With the postseason looming, our prospect attention shifts out west where the Arizona Fall League is set to begin this evening. The rosters include several notable prospects. They’re joined by the usual smattering untouted, statistically effective players. Today, let’s skip the big names and focus on the guys fighting for recognition. Those with long memories will recall Edouard Julien’s emphatic AFL performance. “Big Hype” can be built in Arizona.
First, let’s back up and think about Julien’s platform last season. He played well at Double-A as a 23-year-old. In the past, that was on the old side of age-appropriate. Now, it’s just flat-out old for the level. A 23-year-old either dominates Double-A or isn’t considered a prospect (there are exceptions). He was arguably the top player in the AFL last season (Heston Kjerstad won the MVP). Julien went on to post a 2.8 WAR debut in the Majors over 408 plate appearances. High BABIPs are a key component of his success.
Notably, defense was and remains a concern with Julien. There are always a few players who slide under the radar because they have a good-not-great bat married to defensive concerns.
Five Big Hype Prospects
Damiano Palmegiani, 23, 3B, TOR (AAA)
(AA/AAA) 557 PA, 23 HR, 7 SB, .255/.364/.478
There’s some surface commonality between Palmegiani and Julien. They’re both disciplined hitters who produced big league-caliber exit velocities. Scouting reports go out of their way to question the defensive aspects of Palmegiani’s game. He mostly played first base at Triple-A after spending most of the season as the starting Double-A third baseman. Palmegiani also has a shaky hit tool. When he connects, it tends to be well-struck. However, between the discipline and a moderate swinging strike rate, there’s a chance nearly half his plate appearances will end without a batted ball. Barring a profile change, he’ll need high BABIPs just like Julien. Palmegiani is not Rule 5 eligible this winter.
Carter Baumler, 21, P, BAL (A)
(CPX/A) 17 IP, 11.12 K/9, 4.76 BB/9, 3.18 ERA
While we don’t usually watch the AFL for pitchers, Baumler is an exception. A fifth-round pick in the abbreviated 2020 draft, Baumler’s career has been waylaid by injuries, mostly to his shoulder. He managed to return to the mound in late July and even faced 16 batters in his final regular season outing on September 7. He was once viewed as a future Top 100 prospect candidate. With health, he’s young enough to get back on track. He features a well-designed fastball-curve combo. He also shows a slider and changeup, both of which are in want of further development. Baumler is not Rule 5 eligible this winter.
Brainer Bonaci, 20, 2B/SS, BOS (AA)
(A+/AA) 350 PA, 11 HR, 7 SB, .297/.354/.464
Bonaci is on the Ramon Urias utility track. He’s Rule 5 eligible this winter. I figure there aren’t many scenarios in which he’s left off the Red Sox roster. Bonaci is a well-regarded fielder, but he’s slow-footed. He’s likely limited to second and third base down the line. His bat is trending in a league-average direction. Given he’s a switch-hitter, the total sum is a useful player who fits well on any roster.
Zach Dezenzo, 23, 3B, HOU (AA)
(A+/AA) 410 PA, 18 HR, 22 SB, .304/.383/.531
Early in the season, Dezenzo was among the top minor league performers by wRC+. After beating up on High-A pitchers, he performed merely decently against Double-A arms. Even so, at least one source of mine believes Dezenzo is Top 100 prospect material. Another source says he has a hole in his swing. While there’s no question about the quality of his contact, the frequency of his contact could leave him in the Quad-A bubble. He’s likely in the AFL to work on defense. He is not Rule 5 eligible.
Jakob Marsee, 22, OF, SD (AA)
(A+/AA) 568 PA, 16 HR, 46 SB, .274/.413/.428
Marsee reminds me of a lower-impact version of Julien, one whose future big league role will depend upon making good on the few opportunities he’s given. That he’ll receive such opportunities is of little doubt. He’s a disciplined hitter with a high rate of contact. As a lefty, he’s also on the strong side of any platoon considerations. Defensively, he’s considered fringy as a center fielder. He doesn’t have quite enough pop to excite evaluators about a corner outfield role. Still, he profiles as somebody who could post offensive numbers not unlike Julien’s debut. That’s a Major Leaguer, even if we’re only talking about a platoon bat on the Athletics. He’s likely in the AFL to generate trade interest. He is not Rule 5 eligible.
