After looking at star-studded Scottsdale Scorpions roster, the Mesa Solar Sox team pales in comparison. There are some nice role-playing pieces but few stars and fewer without serious question marks.
Josh Vitters OF (Cubs): Vitters is one of the most controversial prospects out there. He has excellent hand-eye coordination that leads to a plus hit tool, but his way too aggressive approach leads to poor offensive production. Power isn’t a problem either, but yet again, his approach prohibits him from bringing that power into the game. Defensively, he has an excellent arm. It is interesting, however, that he is listed as an outfielder after being a third baseman for his entire career. If he moves to an outfield corner (probably right considering his arm), his bat needs to play more than it already needed to.
Aaron Hicks OF (Twins): Hicks has always been known as a five-tool player, but he has failed to live up to expectations on the offensive end. The 21-year old will take his walks, but his hit and power tools haven’t developed as hoped. Out here to get some experience against good prospects.
Xavier Avery OF (Orioles): A very toolsy athlete, Avery is still very raw at 21, and while he still has time, there are doubts as to whether he can turn those tools into skills. He’s out here, like Hicks, to get some experience against better prospects.
Robbie Grossman OF (Pirates): A personal favorite, Grossman will walk you to death, and he adds an average, maybe a little above, hit tool with fringy power. In the end, I fear he’s a bit of a tweener who won’t play center but can’t hit enough for a corner, but he’s here to see if that plate discipline plays against better pitching.
DJ LeMahieu 2B (Cubs): He has a decent hit tool, but he doesn’t walk or hit for power. Defense isn’t enough to make up for it. Probably a utility player, but hey, teams need those.
Junior Lake SS (Cubs): Lake had a bit of a breakout in the Florida State League, but he struggled in 70 games at AA. Another toolsy athlete looking to make those into skills, Lake will be trying to make some adjustments in his quest to move Starlin Castro … or just unseat Darwin Barney.
Andrew Cashner P (Cubs): Cashner has a huge arm and a nice slider, but he’s likely a reliever down the road, though he’s likely to be a late-inning guy and a good one. After spending most of the season on the shelf, he’s out to here to grab some innings and go back to the Cubs’ bullpen come April.
Chris Carpenter P (Cubs): Basically Cashner with a little less stuff but way, way worse control. He’s out here to make some adjustments. Carpenter might be one of the few in Arizona that can actually make a run for a job with a strong performance, but that’s mainly because the Cubs just want a reason to stick him in the bullpen.
Gerrit Cole P (Pirates): Here’s the big-ticket item on the team. With a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, a plus curve, and a plus change, Cole has all the stuff to be an ace, but his control and the tendency for his fastball to flatten him out makes him more hittable than he should be. He’s out here just to get some pro experience, and I’d bet on him starting 2012 in High A or AA.
Trey McNutt P (Cubs): McNutt took a step back in AA this season as his stuff wasn’t as good, though that could have been the result of blister problems. With only 91 innings pitched, the Cubs sent him out here to get some more innings to see if that big fastball and devastating slider can return to form.
As I said, there’s not a whole lot here. There are some good players like Hicks, Vitters, Grossman, and McNutt, but they also have serious questions. Cole is the big-name player, but he’s probably at least a season away from seeing the majors. He may have near-Strasburg stuff, but he’s not as polished as Strasburg.
