Last Thursday afternoon when most of the United States was rooting for a draw against Germany in the World Cup, I was roasting in the midsummer heat watching Winston-Salem against Frederick, the High-A affiliates of the White Sox and Orioles respectively. Although my pale Irish skin was scorched from the sun like a steak at Outback, the opportunity to watch Tim Anderson, Courtney Hawkins and the many prospects on both teams made the afternoon worthwhile. These are my scouting notes from Thursday’s doubleheader, a twin-bill swept by the visiting Dash 11-8 and 6-2 over the Keys.

Tim Anderson Shortstop Winston-Salem

Chicago White Sox Prospect Tim Anderson

I thought Jessica Alba was sexy until I saw Tim Anderson on a baseball diamond, then I discovered true sexiness, as he exudes athleticism, speed, and excellent first-step quickness. Chicago’s #1 pick in 2013, the 21-year-old Anderson is extremely raw as a player, but his skills are slowly beginning to match his outstanding tools.

Defensively Anderson shows a solid but not overwhelming throwing arm and plenty of athleticism to play shortstop, but his movements are a bit stiff for the position and his lack of experience makes scouts question if he can stay at shortstop in the future. I think with refinement Anderson could stay at shortstop in the majors, but his speed and not monstrous throwing arm could make him a better fit in center field or at second base.

White Sox Shortstop Prospect Tim Anderson

At the plate Anderson shows quick wrists and excellent bat speed, with some thump in his bat which could develop into average major league power. His lack of experience shows up in his approach at the plate and his bat-to-ball skills, which lag behind his other tools, but have shown development since last season. If he can refine his approach and make more contact at the plate, his power and speed could allow him to hit 60+ extra base hits per season. Anderson is a no doubt middle-of-the-diamond player with a chance to make an impact at the plate. This is a high-risk prospect due to his lack of experience but Anderson is a top-50 prospect due to his immense tools and potential as an impact two-way player.

Courtney Hawkins Outfield Winston-Salem

White Sox Prospect Courtney Hawkins

They start generic cialis online disappearing as the medicine gets used to your body. Blood are flown to, and fills the penile organ, which exerts a bit of pressure contained and supported on line levitra by a spongy tissue called tunica albuginea. We even want to keep this problem in lowest priced viagra the surroundings of our bedroom only. Notes are extremely common for men that are seen experiencing erectile dysfunction or impotence condition which might be efficient as well as 100mg viagra professional 100% safe for usage. The White Sox #1 pick in the 2012 draft, the 20-year-old Hawkins immediately stands out for his thick, physically imposing frame, seemingly bigger than the listed 6-3 220lbs. An absolute toolshed of a prospect, Hawkins possesses good speed, a strong throwing arm and projects as an asset as a corner outfielder. Like most young prospects, Hawkins plate discipline and hit tool lag behind his other skills, but he has massive power, hitting a home run off the scoreboard in left field. He still lacks polish and needs 2+ more years of minor league development, but Hawkins can develop into a league-average or better corner outfielder in the big leagues.

Adrian Marin Shortstop Frederick Keys

Orioles SS Prospect Adrian Marin

Currently the youngest member on Frederick’s roster, the 20-year-old Marin has been pushed aggressively by the Orioles after being selected in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft. However, Marin is nearly physically maxed out at 6-0 180lbs, which forces me to question if he will stay there in the future, as his average speed and fringy arm portend a second base profile.

Offensively Marin is a right-handed hitter who shows better than average bat-to-ball ability and some gap power but does not project to hit many home runs. Marin is a smart player who shows confidence and aptitude on the field, which allows him to play above his tools. I do not foresee Marin as a difference-maker, but I expect him to carve out a major league career as a contributor at second base or as a utility infielder.

Francellis Montas Right-Handed Pitcher Winston-Salem

A member of the trade that sent Jake Peavy to Boston, the 21-year-old Montas features a 4-pitch repertoire, including a 91-94mph fastball, touching 96, a massively inconsistent 85-87mph slider, the occasional high-70s curveball and a rarely used but intriguing 81-85mph changeup with arm-side wiggle. Montas does not have a particularly crisp delivery, as he tends to open his hips quickly through his motion and slings the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot. His inconsistent, non-fluid motion causes him to struggle with his location, as evidenced by his career 3.83 BB/9 ratio. Montas has a fast arm and legitimate velocity, but his command issues and mediocre curveball and changeup should force his eventual dismissal to the bullpen. That said Montas has a chance to develop into a high-leverage reliever in the future due to his hard fastball and potentially decent slider.

