Even more prospect scouting reports
Compiled by Jim Callis
Justin Cassel, rhp, White Sox
Born: Sept. 25, 1984. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200. Drafted: UC Irvine, 2006
(7th round). Signed by: Joe Butler/Danny Ontiveros.
Like former White Sox first-rounders Lance Broadway and Kyle McCulloch,
Cassel lacks the velocity that paves the road to the big leagues for others.
But that's all he lacks, and his high-80s fastball didn't stop him from
leading the Southern League with a 3.11 ERA last year. He's smart and has
tough competitive makeup, the same skills that helped his brother Jack to the
big leagues as a pitcher and his brother Matt to 21 touchdown passes in 2008
as Tom Brady's understudy with the New England Patriots. Cassel's fastball is
a natural sinker that induces ground balls, and both his curveball and
changeup are solid pitches. He excels in preparation and understanding how to
pitch. Whether he has enough stuff to succeed against major leaguers remains
to be seen, but he has earned a shot against Triple-A hitters this season.
Javier Castillo, 3b, White Sox
Born: Aug. 29, 1983. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. Signed: Panama, 2002.
Signed by: Miguel Ibarra.
Castillo is a late bloomer. He didn't earn a visa until his third pro season
or get past Class A until his sixth, but he has made major leaps forward the
last two years, in part because of a newfound interest in conditioning. He
was headed for minor league free agency but the Sox re-signed him shortly
after the 2008 season, wanting to take a long look at him in Triple-A. He
shows signs of hitting for average but may not have the power necessary to
play a corner-infield spot. He has pop to right-center but hasn't shown the
bat speed to pull the ball. He has below-average speed but isn't a liability
on the bases. Originally signed as a shortstop, Castillo has developed into
an athletic third baseman with good range and hands. He has played some first
base and may ultimately be a big league extra. Castillo will play in the
World Baseball Classic for Panama and start the season at Triple-A Charlotte.
Stefan Gartrell, of, White Sox
Born: Jan 14, 1984. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230. Drafted: San Francisco,
2006 (31st round). Signed by: Adam Virchis.
Despite being one of the best players in University of San Francisco history,
Gartrell went largely unnoticed until the White Sox spotted him playing
behind Aaron Poreda as a senior in 2006. He went undrafted as a college
junior and signed for $1,000 as a 31st-rounder. Gartrell is making scouts
look silly as a pro, playing as a Double-A regular in his second full season.
He's an excellent athlete with size and strength who's still raw as a player.
He led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 46 walks in 2006, but he has
had trouble with pitch recognition and has yet to match that total since. He
gets himself out at times, though he also flashes interesting power when he's
going well. Gartrell has average speed and good baserunning instincts. He's
not as sound as a defender on the outfield corners, though he has solid range
and average arm strength. Gartrell was making progress in the Arizona Fall
League before separating his left shoulder trying to make a catch. He'll
probably open 2009 back in Double-A but could advance to Triple-A before the
season is over.
Lucas Harrell, rhp, White Sox
Born: June 3, 1985. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—Ozark, Mo.,
2004 (4th round). Signed by: Alex Slattery.
Harrell ranked as the White Sox's No. 9 prospect after the 2006 season, but
he had shoulder surgery that offseason and missed all of 2007. He started to
return to form in the second half of 2008, holding his own in a playoff
rotation at Double-A Birmingham and following with a promising stint in the
Arizona Fall League. His AFL numbers weren't good but that was largely the
result of two bad outings, not an overall struggle. At times he shows better
velocity (93-95 mph) than before his injury (90-92 mph), giving him a power
fastball to go with a good sinker, and his changeup remains a plus pitch. He
still needs to improve his slider, but he did make strides with his control
last season. The White Sox have been patient in keeping him on the 40-man
roster but he needs a solid wire-to-wire performance in 2009 to make himself
more than a possible trade chip.
Nathan Jones, rhp, White Sox
Born: Jan. 28, 1986. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 185. Drafted: Northern
Kentucky, 2007 (5th round). Signed by: Mike Shirley.
Jones has some of the best stuff in the White Sox system but never has been
able to find the strike zone, not even with a GPS or a group of Sherpas
leading the way. Because of his wildness, Jones worked only 82 innings in
three years at NCAA Division II Northern Kentucky, but that didn't deter the
White Sox from drafting him in the fifth round in 2007. He has gone just
2-11, 5.72 while splitting time between starting and relieving in pro ball,
but Chicago dreams of what he might do if he could add polish to a deadly
pair of pitches. He has gained velocity on his fastball as a pro, working in
the mid-90s and hitting 99 mph at times last season, and his knee-buckling
curveball gets scouts buzzing even more. Hitters fall down trying to escape
curves that break over the plate for strikes, though he often has trouble
locating his breaking ball. He has no feel for a changeup, so he's probably
going to wind up as a reliever in the long run. Scouts don't like his
delivery or arm action, and he missed seven weeks during the summer with a
strained shoulder. The White Sox will send him back to low Class A as a
starter in 2009 to get him as many innings as possible.
