Scott Plack breaks down the Trendsetters’ 2013
Part 2 – Position Players

12/15/2013: New Orleans, LA –

Catcher
2013: Tsuyoshi Konishi
2014: Tsuyoshi Konishi
Future: Tsuyoshi Konishi

Tsuyoshi Konishi is one of the PEBA’s feel-good stories of perseverance.  In March of 2006, he suffered a fractured skull that put him out of action for the next seven months.  Doctors were skeptical he would ever be able to play again, but Tsuyoshi never lost hope.  His optimism and dedication to studying the mental parts of the game convinced then-Trendsetters general manager Paul Tanner to take a risk, and Konishi was selected three months after cracking his skull with the 20^th pick of the 1^st round.  At 26, his settling into the starting catcher role has Trendsetter fans hoping the best is yet to come.  Konishi is phenomenal at handling pitchers and has a great arm, though his inexperience showed a bit in 2013.  If Konishi can put together a consistent approach at the plate, he should be one of the good catchers in the league, though by no means elite or even great.

As far as depth goes, the Trendsetters organization doesn’t have much.  Jorge Román was recently acquired with the thought that he might provide a little more offensive punch, but he is not stellar on the defensive end.  Everyone else in the organization comes out heavy on the defensive tools side of the equation.

First Base/Designated Hitter
2013: Alexandre Poirier
2014: Alexandre Poirier
Future: Damon Lambert

Alex spent several seasons gathering cobwebs on the bench before receiving his starting due in New Orleans.  While the acquisition was not without its detractors, Poirier made good on the chance to start.

“Well, I really ate my words with the Poirier deal.  He went on to have a spectacular 2013, putting up better numbers than in ’08 and ’10, seasons in which he played over 100 games.  This earned him a nice 3-year extension averaging $4.6 mil a year.  While he is not getting any younger at 31, he has proved he can be a solid starting option at first base when given a real chance.  Dingus, on the other hand, seems to have had regressed in yet another season down at Hi-A ball.  While Dingus might turn out to be the bigger player in the long run, Poirier has made his impact and hopefully will continue to build off it.  I am now a fan.”
— Martín Diharce, New Jersey Hitmen Director of Scouting

Even in an injury-shortened season, he hit a career mark in home runs.  Plans are for Poirier to either play first base or become the designated hitter for at least the next three years.  Poirier is not necessarily a defensive liability, but if the Trendsetters could find a better fit at first base, it would be great to get Poirier the at bats without the wear and tear of the field.  Highlights from last season include going 5-5 against the Nutmeggers in July and hitting for the cycle against the Bureaucrats in September.

According to Baseball America’s Top Prospects report for New Orleans, Damon Lambert is someone who bears watching.  Before 2013, it seemed that he was all potential and no production.  Lambert had been pretty disappointing.  Acquired in the 2012 deal that sent Jeff Cline to Charleston, Lambert had been highly touted but struggled terribly at HI-A.  His combined OPS was .618.  The Trendsetters felt that a promotion might recharge and refocus Lambert, however, and indeed it did.  Lambert hit .294 with 13 homeruns and 52 stolen bases for a VORP of 32.9.  August was Lambert’s most impressive month – his average was .395 with 5 homeruns and 14 runs batted in.  It convinced the front office that he was ready for AAA, and fans in Fayetteville will get to see the future in uniform whenever the home team is in town.  Lambert is still learning first base and probably will follow in the footsteps of Poirier as a 1B/DH-type player.  Regardless, he will most likely be one of the PEBA’s fastest players in that role.  Look for Lambert to be nurtured at AAA, but you could see him in a Trendy uniform by 2015.

Second Base
2013: Fernando Rivera
2014: José Montaño
Future: Carlton Wilson

Rivera was picked up off the waiver wire at the beginning of spring training from Charleston.  Rivera’s penchant for taking walks made the front office excited to find a player they thought could fill the #2 spot in the order by getting on base in many different ways.  Unfortunately, Rivera struggled early and then was put out of commission for nine weeks due to an injury.  During that time, Juan Monasterio was placed in a starting role.  His success led to Rivera’s eventual demotion.  Right now, it seems that the Trendsetters will shop Rivera and, if nothing else, let him come to spring training before releasing him.

José Montaño was picked up from Connecticut.  He struggled early and also suffered an injury that knocked him out for six weeks, but he seemed to turn things around offensively near the end of the season.  He will likely be back in the lineup, this time around as the starting second baseman, where his lack of range and arm strength will not be on display as they were at the hot corner.  The front office would like to see him take his batting average up a few more ticks and add a little bit more power.  If he does, he will be a great offensive asset at second base.  If not, then longtime Trendsetter Leonard Martin will get the call to fill in, though he fared much worse in terms of stats last year.

