Adrian Pinto (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=148118), 2B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays This is a fun player to watch. Sometimes those little RHH 2B in the minors who don’t look like much turn out to be superstars (Jose Altuve (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/player_search.php?search_name=Jose+Altuve) and José Ramírez come to mind), and Pinto has that free-swinging, excellent bat-to-ball, contact-oriented approach.
This guy definitely wants to hit and he swings like he hates the baseball. He simply doesn’t see a pitch near the strike zone that he doesn’t like and he does a great job of hitting the ball hard even if it doesn’t look pretty. He’s 22 years old and hasn’t played above High-A (and hasn’t played much because of injuries) but he has some sneaky late-bloomer upside. Keep an eye on him.
Now, I mentioned earlier in the article that the Fall League so far has seemed to b e light on pitching prospects, and even though that’s true—there’s not a ton of high-upside guys I’ve seen yet—there are a few names that showed something for me.
Quick Hits Toronto might have one of the better collection of arms that I’ve seen here. Kendry Rojas (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=150006), a 21-year-old LHP from Cuba, looks like a higher velo version of Reiver Sanmartin (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=106851). With a sneaky FB from 93-95, it looked like an invisi-ball and he threw strikes easily with it. The off-speed isn’t as developed yet with an inconsistent SL/FC thing and flashing a changeup on occasion, he has mid-rotation upside because he’s lefty with velo and throws strikes with a funky cross-fire delivery. If all else fails he’s definitely a nice bullpen piece and I love how he attacks hitters….
Meanwhile Lazaro Estrada (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=119528) is a smaller, thicker-built RHP also for the Jays organization out of Cuba and I believe will be Rule 5 eligible in his sixth professional season. The fastball was amazing, it was 90-94, sitting 93 but located very well and with some deception; he gets a fair amount of swings and misses with it. He also features a slow curve, a cutter that looks sliderish, and a split; nothing is plus but he throws strikes, changes locations effectively and pitches with enthusiasm and fun. He has a chance to be a back-end innings eater or a longman mop-up type… T.J. Brock (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php? id=159631) and Ryan Jennings
(http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/player_search.php?search_name=Ryan+Jennings) are both smaller RHP from the Jays org, both 25 years old and both pitching in relief in the fall league and neither have given up a run in each of their two innings pitched (Brock getting 5 Ks and Jennings with 4 Ks).
Brock might have the single best pitch I’ve seen here so far with a pure gyro slider that looks like a changeup and moves straight down at 88-89, generating a lot of whiffs from RHH and LHH, while Jennings has one of the better quality FBs from 94-96 that looks to have plus carry at the top of the zone and easily the best hosiery on the field… Rayner Castillo (http:/ /www.base ballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=150675), a 20-year-old RHP in the Tigers organization from the Dominican Repub lic might have the best upside of any pitcher I’ve seen so far. He pitched above the complex league for the first time this year and has really taken off… Castillo has a really good frame with a low-maintenance delivery, except when he wants to get extra on his FB. Sitting 93- 96 with a sinker that has solid arm-side run, at times bores in on RHH. Occasionally will overthrow and gets out of whack but he has the delivery of an above-average strike-thrower. The SL isn’t polished yet; sweepy and flat at 81- 83, but not sharp and no real bite—he shows advanced ability to spin it for better projection. I like his turnover changeup better than the SL at 89 with ability to throw it to RHH and LHH. Future starter profile with a heavy FB and feel for off-speed and a good frame with rather easy velocity.
Here’s Jennings’ stirrups and check in next week for more notes on the Fall League