Talking Chop Top-25 Braves Prospects: 11-15
by gondeee on Nov 25, 2009 8:00 AM EST
in Prospect Reviews
28 comments
Our countdown of the top-25 prospects in the Atlanta Braves organization continues with #11 through #15:
11. Edgar Osuna, LHSP :: B/T: L/L Born: 11/25/1987 Ht: 6'1" Wt: 165
Last Year's Talking Chop Rank: 17
The Skinny: An international signee out of Mexico in 2004, he split the year between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi as a 21 year old, pitching better in the friendly confines of Trustman Park.
The Good: Control. Osuna has pinpoint control on all of his pitches. He also throws 4 quality pitches including a devastating plus plus changeup that Baseball America ranks as the best in the Braves system. He will be just 22 years old next season and already in the high minors.
The Bad: He doesn't throw hard at all. Topping out at 88-90 he doesn't have much room for error and he profiles like a lot of other soft tossing lefties who have gotten hitters out in the minors (but not necessarily the majors).
...In a perfect world... Osuna could be a back of the rotation starter if his stuff plays well in the upper levels.
ETA: He has an outside chance to debut in 2010 but look to 2011 for any significant role in Atlanta.
...for a full scouting report, go here.
12. J.J. Hoover, RHSP :: B/T: R/R Born: 8/13/1987 Ht: 6'3" Wt: 215
Last Year's Talking Chop Rank: NR
The Skinny: Advanced college player excelled as Rome's workhorse this season.
The Good: Big strong body makes him incredibly durable and allows him to work deep into games. Gets a lot of strikeouts with his sinking fastball. Has an advanced feel for pitching that has allowed him to dominate typically younger competition.
The Bad: Is big and strong but doesn't have the ideal pitcher's body. Because he's older, he doesn't have much room for projection. Was a little too old for the level he played at, so numbers may look better than they should.
...In a perfect world...he continues to excell and eat innings, tranfering that talent seamlessly into the middle of the Braves Major League rotation. His ground ball ability would also make him an ideal situational reliever.
ETA: Depending on how things shake out in Spring Training, he could start 2010 at Myrtle Beach or Mississippi. Expect to see him in Atlanta in 2012 if he stays a starter, 2011 if he converts to the bullpen.
...for a full scouting report, go here.
13. Brett DeVall, LHSP :: B/T: L/L Born: 01/08/1990 Ht: 6'3" Wt: 215
Last Year's Talking Chop Rank: 16
The Skinny: Former 1st round pick (supplemental) by the Braves missed most of his first full season due to an injury that he may or may not have had surgery for.
The Good: He possesses an ideal pitcher's frame and has the makings of 3 plus pitches with the chance to add more velocity to fastball that sits in the low 90s already.
The Bad: Only pitched in 10 games this season before being shut down for the rest of the year with some sort of arm injury. Rumors persist that he had surgery but nothing has been confirmed.
...In a perfect world... DeVall has a ceiling as a #2 starter who could be an innings eater.
ETA: Difficult to say with his injury right now. If he returns healthy he could get a call in late 2012 or 2013.
...for a full scouting report, go here.
T14. Jose Ortegano, LHSP :: B/T: L/L Born: 08/05/1987 Ht: 6'1" Wt: 145
Last Year's Talking Chop Rank: NR
The Skinny: The 22-year old split time between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi posting a 2.83 ERA after struggling a little in Rome in 2008. He split time between starting and relieving in Myrtle Beach but started full time in Mississippi and really shined.
The Good: Another lefty control guy, but also has better stuff than most other lefty control guys, which shows in his stronger component ratios. He possesses a good curve and change and has a heavy fastball that creates a lot of grounders.
The Bad: He doesn't have a frame that appears conducive to starting full time and though his stuff is better than some of our other lefties it still isn't mind blowing.
...In a perfect world... Ortegano could settle into the back of a major league rotation or if there isn't a spot he could be at least LOOGY for a long time.
