2009 Grapefruit League Observations

Atlanta Braves

• Jason Heyward lived up to the hype in his first big league spring training, hitting .300 with 2 HR 3 RBI and 8 runs scored in limited action.  Braves officials were impressed with his poise and work ethic that he showed this spring and it seems to be a sure bet that he will be playing ball in AA by the time that the '09 season comes to an end.
• Jordan Schafer has made great strides in putting his 50 game suspension in the rear view mirror by hammering pitchers during spring training to the tune of a .324 BA with a HR 4 RBI 5 SB and 14 runs scored.  That performance earned him the opening day start in CF for the Braves where he belted a homerun in his first major league at bat.

Baltimore Orioles

• Adam Jones looked every bit the part of a 5-tool player that the Orioles traded for last year by hitting .368 with 3 HR 5 RBI 7 SB and 12 runs scored in 18 games.  Those torrent spring numbers should translate into more power and speed production for a young Baltimore team on the cusp of competing in the AL East.
• Though he didn't receive much playing time, Nolan Reimold looks like the best power hitter in the system, hitting .333 with 4 HR 8 RBI and 2 SB in just 28 AB.  Reimold will start the season at AAA Norfolk, but he should make his debut at some point this summer.

Boston Red Sox

• Clay Buchholz had a solid Arizona Fall League showing and his excellent spring numbers (2-0 2.52 ERA 4 BB/19 K) lends optimism that he will move beyond last season's struggles.  Currently, there is no room in the Red Sox rotation for Buchholz, so he will pitch at AAA Pawtucket until either an injury or trade gives him another opportunity.
• If he played for a lesser team, Chris Carter would have a chance to be a major league regular.  As a Fenway constituent, his spring numbers (.343 6 HR 10 RBI 14 runs scored) are good enough to earn him a spot on Boston's bench.
• Junichi Tazawa looks to be worth every penny that the BoSox paid for him.  After going 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 1 BB/10 K in 9 innings, he has shown that the time spent at AA Portland will be temporary.

Cincinnati Reds

• Homer Bailey was awful last year, but his spring (0-1 2.61 ERA 4 BB/20 K in 20.1 IP) shows promise of good things to come.  The Reds shuttled him to AAA Louisville to start the season, but he should receive another opportunity to pitch in the major leagues at some point this season whether it be in a Reds uniform or for another team.
• Chris Dickerson has an exciting blend of skills that he effectively displayed late last season and continued to flaunt this spring, hitting .323 with 2 HR 6 RBI and 6 SB.  He should start all games against right handed pitching and could become a 20/20 player as soon as this year.

Detroit Tigers

• Rick Porcello's ascension to the major leagues has been, to say the least, rapid.  After a solid spring (0-1 2.63 ERA 5 BB/7K in 13.2 IP), he has now earned a spot in Detroit's opening day rotation.  Porcello may still have some growing pains as he develops into a major league pitcher, but his stuff is real and should dominate major league hitters very soon.
• The closer role has been a chink in the armor for the Tigers since their World Series season in 2006.  2008 1st round pick Ryan Perry gave every indication that he has the ability to anchor the bullpen as soon as this season.  Perry had a 1-1 record with a 0.77 ERA and 7 BB/11K in 11.2 IP.  With his 98 MPH fastball, power slider, and intimidating demeanor on the mound, Perry is the ideal fireman for a club that has a history of late inning meltdowns.

Florida Marlins

• Emilio Bonifacio's spring numbers were a nice bounce back from last season's struggles and have earned him the nod as the Marlins' leadoff hitter.  Through his first two games this season, Bonifacio is hitting .600 with a HR 4 RBI 4 runs scored and 3 SB.  He won't keep this pace up all season, but he should get on base and put himself in good position to score several runs atop Florida's potent young lineup.
• Cameron Maybin's physical tools are amongst baseball's best.  He has the power to hit 500 ft. homeruns and the speed to steal 30+ bases on an annual basis.  After hitting .333 with a HR 7 RBI 15 runs scored and 2 SB, he looks ready to be a major league regular.  The Marlins want him to be more patient and take a conservative approach at the plate.  That may mute his power numbers in the early going but, rest asssured, they will come.

Houston Astros

• Michael Bourn led all players in stolen bases this spring with 11.  He also scored 13 runs and smacked 10 RBI to show that he has the ability to generate a decent amount of extra-base hits.  His eye at the plate is still a concern that will keep him from hitting for a high average.  If he can address that part of his game, he could steal 60-70 bases every year.

Minnesota Twins

• Carlos Gomez had an up and down 2008 season, but had a strong spring hitting .286 with 3 HR 8 RBI 5 SB and a nice 6 BB/9 K ratio.  His size and speed combo makes him an intriguing potential 5-tool player and the Twins opening day centerfielder.
• Kevin Slowey exhibited Greg Maddux-like control this spring walking just one and striking out 20 in 20.1 innings.  He is #3 starter, but could end up leading the Twins staff in wins by the end of the season.

New York Mets

• Daniel Murphy can flat out hit.  After a highly successful debut season with the Mets, the left fielder hit at nearly a .400 clip in Arizona and then batted .349 with a HR 16 RBI 13 runs scored and 30 hits in the Grapefruit League.  He followed that up by hitting a round tripper on opening day.
• As Carlos Delgado winds down his major league career, the Mets are in need of a new first baseman.  Nick Evans did his best to prove that he is up for the task.  Evans hit .263 with 3 HR 12 RBI and 12 runs scored and will be playing for AAA Buffalo until he gets another opportunity.

