a base hit between right and center field, allowing a quick Ft. Myers player to stretch what should've been a single into a double.
DH Brad Haynal (18th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A- Batavia): I saw Haynal in Batavia last year (my report on that is here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-6-21). He was 0-5 with two strikeouts. Haynal was robbed of extra bases in the 2nd, on a great leaping catch by the center fielder near the warning track. He's a first-pitch swinger when it's in the area. His strikeouts were on a high fastball in the 3rd and on an offspeed pitch later, both swinging. It's no surprise he has only 12 walks in over 220 plate appearances this season. He didn't show a lot of speed home to first (he's listed as a catcher when not DH'ing). In the 9th, he knocked an offspeed pitch to the wall for a long flyout. At the plate, he stands mostly straight up without much crouch.
1B Taylor Ard (Signed as a free agent, October 5, 2015; spent 2015 with River City of the Frontier League): Ard is another interesting story, having originally been a 7th round pick of the Mariners in 2012. He was crowned Frontier League MVP in 2015 before signing with the Marlins in the offseason. Ard was 2-4 with two runs, a double, a walk, and a strikeout. Ard rocks a bit at the plate and has the look of a power guy (he paces the team with nine home runs). He K'd swinging in the 2nd, completely fooled by an outside corner fastball. He seems to at least think about swinging at almost anything. A fly ball to left field in the 6th popped out of the LF's glove as he tried to catch it on the run; it was somewhat surprisingly credited to Ard as a double. After walking in the ninth, Ard took second on fielder's indifference. He also had a hard base hit up the middle in the 8th.
3B Avery Romero (3rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2015 A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2016): Romero has been on somewhat of a tear lately, picking his average up almost 70 points in the last few weeks. He continued that hot streak on this evening, going 2-4 with a run and a walk. He was in Jupiter last year when I took in a game (report here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-7-21). He played 2B last year, but has played exclusively at 3B with the Hammerheads in 2016. He's built like a middle infielder, though. He showed good plate discipline here, which the stats bear out (just eight strikeouts in 71 at-bats in Jupiter this year). In the 6th, he hit a ball that bounced off the pitcher's hand. His hustle down the line landed him at first when the ball popped out of the first baseman's glove. He singled to left with two strikes in the 8th. Perhaps in an ode to Michael Jackson, he wears all-white batting gloves. Romero was the last out of the game, when a chopper to third led to a 5-3 put-out; Romero wasn't sprinting down the line as he thought it was foul.
C Arturo Rodriguez (Signed as a free agent, January 7, 2015; spent 2015 with A Greensboro; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2016): Rodriguez hit .373 in the Mexican League in 2014, leading to a contract with the Marlins in the winter of '15. He almost looks too big to play catcher at this stage, and had played 1B with Greensboro in 2015. He's been almost exclusively a catcher this year. A-Rod went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. He holds his bat high at the plate. He slapped a ground ball between third and short for a hit in the 2nd inning. A dribbler handled by the shortstop in the 6th earned him an RBI. He had another RBI when a single on a 3-2 count in the 8th. With the game in the balance, he was lifted for a pinch runner.
2B Brian Schales (4th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro): Second baseman Schales was 0-1 with two walks. Despite coming into the game hitting just .212, Schales leads the team in base on balls. Both of his walks were four-pitch at-bats, the second of which chased the Miracle's starter. With two on and two out in the second, he was first pitch swinging, grounding out to third. On defense, he showed good range to stab a sinking liner glove side. He laid down a 5-3 sacrifice bunt in the 8th inning, finally connecting with two strikes after not being able to lay it down on the first two tries.
SS Rehiner Cordova (Signed as an undrafted free agent, November 20, 2010; spent 2015 with GCL Marlins and A+ Jupiter): Cordova began his Marlins career in 2011 in the DSL. It's been a slow climb. He was 1-4 with a run and an RBI, and sports just a .155 average on the season. He keeps the bat on his shoulder pre-swing. His hit was a 3-2 pitch lined into left. With two on and two out and a new pitcher, he swung at the first pitch and lined out to center. He grounded out to third to register an RBI in the 8th. He committed his 10th error of the year early on, jumping for a liner when he didn't need to, causing him to simply drop the ball.