ETA: With a good season you could see him in 2010, but 2011 is probably a safer bet.
...for a full scouting report, go here.
T14. Dimaster Delgado, LHSP :: B/T: L/L Born: 03/03/1989 Ht: 6'2" Wt: 180
Last Year's Talking Chop Rank: NR
The Skinny: The 20 year old Panamanian was supposed to start the year in Danville but was so impressive in the instructional league they instead sent him to Rome where he continued to impress.
The Good: Delgado was just 20 years old in the Sally League this year and managed to dominate at times. He has solid stuff now, but has a projectable body that could add more velocity down the line.
The Bad: His current stuff ranks right there with Osuna and the other Braves lefties. He can't blow anyone away and his future rests completely on his ability to add some more velocity.
...In a perfect world... He adds a couple of MPH to his fastball and becomes a top LH prospect and an eventual #2 starter in the majors.
ETA: There is no need to rush him with all the pitchers ahead of him. Look for a 2013 debut.
...for a full scouting report, go here.
Tomorrow we learn the bottom half of the top-10.
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Is it just me or does it seem like the Braves have an absolute abundance of back end of the rotation type SP prospects (specifically LHP)? Do any of these guys get anyone excited? Anyone have a good shot to become more than a 5th starter or LOOGY?
by chopc on Nov 25, 2009 9:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
It’s a little disturbing that I’ve seen two positiion players so far. All the rest have been pitchers. The Braves seem to have a lot of guys who can throw the ball; how about a few that can hit it and/or catch it? Or is the idea that these pitching prospects can be used as trade bait?
by John Holton on Nov 25, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t know if this fits in this post, but I wanted to ruminate on the idea that we have a lack of top flight prospects for a minute. While that may be true, this list certainly isn’t populated with blue-chip can’t-miss prospects, one advantage we have (and this has obviously been noted by others) is that our ML roster is more or less set in most spots for the next couple of years.
Yes, we need some power bats, etc., but our rotation is set in stone for at least three years, barring calamity, with Minor and Medlen waiting in the wings. What this means is that, at best, we probably won’t need hardly any of these back-of-the-rotation guys that we are so loaded with on the farm for actual rotation spots. This means that there is no rush to push them up the ladder as quickly as possible, so we can let them sit at Mississippi and/or Gwinnett and develop at their own paces, which is what is going to happen to most of these guys (Osuna, Ortegano, Hoover, Spruill, Diamond, etc.) over the next two years anyways.
While the big club has a log jam in the rotation, the trickle-down effect will create a log jam of “prospects” at the higher and lower levels, which will then give us mucho flexibility to trade for good parts (bullpen, LF, etc.) as we need these pieces over the next two years. Furthermore, assuming Soriano, Gonzo, and Laroche all get arb offers and sign elsewhere, we should have a handful, at least, of top 75 picks next year to further flesh out our minor league depth.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t really matter if the prospects from 11-25 are off the charts or not, or position players or not, because virtually all of the key spots in our lineup and rotation are accounted for for the next several years. Yes, a lot of things can change, but I am confident that Wren will use some of this depth to make some nice (read: non-earthshattering) deals over the next couple years. There is no sense in holding onto a Hoover until he is 25 or 26 when we could move him and an Osuna for a top set-up man, for example.
Probably could have said all of this in a lot shorter space…..just food for thought. My point is that I am confident that Wren is going to make the most out of our deep system, be it via trade, or plugging holes internally, and that because of our current rotation, lineup, and contracts (Chipper coming off the books after next year), our depth is likely only going to get better over the next few years. This will only further enable us to make moves to push us over the top.
Happy Thanksgiving Braves Fans.
by Steinmanberg7 on Nov 25, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You seem to be spot on.