Tyler Kuhn, ss, White Sox
Born: Sept. 9, 1986. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185. Drafted: West Virginia,
2008 (15th round). Signed by: Mike Shirley/Phil Gulley.
Not so long ago, the White Sox system was devoid of middle-infield prospects.
But recent drafts have changed that, creating competition within the
organization. Chicago selected Gordon Beckham eighth overall last June, and
several other college picks have shown the potential to get to the big
leagues as utilitymen, if not regulars. That group includes Sergio Miranda,
Greg Paiml and Dale Mollenhauer from the 2007 draft, but Kuhn's ability to
hit separates him from the pack. A 33rd-round pick by the Indians in 2007,
Kuhn returned for his senior season at West Virginia and ranked eighth in
NCAA Division I with a .424 batting average. Signed for $1,000 as a
15th-rounder, Kuhn broke into pro ball by earning all-star honors in the
Pioneer League, where he hit .375/.424/.570 to help Great Falls win the
championship. He makes easy line-drive contact and is one of the best hitters
in the system. He won't hit many homers but he has gap power, average speed
and good baserunning instincts. Kuhn's range and arm strength are average for
a shortstop. He sometimes forces the action, trying to make difficult plays
that instead result in errors, and may profile better as a second baseman.
Kuhn could reach high Class A in 2009, possibly to open the season.
Levi Maxwell, rhp, White Sox
Born: Dec. 22, 1984. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: West Virginia,
2007 (18th round). Signed by: Mike Shirley.
Maxwell was so inconsistent in college that he pitched just 116 innings in
four years at West Virginia. He turned down a free-agent offer from the
Angels after going undrafted in 2006, then signed for $20,000 as an
18th-rounder in 2007. He relieved in his pro debut and blossomed once he got
a chance to start for low Class A Kannapolis last year. He worked 140 innings
in his first full pro season, leading the South Atlantic League with 15
victories and never losing consecutive starts. He relies on a low-90s
fastball and has the best control among Chicago farmhands. The key for him as
he advances will be improving his slider and changeup. Maxwell will move up
to high Class A in 2009.
Greg Paiml, ss, White Sox
Born: Aug. 30, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 185. Drafted: Alabama, 2007
(15th round). Signed by: Warren Hughes.
A former batboy, clubhouse assistant and grounds-crew worker for the
Birmingham Barons, Paiml could join his hometown team as its shortstop this
season. He's a baseball rat who has risen quickly in pro ball despite lacking
overwhelming tools. He's more of a ballplayer than an athlete, impressing
with his instincts and his skills more than his bat, arm or speed. He played
four years at Alabama, never hitting more than .284 with the aluminum bat,
but has made strides as a hitter since signing as a 15th-round pick. He can
be overpowered at the plate but is a good situational player, advancing
runners and playing a small-ball game. He has an average arm, which will
probably force him to move to second base, but he was the primary shortstop
for a playoff team at Winston-Salem after being promoted from Kannapolis in
late May. He profiles as a utility player but can't be ruled out as a big
league regular if he continues to adjust to advanced pitching.
Juan Silverio, ss, White Sox
Born: April 18, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican
Republic, 2007. Signed by: Victor Mateo/Dave Wilder.
High expectations greeted Silverio after the White Sox gave him a $600,000
bonus to sign in 2007, but he was a major disappointment in his pro debut in
2008. The two men responsible for signing him—senior director of player
personnel Dave Wilder and scout Victor Mateo—were fired as part of a
Dominican bonus-skimming scandal, causing some to wonder if he was really
worth the investment. Silverio does have raw tools, starting with bat speed
and arm strength, and given that he was the second-youngest player in the
Appalachian League last summer as a 17-year-old, he deserves a mulligan. The
ball jumps off Silverio's bat when he makes contact, but that happens
infrequently because he lacks pitch recognition and flails against breaking
balls. His pull-conscious approach also does him no favors. Silverio is a
below-average runner and may have to move off of shortstop. His range, hands
and throwing mechanics all would have to improve for him to stay at short.
His ability to make adjustments will determine if he ever advances beyond
Rookie ball.
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