PR Justin Bohn (7th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): Bohn was called upon to pinch run for Rodriguez in the 8th. He ended up getting stranded at second base.
C Chris Hoo (27th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): Hoo came in to catch the 8th inning after Bohn ran for Rodriguez. He got a workout catching Jose Adames, including getting nicked by a few foul balls in his one inning of work.
SP Jorgan Cavanerio (Signed as an undrafted free agent, May 28, 2011; spent 2015 with A Greensboro, A+ Jupiter, and AA Jacksonville): Cavanerio took the loss to lower his record to 6-7. He went 2.2 innings, giving up 5 hits, 4 runs (all earned), walking no one and striking out one. He also allowed two homers. Cavanerio's night ended prematurely when he took a hard liner off his ankle/shin in the 3rd inning. He was in obvious pain and limped off the field. Cavanerio is lanky at 6'1" and just 155 pounds. He pitched from the stretch at all times and works quickly with no one on base. His fastball opened in the 90-91 mph range, but he eventually cranked it up to settle around 93. He steps to the side with his front foot and curls his body back before exploding to the plate. His landing spot was consistent with his left foot. One home run allowed was on a fastball, another on an offspeed pitch. He allowed many hard hits and didn't miss too many bats. He also hit a batter, which led to a visit from the pitching coach in the 2nd.
RP Ben Holmes (9th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2016): The former Ben Holmes-Wetzler is in his first year as a full-time relief pitcher. The lefty was called upon to be the long man here, going 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and striking out one. He replaced Cavanerio with a runner on third and two outs, and the first batter he faced doubled. He comes from high three-quarters and like Jorgan before him, didn't have many swinging strikes. Holmes has a compact delivery and steps to the side in his wind-up. His fastball sat at about 91 and he struggled with his offspeed pitches. In the fourth inning, he wiggled out of a 1st and 2nd, no outs jam by inducing a double play and a ground out. Holmes appears to be predominantly a fly-ball pitcher.
RP Juancito Martinez (Signed as an undrafted free agent, May 1, 2010; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): A converted outfielder, Martinez is still learning the fine art of ball throwing. He pitched a spotless 7th inning here. Martinez comes home from the stretch and his fastball hovered around 90-91, but he got as high as 94. He really rears back to throw, stretching his arm all the way out, but stays balanced. I think he threw all fastballs but one or maybe two.
RP Jose Adames (Signed as an undrafted free agent, November 20, 2010; spent 2015 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Adames pitched one inning, allowing two hits, and two earned runs. He has a live fastball (maybe too live) and a really active curve. It was control with which he had a problem. His fastball was clocked all throughout the 90s, as high as 98. His curveball was around 80 mph and he seemed to go away from it as the inning progressed. He comes from low three-quarters. Adames had the first hitter 0-2 before hitting him on the foot. The next pitch was a fastball to the back of the hitter. With two men on, the hit that chased the runs home came on a flair to right field, with the RF'er playing deep enough to where he couldn't come in and make the diving catch. The pitching coach came out and talked to him at one point, and Adames slammed his glove on the dugout bench in frustration when the inning came to a close.
CF Jeremias Pineda (Signed as a free agent, March 26, 2016; spent 2015 with Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz of the Mexican League; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2016): Pineda is no stranger to the Twins organization, having played with them from 2012-2014. He was 1-3 with two walks and two strikeouts. Pineda squared to bunt on the first pitch of the game, but ended up striking out looking at a fastball. He attempted a bunt again in the third, but missed. Pineda's base hit in the 5th inning just got under the diving glove of the Ft. Myers SS. He has a decent arm in center - a one-hop throw to first almost doubled up a runner after Pineda grabbed a liner for an out. He gets low in his stance at the plate. Bunting was on his mind again in the 7th, sending one foul before eventually going down swinging on a 96 mph heater.
LF Junior Sosa (Signed as a free agent, November 11, 2015; spent 2015 with A+ Bradenton and AA Altoona in the Pirates organization): Sosa is listed on the roster as a player/coach, and he's been bouncing around the minors since 2008. Sosa was 0-4 with a strikeout. Like Pineda, his strikeout was swinging on a 96 mph fastball. A lefty at the plate, Sosa attempted a drag bunt early on, and when fielded by the catcher, Sosa was hit in the helmet with the throw as he was running to first. He was called out and didn't like the call. He was also credited with a 1-3 sacrifice in the 3rd, a much better bunt. At the plate, Sosa chokes up slightly on the bat.
RF John Norwood (Signed as an undrafted free agent, August 5, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro): Norwood was originally drafted in the 12th round in 2011 by Toronto, but instead went to Vanderbilt. Norwood has climbed the organizational ladder one step each season. Against the Miracle, he was 1-5 with a double, an RBI, and a strikeout. Norwood, as did about three others, wore an ankle brace on his left foot when hitting. He struck out on a weak swing early on an offspeed offering. The Ft. Myers OF played him more straight-away than others in the lineup, which they mostly played to go the other way. In the 3rd inning, the second baseman was actually playing behind the 2B bag defensively with Norwood at bat. He doubled off the wall in right field in the 7th, a hard shot. In the field, it appeared he was slow to reach a base hit between right and center field, allowing a quick Ft. Myers player to stretch what should've been a single into a double.
DH Brad Haynal (18th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A- Batavia): I saw Haynal in Batavia last year (my report on that is here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-6-21). He was 0-5 with two strikeouts. Haynal was robbed of extra bases in the 2nd, on a great leaping catch by the center fielder near the warning track. He's a first-pitch swinger when it's in the area. His strikeouts were on a high fastball in the 3rd and on an offspeed pitch later, both swinging. It's no surprise he has only 12 walks in over 220 plate appearances this season. He didn't show a lot of speed home to first (he's listed as a catcher when not DH'ing). In the 9th, he knocked an offspeed pitch to the wall for a long flyout. At the plate, he stands mostly straight up without much crouch.
1B Taylor Ard (Signed as a free agent, October 5, 2015; spent 2015 with River City of the Frontier League): Ard is another interesting story, having originally been a 7th round pick of the Mariners in 2012. He was crowned Frontier League MVP in 2015 before signing with the Marlins in the offseason. Ard was 2-4 with two runs, a double, a walk, and a strikeout. Ard rocks a bit at the plate and has the look of a power guy (he paces the team with nine home runs). He K'd swinging in the 2nd, completely fooled by an outside corner fastball. He seems to at least think about swinging at almost anything. A fly ball to left field in the 6th popped out of the LF's glove as he tried to catch it on the run; it was somewhat surprisingly credited to Ard as a double. After walking in the ninth, Ard took second on fielder's indifference. He also had a hard base hit up the middle in the 8th.
3B Avery Romero (3rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2015 A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2016): Romero has been on somewhat of a tear lately, picking his average up almost 70 points in the last few weeks. He continued that hot streak on this evening, going 2-4 with a run and a walk. He was in Jupiter last year when I took in a game (report here: http://soflamarlins.com/showthread.p...me-Report-7-21). He played 2B last year, but has played exclusively at 3B with the Hammerheads in 2016. He's built like a middle infielder, though. He showed good plate discipline here, which the stats bear out (just eight strikeouts in 71 at-bats in Jupiter this year). In the 6th, he hit a ball that bounced off the pitcher's hand. His hustle down the line landed him at first when the ball popped out of the first baseman's glove. He singled to left with two strikes in the 8th. Perhaps in an ode to Michael Jackson, he wears all-white batting gloves. Romero was the last out of the game, when a chopper to third led to a 5-3 put-out; Romero wasn't sprinting down the line as he thought it was foul.
C Arturo Rodriguez (Signed as a free agent, January 7, 2015; spent 2015 with A Greensboro; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2016): Rodriguez hit .373 in the Mexican League in 2014, leading to a contract with the Marlins in the winter of '15. He almost looks too big to play catcher at this stage, and had played 1B with Greensboro in 2015. He's been almost exclusively a catcher this year. A-Rod went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. He holds his bat high at the plate. He slapped a ground ball between third and short for a hit in the 2nd inning. A dribbler handled by the shortstop in the 6th earned him an RBI. He had another RBI when a single on a 3-2 count in the 8th. With the game in the balance, he was lifted for a pinch runner.