Three More
Hao-Yu Lee, DET (20): You might recognize Lee from this past trade deadline when he was dealt from Philly to Detroit for Michael Lorenzen. A quad strain limited him to 32 post-trade plate appearances. Lee will be looking to make a strong impression on his new employers. He is not Rule 5 eligible.
Kala’i Rosario, MIN (21): Rosario is one of the most accomplished power hitters in the AFL this season. He’s coming off a 21-homer campaign in High-A built around hard contact and plenty of pulled fly balls. He cut down on his swing-and-miss this year by being more patient. He is not Rule 5 eligible.
Abimelec Ortiz, TEX (21): Ortiz should be the odds-on favorite to lead the AFL in homers. He delivered 33 dingers this season split between Low- and High-A. With a strong AFL, he’s a fringe Top 100 prospect candidate. He’s also not Rule 5 eligible.
Did I miss a detail or nuance? DM me on Twitter @BaseballATeam to suggest corrections.
Free Bauer.
he’s not currently incarcerated
Free him of the 2 years of doubt people had that he was guilty of something never charged. The man was on pace to likely sign a monster deal the way he was pitching and was derailed by cancel culture or a rush to judgement if you don’t care for buzz words.
While I can’t stand it, the court of public opinion matters. If you’re not on the right side of trendy topic, you’re toast (see Curt Shilling). It’s been well stated that Bauer isn’t well liked, and the crime he was accused of is quite disturbing. Guilty or innocent, his personality played a role in his exile.
Not saying it’s right or wrong, but to your point, in today’s cancel culture you are 100% guilty, even when proven innocent, if you aren’t with the trendy movement of the day.
Let’s not compare Curt, someone who says things that are often stupid that people make him not like him to Bauer who had a woman literally say “net worth 51 mil” and “need daddy to choke me out” cause him of a crime.
These two are not that same.
Bauer has had multiple accusers. Defending him when literally no one can stand him is such a bad take.
Cancel culture sucks and is destroying this country.
If someone asks for rough physical intimate contact, receives what they ask for, asks foe it again with the same person and then takes videos of themselves smiling happy about it the day after…I’m pretty sure I’m going to side with the guy who didn’t try to extort money from someone.
A bad look is not at minimum admitting he wad wrongfully suspended, lost out on probably 100-200 million, and it’s this woman’s fault.
I was hoping the Cubs would of signed him but in the age of cancel culture and wokeness it’s unfortunately over.
Ask Bud Light about that.
Cancel culture is just bad!
@Ray. Yeah, look at what it did to Kaepernick because some disagreed with his politics.
Except he sucked. Nice try.
Opted out of his SF deal, turned down a contract from the Broncos, moved his showcase at the last minute, demanded $25 million from the XFL…
Yeah, dude was really blackballed.
Meanwhile he made millions selling child and slave made shoes
He’s admitted to beating women for pleasure.
The fact he said/she said cases are tough to get to trial doesn’t make that less reprehensible.
The fact violent folks tend to need more and more violence to get off doesn’t bode well for future employers either.
Dude is wealthy beyond dreams and not in prison. He’s free. But he’ll never get back in MLB.
“Derailed by cancel culture” sure is a weird way to say “derailed by the longest suspension for domestic violence in MLB history upheld by an independent arbitrator”
Curt and Trevor are both bigots: compare away!
He wasnt wrongfully suspended, Macbeth
It isn’t cancel culture, the dude admitted doing really messed up stuff but claimed it was consensual. The police didn’t press charges because they said that it was difficult to prove it was not consensual. This does not mean that he is innocent and it doesn’t mean that he should get a pass. If you enjoy standing up for those types of people you should really take a look into yourself and ask what you think is and isn’t acceptable.
What a hill to choose to die on lmao. What is wrong with people
It’s 100% his fault for not protecting himself and for allowing himself to be in that position.
Haha Kapernick is a whole different level of uncomparable. Aside from never really even being that good (except 1 season), he himself chose to do something extremely divisive. His fault, and only his fault.
