Jared Mortensen experienced big highs in 2015, including a promotion to Triple-A Durham, and now participating in the Double-A Southern League Playoffs with the Montgomery Biscuits.
Mortensen returned from a 2-game stint with the Durham Bulls, earning a win in both outings. With the Bulls season done, the Tampa Bay Rays sent the RHP back to Montgomery to give the team an extra arm in post-season play. He made 17 regular season starts for the Biscuits in 2015, finishing with a 3.78 ERA, and 96 strikeouts in 114 innings of work.
Here’s what Mortensen said about the playoffs, his experience with the Bulls, and the chemistry of the Montgomery squad.
On Being Back with the Montgomery Biscuits after Playing with Durham Bulls: It was an incredible experience to play there in front of 10,000 plus. And to be around those types of guys who know the game so well it really helped me learn a lot more, just from guys who are experienced and understand baseball at its highest level. I'm really excited to be back, playoffs are why you play the game. You want to win and this team is about winning and playing together. I went in 2013 with the Stone Crabs and this season is more special than my time with them. So I'm excited to see what we're really capable of.
On Facing Triple-A Hitters: They have an approach no matter what count it is, whether they sit fastball or breaking ball. They don't swing freely like in AA. So it's a little tougher to get the swing and miss or get a guy to chase a pitch. The other challenge for me was adjusting to the crowd and how intense they are. They really get into it so it was tough to keep my nerves down.
On the Biscuits as a Team: The chemistry these guys have together is unreal. We play for each other. No one is bigger than the team and it shows every day on the field. The Biscuits are hot and we're going to continue to put crooked numbers up and post zeros.
On 2015 Highlight: Clinching the second half in Mobile. Seeing how happy everyone was to be in playoffs is truly a blessing. We all play to try and win every game and get to the post season, and we did it together by being a team that doesn't quit. We made a huge run and dominated the second half together and it was surreal to have it pay off.
You can follow Jared Mortensen on Twitter @jaredmortensen1
A Tampa Bay Rays scout spoke about the potential of a crop of guys in the system. Here were his thoughts on a few players who've made an impact this season.
On catcher Luke Maile (Triple-A Durham): His defense has stood out. But he can't hit for shit. Pitchers love to throw to him.
Buddy Borden (High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs): He doesn't get enough credit. He has pitchability. His stuff's not overwhelming, but he kept the game going when I've seen him. Flipped in a curveball. He kept hitters off balance.
Jacob Faria (Double-A Montgomery Biscuits): We actually will be in the position to have to protect him this year. He has nothing really plus. He knows how to get guys out and that's his best asset. He knows when to use which pitches. Good 2-seam fastball. That's his best pitch and he knows that.
Another Rays scout said this about Faria:
Faria has been an under-the-radar guy who has broken out some in 2015. He has matured physically and mentally, added velo, and his pitchability and the quality of his offspeed stuff have both advanced considerably. The CH is plus and the CB is coming along as well. He came into the system as a raw, projectable kid and has thrived in our program. Still a sleeper but he is starting to wake up.
South Florida - If you’d been paying attention to the Charlotte Stone Crabs the past few weeks, the Tampa Bay Rays High-A affiliate has been blazing a fire through baseball. No, not just the Florida State League they play in, but all of baseball. Carrying the lowest ERA in all of baseball two weeks ago (2.12), they bested every team in the minors and majors.
Many things have gone right for the team to bring them to the point they reached Friday night, when they clinched the South Division and a playoffs spot. They won their 41st game, giving them a 41-20 record in the first half.
The Breakdown:
Pitching
There was a looming question about the rotation and whether they had enough to succeed. But the rotation showcased guys who'd been around, and had enough of a veteran mindset to overcome obstacles. Their 1.18 team WHIP is tied for 1st with Clearwater.
In the early part of the season, Stone Crabs manager Michael Johns explained that a few of the guys playing for him were well-known to him. He’d seen what distance they’d grown as players and people. The first name he mentioned when asked who’d grown the most, was starting pitcher Jacob Faria.
Faria was on the hill last night for the big game, and turned in the kind of quality performance that’s expected of him right now. He worked through 6 innings of work, allowing no runs, 3 hits, and, walked just two batters. He has the lowest ERA in the league (1.33), the lowest WHIP on the team (0.98), and the most strikeouts on the team (63). Johns lauded Faria’s ‘maturity’, both on the hill and off.
Second in strikeouts to Faria on the team, is Chris Kirsch. Kirsch leads in a category that he led in previous seasons, innings pitched. A big lefty with a big, lively fastball, his 4-3 record doesn’t tell the whole story, but record rarely does. His 44 strikeouts is also 2nd to Faria’s. He lacked run support in some of his better starts, and pitched deep enough in several outings to give the team a chance. He’s not been given enough attention the last two seasons, remaining more of an under-the-radar type player. With more of a spotlight on him, he continues to prove he has the stuff to pitch deep and keep guys off base. Here's what he had to say in August of 2014 - http://www.heelsonthefield.net/my_weblog/2013/08/rays-prospect-chris-kirsch-finds-his-way-in-latest-start-for-renegades.html
Ryne Stanek’s ERA is 5th in the league (1.78). Stanek’s arm is highly regarded, despite past medical questions. It’s early in his career, having been drafted in 2013 in the 1st round, but an industry source said that should a starting role not work out, he has “closer stuff.”
