Kentuckians In The 2013 MLB Draft

A look at the 2013 seasons of Kentuckians, with thoughts on the upcoming year

JAN 18^th, 2014-The Commonwealth of Kentucky has become a greater presence in the MLB Draft, in recent years, and it seems that there will be more and more Kentuckians in the pro ranks as the years go by.

While Kentucky has traditionally been more closely-aligned with high school and college basketball, the game of baseball is making its own case for respectability. More and more facilities are devoting time to teaching the game, leagues are springing up where none had been before, and established leagues are growing at a slow but steady rate.

Is it possible that, years from now, Kentucky may be known and respected for its baseball talent as much as it is revered among basketball fans?

Maybe that's a reach, I know. But at the rate that we're producing talent on the diamonds, I wouldn't completely rule it out.

Today I take a look at Kentuckians who were drafted in 2013, with thoughts going into the 2014 season:

Andrew Edwards, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6'5” Wt: 260

Born: October 7^th, 1991 in Gilbertsville, KY

School: Western KY University (Bowling Green, KY)

Drafted: Kansas City Royals in the 19^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Burlington Royals, Rookie Class, Appalachian League; Wilmington Blue Rocks, High-A, Carolina League):

2-1, 1.16 ERA, 18 games, 16 GF, 9 SV, 23 1/3 IP, 13 HA, 3 ER, 13 BB, 17 K

Edwards is an especially interesting player, to me. Drafted by the Royals out of WKU, Edwards is a massively-built righty who had no problems whatsoever adjusting to pro ball. He signed initially with Rend Lake Community College in Ina, Illinois, where he was All-Conference in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (69 1/3 IP, 4-5, 1.95 ERA career at RLCC), then transferred to WKU as a junior. While only getting in 23 1/3 innings of time on the bump as a closer, he appears to be ready for a full year in the Carolina League in 2014. He'll be 22 until October, so if he has to step back to the Sally it won't cost him much in the way of development time. If he does, we'll get to watch him bear down on unfortunate SAL batters for at least part of the season.

Clinton Hollon, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6'1” Wt: 195

Born: December 24^th, 1994 in Lexington, KY

School: Woodford County HS (Versailles, KY)

Drafted: Toronto Blue Jays in the 2^nd round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (GCL Blue Jays, Gulf Coast League; Bluefield Blue Jays, Rookie Class, Appalachian League):

6 games, 1-1, 3.12 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 8 HA, 6 ER, 6 BB, 15 K

Oh, this kid. There was a lot of chatter about Hollon as the Draft rolled around, with talk that he might go in the 1^st round. As it turns out, the pundits weren't too far off. Hollon ended up with the Jays as the 47^th overall pick. This is a pick that could go very well for Toronto, or very poorly. With a fastball consistently in the 91-94 range, peeking as high as 97 at the Perfect Game Pitcher/Catcher Showcase, and an effective mid-80's cutter/change, Hollon has already shown some serious natural ability. His curve lacks consistency, which is a common issue for young pitchers, but it will come around. One thing which concerns me is his size, along with the fact that he seems to be a 'max-effort'-type of pitcher. Hollon spins off the mound a great deal with his delivery, and seems at times to be over-exerting himself in an attempt to impress the radar gunners. He does have a natural feel for the game that is not so common for pitchers his age, and he stepped into limited action at the rookie level in pro ball with little difficulty. At 6'1” and 195, he may be at the peak of his development, size-wise, which could hinder him as he climbs the ladder. He is definitely on my 'Ones To Watch' list.

Corey Littrell, LHP

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 185

Born: March 21^st, 1992 in Louisville, KY

School: Trinity HS (Louisville, KY); University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: Boston Red Sox in the 5^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Lowell Spinners, Low-A, NY-Penn League):

0-3, 1.74 ERA, 12 games, 10 starts, 31 IP, 28 HA, 6 ER, 10 BB, 30 K

Littrell is a native Kentuckian, went to UK, and was drafted by the Red Sox, so naturally I'm a big fan. He certainly has more to offer, however, than circumstantial details; Littrell acquitted himself very well for the Spinners in 2013, allowing only a .237 BAA for the season. Oddly, lefties hit him rather well in limited AB (.324 vs. LHB in 41 PA), while righties stood little chance (.198 vs. RHB in 90 PA). Littrell already has decent size and a fair amount of projectability, he touches 90 and could end up with an above-average FB (for a lefty). Best of all, he knows how to pitch. That sounds like an odd thing to say, but there are a lot of 'throwers' in the game at all levels. I will be following his career closely.

