Prospect Report:
Youth Of The Nation

David Cameron

Welcome back to the Prospect Report. Yes, I'm still alive, so thanks for caring. I've just been taking care of some issues that don't have much to do with sticks and gloves. However, the games didn't take a break, and I did get a chance to take myself to the ballpark recently for a pair of games between Myrtle Beach (Braves) and Winston-Salem (White Sox). I'd seen most of these players before, but it was good to get another look and see how they were progressing.

Macay McBride spun one of his best performances of the season, striking out 10 over 7 innings. His fastball still shows good life at 89-92 MPH and his slider is among the best in the minors. His change is better than it was last year, but still has a ways to go. I didn't see more than a couple of curveballs, but he's used it more in the past. It looked like he was working on spotting his fastball, and he did that with precision. The only negative about McBride is that he's not getting any smaller, and he may eventually have to watch what he eats. However, he's still one of the best southpaw prospects around.

Winston-Salem opposed McBride with Wyatt Allen, who himself was a supplemental first-round pick. Allen just hasn't made the strides that McBride has, despite coming from the University of Tennessee, and is spending his second season in the Carolina League. His velocity has never returned to college levels, and he usually pitches between 86-89 now. His curve is still a good pitch, but his command of it is average at best. He still lacks a solid third offering, and his control isn't where it should be. I've seen him pitch five times in the past year and a half, and he's just not getting any better. At this point, it's hard to call Allen anything but a disappointment.

Wrapping up the arms race, I got my second look of the year at Ryan Wing, who is vaulting past more hyped teammates Allen and Kris Honel in the race to Chicago. The first time I saw Wing, his command was suspect, and he was falling behind a lot of hitters, but using his cut fastball to get himself out of jams. The cutter was still unhittable, but he mixed in pinpoint control and a nasty slider to carve up the Myrtle Beach lineup. Wing was rolling, and, if not for some lousy defense and questionable scoring decisions, could have made a real run at a no-hitter.

His fastball doesn't get above 91, but Wing gets good sink to it, and his cut fastball and slider are unfair to lefties. His ability to mix three pitches and control the strike zone made him untouchable, though his consistency hasn't been there throughout the season. I'd like to see the Sox challenge him with a move to AA soon and see how he handles the transition. He may not have the pure upside of most top prospects, but he shows a greater feel for pitching than many of the more highly publicized arms. Its not too hard to imagine Wing filling a spot at the back of the White Sox rotation by the end of next year.

Last year, when I saw the Macon (now Rome) Braves play, I was blown away by a no-name third baseman. I had gone to see the pitchers and toolsy CF Carlos Duran, but it was Andy Marte who stole the show, convincing me he was one of the best young talents in the game. The hype machine for Marte got rolling last fall, and now most people are aware of the Braves prospect. I still don't think people realize how good he can be.

The strides he's made in the past year cannot be overstated. His approach at the plate is much better, and he's become hard to pitch around. Pitchers in the SAL were able to frustrate him with fastballs at his eyes, but he's now convinced himself that he doesn't need to swing at that pitch, and he's driving the ball when it comes down a few inches. His raw power is up there with the elite sluggers in the game, though its going to take several years to develop. Marte is one of those kids who you have to remind yourself is only 19 years old. Despite being in the high-A league where most players are 2-3 years his senior, he was clearly the best hitter on the field.

He's gotten bigger since I saw him, and it's cost him some lateral movement in the field. He's going to need to keep working hard at his defense, because he has the ability to be a good defensive player. He's just not there yet. There shouldn't be any thought that he'll be forced to change positions, however. He's definitely capable of handling the hot corner.

Speaking of Carlos Duran, he's becoming the anti-Andy Marte. He simply gets worse every time I see him. He's athletic, can run, and plays a pretty good center field, but all that is forgotten when he steps in the batter's box. His approach at the plate is, well, nonexistent. Throw him breaking balls and he will get himself out. He's actually a worse hitter now than he was a year ago, and that's not a good sign. This is one case where I don't see the tools translating into performance. It isn't a good idea to write off teenagers completely, but Duran has a long, long ways to go.

Scott Thorman is in between the two. He's not blossoming the way Marte is, but he is making some adjustments and is a better player than I saw a year ago. The power-hitting first baseman has become overly pull-conscious, but he's also laying off more pitches out of the strike zone. His swing has gotten quicker, and I believe the Braves will get him back to using the whole field eventually. Despite his struggles, which are overstated by his home park, he's still one of the better first base prospects in the minors.

Moving back to the White Sox side of the field, I finally got a look at Jeremy Reed. The Warthogs had seemingly scheduled his days off around my ability to get to the ballpark, so I'd missed him quite a few times this year. The second-round pick a year ago is having a phenomenal season with the bat, posting a ridiculous 40 walks against just 16 strikeouts and a .441 on-base percentage. Reed's plate coverage and batting eye are among the best in the game, and he simply will not chase pitches he cannot drive.

He's very similar to Paul O'Neill or John Olerud, and I'm not sure he'll ever develop much more power then either of them. He has gap power and will collect his share of doubles, but there just isn't a lot of home-run juice in his swing. Defensively, he covers enough ground for a right fielder, though his arm is questionable. As a left fielder, he'd be one of the best defenders at the position. Reed really should get the jump to AA soon, and he could be knocking on Chicago's door before too long.

There were several other notable players, but time prevents me from getting into them this week. I'll see both these teams again later this year, and I'll make sure I write up those guys the next time around. If you really need to hear what I think about Gregor Blanco or Michael Morse, drop me a line. Next week (really, I promise!), I'll be back to present the Prospect Report All-Star team, based on those guys who have really made their mark in 2003.

about the author

David Cameron was found staggering along a desert highway with a three-week growth of beard, murmuring to himself, "Wily Mo Pena." Suggest a way to get the smell out of our car at dac@strikethree.com.