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Appalachian League Top 20 Prospects


Ozzie Ball

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Baseball America have started up their top 20 prospect/league again this year. Today was the turn of the Appy League.

 

APPY TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Tim Beckham, ss, Princeton Rays

2. Wilmer Flores, ss, Kingsport Mets

3. Matt Moore, lhp, Princeton Rays

4. Gabriel Noriega, ss, Pulaski Mariners

5. Mario Martinez, 3b, Pulaski Mariners

6. Randall Delgado, rhp, Danville Braves

7. Jordan Lyles, rhp, Greeneville Astros

8. Angel Morales, of, Elizabethton Twins

9. Albert Suarez, rhp, Princeton Rays

10. Kelvin Herrera, rhp, Burlington Royals

11. Jon Gilmore, 3b, Danville Braves

12. Jay Austin, of, Greeneville Astros

13. Niko Vasquez, ss, Johnson City Cardinals

14. Craig Kimbrel, rhp, Danville Braves

15. Paul Clemens, rhp, Danville Braves

16. Gregory Infante, rhp, Bristol White Sox

17. Sam Runion, rhp, Burlington Royals

18. Federico Hernandez, c, Greeneville Astros

19. Juan Silverio, ss, Bristol White Sox

20. Fernando Cruz, 3b, Burlington Royals

 

16. Gregory Infante, rhp, Bristol Sox

B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 185 Age: 21 Signed: Venezuela '06

Infante got a later start to his career than most international free agents, signing with the White Sox as an 18-year-old in 2006 and turning 19 while pitching in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League that summer. He posted an ugly 8.61 ERA in the VSL, and followed up by going 2-3, 4.01 with 23 walks in 34 innings in the Appy League in 2007. Infante showed the same wildness in an assignment to low Class A Kannapolis this May, but he finally hit his stride in a return engagement in Bristol.

 

Though he's already 21, Infante's arm strength and clean delivery are difficult to ignore. His fastball ranges from 89-95 mph and sits at 92-93. While his command comes and goes, he holds his velocity late into his starts. He also throws a hard 74-79 mph downer curveball that functions as his out pitch.

 

Because he tends to overthrow everything now, he lacks feel for a changeup. But if he develops that pitch and improves his command, he could become a No. 3 starter.

 

19. Juan Silverio, ss, Bristol Sox

B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 175 Age: 17 Signed: White Sox '07

Silverio signed with the White Sox for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic in August 2007, but both parties credited with his signing—international scouting director Dave Wilder and scout Victor Mateo—were fired in May for their roles in alleged international bonus skimming. Silverio's bonus may or may not have been inflated in the scandal, and he's also a difficult player to evaluate because he seemed completely overmatched by Appy League competition. That's understandable in one regard, seeing as only Wilmer Flores was the only position player who was younger.

 

Silverio has a mature upper body and the ball carries off his bat when he makes contact. However, his rudimentary pitch recognition rendered him helpless against breaking balls, and his pull-happy approach left him exposed on the outer half of the plate.

 

He earned plaudits for his solid-average arm, but Silverio likes to stand up to throw, costing him time. His range and reads at shortstop both were below average, and he bobbled more balls than he should have. He has slow feet and is a below-average runner.

 

Link.

Shedule for the rest of the leagues.

 

 

Would have liked to see Upchurch on there but he was the only real omission from our org. that I can think of. The projection of Infante seems a little optimistic to me also.

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I am excited about tomorrow's Pioneer League. I think both Carter and Hudson could be in the top 10. Kuhn also should make the top 20 based purely on stats. But he is a guy who will get the usually "gets the most out of his non-existent baseball package." But Sox should have three guys in there and then with Kanny, probably 2-3 more.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 04:12 AM)
$300,000, but I don't believe he was in the Appy League.

Plus, when he first had signed he probably would have had some consideration. Of course he wasn't even hitting 86 MPH which makes it pretty tough to make any sort of prospect list as a pitcher.

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Sounds like Infante has a pretty live arm... seems like a guy to keep a closer eye on for next year.

 

Also, looks like Silverio would fit in with the current MLB squad and Greg Walker just perfectly:

 

However, his rudimentary pitch recognition rendered him helpless against breaking balls, and his pull-happy approach left him exposed on the outer half of the plate.
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