Worth mentioning is one of the Rays top pitching prospects, Taylor Guerrieri, who’s been on the road back from Tommy John surgery, and a separate suspension for testing positive for a ‘drug of abuse’. Guerrieri has been pitching for the Stone Crabs with mixed, but mostly positive results. In 5 games, 13 IP, he’s allowed 7 earned runs (five of them in his worst outing of the season), has kept the walks to a minimum (3), with 7 strikeouts. People have wondered about his maturity, and when he made his professional debut, sure, that was clear. But the Rays first round pick was also the quickest learner in a short span of time such as the Short-Season New York Penn League is. His ability to grow with each outing, and to re-focus during a difficult start improved vastly from the start of the season to the end. While he may not have the biggest hand in the Stone Crabs success, every arm matters. And his continued development matters a lot to the Rays.
Out of the bullpen, Brad Schreiber has been a gem, leading the league in saves with 16. He hasn’t allowed a run since May 27th and hasn’t surrendered a walk in his last 6 opportunities. For a late rounder (40th, 2012), Schreiber is making a case for himself.
The Stone Crabs offense has also been strong. The team leads in AVG (.269), runs scored (262), and RBI (242). Their biggest rival (North Div.) Daytona Tortugas leads in home runs (38), while Charlotte has lacked the same power with 21 home runs. They’ve been solid in drawing the free pass, with 201 walks, good for 3rd in the league.
The two-punch of Bauers and Willy Adames has been a huge spark. Adames leads the club in hits (60) and doubles (14). 2013 4th round pick Kean Wong has led the charge in the past week, as the team reached this pivotal point, putting together a 7-game hitting streak. In those seven games, he’s had three back-to-back multi-hit games, reaching base safely four times on Wednesday.
Centerfielder Braxton Lee has also been consistent in the last two weeks, hitting in four games straight last week (with a pair of RBI and stolen bases in one game) and has now hit safely in the past three games. In the same game as Wong on the tenth, Lee got three hits, crossed home plate three times, knocked in a run and stole two bases. STORY
The Stone Crabs have a tough stretch ahead, as the weather warms up and the schedule starts to bring on a little wear and tear. But they have a cohesive unit, that has accomplished more than most expected. With all of that success, it’s worth wondering who among them may not be there come playoffs time.
RAYS ORGANIZATIONAL NOTES: The Triple-A Rays affiliated Durham Bulls lead their own South division of the International League, going 37-26. The Norfolk Tides are on their tail, back just two games. Durham is second in saves with 24, just one behind the Indianapolis Indians…The Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods have the second best record in the Midwest League (Eastern Division) at 35-26. They have one more loss than division rival Lansing Lugnuts. The team offense leads in Average (.272) and home runs, knocking out 45 this season.
This year I expanded the focus to include how far players social-media reach is. Players that have a big presence on Instagram and/or blog (and, as you’ll see, “vlog”) played a part in the decision process. This is still about the Twitter game. But the more players connect, the bigger their following and impact. And the deeper their connection to their followers, which is what I pay the most attention to (humor is a close second).
Honorable Mentions are expanded and players that don’t tweet often, but bring it when they do, are given a nod. Don’t think of HM’s as less valuable players (wink); they’re all guys whose content I read constantly throughout the year and deserved inclusion. Sometimes their inclusion could be one or two tweets that made me laugh or was just something readers really responded to.
The difficult part was excluding players from the ‘Twenty’ that are still with a professional team or were as early as Spring Training, but weren’t on any roster this season (they were included on HM’s); also difficult was dropping players down that, as entertaining or interesting as they are, aren’t sharing a lot very often. The point of this list is to give a bigger spotlight to minor leaguers that engage and entertain and do that pretty regularly. With Twitter they’re building their own following long before they reach the big leagues.
These are the champs.
1. Cody Decker @Decker6 – He continues his reign at #1 for the second year, doing all the things that endear him to fans and followers. Yet again, he took on a critic questioning his talent, though this time instead of a journalist, it was a Padres fan. He didn’t back down, despite the possibility of rattling a Padres faithful. His daily jokes are as smart as they are creative. “ ‘For every action there is an unequal and opposite overreaction.’ Newtons Third Law of Ex Girlfriends.” Earlier this season he anchored the sports desk for KTSM in El Paso, Texas. In full three piece suit and wearing one of his signature bowties (find it on YouTube). He's also made popular videos that you can find on YouTube. It's hard to believe he's not on Instagram, because we can only imagine how fun he'd make that. Regardless, he's hard to beat if you want to be entertained, and none was able to dethrone him… (Padres)
2. Wes Wilson @wtwilson5- …But this guy came close. He’s one of the most fun, interesting minor league players on Twitter. He’s freely talked politics with candor and level-headedness. And he’s embraced a multi-media way of expression, reaching beyond Twitter to create his own vlog, which is a regular feature for the Tampa Yankees (#WesCam). ‘Wes’s Womb’ (yep) is a mixture of interviews with teammates, highlights of minor league baseball life, and his own unique humor. The task of choosing which tweets to highlight was tough. Here’s a few from his Starbucks trips: “I gotta be lookin’ a fool bumpin’ Iggy Azalea, but I’m gettin’ my bump on my second coffee.” “I think this dude just walked in with a desktop computer.” “This woman just ordered something with 11 words.” By the way, his bio even says he'll one day be a presidential candidate, though it's unclear if he's serious. Tweet him about that. Odds are, he'll have a great answer. (Yankees)