Is Curt a bigot because you don’t like his politics?
Before Jagwell imagine if you said that about an actual female victim of SA. “She should’ve protected herself better and allowed herself to be in that position”.
It’s not right to say it about women, and it’s not right to say it about men either.
He could’ve protected himself by not beating the crap out of her. There’s a thought.
And let’s not forget she’s not the first.
Even if she completely set him up she did so knowing he’d beat her. And he obliged.
Even if somehow not criminal that’s still not a dude you want representing your team.
Ozuna represents the Braves. They don’t seem to mind it.
Stop being offended by everything. I meant as a high profile athlete, he should t put himself into situations to where he can be wrongfully accused and/or extorted.
You all keep saying “beat her” like its the 50s and you can just backhand a woman Willy nilly
Some females enjoy a slap in the bedroom, others enjoy more extreme things.
Basically what you’re saying is BDSM should be illegal and consenting adults can’t enjoy themselves
I don’t think some of the “adults” here know exactly what they are endorsing
This is a super slippery slope for all of us, and I’m certainly glad most of you aren’t creating laws to take what little freedom we have away from us.
It’s funny how easily things can be overlooked by teams. Aroldis Chapman still has a job too. The Astros annoyingly traded for a wife-beater a few years back.
Osuna was traded away from the Jays after abusing his GF or baby mom as well
I didn’t agree with it then, you shouldn’t shun people who have problems.
Should he escape punishment because he’s a top 1% athlete. Of course not
He should be punished to the fullest extent of the law after having a fair chance to confront his accuser or admit guilt for his crimes
After he serves his punishment, he should be rehabilitated. Not cast away.
Things are black or white, as much as we want things to be Gray.
We either put all criminals to be unalived. Or throw away the key and never let them out pf a penitentiary
Or. The ones we deem can re enter society, need to be rehabilitated for the good of everyone, everyone including all of us have made mistakes, some more grave than others. But if you’re truly sorry you should always be given a second chance and support around you to succeed in your rehabilitation.
If someone is a bank robber, can’t read can’t tell time , can’t count
What are they going to do once they are back in society. Go work at a moving company? Cash under the table? …. they will re offend in no time
It goes for all types of criminals no matter the charges, if we deem them to eventually be released back into society we all must do our part to help make that individual a success member of the tribe called humanity
You used the word “unalived,” which tells me all I need to know.
Education and incarceration are choices in 2023. Regardless of how much you want to whine about how certain people don’t have access to education, they all do (even people here illegally). It’s a choice. Same with committing crimes. It’s not the responsibility of the criminal justice system, or society, to rehabilitate anyone. It is THAT person’s responsibility to get an education, obey the law, etc.
Personal responsibility used to be a thing and I do hope that it once again becomes trendy.
Unalived was used so the mods don’t delete these comments
Try not to be the smartest person in the room with these silly attempts at being morally superior and the premier intelligence.
Shows your ignorance that you think all the above is a personal choice.
Some people in some cities only have 1 choice.
And how can someone rehabilitate themselves? Addicts? Criminals?
It’s actually hilarious you believe these things to be true
Good for you for also being a sane sober moral individual born into a family that allowed you to blossom
Take a look around you. That isn’t the case for the vast majority of people, try to have some sympathy and compassion for others.
Karma isn’t kind to ignorance and it’s certainly not bliss
Lol I come from a very bad area and from a family of criminals. Some decided prison is for them, others decided to better themselves. I chose to just be a good person.
It’s funny how snowflake libs always assume someone grew up with privilege if they aren’t a criminal, an addict, or part of the vast number of people who whine about whatever is trendy that day. And you used “unalived” because it’s a term you commonly use.
Yes please push your opinions onto me aa if you actually have any idea who I am and have had copious amounts of conversations with me to know my vernacular
No need to keep responding to someone who obviously knows everything about everyone in every situation and has deemed the truth trivial to the conversation
I wish you the best of luck Mr stranger
Love you too.
Wow a response in under 30 seconds
You were refreshing non stop to see if I’d engage you eh
Lol.
Yea. Best of luck brother, you certainly need it
Lol no, I was taking a break from ungrassing my yard (don’t want to say mow in case it’s a trigger word). Just show me where on the doll that the words hurt you so I can apologize and we move on.
