Just become I want to get my mind off of recent events and clear my head from my research paper I wanted to talk about who I'm excited to see in Peoria next year.

I live in Springfield and always went to Peoria to see the Bandits play and often traveled to QC also.  I'll probably see even more Class A Cardinal baseball this year because I'm much closer to Peoria than I am to Quad Cities.

Peoria seems to be stacking up to have a very exciting team next year.  I think we will see a good combination of successful Batavia players and young upstarts from Johnson City.

I think next year will be absolutely last chance for Roberto De La Cruz.  He was bad in QC and dreadful in Batavia.  I hope he has a good enough Spring to at least make Peoria and have a full season.  I can see him DH's with Shaffer at 1st base.

I think that no doubt 2nd will be filled by Breyvic Valera unless he jumps to Palm Beach.  I think he's capable of it as I believe he should have been in QC last year.  If he does skip Peoria Vargas should be a good replacement.  Remember people though Vargas had earned the promotion that Valera got a few years ago to JC at the end of the year.

Shortstop will most likely be filled by Alex Mejica.  Despite coming off an injury he played at a high level program and needs advanced competition.  It could also go to the BC SS who played some in QC last year Anthony M-something.

Third will go to Wisdom as Kelly probably isn't ready for Peoria yet.  Jacob Wilson should be used to spell Wisdom at 3rd, Valera at 2nd and as a DH.

I see Rasmus another year in Peoria as catcher fighting it out with Montero for the starting spot.

The OF starts with Reggie Williams I believe. He's missed some development and they will want to see if he has anything before/unless he's cut.  Tilson probably starts in Batavia but may be quickly promoted if he shows some development.  

McElroy, Jefferies and Ramos will probably also spend time in the OF.

I'm most excited about the pitching.

We will get another year/hopefully injury free year from Tyrell Jenkins, Big Lefty Ben Freeman will also be in the starting rotation.  QC should also have Juan Bautista and Victor DeLeon starting next year.

Vargas needs to get to Palm Beach and earn a mid season promotion to Springfield. He will be a six year free agent after next year so the Cardinals must move him up fast and determine if he is worth a roster spot. He did pretty well in a short sting at Palm Beach before being sent to Johnson City. He would probably have gone to Quad Cities but Luis Mateo a mid season all-star was there and of course Valera at Batavia.

The Cardinals have more time with Valera so I could see Vargas pass him up. I was very impressed with Vargas at Johnson City. Also Valera seems to have the ability to play a lot of positions. Vargas also plays some shortstop but I Agree that Mejia is likely to be at Quad Cities, but he could also jump to Palm Beach.

Anthony Meocharia did very well at SS during the time he played there in QC. I like Vargas but don't know if they would have him jump Vargas. Maybe but who knows. I doubt he will need protected if he is so deep in the system he may think that he will just fall through the cracks and no one will pick him up.

Im excited to get to peoria a few times this year...is this a make or break year for jenkins?

I doubt it really. He's still young he still has talent. As long as he's physically healthy this year and still has his stuff I'll be happy. You can't expect a young 20 year old to dominate Class A and harness his stuff especially when he was injured off and all last year.

Very well put together.  Thanks Scadder! 

I would think Steve Bean, 2012 1st Supp Rnd pick, would be the catcher since he did well in Johnson City last year.

Bean didn't do well in JC, he did very poorly and then was moved to GCL where he recovered some.

I think Ehrlich and Montero both stay ahead of Bean. Bean is very young and could develop fast but probably JC or State College next year. Some good catching coming up from the Dominican also.

SoonerinNC wrote: I think Ehrlich and Montero both stay ahead of Bean. Bean is very young and could develop fast but probably JC or State College next year. Some good catching coming up from the Dominican also.

I would assume Bean will start out at short season Johnson City given his struggles there last season before being demoting to GCL and that Ehlrich will be the catcher at Stage College, while Montero will be playing in full season Peoria (which will be interesting).

Luis Cruz would be considered apart of the good catching coming up from the Dominican. The 19 year old was in his second year of Dominican ball and he really took huge strides with the bat by hitting .316 with 5 HR and 32 RBI and a .833 OPS. When he was signed was said to have quick feet (which is understandable since he used to be a shortstop),  a plus arm, and a big body for his age and he can hit. Like to see what he does in the U.S in 2013.

Also Rowan Wick is a catcher to watch. Despite his struggles in GCL. This kid is a standing mountain behind the plate has some upside and raw abilities that include a plus-plus arm and plus-plus power potential but his feel for his hitting is a question mark and he has a long way before fully harnessing these raw tools. Have to like that he's a left handed swinging catcher with a huge projectable body.