3. Michael Schlact @Michael_Schlact - There's no one like Michael. He's used the Twitter platform to share spiritual inspiration & personal beliefs. When he went on a mission, he took to Twitter and Instagram to record the experience. He’s used the Twitter machine to produce an image, that’s no image at all, but a guy connecting to fans in a heartfelt, positive way. He’s consistently expressed his dedication to baseball, even when he wasn’t sure where his career was going. A recent tweet showed just about everything you need to know: 'How can Jillian [wife] and I pray for you today?' (Wichita Wingnuts)
4. Maxx Tissenbaum @8_Maxx – Brand new to this list, he skipped the lower levels and jumped into the top five. His blog ‘Red, White, and the 3-0 Green Light’ is the main reason for his push toward the top. The thorough, entertaining, creative effort impresses more with every entry. He’s also made Instagram a part of his connection with fans, something minor leaguers have gotten into even more since last year’s list. He tweeted about his need to write, saying, “Gotta get some coffee so I’m awake enough to write on the bus.” Spoken like a true baseball writer. (Although we’re usually looking for help at about quarter to 11 on the PM side). (Rays)
5 Jeremy Barfield @BarfieldRage – A repeat top five player he’s been a huge Twitter presence for a long time, and let's mention this stat: 40+K followers. He’s built a huge following by being consistently active, and interactive, on Twitter. His casual down to earth tone makes him super likeable. I liked this feminist (look that word up) take on pageants: ‘’Guys who tweet live pageants deserve girls that live tweet ‘The Bachelor.’” He might’ve meant something different than both things tend to insult intelligent minds, but it’s a great example of his sharp-minded wit. And you gotta love this battle cry: Good luck to all the young pups with the draft but if you think you’re gonna come take my job, you got another thing coming meat!’ (Athletics)
6.Justin Toole @Tooleyj24 - When Toole published his book '9 in 9' in 2013, he utilized Twitter to promote the project, reaching many fans and media outlets. That kind of connection is what social media is so good for, especially for guys in the minors. He built a buzz pre-release, tracked reader reviews with retweets, and used giveaways to attract more readers. One of the most impressive ways a minor leaguer's ever connected on Twitter. (Indians)
7. Marcus Stroman @MStrooo7 - A Twitter devotee, he's always sharing some part of his life and career. Whether it's congratulating a teammate, his soon-to-be-wed sister, or tweeting out life wisdom ("Know yourself. Know your worth."), he's consistently connecting. (Blue Jays)
8. Justin Jackson @JaxChillinONE - One of the best things about Jackson is the way he reaches out to followers. He's always starting conversation and loves the interaction, be it asking readers to tweet their thoughts on XBox One or favorite music, he wants to engage. Loved that he paid tribute to Maya Angelou upon her passing. He also shows constant appreciation for the game he plays for a living: "One of those mornings I've been reflecting about how blessed I am to play this game", he tweeted from his Instagram, another one of his social media favorites. (Blue Jays)
9. Jiwan James @Jiwan23 - He's a daily guy. He's got a lot of interests and freely expresses himself in the warm, entertaining way he always has: "Pretty girls that smoke" he tweeted with a disappointed emoticon. And who on the East coast can't relate to this? "Wait to be seated at IHOP or make the first of many trips to WaWa?" He also could've hashtagged that #MiLBLife. (Phillies)
10. Bryan Harper @BryanHarper45 – He’s a huge sports fan and tweets his enthusiasm regularly for his favorite teams. He’s also a big family guy (check his background image) and his Mother’s Day tweets were especially great. He remembered Mom of course, but his sister too. “Happy Mother’s Day to my sister! Thank you for blessing me with a nephew and now a niece!” There’s also been a lot of talk about that mustache and he has a lot of fun with that. (Nationals)
11. Ian Kendall @Ian_RK91 - Not on Twitter all the time, but you'll get your laughs when he is: "Just spent $20 on candles." "Why did they cancel 'Pimp My Ride'? I thought it was quality television." "Up and at em...meaning laying in bed for another hour." And there was something kind of cool about this thought: "I don't want to grow up but I've grown." (Rays)
12. Corey Black @CblackCHC - The funnest part of Black's Twitter feed is the micro-tweets about any random thing. He's also as honest as he wants to be: "That's exactly why I don't tweet cause y'all have no lives." ; "I still don't get why I'm a "reliever". Hahaha I get it I'm short. Jeez one inch would go a long way for me." (Cubs)
13. Ryan Verdugo @teachmetodugi11 - Verdugo shared his feelings about his recent trade to the Red Sox by thanking Royals fans he'd played for, and with trademark humor. He posted a photo of himself still in a Royals uniform with the caption "Awkward." This observation was interesting“I don’t know what has more blowouts right now the MLB or the boardwalk of Jersey." (over/under?) His best tweet might've been about World Cup soccer. He tweeted a photo from the greatest movie of all time, 'Superbad', with one of the movie's most memorable quotes "Calm down Greg. It's soccer." (Red Sox)
14. Taijuan Walker @tai_walker - If Walker didn't have the tweet of the year, than he came close: "I was sweating so much meeting @alfonso_ribeiro today." But seriously (that actually was serious), his positive, fun flow is always present on Twitter. Those 19+K folowers aren't too shabby, either. (Mariners)
15. Lance Durham @LanceBullDurham -...Durham might've had the best Instagram photo of any minor leaguer this year, which he proudly tweeted. He and his girlfriend announced via IG that she was pregnant by staging a photo of the couple sitting at a table, with a jar of Prego spaghetti sauce in front of them, and mocked terror on their faces. Since then, he's tweeted excitedly about pending fatherhood. An aweseome example of allowing fans to make a personal connection through social media. (Tigers)
