The Ol' Ballfield

Arizona Fall League Pitchers Update

Here's some info on some pitchers that are performing well in Arizona so far:

(NOTE: These are all relievers. No starters have had particularly great starts in the AFL, and they are only left in for about four innings anyway. Go figure.)


Billy Sadler (San Francisco) - RHP, Scottsdale Scorpions
9/21/1981, 6'0", 190, Louisiana State
Selected by San Francisco in the sixth round of the 2003 amateur draft.

Sadler currently ranks second in the AFL with 12 strikeouts, and this with only eight innings pitched. In his first five games, appearing for one inning even in each, he registered three, two, two, two, and two strikeouts. He holds an impressive WHIP of 0.68, and only two walks. Baseball America has this to say about Sadler:

Giants righthander Billy Sadler, who took home AFL pitcher of the week honors this past week, was consistently in the 93-94 mph range with his fastball, and his hard-biting slider was impressive in his one inning of work Monday.

Sadler made 44 appearances with double-A Connecticut of the Eastern League in 2006 where he registered 20 saves and a 2.56 ERA. He was promoted to AAA Fresno of the Pacific Coast League where he was equally impressive (his ERA in 10 innings was an even better 1.80) before his contract was purchased by the parent club. In San Francisco he threw four innings, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out six. Sadler is blooming, look for him to spend more time at new Candlestick in '07.


Lincoln Holdzkom (Chicago Cubs) - RHP, Mesa Solar Sox
3/23/1982, 6'4", 240, Arizona Western CC
Selected by Florida in the seventh round of the 2001 amateur draft.

After missing all of 2004 because of Tommy John surgery, and struggling in his comeback year of 2005, Holdzkom appears back on track to become a major league pitcher. He has only pitched eight innings in the AFL so far this season, but the WHIP he has to show for it? 0.25. A lot of that is due to his giving up no walks, and striking out a batter an inning. Opposing batters are hitting .083 off of him.

Holdzkom was dealt to the Cubs in spring training with Zach McCormack for Todd Wellemeyer. He was the Marlins' rop relief prospect before the surgery, which knocked him down to #23. Holdzkom has a good fastball and hard-breaking curveball (which has also been described as a "wicked slider") that could develop into closer stuff. He does, however, tend to suffer when the game is on the line and many scouts thing he is more suited to the setup role.

Holdzkom spent some time on the DL in 2006, but in 32.1 innings pitched with West Tennessee in the Southern League (AA) he posted a 1.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 27 strikeouts. With the shape the Cubs' staff is in, Holdzkom could be throwing for Sweet Lou at least part time by the end of 2007.


Zach Segovia (Philadelphia) - RHP, Peoria Seguaros
4/11/1983, 6'2", 245, Forney High School (Texas)
Selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 2002 amateur draft.

Segovia is another former hot prospect whose career was put on hold for Tommy John surgery. He, like Holdzkom, missed 2004 and struggled in 2005. He is punctuating a successful 2006 with a 1.04 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 8 2/3 innings pitched with Peoria. A walk and a single were all it took for Segovia to take the loss in a one-inning appearance against Grand Canyon on Wednesday; before that he had not allowed an earned run. He has walked a batter in each of his last three appearances.

In 107 innings pitched with Reading of the Eastern League (AA) this year, Segovia recorded a 3.11 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, as well as 75 strikeouts. He threw three complete games and one shutout. Segovia was optioned mid-way through spring training in '06; expect him to last longer this year, and at least start the season with Ottawa (AAA).


Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) - RHP, Grand Canyon Rafters
8/21/1983, 6'1", 160, Riverside CC (Calif.)
Selected by Texas in the 42nd round of the 2002 amateur draft.

Chavez has not allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings for Grand Canyon; he has struck out seven and walked only one for a WHIP of 0.78. Chavez has a good fastball, and struck out 88 batters in 78 innings this year split between Frisco of the Texas League (AA), Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) and Indianapolis of the International League (AAA). His ERA hovered around 4.50 for the whole season, which seems to be about where he was last season. He was brought over at the deadline in the deal that sent Kip Wells to Texas. Chavez may eventually be useful in long relief with that fastball, but I don't see much more coming from him at this point. We'll see where the AFL success is at the end of the season.


Kyle Yates (Toronto) - RHP, Phoenix Desert Dogs
1/08/1983, 5'11", 190, Univ. of Texas
Selected by Toronto in the 13th round of the 2004 amateur draft.

Yates is the only pitcher on this list that has started a game; he went three innings giving up five hits and one run. Yates has only made two other appearances this season, but each was for at least three innings, which tells me this guy is being groomed as a starter, switching his role from when he was drafted, which I've heard he is comfortable with. In Yates' first appearance this season he went three innings, striking out six and allowing but one hit; five of those strikeouts were over a stretch of six batters. Yates' 13 strikeouts lead the AFL.

Yates started out the year with Dunedin of the Florida State League, which he dominated for four games. He was promoted to New Hampshire of the double-A Eastern League, where he held batters to a .246 average while registering 102 strikeouts as well as a 3.75 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. 2007 could be a breakout year for Yates, at whatever level.


I noticed as I finished this list that I didn't choose any left-handers, which is disappointing. After perusing the league leaders once again, I found a few lefties that were having okay seasons marred by a bad appearance or two. They include Mark McLemore (Houston) and Neal Musser (Unaffiliated). I'll do another round of five from each side of the plate when the season ends in late November. Between now and then, there'll be plenty to talk about between the World Series and inevitable award injustices.

For information on what players your team sent to the AFL this year, check out your team's official website and sort of hunt around for a press release. That's what I did. There may be an easier way to find out, but all I can see now is just sifting through the rosters on the AFL webpage. At any rate, keeping up with prospects is just one of the many ways to stay entertained when your team isn't playing.

posted by Carnival @ 10/27/2006