Okay, so Stephen Strasburg isn’t the only local prospect performing well in the Arizona Fall League. The Phoenix Desert Dogs are made up of players from the Nats (six), Orioles (six), Tampa Bay (six), Oakland (seven) and Toronto (five).
For the Nats, Drew Storen, the No. 10 overall draft pick in 2010, is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA, building on a fine start to his pro career since signing in June. He pitched in 11 games, recorded three saves and ranked third in the AFL in ERA. He walked just three batters in 12 2/3 innings and struck out 11. He also tweeted last night that he “may or may not have just purchased the album “License to Ill” by the Beastie Boys on iTunes.” Can’t tell if he’s being ironic or not. Storen wasn’t even born when that album came out. I was nine when it dropped and it’s definitely on my iPod. My one issue with that album? Brass Monkey. Worst. Song. Ever. I will not debate this. Moving on.
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Nats prospect Chris Marrero had a nice AFL season after making it to Double-A Harrisburg last season. Still a work-in-progress at first base. Marrero needs his bat to carry him to the big leagues, according to scouts. He batted .338 (ninth overall) with six doubles and three homers. His 18 RBI tied for seventh with teammates Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell – both Orioles prospects. Marrero had a .398 OBP (19th) and a .938 OPS (13th). We’ll see if his numbers take a leap next year when he’ll probably start at Harrisburg.
Ian Desmond drew most of the attention as the Nats’ possible shortstop of the future. And with good reason. He performed well as a late-season callup. But don’t forget about 2008 third-round pick Danny Espinosa. He is a steadier defensive player than Desmond – though without the dynamic athleticism. His bat is a question mark at higher levels. But in the AFL he posted 27 hits (eighth overall) with a .329 average (14th). He had five doubles, a triple and a homer and scored 22 runs (third overall). His .420 on-base percentage ranked ninth. If he can refine his skills at the plate and prove he won’t be overmatched at Double-A or Triple-A next season the Nats will have a nice problem: Two major-league quality shortstops – though neither projects as a star at this point.
Orioles third baseman Josh Bell was picked up in the George Sherrill deal with the Dodgers over the summer. He seems like a steal. Bell mashed the ball at Double-A Bowie and was a Southern League All-Star before that – though he is a switch-hitter who can’t seem to hit left-handed pitching. At all. Bell had seven doubles, a triple and two homers in the AFL – and also tied with Snyder and Marrero with 18 RBI. He batted .329 (14th) with a .411 OBP (13th) and a .930 OPS (14th). Also finished with 26 hits (ninth). We’ll have to see if the switch-hitting woes continue next year. But he’s the O’s third baseman of the future – and a much-improved defensive player as he’s gotten in better shape – with few viable veterans blocking his way.
Finally, Orioles first baseman Brandon Snyder – Chantilly, Va. native and a Westfield High graduate. I covered him when he was a 15-year-old freshman who seemed to play every position in the infield. After dominating for a year-and-a-half in the minors he finally hit a wall at Triple-A Norfolk once promoted there in the summer. We’ll see how he does at that notorious pitcher’s park in the spring. Again, no one really blocking his way at first. But with limited power is he just a major-league regular for Baltimore? And is that good enough? Well, in the AFL he batted .354 (seventh) with 23 hits in 65 at-bats. He had five doubles, a triple and three homers with the 18 RBI. His OBP ranked second in the league at .456 and he scored 17 runs (eighth). Snyder’s OPS (1.056) ranked sixth. Those are promising numbers – with the understanding that small sample sizes don’t mean a ton. We’ll see if they carry over to Norfolk next year. Like Bell, Snyder is not quite major-league ready – at least not if the Orioles plan on avoiding 90 losses again.
One more – Nats pitcher Jeff Mandel. Had a nice season in Single-A and Double-A. Not considered a top prospect and doesn’t have a power arm. But who knows? He had a 2.19 ERA in the AFL in 12 1/3 innings and walked no one. Gave up 11 hits and struck out seven batters. His WHIP was an absurd .89.
Others of note » St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes grad Michael Schwimmer – also a U.Va. product – had a 3.86 ERA in nine games with eight walks and eight strikeouts. He is in the Phillies system. And old friend Aaron Crow – who had way more rust to shake off even than Strasburg – was 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA. He, of course, was the Nats’ No. 9 overall pick in 2008 before negotiations turned ugly and he refused to sign. Eventually was chosen by his home-state Kansas City Royals and eventually signed late. Crow allowed 10 earned runs, but did strike out 12 batters in 15 1/3 innings.
