6/28/10

Joe Bonfe, Jeurys Familia, Jenrry Mejia... and Robbie Shields

Joe Bonfe:



Bonfe had three hits in the Cylcones game Sunday, raising his batting average to .333.


Some past stuff on Bonfe:


Bonfe was drafted in the 21st round of the 2009 draft.


Prior to draft: http://www.sierra.cc.ca.us/Programs/divisions/HealthPERA/baseball/infielders.html : Joe is in his first season at Sierra College after playing at Creighton University. After deciding to leave Creighton, Joe had an outstanding summer in the Northwoods League where he played for the Eau Claire Express. He had the fourth best batting average in the league, was selected as an All-Star, and received the Rawlings Big Stick Award. He is a versatile player and can play any position but his primary position is third base. In high school Joe played varsity baseball, hockey, and football.


Joe is in his first season at Sierra College after playing at Creighton University. After deciding to leave Creighton, Joe had an outstanding summer in the Northwoods League where he played for the Eau Claire Express. He had the fourth best batting average in the league, was selected as an All-Star, and received the Rawlings Big Stick Award. He is a versatile player and can play any position but his primary position is third base. In high school Joe played varsity baseball, hockey, and football


http://www.sierra.cc.ca.us/Programs/divisions/HealthPERA/baseball/infielders.html  


"Bonfe, an infielder and the Express' biggest power hitter, is a sophomore at Sierra College in California. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was batting .360 with one double and five RBIs before Wednesday's game."


http://www.leadertelegram.com/blogs/blog.asp?id=509  


"I'm just happy, excited. I'm thinking about going," said Bonfe, who was the 644th overall pick. "It's exciting and my family's really excited. Everyone's excited. It's an exciting time."


http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-ros.asp?id=BK9D6313KCA  


Bonfe played most of the 2009 season for Kingsport and had impressive stats: .327/.426/.462/.888 in 156 at bats. He received a late promotion to Brooklyn to help the out in the playoffs.


Forecast on 1-1-10:: Zach Lutz remains the top third base prospect, followed by Jenry Marte, who has stalled out and will repeat Savannah in 2010. This has created a four person log jam behind him that have all earned a promotion: Bonfe and Richard Lucas in Brooklyn, and Charlie Hinojosa and Adrian Rodriquez on the GCL team. Come spring, I look for Bonfe to reamin in Brooklyn and the more-experienced Lucas to go straight to Lucy.



Jeurys Familia:


Giving up three earned runs in 6.1-IP may not be considered the best of outings, but it’s a good one for Familia, who’s been struggling all year long. He struck out five, but walked four. Regardless of the tough year, he still is considered a top pitching prospect.


Some past stuff on Familia:


“Family” signed with the Mets during the October 2007 International signing period. 2008 was spent with with the GCL Mets, where he went 2-2, 2.79, 1.14 in 11 starts. He quickly became the dean of the staff.


In September, Toby Hyde wrote: RHP Jeurys Familia – 2-2, 2.79 ERA, 11 GS, 51.2 IP, 46 H, 20 R, 16 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 38 K - I’d been told to expect big things from Familia’s right arm, but he was just ok when I saw him. I think the 18 year old just had an off day for me in Vero Beach. He showed off a fastball that was 89-92, mostly around 90, to go with two pitches - a slider (77, 78 mph) and a change up (84) - that need about the amount of work you’d expect from an 18-year old his first professional season. However, sometimes the big fastball is there from his loose delivery. In his first start in the GCL in 2008 he was dialing it up 94-96 mph. A scout from an American League club confirmed that he saw Familia dealing similar gas in instructs in 2007. So go figure.


In 2009, Familia pitched for the Savannah Sand Gnats: 10-6, 2.69, 1.16, 109-K, 134.0-IP.


His two year professional stats are: 12-8, 2.72, 1.16.



Jenrry Mejia:


Suffering from a stiff right shoulder, Jenrry Mejia was forced to leave his start for Double-A Binghamton today after just an inning-plus. Mejia faced two batters in the second inning and seven for the game against Akron before departing. He allowed no runs, surrendering two hits and two walks while striking out two. He threw 43 pitches, 23 strikes. The Mets said Mejia was removed for "precautionary" reasons, though certainly this is an alarming development.


Some past stuff on Mejia:


Mejia pitched for the 2007 DSL Mets, going 2-3, 2.47 in 14 games (7 starts). He also struck out 47 batters in 43.2 IP. Mejia's arsenal includes a 91-95 MPH fastball that when low in the zone has tons of movement, sometimes tail and sometimes sink. This sets up his 77-80 mph hook that drops off the table.