Hunter Green, LHP

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 175

Born: July 12^th, 1995 in Bowling Green, KY

School: Warren East HS (Bowling Green, KY)

Drafted: LA Angels of Anaheim in the 2^nd round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (AZL Angels, Rookie Class, Arizona League):

4.32 ERA, 8 games, 16 2/3 IP, 16 HA, 14 R (8 ER), 16 BB, 11 K

Hunter Green is the prototypical prospect, in all senses of the word: he has tons of physical projectability, lots of raw talent, and youth on his side. At 17 years old he took on the Arizona League for 16 2/3 innings, and while the numbers were as rough as you might expect for a player his age there is plenty to like about his first season in the pros. Green has some definite mechanical issues which should be ironed out, but he sits in the low-90's with his fastball and already has a solid change and an occasionally-plus 12-6 curve. If the Angels take their time with Green, he could end up paying off big-time. He's another 'One To Watch'. Then again, I've always been a fan of these sorts of long-term developmental prospects.

J.T. Riddle, 3B

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 175

Born: October 12^th, 1991 in Frankfort, KY

School: Western Hills HS (Frankfort, KY); University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: Miami Marlins in the 13^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Batavia Muckdogs, Low-A, NY-Penn League):

59 games, 244 PA, 222 AB, 38 R, 54 H, 10 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 6 SB, 28 SO, .243 BA, .603 OPS

One of my favs in recent years (for reasons which should seem readily apparent), Riddle was a true joy to watch while he manned the keystone for the 'Cats here in Lexington. He was often teamed with SS Matt Reida, and the two of them played the middle of the field together as if they had been doing so for years. As a pitcher with Western Hills HS, Riddle was dealing in the mid to upper-80's as a 16 year-old, but moved to IF with UK. He didn't set the world on fire with the Muckdogs, this year, but he certainly held his own as a 1st-year player. He's not a power-hitter at this point in his career, but his size and frame will allow for a great deal of growth and he could end up as a prototypically-sized third baseman with average power and above-average speed. He has smooth actions in the field and solid arm strength, and shows quick actions and a good transfer on throws. If he doesn't fill out, weight-wise, moving him back to second could be a smarter move for the Marlins. He likely would have a very small learning curve at second, while he'll essentially be learning on the job at the hot corner (where he played in 2013). From my point of view, ideally he adds another 15-20 pounds at most, retains his speed and moves back to 2^nd base. He does have the tools to succeed at third, in the event he is there to stay.

Tanner Norton, C-DH

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht: 6'0” Wt: 190

Born: July 9^th, 1995 in Morning View, KY

School: Bishop Brossart HS (Alexandria, KY)

Drafted: Milwaukee Brewers in the 13^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (AZL Brewers, Rookie Class, Arizona League):

30 games, 119 PA, 110 AB, 4 R, 21 H, 2 2B, 13 RBI, .191 BA

Norton already has ideal size for a catcher, at 6' (Perfect Game has him at 6'1”, and Prep Baseball Report has him at 6'2”) and a lean 200 pounds. His pop times are excellent, often below 1.9, and has a good approach at the plate. With time, Norton is likely to become a solid defensive catcher (at least), but is athletic enough to convert to a corner OF spot. Whether he has the bat for the outfield, however, is unclear. Perfect Game did have him ranked as the 8^th-best player in KY, so that is something to consider. With players this young, it's often a matter of playing a very long waiting game. For that matter, catchers usually take longer than other players to develop. His arm and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect, so it will be interesting to see what he turns out to be.

Trevor Gott, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6' Wt: 190

Born: August 26^th, 1992 in Lexington, KY

School: University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: San Diego Padres in the 6^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Eugene Emeralds, Low-A, Northwest League; Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class A, Midwest League):

2-2, 2.50 ERA, 27 games, 31 2/3 IP, 23 HA, 9 ER, 12 BB, 33 K

Gott jumped into the pro ranks feet-first, and had as strong of a debut as you could possibly expect. Spending a cursory 4 1/3 innings mowing down 8 batters in Eugene, he quickly moved on to the TinCaps in the Midwest League, where he averaged a strikeout per inning. It's not terribly often that a college pitcher can make such an impact on pro scouts exclusively as a closer, but Gott was easily one of the best college closers in the nation in 2013. He left UK holding both the single-season and career marks for saves, and his appearance in the game usually meant 'game over' for opposing hitters. His size and lack of projectability are common knocks on him with the scouts, but Gott was the anchor for a bullpen that made the 'Cats a perfect 40-0 when leading after 7 innings. There's no arguing with results, but the pro ranks are a very different animal. His first year out, however, could be a sign of things to come. Don't forget the name.

