Prospect Hot Sheet (July 5): Precocious Julio Urias Earns Top Spot

매주 베이스볼 아메리카에서는 그주에 가장 좋은 활약을 한 마이너리거를 선정/발표를 하는데 이번주에 가장 좋은 활약을 한 마이너리거로 다저스의 A팀 선발투수인 훌리오 유리아스가 선정이 되었습니다.

지난주에 10.2이닝을 피칭해서 6피안타, 3볼넷, 1자책점, 15삼진을 기록했다고 하는군요. 성적만 놓고 보면 유리아스보다 좋은 모습을 보여준 선수가 많겠지만 만 16세 선수라는 점이 크게 반영이 된 것이 아닌가 싶습니다.

The Scoop: You could argue that Tyler Skaggs, Byron Buxton or someone else had a better week than Urias from a statistical standpoint, but it’s hard to argue that anyone else had a better week in context. Urias is easily the youngest player in full-season ball. We had to go back to Jacobo Sequea, who pitched in the Sally League in 1998, for the last 16-year-old to make a significant number of starts in a full-season league. (Readers: feel free to add to this list by tweeting to @baseballamerica or @jjcoop36).

Urias, a Mexican lefty who has been succeeding with both stuff and feel, has been one of the better pitchers in the Midwest League since his arrival, going 2-0, 2.78 with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a reasonable 3.6 BB/9. He’s comfortable pitching backwards, throwing a changeup that freezes hitters and a low-90s fastball. With typical progression, he could be in Double-A at age 18 and in the majors before he turns 20. Add it all up, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited—but there is also a reason to be cautious.

The youngest big league rotation regulars of the Expansion Era—Gary Nolan, Dwight Gooden, Wally Bunker and Larry Dierker all logged 180-plus innings at age 19—did not had long careers in the limelight. Youth is a much greater predictor of prolonged success for young position players—see Bryce Harper, Tony Conigliaro, Ken Griffey Jr., Robin Yount and Edgar Renteria.

리포트를 보면 알겠지만 20살에 메이저리그 데뷔 가능성도 거론을 하는군요. Prospect Hot Sheet에서 만 16세 선수가 1위에 선정이 된 것은 처음이라고 하는군요.

Jason (Los Angeles): What do you see Joc Pederson's ceiling to be?
J.J. Cooper: I was too light on Pederson early this year, but talking to several scouts who have seen him this year has helped me see the light. Very productive everyday regular in the outfield.

이제...더이상 팀의 4번째 외야수가 될 것이라는 평가를 하지 않네요.ㅋㅋㅋ