Daily Callups
Baseball HQ's Call-Ups reports provide complete scouting information and impact analysis for every minor leaguer called up during the season. Published daily, it also includes FAAB bid recommendations for the current year and long-term, and where each player was ranked on each team's Top 15 and overall Top 100 lists.
Sample Callup Report
Anderson Machado (2B/SS, CIN)
The 24 year-old switch-hitter began 2005 on the disabled list after undergoing knee surgery in January. The Reds sent him to Louisville for a rehab assignment and he performed miserably. Because he is out of options, he must be kept on the 25 man roster or risk being lost on waivers. Machado is a defensive whiz with outstanding range and a strong arm. He displays smooth defensive actions and has solid instincts. Based solely on his defense, he has enough value to stick on a big league roster. His offensive game, on the other hand, makes him a liability with the bat. Machado can be too patient at the plate. He takes his fair share of walks, but he can take too many pitches. He's very easy to pitch to and when he does swing, it's not with much authority. Machado has never hit for much power and won't in the future unless he adds some significant upper body strength. He does have above average speed and is a threat on the bases, though his knee surgery may have sapped some of that ability.
STATS: Louisville (AAA) - 80 AB, .138/.247/.188, 2 D, 0 HR, 1 SB, 0.52 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Utility player
POTENTIAL: Utility player
FAAB: D/C
Jeff Francoeur (OF, ATL)
The only knock on the 21 year-old's game is his strike zone management. Regardless, he profiles as an All-Star caliber outfielder with as much upside as any in the minors. Francoeur is a gifted athlete with five-tool abilities. The right-handed hitter has exceptional bat speed and exhibits power to all fields. He has a clean, short stroke and makes hard contact consistently. Francoeur's power is emerging in 2005 and he could potentially hit 30+ HR down the road. He has quick wrists and can catch up to any fastball, whether inside or on the outer half of the plate. Francoeur doesn't take many walks due to his aggressive approach. He needs to learn to lay off breaking pitches low and away and needs to become more selective. His offensive gifts would be accentuated with a bit more patience. Francoeur also has great speed for a 6'4" 220 pounder. His athleticism and instincts on the basepaths make him a viable candidate to steal 20+ bases in the big leagues. From a defensive standpoint, he has no visible weakness. His range and arm are well-above average and he gets great jumps on balls. He was moved to RF full-time in 2004, but could easily play CF. Francoeur may only spend a few weeks with the Braves in '05, but could be a regular in '06.
STATS: Mississippi (AA) - 335 AB, .275/.322/.487, 28 D, 13 HR, 13 SB, 0.27 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Platoon RF
POTENTIAL: All-Star RF with 30+ and 20+ SB potential
FAAB: C/A
Scott Cassidy (RHP, BOS)
The 29 year-old hasn't pitched in the big leagues since tallying 66 innings with the Blue Jays in 2002. Cassidy signed with the Blue Jays in 1998 and spent most of his career as a starter before moving to the pen until 2002. He pitched in Triple-A with the Jays in '03 before being traded to the Red Sox in April 2004. Cassidy has average stuff. His fastball sits in the 87-90 mph range and occasionally touches 92. He mixes in a changeup and curveball, but relies mostly on the location and command of his heater. He commands the fastball well to all quadrants of the strike zone and likes to pitch on the outer half of the plate. Cassidy has difficulty throwing his curveball for strikes and often hangs it. He has a propensity for allowing HR and his control comes and goes, particularly when he nibbles too much. If he had more velocity, he could be a potent set-up man. But his average fastball and inconsistent offspeed offerings give him very little upside.
STATS: Pawtucket (AAA) - 25 g, 3 gs, 6-3 3.81 ERA, 59 IP, 2.8 Cmd, 3.5 Ctl, 9.9 Dom, .240 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: Middle reliever
FAAB: D/C
July 6
Bobby Jenks (RHP, CHW)
Due to well-publicized instances of immaturity, multiple injuries, and inconsistent performance, the White Sox were able to pluck the 24 year-old off waivers from the Angels organization after the 2004 season concluded. Jenks is blessed with exceptional arm strength, but he hasn't been able to harness his stuff until this season as a closer. He was used mostly as a starter with the Angels before his conversion to the back of the pen in '05. Even as a closer, he uses three pitches: a 93-99 mph fastball, a hard-biting curveball, and a changeup. Jenks is able to tally strikeouts with both his electric fastball and curve. He's been able to locate his heater much better in '05 which sets up his offspeed offerings quite well. Jenks is also learning to take some velocity off his fastball in order to get it to sink more. He's always been able to keep the ball down and rarely allows the long ball. The addition of a sinker makes him that much more difficult to hit. Much like other power arms, command can be a problem. He has trouble throwing his curveball for strikes and his changeup is very erratic. Jenks has the pure arm strength. All he needs is polish.
STATS: Birmingham (AA) - 35 g, 1-2 2.85 ERA, 19 saves, 41 IP, 2.4 Cmd, 4.4 Ctl, 10.5 Dom, .224 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: Closer
FAAB: D/B
Fernando Cabrera (RHP, CLE)
The Indians bullpen has been so effective that the 23 year-old has been able to stay in Triple-A and dominate all season long. Cabrera began his pro career as a starter before the Indians moved him to the bullpen in mid-2003. As a one to two inning reliever, he's been able to focus on his sinker/splitter combo without worrying about honing a slider or changeup. He works with a 90-96 mph fastball and gets tremendous sink on it in the lower 90s. He's showing much better location of his fastball in '05 and is able to command it to both sides of the plate. Cabrera's 84-87 mph diving splitter is a great complement to his fastball and is effective against left-handers and right-handers alike. Despite his quality 1-2 punch, Cabrera can run into problems when he tries to overthrow. When he's too aggressive, his command wavers and he leaves pitches up in the strike zone. He is clearly better in the bullpen because he lacks touch and feel for his secondary pitches. His changeup lacks deception and his slider is all over the place. Nevertheless, the potent sinker/splitter combination gives him a nice upside, possibly as a closer.
STATS: Buffalo (AAA) - 27 g, 6-0 0.99 ERA, 3 saves, 45.1 IP, 6.9 Cmd, 1.8 Ctl, 12.3 Dom, .200 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: Closer
FAAB: C/B
Kevin Hooper (2B/SS, DET)
Hooper, 28, plays the typical "small man" game extremely well. At 5'8" 155 pounds, he knows his offensive limitations and plays up to his talent level. The right-handed hitter only has 8 career HR in 7 pro seasons and doesn't offer much gap power either - he had a career line of .271/.347/.341 coming into 2005. Though Hooper doesn't make hard contact, he is adept at using his short swing to slap the ball to all fields. He's an ideal #2 hitter due to his ability to hit behind runners. Hooper is also an outstanding bunter who gets a lot of bunt singles. He's not blessed with great speed, but is a smart baserunner. Hooper profiles similarly on the defensive side as well. He lacks plus tools, but seems to make all the routine plays. He's played both SS and 2B as a pro and is a credible defender. He lacks the arm and range to play SS on a full-time basis and 2B is his best position. Hooper simply lacks the tools necessary to be a consistent big leaguer. His only hope is that a team will keep him around for his tenacity and makeup.
STATS: Toledo (AAA) - 187 AB, .246/.313/.283, 5 D, 0 HR, 10 SB, 0.75 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Backup utilityman
POTENTIAL: Backup utilityman
FAAB: D/D
July 5
Fernando Cortez (2B/SS, TBY)
After beginning the 2005 season with a return trip to Double-A Montgomery, the 23 year-old earned a promotion to Triple-A before getting the call to Tampa Bay. Cortez, a slap-hitter from the left side, has only 9 career HR in his five pro seasons. Because of his lack of power, he's flown under the radar, but he does have usable big league skills. For one, he's an outstanding defender at both 2B and SS. He has exceptional range at both positions and a solid arm. His glove to hand transfer is extremely quick and he rarely makes mistakes. Cortez isn't adept yet at turning double plays, but that will come with additional experience. The Devil Rays have used him at 3B, SS, and 2B and he can play all three positions equally well. His lack of power and unpolished offensive approach means he may never have a full-time job. He needs to drive the ball more instead of focusing on slapping it or settling for lazy fly balls. For him to generate some power, even gap power, he needs to incorporate his legs more into his swing. Cortez has above-average speed, but is a poor baserunner. He has some tools, but not enough to warrant much upside.
STATS: Montgomery (AA) - 223 AB, .345/.387/.435, 12 D, 0 HR, 12 SB, 0.36 Eye
Durham (AAA) - 90 AB, .278/.301/.367, 3 D, 1 HR, 9 SB, 0.14 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Backup middle infielder
POTENTIAL: Backup middle infielder
FAAB: D/C
Chin-Feng Chen (OF, LA)
There was a time when Chen, now 27, was among the best prospects in the minors. His pro debut brought a 30 HR/30 SB season in the High-A California League, but he's regressed since. He still has outstanding right-handed bat speed which produces above-average raw power. He has also shown the ability to hit to all fields. However, he swings and misses too often while being susceptible to pitches on the outer half of the plate. His inability to make consistent contact has resulted in him spending the past four seasons in Triple-A. Chen used to have good speed, but no longer uses it in any facet of the game. He remains a defensive liability in the outfield as well as at 1B due to below average range and a poor arm. Chen does have some potential based solely on his bat. If he were ever moved to the American League, he'd be an ideal platoon DH against left-handers. A once top-notch prospect now sees a future as a part-time player at best.
STATS: Las Vegas (AAA) - 216 AB, .287/.359/.519, 16 D, 10 HR, 3 SB, 0.50 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Backup OF
POTENTIAL: 4th OF / Pinch-hitter
FAAB: C/C
July 4
Justin Verlander (RHP, DET)
Because he signed after the 2004 season concluded, the 22 year-old didn't begin his pro career until 2005 when he opened in the High-A Florida State League. He now finds himself making a spot start on July 4 against the Indians. Though the 6'5" 200 pound Verlander is expected to return to Double-A Erie after the start, he could impress the Major League brass enough with his power stuff to return to Detroit later in the season. Verlander initially impressed the Tigers in Spring Training with his mid-to-high 90s fastball and hard, hammer curveball. The Tigers tweaked his mechanics to make his quick arm action smoother and cleaner. His plus curve now shows more bite and depth. Verlander's changeup also is improving, though he'll need to polish it to continue his mastery. He has some deception in his delivery, which will help, but will need to show consistent arm speed. He also needs to trust his changeup and throw it more often. As a pro, Verlander is throwing inside more and is much more aggressive than he was in college. Nobody expected him to rise to the Majors this quickly, but he has the stuff and drive to front a Major League rotation in the next few years. As long as his mechanics stay together, his command will improve even more and he could become one of the game's best pitchers.
STATS: Lakeland (High-A) - 13 gs, 9-2 1.67 ERA, 86 IP, 5.5 Cmd, 2.0 Ctl, 10.9 Dom
Erie (AA) - 3 gs, 1-0 0.00 ERA, 15 IP, 6.0 Cmd, 1.8 Ctl, 10.8 Dom, .098 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: #1-#2 starter
FAAB: C/A
Chris Snelling (OF, SEA)
Nobody in any professional sport has had to endure the number of major injuries that the 23 year-old has encountered. Since signing in 1999 out of Australia, his career-high in AB was 450 in 2001. Snelling has experienced a broken hand and wrist, a stress fracture in his ankle, and multiple knee injuries. The left-handed hitter is fully healthy now and is continuing to showcase his mature offensive approach. Probably the best pure hitter in the Mariners system, Snelling can hit to all fields with a level, line-drive swing. His quick, strong wrists allow him to attack inside fastballs and he has no noticeable holes in his swing. Snelling has a keen eye at the plate and can recognize breaking balls well. His size and swing aren't conducive to above average power, but he could hit 10-15 HR in the near future. Due to his multiple knee surgeries, Snelling no longer has much speed. He was never a speed merchant, but his lack of wheels forces him to an outfield corner. His arm barely rates as average, but his instincts are solid. Snelling can be a legitimate top-of-the-order threat due to his great bat control and consistent, hard contact. All he needs is a full-season of health and an opportunity.