Player Interview: Ian Kadish, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (MiLB)

MAY 17th, 2012-It was an honor for me to spend a little time today with a pitcher I've been following closely since his professional debut last year at Bluefield (Rookie Class, Appalachian League): Blue Jays prospect and Cincinnati native RHP Ian Kadish. Ian was more than willing to devote a bit of his time to answering a few questions I had for him about his time in pro ball, both on and off the field, and I thank him for that. 


You had a great year at Bluefield in 2011. What one thing would you say was the greatest reason for your success?


If I had to pick one thing for the reason for my success in Bluefield in 2011, it would have to be my competitive nature.  I compete at everything I do, no matter what the scenario.  I hate losing and will go to great lengths to win.  Along with that is my work ethic...I even compete to out work everybody else. 

Tell me about your pitching repetoire. Is there one pitch you feel most confident in throwing? How do you approach pressure situations (runners on, small lead, etc)?

The fastball is obviously my go to pitch, but if I am in a pressure situation, I like to go to the slider.  I have great confidence with all of my pitches and feel I can throw them at any time.

During this year's Spring Training, what have you tried to concentrate on the most? How would you say the Blue Jays coaches handle their young pitching prospects?

This Spring I have tried to concentrate the most on fastball command down in the zone.  The Blue Jay coaches preach that and it is a huge emphasis in our program.  I think they do a wonderful job with the young prospects by pushing them, but not too much.  They really develop some great prospects down here.

What does it mean to you to be Jewish in a sport in which there haven't been a lot of Jewish stars in recent years? Do you feel that baseball is a thriving sport among Jewish athletes? 

It means a lot to me to be Jewish in baseball.  There have been some amazing Jewish players such as Sandy Koufax and Shawn Green...hopefully I can add my name to the list as well!

Have you had a moment in any level of baseball when you were ready to quit the game, altogether? What was it that changed your mind?

There was a time I will never forget where I had a breakdown because I was so frustrated with the game.  I was ready to quit all together and move on with my life.  The person that was there with me was my mom.  I broke down and let all my frustration out and only my mom knows exactly how frustrated I really was.  She got me through it though and I can't thank her enough!

Concerning the fans, has there ever been a moment when you were put in a situation that made you uncomfortable? Any fans that have been a little too aggressive?

Hahaha! There has not been a moment yet where I was uncomfortable...It takes a lot to make me uncomfortable, but I love my fans and I love interacting with them!

How do you keep yourself occupied on those long bus trips?

The long bus trips are filled with a great amount of movies, music, sleep, and more music!  Anything to pass the time!

Is there one player in the Jays organization who's made an impression on you? How about the best player no one knows about?

I can't pick one player in the organization that has made an impression on me because there are so many great players here.  I could go on for days about different players and it wouldn't be fair to pick just one.  

If you weren't playing baseball, what would you most want to do with your life?

If I wasn't playing baseball, I would probably be in Grad School for Exercise Science.  I love the way the body works and I love working out.  My strength coach in college made a huge impact on me and I love what he does.

What advice would you offer to young players looking to make it in the pros?

The advice I would offer was given to me by my manager in Bluefield, Dennis Holmberg.  He told me to keep chasing your dream and never give up.  Work hard and sometime down the road either in the near future or far it will pay off.

Follow Ian on Twitter (@TheBearJew36) and on his personal blog page (One Love...Baseball) for some serious insight on the man, the player, and the dream chaser. You'll be glad you did. 

Executive Interview: Chris Maxwell, GM, Bluefield Blue Jays (Short-Season, Appalachian League)

Jan 29th, 2012-In minor league baseball, being a general manager isn't so much about overseeing the day-to-day operations of your team as it is...well, being the day-to-day operations of your team. In the minors, a GM has a hand in every single part of team operations, from ticket sales to promotions to meal money for the players. Even painting the stadium. Painting. That's right.

See, being a general manager in the minors means you generally manage everything. Sure, you have a supporting cast, and they're every bit as important as you'd expect them to be, but in the end it all falls on you to be sure that all the little details (as well as the big ones) are covered. It's not glamour and fame, and in order to be truly good at what you do you really have to love the game. It's probably the most important requirement for the job.

