Stockton Ports Scouting Reports

For those of you who enjoy getting a much closer look at some of the A’s young prospects, we thought we’d share some in-depth scouting evaluations of some current Stockton Ports players courtesy of Chris Kusiolek. Chris is a former correspondent for Oakland Clubhouse who’s spent plenty of time over the years getting up-close looks at some of the A’s top prospects at Stockton and Sacramento (remember that?) as well as in Arizona. You can follow Chris on Twitter at @CaliKusiolek and you can find more of Chris’s Stockton Ports scouting reports on his West Coast Talent blog.

 

Mikey White

Age: 22

Position: Shortstop

Bats: Right / Throws: Right

Height: 6’1” / Weight: 200 lbs.

Drafted: 2015 – 2nd Round

2016: 68 AB / 0 HR / 5 BB / 16 K / .221 AVG / .284 OBP / .309 SLG

Slighter through midsection from previous Instructional League and Spring; definition to shoulders, tapered through lower half, lean muscular build; wider base to hips relative to shoulders; lean thighs; shows quick twitch athleticism, moderate risk through frame and through maturity; loose hands and fairly loose wrists; arm bar; decelerates through contact, average bat speed; slight loft, able to backspin to pull, average raw; inconsistent extension through contact, mild barrel control; slight leg kick and rotational weight transfer; cuts hips and inner third; struggles to track spin, likely possesses neurological deficiency identifying spin from release; sluggish first step at shortstop, average foot speed fails to play laterally, inconsistent routes to balls in field, laterally up middle; soft hands, quick release; above average arm strength, varying tail and arm slot at times; mature pace for present game speed; likely relocates right of diamond through maturity.

 

B.J. Boyd

Age: 22

Position: Outfielder

Bats: Left / Throws: Right

Height: 5’11” / Weight: 230 lbs.

Drafted: 2012 – 4th Round

2016: 64 AB / 0 HR / 8 BB / 16 K / .297 AVG / .392 OBP / .344 SLG

With large build; squat, stocky with wide base and significant mass through trunk, big butt, barrel chested, definition to shoulders, fast twitch muscular thighs, muscular forearms; extreme maintenance through maturity, present fast twitch athleticism throughout. Hands show explosiveness, slight lift; predominantly linear with minimal loft, below average raw; swing not conducive to actualize in game; slighter downward load, diminished bat wrap; hands drift often; slightly rotational, lacks coil; average bat speed; shows two strike approach, slight outward toe tap transfer; cuts hips through weight transfer, hands start out over plate, exploitable inner third; stiff wrists; inconsistent balance and transfers at plate; struggles tracking spin from release, may have neurological deficiency; poor effort in field, inconsistent first step and finish to routes; inconsistent reads, haphazard routes at times, well below average arm strength; utility likely limited to corner.

 

James Harris

Age: 22

Position: Outfielder

Bats: Right / Throws: Right

Height: 6’1” / Weight: 180 lbs.

Drafted: 2011 – 1st Round (Tampa Bay)

2016: 88 AB / 1 HR / 4 BB / 16 K / .352 AVG / .383 OBP / .489 SLG

Shows a compact, present fast twitch build and mass through chest with a thick explosive lower half; wider base to hips presents potential maintenance to frame through continual maturity. Shows explosive straight line footspeed; 4.40, 4.44 turns from right side, 4.32 to first with minimal effort; present 7 runner. Shows average bat speed; slight lift, below average raw, swing not conducive to actualize in game; hands show explosiveness, fairly loose; struggles with late extension through contact, slight coil through hips, balanced slight weight transfer; opens front half, lacks flexibility through hips; cuts inner third; shows ability to track slow tumbling spin and keep hands back, decent approach at plate, lacks two strike approach; inconsistent first step, footspeed plays lesser laterally in field; poor effort on balls and lackadaisical given game situation, frequent poor body language and effort through game.

 

Daniel Gossett

Age: 23

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right / Bats: Right

Height: 6’2” / Weight: 185 lbs.

Drafted: 2014 – 2nd Round

2016: 19 IP / 16 H / 7 ER / 5 BB / 26 K / 3.32 ERA / 1.11 WHIP

Average built through upper half; slighter shoulder definition, lean quick twitch, minimal muscle mass, athletic build; narrow and tapered through lower half, minimal mass through legs; wiry limbs; at physical maturity, limited increases to physicality; lower risk and maintenance for frame. Above average arm speed; explosive, exerted through arm acceleration; stiff, deliberate load; lacks fluidity; compact arm path, high 3/4; rocks into motion from set, slightly oriented to first base side of rubber, hands break at chest; hands slightly more away from body for curveball; controlled leg kick, varies pace of kick to aid deception; front oriented towards third base side from stretch, perpendicular to third base basepath; shows varying slighter kick (1.18-1.24) and quick pitch (1.03-1.08) variations, remains able to replicate stride, shows quality strength; athletic, controlled strong drive; shoulder tilt, slight spine tilt, limited torque through delivery; inverted firm foot strike; lacks clean finish through arm deceleration recoil; departed appearance with back stiffness; possesses enough back of rotation athleticism, stresses on shoulder with minimized torque and stiffness increase risk through profile. Fastball 90-93 T94; flashes late life and quality extension to pitch; inconsistent run in lower band, shows firm earlier action frequently, inconsistent achievement of quality running action; shows acumen in ability to work north and alter sightline, good downhill plane; able to work east-west within zone; stiffness to finish alters command frequently; average command potential; pitch shows above average potential. Curveball 79-82; tight spinning above average 12-6; improved extension and consistency from spring training; able to orient hand on top of pitch with compact arm path; shows innate ability to snap quality spin; inconsistencies in subtracting to pitch and throwing for strikes; services as chase offering at present, feel must improve to actualize potential; above average potential. Changeup 82-84; flashes quality fading action and arm speed replication, varying drives aid deception of pitch; inconsistent feel in being able to throw for strikes at present; shows firm at times, overthrown in instances, shoulders can open; above average depth and late action flashes, potential weak contact pitch; above average potential. Cutter 83-87; shows late hard action and more frequently true loose sweeping slider sort of shape; inconsistent feel for pitch at present; flashes average depth; struggles to throw for strikes at present; shoulders leak occasionally on pitch, inconsistent extension and arm speed replication, arm drags and slows; still adapting to achieving feel for pitch; fringe potential. Shows enough athleticism and acumen alongside adequate stuff to function within a back end rotation capacity at the highest level; physicality and stiffness presents significant risk; realistic swing arm, ceiling #4 starter in rotation. (High Risk)

 

Kyle Finnegan

Age: 24

Position: Relief Pitcher

Throws: Right / Bats: Right

Height: 6’2” / Weight: 170 lbs.

Drafted: 2013 – 6th Round

2016: 10 IP / 9 H / 2 ER / 7 BB / 14 K / 1.80 ERA / 1.60 WHIP

Long limbed; high waisted; moderate base to shoulders, muscular shoulders and chest; thick thighs; wider base through hips; muscular forearms; sturdy build with length; moderate maintenance, at physical maturity, will begin decline within next couple years; shows present strength through upper half; moderate risk. Lacks strength through drive; poor stride replication, firm foot strike, inverted, front collapses on foot strike; frequently falls off backwards towards first base side unintentionally, completely opens front half; shoulder tilt, loads shoulders, spine tilt; over-the-top arm slot, stab, lacks fluidity through arm action, deteriorated as outing progressed; above average arm speed; shows ease to arm acceleration, decelerates cleanly; limited strength and athleticism in ability to replicate stride significantly limits command projection. Fastball 91-93 T95; flashes good extension and late natural tailing life; aided by arm speed and deception of moving parts; flashes cut action to pitch, decent action, inconsistent feel to consistently achieve it; well below average command; shows late life and explosion in higher band, firmer moderate run through lower bands; command projection limited, present thrower; has yet to see command or strength development within professional environment; fringe potential. Curveball 78-82; inconsistent spin and slower rolling rotation at times; flashes average depth sporadically, achieved on greater chase depth to pitch; shows ability to deliberately subtract to pitch and lessen shape, throw for strikes with softer spinning action; some moderate feel for pitch; fringe potential. Changeup 83-85; firm fading action; poor arm speed replication on pitch; flashes softer earlier depth to pitch; shows predominantly with mild firm sinking life; lacks fluidity through arm action conducive for pitch development; below average potential. Presently limited strength and natural athleticism prevent actualization of profile; realistic organizational depth, ceiling emergency bullpen arm. (Moderate Risk)

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