New York Yankees

• Brett Gardner started the spring on a power barrage hitting 3 homruns in the early going.  He then reverted to his fleet footed ways hitting singles and stealing 5 bases.  The Yankees opted to make him the starter over incumbant Melky Cabrera and it is almost a certainty that his hard nosed, hustling style of play will be a big hit in the new Yankees Stadium in 2009.
• As Gardner is the current center fielder, Austin Jackson proved that he is on the cusp of becoming the future centerpiece of the Yankees' outfield.  A-Jack hit .333 with 3 HR 10 RBI and 8 runs scored in just 36 AB.  He still has some plate discipline issues to work out, but he is easily New York's best 5-tool prospect and could earn a debut by the end of the summer.
• Phil Coke was absolutely dominant this spring going 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA and an awesome 1 BB/15 K ratio in 13.2 IP.  That performance earned him a slot as a left-handed middle reliever in the Yankees bullpen.  He has the stuff to close someday, but the chances of that happening while wearing pinstripes is quite remote.

Philadelphia Phillies

• The healthy and expedient return of Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz was good news for Philly and bad news for Jason Donald.  Nevertheless, the 2008 Olympian had an excellent spring hitting .296 with 10 runs scored, 3 SB and a 10 BB/8K ratio.  Donald remains a top 2B or SS prospect who may need a change of scenery in order to receive a prolonged opportunity to make his mark in the major leagues.
• John Mayberry Jr. started the spring red hot and cooled over the second half.  Still he hit .246 with 4 HR 12 RBI and 3 SB.  He is slated to begin the season at AAA Ottawa, and will be hard pressed to find many opportunities with a team as deep as the Phillies.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• After a slow start, top prospect Andrew McCutchen caught fire to end the season hitting .318 with 2 HR 7 RBI 13 runs and 12 BB/16 K.  Regardless of his torrid finish, the Bucs sent him to AAA Indianapolis for the start of the season.  He won't remain there all year, though, as he is far too talented to play second fiddle to the likes of Nyjer Morgan or Brandon Moss for the entire season.
• Ross Ohlendorf put forth spring numbers (1-0 0.87 ERA 2 BB/13 K in 20.2 IP)  that were are fresh breath of air from his struggles last year after being traded from the Yankees.  Ohlendorf has nestled into the 4th spot in Pittsburgh's rotation and has some potential to be an inning-eating workhorse.
• Jose Tabata, like Ohlendorf, is a piece of the Xavier Nady trade that is a key component of Pittsburgh's rebuilding project.  After struggling with the Yankees AA affiliate, Tabata caught fire at AA Altoona reviving his young and promising career.  This spring was more the same.  Tabata batted .407 with 5 RBI 6 runs scored and 5 BB/7K in 11 games.  Jose will start back at Altoona, but if this spring is any indicator, the 20 year old won't be there long.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Colby Rasmus, like McCutchen, finished strong this spring hitting .280 with a HR 8 RBI 4 SB and 18 runs scored.  He also smacked 7 doubles and played stellar defense.  He will start in LF for the Cardinals this season and looks to be completely healthy.  Consider him a prime time NL ROY candidate.
• Jason Motte was virtually unhittable this spring with a 1.46 ERA, saving 5 games and compiling a 1 BB/18 K ratio in 12.1 IP.  Those numbers, along with his 98 MPH heater earned him the honor as St. Louis' closer on opening day.
• Allen Craig has consistently been one of the Cardinals' most consistent and under-hyped prospects.  The 3B/LF hit .444 with a HR 8 RBI and 5 BB/4K in 27 at bats.  He will begin in AAA Memphis as David Freese will play 3B at Busch in Troy Glaus' absence.  With top prospect Brett Wallace rising rapidly through the minor league ranks, Craig is a player desperately in need of a change of scenery.

Tampa Bay Rays

• What does David Price have to do to earn a rotation spot?  After dominating on baseball's largest stage last fall, Price had a 2-0 record with a 1.08 ERA and 10 K's in 8.1 IP.  Regardless, he will start the season at AAA Durham to continue to sharpen his control.  He won't stay there long, and he is a surefire AL ROY candidate this season.

Toronto Blue Jays

• Travis Snider has a bat that is chocked full of power and if his spring numbers are any indicator (.421 4 HR 10 RBI 8 doubles), his string of 30+ HR seasons could start as early as this year.  The plate discipline is still a major concern as Snider walked just once this spring and struck out 11 times.  His overall grasp of this area will determine just how high his ceiling is.
• Brad Emaus surprised everyone this spring by hitting .306 with 4 HR 13 RBI and 12 runs scored.  The former Tulane Wave had an excellent first full season with Dunedin in 2008 and was one of the best hitters in the Hawaiian Winter League as well.  Slated to begin at AA New Hampshire, he is a season away from his major league debut.
• It has been ages since the Blue Jays selected David Purcey with their 1st round selection in 2004, but his performance at the end of the 2008 season and his excellent spring numbers (1.54 ERA 13 K in 23.1 IP) gives some optimism that his 97 MPH fastball and biting curveball are major league ready assets that he can effectively use at the end of Toronto's rotation.

The 2009 season is underway and the optimism is high for this spring's top young players to build on their solid performances.  Check out Porter's Prospect Report and Hot-Prospects.net for your daily reports on baseball's top young talents.