In 2008, Mejia pitched for both the GCL Mets, and Brooklyn, going a combined 5-2, 2.89, in 14 starts. He struck out 67 batters in 71.2 IP.


September 2008: Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios on: Jenrry Mejia: “To be here at 18 and playing so well at this level is really impressive. He sits on 94 miles per hour and can get up to 97. He doesn’t quite have the extension of a guy like Holt has, but considering how young he is, I think he has a lot of potential.”


The Cyclones web site said: The 18-year-old Mejia (6’0”, 182) was signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2007, out of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo). Mejia began his professional career last season, for the Venezuelan Summer League Mets, going 2-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 14 games (seven starts). In 43.2 innings, he allowed 24 hits, 17 runs, 12 earned, and 27 walks, with 47 strikeouts.


In September, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Jenrry Mejia- Jekyll and Hyde. When this youngster is off, he leaves the ball up in the zone and lacks the poise needed to get professional hitters out on a consistent basis. However, when he’s on his game, he mixes in a more than solid 12-6 curve with a 95-97 MPH fastball and gets outs via the strikeout at a solid pace. Considering his age, Mejia is definitely worth keeping an eye on and with plenty of confidence and charisma on the mound already, should develop into a major league caliber pitcher if he learns to develop some sort of consistency. Final Grade- B


February 2009: From Toby Hyde: - #5 - RHP Jenry Mejia - Why Ranked Here: A very late comer to baseball, Mejia brings a special fastball. Virtually unknown entering 2008, the broad chested and big shouldered Mejia introduced himself with a 93-95 mph heater that easily allowed him to conquer the GCL and then New York Penn League. His second pitch is a hard changeup with a little sink at 87-88 mph, an offering with the same velocity as some of his teammates’ fastballs. It’s just enough off his fastball to catch hitters out in front and induce lots of groundballs. His curve is his third pitch. In the NYP, he struggled to find his release spot at times, but when found his release, he snapped off a short tight bender that showed plus potential. There’s some effort in his delivery, raising concerns about command down the road and a risk of injury. However, given his age (20 in October 2009) and experience (slight) his command is ahead of where one might expect it. The Mets’ staff raved about Mejia’s work ethic and intelligence. - 2008: Mejia made clear with three dominating starts in the GCL that the rookie league simply did not provide enough challenge for him. Promoted to Brooklyn in the first week of July, Mejia walked a season-high five batters in his first NYP League start and 11 batters in his first 18 innings (5.5 BB/9). In his final 38.2 IP in the league he walked just 12 batters (2.8 BB/9). That’s an impressive adjustment for a very young pitcher. When he reached the NYP, he tried to pitch with his curveball instead of his changeup as his second pitch. Once he returned to his change as his second offering, he threw more strikes and worked himself into better counts. Also, his curve improved over the course of the summer. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah rotation. St. Lucie is a possibility, but given Mejia’s age, and the number of older, other slightly more experienced arms fighting for time in the FSL, I see no reason to push Mejia to advanced-A yet.


February 2009: MYOB on: - Jenrry Mejia RHP - signed out of the Dominican Republic for only $16,500, showing you that there are good bargains out there if you have the scouts to find them. He has a mid-90s fastball now that projects to the upper 90s as he fills out. He needs to improve his command and work his secondary pitches more, becoming less reliant on the fastball. He limited opponents to a .199 average and finished with a combined 2.89 ERA at two levels. If he improves his secondary pitches he could develop into a top of the rotation starter, otherwise he will be closer material.


9-9-9 From http://www.hardballtimes.com/ : - What's not to like about this kid? At 19 years-old, Mejia posted a 1.97 ERA in 50.1 High-A innings. Bumped up to Double-A Binghamton, his superficial numbers look weak (0-5, 4.47 ERA), but his peripherals are still solid. He's suffering from a .350 BABIP thanks in part to a mediocre defense; however, he has a 3.49 FIP and has struck out 47 batters in just 44.1 innings. His walks have increased a tick, but with his age and talent, Mejia could find his way into some Top 50 (or higher) prospect lists this year.


10-16-09 from http://www.projectprospect.com/ : Everyone's talking about Jenrry Mejia. He evoked a storm on twitter yesterday by touching 98.2 MPH with his fastball. Thanks to the Brooks Baseball AFL PitchFX tool, we have access to a detailed breakdown of Mejia's 39-pitch outing. His fastball sat in the 94-96 range and he threw it for strikes a little over half the time (54.2%). Ten of his 11 changeups were 86-87 MPH and two of them got swing-throughs -- 63.6% strikes. Of the four curveballs he threw, only one was a strike -- he ranged from 76-78 with the offering. He did not record swing-throughs with his fastball or curve, according to PitchFX. Here are a few notes that I got from a hitter who faced Mejia in the Eastern League this season: He was filthy. His fastball has hard cut and sits 94-98. His changeup was really good (good movement).

