Our new evaluator, Jason Steiner, had an opportunity to watch the Durham Bulls and Memphis Redbirds. He viewed several games over a week span and was able to provide notes on several notable prospects for the Rays. You can follow him on Twitter or on future posts with Prospects Live!
Dates observed: June 6th - June 11th, 2023
INF Osleivis Basabe
Osleivis Basabe demonstrated commendable plate discipline, particularly when facing pitches low and inside. However, he encountered difficulties with high fastballs, often struggling to lay off them. A notable at-bat against left-handed pitcher Zach Thompson on June 10th exemplified Basabe's series. The at-bat began with Basabe showing patience and laying off an inside fastball, followed by a breaking ball that narrowly missed the outside corner. He then took an aggressive swing at a middle-in fastball, fouling it off. Basabe displayed discipline by refraining from swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and demonstrated aggression by attacking hittable pitches within the zone. On a 2-1 count, he wisely let a high fastball go for a ball. The subsequent pitch was a slider outside the zone, which Basabe managed to make contact with but only fouled off. He then fouled off a fastball that he couldn't quite connect with for extra bases. In the next pitch, he chased a high fastball out of the zone but barely got a piece of it before drawing a ball four on a pitch that barely missed the bottom inside corner.
Basabe's performance revealed an inconsistent approach when facing sliders down and away, resulting in strikeouts when falling behind in counts, as he did against Thompson. On a positive note, he demonstrated the ability to drive breaking balls effectively to the opposite field for extra base hits. For instance, in an at-bat against right-hander Ryan Loutos, Basabe capitalized on a breaking ball outside, driving it past the first baseman for an RBI double. Throughout the series, Basabe showcased his versatility by playing both shortstop and third base, although his performance suggested a better fit at third base. He exhibited quick hands and a strong arm, contributing to double plays. Despite making solid contact, Basabe's limited power hindered his ability to convert hits into extra bases. Currently, he is working on refining his technique to better handle middle-away fastballs in order to improve his offensive output.
SS/OF Greg Jones
Greg Jones displayed an aggressive approach at the plate, often swinging early in the count. His exceptional speed proved to be a valuable asset on the base paths, making him a constant threat to opposing teams. Jones showcased his speed during an at-bat against Kyle Leahy. Switch-hitting from the left side of the plate, he impressively took a difficicult pitch, a down-and-in ball. Jones exhibited good discipline throughout the series, refraining from swinging at pitches outside the strike zone, resulting in a significant number of plate appearances. On Leahy's second pitch, Jones took advantage of a pitch that covered too much of the plate and drove it down the first baseline for a triple.
Although the contact wasn't exceptionally hard, Jones compensated with his swift base running, enabling him to reach third base. Jones demonstrated excellent bat-to-ball skills, consistently hitting the ball hard up the middle. Notably, he displayed power from both sides of the plate and demonstrated the ability to spray the ball to all fields. In another game, Jones drove a ball to the opposite field from right-hander Ryan Loutos. Loutos began the at-bat by throwing a breaking pitch outside, which Jones smartly laid off. The subsequent pitch, a middle-in fastball, resulted in a late swing from Jones. However, his quick hands allowed him to make contact and drive the ball the opposite way for a single. Defensively, Jones exhibited versatility, contributing both in the outfield and at shortstop. While his arm strength is average, he compensates with excellent speed and range, making him an effective fielder. Occasionally, Jones struggled with off-balance swings when faced with breaking balls, but overall, he demonstrated impressive skills throughout the series.
1B Kyle Manzardo
Kyle Manzardo showcased strong pitch recognition and an aggressive approach, often choosing to swing early in the count. He displayed the ability to make solid contact with off-speed pitches and showed power in his hits. Manzardo's ability to drive fastballs to the opposite field was particularly noteworthy. He consistently demonstrated this strength during the series. An outstanding display of his power occurred on June 8th against right-hander James Naile. Manzardo started the at-bat by showing patience and laying off a well-placed sinking pitch down and in. On the second pitch, Naile left a fastball over the middle of the plate, and Manzardo capitalized by driving the ball with tremendous force to right field, clearing the bleachers for a home run.
He replicated this success in another game, this time against right-hander Michael McGreevy. McGreevy began the at-bat with a breaking pitch outside, which Manzardo smartly let go for ball one. The following pitch was a middle-away fastball that Manzardo crushed to right-center field for his second home run of the series. Notably, Manzardo's ability to quickly follow through on pitches allowed him to produce hits even when he was late on high fastballs. Furthermore, he excelled at working deep into counts, showcasing his patience and awareness at the plate. However, he encountered challenges when it came to recognizing breaking balls on the outside bottom corner, resulting in a few called strikeouts. Overall, Manzardo displayed a controlled swing and versatility across the strike zone, making him a formidable presence at the plate.
OF Kameron Misner
Although the statistics may raise concerns due to the number of strikeouts, Kameron Misner's performance in the series against the Redbirds exceeded expectations. He struck out three times over two games of the series, one of which occurred on June 9th. His first at-bat came against right-handed pitcher Tommy Parsons. The initial two pitches were similar, both targeting the outside edge of the plate, with one called a ball and the other a strike. Misner made solid contact with a breaking ball on the third pitch, fouling it off. The following pitch was once again a fastball on the outside edge, which Misner intelligently refrained from swinging at, despite a similar pitch being called a strike earlier. The next pitch was a low and away sinker that Misner skillfully laid off. The at-bat concluded with Misner swinging and missing a deceptive changeup low in the zone, resulting in a strikeout. Although this particular at-bat ended unfavorably, it highlighted Misner's ability to recognize pitches outside the strike zone and exhibit discipline by not chasing them.
Misner made adjustments in his next at-bat against Parsons, as the right-hander continued to challenge him with fastballs on the outside edge. However, Misner remained patient and didn't swing, ultimately drawing a walk. Throughout the series, Misner showcased good speed on the bases and demonstrated an ability to lay off breaking pitches low and away, leading to walks. However, he encountered difficulties in recognizing breaking balls and off-speed pitches within the strike zone, resulting in a higher number of strikeouts. Although Misner displayed a compact swing, he would benefit from being more aggressive early in counts and selectively swinging at pitches within the zone.