Big Hitting Prospect Jonathan Griffin

Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Jonathan Griffin recently hit five consecutive home runs, including four in one game. Check out my 2011 interview with him that was previously published on FieldRush.com.

Jonathan Griffin is probably the biggest hitter in all of professional baseball. At 6’7, 250 pounds, the right-handed slugging first baseman cuts an imposing figure every time he strides to the plate. He was drafted in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, and the team has high hopes that he will develop into a major league player.

Major league teams had their eye on Griffin prior to 2011. He was initially drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2007 and then the Boston Red Sox in 2008, but chose to pursue his college career instead. A Florida native, he stayed local by attending State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and later, the University of Central Florida. His collegiate career ended in 2011 by his selection as a member of the Conference USA First Team, after a senior season that saw him hit .343 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI.

Griffin’s senior momentum carried right into pro ball. After he signed with Arizona, he was assigned to the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League. He hit .295 for the short season team in 71 games, with 18 home runs and 59 RBI. He led the league in home runs and was third in RBI. He came into the season with the reputation of having some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, and he did nothing to dispel those notions. More information on his statistics is available here.

Griffin will be a player to watch. Anytime a player has a tool as special as Griffin’s ability to hit for power; it bears paying attention. I was glad to be able to find out a little more about the young slugger, and hope you enjoy reading our interview.

Jonathan Griffin Interview:

Who were your favorite team and player growing up and why?: Being from the Tampa Bay area I always grew up watching the Devil Rays. My favorite player growing up would be Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt). I loved watching him drive the ball with his unique swing.

What made you decide not to sign with Minnesota or Boston after they drafted you?: I sat down with my family and we decided that I should go to school and get my education. And If I could go back, I would make the same decision.

How did you find out that Arizona was interested in you?: I actually found out the day of the draft when they called me.

After you signed, did you do anything special to celebrate or treat yourself or family?: I actually signed in my hotel room in Montana by myself. But before I left, we had a great meal together as a family.

What coach or manager has been most influential on you so far?: Throughout my baseball career many coaches and managers have influenced me in becoming the player I am today. But one coach who really stands out for me is Cliff Godwin. He was an assistant coach when I was at UCF. There’s not a game that goes by where I don’t hear him.

What is life typically life traveling between minor league games? What do you all do to stave off boredom?: Life on the road between games is probably the toughest part of being a minor league player. Everyone mostly tries to catch up on sleep during the road trips.

What do you think you would be doing for a career if you were not playing baseball?: This is a question I ask myself all the time and still have not came up with an answer. I would imagine that it would have something to do with baseball.

What is the strangest thing you have seen on the baseball field?: When I was in high school there was a streaker who ran on to the field and tried to jump over the outfield fence, and got stuck on top of the fence.

How do you train or prepare during the off-season?: I prepare myself by taking care of my body and eating right. Developing a routine has helped me be consistent with my workouts. I also rest to let my body recover and charge up for an eight month season.

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Why the Struggles of the Boston Red Sox's Youngsters Are a Good Thing

The Boston Red Sox have enjoyed a veritable embarrassment of riches over the past decade, winning three World Series titles and somehow still possessing one of the most highly-regarded farm systems in all of baseball. Despite all the positivity, the 2014 season has been quite the grind thus far, with the young players on the roster sitting squarely in the spotlight when any discussion about what is going wrong comes up. Surprisingly, not only are these struggles a good thing, they are just what is needed to help sort out who should be part of the future and who should think about renting instead of buying.

In particular, Boston has three young players who were given roles as regulars this season but have not yet put all the components together to fully establish themselves as future cornerstones. This includes:

-25-year-old third baseman Will Middlebrooks is in his third big league season but is very much a study in progress. A tremendous rookie season in 2011 was derailed by a wrist injury. He battled physical ailments and inconsistency last year, even spending time in the minors to get himself back on track.

In 2014, Middlebrooks has appeared in 21 games, hitting just .197 with two home runs and nine RBIs. He is already on his second disabled list stint of the season, most recently suffering a fractured finger that will keep him out for an indeterminate amount of time. His powerful right-handed swing is tailor-made for cozy Fenway Park. On the other hand, his difficulty staying healthy, and an aggressive plate approach that has resulted in a lot of strikeouts and few walks have prevented him from emerging as the hot corner mainstay.

-21-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts made a splash in the majors last fall, playing well in a late-season call-up and then batting an impressive .296 in the playoffs, which earned him major playing time (including subbing for Middlebrooks at third base) in the World Series.

