Second Base

Ryan Brett, who turned 21 in October, was the Rays’ 3rd round pick in 2010 and was having a good season for the Hot Rods before it all came crashing down when Brett was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance, a suspension he will continue to serve at the beginning of 2013. Allowing that positive test to happen was a major mistake on Brett’s part and it will put the pressure on him even more to perform- and especially as a player previously known for his character, Brett will have to rebuild his relationship with teammates and coaches from the bottom up.  On the season, Brett posted a .285/.348/.393 line with 20 doubles, 6 homers, 35 RBI, 48 of 56 stolen bases, and 73 strikeouts against 37 walks in 100 games and 456 plate appearances. Brett stands out first and foremost for his blazing speed, which was clear based on his stolen base total, but Brett shows nice ability at the plate as well. Brett’s bat speed is only a tick above-average, but he has a compact swing and shows flashes of lift that would allow him to hit for some power, although that didn’t happen much in 2012. Brett makes a lot of contact and has a patient approach, but the bizarre thing for him this season was that he struck out swinging in just 8.8% of his plate appearances compared to the 14.4% league average but struck out looking in 6.8% of his PA’s compared to the 5.0% average. The explanation that you want to stay for that is that Brett was trying to do too much on fastballs, and indeed Brett didn’t square up as many balls in 2012 as he did in 2011, but usually that would come with too many strikeouts as well. Brett’s strikeout rate did nearly double from 2011 to 2012, from 8.9% to 15.6%, but it was still good (the league average was 19.5%). What’s going on? The answer is that Brett is still trying to convert himself from a switch-hitter to a purely right-handed hitter and had to face right-on-right fastballs for the first time, something he wasn’t used to. Hopefully just getting more at-bats as a right-handed hitter- something his suspension certainly didn’t help him do- will rectify that problem. Brett still has a patient approach and is very good at recognizing breaking pitches, so as long as he corrects this problem, he’ll be fine. Defensively, Brett shows great range and reflexes, but he needs to continue working on his actions and the accuracy of his throws as his fielding percentage at second base was just .949 in 2012 (MLB average .983), although that was a moderate improvement from his .931 mark in 2011. Brett has an interesting set of all-around abilities and is especially impressive because of his combination of speed, solid pure hitting ability, patience, and some raw power, but his suspension didn’t do any favors to his development and his game remains rough around the edges.

Juniel Querecuto, who turned just 20 years old in September, was signed by the Rays out of Venezuela back in 2009 and had a solid season in 2012 for the Hot Rods, although his defense was much more impressive than his offense. Querecuto posted a .249/.316/.303 line with 17 doubles, 2 triples, 32 RBI, 13 of 19 stolen bases, and 79 strikeouts versus 38 walks in 106 games and 436 plate appearances. Querecuto, a switch-hitter, strangely, like Brett, had some trouble with fastballs from right-handed pitchers, but overall he showed decent plate discipline and flashes of some bat speed, although he has to improve versus breaking pitches and get the good bat speed more often. He has good speed but hits too many balls in the air for his own good right now. Defensively, though, Querecuto, who played primarily shortstop until this season, saw time at second base and third base in addition to shortstop and played very well especially at second base, posting a .991 fielding percentage, just 2 errors in 52 games. Querecuto has good range, nice hands, and plus arm strength, and he profiles fine defensively at shortstop but it’s good that he’s getting experience at other positions because right now he looks like a utility player more than anything else. Querecuto is young enough, though, that the Rays hope that his bat will come along. The Rays like Querecuto’s defensive talents and they hope that more offense is still to come.

Shortstop

Hager had a nice season for the Hot Rods in his full-season debut, including leading the team with 72 RBIs. (Credit: Flickr user White Cap Wendy)

Jake Hager, who doesn’t turn 20 years old until March, was the Rays’ third 1st round pick in their 2011 draft bonanza and delivered a great showing in his first full pro season, posting a .281/.345/.412 line with 22 doubles, 10 homers, 72 RBI, 17 of 28 stolen bases, and 60 strikeouts versus 40 walks in 114 games and 501 plate appearances. Hager, 6’1″ and 170 pounds, is a solid all-around player with the intangibles to make all his tools play up. Hager features nice bat speed and smacks the ball to all fields, although he did get into trouble when he tried to sell out for more home run power. His plate discipline is solid and he makes a ton of contact at the plate, although he may be just a touch overaggressive. As Hager learns which pitches to drive, his power will hopefully come out more naturally. Hager has a chance to be a 15-20 threat in the major leagues, which would be good for a shortstop. Hager also features good speed, although average for a shortstop, but he needs work on reading pitchers to be a real stolen base threat moving forward. Defensively, Hager is a little more polished than your average shortstop coming out of high school, posting a .957 fielding percentage in 105 games there in 2012, and he features smooth actions and a strong arm although his range is only average. Hager has the ability to move more quickly than your conventional high school draft pick, combining good polish with some room to grow as he looks to become an above-average big league shortstop.

Third Base

Tyler Goeddel, who turned 20 years old in October, received the second-highest bonus among the Rays’ 2011 draft picks behind only Taylor Guerrieri after being selected 41st overall, 9 picks after Hager. Goeddel got off to a scorching hot start to the season before finishing with just decent overall numbers. Goeddel posted a .246/.335/.371 line with 19 doubles, 6 homers, 46 RBI, 30 of 35 stolen bases, and 94 strikeouts versus 38 walks in 103 games and 379 plate appearances. Goeddel’s main issue on the season was strikeouts- he struck out in 25.3% of his plate appearances. Goeddel, a projectable power bat at 6’4″, 180, shows great bat speed with flashes of plus raw power, but he struggled mightily with offspeed pitches in 2012. He actually hit well against left-handed pitching, posting a .281/.379/.404 line in 69 plate appearances, but he was at just .236/.321/.354 versus righties. Goeddel walked at a good 10.1% rate on the season as his patience is solid, but he has to improve against breaking pitches to cut down on his strikeout rate. Goeddel did manage an excellent 9-9 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 15 games, so that was a great sign. Goeddel also got in trouble trying to do too much on fastballs and has to work on figuring out which pitches to drive. The one major positive from Goeddel’s season was how well he utilized his plus speed, stealing 30 of 35 bases, and although Goeddel may lose a step as he fills out, he does have the ability to be a 20 stolen base threat annually in the big leagues. In the Rays’ dream scenario he’s a player who can hit for a nice average with 35 homers and 20 stolen bases per season, which would make him one of the best player in baseball. Goeddel is a long way from anything remotely close to that but the potential is there. Defensively, Goeddel has plenty of defensive ability, showing an excellent arm and great actions while utilizing his speed well for outstanding range, and he has a chance to be a plus defensive third baseman, but especially with Evan Longoria entrenched at third base for the Rays, he could profile just about anywhere on the field, with second base looking like a likely destination. Goeddel did, though, struggle defensively at third base in 2012, managing just a .899 fielding percentage, although a lot of that came from the fact that he got to more balls than the average third baseman, and also because a least a little of his offensive frustration had to go into his performance into the field. Tyler Goeddel will be a project for the Rays, but he has sky-high potential and the Rays will give him as much time as he needs to get there.

In these four infielders, all 23 or younger, the Rays could have four big leaguers including three potential above-average starters and maybe even a star. All four, especially Goeddel, need plenty of development, but if you’re looking for the Rays’ best upside on the infield, you’re seeing a lot of it right here. We’ll continue next time with the Hot Rods’ outfielders.

For all our analysis on the Hot Rods and the Rays’ other minor league affiliates, check out our Minor League Affiliates Analysis page here at RCG.

Double-A Southern League Postseason Game 1 (Best of 5): Mobile BayBears (ARI) 5, Montgomery Biscuits 3

Matt Buschmann had been going well entering his Game 1 start on Thursday, tossing 5 straight quality starts allowing 2 or fewer runs in all but 1, but he struggled in the Biscuits’ playoff debut and the offense was unable to compensate as the Biscuits fell behind 1-0 to the BayBears in the first round of the Southern League Postseason. Buschmann lasted just 4.1 innings allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 6 hits, striking out 3 while walking 4 although his groundout to flyout ratio was a good 6-3. The Biscuits pushed across a run in the 3rd on a Derek Dietrich RBI double and another in the 5th on a Mikie Mahtook RBI single, but they trailed 5-2 after 5 innings. Marquis Fleming, Neil Schenk, and C.J. Riefenhauser tossed scoreless ball in relief of Buschmann, but the Biscuits managed just 1 more run on another RBI single by Mahtook in the 9th before they fell 5-3. This game was actually pretty embarrassing for the Biscuits as they banged out 14 hits compared to Mobile’s 8 but went just 3 for 18 with runners in scoring position. You have to seize your opportunities, especially in the playoffs, and they were unable to execute. Chase Anderson earned the win for Mobile, allowing 2 run on 8 hits in 5 innings, striking out 9 while walking 1. For the Biscuits, Mahtook went 3 for 5 with his 2 RBIs, Ty Morrison and Shawn O’Malley each went 3 for 5 with a stolen base, and Michael Sheridan and Greg Sexton each went 2 for 4 with a double.

Querecuto had a huge hit, but unfortunately it was not enough. (Credit: Flickr user MInors Fan Photos)

Low-A Midwest League Playoffs Game 2 (Best of 3): Lake County Captains (CLE) 5, Bowling Green Hot 4 (10 innings)

The Hot Rods’ trip to the postseason was a short one as the Captains swept them 2 games to none in the first round. Ryan Carpenter got the start for Bowling Green and struggled mightily with command as he allowed line drive after line drive. Carpenter actually struck out 6 while walking 1 in 3.2 innings, but he allowed 4 runs on 8 hits to put the Hot Rods down 4-2. A Jeff Malm 2-run homer accounted for the Bowling Green runs to that point but they had already left 5 men on base, 3 in scoring position. Andrew Bellatti followed Carpenter and was excellent, allowing just 2 hits in 3.2 innings, striking out 6 while walking 1. The Hot Hods continued to strand a bunch of runners, but finally in the 7th they came back to tie the game. The Hot Rods had two on with no one out after a Todd Glaesmann double and a Malm walk before a strikeout and a groundout meant that it was down to Juniel Querecuto. But Querecuto came through with an enormous hit, drilling a 2-run double to tie the game at 4. Nick Sawyer tossed the next 2 innings scoreless for the Hot Rods, but in the 10th, an Austin Hubbard wild pitch scored the go-ahead run as Lake County won 5-4. The Hot Rods went just 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position, and that was the difference in this one. Both teams struck out 14 times in the game even though neither starter escaped the 4th inning. Querecuto, Glaesmann, Matt Rice, and Cameron Seitzer all had multi-games in the Hot Rods’ final game of the season.

Triple-A International League: Norfolk Tides (BAL) 3, Durham Bulls 1

In his final start of the 2012 season, Matt Torra went for his 13th win. He didn’t get it. Torra pitched great. Through 6 innings, he had a 1-hit shutout going, although the Bulls only got him 1 run on a Will Rhymes RBI single in the 4th. Then in the 7th, Torra ran into some trouble, allowing a single, a lineout, and then a double to give the Tides 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. In came Frank De Los Santos from the bullpen and it did not go well as he allowed a sac fly and two more hits before the inning was through to make it 3-1 Tides. That was the final in the game as Torra ended up taking the loss. In the game, Torra went 6.1 innings allowing 2 runs on just 3 hits, striking out 3 while walking 1 and posting a 7-4 groundout to flyout ratio. On the year, Torra went 12-7 with a 4.10 ERA, striking out 78 while walking 26 in 23 starts, 3 relief appearances, and 147 IP.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 10, Huntsville Stars (MIL) 3

Merrill Kelly turned in his first quality start of the season the Biscuits offense used a 7-run 3rd inning on the way to double-digit runs on their way to a 10-3 win. Kelly improved to 8-3 on the year, going 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 2 while walking 2 as well. He didn’t do it gracefully, but he got the job done. Neil Schenk followed with 2 shutout innings, allowing 4 hits but striking out 5 while walking none. In terms of the offense, Mark Thomas slammed a 2-run homer, Mikie Mahtook went 2 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base, an RBI, and 2 runs scored, Michael Sheridan had an RBI double and a sac fly, and Derek Dietrich and Omar Luna both went 2 for 5. Per Stacy Long, it was the Biscuits’ first time scoring 10 or more runs since June 25th.

High-A Florida State League: Fort Myers Miracle (MIN) 8, Charlotte Stone Crabs 7 (10 innings)

Both starters struggled mightily and the Stone Crabs came up just short in a wild slugfest. Enny Romero started for Charlotte and had no control at all. He went 5 innings allowing just 3 hits, but he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, thanks to 5 walks, although he did strike out 7 with a 7-1 groundout to flyout ratio. It was Enigmatic Enny’s third consecutive bad start following a 6 inning, 1-hit, 9 strikeout performance back on August 9th. George Jensen followed with 4 strong innings, but he allowed a Daniel Santana solo homer to tie the game at 7. And in the 10th, Kyle Kundson lined a walk-off single off of Alex Koronis as Fort Myers won 8-7. Phil Wunderlich went 2 for 4 with an RBI double and a 2-run homer, Cody Rogers went 3 for 4, and Steven Tinoco went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Low-A Midwest League: Lake County Captains (CLE) 11,Bowling Green Hot Rods 4

Sean Bierman was great in every single one of his professional starts entering Thursday. Unfortunately that streak came to an end, and in a big way. Luck played a factor in Bierman’s terrible performance, but mostly he just had a bad night. Bierman went 4.1 innings allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, on 9 hits, striking out 6 while walking 3. His groundout to flyout ratio was actually a perfect 6-0. 4 of his hits were groundball hits, but his biggest problem was a lack of the sharp command and control he had displayed in all his other starts as he had walked just 6 batters in 57.1 innings entering Thursday. Hopefully Bierman can get back on track in the Midwest League playoffs for Bowling Green. Nick Sawyer finished the game for Bowling Green, striking out 2 while allowing a hit in a shutout innings. Juniel Querecuto went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored, Cameron Seitzer had an RBI double, and Taylor Motter and Kes Carter had the other Bowling Green RBIs.

Great to see Reginatto playing the hero as the Renegades clinched a playoff birth. (Credit: Flickr user hapzydeco)

Short Season-A New York-Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 1

Leonardo Reginatto came up huge in the 9th inning as the Hudson Valley Renegades clinched their first playoff birth since 1999, back when some guy named Josh Hamilton was on the team, hitting .312 with 10 homers and 18 steals. Eduar Quinonez went neck-and-neck with Cyclones ace Luis Mateo, going 6 innings allowing just 1 run on on 5 hits, striking out 3 while walking 3 as well but posting an 8-3 groundout to flyout ratio. Mateo went 7 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits for Brookyln, striking out 8 while walking just 1. His only blemish was a 4th inning RBI single by Justin O’Conner. Jose Alberto Molina followed Quinonez with 1.2 shutout innings before Ryan Garton got the final out of the 8th as the game went to the 9th tied 1-1. But then Reginatto delivered against Paul Sewald, slamming a go-ahead 2-run homer, and Garton worked a scoreless 9th as the Renegades won 3-1. Reginatto went 2 for 4 with his huge homer, Ryan Dunn went 1 for 3 with a walk, scoring the go-ahead run in the 9th on Reginatto’s blast, and Tommy Coyle went 2 for 4 with his 18 stolen base of the season. Pretty cool that he got his 18th steal, the same amount Hamilton had back in ’99, on the same night they clinched.