Tigers' "Top" Third Base Prospects E-mail
Written by Matt Wallace   
Saturday, 13 February 2010 01:31

We move to third base, unfortunately. The good news is I'm completing this position with the help of the Tigers' 2010 Media Guide, available online. Woo hoo.

Francisco Martinez, GCL/Lakeland
19, 6’1”, 180, Bats: R

PA: 168/18
AVG: .222/.167
OBP: .256/.167
SLG: .320/.167
XBH%: 32.4/0.0
K%: 22.6/16.7
BB%: 3.0/0.0
wOBA: .288/.200

The Tigers’ most promising third base prospect coming into the 2009 season fell on his face a bit in his first season stateside. He didn’t hit for average or much power and struck out more than eight times as often as he walked overall. He did show some speed, stealing 12 bases in the equivalent of about a third of a season, but that’s not going to make up for the offensive numbers you see above.

We’ll just have to hope he makes some adjustments going into 2010, perhaps most importantly in his strike zone judgment. His placement atop the Tigers’ third base prospects - after that 2009 season - shows they desperately need one of their players at this position to pan out.

Wade Gaynor, Oneonta
21, 6’4”, 225, Bats: R

PA: 267
AVG: .192
OBP: .281
SLG: .282
XBH%: 31.1
K%: 19.5
BB%: 7.9
wOBA: .276

Gaynor could probably be chosen as the top prospect at this position on a lot of the same grounds as Martinez. He’s talented enough to be chosen in the third round of the 2009 draft, after all. However, he fell on his face in his first season just like Martinez and if you compare the two I have to believe Martinez could do better in Oneonta at 21 than what we just saw from Gaynor.

It’s important to remember, though, that we can no sooner bury these young prospects for missteps in small samples than we can coronate them for their successes. While we should have healthy skepticism of the Tigers when they are higher on a player than the rest of the league, Gaynor flashed good all-around skills when he was at Western Kentucky. I’d imagine he will get a shot in West Michigan this season unless Martinez should step into that job.

Bryan Pounds, West Michigan
24, 6’0”, 195, Bats: R

PA: 417
AVG: .284
OBP: .399
SLG: .402
XBH%: 33.0
K%: 20.9
BB%: 13.7
wOBA: .376

Pounds is something of a polar opposite to the first players listed. Where they are good talents with lousy numbers, he was taken in the 34th round of the 2008 draft but put up very good numbers for the Whitecaps last season. I know he’s 24, is likely an organizational soldier and probably doesn’t impress the scouts a whole lot. I also know that unless he keeps pounding line drives, he doesn’t have the speed to keep producing a BABIP of .375 and the inflated stats that come with it.

Still, looking through the system’s third basemen I simply couldn’t ignore one of the only players who had a good 2009. Hopefully, he’ll go into 2010 keeping a good approach at the plate and continuing to better his meager expectations.

Honorable mention: I have to mention Mike Bertram for pretty much the same reason I picked Pounds as the third best third base prospect. He had a good season in which he slugged over .500 splitting time between Lakeland and Erie. I’m not under any misconceptions about his prospects as a major leaguer, though. He’s 26 and has spent most of his time as a Tiger backing up Santo De Leon. Credit where credit is due, though. I know nothing about him admittedly, but the Tigers signed a 16-year old out of Venezuela named Jesus Ustariz last season. If he is the VSL Tigers' starting third baseman in 2010, you may want to take note.

Position Summary: Grim. I think that sums it up. Unless Martinez or Gaynor figure it out, it’s very likely the Tigers’ best third base prospect isn’t even playing the position right now. My guess is one of their shortstop prospects sliding over to third would probably become their prospect at the position instantly.

Prior articles in the series: 
Second base prospects
First base prospects
Catching prospects



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Comments (10)Add Comment
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written by BJ, February 13, 2010
Not much at 3rd is there. I hope excess pitching and/or OF, presuming Damon's signed, get shipped out for a solid AA/AAA 3rd baseman. Matt, where did you find the 2010 Tigers Media Guide online? Don't see it on the Tigers' website.
Thanks.

