Arizona 30: Michell Miliano AZL Check In

#27. Michell Miliano (RHP/San Diego Padres)

[6'3"/185; 2016 J2 $400K]

[Seen 3x AZL; 2016 Instructs, 2017 Spring Training, 2017 Extended Spring] 

Michell Miliano took steps backwards in development through his first stateside summer camp in Peoria which places him at a lower position on this ranking for the time being, concerns that have risen up are noticeable and deserve attention. High upside profile still remains, though at an inconclusive point for the moment given the developments of this Arizona Rookie League year. Arm has become much later and stiff as of late; far more exerted, actions more lethargic and labored coinciding with velocity drop from typical 89-94 band of the past calendar year to 86-89 range with lesser extension and of course little to no command. Curveball has backed up some as well, due to the aforementioned later, stiffer arm. 

The elongated stride, closed landing, shoulder tilt and deeper arm swing have caused some issues with armside command before, but everything becoming much later and deliberate; everything going to third base; inconsistent getting to balance point and replicating leg lift. Seemed all around fatigued after six week stall following Extended Spring prior to debuting in the AZL. Issues and the consequent failure in game also visibly affected Miliano, leading to pouty and defeated demeanor on the hill; looked to have lost confidence, which is understandable for a 17 year old. 

Still confident in the premium right handed projection build, decent arm action, CB action/feel and the previous half a dozen plus looks at the arm prior to the summer. Upside still remains and will be reevaluated during the upcoming spring. 

Arizona 30: Lazaro Armenteros AZL Report

#29. Lazaro Armenteros (OF/Oakland Athletics)

[6'0"/182; 2016 J2 $3M]

[Seen 15+ in AZL] 

Physical Description/Projection:

Chiseled, lean lithe athlete build with toned muscle; premium athlete build for size; sloped shoulders, average length; muscular chest, thighs; outstanding projection build. More average built, no further significant gains of any sort on to body

Makeup:

Disinterested in the field at times, lackadaisical in approach to the game; poor effort on basepaths and in outfield close, not convinced in desire to improve at the sport itself; keeps to himself and personal inner circle of players; off field concerns as well; serious emotional immaturity concerns; 20 makeup

Hit - Present 20, Future 25 

Extremely poor, scoop bat path; off top hand through extension; can be had inner half of plate, has to cheat to get barrel out front. Weight centered back in box, oriented further back in box; slight knee tuck. Hands steady at the shoulders with limited pre pitch movement, can get noisy feet up there however. Moderate base pre pitch, toe tap slide into moderate leg lift; deep coil and pinch with front side, rotational; leaks out well early ahead of time. Shows some ability to sit back early in count on pitches, though exploitable; can be had if behind or deeper into count, some hand eye there; marginal barrel control, swing does not project for adjustment. Unlikely to play versus major league competition 

Power - Present 35, Future 40

Double plus raw power, extremely easy; explosive wrists; some of the easiest five o' clock raw in all of baseball; plus bat speed, strong; will not play in game to that extent. Has to cheat to get barrel out front in game, feasts on pitches on outer half; bat path a serious issue, rolls over ton of pitches and can struggle to drive balls with any consistency; prolific raw to allow him to be able to run into some. Not confident in game utility

Run - Present 55, Future 55

Good athletic projection, shows good explosive second gear; shoes poor effort home to first frequently, 4.18-4.22 when showing effort; decent reads on basepaths, not as much conviction in first step on SB tries, can get bit passive; projects to hold footspeed, utility can come from it. 

Glove - Present 45, Future 45

Stiff, deliberate actions and reads with wonky outfield close at present; will give up on some balls and lose interest in outfield on occasion; mediocre first step; definite corner future; not confident in any sort of significant development or improvement. 

Arm - Present 50, Future 50

Plays down from average on occasion, ok arm stroke though inconsistent with carry to throws; will lose some semblance of situation and lack urgency at times; moderate, average arm strength is there, negligible. Primarily left field looks, can moonlight in right if necessary

Role: Organizational Bat (30) 

Overalll: 

Not confident in Armenteros' bat to ball projection or makeup enough to project a major league future. Volatile, high upside profile.

Arizona 30: Charlie Neuweiler AZL Report

AZL TOP 30

#30. Charlie Neuweiler (RHP/Kansas City Royals) 

[6'1"/205; 5th Round 2017 Draft] 

[Seen 3x in rotation] 

Physical Description/Projection:

Sturdy bodied, broad backed, wider set build; moderate length to build, thicker through trunk and lower half; pronounced chest; limited remaining physical projection on to build, possible 10 lbs of muscle before body starts to head south. Will have to be monitored over course of professional career 

Makeup:

Demonstrates advanced acumen on the mound; shows adjustment and fortitude; feel for stuff; competitive demeanor. Relatively good with teammates, nothing out of the ordinary off the field. Good foundation 

Mechanics:

Initiates from first base side of rubber; slight rock into motion from windup with moderate leg lift tight to body; somewhat stiff lift and hurried, varies with timing; hands break above chest; slightly longer stride; extends, elongates front prior to foot strike; somewhat firm at foot strike, inverted; medium arm circle with whippy arm stroke from 3/4 slot, arm can get late; loose arm w/ average arm speed; minimal turn with slight shoulder tilt; back half collapses some, slight drop and drive component to delivery; cuts off extension, cross body finish; relatively compact. Moderate command projection on profile

Fastball - 88-92 T93; Present 45, Future 50

Fastball typically sitting in 88-92 band, can work in upper reaches of band consistently when necessary, more exerted for 92-93 band; achieves moderate run to pitch and flashes three way action, shows semblance of how to utilize pitch action; can run back out backdoor R/L; achieves quality sinking action and weight to fastball, weaker contact sort of pitch; flashes ability to cut pitch out as well, truer action. Bit too finesse with pitch at times, though will look to finish north when ahead in count; will stagnate with sequence and look to go outside without adjustment for periods, can show good ability to work it east west with plane when completely on; moderate command projection on to pitch, marginal velocity gains foreseeable. 

Curveball - Present 45, Future 50

Quality action and achieves good 11-5 depth to pitch, advanced feel at present and shows advanced confidence in pitch; ability at present to subtract to pitch when necessary and chase as well, arm/glove and front/back; will challenge to lefties as well; can get bit cute and fall back on pitch as a crutch frequently, will use backwards; more deliberate when spotting in zone and taking it out of overhand two plane depth; arm slows and delivery can spread out, bit higher set on hand break for pitch; arm stroke doesn't project for pitch consistency, legitimate pitch action/depth with confidence in it

Changeup - Present 40, Future 45

Utilizes pitch sparingly; will show ability to work in backwards and throw in R/L matchups; can flash good depth and fade when on, more deliberate in execution on it at present; more firm sinking depth typically; confident in more utility eventually given the sort of pitcher he is

Role: Realistic: Up and Down Arm (35)

Overalll: 

Neuweiler shows advanced feel for pitching and confidence in his stuff on the mound. Sturdy bodied build with a loose, fairly strong arm with decent fastball action and legitimate curveball depth. Not confident in the athletic projection on the profile or in the arm action to further project; still ways left of development with ironing out sequence, throws far too cute and finesse at present, arm gets very late and adjustments slow to come in regards to delivery. More of a basic sort of arm, limited projection