From June 15th-June 19th I made the trip to Peoria to see Midwest League action between the Detroit Tigers High-A affiliate and the St. Louis Cardinals High-A affiliate to see the final four games of the series. There weren’t too many highly touted prospects on these teams, but I was able to get a look at some potential big league contributors.
Dylan Smith, RHP (DET)
5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
This was the best prospect I got to see during my time at the field. He lived up to any hype he had coming in. Smith was sitting mostly in the 91-93 MPH range with his fastball and coupled it with a slider and changeup. He threw a heavy dose of fastballs early on, with the secondaries becoming more prominent as the game went along. He wasn’t mowing down the Peoria hitters, but he also wasn’t giving up a ton of consistently hard contact.
The slider got sharper as the game went on, as well. It appeared as though he was yanking the early inning breaking balls, causing them to wind up way off the outside part of the plate to right-handed hitters. By his final inning, he opened with two front door sliders to the leadoff hitter that broke sharply over the plate. Later in that inning he threw the best changeup I’ve ever seen him throw at the professional level. It was a 1-1 changeup to a good hitter in Osvaldo Tovalin where the bottom completely fell out. He was changing sequencing the velo change really well. There was a sense of comfort in these secondaries, especially later in the game. Following a mound visit in the 4th inning, Smith came out firing sliders to get out of the inning.
The impressive part about Smith is that he’s unflappable on the mound. No matter what was happening, there was nothing in his body language that suggested it was anything other than business as usual. If he can attack hitters with all three pitches he has a potential mid-rotation ceiling.
Osvaldo Tovalin, 3B/1B (STL)
2-for-8, HR, 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, SO
A mid series call up, so I only got to see two starts, but they were two very impressive games. At the plate he showed tremendous pullside power, including his first hit at the level which was the type of home run that if you blinked, you missed it. The ball was simply crushed. He added a double in his second start that he pulled down the line. He showed the potential for some opposite field power, too, taking an outside pitch to the warning track in left field. The plate skills stood out more than the results. He rarely chased pitches out of the zone and worked counts. He was able to get the bat to ball on a fairly consistent basis, too.
That said, a lot of his swings and misses came when he recognized fastball and sold out for power. The bat will be what carries the profile, but his defense was very solid too. He spent one game at first base, and one at third base. He looked more natural at third, showing great reactions and the ability to move laterally. His arm accuracy wasn’t the best, but again all this comes in a one-game sample. He looks to be another bat first, big power potential type corner infield prospect for the Cardinals. After these two games, I also vehemently believe he’s a criminally underrated prospect for the Cardinals.
Brant Hurter LHP (DET)
4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Another High-A debut in this series. Hurter was too good for the Low-A hitters, so this presented a new challenge. It seemed Hurter was up to the task. He worked mostly with a 91-94 MPH fastball and low-80s slider. There were some command issues in the first inning, but he locked in and escaped a bases-loaded jam. The slider is easily a plus pitch that he will use in any situation. In this start, he liked to back door righties on 0-0 counts. He’s tall and all limbs out there on the mound. He throws from a lower slot, which seems to help with movement and deception on his slider. The ball his hidden from right-handed batters for a long time. There were times Hurter left pitches in very hittable locations, especially later in the outing. He was also not very efficient, throwing 76 pitches, 48 strikes, over 4 innings. The way he worked and the arsenal of pitches was very reminiscent of watching fellow Tiger lefty Andrew Chafin. That may be what the future holds for Hurter.
Josh Crouch, C (DET)
5-for-17, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, 4 SO
A catcher named Crouch is still one of my favorite things ever. He also showed off some serious plate skills in this series. The power is one thing, but the impressive part of Crouch’s offense during this series was his ability to cover the whole plate. The at bat that sticks out most was a 3rd inning RBI opportunity facing a same-handed pitcher. He got a slider running away and he was able to punch it up the middle for an RBI single. He was pull heavy in his approach, hitting just two routine fly balls to the opposite field. He worked counts, but at times looked passive, watching strike three go by. Defensively he has an above-average arm behind the plate. There was only one stolen base attempt when he was behind the plate, and he made a good throw, but the runner was stealing off the pitcher and successfully stole the base. He looks to be a well rounded catcher profile, with his power and arm being the leading tools.
Mike Antico, OF (STL)
6-for-19, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 5 SO, 2 SB
It took until the last two games of the series for me to really appreciate what I was seeing in Antico. He has a skillset similar to Harrison Bader. Antico was putting together professional at bat after professional at bat. He’d find himself down 0-2, work the count back to even, then shoot a line drive single up the middle. He made things happen. Its very much a hit over power and glove over everything profile. The glove is what really stands out with Antico. He plays as good of a centerfield as I’ve seen. The instincts and routes are fantastic. There were a few times it seemed like he wouldn’t get to a ball and at the last second he showed up to catch it on the run. He’s the kind of defender that’s hard to appreciate because he plays so well that the hard plays look routine and the flashy plays rarely happen because they don’t need to.
