| By Mike Craven |  | By 04-17-2009 |
The Minor League baseball season got started in Round Rock last week and with it came a few prospects to the Austin, Texas area. I was able to get out and a see some of the guys that will be in the majors sooner than later. Some probably by All-Star break, or sooner.
Below, we'll detail the early outings of right-handers Jeff Samardzija of the Chicago Cubs and Bud Norris of the Houston Astros and outfielder Brian Bogusevic, also of the Astros.
Bogusevic was a first-round pick in 2005 and spent the first three and a half season as a left-handed pitcher before making the transition to the outfield last season.
Round Rock played host to Iowa (Chicago Cubs) during the season's first week, which is where Samardzija made his presence known.
| Brian Bogusevic, CF – Round Rock Express |
The left-handed hitting and throwing converted pitcher enters his second season in the outfield as arguably the best position prospect in a weak Houston Astros organization. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is batting lead-off for the Express, and talking to people around the organization it seems like they are set on him hitting somewhere at the top of the order, setting the table, rather than being a run producer.
Bogusevic has above-average speed, but for lefty he doesn’t get out of the box as quickly as scouts would like. Most consider him a 4.2 seconds guy to first base, which is solid, but not at the level of the elite runners in the big leagues. The former Tulane product has power and most talent evaluators think he could end up as a 20-homer per season type bat. He makes good contact and his pitch recognition and batting eye are his strengths. Bogusevic himself says his history as a pitcher helps him in that sense, knowing what pitchers want to do, and understanding arm angles and the rotation of the baseball better than the average hitter.
In his first at-bat of the year Bogusevic battled 2008 Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year Mitch Atkins for 11 pitches before striking out. Bogusevic has the ability to hit for average in the Majors, and he has the range and arm strength to be an above-average center fielder. Defensively he is going to have to get more comfortable in his angles and positioning, but the people I’ve talked to think that will come with game reps.
| Bud Norris, RHP – Round Rock Express |
Bud “Chuck” Norris enters his first season at the Triple-A level as the No. 2 prospect in the Astros farm system, according to Baseball America and other evaluating sources. Right now the question in the organization is whether to utilize him in the bullpen or in the rotation. For the Express there’s little doubt that Norris can start, but there are questions about his future role, due to his inability or unwillingness to throw his slider or curve ball for strikes, particularly with runners on base. The 24-year -old sits in the low 90’s with the ability to hit 95 mph with his four-seamer. He doesn’t appear comfortable using his changeup, something he’d likely need at the next level.
That style of pitching is likely struggle the second time through a lineup, certainly projecting better in short relief stints. He’s still young and improving and the Astros feel he can help them, but it’s difficult to foresee him as anything more than a middle reliever, but is he refines his slider or curve into a legitimate out pitch, he should be useful arm.
| Jeff Samardzija – RHP – Iowa Cubs |
Everyone knows about the former Notre Dame wide receiver, a big right-hander with a plus fastball, a sharp breaking ball and a split-finger fastball he uses as a change-of-pace.
The Cubs, much like the Yankees with Joba Chamberlain, are figuring out if he is a closer or a starter. They are mixing it up thus far, but it is clear Samardzija performs better when he starts. His pitching coach Mike Mason bragged that the 24- year-old is one of the most carefree players he has ever been around, complimenting the 6-foot-5, 220 pounder.
In his first appearance of the young season he struggled keeping the ball down in relief. He gave up two home runs, one to Bogusevic coincidentally. His slider appeared flat and he left it up, inviting hitters to have their way. But according to a couple of scouts at Round Rock, Samardzija started for Iowa Monday and was impressive.
