As a 1st Team All-American of the local midday minor league baseball games, I was attracted to Bowie Thursday like Michael Pineda to pine tar, as the Baysox hosted the Erie Seawolves. The weather was absolutely spectacular yesterday and I took advantage of the opportunity to scout the Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Orioles and the Seawolves, the Detroit Double-A farm team.

Thursday the Baysox were hosting Baseball in Education Day at the park, so many of the youngsters in attendance were more interested in “Gangham Style” being played over the loudspeaker between innings than the actual game. Nevertheless the kids and I were treated to a solid effort, and the visiting Seawolves captured the victory 9-5. These are my scouting notes from this contest.

Christian Walker 1B Bowie Baysox

Walker serves as the Baysox #3 hitter and deservedly so, as he possesses a short, compact swing with the ability to generate bat speed and occasional home run power. One of the best hitting prospects in the Orioles farm system, Walker did not have his best day Thursday, striking out 4 times and showing an unhealthy love for sliders low-and-away in the dirt. Even though the results were poor, Walker showed a mature approach at the plate and worked the counts in each of his 5 at-bats on the day.

Defensively Walker is limited to first base, but he does have the potential to be an asset at the position, as he showed soft hands digging out two throws in the dirt, and flashed some agility tagging a runner on an errant throw. I wish Walker played another position, because I like his hitting abilities but fear he may not hit for enough power to profile well at the cold corner. Nonetheless his keen batting eye and overall skills at the plate should allow him to receive the call to the major leagues sometime in the future.

Michael Ohlman Catcher Bowie Baysox
My #10 Orioles Prospect entering 2014, Ohlman is one of my favorite players in this system due to his excellent bat speed and solid raw power. A talented hitter, his offense is presently more advanced than his defense, as he shows good patience at the plate and uses the whole field. A mountain of a kid at 6-5 215lbs, Ohlman’s swing can get lengthy but also allows him to generate plenty of leverage and power.
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Perhaps more importantly, Ohlman has made noticeable improvements defensively as a catcher since I last saw him, as he now appears more relaxed and quiet as a receiver. In particular I noticed how soft his hands were and how subtle he was framing outside pitches. Ohlman has a good release but does not have the strongest arm, and still needs work blocking pitches in the dirt. While I do envision him as an everyday catcher defensively, I do think with continued refinement he could capable serve as a quality backup. He will not be a star, but I will be surprised if Ohlman does not carve out a major league career.

Eugenio Suarez Shortstop Erie Seawolves
The clear star of this game, Suarez was an impact player both offensively and defensively for Erie. At the plate, Suarez showed lightning-quick hands and impressive home run power with two mammoth home runs against the wind to left field in the 4th and 5th innings. He does not have a particularly short swing, but his solid bat speed and quick trigger at the plate allow him to make up for this, though it may become an issue against bigger velocity in the future.

In the field, Suarez is a silky smooth athlete with good speed and quality actions at shortstop. He showed excellent range moving into the outfield on a pop fly, and has soft hands, though he does not flash the monster throwing arm expected from a major league shortstop. This weakness (or lack of a strength) could portend a future shift to second base or a utility profile in the major leagues. Still only 23-years-old, Suarez is a quality middle infield prospect and a name worth remembering in a supposedly shallow Detroit farm system.

Other Prospect Notes:
Erie had two impressive right-handed relievers who entered the game later, with side-arming Chad Smith pitching the 7th and Jose Valdez closing out the 9th. Smith throws from a side-arm or low three-quarters arm slot and featured a 91-94mph fastball with excellent arm-side sink and a decent 82-85mph slider. His deceptive delivery and arm slot could make him an intriguing righty specialist in a few years.

Later Valdez entered and started popping the catcher’s mitt with a 96-98mph fastball, touching 99mph twice, along with an 87mph slider. He only pitches from the stretch, and has plenty of effort in his delivery, but his monster fastball overwhelmed the Baysox hitters. Recently 24-years-old, Valdez could have an impact in the Detroit bullpen later this season or in 2015.

Finally in the 9th inning 30-year-old former major leaguer Juan Morillo entered the game for the Baysox and immediately caught my eye, blowing up my radar gun with a relatively flat 95-98mph fastball, a hard-breaking 86-88mph slider, and an 83-84mph changeup. He has battled injuries in the past, and struggles to command the strike zone, but that type of pure velocity could get him a call to Birdland sometime in 2014.

Sure we are just a month into the major league calendar, but the college baseball season is in full swing and the MLB Draft is now only six weeks away. This class is shaping up to be one of the more talented groups in the past couple years, with impressive depth in college pitching and toolsy high school athletes.

Recently I had the opportunity to watch two of the best pitching prospects in this year’s draft class, East Carolina University’s Jeff Hoffman and Louisiana State’s Aaron Nola. These are my scouting notes on two of the biggest names in college baseball.