16. Anthony Giansanti @GianSanity - He paid awesome tributer to retiring Yankee captain Derek Jeter: "As a passionate ball player since I could walk, moments like that will forever make my eyes water. Thank you Captain, you're a hero #RE2PECT", "If you're a baseball fan you appreciate what Derek Jeter has done and how he's done it. #UltimatePro". When he made an incredible outfield catch, he asked followers to retweet the clip so ESPN would notice. They should've. He went face first into the wall and tweeted humorously about the wicked wound he got from the nail he hit. (Cubs)
17. Ian Kadish @TheBearJew_36 - A super friendly, fun guy, he shares a lot about his family and baseball life with good-natured candor. "Sleeping on a yoga mat tonight...on the floor of a bus... #Allpartofit #IndyBallLife". When he was traded to the Indiana NAME, he tweeted the adventure of driving on the Fouth of July to play for them. "Welp guys I'm on the road again...traded this time to Gary, Indiana! Home of Michael Jackson!" That upbeat tone is a marked characterstic and shows up often on his Twitter. (Gary Southshore RailCats)
18. Kevin Vance @SorryBoutIt10 – There's a lot of "Crushing", feeling "Emotions" and getting "Fired Up" tweets, and he's all about high energy and self-expression. Impossible not to like him. In case you haven't head how he feels about a minor league staple: "Taco Bell is better than Chipotle." Chipotle is his Lex Luthor. (White Sox)
19. Trevor May @TrevMay54 - Recent road trip tweets with his girlfriend were fun to read (though if you go to her timeline @kateishere is even funnier to read) Then there's one of the tweets that make May an interesting guy to follow: "Self-analysis is the key to self-awareness." #Existentialism (Twins)
20. Jeremy Dowdy @Dowdy413 - Made it to the twenty by keeping a consistent fun vibe going all year. "Autocorrect just corrected "bad" to "bae"... Who's been using my phone?" "It's hard to beat music from the 90's." and he rang in birthday number 25 with a 15 inning game and tweeted about the experience. (White Sox)
Here’s the players that missed making the top twenty, but couldn’t be excluded. These guys deserve your follow.
Honorable Mentions:
Courtney Hawkins @CHawkins10 (White Sox)
Beau Wright @LeftButWright35 – The toughest part of this list was not including him in the twenty. He’s not on any roster this season. But he brings it daily, throughout the day. He’s a ball of energy and fun, so follow him to see where he winds up.
Michael McCarthy @mmcarthy35 (Red Sox)
Ryan Sherriff @KingSherriff (Cardinals)
Tommy Joseph @_TommyJoseph_ (Phillies)
Craig Missigman @craigmiss54 (Mets)
Chris Rivera @ChrisRivera217 (Cardinals)
Dustin Driver @dustindriver27 (Athletics)
Ty Buttrey @TyButtrey (Red Sox)
Josh Fellhauer – ‘Fellosophies.’ Look 'em up. (Reds)
Bradley Goldberg @B_Gumbo30 (White Sox)
Jamie Callahan @JCallahan15 (Red Sox)
Derrick Chung @therealthing6 (Blue Jays)
Darryl George @DarrylRoyGeorge - He's tweeted video of his on-the-field pre-game dance-offs. #MustSee (Rays)
Donnie Hart @DonnieHart06 (Orioles)
Jacob Faria @JDFaria48 (Rays)
Conrad Gregor @conradgregor55 (Astros)
Michael Crouse @_crouse_ (Blue Jays)
Julian Ridings @JRIDINGS_4 (Rays)
Pat Light @Pat_Light (Red Sox)
Travis Shaw @travis_shaw21 (Red Sox)
Tim Giel @TimmyGiel (Yankees)
Brett Geritse (Yankees)
Ali Castillo @alicastillo19 (Yankees)
Lenny Linsky @alohalinsky (Rays)
Jordan Cote @JordanCote603
Will Anderson @Willthethrill37 (Cardinals)
Jayson Hernandez- His devotion to public service shined when he helped organize 'Grandslam For Sandy', to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims and their families. (Red Sox)
Jonathon Berti @jonny_hustle (Blue Jays)
Cody Livesay @Livec1 (Braves)
Jared Wilson @DubsDeuces (Twins)
Rookie Davis @rookdavis24 (Yankees)
David Buchanan @davidb413 (Phillies)
Chase Vallot @Chase_Vallot (Royals)
Cale Coshow @c_coshow (Yankees)
Victor Black @Vic_Black_2 - "Sunday funday...That means no run day! I look forward to you all week #neverletsmedown." (Mets)
Antonio Nuñez @nunezlife03 (Astros)
Taylor Cole @Taylor_JCole (Blue Jays)
Matt Snyder @Matt33Snyder (Yankees)
Jared Mortensen @jaredmortensen1 (Rays)
Ali Solis @aSoLis44 (Rays)
Matthew Boyd @mattboyd31 (Blue Jays)
Will Gabay @GaBaY_WG_24 (Rays)
Jack Mayfield @jackmayfield8 (Astros)
Ryan Gunther @Gunther_7 (Braves)
Jake Hager @JakeHager1 (Rays)
Ryan Dent @RDdeucess (Red Sox)
Blair Walters @bwalters34 (Braves)
Stone Speer – @StoneSpeer He’s regularly all over Twitter. And he gets wild with it. Pretty sure he tweeted thanks to every single person that wished him Happy Birthday. On MLB Draft Day he rooted for friends on the board and congratulated friends selected. He's also funny AND cocky ("Handsome and wealthy" he tweeted). (Rays)
Dash Winningham @WinninghamDash (Mets)
Brad Meyers @bradmeyers29 (Nationals)
Zac Reininger @Reininger18 (Tigers)
Chris Costantino @Chriscos21 (Braves)
Chipper Smith @Chipper_Smith3 (Marlins)
Wynston Sawyer @WynSawyer (Orioles)
Will Anderson @Willthethrill37 (Cardinals)
Taylor Guerrieri @TaylorG1201 (Rays)
Vince Belnome @VBelnome1 (Rays)
Johnny Magliozzi @Money_Mags (Mets)
jp crawford @jp_crawford (Phillies)
Brian Holmes @BHolmes130 (Astros)
Rob Whalen @RobWhalen38- "Highlight of my day? Threw a perfect game with 20Ks in #MLBTheShow14 #NoBigDeal #LoveOffDays". (Mets)
Caleb Smith @CalebASmith12 (Yankees)
Dario Pizzano @DarioPizzano25 (Mariners
Chris Kirsch @chriskirsch9 (Rays)
Jason Martin @_JM55 (Astros)
Shane Watson @Shane40Sw (Phillies)
Alec Asher @TheBigCat28 (Rangers)
Jarrett Casey @JCasey13 (White Sox)
Dayton Dawe @DaytonDawe22 (Yankees)
Guido Knudson @GKnudson15 (Tigers)
Scott DeCecco @Dececco33 - His bio says he's the backup singer for Kings of Leon. If this is true, he maybe should've been in the Twitter Twenty. (Mariners)
Justin Fitzgerald @jfitzgerald31 (Diamondbacks)
Deck McGuire @deckmcguire (Blue Jays)
Cody Buckel @Cheatcode07 (Rangers)
Tony Thomas @GoldGlover2B (Twins)
Scott Carcaise @SCarcaise (Marlins)
Taylor Motter @taylormotter7 (Rays)
Ryan Carpenter @R_Carpenter22 (Rockies)
John Mincone @JMincone (Mets) – Tweets about his love for his girlfriend & is a big Instagram guy, often posting photos of his close-knit family.
