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Writer's pictureSteve Potter

2/9/24 : High Performance Camp - Day Twenty-Five


Final day of this High Performance Camp One of 2024  - the minor league players will break for a week before returning for minor league mini camp the following week with additional players joining in.  Some will stay in town for voluntary workouts till mini-camp opens.


Today’s Camp Activities :


First live bullpens of the year - RH Andrew Baker and LH Tristan Garnett threw to hitters on Roberts field.


We watched both Baker and Garnett throw - Baker with the heat and put away slider posted a couple strikeouts against the four batters he faced, Marcus Lee Sang lined a single to left field.  Garnett dominates batters with a fading changeup - gets them out on the front foot on swings and misses, also threw what looked like a cutter to me today.  Tristan notched a couple strikeouts against the four batters he faced as well.  Felix Reyes hammered a ball up in the zone for a hit down the left field line against him.  Both of these relievers are fellas whom I feel can pitch in the major leagues - hopefully they will get looks this spring in Grapefruit League action.


Sam Aldegheri (threw on the mound on Roberts), Trey Dillard, Estibenzon Jimenez, Jonathan Petit, Brandon Beckel, Luke Russo, Cristian Hernandez, Andrew Schultz, Christian McGowan, Wesley Moore, Tommy McCollum, Jordi Martinez, Jaydenn Estanista, Alex Rao, Brett Schulze, Wilmer Blanco, Alexis De La Cruz, Andrew Walling and Paxton Thompson all threw bullpen sessions.


Position players who didn’t participate in the live BP sessions hit indoors and did their weight room training.


Camp Views :


Pitchers :


From this observer’s perch (we were there 24 of the 25 days 🤪) I think that quite a few pitchers made strong impressions - in particular three draftees from 2023 - George Klassen (6th round), Jake Eddington (7th round) and Cam Brown (10th round) all made significant strides from last fall according to feedback.  Brown impressed early with a sharp and quick fastball and threw strikes - he continued to shine throughout camp.  Klassen has big time heat and Eddington was very impressive in his last side pen.  All three could be starters for the Clearwater Threshers this coming season.


I was also very encouraged by the progress of Gunner Mayer, each outing seemed better than the one before - consistent mechanics and release with velocity increments and pitch movement.  Griff McGarry has made solid progression in his mechanics and delivery, it’s obvious he’s worked a great deal on shortening and streamlining.  I think both Andrew Baker and Christian McGowan threw really well, am anxious to see them hopefully in some Grapefruit League action.


Four lefty relievers continued to flourish, picking up where they left off last season - Tristan Garnett, Wesley Moore, Jordi Martinez and Andrew Walling - all adding to their mix of pitches.  I thought that right handers Mick Abel and Tyler McKay both threw extremely well, will be fun to watch them in big league camp.  Tommy McCollum is another right hander who continues on a very solid path, coming off a strong 2023 campaign.  Lefty starter Sam Aldegheri showed smooth mechanics and consistency in the zone - he’s an innings eater also coming off a good 2023 season.


I was pleased to see both Jaydenn Estanista and Alex Rao throwing good sessions after injuries held them back last year.  Alexis De La Cruz and Casey Steward each showed that there’s electricity in their arms - powerful hurlers.  I think Wilmer Blanco reminds me of Estibenzon Jimenez - both are pitchers who have mix, command and composure - a lot to like.


Position Players :


Seventeen year old Eduardo Tait was the hitting buzz maker of the camp, the young left handed hitter showed in BP that he has power to all fields and consistently hit the baseball hard. Everyone who saw him hit came away very impressed.  Other teenagers also shined - Devin Saltiban, Aidan Miller, TJayy Walton, Kehden Hettiger, Aroon Escobar, Nikau Pouaka-Grego and Angel Mata - each showed power strokes with abilities to hit the ball out of the yard while also driving baseballs into gaps.


Felix Reyes, Bryson Ware, Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Leandro Pineda and Marcus Lee Sang all had solid BP sessions - I saw Reyes, Ware and Owusu-Asiedu more than the other two fellas - each time I watched they barreled the baseball consistently. Gabriel Rincones Jr put on some laser shows during camp, he can hit to all fields.   Raylin Heredia, Jordan Viars and Hendry Mendez drove the baseball with authority as well.


Teenagers Starlyn Caba and William Bergolla are very smooth middle infielders - excellent gloves as is twenty year old Bryan Rincon.  Robert Moore, Zach Arnold and Nolan Beltran each have very solid approaches - true pros.


Was a fun five weeks - big leaguers start this coming week, many are already here working.  Baseball is back - good stuff!


Major League Stuff :


On the Bowa half field we watched infield coach Bobby Dickerson put infielders Nick Podkul and Weston Wilson thru an array of ground ball drills.  It’s good baseball to watch how Coach Dickerson gets after it, he’s very passionate in teaching the craft of infield play.  The techniques of pushing thru the ball, attacking it and proper glove angles are something I always enjoy watching guys get taught about.  No happy dances (he does that when a good play is made) this morning from Coach but there were quite a few encouraging words and corrections as well.


On the side mounds of Bowa field we saw Tyler Phillips, McKinley Moore, Jose Ruiz, Griff McGarry and Tyler McKay throw bullpens. McGarry and McKay threw as a tandem - both threw well. Keep an eye on Tyler Phillips - he’s a talent that folks will get to know about this spring. Also heard that Jose Alvarado, Kolby Allard, Nick Nelson, Orion Kerkering and Christopher Sanchez also threw bullpens.


Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️



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