MJH LHSP 6-10

I wrote my guesses, but Andy Seiler’s is probably better (reprinted and edited from here without permission):

Hickory: Wilfredo Boscan, Neil Ramirez, Richard Bleier, Kennil Gomez, Carlos Pimentel

Bakersfield: Michael Main, Blake Beavan, Tim Murphy, Zachary Phillips, Evan Reed

Frisco: Omar Poveda, Kasey Kiker, Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz, Michael Schlact

OKC: Thomas Diamond, Tommy Hunter, Eric Hurley, Michael Ballard, Doug Mathis

Andy didn’t give a Spokane starting rotation, but he had the following pitchers at Extended Spring Training: Robbie Ross, Wilmer Font, Joe Wieland, Martin Perez, Kyle Ocampo, Matt Thompson, Jake Brigham, Miguel de los Santos.

These projections are hard, and Jamey Newberg might have been right in not taking a guess at the Affiliates’ starting pitching rotations, as Spring Training should be telling. The number of quality candidates is impressive.

If you look at Mike Hindman’s list (above), which has five guys at every level except for Spokane, you don’t see Richard Bleier, Wilmer Font, Jacob Brigham, Geuris Grullon, Joe Wieland, Kyle “Will Someone Please Tell Me If There’s An Apostrophe In My Last Name?” OCampo, and Ryan Tatusko, along with Michael Kirkman.

Hindman’s list also has only Juan Grullon from the current Dominican Summer League. I’d be interested in seeing whether 2008 DSL Rangers Anyenil Mendoza, Kelvin De Leon, and Ezequiel Rijo have what it takes to be at Spokane in 2009 (Another DSL Ranger, Miguel Munoz, who had an impressive statistical line in 2008 has been suspended for 50 games after he tested positive for a banned substance. Although, it’s worth noting that the banned substance was Mephentermine, which isn’t exactly like using anabolic steroids). It’ll also be interesting to see what the Rangers have in store for Tae Ahn as well.

It may be due to the lack of a spot in Hickory. With Perez, Boscan, NeRa, Bleier, Weiland, and possibly Kennil Gomez there may simply not be any room.

I believe will start the year at OKC.

ross should

I would rather rank him lower and watch him rise than overrank him and then be disapointed when he starts dropping in the ranks.

I saw some pics of Neil Ramirez that looked similar to that Ross “inverted W” pic during the Spokane season. Nobody ever mentions any risk with NeRa though.

its alcides escobars younger brother? cousin?

and it comes from pablo escobar

Even though Mike mentions mid-90s velocity, multiple reports have said Kiker was in the 87-90 range most of the year (including recently at instructs). Naturally, his shoulder was part of the problem, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll ever see mid-90s again.