Rob Wooten @RobWooten35 (Brewers)
Reese McGuire @Reese_McGuire21 (Pirates)
Greg Nappo @Nappo41 (Marlins)
Mike Meyers @Meyers_MJ (Red Sox)
Kevin Keyes @KevinJKeyes (Nationals)
Cameron Monger @CameronMonger (Frontier Grays)
Tucker Jensen @Tucker_Jensen (Gateway Grizzlies)
Stew Brase @sbrase12 (Southern Illinois Miners)
Brandon Douglas @BrandonDouglas5 (Tigers)
Erik Turgeon @ErikTurgeon (Pirates)
K.J. Woods @KJWoods22 - "Social media can ruin your life." (Marlins)
Clearwater, Florida - Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus appreciates the process. Entering the major leagues and trying to adjust, while truly coming into his own, has taken time. He made his major league debut the day the Phillies clinched the NL East [http://www.going9baseball.com/2011/09/25/phillies-reliever-justin-de-fratus-enjoying-transition-to-majors-after-neccessary-triple-a-time-2/] and pitched 61 innings and posted a 3.67 ERA combined for 2012 and 2013. Injury kept him from pitching the first th'\_p-=opkolm plm,r{" ee months of the season. Last season, he pitched 46 innings, struck out 42, giving up 46 hits, while walking 25. Looking ahead to the 2014 season, the righty has a more settled, uncluttered state of mind. “I'm finally comfortable," he said at Brighthouse Field before the Phillies faced the Blue Jays in a Grapefruit League match-up. "There's still plenty to learn, but now there's a game plan and it comes down to accomplishing what's expected of me within that plan.” The Phillies difficulties, along with managerial and coaching staff changes, have altered the team's course. They inspired confidence in fans and baseball experts with a solid lineup and mix of excellent young and veteran pitching just a couple of years ago. But De Fratus is confident with his own role, no matter what has gone down. “I know where I'm going to be needed [out of the bullpen] and I'm ok with that.” Drafted by the Phillies in the 11th round in 2007, he made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) and steadily climbed the ranks. He split time between High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading in 2010 and Reading and Triple-A Lehigh in 2011. In 2011, he was named an Organizational All-Star after striking out 43 and allowing just 14 walks over 34 innings combined. After making his Major League debut, his experience in the major leagues has been eye-opening and humbling. “I've not pitched to my potential. I have a lot left to accomplish. I just haven't done as well at the big league level as I should've. It's more than just performing. It's the lifestyle, the schedule, a lot of different things you have to adapt to and be disciplined about. That's not there in the minor leagues.” He spent part of 2013 back with Lehigh, posting a 1.89 ERA in thirteen appearances and struck out seventeen batters through nineteen innings. As the Phillies try to create new dynamics and find their way again, De Fratus has a locked-in mindset. “From then until now, I've changed the most mentally. I don't get worried as much. I don't get too high or too low. It could come off bad, but I don't care. Worrying won't get you far. Realizing that is a big thing for me.” You can follow him on Twitter @JustinDeFratus
1. Don't Be A Fan - If you began a fan, you can't continue as one. Don't mistake what that means. In your heart, you can be a fan, and if you aren't something's wrong! Loving the sport you cover, and the stories that unfold, isn't a requirement, but I can't imagine not feeling that way and doing this with my life. And you can be a rabid, foaming fan in your living room or attending a game as a spectator. What I mean by don't be a fan comes down to ethics. You're a professional now, or, if you don't get paid, you've got a responsibility if you've been granted access. Minor league teams tend to be more open to non-accredited blogs, even ones that lean toward fandom. Don't take advantage of that. Conduct yourself as every reporter does in the press box. You don't cheer and you don't seek autographs when you enter the locker room. Even if you have a day job, this is a profession. Respect it.
