Bradley Holt, the Mets fastest-rising prospect, is now in Double A. After skipping 2 starts with some shoulder tightness earlier in the season, his dominant ways have landed him in Binghamton, New York, in the Eastern League, and within sight of the Major Leagues. I'd say if he continues to dominate at AA, he'd be in line for a September call-up to the Mets. Wow!
His first start in Binghamton was strong: 6-1/3 innings, 2 hits and 3 walks to go with 3 strikeouts. Final Port St. Lucie numbers were 4-1, 3.05 ERA, 50 K and 10 BB in 41 innings, with a majority of the runs coming in his first start, where he left all of his pitches up.
The other active player from the UNCW 6, Nate Hall, has a longer path that is currently in independent ball in Pennsylvania. Nate is hitting well, drawing a lot of walks, and playing nearly every day at 3B. He stands at .261/.357/.348, with a home run in 48 at bats. That's not nearly enough to get him noticed, but the plate discipline is promising (8 BB, 7 K), and he's got a chance to continue to get comfortable with the wood bats, and continue to work hard in order to have a shot at becoming a dominant player in the league.
No other news on the rest of the 6.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Really, Next.
Holt has struck out 19 and walked 1 over 10-2/3 innings in his last 2 starts. Total dominance.
Nate Hall started the first 3 games of the season for Windy City, batting 8th, then 7th, then 6th, and getting a hit (single) each game. He's started with 3 hits in 10 at bats, plus 2 walks, for a .417 OBP. The fourth game, Tyler Farrar started at 3B, so there's the competition for playing time, and Farrar has started 2-for-11 (.182) with 1 walk. So far, so good, but it's so early!
Washington (PA) Wild Things outfielders have started 5-for-33 (.152), so Jason Appel is clearly being missed there.
Washington (PA) Wild Things outfielders have started 5-for-33 (.152), so Jason Appel is clearly being missed there.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Next!
Brad Holt is making a strong case for promotion to the next level.
Since a nightmarish first start, Brad has thrown 25-2/3 innings, allowed 19 hits, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, and struck out 29. That adds up to more than 1 strikeout per inning, a 7:1 strikeout to walk ratio, and an ERA of 1.40. That is perfectly dominant at the Advanced A level.
Next stop for Brad: the Binghampton Mets (AA), or possibly even the Buffalo Bisons (AAA), depending on the needs of the parent club. The only question is when. But he's clearly gotten comfortable at Advanced-A, and it's hard to imagine that the Mets will keep him there for a full season given his current level of dominance.
Nate Hall's Windy City ThunderBolts begin play tonight, so we'll see if Nate is in the opening day starting lineup and how he does.
The only other news I could find, from (as usual) Chuck Carree of the Wilmington Star-News: the Washington (PA) Wild Things of the independent Frontier League announced the retirement of OF Jason Appel. So, maybe he just doesn't like playing baseball all that much, or perhaps he has a better job lined up.
Advanced-A: Bradley Holt
Independent: Nate Hall
Unsigned: Mark Carver and Daniel Hargrave
Presumed Retired: Jason Appel and Jeff Hatcher
Since a nightmarish first start, Brad has thrown 25-2/3 innings, allowed 19 hits, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, and struck out 29. That adds up to more than 1 strikeout per inning, a 7:1 strikeout to walk ratio, and an ERA of 1.40. That is perfectly dominant at the Advanced A level.
Next stop for Brad: the Binghampton Mets (AA), or possibly even the Buffalo Bisons (AAA), depending on the needs of the parent club. The only question is when. But he's clearly gotten comfortable at Advanced-A, and it's hard to imagine that the Mets will keep him there for a full season given his current level of dominance.
Nate Hall's Windy City ThunderBolts begin play tonight, so we'll see if Nate is in the opening day starting lineup and how he does.
The only other news I could find, from (as usual) Chuck Carree of the Wilmington Star-News: the Washington (PA) Wild Things of the independent Frontier League announced the retirement of OF Jason Appel. So, maybe he just doesn't like playing baseball all that much, or perhaps he has a better job lined up.
Advanced-A: Bradley Holt
Independent: Nate Hall
Unsigned: Mark Carver and Daniel Hargrave
Presumed Retired: Jason Appel and Jeff Hatcher
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Welcome Back!