STATS: Tacoma (AAA) - 215 AB, .363/.447/.540, 15 D, 7 HR, 2 SB, 0.83 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Backup OF / Pinch-hitter
POTENTIAL: Starting LF with .300-.320 BA and 10-15 HR potential
FAAB: D/B
Matt Cepicky (OF, WAS)
The 27 year-old left-handed hitter has accumulated 142 AB with this organization from '02 to '04 but has never been a full-time player at the big league level. Other than above-average power, Cepicky doesn't own enough tools to be an everyday player. He's well on his way to establishing a career-high in HR and his power has grown considerably over the last few seasons. However, his swing mechanics can become erratic as he tries to pull everything. He often overswings which results in little to no contact. Cepicky strikes out an awful lot and hasn't hit for enough power to make up for his whiffs. His speed grades out as below average which affects his range in the outfield. His leftfield defense is very poor, but his arm is average. Cepicky lacks the instincts to be an average outfielder. If he could learn to be more selective and patient at the plate and cut down on his swing, he could be a more productive player.
STATS: New Orleans (AAA) - 288 AB, .274/.346/.500, 19 D, 14 HR, 1 SB, 0.49 Eye, 9 errors
CURRENT ROLE: 5th OF
POTENTIAL: 4th OF
FAAB: D/D
Eli Whiteside (C, BAL)
A defense-first backstop, the 25 year-old has some offensive potential, but probably not enough to warrant a starting role in the future. Defensively, Whiteside owns a solid-average arm with excellent catch-and-throw skills. His quick release allows him to keep would-be basestealers honest. He's not very agile, but his ability to hold the opposing running game at bay is a distinct advantage. Whiteside is big and strong at 6'2" 215 pounds and he broke through in the power department in 2004 with Double-A Bowie. He smacked a career-high 18 HR in '04, but his power hasn't carried over to '05. He mostly has gap power with occasional pull power from the right side. Whiteside makes good contact, but is too overzealous at the plate and is too much of a free-swinger. As a career .248 hitter, he has plenty of room to improve. If Whiteside can show consistent power, he could become a Major League regular. With his aggressive nature at the plate, he'll never hit for a high BA. His defense, though, is what got him to the big leagues.
STATS: Ottawa (AAA) - 205 AB, .263/.311/.415, 17 D, 4 HR, 0.38 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Backup C
POTENTIAL: Platoon C
FAAB: D/C
July 3
Mike Gosling (LHP, ARI)
Gosling, 24, began 2005 in the Diamondbacks bullpen but pitched his way back to Triple-A. He was fairly solid in four September starts with Arizona in '04 to warrant strong consideration for a big league job in '05. Gosling was a 2nd round draft pick from Stanford in 2001 and immediately found success in pro ball. However, he encountered shoulder problems in 2003 and underwent surgery after that season. The recovery was used as an excuse for his poor performance in the first half of '04, but there is no excuse for his bad pitching in '05. Gosling has suffered as a result of poor command and control of his pitches. His release points and arm slots vary too much resulting in erratic command. He does offer four quality pitches, however. His fastball sits in the 88-94 mph range and his curve exhibits good, late break. Gosling will mix in a changeup and a cutter to round out his arsenal. If he can ever find consistency in his approach and mechanics, he could be a solid big league starter. Since he lacks a strikeout pitch, he might be best suited in the bullpen.
STATS: Arizona (NL) - 7 g, 0-2 9.00 ERA, 7 IP, 6 BB, 2 K
Tucson (AAA) - 13 gs, 3-5 6.14 ERA, 63 IP, 2.0 Cmd, 3.4 Ctl, 6.9 Dom, .327 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: Swingman
FAAB: C/C
Abe Alvarez (LHP, BOS)
After his selection in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft, the 22 year-old began his quick ascent to the Majors. 2004 was his first full-season as a pro and he even made a spot start with the Red Sox. Alvarez has a great mound presence and pitching acumen. His exceptional command of three pitches allows him to succeed without even average velocity. His fastball is only 84-88 mph, but it never comes out straight. Because he's consistently ahead in the count, he can work in his plus curve and stellar changeup to keep hitters off-guard. Some scouts consider Alvarez's changeup to be the best in the Red Sox organization. Hitters have a difficult time picking up his changeup because he has so much deception in his delivery. He can command his pitches from a variety of arm angles and he never slows down his arm speed on any pitch. Alvarez will struggle at times against right-handed hitters, especially when he leaves his curveball up in the zone. His lack of velocity is only a concern when he falls behind in the count. If he's forced to use his fastball too often, the opposition can hit him hard.
STATS: Pawtucket (AAA) - 16 gs, 7-3 4.23 ERA, 89.1 IP, 3.3 Cmd, 2.1 Ctl, 7.1 Dom, .230 oppBA, 9 HR allowed
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: #4-#5 starter
FAAB: D/B
Scott Baker (RHP, MIN)
He was called up earlier in 2005 and pitched one inning out of the pen before being sent back down to Triple-A Rochester. He will get a start on July 5 in place of the injured Brad Radke. Few minor league pitchers have as many effective pitches as the 23-year-old. Add in a solid work ethic and plus makeup and you have a legitimate pitching prospect. He's been on the fast track since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft from Oklahoma State. Baker's fastball sits comfortably in the 88-92 mph range and can touch 95 on occasion. He'll mix in an above average changeup, a late-breaking slider, and knuckle curve. Due to his well-above average command and control, Baker is quite polished. But he lacks a true out pitch. He'll induce plenty of groundballs with his sinking fastball and slider, but won't strike out many batters. Baker has an impressive overall repertoire, but doesn't have a high ceiling. He profiles best as a #4 starter in the future
STATS: Minnesota (AL) - 1 g, 1 IP, 0 BB, 0 K
Rochester (AAA) - 14 gs, 2-5 2.85 ERA, 82.2 IP, 3.4 Cmd, 2.3 Ctl, 7.8 Dom
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: #4 starter
FAAB: D/B
July 2
Zach Duke (LHP, PIT)
Only 22 years-old, the consistent lefty has already surpassed expectations. Duke led the minors in 2004 with a 1.46 ERA and has a career record (including 2005) of 43-17 with a 2.38 ERA. He is among the most polished and most complete pitchers in the minors. Duke mixes three pitches exceptionally well and can throw any of them in any count. Duke works with an 88-93 mph fastball, an outstanding late-breaking hammer curveball, and an improving changeup. His fastball may lack plus velocity, but it has late life down in the strike zone. Because he's constantly ahead of hitters, he'll throw his curveball for strikeouts or to induce weak contact from left-handed hitters. Duke has been working on honing his changeup, but he'll need to improve it even more in order to neutralize right-handed hitters. What sets Duke apart from other pitchers is his amazing command. He goes into each at bat with a plan of attack and he executes it with pin-point accuracy. He pitches on a downhill plane and his deception makes his fastball look sneaky quick. Duke may not have great velocity, but his ability to change speeds and mix pitches gives him nice upside.
STATS: Indianapolis (AAA) - 16 gs, 12-3 2.92 ERA, 108 IP, 2.9 Cmd, 1.9 Ctl, 5.5 Dom, .267 oppBA, 8 HR allowed
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: #2-#3 starter
FAAB: C/A
Tim Byrdak (LHP, BAL)
Byrdak, 31, has made the rounds throughout professional baseball. He began his career in the Royals organization in 1994 and appeared in 48 games in the Majors from 1998-2000. He's also been in the Indians and Padres organizations and even spent 2003 in the independent Northern League. Byrdak was being used as a closer at Triple-A Ottawa in '05 and was putting up spectacular numbers en route to an International League All-Star selection. Prior to '05, he was never a strikeout pitcher, but has done a terrific job of putting hitters away. He works mostly with an average fastball, but mixes in an occasional slider, cutter, and changeup. None of his pitches grade as anything but average at best. Byrdak has been mostly effective against left-handed hitters, but has done a nice job of keeping right-handers at bay in '05. He's a short lefty (5'11") who had Tommy John surgery in 2001 and his drop and drive delivery is best suited in the pen. Byrdak could be useful as a situational lefty.
