Month: January 2019

In the third game of the Kannapolis-Lakewood series I was treated to a three-inning virtuoso pitching performance from Lakewood’s young gun Spencer Howard.  Plucked by the Phillies in the second round of the 2017 MLB draft, Howard has already exceeded expectations.  He nearly chose volleyball over baseball in high school and then walked on and dominated at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo In his draft season at Williamsport, Howard

Chad Spanberger is a very interesting prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization.  He played college for the D-1 Arkansas Razorbacks for two years before breaking out during his junior season.  As a freshman catcher he hit no home runs, while compiling a .252 AVG .336 OBP and a 29% strikeout rate.  During his sophomore season, he regressed, hitting 6 home runs with a .225 with a .325 OBP while striking

Out of all of the prospects beginning their seasons in the SAL, one of the players I have been most excited about getting my eyes on is Ryan Vilade.  As a 19 year old getting his first taste of full season professional baseball, his reputation precedes him.  Vilade was literally born with a bat in his hands.  His father is an assistant baseball coach for Oklahoma State.  He was once a

Photo by Tiffany Wintz @tiffw96 on Twitter If you’ve been watching baseball for a long enough time, you’ve probably heard the term “dirt-bag.” Dirt-bag is a complimentary term used to describe a player who does more with less. The dirt bag hustles on every play, he stays mentally engaged, he leaves it all out on the field, and when the game is over, he walks off with

[wpvideo bb59E7zb] The 2017 and 2018 baseball seasons saw many quality White Sox prospects pass through the SAL by way of the Kannapolis Intimidators.  Intimidators fans and baseball prospectors were treated to visits of varying length from Nick Madrigal, Luis Robert, Jake Burger, Gavin Sheets, Blake Rutherford, Dylan Cease and many others.  The 2019 version of the Intimidators may not hold the same upside appeal, but that

The minor leagues are a racket.  “Racket” you say… please expound.  Well, as an avid baseball fan I would truly be lost without the minor leagues.  I live for the game and take great pleasure in watching these kids evolve as they chase their big-league dreams.  However, being drafted by a major league team means virtually nothing about a player’s professional potential.  Being signed into the minor leagues is in essence, the equivalent