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Top 50 Prospects: #22 – Drew Pomeranz

#22 Drew Pomeranz

Colorado Rockies

DOB: 11/22/1988

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2012

Pomeranz was the centerpiece of the deal that brought Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland, and we at The Sombrero thought the move was a win for the Rox in large part due to Pomeranz’ stuff and projectability.  Unfortunately, Colorado rushed him up to make four starts late in the year after 20 across three Minor League stops and none above Double-A.

He wasn’t awful in his Big League starts, but he did post an ERA above 5.00 with below average command and no real ability to miss bats.  However, he will only be 23 in 2012 and should return to the Colorado rotation with something to prove and a strong Minor League career to call on for a confidence boost.  The 6-foot-5 lefty fanned 119 Minor League batters in 2011 with only 38 walks and an sub-2.00 ERA in just over 100 innings.  Despite lacking any Triple-A experience, we don’t really think he has anything to prove in the Minors, and he certainly has enough in his plus fastball and double-plus curve to learn the intricacies of his changeup on the fly at the Major League level.

Year Age Tm Lg W L ERA G GS IP BB SO
2011 22 CLE-COL-min A+,AA 4 3 1.78 20 20 101.0 38 119 KIN,AKR,TUL · CARL,EL,TL
2011 22 COL NL 2 1 5.40 4 4 18.1 5 13
1 Season 2 1 5.40 4 4 18.1 5 13
162 Game Avg. 17 9 5.40 34 34 156 43 111
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg W L ERA IP ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2011 22 CLE-COL-min A+,AA 4 3 1.78 101.0 1.050 6.1 0.3 3.4 10.6 3.13 KIN,AKR,TUL · CARL,EL,TL
2011 22 COL NL 2 1 5.40 18.1 84 1.309 9.3 0.0 2.5 6.4 2.60
1 Season 2 1 5.40 18.1 84 1.309 9.3 0.0 2.5 6.4 2.60
162 Game Avg. 17 9 5.40 156 84 1.309 9.3 0.0 2.5 6.4 2.60
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

It could be Pomeranz’ third plus or better offering, but it never really has to be.  Pomeranz was the top collegiate arm in his draft class (2010) coming out of Mississippi, and his frame, stuff, and handedness all suggest that he will be front line in Colorado for years.


The Baseball Show: Introducing Tomahawk Take

Last night on The Baseball Show, Clint Evans of Diamond Hoggers, M.J. Lloyd of Off Base Percentage, and I discussed the following topics:

-Our involvement with Tomahawk Take on the FanSided Network.

-Thoughts on the Braves shortstop situation, minor league prospects, Jason Heyward, the Jair Jurrjens rumors, and the Braves rotation for next season.

-We offer our thoughts on Derek Lowe’s departure to Cleveland.

-We talk about early hot stove off-season activity: Grady Sizemore, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Albert Pujols and many more free agents are discussed.

-We talk about the managerial possibilities around baseball: Sandy Alomar, Terry Francona, and Ryne Sandberg.

-We debate about the importance of a manager in the game of baseball today.

-I talk about Ozzie Guillen’s departure from the White Sox, and share my thoughts on Robin Ventura.

-As always, much more is discussed.

Top 50 Prospects: #50 – Francisco Lindor

#50 Francisco Lindor

Cleveland Indians

Previous Rank: N/A

DOB: November 14, 1993

ETA: 2015

As the first guy off the board in this year’s Sombrero Top 50, Francisco Lindor, the 8th overall selection from the 2011 draft just squeezed in.  The main knock on him and why he isn’t a little higher is the fact that he signed late and collected less than 20 at-bats as a professional in 2011.  His place among the Top 50 is based solely on who he was as an amateur; he is young (still just 17), was without a doubt the best up-the-middle player in his draft class, and grew up in a phenomenal baseball environment after immigrating to Florida from Puerto Rico.

He has across-the-board tools with a chance to be at least a 50 in each of the five traditional areas and very little downside.  He is listed at 5-foot-11 and 175-pounds, but probably has an inch or two left to grow and should approach 200-pounds by the time he gets makes his big-league debut.  His power tool blossomed a lot during his senior year at Montverde, but still is what scouts like to call in the “doubles” or “gap” range.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2011 17 Mahoning Valley NYPL A- CLE 5 20 19 4 6 2 1 1 5 .316 .350 .316 .666 6
1 Season 5 20 19 4 6 2 1 1 5 .316 .350 .316 .666 6
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2011 17 Mahoning Valley NYPL A- SS 4 20 7 12 1 6 .950 4.75
1 Season 5 20 7 12 1 6 .950 3.80
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/2/2011.

Whatever you want to call it, Lindor is a guy with easy athleticism who has a chance to be an impact bat at the toughest position, and has age on his side.  He should rise quickly and may realistically be on a 25-man by his 20th birthday.

 

 


Golden Sombrero: Chris Parmelee

Top 1: Chris Parmelee struck out swinging against David Huff

Top 4: struck out swinging against Huff

Top 6: called out on strikes against David Huff

Top 7: struck out swinging against Zach Putnam

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Despite being selected by the Twins in the first-round of the 2006 draft, Parmelee didn’t have a breakout season until 2010 when he slashed .285/.356/.401 across three levels.  After posting an .801 OPS this season for Double-A New Britain, the left-handed hitting first baseman has made the most of his chances since making his big league debut on September 6: In 80 plate-appearances, Parmelee has posted an .968 OPS that includes a 13/10 K/BB rate.  That ratio became slightly skewed on Saturday, however, when he recorded the first golden sombrero of his career against the Tribe.  If he wants to be the Twins’ first baseman of the future, he will have to show 20+ home run power across a full season – something that he’s yet to do.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 123

Golden Sombrero: Jim Thome (again)

Top 1: Jim Thome struck out swinging against Luke Hochevar

Top 4: called out on strikes against Hochevar

Top 6: called out on strikes against Hochevar

Top 9: struck out swinging against Greg Holland

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: With his golden sombrero on Saturday, Thome became the second player this season to accomplish the feat for two different teams – Kelly Johnson is the other.  A recent addition to the 600 Home Run Club, I can only imagine how many times Thome has worn a sombrero in his career. It looks like it might be time to subscribe to Baseball-Reference.com’s Play Index…

Total 2011 Sombreros: 104