It's a couple of weeks into the baseball season, and I thought I'd check on my favorite minor leaguers, the UNCW 6.
First, our Golden Boy, Bradley Holt. The Mets moved him up to St. Lucie, into the Advanced A Florida State League, a jump of 2 levels. Holt was absolutely torched on Opening Day, in his first start against Sarasota. Alex Buchholz (a very common pro baseball name right now) ripped a home run and a double for 4 RBI, and 2 other Sarasota players homered. After 3 and 2/3, and 7 hits, 4 walks, and 9 earned runs, Holt was out. 6 days later, however, Holt dominated Charlotte for 6 innings, allowing 5 baserunners and striking out 7. So, he clearly put that rough first start behind him, and hopefully he's ready to get back to dominating as he did at the Low A level.
From Chuck Carree: “I threw real well and made a lot of progress with my changeup,’’ he said.
Mark Carver, after batting .217 at State College last season, and Daniel Hargrave, after batting .179 at Williamsport last season, were released during spring training. It's a tough racket: you either distinguish yourself real quickly, or you're replaced. Hopefully, Carver and Hargrave can catch on somewhere and continue their development. Hargrave actually showed decent power for a second baseman in the New York-Penn league, hitting 4 home runs in about 180 at bats.
In the Frontier League, Jason Appel's new team, the Washington (PA) Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League will open its season May 22 at home against Lake Erie. It's a bit odd that Appel, who quit his affiliated team after 12 games last summer, will be playing pro ball this May, and Carver and Hargrave, who played the full (short) season and both showed great improvement over that time, are looking for jobs.
Nate Hall's Ottawa Rapidz folded during the off-season, announcing in late March that they could not meet their financial obligations. Hall, with an impressive .367 OBP during his time in Canada, was assigned to the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am league, from whence he was traded to the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. Hall only posted a .316 SLG and .263 BA in Canada with 0 HR in nearly 200 AB, however he struck the ball much better in the second half of the season, and it is conceivable that he could improve his batting enough to warrant promotion in pro ball. As with Appel, Hall's season will begin in about one month.
No news still on Jeff Hatcher. At this point, I can only conclude that the business major found more gainful employment than would have been available to him in the pro ranks.
So, right now, of the UNCW 6, here's the summary.
Promoted: Bradley Holt
Released and Looking for Work: Mark Carver and Daniel Hargrave
Frontier (Independent) League: Jason Appel and Nate Hall
Never Signed: Jeff Hatcher
First, our Golden Boy, Bradley Holt. The Mets moved him up to St. Lucie, into the Advanced A Florida State League, a jump of 2 levels. Holt was absolutely torched on Opening Day, in his first start against Sarasota. Alex Buchholz (a very common pro baseball name right now) ripped a home run and a double for 4 RBI, and 2 other Sarasota players homered. After 3 and 2/3, and 7 hits, 4 walks, and 9 earned runs, Holt was out. 6 days later, however, Holt dominated Charlotte for 6 innings, allowing 5 baserunners and striking out 7. So, he clearly put that rough first start behind him, and hopefully he's ready to get back to dominating as he did at the Low A level.
From Chuck Carree: “I threw real well and made a lot of progress with my changeup,’’ he said.
Mark Carver, after batting .217 at State College last season, and Daniel Hargrave, after batting .179 at Williamsport last season, were released during spring training. It's a tough racket: you either distinguish yourself real quickly, or you're replaced. Hopefully, Carver and Hargrave can catch on somewhere and continue their development. Hargrave actually showed decent power for a second baseman in the New York-Penn league, hitting 4 home runs in about 180 at bats.
In the Frontier League, Jason Appel's new team, the Washington (PA) Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League will open its season May 22 at home against Lake Erie. It's a bit odd that Appel, who quit his affiliated team after 12 games last summer, will be playing pro ball this May, and Carver and Hargrave, who played the full (short) season and both showed great improvement over that time, are looking for jobs.