2. Build Connections- You are your own advocate as a reporter. We chase our contacts, establish trust, and find ways of getting exclusive information. In the minor leagues, this works the same, but if you're an independent blogger, the development of those relationships is even more important. Twitter and Facebook can open those channels even more, but also just increase visibility and familiarity. If a player sees you at the park, covering the game, then you retweet something he's said or tweet/post his numbers from that night, attach his handle. They want to know who they're dealing with. And if they happen to like dealing with you, then they're going to be more open in interviews. If they follow you, you can privately contact them via DM to ask to set up an interview. This helps especially during the off-season. You're creating exclusivity by doing that. And in the digital age, that's gotten tougher to have. A bit of advice: going back to that 'don't be a fan' thing, don't over-socialize with them on Twitter or say something overly-gushy. I avoid birthday wishes, for example. If I know them, maybe I'll send a DM. If not, it doesn't occur to me to do that. If you're tweeting directly to them, keep it fairly cool. No law against fun or friendliness, so don't over-think this one. Just be mindful.
3. Keep Lists - If you're covering the minor leagues, you become aware of how many players are on Twitter. And new players are joining the social media giant everyday. Plus, after the MLB Draft college players quickly change their bio to identify themselves with the team that drafted them. So their presence is always changing and growing. I began a MiLB list a couple of years ago and it grew to 700 accounts, so I added a second which grew to 300. I have a third, which includes around 500 accounts, each one includes players (mostly), teams official accounts, independent team blogs, PR, and beat writers. This is far easier for me to keep track of interesting information, breaking news, and familiarizing with players. This also helps with my annual 'MiLB Twitter Twenty', so if you do any sort of end-of-season awards or best-of list, consider organizing lists centered on that subject.
4. Pay Attention To High School/College Players- Preps are your preparation. Being aware of high school, and college, players on the radar can only enhance your work. When the Draft comes around, if you have a good grasp of a player's progression before he goes professional, that allows you to talk shop with authority. Bonus if you can get to showcases, something I've not managed to do in my career. With so much information available, reading as many reports as you can is a huge asset. Also, connecting with players in high school and college on Twitter can create professional trust, as they begin their careers. I've had almost entirely great experiences with that. The 2013 Draft was a lesson for me, though. Two players that drafted in the first ten rounds had been friendly and open when I covered them throughout their high school/college days. I interviewed them and they were great to me. I consistently mentioned them on 'Follow Friday.' After being drafted, the script changed. One began calling me 'Ms. Quiroli' the week before the draft...he'd never called me that before. He became distinctly cold. He unfollowed me pretty fast. The other was great in giving me a post-draft interview, but quickly unfollowed me thereafter. The guy who called me 'Ms. Quiroli' basked in the national media spotlight and clearly had his course of action set: I was no longer useful. While this wasn't a fun realization, it's only a small part of my experience. Most of the time that early connecting is meaningful; most players don't lose that appreciation and humility from their early days, and generally respect everyone in the media. Try not take too much personally. There's plenty of stories to tell and your focus on high school/college players is important to your ability to tell that story later, if and when they go pro. Also, make sure to follow some college and high school accounts and reporters. If you're focusing on a specific region, know who the college and high school sports writers are. Read their information, and seek your own.
5. Develop Your Niche- In a market increasingly saturated with blogs and opinions, you need to find what you do and know best. If you're just trying to gain experience, covering any minor league team in your area is a great way to develop your skills, professionalism, and collect clips you can present to editors. Having a blog dedicated to one team (Mike Ashmore's 'Thunder Thoughts' is an excellent example), whether you work for a newspaper or publication, or you have an independent blog, fans of the team's parent club are going to read your thoughts. If you have access, even better. Access is key. While the saturation is mostly a good thing for the minor leagues, players are increasingly easier to 'get to' via social media. Having access has always been important to reporters and is far more important today, when they're are a lot of fans creating pathways to players. Reach out to the PR person of a team and see what their thoughts are, and what they expect of you. If they say they're willing to grant you access for a few games, take it. Send a thank you note (e-mail, obviously, not by a man on a horse known as the mail). When you're first in the locker room, follow the lead of the vets. When I first began covering the Thunder, I appreciated the helping hand. Around the third season, a young writer came in hotshotting. I was asked to keep an eye on him and another writer, and offer any guidance I could. But this guy gave me evil eye every time I offered help or asked him how he was faring. He wanted to be a vet before he'd put the time in. Don't do this. Be humble and respect the process, as well as anyone offering to help you, because not everyone will. Understand that valuing the other writers and employees around you creates a positive atmosphere, and in turn, a positive relationship with the team. If the PR person asked me about that writer, I wouldn't have had anything positive to say and that doesn't help someone who, in that case, wasn't working for a newspaper the team relied on, but a website. Bad move on his part. So respect EVERYONE. And respect the team's responsibility to the parent club. Minor league affiliates want to generate more publicity for their team, especially positive attention, but you're also showcasing your worth. Be professional and respectful. Ask questions. Figure some things out on your own. Focusing on one team or league allows you to be an authority on one subject and you want a unique voice in a crowd of thousands of writers, reporters, and bloggers.
Whatever your focus, have one. And do the work to the best of your ability. That's all you have control over. Hopefully these tips help you.
San Diego Padres Cody Decker spoke recently about embracing yoga & adding the practice to his regular fitness routine. The story will run on MyYoga.com, but here's an excerpt and photos of the infielder practicing at Haute Yogi Manhattan Beach.
The stillness of yoga was not the call he heard, rather, it was the possibility of going even further physically.
“It was mostly to get more flexible,” he said earlier this week. “
“I know it's about relaxing and calming down...that's not really me."
Find out more about his approach and his thoughts on how yoga has impacted baseball players today, when the story runs later this month. Decker received a Spring
Training invitation to big league camp this year. He topped the 2013 'MiLB Twitter Twenty' You can follow him @Decker6.
I won't forget the first moment I walked into a minor league clubhouse.