Robbie Shields:


Shields hit his first home run on Sunday and continues to fight back from last year’s TJS He was a big time prospect, as you will read below, but is way behind in his development. He’s playing DH right now and is playing GCL ball at 22-years old.


Some past stuff on Shields:


Robert Shields – Bats/Throws: R/R Position: IF Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 200 Hometown: Dade City, FL Previous School: Pasco HS Eligibility: Jr. Major: Finance


AS A SOPHOMORE (2008): HONORS - SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll ... second-team All-SSC ... started all 50 games at shortstop ... led team in hits (69) ... third on team in batting average (.348) ... tied for third in home runs (9) ... fourth in RBI (36) ... second in doubles (15) ... led team in multi-hit games (22) ... third in multi-RBI games (10) ... had team's second-longest hitting streak of the season (14 games, 2/8 through 3/5) ... in three-game sweep of West Florida on 2/8-9, went 5-13 with 5 RBI, 4 runs, 2 doubles and a home run ... went 7-16 with 5 RBI, 3 runs, 2 doubles, a triple and a home run vs. Nova Southeastern on 2/22-24 ... went 7-12 with 5 RBI, 3 runs, 3 doubles and a home run vs. Rollins on 3/28-30 ... in three-game sweep of Eckerd on 4/11-12, went 10-16 with 5 RBI, 8 runs, 2 home runs and a double ... went 6-13 with 3 RBI, 4 runs and 2 doubles vs. Lynn on 4/25-26 ... had multi-hit games in 12 of the last 18 ... hit .442 (23-52) over last 12 games of season.


SS - Florida Southern… 6-0, 200, R/R… junior… 2008: led team in hits, .348, 9 HR, 36 RBIs… injured wrist in Cape Cod League this past summer… ability to hit high for average… great bat speed… limited defensively.


From: - http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=884&draftId=7  - Shields could ascend up draft boards next spring much like Gordon Beckham did during the spring of 2008 with a strong junior campaign. He, like Beckham the year before, enjoyed a fine summer on the Cape this past year, although his time was cut short when he injured his wrist sliding into a base. With very good bat speed and solid offensive tools across the board, Shields has the talent to be a game-changing infielder, with the ability to hit for a high average and power while also having good enough wheels to be a threat on the basepaths. His bat speed comes from very strong hands, wrists and forearms, and he knows how to loft balls to give him double-digit home run potential. Defensively he doesn't have ideal range at the shortstop position, as many feel he may have to move to either 2B or 3B down the road, but he has plenty of arm strength to play any infield position. He does run well and shows good overall baseball instincts. Shields has posted solid numbers since stepping onto campus, including his two summer stints (he was named one of the top prospects in the Clark-Griffith League after his freshman year), and has started at Florida Southern from day one. He is poised for a big junior year, as more and more people will become familiar with his name between now and next June.


From: - http://www.orkut.com/  - Robbie Shields, shortstop: Florida Southern - His draft stock has suffered a similar problem to that of D.J. LeMahieu, although far less severe. Scouts don't think Shields will stick at shortstop, and his bat has not lived up to expectations this spring, very similar to LeMahieu. This past summer, Shields grabbed teams' attention with a strong, albeit short, stint in the Cape Cod League, hitting .429 before injuring his wrist. This spring he has not hit for much power, but his solid approach at the plate, combined with a quick line drive swing still appeals to a number of teams. His future position could be second base as he possesses the hands and footwork, but he does stand the chance of growing out of it, forcing a move to third. It's possible that Shields' wrist injury hurt him at the plate this year, but the general opinion is that he won't be a big power guy anyway. He could go as early as the third.


9.6.09 - http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=862955&ssf=1&  - Robbie Shields: Shields emerged as a candidate for the first or supplemental first round of the draft with a strong showing at the Cape Cod League last summer, where he flashed good speed and power before injuring his wrist on a slide. He hasn’t showed any ill-affects from that summer injury. In 49 games thus far this season for Florida Southern, Shields is batting .351 with five homers, 34 RBIs and a .459 OBP. Shields has a similar build to A’s 2008 draft pick Dusty Coleman and a similar skill-set. Shields has above-average power for a shortstop, good plate coverage and decent speed. He may have to move off of shortstop to second or third base in the pros, but he has the bat to play at either of those positions. Shields may be hurt by the fact that he doesn’t play in a big Division I conference, but he did show he could hang with the big boys in the Cape this summer, which may alleviate some of those concerns. - Comparison- Aaron Hil

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