And a large part of the reason for a lack of depth of prospects is the trades for McLouth and Vazquez, which is part of the reason we are closer to set for the next few years (especially if we can resign Vazquez).
by cavebird on Nov 25, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If it makes you feel better, I only have 1 in the 25-11 range TC has covered so far. All the others are either in the top 10 or the 26-40 range.
by bigjoe on Nov 25, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You are right, but I think it isn't that uncommon
Really good prospects are hard to find. I don’t think any organization has 25 guys who are going to be productive major leaguers in their farm system. So, these types of lists are going to be filled with guys who might make marginal relievers in the majors because there really just isn’t anybody else.
by cavebird on Nov 25, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
No idea what it actually stands for but i think it means a situational left handed reliever though someone can correct me if i’m wrong.
by chopc on Nov 25, 2009 10:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's the concept
It’s a lefty who comes in only to face a lefty and is usually then removed.
by cavebird on Nov 25, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I stands for:
Lefthanded
One out
Oly
GuY
by cavebird on Nov 25, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, except that...
…only is spelled correctly most of the time.
by cavebird on Nov 25, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Osuna
reminds me so much of Jorge Campillo.
by GouldisGold on Nov 25, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cause they’re both Mexican?
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 25, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, that’s why I can only conclude that it’s their nationality.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 25, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not just that..
but also because they both don’t throw hard, but have good control.
by GouldisGold on Nov 25, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They look a bit simliar
racism aside.
Also, dont trade javier vazquez.
by esadb on Nov 26, 2009 9:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Now this is where it gets crazy. You guys are much higher on Osuna and Ortegano than I am (though I really do like them both, its just a numbers game at this point), and I am much much much higher on Dimaster.
by bigjoe on Nov 25, 2009 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m very high on Ortegano and Osuan and have been for several years.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 25, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So, again on Ortegano...
“Another lefty control guy”—sounds like a soft tosser here too.
by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 26, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Again, I feel like yodaime14 (who, because he did the write up did this part too) may have a little misinformation on him. I’ve always known him as a hard thrower who needed to learn how to be a pitcher. From what the numbers showed and from what I saw of him at the end of the year, he’s made huge strides. I think he’s one of the more promising pitchers in the system.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 27, 2009 1:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just givin ya a hard time cb...
you’ve seen him and I haven’t, so I take your word for it. Just saying that if the guy throws that hard, it appears you are the only one aware of that fact. Everyone else always calls him like Osuna (and reporters can easily be this lazy, I understand), another in the Braves classic line of lefty change-up specialists.
by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 27, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The funny thing is, I didn’t even think his changeup was that great. It’s a good pitch, but his slurvy curveball is much much better.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 27, 2009 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I’m definitely questioning Osuna and Ortegano being higher and tied with Delgado. He’s younger than both of them and has had great results (2.70 and 2.80 FIPs). Ortegano barely started more than half of his games at Myrtle Beach and Osuna’s K rate has dropped at every level he has moved up. (Osuna’s is 5.40 while Delgado’s is 9.39)
by acie4mvp on Nov 25, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Delgado is only a year younger than Ortegano and Osuna and they ended the year two levels ahead of him, pitching better than they had at the lower level. Osuna pitched better last year at Rome than Delgado did this year and he’s got the extra year of perfomance, that, at least for me, is enough to put him ahead of Delgado. And, with Ortegano, he pitched well enough at Rome last year, not as good as Delgado this year, but, again, had this year of success added to his resume, along with his plus stuff. Delgado has only had one good year to go on.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 26, 2009 2:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How much higher would have Devall been if he wasn’t hurt? He was doing pretty well for a stretch this season.
by blitzerlover on Nov 25, 2009 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Probably a lot higher since one of us didn’t rank him at all. Gondeee had him 6th, I had him 12th, and yodaime14 didn’t rank him at all, arguing, perhaps rightfully so, that a player who will miss a year shouldn’t be ranked at all.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Nov 26, 2009 2:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would probably put Osuna behind the other guys in this post. Just seems like he doesn’t have as much upside as some of the other guys, and his numbers aren’t really that impressive to me. I’d like to see him strike out at least a few more guys.
by blindsided789 on Nov 25, 2009 10:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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