Jeff Hoffman RHP East Carolina University

Date Scouted: 4.4.14 vs. Rice (8 IP, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 1 Walk, 7 strikeouts)

After an exceptional 2013 summer in the Cape Cod League, Hoffman entered 2014 as one of the top prospects for the June draft. Upon this viewing, Hoffman did little to disappoint, overwhelming the Rice lineup with a mid-90s fastball, a low-to-mid-90s 2-seam fastball, a devastating late-breaking slider, and the occasional curveball. Hoffman possesses a near ideal pitcher’s frame, listed at 6-4 192lbs, with a wiry body type and plenty of projection remaining. Hoffman does not have the best delivery, as there is plenty of movement  including a dip-and-drive motion in his delivery, and he tends to fall off towards first base. As a professional, Hoffman will likely try to polish and refine his delivery, in hopes of helping him repeat his motion and improving his command of the strike zone.

The word that continually comes to mind in terms of Hoffman is “electric”, as his 4-pitch repertoire especially his above-average or better fastball and slider give him top-of-the-rotation potential. In order for him to reach his enormous ceiling, Hoffman must polish his delivery, refine his fastball command, and improve his changeup. Hoffman projects as a mid-rotation starting pitcher or electric closer, with the potential to develop into a #2; and yes, if everything clicks and he makes improvements, a potential #1 starter. There is plenty of risk involving Hoffman as a prospect, but his raw tools are as good as anyone in this draft class. Hoffman is one of the most electric pitching prospects in the past few years, and should be drafted inside the top-10 picks this June, with an outside chance of being selected 1st overall.
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NatsGM Projected Draft Status –> Top-10 Picks of Round 1

Aaron Nola RHP Louisiana State University

Date Scouted: 4.17.14 vs. Mississippi (7.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts)

Against a quality Rebels’ lineup on ESPNU in prime time, Nola showed all the qualities and moxie one might expect from a future 1st round draft pick. On this evening, Nola featured a low-90s fastball that he located to both sides of the plate, along with a high-70s curveball with late bite; in addition, Nola showed the occasional high-70s changeup with arm-side fade, though this pitch lags behind his other offerings. Nola has an impressive pitchers physique with thin legs, a high waist, and the frame to add weight as he matures. Nola does not have the cleanest delivery, as he uses an active, across-his-body-type delivery which he repeats quite impressively. I assume his motion deceives hitters and makes it difficult to locate the ball during his delivery.

What truly separates Nola is his exceptional ability to repeat his delivery and continually pounding the strike zone with quality strikes. His fastball velocity is not elite, perhaps reaching a maximum 93mph, and his inconsistent changeup limits his professional ceiling to a strike-throwing #3 or #4 starter. That said his elite control, along with an above-average fastball and curveball, and repeatable delivery gives Nola one of the highest prospect floors in this year’s crop. His ceiling will keep him out of the top-10 picks, but Nola should be taken in the 1st round to a team looking for a quick to the majors, relatively safe prospect. This is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft, and will be an excellent value selection this summer.

NatsGM Projected Draft Status –> Mid To Late 1st Round

Due to a run of mediocre starts from the rotation and having an overtaxed bullpen, over the weekend the Washington Nationals promoted right-handed reliever Blake Treinen from Triple-A Syracuse to bolster their relief corps.  To make room on the roster, the Nationals were forced to demote breakout pitcher Aaron Barrett to the minors.  Similarly to Barrett, Treinen made quite an impression during spring training, striking out 9 hitters in 9.2 innings and flashing mid-90s velocity with heavy sink on his fastball.

Treinen was the Oakland Athletics 7^th round pick in the 2011 draft from South Dakota St., and was one of three players (including A.J. Cole and Ian Krol) Washington acquired in the Mike Morse 3-way trade to Seattle in January 2013.  The 25-year-old Treinen is a large man, listed at 6-5 215lbs, and his delivery generates excellent momentum, which makes the ball difficult to see for opposing hitters.  Treinen has been almost exclusively used as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, with a notably low 2.3 BB/9 ratio and 0.7 HR/9 for his career; these numbers could portend a solid career as a reliever and partially explains why the Nationals promoted him to bolster the overworked bullpen. 

Treinen made his major league debut in the 6^th inning Saturday evening in relief of Taylor Jordan, and blanked the Braves for 2 innings, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits with 1 strikeout.  Treinen needed only 30 pitches against the 8 hitters he faced, throwing 20 strikes against 10 balls, and inducing 2 ground outs and 2 fly outs.  Treinen flashed a strong 3-pitch mix, relying heavily on a 96.09mph sinker, while showing an 85.74mph slider and an 84.74mph curveball.   He threw 26 sinkers, 2 sliders and 2 curveballs on his appearance.  (Thanks BrooksBaseball.net)

Treinen overwhelming the Braves lineup with his mid-90s fastball with heavy sink that they could not seem to square up.  He knows his strength and relies on his plus fastball, but he did flash a sharp biting slider to strike out Chris Johnson.  His monster sinker and massive frame have gotten him to the big leagues, but the quality and consistency of his off-speed pitches will determine his eventual role.  If his slider continues to improve in quality and consistency, in addition to his plus sinking fastball, Treinen projects as a high-leverage late-inning reliever. 

Certainly one appearance and 30 pitches falls squarely in the category of small sample size, but it is difficult not to be impressed with this initial appearance from Blake Treinen and intrigued by his future potential.  It is not often a team can acquire a pitcher with a plus fastball and a potential above-average slider, especially as the supposed 3^rd player in a trade.  But the Nationals have found a gem in Treinen, and a player who figures to be a big piece of their bullpen in the future, perhaps as soon as this season.    

Thursday morning I was lucky enough to take in a game between the visiting Lynchburg Hillcats, the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, as they played a getaway game against the home Potomac Nationals.  It was middle school science day, so the stands were filled with youngsters extremely boisterous about not being in school and soaking up the outstanding weather.  In a well-played contest between each team, the P-Nats were fortunate to send the crowd home with a victory 7-5 in the series finale.  These are some of my scouting notes about the members of the Potomac squad.

Ronald Pena      RHP       Potomac Nationals

The Nationals 16^th round pick in 2012, Pena served as Potomac’s starter on Thursday and immediately impressed with his tall, lean, athletic build and noticeably fast arm.  The 22-year-old Pena has a near ideal pitchers frame at a listed 6-4 210lbs. with room to add another 15-25 pounds in the future.  His arsenal Thursday consisted of a 90-92mph fastball, touching 93mph, an 80-82mph changeup with nice sinking action, and a below-average 72-75mph curveball.  I was particularly impressed with his changeup, which at times baffled left-handed hitters and caused them to flinch at the plate. 

Pena has plenty of effort in his delivery, and struggles with his command as evidenced by his career 3.39 BB/9 ratio, meaning he could be destined for the bullpen.  The raw tools are there for him to continue to rise in the organization, and if he sees an uptick in his stuff as he fills out physically, Pena could blossom into a possible major leaguer.  The Nationals’ Scouting and Development people should be commended for finding a talented, projectable arm like Pena so late in the draft.

Long one of my favorite sleeper prospects in the Nationals system, right-fielder Brandon Miller impressed me again in this appearance.  Miller, the Nationals 4^th round pick in 2012, has impressive physical tools but his difficulties working into a favorable counts and swing-and-miss tendencies cause him to struggle to allow his power to play in game situations.  Also, Miller lost considerable weight last season, which sapped much of his power in the later part of the year.

In particular Thursday, in Miller’s 3^rd at-bat of the game he worked the count to 2-0, before taking a monster cut at an 87mph fastball that he just missed.  However, the next pitch he shortened his swing and still hit an opposite-field home run down the right field line.  This adjustment shows he has matured as a hitter, which could help boost his batting average and allow his prodigious power to appear more often.  Not to mention he has added much of the weight he lost last season and looks physically solid.  Remember the name Brandon Miller, as he has the tools to be a solid major league right fielder if things come together for him. 

Dakota Bacus, the prospect the Nationals acquired last summer from Oakland for Kurt Suzuki, entered the game in relief of Pena and blanked the Hillcats in his three innings of work.  Bacus featured an 88-90mph fastball and an 82-85mph slider with late break that resembled a hard cutter, in addition to a changeup, and a curveball.  In addition to having one of the better names in baseball, I was impressed with how Bacus pounds the strike zone and never threw a straight pitch.  His lack of top-end velocity likely limits his ceiling, but Bacus has a good chance to continue climbing the minor league system in future years. 

Another name that quickly caught my eye was Oscar Tejeda, a former top prospect in the Red Sox organization, who was playing third base and batting third for Potomac.  The 24-year-old Tejeda is an excellent looking athlete who can be described as a “tool shed”, with good speed, a strong arm, and obvious power at the plate.  After spending the last three seasons struggling with injuries in Double-A, I am somewhat surprised to see Tejeda playing for Potomac in 2014.  However, if he can stay healthy and make more contact at the plate, the Nationals could have a diamond in the rough in Tejeda.  This is a quality name to watch this year. 

Serving as Potomac’s closer Thursday was Robert Benincasa, who overwhelmed the Lynchburg hitters in the 9^th inning with a 91-92mph fastball with movement and an 80mph splitter.  Benincasa, the Nationals 7^th round pick in 2012, locates his fastball well to both sides of the plate, and the movement on the pitch causes a large number of ground ball outs.  Now 23-years-old, Benincasa should continue to move through the farm system and looks like a future major league middle reliever. 

A Special Thank You to Bryan Holland and the Potomac Nationals for their hospitality.