Bluefield has a man that fits that description, and fits it well. After the Orioles pulled out of their commitment to their Appalachian League affiliate, to the surprise and shock of many, Toronto was ready and more than willing to fill the void. Chris Maxwell is running the show for the brand-new Blue Jays affiliate in the tiny mountain town, and he's had a hand in everything. Just as it should be.

The Orioles drew 1/3^rd fewer fans in 2010 than they did in the previous season. What did you find was your greatest challenge in terms of bringing fans out to the park, especially given the issues that sometimes occur when a team pulls out of a city without warning?

I think the original fear was after 53 years could the town accept a new team. I think the shock that came with the Orioles leaving combined with the fact they had had several sub .500 seasons prior to leaving left a hole in a lot of fans hearts. The Blue Jays came in and embraced the town and the history here and the fans came out in droves to support us.

Given that each league and organization has their own way of doing business, have you noticed any significant differences in your time in the Appalachian League when compared with your experiences in the Pioneer League?

The big difference between the Pioneer league and the Appy league is just distance and size. The Appy league is much closer knit simply because we are no more than 3 hours from each other. In the Pionner league you have some 12 hour plus bus rides. The cities are larger in the Pionner league but a lot of the feel of the games are similiar.

Is there any one specific issue or complaint that you hear often from the fans regarding their experiences at the park?

I think we get just the usual type of complaints like the concession lines are too long that sort of thing. You just address them one by one and try to get better.

If you had the absolute, final say on all decisions in Toronto's organization for a day, what would you do with that authority?

Prince Fielder at first, Verlander, Lee, Halladay, Lincecum, Sabbathia rotation and one dollar beers.

Did you always see yourself becoming a part of the professional sports industry?

As a kid I was the worst player on every team I ever played on. I was a cruise director for 10 years before I even knew you could make a living in sports management. Sheer dumb luck and good fortune got me into minor league baseball.

What would you consider your most memorable moment in baseball?

My favorite moment was when I was a clubbie for the Birmingham Barons and we played in a yearly game called the Rickwood Classic. They play it at an old ballpark in downtown Birmingham. They have the old throwback uniforms and everything. The whole game just feels like its the 1920's. It really is something special.

Are there any players in Toronto's farm system who stand out in your mind?

Being new to the organization last year Im really only familiar with our guys but up and down the line the have some really exciting talent at every level.

What specific qualities do you consider most important for a player to possess while making his way up the chain?

I have never professed to know anything about coaching baseball but I always felt you couldn't succeed without listening skills and work ethic. You can have all the talent in the world and you won't get anywhere without it and if your not as talented it can get you too the next level.

What would you consider the most important lesson you've learned in your time in professional sports?

Honor and respect how others get things done. You will always learn something.

If you had one piece of advice for aspiring sports professionals, what would it be?

Learn to throw left handed.

The Book On...Brandon Morrow, RHP, Seattle (AL)

Brandon Morrow, RHP
DOB: 7/26/1984, Santa Rosa, CA
HT: 6'3" WT: 190
B:R T:R
Debut: 4/3/2007 vs. OAK (AL)-1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Signed By: Stacey Pettis

HISTORY: 5th overall pick out of California in 2006 Amateur Draft...Insulin-Dependant diabetic, who wears an insulin pump when not on the mound and has to monitor his blood sugar during games...Highest draft pick in school history.

STRENGTHS: Power pitcher with mid-90's FB (touches 99)...Can maintain velocity deep into the late innings...Mid-80's slider, hard diving splitter...Seattle has plans to make him a starter, as he projects as an innings-eating workhorse.

WEAKNESSES: Needs to work on command a great deal, and his overall feel for pitching in order to become an effective starter...Doesn’t use his CU nearly enough; seemed to fall in love with his splitter, which may cause forearm troubles to recur (forearm soreness limited him to 16 IP in his pro debut).

OUTLOOK: Was effective as a reliever, and though he averaged a SO per inning, he also nearly averaged the same in walks (48 BB, 56 IP). Allowed only 3 HR this year, which is owed at least in part to his hard slider, but with his velocity he could do himself a big favor by working off that potentially dominant FB and using the slider and CU to produce easy groundball outs.

2008 Projection: 12-8, 4.35 ERA, 27 starts, 165 IP, 65 BB, 130 K shouldn’t be a stretch. He’ll probably have a lot of no-decisions to deal with, pitching well enough to win in most situations but will need better than average run support when he’s on the mound, at first. I like this kid; big time arm, big time endurance, just needs experience.

Clinton Riddle