I definitely don’t condone what Ozuna did. But to our knowledge he did it once, he apologized, and he took anger management classes to try to avoid it from happening again.
Bauer has 4 accusers that we know of, will never apologize, and seems intent on continuing his behavior.
What would scare me as an employer is if it currently takes punches to the face and choking women to the point of unconsciousness to get him off, the slightest uptick could leave a woman dead.
He’s definitely got a screw loose up there. But, I’ve also never tried it so maybe it’s fun?!
Each less convincing than the last
Ozuna also was arrested for DUI (as was the Bauer accuser). And Laci Green has way more accusers than Bauer. The pertinent question is how many are credible.
There’s no freeing someone who’s openly admitted getting his jollys beating the crap out of women during sex. Consensual or not, that’s a bad look for the face of your franchise.
Kobe did not lose his job!
Yes, poor poor trevor Bauer getting paid millions to pitch in npb after reports of multiple violent sexual assaults led to every mlb team noping out on strapping that lightning rod to their brand.
The problem can be solved by having equal punishment to any woman falsely accusing someone and it’s found to be she lied or pre meditated the actions
If a man would go to Jail for 25-life, so should a woman who falsely accuses someone of SA.
Thinking the Russell Brand situation is going to turn out similarly
We’ll see what happens to Russell Brand. He didn’t admit getting his jollies by beating the crap out of women during sex. Bauer did admit it. There’s no coming back from that consensual or not.
Anyone who defends someone who enjoys beating the crap out of women definitely needs to take a long look in the mirror, for sure.
Keyboard warriors, an interesting bunch, as in the old Chinese curse.
You sir are stretching the truth and playing with words.
There’s a wide gap between BDSM and SA.
I find some of you extremely strange.
Questioning someone’s morals because they side with someone who had wrongdoings committed upon them?
What if, and I know this is a foreign concept, what if there are men here who are sane sober moral individuals who have had women fabricate complete falsehoods against them in an effort to gain financially or garner sympathy or even just because they have mental issues or instability.
I’d forgive you for not knowing the truth. But being blind and ignorant to situations is no excuse
Woman won’t like you more just because you attack your own kind and allow them to perpetrate false narratives
I stand for the truth. Innocent till proven guilty. Knowing all facts from both sides before forming an opinion.
I find it difficult to have faith in humanity sometimes.
And this is happening more and more frequently in today’s society. At the height of “me to” I applauded the Women strong enough to come forward with their real stories.
Now it’s being used for clout, social status and unfortunately financial gain. And hurts all the real victims out there.
Which is why I’m suggesting equal punishment for both sides, if found to be true yes the men should be labeled as monsters and treated as such. But the same goes for the opposite Gender as well.
Women won’t like us more because we attack our own kind? How absurd. This is an anonymous board where few if any women will ever see the post. Also, Bauer is not my own kind.
Sentiment spoken here are directly tied to Sentiments in real life.
You’re allowed to dislike Bauer, me, anyone frankly.
But for your own benefit. It should be grounded in reality and facts, not personal beliefs
I don’t subscribe to the BDSM lifestyle. It’s not my cup of tea.
But I’ll never begrudge 2 consenting adults from enjoying themselves behind closed doors. Regardless of my feelings about participating
Could not have said it better.
Cards and Reds fan agreeing on something, it’s a red letter day.
Slippery slope Cards and Reds fans are on
Let’s hope that you’re not vilified one day for something that legally is fine, and was asked of you. But later gets twisted into something completely different.
Jaysfan. I want to agree with you in large part. But you’re concocting a bit of a Strawman. With Bauer we’re building a case around him supposedly having a consensual relationship and being black balled for that. We really don’t know that’s why. I deeply suspicion MLB knows a lot more about his prior behavior. Well before the case in SD…he had a public reputation for possible abuse in Ohio. It’s reasonable that MLB teams are responding to what’s generally known about his character. We’re forcing ourselves to think there’s only two clear answers….guilt or innocence. There might well be both.
Personally….Bauer seems like a narcissist with major abusive tendencies. He has targeted female fans on social media using his fame to create security risks for some people who aren’t even legal adults.