milb-notebook:-samardzija,-norris,-bogusevic
Comments
The following 22 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: Slack on 04-17-2009 18:06:18 What's a good ETA estimate for Bugosevic? |
| 2. By: Slack on 04-17-2009 18:30:24 That probably wasn't a very smart question. He's in AAA and if he performs well, probably this year. |
| 3. By: rturk89 on 04-17-2009 20:43:19 Alex White was dominant today against Miami. Complete game 1 hitter with 10 K's and only 1 walk. |
| 4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-17-2009 20:49:59 I think I must have ticked off White |
| 5. By: dewey on 04-17-2009 23:45:12 Wi th the Angels injurys i think anyone can win this division why not us? |
| 6. By: CrockDaddy on 04-18-2009 00:23:24 brett lorin with another strong start today, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 bb and 10 k's over 6 |
| 7. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-18-2009 00:24:37 dewey, I think you're right. Why not? Lorin is one of those interesting arms, but I need to see him do it versus better competition before I'm convinced he's a big-league starter. |
| 8. By: Blowgun7 on 04-18-2009 00:36:48 Adcock threw well today too. 9 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's.. or something like that. Nice to see Clement finally turn on some power, and Carp looks fantastic during this first week of games. Halman posting a lovely 1/18 BB/K ratio.. Jason, at what point do you just look at a guy like that and come to the conclusion that he doesn't have much of a shot to succeed in the big leagues? |
| 9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-18-2009 01:54:38 Blow, Halman is still young enough to believe he can improve to the levels necessary. Clement's homer was a deep shot, too. He looked a mess in BP, but was more comfortable in the two ABs I saw. Carp is just a taller, healthier version of Snelling at the plate. Medium power, line-drive hitter. Like him. I hear Adcock's command has taken a big step forward, which is very necessary for him to be a big-league starter. Pretty good curve ball, too. |
| 10. By: Lonnie on 04-18-2009 02:23:36 Jason, You were at the Rainier game last night? Did you happen to notice who was playing 3rd base? It was none other than Chris Shelton. Who was that guy who made that brash proposal to move one of the guys caught in the glut at 1st over to 3rd.....? ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!!! LOL Lonnie |
| 11. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-18-2009 03:01:42 Lonnie, He sucks at third. He wasn't MOVED there, he was guaranteed the chance to play a lot, and since Carp is a 1B or DH only and Tui is back, Shelton is going to play all three spots. But boy is he brutal over there. It's almost like putting Dan Wilson over there. No range, can't come in on anything well... if you don't hit it right to him, there's a good chance it's going to be a hit, or an ROE. HE was even bad during ground ball practice... ugh. Funny, too... Curto saw the lineup and asked the Media Relations Director "Shelton isn't really at third, is he? Geoff? Is this right?" That's how bad Shelton is with the glove. Tui is Brooks Robinson over there in comparison. Shelton playing third in Tacoma has NO affect on anything going on in Seattle at any point. If Shelton were on the roster, let's say in place of an injured Mike Sweeney, and Beltre was not available for whatever reason, Cedeno, Lopez and Branyan are the next options, probably in that order. Shelton would simply play first or DH like he should. |
| 12. By: Slack on 04-18-2009 09:04:36 Jason, I know it's only two starts but if Brett Lorin keeps pitching well, can we expect to see him in High Desert in the near future? He's a college guy so I'd challenge him to see what we've got. |
| 13. By: Lonnie on 04-18-2009 10:53:02 Jason sez: "He sucks at third. He wasn't MOVED there, he was guaranteed the chance to play a lot, and since Carp is a 1B or DH only and Tui is back, Shelton is going to play all three spots." Hey, at least give me 24 hours to crow a little before slamming me back into reality :) Oh well, I guess I'll have to work up a new and more probable scenario... Lonnie |
| 14. By: CrockDaddy on 04-18-2009 16:05:04 funny tidbit, shin-soo choo and asdrubal cabrera both homered in the second inning today for indians. always nice to see young, former m's succeeding while ben broussard and eduardo perez enjoy the minor leagues and retirement respectively. |
| 15. By: 01v-dubs on 04-18-2009 16:08:29 Jason, In addition to Brett Lorin, what do you think about Aaron Pirbanic? His one start was very impressive. If he, Lorin and Hensley string together a couple of good starts, how long before they move to High Desert? They are all a little to old for Low A it seems. |
| 16. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-18-2009 17:12:37 Lorin>Pribanic. More later. |
| 17. By: SvhoopsStar5 on 04-18-2009 21:23:23 Jason, Any word on when Saunders and Wilson are going to get healthy and into the lineup for Tacoma? |
| 18. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-18-2009 21:53:46 Wilson isn't far away. He didn't take BP Friday, but should be back within a week to 10 days max. Saunders... no word. They are taking it slow. Can't mess with the shoulder. re: dubs, Lorin should have started the year in HD, but since they are loaded, he's stick in Clinton. While it's nice to see the strong outings, he's 22 and isn't facing good competition. Pribanic has good stuff, too, but his breaking ball isn't as consistent as Lorin's to this point. That's not based solely off the starts in 09, that's including them. |
| 19. By: slick on 04-18-2009 23:13:58 The combined BA of Wisconsin and Burlington is .195 two of the worst hitting teams in the midwest league. I like Pribanic's GO/AO 4.60 this will help him in the California league when he gets there. Lorin has a GO/AO of 1.00 would need to get more grounders. Hensley is 2-0 but the league is hitting him at a .256 clip higher than league average. |
| 20. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-19-2009 14:10:41 You know that none of those numbers - not one of them - means a damned thing, right slick? It's April 19. |
| 21. By: Pumpkin on 04-19-2009 21:14:18 Jason, have you heard anything regarding Almonte? He is not striking out as much and walking way more then last year. Do you think this is do to the fact that this is the third time he is repeating this level or small sample size? I know he has incredible athleticism is it possible he have finally figured out how to use it? Also I know the mariners were really high on Gillies in spring training and he has been read hot so far, what is his likely ceiling? He seems like he might be a great replacement for Ichiro in about 2 years. |
| 22. By: Blowgun7 on 04-19-2009 21:49:02 Jason, as a prospect guy, does it bother you that you cover/follow a team with such a mediocre to poor farm system? |
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