Pirate 1996 Scouting Report - Catchers
Last Updated 14 April 1996
On Saturday, November 18, 1995, Mark Jareb
(mij6t@avery.med.virginia.edu) posted the following to the Pirate e-mail list. I have edited
it and included it here with his permission:
"Notes: when you see ###/###/###, that stands for
BA/OBP/SLG (or
just OBP/SLG sometimes). I'll probably harp a lot on OBP because
I see that as the Pirates major offensive problem (compared to
the league their OBP is relatively worse than their SLG)."
Index: | Pirates
| Calgary
| Carolina
| Lynchburg
| Augusta
| Erie
| GCL
| Projections |
Pirates
Angelo Encarnacion: 23years old; signed as a free
agent
from the Dominican Republic in 1990. He has an excellent throwing
arm, but at this point, he is not a major league hitter. His
226/285/333 for the Bucs in 1995 was right in line with his minor
league numbers. He should be a decent backup catcher if he gains
a little more power (as often happens from 24-26). If he can get
the OBP/SLG up to 320/400, I think he'll be the ideal backup to
Kendall. In 1996, he'll probably split his time between Calgary
and Pittsburgh. Though he'll be given a chance, I don't see him
winning the Bucs starting job.
I expect the Pirates to sign some older catcher as the backup to
tutor a young starter. Here's the free agents: Mike Macfarlane,
Greg Myers, Tony Pena, Joe Oliver, Mike Stanley, Lance Parrish,
Charlie O'Brien, Mark Parent, Benito Santiago, Pat Borders, Don
Slaught, and Jeff Reed. I'd only sign someone in this group if I
could get them for $500K or less. My top choices would be
O'Brien or Slaught, though they may want more than $500K. In
that case, I'd go for Jeff Reed or some 6 year minor leage Free
Agent. Some possibilities from that group would be: Scooter
Tucker, Rich Rowland, Todd Pratt, Jeff Tackett, Brian Deak, and
Chad Kreuter.
Calgary AAA
Keith Osik: 27 years old; he was drafted in the
24th
round in '90 out of LSU. He hit extremely well at AAA last season
(his minor league numbers probably translate to 320/420). He
also played as a replacement player (I don't know if this will
have a positive or negative effect in front office evaluations).
Depending on whether the Bucs sign any Free Agent catchers, he'll
probably get a shot at making the club. I know nothing about him
defensively -- hr started in the minors as a 3B-C, so I assume he
has a fairly strong arm. From an offensive standpoint I'd rather
have him as the MLB backup than Encarnacion. If he doesn't make
the majors in '96, he won't be in the organization by '97.
Tim Marx: 27 years old; he was signed in '91 (I'm
not
sure if he was drafted). At each level, he appears to be the
backup. Considering his age, he's not much of a prospect.
However, he can hit better than several other Pirate catchers at
the AA/AAA level.
Marcus Hanel: 24 years old; he was drafted in '89.
His
career minor league numbers from 7 seasons are 192/243/258.
Primarily played at AA and A in '95. I'll be surprised to see
him in baseball next year.
Carolina AA
Jason Kendall: 22 years old; he was drafted in the
1st
round in '92. I hope he's the starting catcher in '96 and it
looks like he'll be given every opportunity to win the job.
Initially, he was considered to be stronger defensively, but then
began hitting in '94. His numbers at Carolina were 326/414/448 -
which according to STATS translates to 300/360/400. He rarely
strikes out and draws walks at a slightly above average rate.
Considering age and that he hits a fair amount of doubles now, he
could develop some decent 20 HR power in a few years. Because I
expect that he'll win the starting job, I also expect that the
Bucs will sign some old, experienced catcher as his backup. He's
playing in Arizona for winter ball and hitting pretty well thus
far.
Here is another scouting
report on Jason.
Tim Edge: 27 years old; he was drafted in the 6th
round
in '90. 1995 was the 4th straight year he's played at least part
of the season in Carolina. Over his 6 year minors career, he has
hit 211/296/319. I can't see why he's stuck around this long as
it is.
Lynchburg A (full season, high)
Sergio Mendez: 22 years old; he signed in '92 out
of the
Dominican Republic. He has a pretty good throwing arm. He has
decent power for his age, but he doesn't walk. He's a poor man's
Encarnacion who hasn't played above AA. He will probably be the
primary catcher at AA next season.
Chance Reynolds: 24 years old; his contract was
purchased from Erie of the Frontier League (Erie is now our short
season affiliate in NY-Penn League). He played mostly at Erie
and Augusta in '95. He can walk, but doesn't hit for average or
power. He's not really a prospect, but I'm assuming he was
signed as a replacement player.