Take this stuff to the Peoria Chiefs board !  

qweq

Should see David Washington at 1B with a battle from Schaffer (could be at State College) and Roberto DeLaCruz (weak defensively). I think Nick Martini could be back at that level because of the depth at Palm Beach (probably A. Garcia, Ramsey, Piscotty, Longmire, Medina there). With Martini, I could see Apelian, Ramos, M. Young and maybe Walton). There's a chance that the younger ones like McElroy, Tilson, and Castillo look good enough in spring training, though.

Carioca is just cranky because this thread reminded him that he hasn't yet started his annual feature to predict all of the full-season minor league rosters! ;-)

SoonerinNC wrote: I think Ehrlich and Montero both stay ahead of Bean. Bean is very young and could develop fast but probably JC or State College next year. Some good catching coming up from the Dominican also.

Which city is State College replacing this year?

Montero seemed to only play about half the games last year. 162 plate appearances? What is with that?

Rasmus is the same. Are they platooning all the catchers or something?

UncleDenny wrote: Should see David Washington at 1B with a battle from Schaffer (could be at State College) and Roberto DeLaCruz (weak defensively). I think Nick Martini could be back at that level because of the depth at Palm Beach (probably A. Garcia, Ramsey, Piscotty, Longmire, Medina there). With Martini, I could see Apelian, Ramos, M. Young and maybe Walton). There's a chance that the younger ones like McElroy, Tilson, and Castillo look good enough in spring training, though.

I figured on Garcia and Ramsey playing in AA. Ramsey due to "advanced" age and his 1st round status and Garcia due to killing it in Quad Cities.  I think he would be on that skip Palm Beach trajectory.

State College replaces Batavia.
Montero suffered a season-ending injury.
At Quad Cities, Juan Castillo had over 2X the ABs as Rasmus.

Domeboys wrote: State College replaces Batavia.
Montero suffered a season-ending injury.
At Quad Cities, Juan Castillo had over 2X the ABs as Rasmus.

Thanks. I knew Castillo had played a lot. Guess I didn't put two and two together.  He'll definitely be at class A+ Palm Beach this coming year I suppose.

Both Juan Castillo and Montero were injured for a considerable period of time. As for the outfield situation at Springfield and Palm Beach. I assume Mike O'Neil, Tommy Pham, Adam Melker, Chris Edmondson, and Jamie Romak will be at Springfield. Granted, Ramsey needs to advance at some point, but he didn't exactly set the world on fire this yr. They have Swauger, Taveras, Christian, and probably either Chambers or Robinson (maybe both) at Memphis. I guess we'll see how aggressive they are about A. Garcia and Ramsey, and also regarding McElroy and Tilson. There may be some weeding out of lesser prospects. I was a little surprised at re-signing of Romak as it didn't appear he was needed.

I haven't seen Jimmy Parque mentioned. I take it he's depth in case of injuries in ST.

DTFlush234 wrote:

SoonerinNC wrote: I think Ehrlich and Montero both stay ahead of Bean. Bean is very young and could develop fast but probably JC or State College next year. Some good catching coming up from the Dominican also.

I would assume Bean will start out at short season Johnson City given his struggles there last season before being demoting to GCL and that Ehlrich will be the catcher at Stage College, while Montero will be playing in full season Peoria (which will be interesting).

Luis Cruz would be considered apart of the good catching coming up from the Dominican. The 19 year old was in his second year of Dominican ball and he really took huge strides with the bat by hitting .316 with 5 HR and 32 RBI and a .833 OPS. When he was signed was said to have quick feet (which is understandable since he used to be a shortstop),  a plus arm, and a big body for his age and he can hit. Like to see what he does in the U.S in 2013.

Also Rowan Wick is a catcher to watch. Despite his struggles in GCL. This kid is a standing mountain behind the plate has some upside and raw abilities that include a plus-plus arm and plus-plus power potential but his feel for his hitting is a question mark and he has a long way before fully harnessing these raw tools. Have to like that he's a left handed swinging catcher with a huge projectable body.

I think my belief that Bean will end up at Peoria is due to this article:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs...spects-2012-13/

 

#13 Steve Bean (C)

Opening Day Age: 19
2012 Level: R/R+
Acquired: 2012 draft (59th overall)
Projected 2013 level: R+

Texas is typically known for developing hard-throwing pitchers but St. Louis hopes to have hit gold with a fast-rising high school catcher from the lone star state. Bean was one of two potentially-plus defenders that St. Louis had on its draft board and the only one that the organization thought could develop a solid bat.

As one talent evaluator told me, “He has a chance to be a plus defender who can hit…. He has a deceptively-powerful frame… with pretty good rhythm from the left side (of the plate).” Bean still has work to do on his defense by learning the nuances of the position – mainly because of his youth and inexperience . He’s a good leader, has 1.85-1.9 pop times and “he’s learning to call a good game.”

A scout I talked to also mentioned Bean when asked to name an up-and-comer in the system, “He’s got the catch and throw tool going on.” The young backstop will likely open 2013 in extend spring training before moving up to advanced rookie ball in June.