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Much appreciated.

https://theathletic.com/2099849/2020/09 ... prospects/

Saw this-

A four-team instructional league set to start with workouts Thursday will feature many of the top prospects from the Mariners, Rangers, Padres and Royals organizations, with each playing games during a six-week period. Games are set to begin Sunday and run through Nov. 11.

This developmental program was set up so that the four big-league clubs that have their spring training facilities in Northwest Phoenix — the Mariners and Padres train in Peoria, while the Royals and Rangers train in nearby Surprise — could play games against each other while also holding their own separate workouts at their respective training facilities.

Many of the players who will head to Arizona took part in the alternate site workouts that ran concurrently to the major-league season. But some players have been at home, having to train on their own without a minor-league season to play. Now they’ll get a greater semblance of competition by playing in these games.

Teams are set to play games four times a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) with two camp days (Mondays, Thursdays). All four teams will be off on Sundays. There will be plenty of action going on when teams aren’t playing games. These teams — separated by 10 miles, all of which you can travel on Bell Road — will also get development time.

Here’s a look at the four teams involved and the players they’ll be sending to Arizona.

San Diego Padres
In July, after it became official that there would be no minor-league season, farm director Sam Geaney indicated that the Padres intended to make the most of whatever developmental opportunities might await them later in the year.

“Based on when the timing is right or when the conditions in the world are right, I know that we are going to be aggressive on getting our group back together,” Geaney said at the time.

Now, the Padres are following through on that promise. More than 50 players will convene on San Diego’s side of the Peoria Sports Complex. Besides playing in games in the quad league, Padres prospects will face their Dodgers counterparts on a weekly basis (Los Angeles’ complex is a short drive away.) No organization has scheduled more games this fall in Arizona.

Names to note: Almost all of the prospects who spent time at the Padres’ alternate training site will be in Peoria. The roster includes infielders C.J. Abrams, Tucupita Marcano and Reginald Preciado; catcher Blake Hunt; pitchers Justin Lange and Cole Wilcox; and outfielders Robert Hassell III and Owen Caissie. Another outfielder, Hudson Head, will be in Arizona rehabbing a hamstring injury. The two exceptions, lefties MacKenzie Gore and Ryan Weathers, are part of the Padres’ 40-man postseason bubble. Other players to note include shortstop Yeison Santana, right-hander Mason Thompson and second baseman Esteury Ruiz.

Who to watch: Scouts wouldn’t be surprised if Abrams is a top-five prospect in baseball a year from now, if not No. 1. In the absence of formal games, the shortstop should have benefited from spending his summer training alongside major leaguers and other talented prospects. A jump to Double-A next season seems possible.

— Dennis Lin

Seattle Mariners
After a summer of no minor-league baseball, the Mariners are certainly excited to get 40 of their top minor-league players together in Arizona for six weeks — not just for games but also to continue some of the unique player development programs the club has instituted, like its Gas Camp and high-performance camp.

Many of the players who took part in the team’s satellite camp in Tacoma will be in Arizona, where they will continue to look to make up developmental ground from not having a minor league season. For some who have been working out at home on their own, it will feel a little like spring training.

“We only have the opportunities that we have,” said Mariners director of player development Andy McKay. “We took advantage of Tacoma to the best of our abilities. We’ll have a window in Peoria where we can hopefully get a small group of position players 75 to 100 at-bats and get our pitchers 20 or so innings.”

Names to note: In all, the Mariners will send four of their top prospects, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law’s rankings: outfielders Julio Rodriguez, Taylor Trammell, infielder Noelvi Marte and catcher Cal Raleigh. The team’s 2020 first-round draft pick, pitcher Emerson Hancock, will be in Arizona, as well four other 2020 draft picks: infielder Tyler Keenan, pitchers Taylor Dollard and Connor Phillips and infielder Kaden Polcovich. The club’s top prospect, outfielder Jarred Kelenic, as well as pitchers Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, won’t take part in the fall league. They and a handful of others got their work in while in Tacoma.

Who to watch: Plenty to choose from, but let’s go with 20-year-old pitcher Juan Then, who made some big strides in Tacoma this summer. He made a few adjustments to his delivery coming out of the team’s Gas Camp before spring training and averaged 95.6 mph on his fastball during his starts in Tacoma (against older competition) and ran it up there at 99 mph a few times. Then had a 2.98 ERA in two minor league stops a year ago and is certainly considered a pitcher on the rise in the system.

— Corey Brock

Kansas City Royals
The Royals are actually going to be holding two camps. That’s how committed they are to developing players this fall. One camp of all Royals players will compete against one another in Kansas City. The other, of course, will be competing in Arizona. The two groups are made up of players with all different types of experience levels. Handfuls of players who will be competing in Kansas City have been working at the club’s alternate site all summer. Tens of players who will be playing in Arizona have been recently selected.

Names to note: Asa Lacy, Nick Loftin, Darryl Collins, Kale Emshoff, Tyler Gentry, Christian Chamberlain, Ben Hernandez, Saul Garza, Will Klein and A.J. Block, among others.

Who to watch: Of that list of names, the easy choice would be Lacy, whom the Royals selected in the first round of this year’s draft. But maybe the most interesting name is Nick Loftin, whom the Royals jumped up to select in this year’s draft. Loftin is a super-utility-type player in the same mold as Whit Merrifield. That’s a bold comparison, but similar to Merrifield, Loftin is a player who grew up with a love of the game and a competitive fire that’s hard to quantify. He has solid bat-to-ball skills and a history playing for Team USA. How he performs early against the other top prospects mentioned here will provide a nice idea on how close he may be for a club that could use more versatile on-base types.

— Alec Lewis

Texas Rangers
The Rangers had apparently planned on sending a number of 40-man roster players to instructs before the edict came down that such a thing would not be allowed. Part of the reason is that no fewer than five players were called up to the big leagues this year without having played so much as a single game above High-A. With that out the door for now, here are the players we know are going to Arizona (though it may not be comprehensive just yet).

Names to note: Justin Foscue, Josh Jung, Davis Wendzel, Heriberto Hernández, Bubba Thompson, Steele Walker and Cole Winn. Joining them there from the four corners of the universe: Maximo Acosta, Bayron Lora, Julio Pablo Martinez, Chris Seise, Curtis Terry, Justin Slaten and Ronny Henriquez.

Who to watch: Of that list of names, Josh Jung is certainly the most recognizable. Not only was he the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2019, but by all accounts, he has thrived this year under the tutelage of the coaches at the alternate site. He’s a heady kid, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the big leagues in 2021. Of the missing names, the most curious to me is Hans Crouse, who was not invited to the alternate site and now isn’t going to instructs. He’s one of the Rangers’ top pitching prospects, so that’s a little concerning.

— Levi Weaver

Juan Then averaging 96 and up tp 99?

Hanjag wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:43 am

Juan Then averaging 96 and up tp 99?

There was a lot of anger over Dipoto not getting enough of a return when he reacquired Then.

Could still work out..

I hope we are able to watch some of the games or at least follow on Game day like the old AFL.