"Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth." Roberto Clemente
There was no hesitation on the part of any of the players when called on.
Many that got involved knew White Sox minor leaguers Jake Floethe, they'd been teammates. But even those who didn't know him well jumped on board, when he presented the idea of a video that would try to assist relief efforts for the Philippines & the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
The idea came to Floethe after seeing the suffering people were experiencing, and, instead of attaching his name to a bigger named charity or tweeting something to inspire donations, he decided to take a bigger stand.
"Jake wanted to be proactive, and I really liked that approach. It's fine to tweet something or do a Facebook post, but this fans seeing player's face to face to [urge them] to donate," he said. "This was a way to do something beyond a 140 character tweet or just donate money. I wish I could actually go there. So this was a great way for me to do something."
Since the video debuted, the 'You Caring' website has raised $1,000 and every dollar goes to the Direct Relief, a non-profit organization based in California.
Social media has become a huge part of people's everyday lives, and minor league baseball has grown tremendously through use of social media. Players are connecting with fans more personally. Minor leaguers benefit from fans knowing who they are, and more about them, early in their careers. Floethe saw an opportunity to take advantage of that outreach to help others in desperate need.
"I wanted us to stand up as the minor league community," he said. "Baseball is a tight family, We have to take time to give back, and as minor league guys we need to show what we can do to help others."
The donation website was designed, then came the video. Floethe called several players, and told them he'd script what they said. Giants Gary Brown, Marlins Justin Nicolino, and former Rays teammates Linsky and Jake Hager were some of the players that got involved.
"Once he reached out, I was one hundred percent interested right off the bat," said Hager. "The idea that people that don't know you, can receive something makes me happy. I think what he's done is awesome. It was just a great idea."
Floethe's goals don't stop there. He envisions an effort that will continue, for other people in need down the road. He wants to keep going. Because he knows that they have the ability, even outside of the major leagues.
"I'm trying to establish something that can raise money at this level," he said.
Linsky sees the idea that Floethe formed as a great starting point and has intentions to continue his involvement.
"I felt it was very powerful, in how he executed it. Very to the point. I'm stoked that he thought of me. We're in a very fortunate positions to do this for a living," Linsky said.
Such a disaster that took so many lives can be overwhelming, however, to the everyday person. How do you help when there's so much tragedy? What impact will it have? Hager hopes the message is that there's nothing too small to make impact.
"Any donation is huge. Everyone should, in my opinion. It doesn't matter if it's a dollar," he said. "Donating a little, is helping a lot."
And, yeah, this became a top twenty. Anything less was too hard.
There are players on it that were, and are, considered the top prospects, but that's not the criteria.
The idea for this came after a few different conversations about the word 'prospect' and who the top 'prospects' were in the New York Penn League, which I'd covered almost exclusively this season and in 2012. My thoughts were about the guys that I covered, and not whether they were top prospects, but what they did when I saw them play. And, of course, some of them were the best in their teams respective system.
This is a list of a players that were the most impressive during the time I covered them. Regardless of rankings.
Some overcame a lot of obstacles. Some were new to professional baseball and had to mature quickly to be more successful. Some entered the pros and were considered the best and with the most promise. Or maybe they had an impact by being fearless and aggressive in their approach, no matter how tough a time they were having.
I let this have a more personal tone (I is in the title, so that's established). But I've been away for a little while. So I (heyyy) thought it was the right way to bring the blog back in the game.
The majority of my game coverage has been in the Eastern and New York Penn Leagues, so it's limited to those players. I've covered games and players in other leagues, but not enough to feel I could qualify an opinion on how they played over a full season.
Here they are...
Bryce Harper, Coverage 2011, Harrisburg Senators, Eastern League- Ok. The most obvious is here. When he played in the Eastern League his every move was documented and dissected. Yes, he made a show of a home run by blowing a kiss to the pitcher. But, quick, tell me anything else about his EL stint? Because if you paid attention, you would've been far more impressed with the quiet way in which he did his work, everyday; the time he spent with fans; the respect he garnered from his manager Tony Beasley, who said, "I can't understand why they come to boo him." Watching him at the plate is what it's been since he was a kid and what you've seen in the major leagues: the ability to generate power the likes of which are so rare, if you got to see him in his early professional career, you witnessed the start of a legend. Standing outside of the story, it was easy to judge. But if you were up close when he was in the minors, you saw a guy with extraordinary ability, doing his job.
Austin Romine, Coverage 2010-2011, Trenton Thunder, Eastern League- The attention on the Yankees catcher was far too often in connection with fellow catching prospect Jesus Montero (I just did it again and it's way past the point), who was the Yankees top prospect. It was Montero's bat that gave him that distinction. Romine's defense was better and it wasn't a big surprise when the Yankees traded Montero. He appeared to be a more well-rounded, valuable player. During the two years I covered him in the EL, he improved in a number of ways. The main improvement was in his patience at the plate. When he entered the league, he tended to jump on pitches he couldn't handle. An infield pop-up was pretty standard. But the next year he came out of the gate showing a more relaxed approach. His at-bats were smarter and increasingly productive. He was drawing walks more often. Injury befell him (BOTH), but when he returned he continued to be a contributor. But his defense remained his greatest strength. His ability to call a game and handle his duties behind the plate, as well as his relationships with his pitchers, proved what an excellent leader he could be.