The Braggarts right side of the infield will be a showcase of future talent.  Joining Lambert will be Carlton Wilson.  Wilson smashed the ball at AA after coming over in a trade with Florida.  Scouts were impressed by his eye as much as his ability to put the bat on the ball.  Despite going up a level, he struck out roughly the same amount of times even after playing 150 more games.  While Wilson will never smack 40 homeruns, his ability to hit doubles will put him in instant scoring position plenty of times.  Wilson is on the same development track as Lambert and no one would be surprised to see him as the starting second basemen in a few years.

Shortstop
2013: Leonard Martin
2014: Juan Monasterio
2015: Monasterio or Swanson

Leonard Martin has been no stranger to the middle of the infield in New Orleans.  He played 11 games in 2007 between SS and 2B.  Since them, he has flip-flopped his playing time between the two positions.  2013 was a tough year for Leonard, as he just never seemed to be able to put it together at the plate.  Eventually, injuries and hot-hitting Juan Monasterio forced Martin into the background, and further pushed him into a 2014 utility infielder role.  Martin is the Trendsetters’ career leader in games played, at bats, plate appearances, hits, walks, strikeouts, intentional walks and times on base.  Hopefully, the Trendsetters can find enough at bats to make Martin’s swan song as a Trendsetter respectful.

Juan Monasterio does everything fast.  He runs fast and swings fast, whether it’s a good pitch or not.  In two years, he has struck out 252 times and played in 226 games, but he has also swiped 64 bases.  2012 Monasterio was terrible, finishing with a .200 batting average.  In 2013, a year that he was supposed to spend in the minors finding his swing, he returned to the majors due to injuries to other players and hit .322, including 12 homeruns.  The likelihood is that he will come back to earth and hopefully average out around .260 with 15 homeruns and 40 stolen bases.  Or maybe he can continue to be better than expected and turns in another .300+ performance.

The future of the shortstop position is a little bit cloudy.  Can Monasterio repeat or was it just a fluke?  Monasterio uses his speed to make up for a refined approach to playing shortstop, so if he loses a step, his defensive value may drop as well.  The Trendsetters picked up some insurance in the form of Patrick Swanson, an underachiever out of Yuma who is a wizard with the glove and projects to have a pretty good bat.  However, playing in Yuma may have affected him psychologically.  The organization wants him spending some time refocusing at AAA.  However, if Swanson puts it together in spring training this year, you may see Martin released in favor of Swanson in the utility role.

Third Base
2013: José Montaño
2014: Kenneth Bridges
Future: Bridges or Gonglas

Bridges came in trade from the Calzones at the trade deadline, spent a little bit of time hitting well at AAA, then played in 11 September games, reaching base eight times in 27 at bats.  In 2012, Bridges’s first year in the PEBA, he hit .324 over 92 games.  What the Trendsetters really love about him is his defensive capabilities.  He plays the hot corner as if he was born for it and can play shortstop pretty well, too.  The Trendsetters are expecting defense first and offense second, but if Bridges can recapture some of his former ability to get hits, then he may find himself being moved up in the lineup.

Bridges has the youth to stick around for a while, but does he have the talent?  Pushing him from AAA will be another former Calzone, Luis Gonglas.  Gonglas plays every position on the infield, but with Wilson and Lambert locking down the right side, he will need to make the team at SS or 3B.  Gonglas seems like a long shot for anything more than a utility role, though, unless he can work on his swing and make consistent contact.

The Trendsetters also have a few dark horses who could be considered organizationally optimal pieces if they develop nicely.  José Delgado also fits the utility role, though he certainly isn’t getting any younger at 26.  Injuries have slowed his career and most likely will end up keeping him out of the PEBA.  Bill Graves pulled the short straw and got stuck behind in AA after Delgado, Wilson and Lambert were promoted.  Graves has spent three years in Delaware and has some of the smoothest defensive skills in the whole organization.  His speed and eye project him as someone who can contribute, but currently his path is blocked at every position on the depth chart.

Left Field
2013: Armando Santana
2014: Platoon of Wilson Gonzáles and Damon Scranton
Future: Jason Brooks

Armando Santana’s name has been rumored to be involved in trade since the off-season began.  Santana is a pretty good hitter, just not flashy enough to be sought after too heavily.  Santana’s career batting average is .299 but he also has been known to strike out quite a bit.  The youth movement is in as far as the Trendsetters outfield goes, so Santana is likely headed out.

In the most likely scenario, Wilson Gonzáles will hit against righties and Damon Scranton will get the call versus southpaws.  Gonzáles has been suffering from depth chart blockage in Aurora’s system, spending the past six years at AAA.  He got one shot at the PEBA at the age of 28 (13 at bats, one hit).  It was with great mercy that the Trendsetters claimed him off waivers this off-season.  Barring a major injury, Gonzáles will him take the field versus right-handed pitchers.  He has above average ability to draw walks and plays an average left field.  His speed is deceptive, allowing him to swipe a base every now and then, though you might not want to bet on him in a straight foot race.

