The Red Sox have never been remotely as aggressive with their prospects as the Marlins. That said, an expedited track could see Espinoza race up Greenville/Salem next year, Portland/Pawtucket in 2017, and be ready for the majors by 20. He'll throw ~60 innings this season, so I suspect next year the bogey will be ~100-110, then 2017 something like 140-150.
Anderson Espinoza
- Thread starter Detts
- Start date
Fernandez wasn't signed until a couple of weeks after he turned 19. And during his 2012 year, when he was pitching in A/A+ ball, he turned 20 in July. Espinoza will turn 18 next March.kieckeredinthehead said:
And btw, Fernandez had Tommy John surgery two months before he turned 22.
Espinoza may reach Greenville sometime next year, but I don't see how he plays a full season. I don't know how much work he saw pre-season in intra-squad/simulated games, but his combined inning total in both the DSL and GCL this year is only 51 IP, with just a couple weeks left. I doubt if he's averaging 45 pitches a game this year, given his 4 inning limitation and his efficiency --just about 14 batters faced per start.
There are exceptions, notably Julio Arias in the Dodger's organization, who, at 18 is already in AA, but, from what I read, Espinoza's body is still maturing, while Urias matured early.
jscola85 said:
The Tigers under Dombrowski were very aggressive with some guy named Porcello. He only had one full minor league season after being drafted. He went from high school in 2007, to 125 minor league innings in 2008, to 170.2 major league innings in 2009. Those 170.2 innings were over 31 starts at the age of 20. Porcello's path closely mirrors the expedited track you map out above.
gammoseditor said:
It's certainly possible, though I won't hold my breath. Of all our prospects, how Moncada and Espinoza are tracked (and to a lesser extent Benintendi) totally fascinates me. There's a case for those guys to be aggressively pushed until they show signs of failure, but at the same time, you could also see why they want to be cautious of throwing them too far into the deep end of the pool.
He'll never see Lowell.
If he goes on 5 days rest, he'll start the last game of the year on August 29 (unless they hold him back for game one of the playoffs).
Would rather have him in a playoff game than send him north for a cup of coffee.
If he goes on 5 days rest, he'll start the last game of the year on August 29 (unless they hold him back for game one of the playoffs).
Would rather have him in a playoff game than send him north for a cup of coffee.
Mr. Espinoza proclaimed 'Pitcher of the Day' by Baseball Prospectus for his performance 8/24/15
Pitcher of the Day: Anderson Espinoza, RHP, Red Sox (GCL Red Sox): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Strike-throwing and bat-missing success in the Gulf Coast League is always an impressive feat, but it becomes something else when it’s done by a 17-year-old. Any 17-year-old having success is noteworthy, but one doing so in pro ball is something else altogether. With a mid-90’s fastball, he’s already ahead of the majority of pitchers his age. With a feel for multiple secondary pitches, he’s ahead of almost all of them. There’s still a ton of developmental time left in front of Espinoza, but he’s more than just a product of success versus age and level.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=27312
Pitcher of the Day: Anderson Espinoza, RHP, Red Sox (GCL Red Sox): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Strike-throwing and bat-missing success in the Gulf Coast League is always an impressive feat, but it becomes something else when it’s done by a 17-year-old. Any 17-year-old having success is noteworthy, but one doing so in pro ball is something else altogether. With a mid-90’s fastball, he’s already ahead of the majority of pitchers his age. With a feel for multiple secondary pitches, he’s ahead of almost all of them. There’s still a ton of developmental time left in front of Espinoza, but he’s more than just a product of success versus age and level.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=27312
The Scouting reports (like the one in the previous post) mean much more than the stats accumulated in the Gulf Coast League. (GCL)
As noted on soxprospects, although the GCL has 16 teams, there are 4 divisions of 4 teams each, and the entire regular season schedule is played within the division. Thus the Sox GCL team plays only the Rays, Twins and Orioles rookie squads. The Rays are ranked last out of 16 in runs scored and the Orioles are 13 out of 16. By quirk of the schedule in his ten GCL outings this summer, Espinoza has faced the Rays 4 times (20 IP) and the Orioles 5 times (16 IP).
As noted on soxprospects, although the GCL has 16 teams, there are 4 divisions of 4 teams each, and the entire regular season schedule is played within the division. Thus the Sox GCL team plays only the Rays, Twins and Orioles rookie squads. The Rays are ranked last out of 16 in runs scored and the Orioles are 13 out of 16. By quirk of the schedule in his ten GCL outings this summer, Espinoza has faced the Rays 4 times (20 IP) and the Orioles 5 times (16 IP).
