Braves Follow Stefan Sabol In The West Coast League

by gondeee on Jul 13, 2010 12:34 PM EDT

The 2010 amateur draft has already been one of the most successful drafts in recent years for the Atlanta Braves, but they may not be done yet. While the Braves have signed their first 16 picks, the next player remains unsigned -- talented high school catcher Stefan Sabol. Even though he was the 524th player taken in the draft, Sabol is considered one of the top all-around athletes in the field and a top-100 pre-draft prospect.

He is signed to play baseball at the University of Oregon this year, and in the mean time he is testing his talent in the West Coast League for the Cowlitz Black Bears. Sabol joined the team last week:

"I had a break after high school to let my arm rest, but I am chomping at the bit to get some action," said Sabol, who batted .391 with 10 home runs, 24 RBIs and stole 16 bases as a senior at Aliso Niguel, leading his team to the South Coast League title. "The Braves are going to come up and watch me as a summer draft-and-follow player. If I don't end up signing with them, I'll go to UO and be very happy with that."

So far in seven games Sabol is 9-for-24 with a slash line of .375/.444/.667. Their season runs through early August, so there's plenty of time for him to get into more games and for the Braves to get a good look at him before the signing deadline on August 16th.

Sabol fell to the 17th-round of the draft because of concerns that his defense is not good enough for him to remain behind the plate in the pros. The Braves took him as a catcher, so they may be willing to give him a chance there, at least until his bat proves to be enough for a corner outfield spot.

The potential with Sabol is very high, and the Braves would be making a wise choice if they were to dig into their coffers and give him a six-figure bonus. There is certainly a lot to be excited about with this young kid. I, for one, am hoping that the two sides can get a deal done. In the mean time I'll be bookmarking this page and checking it often.

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Comments

Just curious

What makes this one of the most successful drafts after only a few months?

by UMass12 on Jul 13, 2010 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

CUZ GONDEEE SAID SO

THATS WHY DONT QUESTION TC

by Erihury on Jul 13, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't be a douche

You are free to disagree with anyone on this site. Just be prepared to back your opinions up.

Don't kiss an ass if it's in the process of shitting on you.

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 13, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

The success has been the number of players signed

The more players you sign, the better your chances of getting some prodcutive players. We won’t know the acutal success until 2012 and beyond, obviously.

Don't kiss an ass if it's in the process of shitting on you.

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 13, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

by UMass12 on Jul 13, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if he’s any relation to NFL Films’ Steve Sabol.

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Jul 13, 2010 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think so...

But he is Troy Polamalu’s cousin.

by J-Turn14 on Jul 13, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn, you’re right. Why aren’t there more Samoans in MLB?

I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away

by TradeAndruw on Jul 13, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

20 seconds of checking. The total population for all Somoan Territory is only 188,359 (2008 est.). They just don’t have many people there…

Alone in the world of the little CatDog...

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 13, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yet 30 are in the NFL and 200 are in Division I college football.

I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away

by TradeAndruw on Jul 13, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

They obviously play alot of football on that small island then…

Alone in the world of the little CatDog...

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 13, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

is he one half of the pair of draftees that were/are probably not going to sign but great prospects?

by dank7 on Jul 13, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, along with Zach Alvord.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 13, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

awesome, so there is some movement on this guy. any news on Alvord?

by dank7 on Jul 13, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, no clue.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 13, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

both of these guys are going down to the wire I bet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we got one. Sure we have signed a lot of guys but we didn’t have that first rd pick and they probably have some money to burn. This is big news for me and I hope we get one of them

by yondaime4 on Jul 13, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Zach or Stefan?

If you were a slut, which would you? JKJK, but seriously which would you rather sign.

I think I’d rather have Zach. I’ve heard some neat rumblings about his bat speed and potential power.

Alone in the world of the little CatDog...

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 13, 2010 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

I’d like both, I’m greedy like that. I haven’t found any info on Alvord’s decision, though I continually check.

by gondeee on Jul 13, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Same here, give me both...

the 2B and C/OF. This sounds more encouraging on Sabol than anything I’ve read on Alvord though, who has strong family ties to Auburn and is said to be wanting a significant bonus (maybe mid to high 6 figures, if not low 7). I had seen 33rd round pick Albert Minnis mentioned as a draft and follow, and also who he was supposed to be rooming with at Wichita St, so I guess that’s doubtful at best. Still a pretty damn good haul to get so many of our top picks, and so many overall.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 13, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

so if we sign him

will you be changing your top prospect lists?

by BlueVol03 on Jul 13, 2010 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Not till the end of the year, after we win the World Series. /optimism

by gondeee on Jul 13, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

SIGN PLEASE

thx.

-P

Beyond the Box Score / Capitol Avenue Club / shwitter: @CapitolAvenue

by PWHjort on Jul 13, 2010 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Couple Things Guys...

1) Thank you to the gang at TC for opening the door to the world of minor league baseball to me. I knew about them, just not so much! I think it leads to me being even more excited about our future!
2) Only a few things I don’t know… How are these kids placed? Example: Andrelton Simmons and Joe Leonard. Or Stephen Foster and David Filak? Is it as simple as age or how refinded they are, or both?
3) Lastly, how long do these guys (both rookies and second, third, fourth year players) have to stay at a level before they get moved up?
Thanks again, guys! GO BRAVES!!!

by UpstateNyBravesFan on Jul 13, 2010 7:28 PM EDT reply actions

The team decides where to put a player initially based on a number of factors, mostly his age and the level of competition he’s played against before. More experienced college guys are typically going to go to Danville, with a few heading to Rome, and the HS guys are typically going to go to the GCL (in fact, I can’t remember the last HS guy who started his career with Danville, maybe AJ Zapp in 96). It also has to do with who else in the organization plays his position. From day 1 the Braves care about some guys more than others and they guys they care about more are going to get the playing time at the level the team wants them at, which sometimes leads to a player they care less about having to play at a lower level.

Generally the players spend the whole year with the rookie level teams. You may see a guy or two move up right at the tail end of the season, either as a reward for a good season or to help out with a playoff push (like when Kyle Rose and Christian Bethancourt moved from the GCL to Danville last September). Usually the first season is just to get your feet wet, so guys don’t really get promoted in that first year.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 13, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks CB; that sheds some light on things! So basically, the not so important guys have to work twice as hard then, or hope for the player ahead of them to be moved up to get their shot!

by UpstateNyBravesFan on Jul 13, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Some guys are in a hole from the moment they sign their first contract. They have to work twice, or thrice, as hard as other guys, and it still might not matter. It’s a very unfortunate thing that happens at ever level of the game.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 13, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions