Welcome to another edition of Touch’em All! For you new visitors to the site, we are going through the minor leagues with one goal in mind: Give you, the fan or fantasy player, the info and analysis that you need. This time we are reporting on some of the top pitching performances in the Pioneer league. Rookie level ball tucked away in the Rocky Mountain region, clearly a hitter’s league where the pitching is primarily that of college pitchers, which makes the league’s average age for pitchers a little bit higher than you would expect for this level of ball. Players were selected for this list with age appropriate-ness to level, draft position, performance, and physical tools in mind. So let’s get started!
Scott Snodgress, LHP Chicago White Sox - 09/20/1989 (21) – Height: 6’5″ Weight: 210 – The 2011 5th round draft pick out of the University of Stanford was quite dominant after signing on June 16th, 2011 with the White Sox. Named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for 8/22/2011 after pitching 10 scoreless innings in 2 starts, while striking out 13 and walking just 1. The 2011 All-Star went 3-3 with a 3.34 era and a 1.31 whip. Of his 17 walks, just 4 of those came over his final 7 starts of the season. He lowered his BB/9 to a respectable 2.58, while his 10.31 K/9 was outstanding. He should make the same progression as fellow lefty Blair Walters in 2012, though Snodgress does have better stuff and should move up the ranks faster.
Blair Walters, LHP Chicago White Sox - 11/08/1989 (21) - Height: 6’0″ Weight: 200 – Walters was named the Pioneer League pitcher of the year for 2011, playing for the Great Falls Voyagers. The 2011 11th round pick out of the University of Hawaii, who is a ground ball pitcher, was undefeated in 11 starts, going 9-0 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.21 whip. His 8.80 K/9 and 2.20 BB/9 where very impressive in this hitter friendly league. Walters is likely to start the 2012 season with the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators, but could be considered for the High-A Winston-Salem Dash.
Raymond Hernandez RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – 9/01/1988 (23) – Height: 6’1″ Weight: 190 - Missoula Osprey’s Hernandez was picked long after the likes of Trevor Bauer, Archie Bradley, Andrew Chafin, Anthony Meo, and a slew of other pitchers taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011. In fact, Hernandez was pick #1444, taken in the 48th round. The Cal State Fullerton Alum went 8-3 with a 4.29 ERA, and a 1.21 whip in 14 games for Missoula. He posted a 9.21 K/9 and a 2.30 BB/9 rate in the process. Raymond is the younger brother of fellow Diamondback RP, David Hernandez. The 23 year old tops out about 91 mph on his fastball, and has a solid change-up. He needs to develop a 3rd pitch if he has any designs on being more than a middle man in the majors. Having said that, he’s had a pretty remarkable season for someone who was little more than an after thought for most Major League clubs.
Taylor Siemens LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks – 07/01/1989 (22) - Height: 6’5″ Weight: 200 – Another late round score by the Diamondbacks. The 18th round pick in the 2011 draft pick from California Baptist, Siemens went 3-1 in 14 games with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.22 whip. His 3.71 BB/9 is a higher than we would like, but closer a look shows a couple of games where he was extremely wild. Most games however, were very acceptable with 2 or less walks. His 9.64 K/9 is certainly something we like from a player that tops out at about 95-96 mph on his fastball.
Tony Cingrani, SP Cincinnati Reds
Tony Cingrani LHP, Cincinnati Reds - 07/05/1989 (22) - Height: 6’4″ Weight: 200 - Cingrani was selected in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. For the 2011 season with the Billings Mustangs, Cingrani went 3-2 with a 1.75 ERA and a 0.80 whip. The 14.03 K/9 and the 1.05 BB/9 rates over 51.1 innings were down right nasty. Topping out at 97 mph, this former Rice lefty can bring it. He struck out 13 Casper Ghosts on August 27th in 6 innings of work to be named Pioneer League pitcher of the week for 8/29/2011. The former starter with Rice spent 2011 as the teams closer, but the Reds have designs on him being a starter. While his breaking ball was erratic at times in college, it looked easy for Cingrani as a pro. He will continue to develop his pitches and could move fast. Expect him to start the 2012 season with the Low-A Dayton Dragons.
