Braves INF prospects prominent in BBA's Tools Issue

rico43

rico43

<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Johan Camargo, the Panamanian switch-hitting shortstop for the Rome Braves, was tabbed as the Best Infield Arm by the league's managers and media for Baseball America's annual Tools Issue.

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Camargo, still only 20, has been a fixture in the Rome lineup as the team has reversed its fortunes in recent days. He's already had 400 at-bats and is hitting .279 with very limited power (no homers) but only 47 strikeouts. At 6-0, 160, have to figure he's filling out a little because he needs a little pop to be much more than a glove guy.

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Jose Peraza was in the Carolina League long enough to be designated as the league's Best Baserunner and the league's Best Defensive 2nd Baseman. When he was promoted, he'd stolen 35 baseball in 42 attempts in just 66 games. Already in Mississippi, he has 25 SBs in 41 games. He pulled off the double dip, being named the Southern League's Best Baserunner as well.
Peraza, 20, is a converted shortstop.

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The reason that last fact is notable is that Mexical Legaue refugee Daniel Castro was named the Carolina League's Best Defensive Shortstop. Like Peraza, Castro, 21, brings other tools to the table as well, hitting .295 at Miss. after hitting .292 at Lynchburg.

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While his current shoulder problem is a concern, no one can take away from Shea Simmons the spectaculer beginning to 2014 he enjoyed. Before moving directly to the majors from Mississippi, he was unhittable. In 20 games (14 saves) he had 30 striikeout in 23 innings and an 0.78 ERA. He was named the Southern League's Best Reliever as a result.

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One reason Simmons stayed at Mississippi until his callup was becaue Juan Jaime was at Gwinnett. While opportunities were occasionally scarce, Jaime was lights-out, saving 16 games before his second callup of the season to be named the IL's Best Reliever. He pitched in 37 games, with 55 strikeouts in 54 innings (but 33 walks, a problem). Braves can't make up their minds how to use him; he had 18 saves for Lynchburg in 2012, none for Mississippi last year. A late-bloomer, he turned 27 this past week.

Among their major league tools rankings, Craig Kimbrel was voted as having the second best fastball (to Chapman, of course); Teheran was said to have the third-best curveball, with Wainwright(!) and Kershaw 1-2; Kimbrel was voted as having the Best Slider and being Best Reliever; Teheran the second-best pickoff move; Freeman was named third-best defensive first baseman (LaRoche first!); and Simmons was voted Best Shortstop and Best Infield Arm; Fredi (as mentioned elsewhere) was voted third-best manager behind Bochy and Matheny.
 
Dalyn said:
Makes you wonder if we should see if we could get a great return for Simmons.
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I had the same thought. With his long-term deal and platinum glove, Braves would be selling high, if not maximum value. Frankly, with all of his dives and headlong plays, I worry that his shoulder is going be damaged along the way.
 
With the way things are setup I want to build the offense around speed. I would look into trading Kimbrel/Simmons/CJ which would free up payroll and bring a good return. One trade idea I like is Simmons/CJ for Starling Marte. The pirates have had a weakness at SS for a while and they have a lot of depth in the outfield. Marte is a center fielder who won't play there because of McCutchen. Then sign Headley to a 1 year deal. I think he just needed a change of scenery and has done well with the yankees so far. I think he takes a 1 year deal to rebuild his value.

We already have a ton of power with Justin/Freeman/Gattis and theoretically Heywood too. The only non base stealing threat positions would be 3b, catcher, and 2b. Kubitza could add a sb threat at 3b at some point too.
 
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