AFL prospects jump on the fast track

[scenario]

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Intro to the article by Jonathan Mayo...

 

"From Opening Day until the championship game, the one thing as constant as developing talent at the Arizona Fall League is the presence of scouts in the stands documenting it all. And for good reason, the numbers don't lie. The sheer quantity -- and quality -- of players that go from the AFL to the big leagues every year is astounding, and it's enough to ensure that scouts don't want to miss an inning. From that, comes a variety of opinions. Sometimes there's consensus, sometimes there's disagreement, but MLB.com spoke to scouts who spent considerable time working the Arizona Fall League to come up with some well-informed ideas about the best prospects from the AFL, 2008 edition."

 

 

19 players were named: 3 outfielders, 2 lefty pitchers, 2 righty pitchers, and 2 players at each of the other positions. Beckham and Poreda made the list. Here's what they had to say about each.

 

 

Gordon Beckham, White Sox: Another 2008 first-rounder (No. 8 overall), Beckham wasted no time fitting in. He looked like he belonged at this level, hitting close to .400 with a 1.119 OPS. He won't wow you with plus range, but he showed he's capable of playing short, while also showing the ability and willingness to play second. His best tool is his bat, and he's got plenty of it, with a good chance to be a run-producing middle infielder in the near future.

 

 

Aaron Poreda, White Sox: While scouts were also impressed with the pure stuff of the Marlins' Sean West, Poreda gets the nod here. The White Sox first-rounder from the 2007 Draft showed plus command of a high-velocity fastball. Where he's improved the most, scouts say, is with his slider. He was working on a changeup and it has a chance to be a usable offering. Poreda goes right after hitters and attacks the zone. If he remains a starter, he could be ready for the bigs in late 2009 or early 2010. If the White Sox decide, however, to put him into the pen, his fastball-slider combination from the left side might be enough to get him there right away.

Edited November 25, 2008 by scenario

[ThunderBolt]

Great to hear about Poreda's ever improving slider if he can get at least a tolerable change it should be enough to throw off major leaguers waiting on the fastball

[RockRaines]

If Poreda can develop a plus change he will be a very good starter. Thats really the key to his development and i think the org knows it.

 

Beckham may just be up in the bigs earlier than most thought.

[maggsmaggs]

If Poreda can develop a plus change he will be a very good starter. Thats really the key to his development and i think the org knows it.

 

Beckham may just be up in the bigs earlier than most thought.

I think Beckham is going to make the second base spot a very difficult decision this spring. I wouldn't be surprised to see him outperform Nix and Getz. There is no denying that he is just a terrific ball player who is just knows how to play the game. While I think his ceiling is pretty high for all the draftees in '08, he probably has the highest floor, too.

[OilCan]

Remember how the AP haters just ate him to death during his draft, in Soxtalk's thread???

 

Man, how times have changed. Good to see AP getting it done in the A.

[maggsmaggs]

Tyler Flowers, Braves: Flowers very easily could have been one of the catchers on this list. Offensively, there's no doubt he belongs, living up to his advanced billing with his performance swinging the bat. The jury is still out with his defense. He's definitely improved; some scouts think he's just fine, others are on the fence, though most felt he'd catch well enough to be an offensive-minded backstop at the higher level

 

Our new prospect!