Reed Secrist: 26 years old; he was drafted in
'92. He's
not really a catcher, but a DH. He played 3B and OF in previous
years in the minors. He hit extremely well, (282/375/495), but
26 is fairly old for the Carolina League. He will be moved up to
AA and needs to hit a ton and find a position he can field before
he has a chance to see the turf in Pittsburgh.
John Canetto: 23 years old; he was drafted in the
25th
round in '95 out of Coastal Carolina. He was primarily a third
baseman in college. He split his '95 season time between Erie and
Lynchburg. In just 64 Plate Appearances, he hit 208/328/245 (so
he knows how to walk). I expect he'll be at Augusta next season
to play a full season learning how to catch.
Augusta A (full season, low)
Jon Sweet: 24 years old; he was drafted in the
19th
round in '94 out of Ohio State. Thus far, he has shown that he
can hit singles. He has no power and is slightly below average
at walking. Though not promising, it's still early for him -- he
only has 2 years hitting with a wooden bat.
Wikleman Gonzalez: 22 years old; he was signed in
'92 out
of Venezuela. 1995 was his 2nd season playing in US minor
leagues. He is playing for Caracas in the Venezuelan winter
league this year. He has shown signs of power and is OK in terms
of OBP. He DH'ed more than he caught and also played some
firstbase, so his catching defense is questionable. I'll be
curious to see how he does at Lynchburg next season.
Erie A (short season)
Steve Flanigan: 24 years old; he was drafted in
the 21st
round in '95 out of California (PA). He hit 271/287/376. He had
1 BB in 87 PA -- I believe that's the worst of any batter in the
Bucs minors.
Marty Boryzcewski: 23 years old; I don't know from
where.
His 1995 numbers were 094/121/094.
Gulf Coast (Rookie League)
Nilson Antigua: 20 years old; I don't know from
where. He
hit 245/255/296 in 1995 with only 2 BB in 102 Plate Appearances.
Paul McSparin: 22 years old; he was drafted in
the 29th
round out of Southeastern Illinois. He hit 292/333/486 (his 1st
year in the rookie league he batted .069). He'll probably be in
Erie next season.
Skip Shipp (say that 3 times quickly!): 20 years
old;
draft and follow from the 35th round in '94. He hit 130/213/130
in 61 Plate Appearances.
Projections:
Bucs: Jason Kendall and Free Agent signee as the backup
(maybe Slaught)
Calgary: Angelo Encarnacion and Keith Osik (or Tim
Marx)
Carolina: Sergio Mendez and either Marx, Edge or Hanel
Lynchburg: Jon Sweet and Wikleman Gonzalez
Augusta: Steve Flanigan and John Canetto (or Chance
Reynolds)
Erie: Chance Reynolds, Paul McSparin, and Nilson
Antigua
Gulf Coast League: Skip Shipp and a draft pick?
Here are some post-spring training comments:
Bucs: Well, the Bucs did sign the old backup (Lance
Parrish), but he simply was too old. Surprisingly, these roster
moves turned out the way I had hoped they would, as opposed to
the way I expected things to shake down.
Kendall is the starter and Osik is the backup.
Calgary: Encarnacion basically gets to bat everyday with
Marx occasionally giving him a rest. Secrist was jumped up from
Lynchburg (single A)
and thus far has appeared as the backup 3B -- with Dale Sveum as
the primary 3B. I imagine Secrist will see more playing time
as Sveum adopts a utility role of playing every IF position.
Again,
these moves are pretty good
Carolina: Thus far, Hanel is the starting catcher here --
he must be amazing defensively as he seems to warrant some
attention as a prospect
while he is simply the worst hitter in the Bucs system. Sergio
Mendez who was the starter at Lynchburg last year is nowhere to
be
found -- I expect that he might be injured now, but will be in
Carolina as the starter when healthy. Edge and Reynolds -- one
or
both will be released by midseason.
Lynchburg: Interestingly, thus far it seems that Thobe
will be the primary catcher. Thobe exclusively played 1B up to
now -- he's a big guy (6-7 230 lb.) and he just looks out of
place as a catcher. Though it seems as if it's very early in his
position switch (which is a really smart move by Thobe
career-wise) so it should be interesting to see what develops.
Augusta: Actually Gonzalez did not play any 1B in '95 but
it looks like he will be in '96 -- for some reason he's back at
Augusta and the expected
1B here. Charles Rice is being switched to LF. I haven't seen
any
boxscores yet, but I imagine that Flanigan and McSparin split
most
of the catching duty.
Whereabouts Unknown: Sergio Mendez, John Canetto, Marty
Boryzcewski, Nilson Antigua, and Skip Shipp.
Erie:
Gulf Coast League:
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