Justin and I just returned from a week long trip to the AFL. Here are some observations ...
This is just going to be a list of players I saw and a quick observation:
Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX - looks great behind the plate, nice arm throwing to second, bat still looks a bit rusty since his return from surgery.
Kila Kaaihue, 1B, KC - built like a brick, fluid and calm at the plate. Like alot of supposed power hitters sometimes is over-aggressive, long-swing. Could have a place in KC in a couple years.
John Mayberry, OF, TEX - Physical Specimen, despite athleticism still looks raw at the plate. Long-swing with holes. Still going to be a couple years out.
Colby Rasmus, OF, STL - this kid is the real deal. confident and fluid at the plate, runs well, excellent defensive OF. Should be ready to fill in for STL when Edmonds inevitably is hurt.
Sam Fuld, OF, CHC - love the hustle on this kid, plays all out all the time. Good baserunner, line drive hitter. Won't hit many HR, but will be a excellent bench OF at the major league level.
Matt Antonelli, 2B, SD - despite talk that SD is hoping that he will win the major league 2B job, he did not look ready at the AFL.. Certainly he is talented, but his bat did not show up to the games we saw, just wasn't making good contact. He made a few poor fielding decisions. He would benefit from another fill season in the minors.
Cameron Maybin, OF, DET - he had no place in the majors this year and that was still evident at the AFL. He has tools, but needs alot of work to refine them. His lacks plate discipline, is over agressive, and the swing is long.
Xavier Paul, OF, LAD - what was this kid doing hitting leadoff? No discipline, lots of strikeouts, don't think we saw a single good at bat from this kid.
Michael Costanzo. 3B, HOU - best hair in the league. Seriously, its the only thing he brought to the field. Constantly chops the ball into the ground, which is surprising considering he has a power hitters build and can't run. oh but the HAIR..
Brett Hayes, C, FLA - First time we saw him he gunned down every runner who tried to steal on him. After day 1 he seemed to have trouble even throwing the ball to the pitcher and he can't hit a lick.
Josh Outman, P, PHI - lacked control of his breaking ball so hitters sat on the fast ball and toasted him. His stuff is not as nasty as advertised.
Jeff Larish, 1B, DET - consistently made good contact and drilled one ball deep, maybe 430. Smooth around the bag.
Steven Pearce, 1B, PIT - compact for a 1B power hitter, but you can see the power when you watch him bat. Good fielder, made a spectaular catch when we saw him with Team USA.
Reid Brignac, SS, TAM - Tries to hard to hit for power, and when he does he pulls his head up instead of watching the ball all the way to the bat. When he relaxes he keeps his head down and drives the ball. He needs to quite trying for homeruns and enjoy being a line drive doubles hitter.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL - fantastic defender in CF, runs well, works the count, has the makings of a nice lead off hitter.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT - great fielder, runs well, drives the ball nice, just needs to work on his discipline. I don't think he will ever be a good OBP guy, so lead-off might not be right for him, but he could contribute to PIT right now.
Nolan Reimold, OF, BAL - this guy is just not going to hit at the major league level, he will strike out constantly. He looks like he is guessing at the pitch and hacking away. His at-bats were some of the ugliest we saw.
Bob McCory, RP, BAL - This guy throws smoke and was making alot of hitters look bad. He could contribute to the Orioles bullpen this year.
Nyjer Morgan, OF, PIT - Exciting leadoff hitter. You can see why the pirates want to start him this year. athletic, fluid, this kid can make good contact and leg out some hits.
John Jaso, C, TAM - patient hitter, has build to translate power to major league level, played DH so we could not evaluate the defense.
Travis Snider, OF, TOR - only 19 years old, very strong, great approach at the plate, drives the ball. Is already Blue Jays top prospect and at his rate of development, he could get a September call up this year and be starting for TOR in 2009.
Garret Mock, RP, WAS - was dominating for 2 innings then fell apart. but oh those two innings were filthy. Does not seem to like pitching out of the stretch.
Jack Egbert, SP, CHW - funny hitch in his delivery seems to limit velocity, but add movement to his pitches. downside is that as he got excited with having a lead, he seemed to lose the hitch and his pitches flattened out.
Ok, that is all for today, I will do longer profiles in the Prospecting section during the winter.