Arizona Diamondbacks Top-15 Prospects of 2010, No’s 1 – 5

ALSO SEE – Diamondbacks Top Prospects, No’s 6 – 15

Grades are based on a prospect’s projected value over the course of his career and how likely it is that prospect will fulfill his projected value. Various factors are accounted for including upside, red flags, actual performance, and closeness to the majors. See the 2010 Prospect Primer for more information as it relates to prospect grading and philosophy.

Hitters must have 100 or fewer Major League ABs to qualify for this list. Starting pitchers must have 50 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Relief pitchers must have 25 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Ages are listed as of May 1st, 2010. Levels are based on the highest level in which a prospect played in 2009. All grades are subject to change based on any new information I receive before the season starts.

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Player Grades
Fastball – 65 Now | 70 Future
Slider – 60 | 65
Curveball – 50 | 55
Change-Up – 55 | 60
Control – 50/45 | 55
Command – 45 | 55
Pitchability – 50 | 55
ETA – 2012
Final Grade – B+

*Because Parker underwent Tommy John surgery, I dropped his grade from an A- to a B+

Body Type – Lean and very athletic

Stuff

Fastball – Sits between 92 – 96, touching 98. The pitch has plus life and both tail and sink. The ball explodes out of his hand and he generates his velocity with ease. In addition, he commands the pitch well to all quadrants of the strike zone.

Slider – A presently plus pitch, Parker’s slider is typically in the 79 – 84 mph range and can really act as a slurve because it has both tilt and a two-plane break. The pitch comes out of his hand looking like a fastball. Command of the pitch is inconsistent but when it’s on he’s able to command it to both sides of the plate. Hitters have a lot of trouble picking up the spin of the pitch out of Parker’s hand.

Change- Up – A potentially plus offering, Parker maintains his arm speed…the pitch has good deception and drops off the table as it approaches home plate

Curveball – A very good change of pace pitch, it gives hitters something softer, in the mid-70s, to be aware of.

Scouting Report

An elbow injury derailed what was a magnificent season for Jarrod Parker. He waited three months before deciding to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Before his injury, Parker steamrolled through A+ Visalia and was promoted to Double-A Mobile where he was challenged by more advanced and older hitters.

Parker has good control over his power-based repertoire, but he has to work on commanding his stuff within the strike zone since he has a tendency to leave stuff over the middle of the plate.

Parker’s athleticism helps him repeat his mechanics with ease. His delivery is smooth and coordinated, but it’s also very slow tempo wise. His tempo comes out around 28 or 29 frames. He’s also a tall-and-fall pitcher. So he doesn’t really use his body that well to generate velocity. He relies mostly on his tremendously fast arm.

Parker will likely rehab well into the season and there is a chance he could be back sometime before the year is over.

Best Case Outcome – No. 1 starter

More Likely Outcome – Strong No. 2, borderline No.1 starter…just needs to stay healthy

Player Grades
Contact – 35 Now | 45 Future
Power – 45 | 60
Discipline – 40 | 55
Speed – 40 | 40
Defense – 45 | 55
Arm – 60 | 60
Instincts – 45 | 55
ETA – 2014
Final Grade – B-/B

Body Type – Big frame at 6-foot-4 and room to fill out

Scouting Report

Bobby Borchering is a true switch hitter with raw power from both sides of the plate. Naturally strong, his power should develop as he fills out his frame. He’s got strong forearms and good bat speed. The ball jumps off Borchering’s when he’s able to center it the.

I do have some questions about his swing from the left hand side. Before I address them, I will say his right hand swing, the few I saw, looked like the BP swing you a little further down in the article. I like his left hand swing more because it looks smoother, the timing looks better, and the ball seemed to come off the bat better.

But as far as Borchering’s swing from the left hand side, I’ve seen a couple different variations of his swing. Below we see Borchering in 2008 (left) and 2009 (right):

*Credit to the MLB Scouting Bureau

I had to synchronize the clips to contact, so you don’t get the entire set up, but in both instances he uses a wide base. He rocks his body back to generate some momentum. He uses a toe tap as a timing mechanism. The 2008 versions does his toe tap and then takes a tiny step forward before getting on his front foot, which is where the clip starts off. The swing itself looks like a protection swing, but still, he’s not maximizing his production with the set up of that swing.

The 2009 clip shows Borchering taking a longer stride than before and he’s no longer shifting his weight forward on his front foot. However, he still gets a little too far on his front side. Because of the tremendous strength in his forearms, wrists, and hands, Borchering is able prevent his hands from following suit and also getting too far out in front. The swing actually looks a lot like Freedy Freeman’s (Atlanta Braves first base prospect) swing

One thing you should notice is the tremendous intent he swings the bat with. You can see this by watching the back leg after he swings, how it’s brought aggressively forward, practically colliding with Borchering’s front leg and kicking up dirt in the process. However, that specific action I think is also the result of him trying to keep his torso and hands back until the last instance.

*Credit to baseballfactorytv

And then we move to the BP swing where the stride is longest after the toe tap. He takes a long stride, carrying his weight forward, building momentum and he really gets a good turn through the ball. He’s able to better turn on his front leg and keep his upper body and hands back before unloading on the ball.

Defensively, Borchering isn’t particularly agile and while he’s got decent hands and a plus arm, there are many that feel he’ll have to move off third base.

Best Case Outcome – Borderline All Star at first base…don’t think he’s good enough to be a regular All Star at the position since there is so much talent at the position

More Likely Outcome – Too soon to say, but probably an above average everyday first baseman

Brief Rundown on Prospects 3 – 5

3. Brandon Allen | 1b | Grade – B-/B – Over the 100 AB threshold, but I already completed my write up, so I’ve made an exception for him…I like his bat, but it’s a much better fit for maybe third base or a corner outfield spot, but at first base, he projects to be more of an average everyday player

4. A.J. Pollock | CF | Grade – B- – Out for 3 months recovering from elbow surgery…up-and-down debut, but projects as a quality center field prospect

5. Marc Krauss | LF/1b | Grade – B- – Outstanding numbers in college and had a nice pro debut…only his bat and arm grade out well

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UP NEXT – Arizona Diamonbacks Top Prospects, No’s 6 – 15

Other References and Resources Used for This Article – First Inning and Minor League Splits