Gonzáles’s platoon partner will be recently acquired Damon Scranton.  Scranton came over this off-season in a trade involving former DH Otis Watts.  Scranton also suffered greatly from depth chart blockage and has played a total of 13 games at the PEBA level, spending the past three years at AAA.  Scranton managed to hit two homeruns in five September games.  The front office hopes that Scranton is ready to prove his critics wrong and have a breakout year.  If either one seems to be taking off, the platoon will probably come to an end, so both players better be ready to battle it out from day one.  Scranton may play a slightly better left field, so he has that going for him already.

Jason Brooks is the future in left field and if he catches on fire during spring training, then both Wilson and Damon could be looking for new teams.  Brooks will most likely spend at least half the year in Fayetteville before seeing any extensive PEBA time.  Called up in response to injuries last season, Brooks played quite well and the Trendsetters are penciling him in as their starter in 2015.  Brooks combines a good eye with solid bat skills and average power, a package that should lead to modest production over his career.

Center Field
2013: Roberto Holguín
2014: Roberto Holguín
Future: Roberto Holguín

I’ve had the pleasure of watching Roberto Holguín develop in our farm system.  I knew he was going to be a big league player since the day we inked him to a minor league deal out of Cuba.  He’s not too flashy but just steady.  He’s the type of ballplayer who you can just plug in the lineup and not worry about – a perfect blend player.  It was no surprise to me that Holguín played so well in his first full season.  He’s a real hard worker who is also a student of the game.  Our scouts used to rave about him always studying film and asking our coaches for advice. 

One concern I’ve always had with Holguín is that he tends not to pace himself.  He approaches every play as if it his last.  You can’t discount the effort, but his style of play makes him susceptible to nagging injuries or freak accidents.  Hopefully he’ll learn to pick his spots and ease it up a bit as he gets more experience around the game.

— Pablo Durango, Florida Scouting Director

Roberto spent his rookie season impressing, hitting .303 with 12 homeruns in 134 games and taking home an All-Leather award.  It’s no secret the organization is high on this kid.  Expect things only to get better with every year of experience.  He will once again patrol center field and man the leadoff spot for the Trendsetters in 2014.

Perhaps the only thing that could alter Roberto’s future (besides a major injury) would be the development of Lester Colcheeper.  Lester hails from across the pond and offers an intriguing mix of speed, defense and power.  While scouts continue to downplay his power, he keeps jacking them out of the park.  2013 was his first year at AAA and he struggled to make contact, batting just .198, but he still hit 26 homeruns.  He also stole 38 bases and had a zone rating in center field of +27.6.  While the scouts continue to think the power numbers are a fluke, if Colcheeper can put everything together, you might see him bump Roberto to a corner spot.

Right Field
2013: Tabito Matsushima / Jorge Santos
2014: Platoon of Jorge Santos and Álex Cruz
Future: Álex Cruz / Pablo Cabrera

The Trendsetters had hoped for big things from slugger Matsushima, but that hope went unrealized after an early injury put him out for a month.  Into that void stepped Jorge Santos, a waiver wire find from the Fishermen.  Santos won the 2011 San Juan Winter League Puerto Rico Showdown with the Trujillo Alto Maracas before signing a minor league contract to play in the PEBA.  He was injured in May but had a power surge in July, hitting ten homeruns in 101 at bats.  Santos plays a very good defensive right field and in a pinch can hold down center field, too.

Álex Cruz is the Trendsetters gamble in the Rule 5 draft this year.  He was the sixth pick overall and came from the Charleston organization.  He was selected to the AAA All-Star team and finished the year with 18 homeruns and 87 walks.  The Trendsetters hope that he will turn that into power production and on-base ability in the PEBA.  Cruz can struggle with putting the bat on the ball, though he doesn’t strike out that much, either.  In fact, last year he walked twice as much as he struck out.  He plays an average corner outfield.  If Cruz can put it together, look for him to be cemented into future plans, possibly at designated hitter.

A dark horse for eventually ending up at RF is Pablo Cabrera.  Cabrera was a great hitter in college, but that hasn’t exactly translated into the minors.  After struggling in his first SS-A exposure, he has made large strides, hitting at least .270 in stops at Hi-A and AA.  He now finds himself at AAA with still much to prove.  The Trendsetters took him with a high draft pick and they are expecting big things, so it will be interesting to see how this kid develops and deals with the pressure.

The Trendsetters have some major holes, but it seems Coop is still pretty content to move forward with what he’s got, letting talent at AAA marinate and mature while giving a chance to a couple of players who may just have something to prove.  The bottom line is that most of these players are cheap and not big financial risks, but Scott can’t wait too long to turn this ship around because fans won’t pay to see players who may be nice, feel-good stories but can’t win.