Scouting Report on Sioux Falls Pheasants

Joe Anthonsen is a career independent ball player and is the small lead-off hitter for the Pheasants. He put a good swing on a breaking ball but doesn't seem to have much power or bat speed (mistake pitch batting average hitter). Cory Morales was the shortstop and is another career indy ball player. He botched an easy play and offensively, his swing/size doesn't give him much power. He chased a slider to strikeout. Jared Bolden was picked in the 9th round by the Texas Rangers in 2008, and even played 6 games in AAA in 2009. He played 21 games in AA last year (and 94 in A+, hitting .271/.314/.418). He had some really ugly at-bats, with a not good left-handed swing. He runs okay but is not a burner. His best tool is his arm, as it was excellent.

Roger Abercrombie was a 23rd round pick by the Dodgers way back in 1999. He played in 180 MLB games between the Marlins and Astros from 2006-2008. In that time, he had a -.3 FWAR, with a negative UZR (and an even 0 DRS), positive baserunning rating, and wRC+ of just 61. He spent 2009 in AAA Round Rock (Rangers) and had a wOBA + of 95. He has since been in Independent ball. He has good size, but he really seems to lack some bat speed. He has an open stance but closes it before the ball gets there. He hit the ball off the end of the bat, but it looked like there is some raw power though. There was just a lot of bad swings.In centerfield, his arm is strong enough, but he made a really wild throw. He has good range in the field despite being 31.

Jake Taylor was picked in the 35th round by the Marlins in 2005, but went to college instead. After putting up some big numbers at Missouri Southern State University, he went straight to independent ball, where he has struggled. He runs okay, and it looks like he can drive the ball the other way pretty well. He chased out of the zone to strikeout though, and seems prone to do so.

Cesar Nicolas was a 5th round pick by the Diamondbacks back in 2004. He got to AA and put up decent numbers but found himself in independent ball before getting a short stint in the Tigers organization (even getting a few games in AAA, but he is obviously back in independent ball again). He has no real speed at all and the plate discipline is a question. He can pull the ball well though.

Al Quintana was picked in the 40th round in 2005, and unlike most 40th round picks, Quintana made it to AAA. He played in just 17 games at that level though. He has a good looking arm behind the plate, but he was chasing pitches out of the zone.
Cristian Guerrero was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Brewers in 1997. In a long minor league career, he spent some time with Seattle, Washington, and Angels affiliates before going into independent ball in 2008. He looked just lost at the plate. His plate discipline was awful.

Mark Michael got a relatively short run in the Pirates system as a UDFA in the mid-2000s, but has been an Indy Ball veteran since then (and not a particularly good one). The starting right-handed pitcher was sitting at just 85-86 MPH on his fastball, getting up to 87-88 MPH later, and touching 89-90 MPH once each. He threw a rare changeup at 78 MPH with no real movement and it stayed up. His curveball was 75-76 MPH when he could throw it for strikes, and 71-72 MPH when it was in the dirt. It doesn't have loopy downward break, but it was his feature pitch. He was grunting throughout the entire outing, indicating some effort in his delivery. It may account for some of the variances in his velocity, although it doesn't look like a messy delivery with the eye.

Kyle Mertins is a RHP with an interesting delivery in which it looks like his foot is already down by the time his arm comes over the top. He threw a lot of mediocre sliders that were 82-84 MPH. His fastball was 89-91, hitting 92 MPH. It is straight and stays high, but at least with his slider he works both eye levels. Command/control is an issue for him. After being an okay reliever at Cal State Fullerton, Mertins was drafted in the 28th round by the Braves in 2010. He never had a good strikeout rate, but didn't walk too many batters and kept the ball in the park, putting up decent numbers but his career with the Braves ended after spending all of 2011 in Rome (A).

Alan Deratt is a beefy right-handed reliever who made it to AA with the Rockies (17th round pick in 2008). His overall K/BB in the minors was not bad, but he really wasn't given much of a chance in AA, pitching in just 3 outings. He hit 90 MPH on his fastball, with a 80-82 MPH slider with some sharp break. He can throw it for strikes or bury it.