Braves Blast From The Past

by gondeee on Apr 22, 2011 1:32 PM EDT in Braves Quote For The Day

From Baseball America's latest Hot Sheet (which has been curiously lacking any Braves prospects this year) comes this tidbit about a former Braves prospect:

A Braves second-round pick in 2004, Eric Campbell bashed 18 home runs in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in '05, winning MVP honors, and then 22 more for low Class A Rome in '06. The third baseman wore out his welcome with the Braves, however, and when he stopped hitting (just .241/.308/.331 for Double-A Mississippi in '09), Atlanta released him. Campbell looked next to the independent leagues after the Phillies released him in '10 spring training, setting his sights on Fargo-Moorhead. He hit .311 with 22 homers in 302 at-bats for the RedHawks, helping lead them to a second straight Northern League title. The Reds signed Campbell last October and he's gotten off to an excellent start in the high Class A California League. The 25-year-old is batting .500/.561/.815 (27-for-54) for Bakersfield and leads the loop in average, on-base, slugging, doubles (nine), extra-base hits (12) and runs scored (21).

I don't know if those last two sentences are tongue and cheek or not, but a 25-year-old in A-ball should be crushing the ball. Campbell was always nice when I talked to him, and he had so much promise, but there were these questions that kept coming up about his work ethic, especially on defense. I wish him the best, but I wouldn't get too excited until he starts hitting in double-A.

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Great guy and former prospect

by Atlanta Braves on Apr 22, 2011 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

I’d be interested to see him get promoted, cause I see the Reds AA team in Carolina a lot. I was never a fan of Campbell’s but if he can turn things around and have a nice career that’s great for him. But yes, a 25 year old in A ball, who also happens to be in the best hitter’s league in the game, should be killing the ball.

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by cbwilk on Apr 22, 2011 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

Since this is a ‘where are they now’ post, Barbaro Canizares is playing for Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League. He’s hitting .412 with a 1.258 OPS, 3 homers and 7 RBI in 34 at bats. The Mexian League is officially a AAA league, but it’s essentially an independent league and the level of play is probably closer to AA.

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by cbwilk on Apr 22, 2011 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

did we give up on him bc of Gomez or what? Always wondered why we released him..

by dean0uga on Apr 22, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say Gomez was probably the direct reason. With Canizares there was no projection, he was already a finished product, a defensive liability who didn’t hit for much power but had a high average and no speed. With Gomez he’s younger, still already 26, so there’s a chance he could get better.

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by cbwilk on Apr 22, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

got it, just always thought he could be a decent bench player. Seemed to hit for a good avg, nothing explosive though

by dean0uga on Apr 22, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck to him...

he was bound to get squeezed out by younger players eventually. I’ll always be a fan of Cuban B.

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by Mr. Sanchez on Apr 23, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

25 is old for a guy to just now be hitting well in high A ball. The Braves have a pretty good record with judging their prospects correctly though. All the best to him.

With regards to Canizares, I had no idea that Mexico had a baseball league that played now. I thought they only had a winter league.

by Zontar on Apr 22, 2011 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Yep, and the fact that most folks don’t know about it is a good indication of the level of play. It’s mostly a place for older guys who can’t really hack it in AAA anymore, and a ton of random Mexican or other foreign players who might never have played affiliated ball.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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by cbwilk on Apr 22, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions