Farm Report Card – Part III

I'll combine the final two parts into one since I'm a day late on part three.

When Yorman Bazardo came to the M's in return for Ron Villone, the first two scouts I asked about him said three words each.

"He's Esteban Yan."

At this point, the M's would be lucky if he turned out to be any better than Yan.

His velocity has been 88-92 for the entire duration of his Mariners' career, which is down 4-6 mph from the pinnacle of his prospect status with the Marlins.

His most recent start resulted in his removal, due to elbow soreness.

Command/Control: B-

Pitch Development: C-

Overall Development: C

Stock: Down

Ryan Feierabend was cruising along with satisfactory results until a two-inning, nine-run hiccup last week.

He returned Monday to go two shutout innings but was removed with an undisclosed injury.

Feierabend has fanned 6.2 per nine innings and walks just 13 batters all year, but again he's getting hit quite a bit. He's allowed 57 hits and eight home runs. At some point, the 20-year-old is going to have to start getting outs more efficiently.

Command/Control: A-

Pitch Development: C

Overall Development: C+

Stock: Holding

Oswaldo Navarro is duplicating in Double-A what Asdrubal Cabrera is doing in Tacoma – drawing walks and competing at the plate in every at-bat.

The one difference is the reason why Navarro began the year a level below that of his fellow countrymen: strikeouts.

As a table setter, Navarro's 30 strikeouts are a bit alarming, though his 29 walks help bring ignorance to the empty at-bat syndrome.

He's a fantastic defender – right there with Cabrera – so anything he does above average with the bat is a plus.

Defense: A-

Offense: C+

Development: B-

Stock: Slightly Up

Stephen Kahn has been written about quite a bit between Prospect Insider, the Seattle P-I and other online sources, so I'll keep it simple.

Kahn has three weaknesses, all three correctable, but he'll need marked improvement in all areas before reaching the bigs.

1. His command goes on vacation far too often for a late-inning reliever. As he gets challenged in the high minors his location will become much more critical as he'll learn he can't just blow everyone away.

2. Throwing strikes with his breaking ball will become necessary in Double-A. He's capable, but he throws his curve as an out pitch and tries to get hitters to chase it rather than catching them looking.

3. His fastball has good velocity but it's pretty straight and the better minor league bats will start hitting that pitch all over the ballpark. He may need to toy with a third pitch, perhaps a split-finger, or add a two-seam fastball to keep hitters from sitting dead red.

Command/Control: C-

Pitch Development: C-

Overall Development: C+

Stock: Holding

Mark Lowe continues to receive promising reports as a multi-inning relief option. One scout suggested recently that he may be in the bigs in two years with his two above-average pitches.

I'll go further and say that if he develops an above-average curve or slider to go with his improving change and 91-96 mph fastball, he may get another look as a starting pitcher down the road.

Lowe has shown plus command and a ferocious approach to his short stints from the pen.

Command/Control: A

Pitch Development: B

Overall Development: B+

Stock: Rising

Robert Rohrbaugh is turning out to be the most valuable of the pitchers drafted on the first day last June. The left-hander missed some time with a back injury but has been on a rampage ever since returning from the DL.

He's never going to be a big strikeout guy but he has plus command and has pitchability that ranks right up there with the Travis Blackley's of the world at the same stage of development.

Rohrbaugh uses a fastball in the 87-90 range to set up a curve, slider and change. His changeup is fast becoming his best pitch, but his slider maybe his most important, particularly when facing lefty bats.

Command/Control: A-

Pitch Development: C+

Overall Development: B-

Stock: Slightly Up

Emiliano Fruto is a reliever for one reason and a potential starter for four others. He's blessed with a 90-93 mph fastball with late life, a plus change that rivals any in the organization and a plus curve ball that is fastly becoming his out pitch.

He's built like a 4×4 but is relegated to relief work due to conditioning questions. He's listed at 6-2 and 230 pounds but may be closer to 250.

Until he stays in shape for extended time, he'll be at the front of a long line of capable bullpen options in the M's system.

Command/Control: C+

Pitch Development: B-

Overall Development: B-

Stock: Holding

Wladimir Balentien (top, left) is a total enigma… unless you ask roving hitting instructor Glenn Adams.

"He's just a habitual offender," said Adams. "He's come a long ways and has a long ways to go but some of his progress goes unseen in the stats. He's starting to understand what his job is at the plate."

Balentien still swings for the fences a lot, as evidenced by his 60+ strikeouts, but he does rank third in the Texas League in homers, fourth in RBI and sixth in slugging percentage.

He's hitting .266, which is a solid mark for a power bat at the Wolff, which favors pitchers a tad bit.

Defense: C-

Offense: C+

Development: C

Stock: Holding

Justin Thomas is putting up fantastic numbers in the Midwest League, with the exception of his latest outing, and really belongs in Inland Empire.

He ranks second in the system in strikeouts and is first in innings pitched, but has the advantage of the ballparks and league conditions in Wisconsin.

It's difficult to say where Thomas really is in his development at this stage.

He has shown a consistent 89-92 mph fastball, decent change and good breaking ball, but it's against hitters with little professional experience.

He'll hit the Cal League by July and then we'll see what Thomas is all about.

Command/Control: B

Pitch Development: B-

Overall Development: B-

Stock: Holding

Bryan LaHair has been among the most impressive bats in the system this season but has yet to break through into the top 10 because he lacks ideal power for the first base position and is athletically incapable of playing anywhere else.

LaHair is covering the plate well, limiting his strikeouts and putting good wood on the fastball down in San Antonio, but is having problems versus left-handed pitching.

He's destroying righties to the tune of a .377/.445/.600 with all six of his home runs, but has seven hits in 35 ABs versus southpaws. [Hargrove would have a field day with those splits]

Defense: B

Offense: B+

Development: B

Stock: Rising

– Michael Garciaparra

Defense: B-

Offense: B-

Development: B

Stock: Rising

– Jose Escalona

Command/Control: B

Pitch Development: B+

Overall Development: B

Stock: Rising

– Eric O'Flaherty

Command/Control: B

Pitch Development: B+

Overall Development: B+

Stock: Slightly Up
– Shawn Nottingham (right)

Command/Control: B

Pitch Development: B+

Overall Development: B

Stock: Rising

– Edgar Guaramato

Command/Control: B-

Pitch Development: B

Overall Development: B

Stock: Holding

– Julio Santiago

Command/Control: B

Pitch Development: B-

– Overall Development: B

Stock: Holding

Michael Saunders

Defense: B-

Offense: C-

Development: C-

Stock: Down

– Luis Valbuena

Defense: C+

Offense: C-

Development: C-

Stock: Slightly Down

– Jeffrey Dominguez

Defense: B

Offense: B

Development: B+

Stock: Rising

– Ron Garth

Defense: C+

Offense: B

Development: B

Stock: Rising

Organizational Grade:

March: C-

One-Third: C-