Oh my.
Mrs. Featherbottom (California): What are your thoughts on Anderson Espinoza and Bobby Bradley?
J.J. Cooper: Bradley is having a great year in the Midwest League. That’s rare power for a first-year high school draftee playing in the MWL. But let’s spend more time gushing about Espinoza. You can make the argument that Espinoza is one of the best pitching prospects in the minors right now. Yes, that is a crazy statement in a way, but he has exceptional stuff, advanced feel and a solid delivery. Anyone and everyone who has seen him in the DSL/GCL cannot stop gushing about him. He should be ready to handle a jump to the Sally League next year and with his stuff, he may be too good for that league as an 18-year-old. The sky is truly the limit with Espinoza.
Tyler (Nj): Anderson Espinosa upside Urias?? Thanks
J.J. Cooper: Yeah, that kind of upside.
Johnny (Minnesota): I caught the last two starts of Anderson Espinoza and his stuff wss ridiculously off the charts, hitting 98 with secondaries that flashed plus. Is he for real? I've never seen any pitching prospect like him before, and I've been watching prospects for 20 years. He's a monster, huh?
J.J. Cooper: He’s a Godzilla with an extra dose of gamma rays monster. if you wanted to argue him as one of the top 10 players in the minors as far as trade value, I wouldn’t laugh you out of the room.
Tyler (Nj): Anderson Espinosa a future top 10 prospect?
J.J. Cooper: Yes.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-chat-aug-28/
Mrs. Featherbottom (California): What are your thoughts on Anderson Espinoza and Bobby Bradley?
J.J. Cooper: Bradley is having a great year in the Midwest League. That’s rare power for a first-year high school draftee playing in the MWL. But let’s spend more time gushing about Espinoza. You can make the argument that Espinoza is one of the best pitching prospects in the minors right now. Yes, that is a crazy statement in a way, but he has exceptional stuff, advanced feel and a solid delivery. Anyone and everyone who has seen him in the DSL/GCL cannot stop gushing about him. He should be ready to handle a jump to the Sally League next year and with his stuff, he may be too good for that league as an 18-year-old. The sky is truly the limit with Espinoza.
Tyler (Nj): Anderson Espinosa upside Urias?? Thanks
J.J. Cooper: Yeah, that kind of upside.
Johnny (Minnesota): I caught the last two starts of Anderson Espinoza and his stuff wss ridiculously off the charts, hitting 98 with secondaries that flashed plus. Is he for real? I've never seen any pitching prospect like him before, and I've been watching prospects for 20 years. He's a monster, huh?
J.J. Cooper: He’s a Godzilla with an extra dose of gamma rays monster. if you wanted to argue him as one of the top 10 players in the minors as far as trade value, I wouldn’t laugh you out of the room.
Tyler (Nj): Anderson Espinosa a future top 10 prospect?
J.J. Cooper: Yes.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-chat-aug-28/
There wasn't any real reason to promote him super aggressively this year but I wonder if they'll let him off the chain next year if he is dominating the SAL.
Then again, I guess Devers had the hitters version of this last year and found his level.
Then again, I guess Devers had the hitters version of this last year and found his level.
I think it's fair to say that, as much buzz as Devers had in the prospect community, the talk around Espinoza is a cut above. None of which is to say that Espinoza won't struggle at Greenville, but 98 with a feel for secondaries is rare at that level.
Please please don't screw up the international scouting efforts
The prospect watchers are giddy about a 17 year old in gcl which is rarer than it sounds. There is usually so much projection at that age and level it's hard to be certain but top 10 talk. Erm wow.
The prospect watchers are giddy about a 17 year old in gcl which is rarer than it sounds. There is usually so much projection at that age and level it's hard to be certain but top 10 talk. Erm wow.
The only video I've seen of him was linked in this post earlier in this thread.chrisfont9 said:
They let him pitch in the 5th today coming up one out short of picking up the win.
Only one strikeout in 4.2 innings giving up one unearned run on two hits.
someone posted what looks like his entire GCL playoffs outing on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShKle13A0Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShKle13A0Q
He works really, really fast, doesn't he... and he looks like he's just playing catch out there, effortless delivery.
