Deester, I take it you were down at the FCL fields. Any comments about Juan Mateo? He's playing 3B as Perdomo is the SS. I did a little research and it looks like Mateo was a low-bonus international signee who was probably the best position player on a terrible DSL team in 2024.
Hey 50. I got to the first game and saw Mateo, Perdomo, Benitez and Roiber Niazoa (he went hitless, but I loved his approach).
Perdomo is fun to watch and I didn't really think he did much to prove or disprove anything. It's so early for all of them.
Mateo - He played 3B in the game and looked good. He is about 10 pounds lighter than Niazoa and I made note that he was very smooth fielding and his bat looks like it whips through the zone pretty good. In fact, even Benitez looked good at times, but his track record is abysmal. Mateo looks squat and compact. Much like his swing. He didn't bite on a few tough pitches out of the zone that most of our prospects swing at. Too early to tell, but I like what I saw.
Typically when I go down, I'll get a few pictures or so and maybe talk to a couple if allowed, but I didn't do a great job because we'd just gotten back from Punta Cana and I was over it by then...lol. I have a few more notes written on a few guys though:
Kade Kern - Basic setup in the box, good to decent plane to the ball. Didn't get a hit, but was otherwise ok I guess. Defense was pretty good.
Alexander Martinez - I think this is his second year repeating FCL...he was not bad defensively and framed pretty good. At bat, his set up is almost straight up with a little bend and he drives into pitches pretty good. He's been assigned as high as Augusta and got in 8 at bats. Too soon to realize anything about his game, but some good at bats.
Mario Baez - Been a name we've heard for more years than he's been in the system, but I am not that high on him. He reminded me of current Albies and that's not good. In the minor's Albies played "tall." Meaning his game was bigger than his size. I feel like Mario could do some of that, but I saw him playing 2B and he showed a little range....decent arm, but....I don't know, something wasn't there for me. It was only one game though.
The pitchers got lit up so I didn't write much, but there were some good arms in the mix. I liked Justin Militello...good arm..cocky disposition, but I think it's more athletic arrogance. I loved his delivery. Some effort to it, but his FB looked to me as a mid-90's FB. I think he was hurt before but he looked good. He's a lot like Ethan Workinger in that he wasn't drafted, but signed a non-drafted contract.
I'll be going down in a couple of weeks and hope to see more of the rehabbing players too...Caminiti being one.