The big club's top prospect was there, and he was the ring leader. He made sure to make me as uncomfortable and unwelcome as possible. As did his teammates, relentlessly whistling, commenting, and laughing. I asked every question I wrote on my little notebook, working quickly, efficiently, then practically ran out. (I remember the door knob in my hand, and that it felt like I was in a dream, where the handle wouldn't turn and I would be trapped)
Then someone said I had to go back in, because the coach I was looking for was in there. I had to turn, walk back in, and do the dance all over again. I felt a little stronger, as if an invisible hand was pushing me forward.
Looking back now, I can see I was made of the stuff you needed to walk into those situations. But that took some time. Today, I don't think twice about any of it. I don't get sidetracked or scared, I laugh it off, or, if the big line is crossed, I deal with it in whatever way I need to.
That first day was an early beginning to what would become my niche, and, at that park, home of the Trenton Thunder, I would learn my craft, gain confidence, and grow (with many growing pains) personally and professionally in every way imaginable.
When I returned two years later to actually cover the Thunder, for the newspaper The Trentonian, for a few end-of-season games, that would begin the real development of my own career, style, voice, and true experience.
You learn that Double-A baseball is often closer to the majors than Triple-A. A lot of the top prospects at the Double-A level often pitch or hit their way onto the major league roster, when rosters expand, or a major league player goes on the DL. If they're successful at that level, often times, they're capable of playing in the big leagues. Sometimes, all they need is a quick jump to Triple-A, just to see a little more advanced competition. Other than that, it's a quite advanced level. And a lot of fun to cover. You're also aware that less is tolerated: less professionalism, less errors, less hustle. At that point, if you haven't proven a lot and can't do the right things without being told, you're going to have some trouble.
In short-season Class-A Penn League, most higher expectations are off the table. You see every error you never thought of and many you expect. That's not to say that the standard isn't still high. They're expected to show up and learn everyday, but that's just not always the case. Managers and coaches exhibit enormous patience with those guys, most of whom are just coming from college, only weeks earlier. There are always those guys that are even just out of high school. How can you expect them to be top professionals? Sometimes, that takes awhile. The players that moved the fastest through the system, from short to Low/High-A, were clearly on their game early on in NYPL. They stood out early and often. But most struggle with even the most fundamental things. I can remember one manager yelling to the infielders at BP, 'Take it on one hop!" It's that early in the going for them.
That got me thinking about stories:
*One player's father followed the team bus from town to town to keep him out of trouble.
*There were two times someone wouldn't look at me when I was interviewing them. One was a top Yankees prospect. On an unusually reporter-free night, it was just me and one other guy doing post-game interviews. The reporter asked him three questions, then it was my turn. Keep in mind, this was my second year covering that player. As I finished my question, he kept his head down, then turned to the guy reporter and directed his answers, to all of my questions to him. Worse than that was the Penn League manager that refused to look at me in his office during post-game interviews, same situation. Any question the guys asked, he looked at them. Any question I asked, he looked at them. This went on for the entire two years I covered the league. Some people decide you don't deserve their respect even after you've earned it. There's nothing you can do about it and they don't matter. They proved everything about themselves, not me.
*Player-manager issues aren't often reported, and, at that level really shouldn't be. There was a prospect that insisted he was being screwed over by the big club. When I brought that to his manager, I figured he'd give a sympathetic, neutral type comment. Instead he said, 'No one's come looking at him.' Meaning any team interested in trading for him. Oh...well, yes. You have a point.
*Staying on that course, it's rare that a coach will call out one of his players to a reporter, again, at that level. But when I entered the dugout during BP, a coach asked if I was there to talk to a certain player, and I happened to be that day. "Well, can you tell him to stop being such a baby out there when he's playing?" I didn't. But since I had permission, I guess it would've been fun to give that one a try.
My Eastern League coverage began just a few months after I'd created the 'High Heels On The Field' blog, which began as an all baseball sort of project. There wasn't a main focus, though I realized pretty quickly where I was headed and what I loved. By 2010, I had shortened the name to 'Heels On The Field' (due to a cleaner design, though the name remains the same), started a Twitter account in the same name, and announced the 'official' focus of the blog would now be all MiLB. This year, I made 'A Minor League Blog' part of the actual title.
Creating the blog and making it all minor league coverage has been an interesting, sometimes tricky experience. Some people didn't exactly take the blog seriously because of the name. Others found it 'sexy' or 'provocative', which was not my intention. 'Tongue in cheek' 'fun', sure. 'Clever', 'Bold', and just plain old 'rhymey' works too. Plus, I do love heels. I'm a sprite. Now I hear 'Heels' yelled out at games or colleagues just greet me with 'Hey, Heels.' That's my name now, I guess.
But what I intended, and still intend, as I move from the Eastern & Penn Leagues, into Carolina & International Leagues, is that the blog be a unique, trusted, fun, and always interesting place for minor league coverage. The blog isn't about one league, but all of the minor leagues. However, game coverage often focuses on one specific league, and that's just a geographical issue. I do like continuing to cover players at a new level of one team I covered a lot in Penn League, the Hudson Valley Renegades. With the Durham Bulls, my Tampa Bay Rays minor league coverage continues. Similar to how I went from covering the Thunder, to the Staten Island Yankees. I like having that connectedness. And I hope readers who are Rays fans feel a sense of trust in my opinions even more because of that consistency.
As previously noted, there will be new additions this year, including the first ever staff writer/co-editor, Matt Kardos, use of video, and more post-game, real-time highlights from myself and other writers.
The Eastern League and New York Penn League were my classroom. No matter what, I remained, and will continue to be, a student of this craft and of this game.
