Chris in Ga
07-05-2010, 02:45 PM
Note: Although I chose to write about Aderlin first, I will be posting about Javier Rodriguez, Michael Hebert, Nelfi Zapata and Adam Kolarek throughout the week, each commanding attention from their prospect status' and/or performances from the game I saw them play in. Each guy is green, being all the way in Rookie ball; however, as you read my comments, especially about A-rod, Javier Rodriguez and Nelfi Zapata, there is a lot of optimism, despite the past few poor drafts.
Aderlin Rodriguez, aka A-rod, is a teenage prospect in the Mets minor league system. He made his US debut in 2009, putting up solid numbers with GCL Mets. Here is a quick summary of what I think of him after merely one game.
Fielding: Strong Arm, great reactions. He didn't not make one poor throw. I don't think one can judge whether someone has good hands or not in one game but I think throwing arm can be judged, which Rodriguez has a plus arm for a third baseman. His range is kind of suspect and his body will probably play better at first in the future.
Power: He showed awesome power in BP. I think only Cesar Puello has shown me more power in a BP display since following the lower minors in person. Unlike Cesar, Aderlin can hit home runs in games. He took a belt high flat fastball (In the video) from a lefty topping out at around 90 (according to the nice Greeneville Astros player videotaping his teammates at bats a few seats next to me) and deposited into the LF berm. It probably traveled about 385 Ft. He hit a flyball in his last AB the other way to the warning track on a pitch he seemed to be a bit fooled on. As he gets stronger, that ends up over the RF wall.
Speed: He's not going to be a speed burner but he will hustle down the line. He probably has average speed and I don't see that diminishing or getting any better
Contact: He has good pitch recognition for the level although he will try to hit the first fastball in the zone, whether it is a good pitch or a bad pitch. He only swung and missed at one ball, a change up, and laid off obvious balls.
I was very impressed by how he played and his tools. On a side note, I loved the overall hustle of the team and Mike Difelice is a fiery manager. He probably should have gotten kicked out after the Ump miscounted the number of balls to the Kingsport first baseman. It turned out to be a blessing since he then hit a double to score a run for the K-Mets. Also, every time the announcer said K-Mets, I thought it sounded like Gay Mets.
Aderlin Rodriguez, aka A-rod, is a teenage prospect in the Mets minor league system. He made his US debut in 2009, putting up solid numbers with GCL Mets. Here is a quick summary of what I think of him after merely one game.
Fielding: Strong Arm, great reactions. He didn't not make one poor throw. I don't think one can judge whether someone has good hands or not in one game but I think throwing arm can be judged, which Rodriguez has a plus arm for a third baseman. His range is kind of suspect and his body will probably play better at first in the future.
Power: He showed awesome power in BP. I think only Cesar Puello has shown me more power in a BP display since following the lower minors in person. Unlike Cesar, Aderlin can hit home runs in games. He took a belt high flat fastball (In the video) from a lefty topping out at around 90 (according to the nice Greeneville Astros player videotaping his teammates at bats a few seats next to me) and deposited into the LF berm. It probably traveled about 385 Ft. He hit a flyball in his last AB the other way to the warning track on a pitch he seemed to be a bit fooled on. As he gets stronger, that ends up over the RF wall.
Speed: He's not going to be a speed burner but he will hustle down the line. He probably has average speed and I don't see that diminishing or getting any better
Contact: He has good pitch recognition for the level although he will try to hit the first fastball in the zone, whether it is a good pitch or a bad pitch. He only swung and missed at one ball, a change up, and laid off obvious balls.
I was very impressed by how he played and his tools. On a side note, I loved the overall hustle of the team and Mike Difelice is a fiery manager. He probably should have gotten kicked out after the Ump miscounted the number of balls to the Kingsport first baseman. It turned out to be a blessing since he then hit a double to score a run for the K-Mets. Also, every time the announcer said K-Mets, I thought it sounded like Gay Mets.