After a slow start to the season, the Peoria Javelinas, the team for which all of the Braves' prospects played in the 2014 Arizona Fall League, including the newly-acquired right-handed pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, squeaked into the Arizona Fall League Championship Game with a record of 15-14-3. That record was good enough to win the Western Division of the AFL, which is a bit like the 2014 NFC South, I'd imagine. The Javs dropped the Championship Game by a 14-7 count to the Salt River Rafters, but I'd imagine that you guys are more interested in hearing about how the Braves prospects performed on an individual level in the AFL. A word of caution: don't put too much stock in AFL stats, as it's only about a month's worth of games, which is too small of a sample size to make any hart and fast judgments.
Position Players
Daniel Castro, 2B/SS
AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | K | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | E |
58 | .190 | .266 | .241 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Castro, who turned 22 years old last week, didn't have the easiest time finding playing time in the AFL, as he shared a middle infield with talented players such as Cleveland's wunderkind Francisco Lindor and the Royals' Adalberto Mondesi. Nonetheless, Castro did get some playing time in the AFL, but didn't perform particularly well. He didn't show off much power, which is to be expected, and his line generally mirror the weaknesses in his game. He isn't particularly patient at the plate, he doesn't flash much extra base power, and this is what happens when the BABIP gods aren't on the side of a player like this: an ugly, non-productive line. Castro isn't a standout defensively and will likely be a better fit at second base in a Major League context, so this makes the pressure on his bat even greater. He did hit for contact, as he is wont to do, but it was an underwhelming showing.
Edward Salcedo, RF
AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | K | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | E |
96 | .260 | .314 | .385 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
After giving Salcedo a team record $1.6 million bonus back in 2010 as a prospect out of the Dominican Republic, Salcedo has struggled to adjust to the stateside game, and has lost most of the luster off of his prospect shine. He may have done better than his teammate did, but it still wasn't a particularly promising showing by the 23-year-old, especially considering the offense-friendly environment of the AFL. He served as the team's primary right fielder (Salcedo transitioned to playing outfield after the team gave up on his ability to play third base in 2014), and a positive of the campaign was that he avoided making any errors. Salcedo showed modest power, smacking nine doubles and a home run, but wasn't very patient at the plate and struck out a ton. That's Edward Salcedo in a nutshell. The tools are intriguing, but the production and output leaves much to be desired.
Pitchers
Tyrell Jenkins, RHSP
IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
24.1 | 2.22 | 1.36 | 18 | 10 |
The prospect portion of the deal which sent Jason Heyward to St. Louis is Tyrell Jenkins, a long, athletic, 22-year-old starting pitcher who spent the final half of the 2014 regular season in the high-A Florida State League after recovering from shoulder surgery. Jenkins, who features a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s, a slider that he began focusing on in lieu of a curveball this season, and a changeup, made six starts for the Javelinas in the AFL. His 2.22 ERA is shiny, but he did struggle with control and didn't strike out as many batters as you'd expect for a pitcher with his stuff, which has been a running concern with him. It'll be interesting to see how Jenkins pitches in 2015. Will he be able to better command his repertoire and begin improving his strikeout and walk rates? Wait and see. Jenkins has also been working on mechanical adjustments, and needs to be more consistent in repeating said mechanics. The tools are there for Jenkins to become a starter in the Majors, and he'll be challenged in double-A in 2015, a crucial year in his development.
Aaron Northcraft, RHSP
IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
22.1 | 2.42 | 1.16 | 14 | 9 |
Much like Jenkins, Northcraft made six starts in the AFL and rebounded nicely after a poor season with Gwinnett, posting a 2.42 ERA and the best WHIP for any starter on the Javelinas' roster. Northcraft, who's 24 and has been a Braves farmhand for six (!) seasons now, isn't sexy. He doesn't have the stuff to overwhelm or strike out a lot of hitters, and he pitches to contact. What he does well, and what he did well in the AFL, is generate lots of ground balls with his upper 80s to low 90s sinker. Northcraft doesn't have great control either, but he could end up as an emergency starters in the Majors in 2015 if the need arises. I suspect he'll probably spend most of his time in Gwinnett, but he isn't a horrible option to have in case things go wrong unexpectedly.
Brandon Cunniff, RHRP
IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
14.0 | 3.21 | 1.50 | 10 | 5 |
Cunniff, a 26-year-old reliever who was signed out of an independent league last summer, may have been the most anonymous player on a pretty scant AFL contingent this year for the Braves. He has a low-to-mid 90's fastball and sinker, and a low 80s slider and changeup in his arsenal. He was okay in the AFL, posting a 3.21 ERA despite a slightly high 1.50 WHIP. Cunniff has posted decent numbers in Lynchburg and Mississippi the past two seasons, but he's down fairly far on the organizational list of relief options.
Ryne Harper, RHRP
IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
11.1 | 3.97 | 1.15 | 13 | 4 |
Ryne Harper has always been interesting because he puts up ridiculous strikeout numbers and showcases passable control, but isn't really seen as a prospect due to his bizarre throwing motion and lack of premium stuff. His fastball hangs out in the low 90s, but he does flash a sweeping curveball that he uses to generate swings and misses. The same story rang true in the AFL, as Harper struck out thirteen batters in only 11.1 innings of work. He's going to be 26 by the time next season rolls around, and he's probably just an organizational arm. But his AFL performance was solid despite an unsightly ERA, and who knows, maybe he could get his chance. I wouldn't bet on it, though.
Nate Hyatt, RHRP
IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
10.1 | 4.35 | 1.26 | 12 | 7 |
To wrap things up, we have Nate Hyatt. Hyatt was taken by the Braves back in the 2012 draft out of Appalachian State, and he's always been intriguing due to a mid-90s fastball that's paired with a decent slider and a fairly repeatable delivery. He struck out 27% of hitters in the Carolina League in 2014, and kept at it in Arizona, punching out twelve batters in just over ten innings on the mound. Hyatt struggled with control, as he walked only three fewer batters than he pitched innings. Hyatt will likely be the M-Braves' closer in 2015, and with some improvements, could end up with a shot to make the Majors, perhaps in 2016.