Tagged: Arkansas Travelers
2014 Season Preview Series – Mayo Breaks Down The Travs
2014 Season Preview Series
Minor League Baseball fans have MLB Pipeline bookmarked as a great resource for top prospects and insight. Along with Jim Calis, Jonathan Mayo (@JonathnMayoB3) has been one of the best in the business reporting on prospects for years. Travs Talk sat down with Mayo to get his thoughts on the 2014 Arkansas Travelers.
TT: Stating pitching and a deep bullpen – on paper anyway – look like Travs strengths going into the season.
Mark Sappington
JM: Yea especially the bullpen. I thought (Michael) Morin would start the season in Salt Lake City and Triple-A. I think he has a chance to impact the Big League bullpen this year. R.J. Alvarez is another guy who may not be around Little Rock long. If he can tighten up his command he can be a closer for the Angels. It’s going to be interesting how they (Travelers) use them this season whether as a closer or a seventh – eighth inning guy. Mark Sappington has the most upside among the pitchers and maybe of any player on the entire roster. When healthy and i stress when healthy he can be a Major League middle of the rotation guy,
TT: The infield that Manager Phillip Wellman will send out every night is as equally talented and begins with the MLB.com No. 1 Angels prospect Kaleb Cowart.
Kaleb Cowart
JM: It is a very big year for Cowart. He needs to return to the player that he was a couple of seasons ago. When you talk to the Angels front office, they are confident that he will turn it around. His make-up is off the charts. Even while struggling last season he didn’t lose confidence and continued to get better defensively. Remember he’s in Double-A and will be what, 22 in June? Still a very young guy.
TT: The middle of this Arkansas infield can flash some leather and are dangerous on the base paths.
Alex Yarbrough
JM: Eric Stamets and (Alex) Yarbrough are a couple of college guys – Stamets from Evansville and Yarbrough from Ole Miss – with question marks about what they will be. Stamets can really play shortstop and run. His stolen base numbers weren’t that impressive last year (16 stolen bags) but I expect him to run more this year. Yarbrough hits better than his tools say he should. He’s one of the players on this roster that has to prove that he can hit in Double-A and not be a Cal League one-year wonder.
TT: How hard is it for organizations like the Angels to fairly evaluate a big season n a place like Inland Empire?
JM: It’s tough. It’s all about “Let me see him do it again in let’s say Arkansas”. Single-A to Double-A is where you separate guys who can and can not play in the Majors.
TT: I would guess then as we switch to the Travelers outfield that Zach Borenstein is another “show me again” player after a monster power year for the 66ers last season.
JM: He’s really an intriguing player. For a power-hitter who will play left field, you have to be encouraged by his discipline and walk ratio (drew 43 free passes a year ago). If he puts up home run and RBI numbers again this year in the Texas League and n a home park that is pitcher friendly – he will get more mention as a top prospect.
Dave Barr (@daveabarr)
2014 Season Preview Series – Some Names to Remember.
For the past decade, the Texas League has been a pipeline of talent to the Big Leagues – 2014 is no exception.
Here are some names to remember as Opening Day is right around the corner.
Aledmys Diaz – Shortstop – Springfield Cardinals
On March, 9 the Cardinals signed the sweet-swinging Cuban who can play both second base and shortstop to a 4-year, $8 million dollar contract. It as an interesting signing as rookie and former Hammons Field resident Kolten Wong has settled in at second and Jhonny Peralta just inked a four-year deal with the Redbirds.
Jorge Bonifacio – Outfielder – Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The No. 4 prospect of the Kansas City Royals sprays the ball all over the field and hit .301 in a short stint with the Naturals last season. Many believe his swift progress is the reason Kansas City felt comfortable dealing Wil Myers last year to Tampa Bay. Right-handed starter Kyle Zimmer, the Royals No. 1 prospect will join the Naturals after a stint in extended spring training in late May.
Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler – Pitchers – Tulsa Drillers
These two rocket arms are the No. 1 and 2 prospects for the Colorado Rockies and will give the Drillers as dynamic a one – two punch at the top of a rotation as I can remember to begin a season. Gray’s fastball reaches 100 mph and is above average in every pitching category including a nasty slider. Butler played in three different leagues last year finally ending the campaign in Tulsa where he posted a 0.65 ERA in six starts. Both hurlers were sent down on March 15 and both could be in the Rox rotation by seasons end.
Rougned Odor – Second Base – Frisco RoughRiders
It seems as though the prospect gusher that is the Texas Rangers will never go dry. Rougned Odor will begin the season at second base for Frisco and is the No. 1 prospect for Texas. In 134 at bats last season for the RoughRiders, Odor hot .306 and slugged 6 home runs. Offense has never been a problem – Profar and Andrus blocking his way to the bigs might be.
Addison Russell – Shortstop – Midland Rockhounds
Russell is MLB.com’s No. 12 overall prospect. in his first full season, the 24th overall pick in last seasons draft posted a .377 on-base percentage with 17 homers and 21 stolen bases. This 20-year old has excitement written all over him.
Austin Hedges – Catcher – San Antonio Missions
Baseball America has tabbed the talented backstop as the Padres No. 1 prospect. Hedges returns to the Missions in 2014 after a short stint in San Antonio last season after dominating the Cal League. The California native is equal parts hitter and cannon-armed catcher.
Michael G. Foltynewicz – Pitcher – Corpus Christi Hooks
The No. 4 Astros prospect (Baseball America)went 5-3 in 16 starts for the Hooks in 2013 and sported a minuscule 2.87 ERA. The 6-4 right-hander fanned 95 but also gave 52 free passes. Control issues make his final position – starting pitcher or reliever a question mark. We can revisit the Hooks later in the summer when righty Mark Appel and shortstop Carlos Correa (Astros No. 1 prospect) come to the Mission City.
Dave Barr (@daveabarr)
Travs Talk 
