WXVU Sports

Robert Pimpsner | Pinstriped Prospects Matt Linder Contreras was considered the top pitching prospect in the Dominican Republic during the 2016-17 signing period and signed with the Yankees for $300,000 as a 16-year-old.  Across Short Season A ball and Low-A, Contreras threw 63.1 innings with a 2.42 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 60/21.  I saw him pitch three times this season for the Staten Island Yankees. The 19-year old does not have prototypical pitcher size, listed at 6’0” and 175 lbs.  However, his lack of size does not limit his stuff.  Contreras’ fastball sits between 93-to-95 mph, while touching 97.  The pitch has late life that really gets on the hitter due to his quick arm and smooth delivery.  He couples his plus fastball with an excellent curveball that ranges 77-to-81 mph.  His feel for the pitch is very advanced for someone his age.  Contreras has the ability to throw his hook for a strike and bury it in the dirt as a...

Zach Bland | Charleston RiverDogs Matt Linder Originally signed out of Venezuela by the Astros as an 18-year-old in 2014, Abreu was acquired by the Yankees in 2016 in exchange for Brian McCann.  The young righty spent most of an injury-plagued 2018 season in Advanced-A before being promoted to Double-A Trenton for his final start of the year.  Excluding his four rehab starts in Rookie Ball, Abreu threw 67.2 innings with a 3.88 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 69/30.  I saw his final start of the season in Trenton. The 23-year-old’s compact build and thick lower half leaves minimal room for projection.  Abreu has a quick arm, smooth delivery and short stride toward home plate.  The righty’s plus arm speed helps generate his mid-to-upper 90s fastball velocity.  His heater displayed plus sink, but flattened out when overthrown.  Abreu’s best off-speed pitch is his curveball (82-to-83 mph), which exhibits sharp 11-5 break.  He showed the ab...

Paul Pagnato | Pinstriped Prospects Matt Linder Going into the 2017 draft, Sauer was viewed as a borderline first-round talent.  The Yankees drafted him in the second round, giving him an over-slot $2,497,500 bonus to keep him from attending the University of Arizona.  Over 67.1 innings this season, he had a 3.90 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 45/18, while holding opponents to a .236 BAA.  I saw Sauer pitch during a July start against the Hudson Valley Renegades. Currently, Sauer’s best pitch is his power fastball, which consistently sits between 92-to-94 mph and possesses average two-seam action.  The 19-year-old is able to generate his plus velocity thanks to his prototypical size – listed at 6’4” and 200 lbs.  Sauer’s slider is his strongest secondary pitch, sitting in the low-80s and exhibiting sharp, late break at its best.  His changeup has greatly improved since his pro-debut last season.  Sitting between 86-to-87 mph, he showed an ...

Sandy Tambone | MiLB.com Matt Linder After drafting two-way star Brendan McKay in 2017, the Rays drafted another baseball unicorn with the 71st pick in 2018, Tanner Dodson.  The Cal Berkeley-product is a switch-hitting outfielder and a right-handed pitcher.  Dodson slashed .273/.344/.369 with a K/BB ratio of 34/20.  On the mound, he had a 1.44 ERA over 25 innings with 25 strikeouts and only five walks.  I have seen Dodson hit multiple times during his first season in pro-ball and pitch in relief once. The 21-year-old is not a physically imposing figure, only listed at 6’1” and 160 lbs.  Offensively, Dodson has an open and upright stance, with an approach conducive to hitting the ball to the opposite field.  He does not project to have much home run power due to his current swing path, but as his body fills out, his gap power will increase.  Dodson has good, not great, speed, but his instincts allow it to play up, both on the ...

MiLB.com Matt Linder Frank was selected by the Rays’ in the second round of the 2018 draft.  He received a below slot $997,500 bonus at the 56th pick.  The infielder produced nicely in his first taste of pro-ball with Hudson Valley in Short Season A, slashing .288/.425/.412 with more walks than strikeouts.  I have seen Frank play multiple times since his pro-career started in June. The Florida Atlantic-product has played all three non-first base infield positions since being drafted. He demonstrates soft hands and a strong arm that would allow him to play on the left side of the diamond.  With slight improvements to his lateral quickness and first step, Frank can likely stick at shortstop.  However, if his range does not improve, he has the requisite skills to be a very good defender at both second and third base. He is not physically imposing – listed at 6’0” and 185lbs – but he has a strong and compact build. Offensively, Frank exhibits ...

MLB.com Matt Linder Reynolds was drafted in the second round in 2016 by the Giants and was the main prospect traded to the Pirates this past off-season in the deal for Andrew McCutchen.  In 88 games at Double-A Altoona, he hit .302/.381/.438. The lack of a full season was due to a hamate injury the 23-year-old suffered in April.  I saw Reynolds during a series in early August against Trenton. The young outfielder is wiry strong with an athletic frame and has room to add muscle as he develops.  Reynolds is a switch-hitter with an advanced approach at the plate (I only saw him bat lefty).  He possesses above-average strike zone awareness and a clear plan at the plate.  The 23-year-old was able to lay off tough pitches until he got a pitch he could handle.  His level swing and muted weight transfer contribute to a future 50 grade hit tool, but also have limited his power output so far in his professional career.  He does have the ...

Patrick Cavey | MiLB.com Matt Linder Hannah was selected by the Athletics with the 50th pick in the 2018 draft, receiving an above slot bonus.  The 20-year-old was off to a good start in Short Season A, slashing .279/.347/.384 with six steals over 23 games.  However, he missed much of the season with a left ankle injury.  I saw him play in June against Hudson Valley. Hannah is not a physically imposing figure, listed at only 5’9” and 185 lbs.  The young outfielder couples an advanced hit tool with solid strike zone awareness.  He has a smooth load and weight transfer that flows into a simple, easy swing.  Currently, his swing path is more geared toward spraying the ball to all fields with gap power.  However, Hannah does have an athletic build that could produce mid-teen home run totals with a few tweaks to his approach.  The 20-year old’s best tool is his speed.  He uses it on the base paths and in centerfield, where he...

Kelly O’Connor | sittingstill.smugmug.com Matt Linder Shawaryn was drafted in the 5th round by the Red Sox out of the University of Maryland. The 24-year-old logged 149.1 innings with a 3.44 ERA and K/BB ratio of 132/38.  I saw him pitch in late-July against the Trenton Thunder. The right-hander has a strong frame – listed at 6’2” and 200 lbs. – however, he does not have much physical projection remaining.  Shawaryn’s fastball sat between 89-to-90 mph and topped out at 93. He throws from a low ¾ slot, which creates slightly above average sinking action on his heater.  Due to the pitch’s two-seam run, he is able to control his fastball to the arm side, but struggles to locate the pitch to his glove side.  Shawaryn’s best off-speed offering is his slider.  He demonstrates a good feel for the pitch and an ability to manipulate its shape.  The 23-year-old can throw it harder, like a cutter at 85-to-86 mph or can throw a more traditional swe...