The Arizona Fall League, which showcases some of the best prospects in the game, is winding down with play continuing through next weekend. We spoke to a longtime major league scout who spent several weeks in Arizona and got his impressions of the half-dozen Red Sox prospects who took part:
Bobby Dalbec, third base
"He's a strikeout/power guy, just like everyone else now, I guess. I was concerned about his ability to make consistent contact earlier in the year, but he's made adjustments. Right now, the issue is with secondary pitches and pitch recognition. I thought he recognized secondary pitches better than before. I was told, 'This guy just swings in case he hits it -- literally.' And that was far from the truth from what I saw.
"I saw him early in the year at (Single-A) Salem and some scouts were saying 'Hey, this guy needs to go on the mound right now (Dalbec pitched in high school and college). I had never seen him before, but he blistered balls down there. He's got that right-handed, valued power that everyone's looking for. I think he's put himself right on the map. He's kind of a zone-type hitter, (hits pitches) from belt down, geared to low pitches. He's got big power to right-center field. He can turn on fastballs. He's going to have holes. He's going to swing-and-miss up in the zone and to some of the off-speed pitches he's still adjusting to. He's worked hard it, too.
"His defense showed up well out there. His demeanor is really even-keeled. He's under control, which I like. His backhand was good. He'd go behind the bag. He's got kind of an odd-throwing action, kind of short-arms the ball, but he has good carry - well above-average. He made all the routine plays and made a couple of web gems -- some quick reaction plays. He has athleticism, leaping for balls. He made all the routine plays I could ask for, with good agility and body control. The whole package is there as far as his defense. There may be some range factors that people will focus on, but I didn't see anything that would prohibit him from playing third base in the big leagues.''
Josh Ockimey, first baseman
"I was disappointed. He's a kid we all root for. His lack of athleticism around the bag really shows up. He works his ass off just to get by. Maybe he's a Justin Bour-type, that ilk. Bour worked his tail off just to be (adequate). Ockimey has to hit a ton. His bat's got to carry him. He's got big, loud power. He showed a lot of uppercut (in Arizona), with a real pronounced launch angle, trying to do too much. A lot of kids out there do that -- they think they have to be better (when measured against other top prospects), so they wind up trying to too much. He made contact, but there were a lot of big hang-time fly balls to second base and right field. He had one games where he hit a couple of fastballs to left-center field that were very impressive. But he's got that exaggerated 'Big Papi' lift (to his swing); it's crazy.
"I thought he got to Pawtucket very quick without covering the strike zone better, a little bit ahead of his ETA. It's all or nothing with him. He struggles terribly against lefties. Unless he can take a different approach, that's going to be an issue. Raw power alone, he'll sit enough cripple pitches to hit out. He might be a trade guy, I don't know, throw him in a deal.''
Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP
"I liked him a lot. He looked in better shape, physically. He's lost some weight. He's moving better and his delivery was much, much more under control. He wasn't trying to throw the ball through the wall, which is what he was doing earlier in the year at Salem. (In Arizona), he worked behind, trying to use his secondary pitches to start hitters off. Ironically, he had much better success with his fastball for his first pitch. The command of his fastball was improved and they were using him in two-inning stints. He's got three pitches definitely, and four occasionally.
"He was blowing guys away out there. He got up to 98 mph and even when he wasn't up that high, the weight of his fastball really got in on hitters quickly. He's got that heavy, late fastball that finishes well. And he hides the ball well. You can't pick him up. He's got that nasty slider, that's swing-and-miss against lefties and righties. He's got the whole package. I've heard everything from closer to No. 3 starter. I wouldn't tinker with taking him out of the rotation yet until he shows he can't command three pitches. He's young, but he's got great upside. He'd be one of the first kids I'd ask for in any deal with (the Red Sox).''
Mike Shawaryn, RHP
"He's a polished kid, throws a lot of strikes. They were using him in a closer's role. He'd come in for an inning two out of three days. That guy's a strike-thrower. He was basically out there working on his changeup, which he needs to do. It's not so much that he needs to polish it up; he needs to value it. He likes to go to the slider, which he can really spot. He's nothing flashy - a low-ceiling, steady, strike-throwing fifth starter who can log innings. He's a physical kid and maybe pitches a tick above that. He really knows how to pitch. I thought he was fatigued in the early going. The ball wasn't really jumping out of his hand, but the last time I saw him, he was fine.''
Josh Taylor, LHP
Good arm, but he needs work with his secondary pitches and (improved) command with his fastball. He throws hard, he's sneaky and he gets swing-and-misses when he's around the zone. He tends to center-cut his strikes. He needs more command of his fastball and his secondary stuff is good enough and will be better when he throws his fastball for strikes. A lefty with his arm strength, I think you have to take seriously. He was up to 96 mph at times and was sitting at 92-93 mph with good, late life. He elevates the fastball, but I don't think he trusts himself enough to really make pitches in on guys.''
Esteban Quiroz, infielder
"He came out of the chute blazing. He went off right away. He's hitting balls out to left field, driving ball to the gaps. He's got some pure hitting ability. He gives you a good at-bat. Other scouts were like, 'Hey, where'd this kid come from?' He's actually pretty close to playing for a club. I don't know if he's their guy, but he might get a look in spring training because of his bat. Nothing fazes him. He's got plenty of confidence. He's an intelligent hitter. He looks for pitches he can take to left-center and up the middle. He's got a disciplined approach. He's an overachiever. He's got deceptive strength. He showed some of that in Portland. He's a nice, little player."
Two other players assigned to the AFL -- infielder Michael Chavis and pitcher Teddy Stankiewicz -- withdrew because of injuries. Chavis had irritation in his right wrist and had a procedure performed two weeks ago to remove some calcification, while Stankiewicz left with some mild shoulder inflammation. Both are expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training.
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