Portraits, Batting Stance & Pitching Photos, etc.

[Grant]

Please post pictures of players that might help roster makers to create faces, batting stances and pitch deliveries. Make sure that you label each picture with the players name, organization and level of baseball.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Trevor Reckling (LHP)
Bats: Left Throws: Left 6’1’ 195 lbs. DOB: 5/22/1989


Reckling flashes a plus curve ball with a 12-6 drop, a true swing and miss pitch that left-handed hitters cannot seem to pick up. His changeup is another plus pitch which keeps opposing hitters off-balanced from zeroing in on his average fastball offering which sits in the 88-92 mph range. His slider is another pitch that can give righties fits as it sweeps into the inner half of the strike zone. Reckling is one of the most athletic pitchers in the minor leagues and he defends his position well.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Hank Conger (C)
Bats: Switch Throws: Right 6’0’ 205 lbs. DOB: 1/29/1988


There is no question about Hank's ability to hit and crush the ball from both sides of the plate. Conger has a quick bat that produces a lot of power.The 21-year old more than held is own in Double-A against older pitching. It's possible that due to the lack of games behind the plate (just 91 games behind the dish in nearly three seasons) and the Angels catching situation in Salt Lake and the big league club that he will repeat the same level in 2010. That said, if Hank has a solid showing in Tempe this spring, especially defensively, there's no doubt that he will begin the season in Triple-A.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Peter Bourjos (OF)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 6’1’ 180 lbs. DOB: 3/31/1987


Some believe that Bourjos is a future gold glove centerfielder. Possessing a strong arm, incredible range in the outfield and getting good jumps on the ball off the bat, Bourjos has the entire package to push fellow teammate and gold glover Torii Hunter to a corner spot in the outfield by 2011.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Mike Trout (OF)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 6’1’ 200 lbs. DOB: 8/07/1991


Trout has the tools to be a solid hitter in the big leagues with good plate discipline. His speed and defense rate out higher than what he can do offensively now, but there's time for his bat to catch up with his other above average tools. Trout sets up low and resembles Tim Salmon while at the plate, though without the loft in his swing. Mike produces a level inside-out swing in which he chokes up on the bat to make solid contact. While this approach will not produce power totals now, he has the bat speed to drill the ball into the gaps and eventually over the wall, good for about 15-20 home runs over a full season of at bats.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Jean Segura (2B)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 5’11’ 155 lbs. DOB: 3/17/1990

Segura has a ton of athleticism and plays the game with a lot of emotion. He possesses plus speed which should translate into a bunch of stolen bases down the road. Segura makes solid contact driving the ball to all fields and has a good idea at the plate knowing that it's his job to get on base at the top of the order. Segura walked as many times (11) as he struck out when with the Owlz, posting a .392 on-base percentage.

Defensively he looks a lot like Howie Kendrick did at the same stage of their Minor League development. Segura has a strong arm at second base and should continue to get better at the position. If not, he could move to corner outfield spot.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Garrett Richards, (RHP)
Bats: Left Throws: Left 6’3’ 210 lbs. DOB: 5/27/1988

Richards' fastball ranges in in the 90-98 range, but primarily sits at 93-94 mph throughout the game. The heater has some sink and life to it, doing a good job of keeping it down in the zone. Richards throws a solid curveball with a lot depth and a sharp biting slider which he gets up there in the 86-88 mph range. Both breaking pitches are solid average to above average pitches. To keep hitters off-balance he throws a changeup with good sink and fade that helps keep lefthanders from getting comfortable at the plate.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Alexi Amarista, (2B)
Bats: Switch Throws: Right 5’8’ 150 lbs. DOB: 4/06/1989

With a good approach at the plate, a solid contact rate and above average speed (though he was caught 20 times trying to steal), Alexi Amarista profiles well at the top of the order. He may be the safest bet to succeed at the Major League level at of all of the prospects on this list. Amarista played for the Venezuelan Winter League club and he continued to hit there, posting a .339 batting average while notching 19 extra base hits (.510 slugging pct.). The lone knock on Amarista has been his lack of success against southpaws, but even they didn't get in his way in Winterball as he slugged .586 against them and posted a .397 average against them.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Tyler Chatwood, (RHP)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 5’11’ 175 lbs. DOB: 12/16/1989

Chatwood needs to improve his command and his ability to finish hitters off. Chatwood simply needs to trust his stuff, but with more teaching and experience he will get there. Whether he ends up being a late inning reliever or a starting pitcher depends on the continued development of his changeup (which has improved significantly over his first taste of pro ball in 2008). Chatwood can run it up as high as 97 mph, but works in the 92-95 range. His power curveball resembles Roy Oswalt's, as does his size, coming toward hitters at just 5'11 from the mound. Midwest League batters hit just .237 against Chatwood and he gave up just three home runs in 116.1 innings.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Michael Kohn, (RHP)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 6’2’ 200 lbs. DOB: 06/26/1986

Kohn comes at opposing hitters with a heavy 94-98 mph fastball and a plus slider. The slider still needs work in terms of consistency, but when it's on he's just filthy. There were a lot of late inning contests in which Kohn dominated the opposition with just his fastball that explodes out of his hand. Taking up pitching for the first time in 2008 for the College of Charleston, Kohn pitched just 13 amateur innings (striking out with four saves) before being signed by the Angels

The Angels will most likely start Michael Kohn in Double-A Arkansas as the Travelers' closer. If the breaking pitch is there we are willing to bet that fans will see Kohn in the big leagues before the 2010 season is over. The consistency of his slider will determine whether Kohn profiles as a future setup man or closer down the road. Just ask Matt Anderson if you can get away with just a good fastball in the big leagues.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

Mark Trumbo, (OF, 1B)
Bats: Right Throws: Right 6’4’ 220 lbs. DOB: 1/16/1986


Look for Trumbo to head to Salt Lake where his slugging percentage could spike into the mid-500 range, possibly surpassing his home run totals of 2008. While Trumbo may look a bit clumsy in right field, he's got the arm to handle the position. With a full season or two of time to improve on his routes and reads to the ball, he should be an adequate defender. The good news is that the position change didn't seem to bother his hitting while in Arkansas as he hit .350 and slugged .600 in 40 at bats as a right fielder with the Travelers in '09.

[ak37 (TNKNGM)]

***MAY BE IN THE GAME ALREADY***
Trevor Bell, (RHP)
Bats: Left Throws: Right 6’2’ 186 lbs. DOB: 10/12/1986


Bell has a fastball that sits in the 92-94 range, touching 96 mph at times. The fastball has some good life to it and when he keeps it down in the zone with a good tempo, he can be tough to hit when he works in a changeup and breaking ball over for a strike. The latter pitch, as Abe mentioned, needs some work, but it is a promising pitch (slider) with good depth when he can command it. Because Trevor works so quickly and hits his spots with his fastball, he gave up just six home runs in 140 innings of work in the minors. Bell is a good athlete and defends his position well off the mound. A fierce competitor with a strong work ethic, Bell has the ability to become a solid middle of the rotation starter if it all comes together for him.