So far in 2014, Bogaerts has had a few challenges in the field (4 errors) and is hitting a rather pedestrian .269 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 38 strikeouts in 41 games. However, a closer look indicates that everyone should be quite pleased with his progress. He has an excellent .369 OBP; his 108 OPS+ is nearly identical to last year shortstop starter Stephen Drew’s 111, as pointed out by Ron Juckett; and the best part is that he is just a few years removed from sitting in daily home room.

-Finally, there is outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. After a disastrous 2013 that saw him hit just .189 in a variety of trials in Boston spanning 37 games, it appears he is much on the same track this year. In 41 games, the left-handed batter is hitting .205 with 13 RBIs and 43 strikeouts.

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news for Bradley, as the 24-year-old plays a spectacular defensive outfield and has 16 walks and 10 doubles, with the latter number placing him second on the team behind only second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

All three of the aforementioned youngsters arrived with much-discussed pedigrees and high expectations. Although none of them have become stars or are putting up video game numbers, it is way too early to start considering them lost causes. What’s needed most is patience and the comfort with the idea of mediocrity in the interim- both for the players and the team as a whole.

After finishing a putrid 2012 season with a 69-93 record, the Red Sox went out and hired a new manager in John Farrell and reshaped their roster with players known for their high character and ability to keep a light and fun clubhouse. Some homers and eternal optimists may have thought them contenders from the outset, but in reality it was tough to peg them as more than an entertaining 85-win team. The fact that they went on to win the World Series is a classic example of playing with house money.

Coming off such success, the team and its fans are obviously hungry to keep the good times rolling. Unfortunately, that may not be congruent with the development of these youngsters, whose progress should be considered vital for the future. Even if only one or two of them reach their full potential, the Red Sox will come out ahead.

Prospecting in baseball is usually a crapshoot, as some sure shots fizzle while stars can come out of nowhere. If a team makes a true commitment to a youth movement, then it is difficult to put time constraints on when everything is supposed to come together. In baseball, some of the best learning can come from the tough times. Repetition and learning from mistakes are powerful tools in honing the fine edges of a player, and the Red Sox three are sharpening their blades as we speak.

The Red Sox kids may be going through some growing pains now, and are doing few favors in contributing to a favorable 2014 outcome, but in the long run it could all be for the best. With the heady days of 2013 still visible in the rear view mirror for fans it may be difficult to accept a detour, but in the end it may be the best way for Boston to get where it needs to go when it comes to long-term success.

Statistics obtained from BaseballReference.com.

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Kyler Newby: The Underdog Pitcher

Everyone enjoys a long shot or an underdog. This is especially true in baseball where there appear to be another popping up at every turn. The sport is seen as the ultimate proving ground, and one where nothing is truly impossible or out of the question for those trying to make it a career. A poster child for this mentality is pitcher Kyler Newby, who is in the 10th year of his professional career and still working at getting a crack at the majors.

The big right-handed Newby was drafted almost as an afterthought- taken in the 50th round in 2004 by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Mesa Community College.

Pitching as a reliever, he appeared to be on the fast track, posting an impressive 6-1 record with a 2.05 ERA, 11 saves and 64 strikeouts in 44 innings in his second season in 2006.

Despite continuing to pitch well, and also showing he could produce as a starter, Newby never made the Show with Arizona in his seven years in their system. He pitched in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization in 2012, the Oakland A’s organization last year, and is now with the Somerset Patriots in the independent Atlantic League.

Given how consistently Newby has pitched during his career, it’s a bit of a puzzler that he has never gotten a chance to see what he can do in the majors. He has reached as high as Triple-A, pitching parts of three seasons at that level. All told, he has appeared in 315 professional games (29 starts) and gone 39-24 with a 3.12 ERA and 64 saves. More impressively, he has struck out 615 batters in 560 innings while permitting just 465 hits. More information on his career stats is available at BaseballReference.

Now 29, Newby is well past the age of the traditional prospect. However, if he continues playing and producing, it’s not outside the realm of reason that he could still one day be kicking major league dirt out of his cleats.

Back in 2012, I was fortunate enough to have Newby answer some questions about his career. Keep reading for more on this hard-working pitcher.

Kyler Newby Interview:

Who was your favorite player and team when you were growing up, and why?: When I was growing up my dad liked the Giants, so I followed. I had a Matt Williams jersey I wore all the time and played third base, so he was my favorite! 

In hindsight, is there anything differently you would have done in preparation to getting drafted?: No. Tony Cirelli prepared me for much more than baseball. He taught me so many life lessons that prepared me for the professional baseball world.

