Wednesday I made the 300 mile roundtrip journey to Trenton, New Jersey to watch the Eastern League All-Star Game. Aside from the humidity and overwhelming number of autograph hounds, it was a great day for scouting and a well-played game filled with prospects. These are some of my notes from the contest.
Tim Tebow OF New York Mets (Binghamton Rumble Ponies… Really?)
The most discussed prospect on either side, Tebow served as the designated hitter for the Eastern team. Tebow has noticeably reshaped his physique from a hulking football player to a near prototypical baseball frame. He took an impressive batting practice, showing off some bat speed and raw strength to hit several lengthy home runs to all fields.
In his first at-bat, Tebow took a 91mph fastball deep the opposite field for a double, again flashing his raw power. The almost 31-year-old struggles against off-speed pitches and has plenty of swing-and-miss in his swing. However, he has developed into a quality baseball player and no longer qualifies as a novelty act. I would not be surprised if he spends some time as a major league 5th outfielder.
Brendan Rodgers SS Colorado Rockies (Hartford Yard Goats)
The best prospect on the field, Rodgers showed his impressive bat speed and raw power in one of the better batting practice sessions of the day. The ball makes a different sound and truly jumps off his bat. Perhaps more impressively, Rodgers made several highlight-reel worthy plays at shortstop. One in particular saw him range deep back and to his right to make a catch in left field. There are few questions if Rodgers will hit, but if the 21-year-old can stay at shortstop, he has a ceiling as an all-star and one of the most valuable players in the majors.
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Jordan Romano RHP Toronto Blue Jays (New Hampshire Fisher Cats)
The most impressive pitcher on the evening was Toronto prospect and New Hampshire RHP Jordan Romano. He started for the Eastern Team and was pumping easy 94-95mph fastballs, touching 96mph once, along with a quality mid-80s slider. He stands 6’4” with long arms, giving him good extension toward home plate. The 25-year-old Romano was a 10th round pick in 2014, and one of the Blue Jays’ scouts did a tremendous job finding this future major league arm.
Short Hops
* Nationals catcher Taylor Gushue started for the Eastern team, going 1-2 with a sharply hit single (95mph off his bat) while showing well defensively. He flashed impressive raw power in batting practice and hit a massive foul ball in the 5th inning. His subpar .239 batting average overshadows his 25 extra base hits this season and a .744 OPS. The 24-year-old switch hitter profiles as a backup catcher in the major leagues.
* Former Washington Nationals prospect Taylor Hearn started the game for the Western team and looked the part of one of the better pitching prospects in the Eastern League. A tall, lanky left-hander, Hearn sat 91-94mph with his fastball, along with a nasty low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. He was struggling with his command in his 1 inning appearance, but profiles as a high-leverage reliever.
* In the top of the 2nd, I saw something I’ve never truly witnessed in-person, an Eephus pitch thrown in a game. Boston prospect and Portland Sea Dogs LHP Matt Kent threw a 48mph Eephus, which looked like a cross between a lob and a pitcher catching his spike. The pitch was called a ball, but likely threw off the hitter’s rhythm, as he popped meekly to center field on the next pitch.
* Arm and Hammer Park gets an easy “60” grade, with plenty of parking, good food (try the Pork Roll) and a Role “80” bat dog named Rookie.
Tim Tebow hast struck out 99 times in 262 ABs this year and has hit a grand total of 6 HRs as a corner outfielder in a league where he is nearly 6 years older then the average player. He’s only an “All Star” in the “minds” of the Eastern League’s marketing department, and only a team as godawful and desperate to put fans in the seats as the Mutts would ever consider bringing him up to the majors.
Hey Karl,
Thanks for writing and for reading. I do not scout performance but rather the tools I observe. I have taken criticism for this write-up, which I own. I stand by what I wrote.