Jesus Montero, Coverage 2009, Trenton Thunder- In the early part of Montero's professional career, the fever over his ability at the plate should've popped the thermometer. He displayed advanced power, his greatest asset, with the Thunder. Though I covered him only briefly (and not again after he was promoted to Triple-A, then traded to Seattle), in a few games, he exhibited a ton of swagger, despite endless questions about his ability as a catcher. But he flashed a swing that looked capable of hitting many home runs for the Yankees. The excitement around him was well-deserved, despite faltering as he moved ahead.
Taylor Guerrieri, Coverage 2012, Hudson Valley Renegades, New York Penn League- The best, most exciting pitching prospect in the Rays system, with potential he's only begun to tap into. The righty managed to focus his wild energy in the best way possible by the end of the Renegades 2012 season. He helped lead them to a New York Penn League title, pitching 52 innings, and finishing with a 1.05 ERA and 45 strikeouts. It was the lack of walks that had the most impact, allowing just five. He improved with each start, looking like a different pitcher, and a different person, by the end.
Kyle Drabek, Coverage 2009-10, Reading Phillies-New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Eastern League- At the end of the 2011 EL season, Drabek pitched a game that caused conversation in the press box. 'What is he still doing here?' we wondered. He had developed beyond Double-A and didn't appear to need another day of facing hitters at that level. He'd struggled mentally and with command when he was in the Phillies system, but after his trade to the Jays, something began to settle and his focus changed. In 2010, he struck out 132 in 162 innings. He ended the season with a 2.74 ERA in 27 starts. He credited his father, former major leaguer Doug, for helping him shut out distractions once he joined the Jays organization.
Dellin Betances, Coverage 2011, Trenton Thunder- That arm, that arm, that arm. At the time that he pitched for the Thunder, he was as mercurial as he is now. As talented. As electric. And as unpredictable, with the same struggles he's continued to have after Double-A. A starting pitcher until early this past season, a role that never seemed to suit him despite moments of brilliance. Some days the 6'8" RHP looked like he should be pitching in Yankee Stadium. Other days, he struggled to get through the lineup multiple times. He'd lose his way, and lack of command would halt a quality start. He's not developed into exactly what the Yankees expected. But that arm, that arm, that arm. As Thunder manager said, 'You don't give up on an arm like that.' His move to the bullpen hasn't been smooth sailing, but Franklin said it best.
Saxon Butler- Coverage 2012, Staten Island Yankees, New York Penn League- The quickest learner of anyone I've covered. His adaptability, ability to adjust with each at-bat, learning to trust his swing, and big, natural power were impressive to witness, and got him a mid-season promotion to Class-A Charleston. In 2013 he made his Double-A debut with the Thunder. Now that's a quick jump.
Travis D'Arnaud, Coverage 2011, New Hampshire Fisher Cats- d'Arnaud began his career with the Phillies, but it wasn't until 2011, after he'd been traded to the Blue Jays, that I saw firsthand what the catcher could do both at and behind the plate. His defensive ability (quick arm & feet, solid instincts) has continuously ranked him high on every list, but he also showed tremendous skills at the plate. Through 114 games he collected 132 hits, knocking in 78 runs. His trade to the Mets begun a new chapter: he's been ranked the team's #1 prospect by MLB.com. The glimpse I got was one of a confident natural, with skills still in the early stages.
Manny Banuelos- Coverage 2011, Trenton Thunder- It would be difficult to mention lefty Banuelos, without connecting him to Betances. When they pitched in the Thunder rotation, they were highly touted, and concern hadn't really begun. Banuelos remains ranked high in most evaluations of the Yankees system. At the time, he was a consistent part of the pitching staff, showing great command and a mix of weapons. Like Betances, his troubles have overshadowed the potential and caused a lot of questions.
Brandon Nimmo, Coverage 2012, Brooklyn Cyclones- How do you get that good at baseball without a high school program? Nimmo figured it out (and was captain of his HS football team), making his highly anticipated short-season debut in 2012. He played in 69 games, an exhaustive effort that wore on him by season's end. But along the way the outfielder got 66 hits, 40 RBI, and worked 76 walks. His plate approach continued to develop and improve to the very end. He debuted in Class-A Savannah in 2013.
...and ten more:
Brad Peacock- Coverage 2011, Harrisburg Senators, Eastern League
Steven Ramos- Coverage 2013, State College Spikes, New York Penn League
Eric Jagielo- Coverage 2013, Staten Island Yankees
LJ Mazzilli- Coverage 2013, Brooklyn Cyclones, New York Penn League
Julian Ridings- Coverage 2013, Hudson Valley Renegades
Conrad Gregor- Coverage 2013, Tri-City Valley Cats, New York Penn League
Gabriel Ynoa- Coverage 2012, Brooklyn Cyclones
Eric Surkamp- Coverage 2011, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Eastern League
Gavin Cecchini- Coverage 2013, Brooklyn Cyclones
Tyler Austin- Coverage 2012, Trenton Thunder
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