What was your 2004 draft day like?: I was in Canada playing summer ball and headed to the gym when I got the phone call from the Diamondbacks telling me they had drafted me. I didn't know I was going to get drafted. 

What are negotiations like after being drafted in the 50th round?: There were none. They told me we will give you $10,000 and two years of paid school; take it or leave it! 

Which pitches do you throw; which is your best; and which do you believe needs the most work?: I throw a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a slider that has more slurve tilt to it, and a split finger fastball. My best pitch is a strike, but I personally like my slider and organizations like my split. They all need work all the time. I work on each pitch daily in catch. If I let one sit to long I’ll lose command of it.  

Which coach or manager has had the greatest influence on you?: Tony Cirelli from MCC and Dan Carlson from the Diamondbacks. He's the AA pitching coach. Words can't describe how good of a man he is! 

What do you like to do that's not baseball related?: I love to golf and I love remote control cars. I have one that we clocked with the team’s radar gun at 73 miles per hour! 

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Red Sox Pitching Prospect Michael McCarthy Trying to Work His Way to Boston

The Boston Red Sox have such an impressive and eclectic group of prospects in its minor league system that it can be difficult to keep track of all the aspiring young ballplayers. Obviously, the best way to stick out in such a crowd is by producing on the field. Pitcher Michael McCarthy is trying his best to do just that, and prove he eventually belongs in the major leagues.

The slender right-hander attended Liberty High School in Brentwood, California before heading off to college at the University of Redlands (Division III). He became a stand-out hurler there but had aspirations for bigger things and transferred to Cal-State Bakersfield following his sophomore year.

The change in venue agreed with McCarthy, who ended his collegiate career on a high note, going 8-6 with a 1.62 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) as a senior in 2011. He also struck out 116 in 127.2 innings and established himself as a viable professional prospect. The Red Sox came calling in the 14th round of the that year’s draft, and after quickly signing; he embarked on the start of his career.

Now 26, McCarthy is in his fourth season in the Boston organization and has made steady progress with each passing season. He made it to Double-A last year, and has remained there to start the 2014 season.

In 85 career games (29 starts) as a pro, he has posted a 14-13 record with a 4.29 ERA and 8 saves. He also has an impressive 201/71 strikeout/walk ratio in 260 innings. More details of his statistics are available at BaseballReference.

Working primarily as a starter this year, McCarthy is 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA in 6 games (5 starts). According to SoxProspects.com, he possesses an “average fastball and a nice splitter.” Having already established he can hang as a pro, he now just needs to establish the consistency to catch the right people’s eye to land a chance in the majors.

2014 could well be a big season for the pitcher in terms of what direction his career will take. Make sure to keep up with his progress as the long summer gets under way. In the meantime, find out a little more about him courtesy of the interview he granted this site earlier this winter.

Michael McCarthy Interview:

Who was your favorite player when you were growing up, and why?: Growing up, I didn't have just one favorite but enjoyed an array of players such as Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Mueller and John Smoltz. I always felt like these guys played as hard as they could, and I modeled myself after them.  

How did you end up choosing to attend Cal State-Bakersfield?: I started at the University of Redlands where I had an academic scholarship and was planning to attend med school. CSU-Bakersfield had opening enrollment in the fall and had just lost a pitcher, so things came together at the right time.

How did you first find out that the Red Sox were interested in you?: I was at a game that Jim Woodward came to. He told me he liked how I threw and had interest in me playing for the Red Sox. He came out to watch me a couple more times over the three-month season.

Who was the first well-known member of the Red Sox you met after you signed, and what was that like?: Rich Gedman was the hitting coach in Lowell and is well known throughout New England. A great man and helped get me started on the right foot.

What current pitcher would you say your style/type of skills is most similar to?: I see myself being similar to Koji Uehara and Tim Hudson. High 80s fastball with a good split. Quality control and someone who will do whatever the team needs of them.

What pitches do you throw, and what parts of your game do you think you need to work on most?: I throw a four-seam, two-seam and cut-fastball. I also throw a split, curve and slider.

Besides the travel, what are the toughest parts of a professional season?: A big challenge is the toll the game takes on your body. Day in and day out you have to maintain your physical and mental strength so you can play each day with the highest quality possible.

Are you surprised by the attention the Red Sox organization gets from fans, the media, etc? How has any extra attention affected you?: I was somewhat surprised at first but as I met people from New England I quickly realized how they viewed their sports teams. It is more than just a game; it is a way of life and something that binds us all together. I am proud to be a part of that bond and take a lot of pride in representing the Red Sox brand to the best of my ability. 

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