A wise man once said, don’t believe anything you hear and only believe half of what you see.
I am not trying to suggest Bauer is a Saint. Nor am I trying to suggest Bauer is the moral compass we should all aim to be.
I was raised by my mother (no father), with help from my grandmother (rip to both). I know how to treat women. I have sisters, no brothers. I have a daughter.
But I’m also instilling certain values into my daughter. Mainly NOT to be like women on social media, not to sell herself on O.F. and to attempt to be a traditional woman.
I’d prefer not to think of her preferences in the bedroom, but if she for whatever reason decides to invite physicality into the bedroom. That would be her prerogative.
That’s where I think this argument is extremely unfair. I myself have been asked by women before to do certain things in bed that I’m not comfortable with, that I wouldn’t enjoy personally. But that’s what floats their boats. Did I try? Yes, did I enjoy it, no. Would it be fair for that woman to turn around and accused me of SA. Of course not.
I also had a mentality unstable women (who I wasn’t aware had a history of mental issues) accuse me of horrific things. Why? Because I decided after a few encounters she wasn’t for me. After attempting to be civil and have a face to face conversation with her. It ended with police being called and her telling them many lies in an attempt to slander me and have me taken to jail.
Thankfully for me, she had a long history of doing this, I was the 5th or 6th person in the last few years she attempted to do this to. And that was my only saving grace. Had I been the first I likely would have been taken away and needed a jury of my peers to deliberate whether I was truthful or not. And that would have been extremely unpleasant and perhaps end in a tragedy.
Did anything happen to her for the false accusations? No. And that’s also wrong in itself.
I’m not trying to push my agenda on anyone. Which is why it’s also very concerning that someone below this response is happy to know where my “morals” lay without even knowing the full extent of my reasoning and will never know because they have muted me. But that’s ok.
Many men here, haven’t had to deal with what Bauer has, what i have, what many other fine upstanding men have. Yet here they are white knighting for a woman who’s now being shown to be the true problem. Then stretching the goal posts to say Bauer is still wrong because suspicion and conjecture follow him around.
Has he ever been charged? Never.
Has he seen a day in court where things can be proven false or true? Never.
Do we know for 100% fact any of these accusations have any merit. No.
I fully believe in our society as currently constructed. Especially in the age of cancel culture. It’s imperative that we only judge people on concrete evidence that isn’t taken out of context.
To continually say “he gets off on punching women in the face” is categorically untrue. It’s a stretch of the actual truth were woman ask him to perform these things.
May he enjoy it? Maybe. I’ve never heard him say it with his own words, I’ve only heard it repeated here. Where did the posters get the information? What police reports have they gained access to? What actual provable evidence is there to say he abuses women on a regular basis AND enjoys it like he’s Paul Bernardo (look up that name if anyone doesn’t recognize it to see the true scope of someone deserving of vilification)
Until that time, I reserve the right to change my opinion on him. Just like we all should.
He’s innocent. Until he’s proven to be guilty. Not in the court of public opinion. In an actual court.
I 100% agree with equal punishment. I also think that false accusers should be more harshly punished, as they are often given leniency for some strange reason. Regardless of their background, there is no justification for ruining someone else’s life, just because something may, or may not, have been detrimental in your past.
Emphasis on *reports*
Thank you for pointing out your lack of morals. Glad to know. You gone.
“Free Bauer” was his marketing gimmick to every woman in eye-shot in Ohio.
outinleftfield aka Pads Fans aka BaseballisLife aka websoulsurfer aka PLTuna still bragging about muting people I see. So weird. If you wanna mute someone don’t talk about it just do it.
Jack Brannigan will be AFL MVP
Brannigan had an outstanding second half. Even played more at shortstop than third base once he got to High-A Ball. There’s some swing and miss, but a potential for an above average defensive SS with 20/20 potential.
20/20 is his floor
Eh, there’s so much swing and miss that it’s concerning. It’s not like there’s never been a prospect to improve their game in the swing and miss department, but it might impede his game power.
Tyler Tolve will catch some eyes.
Sid Finch
How does an article about SLEEPER AFL prospects miss Hurtubise? Shame on you for not doing your research…