Bryan Smith looks at the Rule 5 crop from the Arizona Fall League and presents some more intriguing options available. (subscription needed.)
The Royals continued to surprise in their 40-man roster decisions, leaving Dusty Hughes eligible to the Rule 5 draft in addition to Lubanski. Hughes was voted as the AFL Pitcher of the Year after an Arizona Fall League where he posted a 2.25 ERA in six starts. However, it was Hughes’ health that was most important, as the southpaw proved that his Tommy John surgery was successful. Hughes is a fantastic option to bring in to compete for the back end of a rotation, relying on a 88-90 mph sinking fastball that induces groundballs at a good rate, as well as a very good change. If teams believe they can continue Hughes’ development by working with him on his breaking ball, he’s the type of player the Rule 5 draft was designed to expose.
More after the jump.
He also lists 25 year old RHP Lincoln Holdzkom of the Red Sox, and 26 year old Jarrett Grube of the Rockies.
Here’s Holdzkom’s scouting report per Sox Prospects:
Very big, hard throwing righty reliever. His repertoire includes a mid 90s cut fastball (sits around 93 mph), a two seamer, a low 80s slider, and an average curve. The slider and curve have similar breaks, so some scouts basically just consider that he has a slurve. Struggles with control. Missed some of 2006 with a jammed shoulder. Missed 2004 due to TJ Surgery.
Holdzkom and Hughes sound pretty intriguing. Hughes was the AFL pitcher of the year, here’s a little more on him straight from the horses mouth from Milb.com.
“Changing speeds and throwing first-pitch strikes led to success,” he said. “My pitching coach in Wichita, Larry Carter, saw that I was trying to be too perfect with pitches, especially later in ballgames. He forced me to keep throwing strikes, to trust that I could throw strikes with either pitch. This season more than any other, my heater and change were there. I could move them corner to corner, up and down, and kept a lot of hitters off balance.”
Hughes figures to start the season with Triple-A Omaha, and most scouts project him as a No. 5 starter or middle reliever. With a fastball that sits 88-91 mph and a changeup that induced more groundball outs than any year of his career, he could make an appearance in the Majors sooner rather than later.
“I know I’ve still got work to do with my curveball and slider, but I feel like I’m moving forward in the right place. I’ve talked to guys on the Rafters that played in Triple-A last year, and hearing their stories makes me eager to face the challenges at that level. I can’t wait to get back out there.”
I like the idea of snagging him if he’s available. With Mulder’s arm ready to fall of his shoulder at any moment, he could make for an interesting back of the rotation option on the cheap. If all else, he could make a nifty middle reliever. And he’s got a chance to make an inroad with LaRuncan being that he’s a sinnkerballer. No harm in bringing him to camp, hopefully he’s available when the Cardinals pick.
Filed under: Rule 5 Draft
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
Nice stuff Erik, thanks.
Can you remind us again where to find the draft order and the list of available players?
i don’t have a list of players, but the order is the same as the draft. worst picks first, and so on. if a team has their 40 man already set, they don’t have a pick..the Tigers are doing that.
This is a nice way to pick up young pitchers, especially if you can stash them at the end of the bullpen, and in spot starts, which I think we can afford.
I’d prefer Hughes because he’s been a starter.
However Holdzkom has pitched well in AAA.
I’d be happy with any of the three if we can hold on to them.
I personally just don’t see where a reliever would help us. We already have a full house and there is more help that is either ready or soon to be ready in Worrell, Perez, Motte. If we pick up a guy I would rather it be a potential SP or a RH hitter.
I think either would be worth taking. What the hell do we have to lose? Both sound like pitchers — are they ready? Who knows but what harm would it do to try? I’d rather run Hughes out there 30 times than Brad Thompson or Carlos Silva.
Hughes over Silva? While I don’t necessarily believe that Cards should spend 12 million per on a Silva or Lohse it’s not like the Cards don’t have money to spend and it’s not like Silva would block the Cards upcoming prospects. Hughes doesn’t seem to be any better than Thompson either. I don’t know much about Hughes but I’d rather have Thompson or Silva over him until proven otherwise, hell I’d rather the Cards push one of their current minor league starters into the rotation too early than see Hughes 30 times next year.
We need another LH reliever going into the Spring. If Flores or Johnson goes down, we have no other LH options. I say bring in Hughes. Worst case, Flores and Johnson stay, healthy (that’s bad?), hughes doesn’t impress and we send him back. Best case he pitches like he did in the AFL and becomes a back of the rotation guy or another lefty out of the pen.
Plus - Tyler Johnson’s name has come up in trade rumors.