2B Brian Schales (4th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro): Second baseman Schales was 0-1 with two walks. Despite coming into the game hitting just .212, Schales leads the team in base on balls. Both of his walks were four-pitch at-bats, the second of which chased the Miracle's starter. With two on and two out in the second, he was first pitch swinging, grounding out to third. On defense, he showed good range to stab a sinking liner glove side. He laid down a 5-3 sacrifice bunt in the 8th inning, finally connecting with two strikes after not being able to lay it down on the first two tries.
SS Rehiner Cordova (Signed as an undrafted free agent, November 20, 2010; spent 2015 with GCL Marlins and A+ Jupiter): Cordova began his Marlins career in 2011 in the DSL. It's been a slow climb. He was 1-4 with a run and an RBI, and sports just a .155 average on the season. He keeps the bat on his shoulder pre-swing. His hit was a 3-2 pitch lined into left. With two on and two out and a new pitcher, he swung at the first pitch and lined out to center. He grounded out to third to register an RBI in the 8th. He committed his 10th error of the year early on, jumping for a liner when he didn't need to, causing him to simply drop the ball.
PR Justin Bohn (7th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): Bohn was called upon to pinch run for Rodriguez in the 8th. He ended up getting stranded at second base.
C Chris Hoo (27th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): Hoo came in to catch the 8th inning after Bohn ran for Rodriguez. He got a workout catching Jose Adames, including getting nicked by a few foul balls in his one inning of work.
SP Jorgan Cavanerio (Signed as an undrafted free agent, May 28, 2011; spent 2015 with A Greensboro, A+ Jupiter, and AA Jacksonville): Cavanerio took the loss to lower his record to 6-7. He went 2.2 innings, giving up 5 hits, 4 runs (all earned), walking no one and striking out one. He also allowed two homers. Cavanerio's night ended prematurely when he took a hard liner off his ankle/shin in the 3rd inning. He was in obvious pain and limped off the field. Cavanerio is lanky at 6'1" and just 155 pounds. He pitched from the stretch at all times and works quickly with no one on base. His fastball opened in the 90-91 mph range, but he eventually cranked it up to settle around 93. He steps to the side with his front foot and curls his body back before exploding to the plate. His landing spot was consistent with his left foot. One home run allowed was on a fastball, another on an offspeed pitch. He allowed many hard hits and didn't miss too many bats. He also hit a batter, which led to a visit from the pitching coach in the 2nd.
RP Ben Holmes (9th Round Pick, 2014; spent 2015 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2016): The former Ben Holmes-Wetzler is in his first year as a full-time relief pitcher. The lefty was called upon to be the long man here, going 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and striking out one. He replaced Cavanerio with a runner on third and two outs, and the first batter he faced doubled. He comes from high three-quarters and like Jorgan before him, didn't have many swinging strikes. Holmes has a compact delivery and steps to the side in his wind-up. His fastball sat at about 91 and he struggled with his offspeed pitches. In the fourth inning, he wiggled out of a 1st and 2nd, no outs jam by inducing a double play and a ground out. Holmes appears to be predominantly a fly-ball pitcher.
RP Juancito Martinez (Signed as an undrafted free agent, May 1, 2010; spent 2015 with A+ Jupiter and AA Jacksonville): A converted outfielder, Martinez is still learning the fine art of ball throwing. He pitched a spotless 7th inning here. Martinez comes home from the stretch and his fastball hovered around 90-91, but he got as high as 94. He really rears back to throw, stretching his arm all the way out, but stays balanced. I think he threw all fastballs but one or maybe two.
RP Jose Adames (Signed as an undrafted free agent, November 20, 2010; spent 2015 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Adames pitched one inning, allowing two hits, and two earned runs. He has a live fastball (maybe too live) and a really active curve. It was control with which he had a problem. His fastball was clocked all throughout the 90s, as high as 98. His curveball was around 80 mph and he seemed to go away from it as the inning progressed. He comes from low three-quarters. Adames had the first hitter 0-2 before hitting him on the foot. The next pitch was a fastball to the back of the hitter. With two men on, the hit that chased the runs home came on a flair to right field, with the RF'er playing deep enough to where he couldn't come in and make the diving catch. The pitching coach came out and talked to him at one point, and Adames slammed his glove on the dugout bench in frustration when the inning came to a close.