No kidding. He makes Mark Buehrle look like David Price. I don't think I've ever seen someone work that fast before.Wake's knuckle said:
It must be the angle or the delivery or something because the ball looks like it absolutely explodes out of his hand.
The back to back pitches from 4:30 to 4:55 were ridiculous.
Feel sorry for Mr. Espinoza as the error by the shortstop cost him his first professional win. (He did mention in a recent article that his 4 inning limit is frustrating because he cannot get the win).
Sox Prospects new ranking out today has Mr. Espinoza fifth.
Hell of a start to his career. I hope he enjoys Fall Instructs!
Feel sorry for Mr. Espinoza as the error by the shortstop cost him his first professional win. (He did mention in a recent article that his 4 inning limit is frustrating because he cannot get the win).
Sox Prospects new ranking out today has Mr. Espinoza fifth.
Hell of a start to his career. I hope he enjoys Fall Instructs!
BannedbyNYYFans.com said:
When there's no reason to believe anyone you're facing can hit anything you throw, you may as well go up there slinging away, I suppose.
They play the same teams a billion times in the GCL too - so it's not like they learned how to hit him either. He had at least 2 starts where nothing left the infield.
I'm glad they didn't let him go too long in any of his starts, but am curious how much, if any, velocity/stuff he'll lose when he starts to go 5+.
I'm glad they didn't let him go too long in any of his starts, but am curious how much, if any, velocity/stuff he'll lose when he starts to go 5+.
This Greenville team is reaching absurd levels
https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/639264477930778624
https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/639264477930778624
link to tweet
https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/639264477930778624
https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/639264477930778624
link to tweet
@SPChrisHatfield 12m12 minutes ago
Yup, just checked - Espinoza would become the youngest player in the South Atlantic League by more than a year.
Yup, just checked - Espinoza would become the youngest player in the South Atlantic League by more than a year.
Can the entire international scouting team get x2 bonus or something?
I'm more impressed with him pitching out of the stretch. The slight pause is gone, is quick to the plate, and good, stable finish after the pitch.
Where do we see him arriving in Fenway? 2018?
I'm more impressed with him pitching out of the stretch. The slight pause is gone, is quick to the plate, and good, stable finish after the pitch.
Where do we see him arriving in Fenway? 2018?
I think it's a little hard to figure out his ETA right now... but it wouldn't surprise me if he was in double-A next year, at all. If the big club is in a pennant race, I could totally see them bring him up as a reliever for the stretch run even next year if he dominates at AA like it seems like he could. While some would say they might not want to start his clock so soon... the flip side of that is the fact that his arm only has so many bullets in it and, as far as I can tell, the long-term future of teenage pitching prodigies is far from certain.
Buzzkill Pauley said:
It's almost relentless, the way he is up there. Like taking a beating. You set your feet and BOOM here comes the ball.
Detts said:
Holy crap! I could have lost this bet as they may stick him in Salem next year to start the season!
Joon Lee @iamjoonlee
Anderson Espinoza will make his Greenville Drive debut this Saturday, according to a source. #RedSox
Anderson Espinoza will make his Greenville Drive debut this Saturday, according to a source. #RedSox
Detts said:
Nah, no chance they push him that hard. I'm guessing they wanted him to get some more innings in this year and that this is exactly where he'll start next season.
He'll be on a pretty heavy innings limit and will be just 18 years old. There is no reason for him to pitch any higher than Salem next year. He won't be ready to throw 180+ innings until 2019 or so. Challenging him is part of the process, but building up his innings at a safe rate is probably more important.nighthob said:
The thing is that in the Sally, if you have 1 plus pitch you are hard to hit. Mr. Espinoza throws high 90's with 2 strong offspeed pitches (and offspeed fools 75% of the kids). It will not be a challenge.
A- to A is not a huge jump. I wouldn't put it past DD to push him to Salem to start the year and then REALLY challenge him with Portland after the AS break.
I never thought he'd be in Greenville this year, so anything goes from here on out.
Edit: And there is nothing that will stop Nip and I from being at that game on Saturday. Nothing.
A- to A is not a huge jump. I wouldn't put it past DD to push him to Salem to start the year and then REALLY challenge him with Portland after the AS break.
I never thought he'd be in Greenville this year, so anything goes from here on out.
Edit: And there is nothing that will stop Nip and I from being at that game on Saturday. Nothing.
I'm sure you guys are familiar with my story about not making anything off of SoSH. I'm tempted to go out and use SoSH funds to buy a 4k recorder to get video of this kid.