David Hood of TrueBlueLA has a nice writeup of Alex Verdugo whom he has ranked as the Dodgers #5 prospect. I agree with most of what he says, so there is no need to re-hash what he says. Here’s a sample:
There’s little doubt in my mind that Verdugo will at least hit for average at the major league level. I’ve seen few players where contact comes as easy to them as Verdugo. He has a lightning quick bat with almost no load, allowing him to allow pitches to travel deeper than his peers. While he employs a slight uppercut at finish most of the time, his swing will level out occasionally and lead to too many ground balls.
Verdugo shows more power potential and whole-body incorporation in his batting practice swings, which does give hope to more power down the road. His current game power is fringe average, however, because his contact-heavy approach is less conducive to pulling the ball, and he lacks the strength for all field power. Just bat speed alone should allow Verdugo to flirt with 15 to 20 home runs annually in his prime.
Verdugo’s prodigious bat speed and hand speed give him the physical tools to be more selective at the plate, and he started to develop this approach in 2016. Verdugo doubled his walk rate to 8.4 % while still keeping his strikeout rate at a low 12.6%. The next step for Verdugo will be more selectivity on pitches in the zone, where too often he offered at pitcher’s pitches leading to easier outs early in the count. A combination of early-pitch selectivity to target pitches to pull and a more consistent swing plane could lead to more usable game power.
Alex Verdugo has a chance to be very good. A friend of mine, who is in baseball (not with the Dodgers) said: “He reminds me of Tony Gwynn.” Read what I wrote carefully – I did not say that, although I think he is a guy who could win a batting title someday, but the fact that he was mentioned in the same breath as Gwynn should give anyone pause.
One possible problem with Verdugo is that he (allegedly) has a bit of an attitude – maybe maturity and experience will iron that out, but he doesn’t always hustle like he should and his work ethic is questioned by some. Again, I am not jumping to conclusions – just passing along certain observations. He’s very young.
The other problems is that he is LH in a system that is heavy on LH hitters. Corey Seager and Joc Pederson were two of the most recent rookies to be promoted and the Tp 3 hitting prospects in the Dodger system are all LH: Verdugo, along with Bellinger and Calhoun. Odds say that all three will not make the team, but be used as trade bait for a RH power bat.
We shall see, but it might be fun to see Verdugo develop.
The Dodgers are the last team to report to Spring Training and it is happening as we speak… ‘er write!
It’s (Almost) Time for Dodger Baseball!
Photo credit: Bill Mitchell/Baseball America
Here’s a few more Spring Training Pics from years gone by. Also, a picture from Spring Training 2009 taken in the Camelback batting practice area. I am about to throw a 49 MPH Fastball to the late Roger Sobin. R.I.P. Roger – we all miss you! P.S. Look at that leg kick – I look like a R H Clayton Kershaw! Ha! Also, there are a couple of shots Ron Perranoski, with whom I have had many conversations. He’s bitter at the Dodgers and Tommy – the fault is on boths sides. Also, Manny Mota on his bike.
I have also created a new page called “INSIDE CAMELBACK” which is located on the Top Menu Bar beside 2017 Spring Training. It has a lot of photos behind the scenes in the offices, dining area, locker room and workout areas.
Sights and Sounds of Spring Training
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
There are going to be more scouts watching the Dodgers abundance of pitchers and outfielders this spring than any other team. Someone always goes down with an injury and the Dodgers are set to handle it. Even so, they have more starters than they need. Baltimore would be a great trade partner. Honestly, I feel good about every position on the team this year (In Puig I trust!). However, to be World Champions I would fee better if they could move a healthy Kazmir or McCarthy or Wood to Baltimore for Brach or O’Day. The O’s have SP woes, Tillman won’t be ready opening day and the Dodgers have beyond excess.
If you are a “glass half full guy” you should read what Carey Osborne wrote today. If you are a “glass half empty guy”, BahHumbug!
–
https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/the-day-of-so-little-yet-so-much-babca250b8d5#.bxv9q3p3v
–
I love this time of year!
Mike Rod asked about trade partners. If Baltimore starts out poorly, they might be wise to trade Machado (and if the Dodgers could work out a 10 years $300 million deal with him) they could trade Calhoun, Verdugo, Alvarez, Buehler, Hernandez and another prospect or two for him. I would also insist that they take Gonzo as part of that deal.
–
This would be my ideal lineup:
–
1. Toles LF
2. Puig RF
3. Seager SS
4. Machado 3B
5. Turner 2B
6. Pederson CF
7. Grandal C
8. Bellinger 1B
Bellinger has the talent to be one of the TOP 5 Defensive First Basemen… EVER! He is incredible on defense. It’s not a question of IF he plays 1B – it’s when!
–
On Nolan Arenado:
–
Arenado’s splits:
–
Coors Field – .308 BA / .355 OB% / .937 OPS
*
Not Coors Field – .261 BA / .305 OB% / .762 OPS
–
Remember Vinny Castilla? He was a monster at Coors: 32 HR/40 HR/40 HR/46 HR
33 HR. Then he goes to Houston and ATL and hits 23/12/22. Then he goes back to Coors and hits 35, then back to Washington and hits `12.
*
Turner hits .361 at Coors with a .425 OB% and .981 OPS!
*
If Nolan Arenado leaves Colorado he will be an average hitter.
Verdugo’s dad is something… However, IIRC, i think I heard AV was adopted. Take it with a grain of salt. I totally believe that behaviors are learned regardless of genes.
Talking free agency now, I pounce on Machado once he’s a FA. What happens to Turner? He moves to 1B when AG’s contract runs out? What about Bellinger? We’ll know about Puig’s future this season and Cody could play either corner position for a year which could coincide with JT’s final season.
Defensively I’d like to see in 2019
C-Grandal S
1B Turner R
2B- Forsythe R
SS- seager L
3B- Machado R
LF – Bellinger/Toles L/L
CF- Joc L
RF- Bellinger/Puig L/R
Pretty even balanced and YOUNG
I’d hate to lose Bellinger, but would be fine trading the others for a premium R/H bat. Any ideas for potential trade partners?
Great photos. I’ll be there in about a month. Too bad WBC is screwing things up a bit. Not much is being said about this being Roberts’ second year as manager. I think he will be better at it than he was last year. The on field staff has stabilized, and that can’t hurt. Hopefully he won’t have to manage injuries to the pitching staff. That will always be a killer. I will worry about Kershaw’s back until the season is over. I hope that is all it is. Worry.
I certainly hopes he straightens out and hat his father was the determining factor. Otherwise with his perceived attitude, work ethic and sometimes lack of hustle, we will have a lefthanded Puig playing for us.
Verdugo does have an attitude. I saw him play in a game once against my nephews team, and his dad got physical with Verdugo’s HS coach. When he was drafted by the Dodgers I rolled my eyes. He is a good ball player he has that Bryce Harper syndrome/attitude without being as good as Harper.
http://www.askcoachwolff.com/2014/06/08/parents-v-coaches-star-hs-pitcher-dictates-coach-playing-time/
Dodger.com reports all pitchers seem to be healthy.
.
Verdugo and Calhoun are only a year away. Toles is ready now. That’s three good lefty hitting players looking for a place on the 25. All three could be traded and two of them could replace Puig if he were traded.
.
Just seems like the Dodgers should be able to have a balanced young core of players no later than 2018.