Brian Peacock LHP, Kansas City Royals – 05/07/1990 (21) - Height: 6’3″ Weight: 190 – The 2009 31st round draft pick enjoyed his best season in the minors with the Idaho Chukars in 2011. Peacock went 5-5 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.26 whip. He posted a 10.78 K/9 having struck out 89 batters in 74.1 innings to lead the Pioneer League in strikeouts. His 2.54 BB/9 was a nice improvement from the 4.12 he posted in 2010 with Idaho Falls. He’s got a lot of sink on his 91-92 mph fastball, and while he has a nice tight breaking ball, he hasn’t yet developed his change up, something he will need if he wants to advance in this deep organization
Aaron Brooks RHP, Kansas City Royals – 04/27/1990 (21) - Height: 6’4″ Weight: 220 – Selected in the 9th round of the 2011 draft, Cal State-San Bernardino’s Aaron Brooks went 6-2 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.22 whip in his 1st professional season. What jumps off the page at you with Brooks is his 0.90 BB/9 that he posted this season. That’s right, he walked just 8 batters in 79.2 innings. Not surprisingly, prior to being drafted he only walked 8 batters in 90 innings for San Bernardino in 2011. His 8.25 K/9 was very acceptable as well. With exceptional control he could be very good, despite average velocity. He has to develop an advanced change up or improve his breaking ball. That’s a must to get to the majors, control alone will not get it done.
Brandon Martinez, SP Los Angeles Dodgers
Brandon Martinez RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers – 11/25/1990 (20) - Height: 6’4″ Weight: 150 - Ogeden Raptors’ Brandon Martinez was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After 2 trying seasons with the Arizona League Dodgers, Martinez at age 20 settled into a solid season for Ogden, posting a 6-3 record, with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.51 whip. He’s been reported to top out around 94 mph on his fastball. Control is an issue for Martinez who needs to work on his 5.42 BB/9 and we would like to see an improvement on his 7.15 K/9 rate as well in 2012, where he is likely to start the season in the Pioneer League again. Hopefully, he puts some more meat on that 6’4″ frame.
Gustavo Gomez RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers – 05/24/1991 (20) - Height: 6’1″ Weight: 150 – Do the Dodgers starve their right handed pitchers or what? The 20 year old from Bocas del Toro, Panama has been kicking around in the Dodgers system since he was 17 years old and really started showing signs of promise in 2011. He went 5-1 in 13 games, posting a 4.87 ERA and a 1.52 whip. Another Dodgers pitcher with control issues, Gomez posted an ugly 5.31 BB/K rate to go with with a beautiful 11.95 K/9 rate. Like Martinez, Gomez has been reported to top out at about 94 mph on his fastball. I suspect both will be back in the Pioneer league and I plan to take the video camera and the radar gun to confirm this.
Danny Winkler RHP, Colorado Rockies – 02/02/1990 (21) – Height: 6’1″ Weight: 200 – Another late round pitcher with some upside, 2011 20th round pick Danny Winkler went 4-3 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.45 whip with the Casper Ghosts in 2011. His 10.20 K/9 and 2.98 BB/9 in 57.1 innings were strong for this former Central Florida pitcher. He has pretty solid command with a sneaky sinker that sits around 91 mph and a solid slider that induced a 1.66 GO/AO rate, interestingly enough. It’s possible that he could be a 4th starter if his command holds up. He will be 22 years old when the 2012 season starts and could very well be back in the Pioneer League, however if winter balls goes well for him, the next stop could be with the Short-Season Tri-City Dust Devils or the Low-A Asheville Tourists.
Nick Maronde, SP Los Angeles Angels
Nick Maronde LHP, Los Angeles Angels - 09/05/1989 (22) - Height: 6’3″ Weight: 205 - Another 3rd round pick, Nick Maronde went 5-0 in 11 games for the Orem Owlz, posting a 2.14 ERA and a 1.10 whip in 46.1 innings. The University of Florida pitcher had a 9.71 K/9 and a 2.91 BB/9 rate. He lives on his fastball where he reaches 96 mph, but usually is in his comfort zone at about 92-94 mph. His developing slider is coming along nicely and if he can develop into a 3-pitch type of guy, there may be a spot in the Angels rotation in his future, otherwise he will be a setup guy with potential closer stuff down the line. The Cedar Rapids Kernels seem like his starting destination in 2012.
Check back soon as we profile many more Top MLB Prospects and also get our baseball geek on and take a look at some of the later draft picks from the 2011 draft that we think could be big names on the prospect radars in the near future. Take a look at our on going Prospect Instinct series where we break down the brightest prospects in baseball. So check out Prospect Instinct | Brett Jackson, OF Chicago Cubs and be a step ahead of the game. Thanks for checking Baseball Instinct. We’re working hard to bring you the best of the minor leagues and make the site the best experience it can be. So don’t hesitate to tell us what you would like to read about. Email us now at mailbag@baseballinstinct.com.