Trei Cruz, INF (DET)
3-for-14, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SO
This is a case of what was being done on the field is not reflected in the stats. Cruz didn’t post gaudy, or even good offensive numbers while I was there, but he was hitting the ball hard pretty consistently. Just right at guys, and a lot of times on the ground. His first at bat in the first game I was there for was a single up the middle and it was a very pure sound coming off the bat. He never got back to that sound, but he was still hitting the ball hard in many of his at bats in the following games.
The approach was very aggressive at the plate, swinging early and often. He was able to make a lot of contact, though. It’s the kind of approach where you just keep feeling like if he were a little more selective to find his pitch, he’s find more consistent success at the plate because he can get the bat head to just about any location in the zone. He’s a switch hitter, but I only saw one at bat from the right side.
He played every position on the dirt except first, and he played a decent shortstop and third base. His arm can handle either position. It was the final game of the series when he played second base and that looked like a more natural defensive home for him. He only got a couple of chances, but his overall comfort level just seemed higher with more time to make the play.
Todd Lott OF (STL)
5-for-17, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 5 SO
The home run Lott hit was majestic. It really felt like something special might be there. That was his last at bat of the first game. He has quick wrists and the ability to generate power. As the series continued, that feeling faded for me. It’s easy to tell that there is above average, maybe even raw power there, but his feel to hit holds back that potential. He had two doubles, but it never felt like he was impacting the ball much throughout this four-game stint.
He was very susceptible to breaking balls away. Right now, he’s a very dead red hitter hunting for mistake fastballs. He’s a superb athlete, which helps on both sides of the ball, but more often than not he looked a bit lost at the plate. Defensively he played a solid right field and looked like a fringe defender. His arm, however, is spectacular. There was a sac fly hit in his direction that he would have no chance of getting an out on, but he fired a bullet to the catcher that arrived just a split second too late. It was a play that would be easy to give up on while watching, a routine sac fly, but the throw caught even the runner off guard by how close it wound up being. There is potential with Lott, but the hit tool is what will ultimately decide his future.
Bryant Packard, OF (DET)
7-for-19, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 SO, 3 SB
Remember his draft year when Packard had all that helium because he was, simply put, a professional hitter? That’s the Bryant Packard that was in Peoria in this series. He was putting together really nice at bats, and he was just hitting the ball. He sprayed it around the yard with plenty of success utilizing a quick, compact swing. Getting to watch some of his batting practice, there’s plenty of raw power to tap into still. He was hitting balls out to the opposite field and to his pullside. In game it seems like more of a line drive approach.
Again, as simply as it can be put, he just hits. He’s a smart player, which was seen most in his three steals. He isn’t the fastest guy on the field, but he was able to pick his spots to swipe three bags. Defensively he played a much better left field than I was anticipating. He was getting to the balls he should be getting to, and he even made a flashy play in foul territory. Following that catch he showed off his arm, quickly firing a one hopper to first base in an attempt to double off the runner. He missed it by a step. If the throw was a little more on a line, he might have gotten the runner. From catch to throw, it was very quick. Especially for the power generated. Packard is a bat first prospect, and he should be able to stick in left field.
Other Performers Of Note
Austin Murr OF/1B (DET)
Similar to Packard, Murr just hits. He has a really good feel at the plate to drive pitches and spray the ball to all fields. He doesn’t have a ton of game power, the home run he hit in this series was his first of the year, but he worked counts and put the ball in play. Defensively, he’s looked like a first baseman long term. He lacks some of the natural athleticism of some other players, and some of his movements were slightly awkward defensively. Bat first profile that’s hit over power.
Carlos Mendoza INF (DET)
This is a guy who just got called up from Low-A. His bat isn’t bad, but it’s not much to write home about. There were times at the plate when he looked like a great hitter, shooting the ball into the gap with authority, but more often than not he looked a bit lost at the plate. He stands out because there’s not a doubt in my mind he was the best defensive infielder for either team. His reactions, his instincts, his first step at any position on the dirt makes him a plus defender. His arm might even be plus at best, but it’s easily an above-average arm with plenty of strength and carry across the diamond.
Edgar Manzo, RHP (STL)
This was the High-A debut for Manzo, who was promoted with Tovalin. He threw 4 solid innings sitting 90-91 MPH with his fastball and slider that was 79-80 MPH. He had been mostly a reliever in Palm Beach, but got the start because John Beller was scratched. The bullpen role is more fitting for the skillset, but he still performed well. He was more weak contact than swing and miss, though he did average a strikeout an inning. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he throws from a high arm slot and hides the ball well.
Tommy Jew, OF (STL)
Jew was only in the lineup for a single game while I was in attendance, but he got a couple hits, including a double. What makes him notable is that he’s a plus, if not double plus, runner. He’s extremely fast which helps him on both sides of the ball. The defense stood out more than the bat. He looks like a natural center fielder, though I saw him in right field. Speed and defense profile.
Ulrich Bojarski, OF (DET)
Another player I only got one look at. He’s all limbs out there on the field. To be quite honest it’s very unimpressive when you watch his defense, or you watch his free-swinging approach at the plate. But when you see him connect with a ball, you get it. It’s loud contact. He has a lot of natural power coming from those long limbs. Even some outs get hit hard.