Bonus Chatter

Finally, one quality relief arm to remember is current Frederick reliever and Baltimore 2013 13th round pick, Jimmy Yacabonis, drafted out of St. Joseph’s University. Yacabonis is a big, thick bodied pitcher who features a 91-96mph fastball with life, along with a fringy mid-80s slider. His off-speed pitch significantly lags behind his fastball, but anyone with quality, mid-90s heat is a name worth remembering in the Orioles’ system.

Saturday night the fine people at the Bethesda Big Train were celebrating “Nationals Night” and were gracious (or crazy) enough to invite NatsGM and the Red Porch Report to make an appearance. Due to circumstances beyond even Greg Maddux’s control, Andrew and Phil were unable to make an appearance, leaving yours truly alone to represent the group.

In an effort to get better acquainted with the Bethesda Big Train, I arrived a few hours before the game to interview President and General Manager Adam Dantus. During our conversation, Adam explained the history of the Bethesda Big Train, their goals as a non-profit organization, and how they construct the roster each season. If you can tolerate the loud country music in the background, our interview is certainly a worthwhile listen.

Next legendary Big Train manager Sal Colangelo graciously sat with me to discuss the job of managing a summer league team. Sal made a particularly wise observation when he stated that summer league games are often won or lost in the 6th through 8th innings, when starters tire and bullpens are exposed; it makes sense as these pitchers have already thrown 100+ innings during their college season and have grown weary. Please make sure you give this interview a listen, it a must-listen.

Afterwards Sal was nice enough to call over a few players to share a few minutes after batting practice but before their pregame meal. Remembering what it is like to be a hungry college student, I kept the conversations short, but both players could not have been nicer.

Maryland Catcher Justin Morris

The first player I interviewed was former DeMatha Stag and Maryland rising freshman catcher Justin Morris. Morris was one of my favorite prospects in this recent draft, but unfortunately fell to Arizona in Round 35. Morris especially caught my attention when I asked him what he learned from the various pre-draft workouts he attended and he said “there’s a lot of how good players out there”.

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Secondly I was eager to interview Maryland sophomore infielder Brandon Lowe, recently named to the Freshman All-American team. While I was only able to speak with Brandon briefly, he recounted the historic Terps’ 2014 season, told me the toughest pitcher he faced this year was Clemson’s Daniel Gossett (Oakland 2nd round) and the Maryland pitcher he would least want to face is lefty Ben Brewster.

As part of the festivities of Nationals night, and primarily because the Big Train are friends of NatsGM and the Red Porch Report, assistant GM Eddie Herndon graciously invited me to throw out the 1st Pitch prior to the game. I was fortunate enough to throw out the 1st Pitch earlier last week, but after leading the team to a dominating 3-1 victory on Tuesday evening, they shrewdly invited me to pitch again Saturday night.

One might expect my nerves and anxiety to subside on my second attempt, and you would be as correct as the O.J. Simpson jury 20 years ago – I was straight knee-knocking nervous. Of course it might have had something to do with the fact that Tuesday I was throwing a knuckleball to Tim Yandel who was wearing a glove, and Saturday I was throwing to a glove-less Homer, the Big Train mascot. So I uncorked a mid-40s “heater” toward Homer, which unfortunately grazed his left paw – I guess it is not easy catching a baseball without a thumb. After retrieving the baseball and receiving my first standing hug from a dog mascot, the Big Train took the field for their 19th game of the summer.

Once the game was underway the fans were treated to an outstanding game between the 1st place Big Train and the 2nd place Baltimore Redbirds. University of Maryland sophomore Taylor Stiles started for Bethesda, pitching 5 innings and allowing 1 unearned run on 4 hits and 1 walk against 5 strikeouts. This outstanding performance, in addition to the offense scoring 2 runs in each of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings, staked Bethesda to a large early lead. As Sal Colangelo prophetically mentioned pregame, the top of their lineup spurs the offense, and Saturday, Stephen Alameis and Logan Farrar combined to go 5-8 with 3 runs scored and 4 runs batted in to help send the home fans happy with an 8-6 win.

In conclusion I want to thank the Bethesda Big Train organization for including the Red Porch Report in their celebration of Nationals Night, in particular Eddie Herndon for allowing me to throw out the 1st Pitch. Also, I want to thank Adam Dantus and manager Sal Colangelo for sharing a few minutes with me, along with and Big Train players Justin Morris and Brandon Lowe, to talk some baseball. The Bethesda Big Train is excellent family-friendly local entertainment and I cannot encourage you enough to watch a game before the season concludes next month.

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