After the 2013 season, Travis Shaw just had to get away from baseball.
The first baseman needed a break, to clear the way for a new start. It didn't take long.
Soon, he realized that the Red Sox still had his back. They sent him to Arizona Fall League, where the competition is solid. You're there because the big club has a lot of faith in you. It was there that he dusted off from the fall and found himself again. His fall league success and how he felt restored his confidence further. Winter brought more reassurance, when he was given a big league invite, making him one of eight the Red Sox extended one to.
Shaw not only got all the boost he needed to continue forward, he'd gained something from the experience. He remembered who he was and how to not loose sight of that.
"My approach has always been to hit the ball the other way. My power numbers were down, so I got pull happy," Shaw said Thursday. "I became a very pitchable hitter."
The Sox selected him in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Kent State, assigning him to the Class-A short season New York Penn League. He played in 57 games, hitting .262 with 37 RBI, 8 home runs, 14 doubles, and 35 walks. He split 2012 between the Carolina and Eastern Leagues, with a combined 133 hits, 44 doubles, and 85 RBI in 130 games. He was the Carolina League All-Star Game MVP, and finished the season named an MiLB.com Organizational All Star. He was also ranked eighth on MLB.com's Top 10 First Baseman Prospects list.
To further understand the Red Sox commitment to Shaw, it's important to note that they drafted him twice. Shaw was Boston's 32nd round pick in 2008, but he opted to attend college and not sign.
"I felt I was physically and mentally ready, but I thought if I went to college and did well, I could be drafted in a higher round. I wanted to have another opportunity. And I was fortunate that the Red Sox drafted me again."
While he seemed to cruise successfully through his first two seasons of pro ball, he found himself facing opponents he wasn't quite ready for in his first full season of Double-A competition.
"The pitching is more consistent. They'll do things in 2-0 3-1 counts that you won't see at the lower levels. You know what to look for there."
The difficult experience brought him back to basics, though. He simplified when he headed to Arizona, returning to the fundamentals.
"The early success there helped me remain calm. That helped me relax. It was big for me [for the Red Sox to send me] there. It helped me prove myself. They were still willing to give me plenty of chances to prove that [2013] wasn't who I was."
Shaw call his father, Jeff, a former major league pitcher from 1990-2001, his "mentor", and says that having him in his corner has impact when he's struggling.
"He's been there. So he guides my path to success, because he understands everything I'm going through. If I can mold myself into the kind of player he was, I'll have a lot of success."
With renewed confidence and a chance to show the big club more of what he's made of, he looks ahead to Spring Training with a fire inside.
"My mindset is to make the most of this opportunity. I hope to not go back to Portland. I went to Arizona to get that invite. And now, I want to maybe push [the Red Sox] hand, to give me a chance to at starting the season in Triple-A."
The MLB Top 100 Prospects has gotten bigger in excitement value. Social media is a big part of the reason, as well as MLB Network televising and paying so much attention to the unveiling. It's gotten...funner (heyyyy).
After watching it closely like so many fans and pros, here are the players that I've seen through the years, and my thoughts on their progress.
Travis d'Arnaud, C, Mets, Ranked #22- He does many things well, but that mental fortitude and defensive-mindedness are what makes him so valuable. With the injuries he's faced, his high placement should tell you everything you need to know. He's that good. His performance in the Eastern League was illuminating. No catcher in the league, and no catching prospect in baseball has his level of ability. While still in the Blue Jays organization, he hit .311, knocked in 78 runs, with 33 walks, and 21 home runs with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League. His even-tempered, steely focus is the stuff teams catcher dreams are made of.
Jesse Biddle, LHP, Phillies, Ranked #53- Location of all his pitches, the ability to mix it up, and the whiffs he induced stood out in his Eastern League debut in 2013. Controlling his fastball and trusting his stuff will be crucial to his development. When I saw him pitch for Reading against the Trenton Thunder, he dominated with excellent pitch sequences and command of his fastball, which he consistently threw for strikes. The walks are a problem (82 in 2013), and he'll need to lower them to lessen the damage as he advances. His size (6'4") and maturity add to his value. And that maturity (see 'teachable') adds to his ability to fine-tune the weapons.
Casey Kelly, RHP, Padres, Ranked #87- Kelly's development was stalled due to Tommy John surgery in 2013, but he's expected to be in the big leagues in 2014 after making his debut in 2012. BIG, ATHLETIC, are words that come to mind when recalling seeing him in the EL. He had a tremendous sinking fastball, thrown heavy and in the low to mid nineties. Still with the Red Sox (before being part of a trade for Adrian Gonzalez) he struck out 81 in 95 innings for the Portland Sea Dogs. If ever the Padres needed Kelly to come through, after going 76-86 in 2013, it's now.
Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Rays, Ranked #94- With Tommy John surgery and a recent suspension for testing positive for a banned substance (NOT steroid-related), 2013 didn't end well and 2014 is off to a challenging start. But setting that aside, Guerrieri is the best prospect I saw in the New York Penn League. Period. Yes, there were other top ranked prospects, recent top draftees that made a strong impression in their short- season A-Ball debut, but it was his improvement with each start in 2012 that was so impressive. In his professional debut season, he showed an ability to adjust quickly, and within that short span of playing time, there was a noted difference in how he handled himself on the mound. His maturity level, command, and mound composure just got better and better. By season's end, and the Hudson Valley Renegades won the league title, he was ready for the next level. With Bowling Green last year, he posted a 2.31 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 67 innings. He also continued to keep the free passes to a minimum: 12 in 14 starts for the Hot Rods last year, and while with the Rengades he allowed just FIVE in 12 starts, 52 innings pitched.
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