Pitchers and Catchers 2017

Pitchers and Catchers are required to be at the complex today and workouts will start tomorrow.

CATCHERS

Cam Rupp-3rd Round 2010 University of TX and now 28 will be the starter.  Cam is the perfect catcher IMO big sturdy tough, solid defensively and hits just enough with some pop to keep things in the line-up moving.  I think he struggles a little with game planning and communicating with the pitching staff so I would like to see that cleaned up a little this year.

Andrew Knapp-2nd Round Draft in 2013 Drew is your classic switch hitting catcher.  Not great defensively but the SH bat is always intriguing to MLB teams as more and more you see teams wanting to give the regular back-stop a reduced number of starts.  Now 25 the time is now for him to land the back-up job and demonstrate what he can do for a potential trade down the road.  He doesn't really fit here.

Jorge Alfaro-Via the Cole Hammels trade Jorge appears ready defensively to handle a MLB role if and when they decide to make that move.  The bat has real power and if they can get it polished up just a tad this kid can be a big league catcher for many years to come.  I'd say he gives you at least what Rupp does offensively with more in game power and a much better defensive and game calling profile.

Further down in the system you have a few names Grullon, Lenin Rodriguez, Numata and so on. These  guys are all so far away and low level picks it's not the time to talk on any of them yet.

PITCHERS-PART 1

It's been a really long time since this system was this deep in Arms.  I'm not sure any of them are the next Cole Hammels but there are a few names that might be close.

Sixto Sanchez-At 17 he really lit it up in the GCL.  Very much in the mold of Pedro who he says is his idol.  This kid has electric stuff and a real feel for pitching.

Francisco Morales-A big dollar sign out of VZL he is a big righty with plenty of velo at only 17 Y/O. In 4 years these 2 might be 1 and 2 at CBP.

We'll fill in with a bunch of guys that I would say could be solid rotation pieces but not really an Ace or a 1 profile starting with the obvious at MLB level already and then working our way down the system.

Eickhoff, Velasquez, Nola all should be in the rotation this year all are young and under team control for quite a while.  Velasquez has the best stuff and if he can maintain some arm health and develop a pitch to neutralize lefties a little better he would be the closest thing to a 1.

Eickhoff is your classic horse and just grinds.  What he lacks in stuff he makes up the difference with an above average curve and pounding the zone with strikes.

Nola is that guy in my opinion that will be off and on and with some arm trouble last season it begs the question will he be able to stay in the rotation long term.  Not a lot of velo to start with he relied on precise command and variable arm slots to mix in his slider and curve to keep pitchers off balance.

Jake Thompson also a piece in the Hammels trade is another RH without big velo but a really good CB and heavy sink on the FB.  He'll just need to be ultra precise at the MLB level to get the most out of his stuff.

Zach Eflin came over in the Jimmy Rollins deal.  He has tremendous upside IMO if he can get his knees healthy and strong.  He actually does have good FB velo sitting 92-94 with real good sink. What he is lacking is something to keep hitters off of his FB.  Needs to really develop a good CU or slider and then I think he can be a really strong 2-3.