Hey all,

I just wanted to point out a couple of interesting scouting reports over at Baseball Handyman on a pair of Savannah Sand Gnats.

The first is on pitcher John Holdzkom. After presenting his notes point-by-point, Mike Newman summarizes:

Holdzkom’s size and fastball are major league material to me. His size likely means a slower developmental curve than smaller pitchers because of problems repeating his mechanics as evidenced by 57 BB in 86 2/3 IP. I question whether a number of his strikeouts are a product of being able to blow it by lesser hitters. He will have trouble moving up without refining his breaking pitches and developing at least a serviceable 2nd offering. In my opinion, his change looked as if it had some potential with his arm action. He was wild with it, but I’d rather see balls in the dirt than changeups left belt high.

At this point, I can see him as possibly a power reliever, but not much else unless he can add to his repertoire. His getting Heyward to ground into a 6-4-3 double play in a scoreless ball game showed more guts than an ERA close to seven would indicate.

The second is on Francisco Pena. Here are Mike’s player notes:

* Pena looked his listed 6′3″, 230 lbs.
* Sported HUGE lower half; Lost the belly he had in 2007
* Physique looked closer to physical maturity than Jason Heyward or Freddie Freeman
* Needs to learn how to better use his size since there’s not much projection left in his build
* Currently has slider bat speed
* Jammed badly during a couple of at bats
* Behind on every fastball he swung at
* Double down the LF line was off of a hanging curveball
* Moves well behind the plate for such a big catcher
* Made diving catch on a bunt attempt behind home plate
* Did not show much of his arm in between innings, but it was easy to tell the arm strength was there
* Slow runner; Will struggle to be even an average runner for the position

Finally, here’s a blurb on farmhand Maikel Cleto, a 19-year-old kid who was signed out of the Dominican last year:

Maikel Cleto, RHP, NYM -19-year old IFA from the Dominican Republic; (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 8 K)

* Looked every bit of 218 lbs, but seemed shorter than his listed height of 6′3″
* Spent first two innings in the 92-94 range with his fastball.
* Velocity spiked in the 3rd and 4th as he was consistently hitting 94 and topping out at 97 MPH.
* Fastball seemed to lack movement.
* Breaking pitches were rudimentary at best. Looked as if he threw a cutter at 88-90 and a very poor curve in the upper 70’s.
* Slowed arm action and altered mechanics tipped curve badly.
* Sling shot arm action. with size/mechanics, not much room for projection with the fastball. With it already at 92-97, does he need it?
* Bulldog on the mound, really attacked hitters and had a nice “swagger.”

His fastball velocity, along with his demeanor has me thinking closer. Attitude and swagger resembled Ugueth Urbina. Needs SIGNIFICANT refinement or addition of a true second pitch to reach potential.

A couple reasons why this is relevant. First, other than Pena, these are guys who don’t draw a lot of attention. And second, I’m pleased to say that Mike, a Savannah resident and former college player, will be joining our staff as a minor league analyst. So, please, check out his writing at his blog, Baseball Handyman in the meantime, which includes notes and insight on all organizations’ farm systems. There’s some great stuff there.

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