BJ
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written by MattinToledo, February 13, 2010
It's a pressbox.mlb.com. Last year, I had to submit a request for access and then make an appeal after my initial request was rejected. It sounds like other people have not had to deal with that, though, so I'm not sure what you should expect. Good luck, though, the media guide is an excellent resource for a comprehensive view of the system.
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written by stephen grosberg, February 14, 2010
You forgot Rawley Bishop who is a natural 3B who had GREAT #'s and consistent clutch hitting until almost the end of the season. Unfortunately, Gaynor, the high draft choice, who is having trouble adjusting to a wooden bat, got all the publiciity. Bishop should be moved to Lakeland to see if he's as good as his stats indicated. Brent Dlugach can also play 3B. Pounds Bryan Pounds and Mike Bertram had much better stats and clutch hitting than you indicated and should be moved up a level to see if they can keep it up. They have to prepare for a good sub there if Inge gets hurt.
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written by stephen grosberg, February 14, 2010
Not to belabor the point, but I was impressed with Mike's 3B fielding when I saw him play. He also made his hits count at Erie with 30 RBI with 35 hits. His slugging at Erie was .580 with .353 OBP and .285 BA.HR of 8 with 123 AB can compare with Brennan Boesch's HR with 527 AB. [deleted, off topic]
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written by MattinToledo, February 15, 2010
I didn't forget Bishop. He's a first baseman and if he'd been intended to play third he certainly would have been put in for at least one inning there in Oneonta last year. As for Bertram, he's 26 years old now and hasn't played a full season at Double A. To be a prospect at that age, you need to have shown you can handle the highest levels of the minors and be blocked at the major league level. Bertram has been blocked by guys like Santo De Leon and Mike Hessman. It's highly unlikely the Tigers consider him a viable prospect.
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written by stephen grosberg, February 15, 2010
On the basis of what they SHOULD do, not what they will co, I"d move Mike Bertram to Toledo bases on Erie last year. If he hits like he hit at Erie(look at the record in 123 ab with 30 RBI and Santo De Leon 39 RBI in 297 AB with a .353 OBP vs. De Leon .296.), he'd become the first up after Brent Dlugach. In my opinion, performance deserves promotion below 27 years old. Don Kelly , unfortunately doesn't make it. As for Rawley Bishop, he should be given a chance in the OF. The only reason that he hasn't been tried at third is that the Tigers don't want to give up on Wade Gaynor this early. My spies at Oneonta tell me that Gaynor is having ALOT of trouble adjusting to a wooden bat. I believe you reward performance now. It's time they substituted at Toledo to give others a chance, especially the OF at Erie.
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written by TigersFan81371, February 15, 2010
I've read that Ciriaco is capable of sliding over to third, but the Tigers still like him at short for now. I haven't read much about any of the other shortstop prospects being considered for third. I would think that Ciriaco being on the 40-man this spring, the Tigers' braintrust will be able to get a pretty good look at him.
Bishop/Bertram/Gaynor/Pounds
written by Mark A., February 16, 2010
I acknowledge and respect the desire by some to move prospects aggressively...but I want to throw a few pretty well accepted facts from the scouting community into the mix for consideration....

Bishop - He's not a natural third baseman. He's a natural first baseman. He played third at MTSU out of necessity for the team, and while he doesn't mind playing there, he's told me face-to-face that he views himself as a first baseman. In addition, from a scouting perspetive, I don't think he could handle the outfield...I don't believe the foot speed is there to be even an average defender. Lastly, the bat's not going to play at the upper levels, he's more organizational soldier than serious prospect.

Bertram - I like Bertram, as a person and a player, but he's not an MLB prospect. He's hit a little bit, and honestly, he's hit a bit more than most (myself included) thought he would coming out of Kentucky. That said, I don't expect that to continue long term; particularly with additional exposure to advanced pitching in Double-A. His defense at third base is solid at best, and questionable more often. He makes most of the plays he gets to, but I've never seen a guy that can make anything beyond a routine play at the hot corner.

Gaynor - I understand he had a rough year in Oneonta and most don't know what to make of him....but I do know that he was drafted with ceiling in mind, and not immediate production. He's very raw, despite being a three-year college guy, and he may have the highest ceiling of any third baseman in the organization. His power, speed, athleticism, arm strength, and work ethic are all outstanding. Don't sleep just because of a bad tour through the NYPL.

Pounds - I have always been a fan of Bryan Pounds...go check my articles from the 2008 Fall Instructional League. He impressed me, the sum of the parts plays up compared to the individual tools, he's an extremely hard worker, good kid, and just a solid ball player. As much as I like him, I have a hard time seeing much more than a solid minor league bat capable of turning in solid third base defense. I hope he continues to do more than that, but even with my personal 'like' of him, his prospect status remains questionable.
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written by stephen grosberg, February 18, 2010
Many thanks to Mark A. for a great anaysis. I might add that my spies at Oneonta told me that Wade Gaynor was having trouble adjusting to a wooden bat. My conclusion is still that performance by Pounds, Bertram, Bishop, and Brent Dlugach DESERVES promotion if for no other reason than trade bait. Maybe I'm too aggressive with skipping a level like Bishop to Lakeland or Brandon Douglas to Erie. We don't know what they're able to accomplish until they're put in a position to accomplish. Look at the success of Ryan Raburn(.355 the last 2 months with many clutch hits.) I still feel moving them up when the opportunity presents itself like Pounds, Bertram, and another prospect I like alot, Adam Wilk is to be commended. I want no more situations like Robbie Weinhardt repeating Lakeland. The biggest mystery to me is not givig Brent Dlugach some chance based on BA, OBP, and slugging. Many thanks again Mark A. I appreciate your disagreement and respect it greatly. Many thanks to Matt Wallace for providing a site where we can exchange opinions and LEARN , all for the benefit, hopefully, for the Tigers.
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written by stephen grosberg, February 20, 2010
The only way we'll know more is to move Mike Bertram to Toledo and Bryan Pounds to Erie at 3B. If they fail, you can say I'm a poor judge of players. Good stats, supported by clutch hitting in close games, merits promotion. If Brennan Boesch isn't at Toledo with a good look in Spring Training, the Tigers would be making a big mistake. I'm aggressive in moving players up 1 or 2 levels, but it's ALWAYS based on stats, BA, OBP, Slugging, and clutch hitting in close games. All the players in my comments satisfy this criteria.

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Last Updated on Saturday, 13 February 2010 12:09
 

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