STATS: Ottawa (AAA) - 36 g, 3-2 2.11 ERA, 11 saves, 38.1 IP, 3.1 Cmd, 3.3 Ctl, 10.3 Dom, .172 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Situational lefty
POTENTIAL: Situational lefty
FAAB: D/D
July 1
Kevin Correia (RHP, SF)
Correia, 24, has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Fresno and San Francisco over the last few years and was off to an awful start in Fresno to begin 2005. His first 28 appearances in '05 were out of the pen (including some time as a closer), but was moved to the rotation where he pitched very well. Now, he's been inserted into the Giants rotation. Correia found his way to the Majors quickly after he was selected in the 4th round of the 2002 draft from Cal Poly, but the lack of plus stuff leaves his future role in question. He works with three average pitches: an 88-92 mph fastball, slider, and changeup. Correia relies on sinking action and movement with his fastball and changeup, but his slider lacks sharp break and depth. He is an aggressive pitcher who likes to pitch inside. His fastball isn't enough to overpower hitters, but he locates it pretty well. Correia's outlook will depend on his durability, mechanics, and command. His mechanics are inconsistent which cause his release point to vary, leaving pitches up in the zone too often. Because of this, the bullpen might be his best long-term option.
STATS: Fresno (AAA) - 31 g, 3 gs, 3-2 6.07 ERA, 46 IP, 1.5 Cmd, 4.5 Ctl, 6.8 Dom, .273 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: Long reliever
FAAB: C/C
Ryan Howard (1B, PHI)
The 6'4" 230 pounder burst onto the scene in 2004 by hitting 48 HR between Double-A, Triple-A, and Philadelphia. His incredible left-handed power is clearly his best tool. Howard has made steady progress with his bat and patched up a few holes in his approach. He's more patient at the plate, but still falls behind in the count too often. He once was extremely vulnerable to offspeed pitches, but has improved considerably. Howard opened up his stance in order to better handle inside pitches, but he can still be jammed with fastballs. If he finds a pitch low in the strike zone, he can pound the ball to any part of the ballpark. Unfortunately, his plate coverage and marginal plate discipline will hamper his BA and result in excessive Ks - he struck out 179 times in 2004. Despite his size, he's a fairly good 1B. He's agile enough to get to balls out of his zone and he has average hands and range. 35 to 40 HR on a full-time basis isn't out of the question, but he'll hit .250-.260 with 150+ strikeouts.
STATS: Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA) - 210 AB, .371/.467/.690, 19 D, 16 HR, 0.59 Eye
Philadelphia (NL) - 28 AB, .214/.267/.393, 2 D, 1 HR, 0.33 Eye
CURRENT ROLE: Starting 1B until Thome returns
POTENTIAL: Starting 1B with 35+ HR potential
FAAB: C/B
Rick Short (INF, WAS)
The 32 year-old has bounced around from organization to organization and from position to position in his 12-year pro career. Short began his career in the Orioles organization in 1994 and has spent time with the Cubs, Angels, and Royals and even spent 2003 in Japan. Versatility is Short's best attribute. He has played every position but catcher and pitcher in his career, but has mostly played at 3B. His defensive versatility, coupled with his ability to hit for a high BA (career .311 hitter) could make him a usable reserve in the big leagues. Short won't hit for much more power than 5-10 HR per year and lacks speed. His arm is merely average, but his range and feet are below average at any position. As a contact hitter, he's not afraid to work the count and he rarely strikes out. He shouldn't get much playing time, but can provide a decent bat off the bench.
STATS: New Orleans (AAA) - 236 AB, .381/.458/.589, 25 D, 8 HR, 4 SB, 1.52 Eye
Washington (NL) - 1 AB, 1 hit
CURRENT ROLE: Utility player / Pinch-hitter
POTENTIAL: Utility player
FAAB: D/D
FAAB Key
First grade represents 2005 upside.
Second grade represents long-term potential.
A: MLB full-timer with high ceiling.
B: Serviceable major leaguer with moderate ceiling.
C: MLB bench player with low ceiling.
D: Marginal MLB potential. Will likely shuttle back
and forth from minors.
F: No real MLB potential. Only gets called up if
there's nobody else.
