Camp Performances

Throughout spring training, I will be looking at prospects and their performances and how that will help their chances of making the big league team.  Thanks, -Joe

It’s very, very early to decide who’s doing well at “camp”, and who’s not, but let’s take a look at how some prospects are doing in Fort Lauderdale.

In terms of hitting, Matt Wieters and Justin Christian have been the top two major league hopefuls.  Both have only 14 at-bats, but have showed alot in them.  Wieters is showing everyone who wants to watch, including other teams, his patient eye and plate discipline, with a .429 average and .467 OBP.  He’s hit a home run, and 3 doubles.  4 out of his 6 hits have been for extra bases, and he almost had a 2nd home run, when a long fly ball basically stopped on the warning track earlier this week. Wieters has also scored 4 runs, the most of the team.

Christian has been getting alot of playing time, appearing in 7 games, and has been great in the field as well as solid at the plate. He has scored 3 runs, on only 4 hits, and has made 2 diving catches. He has 1 HR and 1 double, making half of his hits for extra bases.  Christian is looking for a spot in a crowded outfield, and has the resume to support it.  Last year in Norfolk, he hit .306 and was a starter almost every game.

PITCHING

David Pauley has started two games, and has won two as well, but with some difficulty.  He has accumulated an 8.53 ERA in 6 innings, giving up 6 earned runs, and a home run.  With the bad numbers though, he has struck out 6 batters, giving him a K/9 ratio slightly under 9.0

Brian Matusz has thrown 4.2 scoreless innnings, striking out 5 and only allowing 2 hits.  Chris Waters has also thrown 4.2 innings, but with different results.  Waters has a 5.79 ERA, after giving up 3 earned runs in his time on the mound.  Another Chris, Chris Tillman, ran into a bad inning, and allowed a run, but other than that, has been spotless in 4 innings of relief work. Brad Bergesen started one game, and pitched 3 solid innings, walking none, allowing 4 hits, no runs, and fanning 3.

Watching these guys, among other prospects throughout camp will give us an early indication of what they can eventually bring to the team during this season and future seasons.