This is the third of the bi-weekly GCL updates. Keep in mind that these stats are to be ingested with a grain of salt as the GCL is the most informal of all American minor leagues.
So, with that in mind, I’ll check in on three “names” on the GCL roster, three players who have played well and three players who have played not so well.
The GCL Cardinals have gone 16-19 so far on the year, they are in 3rd place in the GCL “East” Division.
Three Stars:
1. Virgil Hill “Quicksilver Jr.” – 2009 6th Round OF – He is only OPS’ing .520 over the past 14 games.
2. Roberto De La Cruz – 2008 July 2nd $1.1 Million Bonus 3B – He is hitting .323 over the past 14 games. His LD% is going up over the past 14 games and his IFF% and GB% are going down. He is finally starting to make the good contact he was touted for.
3. Hector Hernandez – 2009 10th Round LHP – Hector has a 3.24 ERA on the year and has struck out 16 and only walked 4.
Three Up:
1. Tyler Bighames – RF – Over the past 14 games Tyler has slashed 500/565/850 with an astonishing 37.5 LD%. The high school shortstop is getting adjusted to pro ball and it is good to see.
2. Patrick Daugherty – Daugherty is averaging just over a strikeout per inning and has a FIP on the year of 2.76.
3. Jonathan Rodriguez – Jrod Part Deux was moved up to JC because of his hitting and had an OBP of .462 on the year for the GCL Cardinals.
Three Down:
1. Alberto Rivero – RF signed in 2007 out of Venezula has only 6 hits on the year in 45 at-bats.
2. Amaury Castillo – RHP – The 18 year old out of the DR, who shares my birthday has walked 20 in 18.1 innings and has a 9.00 ERA for the season.
3. Julio Castellano – LHP out of Venezuela has an ERA of 9.95. In 6.1 innings he has walked 6 and allowed 8 hits and 7 runs.
As usual, anyone else you think that is up / down on the year so far for the GCL? Lets hear it.
*All stats are from milb.com and Minor League Splits on August 6th.
Entries (RSS)
This Hector Hernandez guy is very intriguing. Has anyone seen him in person? I saw a video on him and read a few reports on him just after the draft…I will definitely be watching him develop.
I know this is a real stretch but it seems like Tyler Bighames seems to have a Albert Pujols type body and skill set. There are 2 write ups on him, they say hes really strong with alot of bat speed.
I don’t know where else to post this, but according to MLB Trade Rumors and Buster Olney:
“Many teams are believed to have struck deals with their top picks. So why haven’t we heard about them? Teams will announce over-slot deals at the last minute so it seems like they’re respecting the commissioner’s recommended bonuses.”
I’ve been wondering when we should start worrying about Shelby Miller. Maybe it’s already a done deal?
Maybe Brighames is like Pujols. Later round steal. Pujols round 13–31 for Brighames, coincidence? We’ll find out. Also theres something on MLBTR that says Mo’s confident we’ll sign Shelby Miller.
Also isn’t De La Cruz supposed to have a lot of power? He hasn’t really shown much. 0Hr’s 3 doubles.
De La Cruz has had a right start but hes 10 for his last 25, you also have to remember hes only 17 years old
Glad to see De La Cruz having a good stretch with the bat. The league is a place to start and good to be successful no matter what the level.
Is Bighames a teenager as well?
Bighames is 18 I think, he fell that far because everyone thought he was going to be tough to sign. He got 10th round money and college paid for in case he ever went. He’s 6’3 200 was a shortstop but is playing RF now be he can also play 3rd. Very Athletic, strong arm and off the chart bat speed in games and BP. Thats what the article says about him at least.
I would like to recommend a nickname if it comes to that over the next couple of years—Tyler “Big Games”
daughertry was promoted to JC.
Bighames and hernandez are two prime reasons why I think mo and luhnow had a GREAT 2009 draft.hill is another one to watch. I’m very excited about seeing these guys develop.
Its a long climb up. But its good to Roberto make a little contact. Hector is a Jaime Garcia wannabe. My posting name should have been RobertoRydeWagnerHectorXavier. Missed the boat.