Nate Hall's Ottawa Rapidz folded during the off-season, announcing in late March that they could not meet their financial obligations. Hall, with an impressive .367 OBP during his time in Canada, was assigned to the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am league, from whence he was traded to the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. Hall only posted a .316 SLG and .263 BA in Canada with 0 HR in nearly 200 AB, however he struck the ball much better in the second half of the season, and it is conceivable that he could improve his batting enough to warrant promotion in pro ball. As with Appel, Hall's season will begin in about one month.
No news still on Jeff Hatcher. At this point, I can only conclude that the business major found more gainful employment than would have been available to him in the pro ranks.
So, right now, of the UNCW 6, here's the summary.
Promoted: Bradley Holt
Released and Looking for Work: Mark Carver and Daniel Hargrave
Frontier (Independent) League: Jason Appel and Nate Hall
Never Signed: Jeff Hatcher
Friday, December 26, 2008
Appel signs with Washington Wild Things
Jason Appel is back. To some extent.
After an enigmatic stint with a mysterious ending in the New York-Penn league, Appel signed a one year contract with the Washington, Pennsylvania Wild Things, of the Frontier League.
The Frontier League is a (mostly) rookie league where 12 slots on each team's 24 man roster are reserved for rookies: players with fewer than 150 professional at bats or 50 innings pitched. There are 7 slots on each team for 1-year players, two for 2-year players, and three for "veterans". The league minimum is $600 per month, which means that most likely, Jason will be living with a host family, unless he has other money available.
It's a long way from here to the Majors. There are six Frontier League alums who played in the Majors last year, none bound for the Hall of Fame: D.J. Carrasco, Mike Cervenak, Brendan Donnelly, Josh Kinney, Scott Patterson, and Orioles closer George Sherrill. However, more than 30 recent alums have been signed to play in A or AA ball, which is about 1 player in 20 over a 3 year period.
Having been released by the Rays, Jason must be hoping to dominate the Frontier League, and then sign with another MLB organization to re-start his ascent through the low minors.
After an enigmatic stint with a mysterious ending in the New York-Penn league, Appel signed a one year contract with the Washington, Pennsylvania Wild Things, of the Frontier League.
The Frontier League is a (mostly) rookie league where 12 slots on each team's 24 man roster are reserved for rookies: players with fewer than 150 professional at bats or 50 innings pitched. There are 7 slots on each team for 1-year players, two for 2-year players, and three for "veterans". The league minimum is $600 per month, which means that most likely, Jason will be living with a host family, unless he has other money available.
It's a long way from here to the Majors. There are six Frontier League alums who played in the Majors last year, none bound for the Hall of Fame: D.J. Carrasco, Mike Cervenak, Brendan Donnelly, Josh Kinney, Scott Patterson, and Orioles closer George Sherrill. However, more than 30 recent alums have been signed to play in A or AA ball, which is about 1 player in 20 over a 3 year period.
Having been released by the Rays, Jason must be hoping to dominate the Frontier League, and then sign with another MLB organization to re-start his ascent through the low minors.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Well Done, Nate!
The season is over in Ottawa, which means Nate Hall, after a rough start, can come back to Wilmington very proudly, finishing with a .263 average in 152 at bats, an awesome .367 on base percentage (with 22 walks to only 28 strikeouts, many of which were the first few weeks after he signed), a .316 slugging percentage (6 2B, 1 3B, no HR), and 8 errors at third base (he appeared in 51 games, but I have no idea how many of those were at 3B.)
All in all, an excellent season for his first in pro ball, and with his second half surge, I'm confident that he'll have an opportunity to play professionally again in 2009.
I read that Nate, Mark Carver, Bradley Holt, and Daniel Hargrave will all share a place in Wilmington this winter, where they'll lift weights, hit balls, and work hard towards becoming better players next season.
The New York-Penn League season ends tomorrow, so early next week will be my last regular post, barring any off-the-field news, until spring 2009. Not that anyone's reading this anyways ;)
All in all, an excellent season for his first in pro ball, and with his second half surge, I'm confident that he'll have an opportunity to play professionally again in 2009.
I read that Nate, Mark Carver, Bradley Holt, and Daniel Hargrave will all share a place in Wilmington this winter, where they'll lift weights, hit balls, and work hard towards becoming better players next season.
The New York-Penn League season ends tomorrow, so early next week will be my last regular post, barring any off-the-field news, until spring 2009. Not that anyone's reading this anyways ;)
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