Prospect Nation 2015: #20 Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- MiLB.com

A product of last season's post-trade deadline deadline that sent Roberto Hernandez to the Dodgers, infielder Jesmuel Valentin has loads of potential and could be an eventual successor to six-time All-Star Chase Utley at second base for the Phillies.

Selected with the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles system. Upon signing his initial professional contract, the five-foot-nine 180-pounder debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while lacing two homers and driving in 18 runs in 43 games.

In 2013 he began the season in the rookie level Pioneer League, where he batted .284 with four homers and 24 RBI in 62 games. A promotion to the Class A Great Lakes team followed and Valentin, as a 19-year-old, struggled a bit, batting .212 with six doubles, a triple and five RBI in 33 games.

Last year, Valentin repeated Class A and proved ready for the challenge. In 108 games for the Loons, he batted .280 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 108 contests, making himself a desirable commodity to the Dodgers' potential trade partners. After joining the Phillies' organization in August, Valentin was assigned to Class A Advanced Clearwater where he posted a .205 average in 12 games.

A switch-hitter, Valentin produces better from the left side, posting an .826 OPS against righty hurlers with Great Lakes last year, compared to his .660 OPS mark from the right side. There's not a great amount of power in his bat, but as a contact hitter that can spray the ball to all fields, the youngster could develop a prototypical middle infield bat.

On defense, the 20-year-old is described as polished. He sports a good arm and has excellent range. Primarily a second baseman in the pro ranks, Valentin has also played 73 minor league games at shortstop, but none of those were played last season.

The bloodline is a plus for Valentin, whose father Jose played shortstop in the big leagues with the Dodgers, Mets, White Sox and Brewers. Jose's brother, Javier, also played in the majors as a catcher.

On the bases Jesmuel does not have plus speed, but can be a contributor as a stolen base threat. He swiped 25 bags in 33 attempts last season and has tallied a 69% success rate for his career in the lower levels where there are often no true first base coaches to time pitchers' deliveries and focus on improving their runners' chances on the base paths.

The Puerto Rico native tallied a .278 average with three doubles, two triples and 12 RBI in 29 regular season games with Mayaguez in the Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rican) League this off-season. He remains active with Mayaguez in their postseason, batting .273 through games played on Sunday.

There's no doubt that Valentin, who turns 21 in May, will enter the upcoming season ready for the challenge of the Class A Advanced Florida State League.

To follow along with this year’s full countdown, click HERE.

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rol

This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________

Phillies minor leaguer Burch to use health scare as fuel

Tyler Burch, image- MiLB.com I invite you to visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work and get access to exclusive interviews plus early access to features and news such as this. A missed baseball season wasn't the only challenge facing righty pitcher Tyler Burch this summer. With persistent symptoms that began prior to spring training it was ultimately discovered, after the 2020 season was shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic, that the 22-year-old had developed an autoimmune disease. As symptoms that included dry mouth and frequent trips to the bathroom worsened, Burch's situation left his doctor puzzled. And even the physician that conducted his team physical examination at the outset of spring training jokingly referenced diabetes, but did not take the possibility seriously. The physical impacts subsided somewhat during spring training, as being more active and adhering to the team diet helped alleviate what he was experiencing. Once the base

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog