Sunday’s minor moves from around baseball:
- The Dodgers have released outfielder Donavan Tate, whom they signed in December, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Tate went third overall to San Diego in the 2009 draft, but the 25-year-old still hasn’t gotten past the Single-A level, having hit an ineffective .226/.331/.321 in 1,229 plate appearances. At his peak, Tate ranked as Baseball Prospectus’ 29th-best prospect and Baseball America’s 53rd overall prospect entering 2010.
- The Royals have released right-hander Matt Alvarez, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com (Twitter link). Alvarez, 25, had been in the Kansas City system since 2013. He posted a 5.04 ERA, 8.4 K/9 and 6.6 BB/9 in 157 minor league innings with the Royals.
- The Indians have released infielder Grofi Cruz, per Tribeinsider (Twitter link). Cleveland signed Cruz, then 16, out of the Dominican Republic for $400K in July 2012. Cruz didn’t pan out, however, batting .222/.271/.259 across a combined 498 PAs in Rookie ball and Low-A.
Donavan Tate, another in a long line of terrible Padres first-round draft picks. They always went for signability over talent, missing out on, you know, just in 2009, the likes of AJ Pollock, Mike Leake, Randal Grichuk and a late-first rounder by the name of Mike Trout. I wonder how differently the Padres fortunes would have fared with Trout rather than Tate. I know, hindsight is 20/20, but even scouts at the time were very divided on Tate, because of his lack of baseball skills. Great athlete, but was never remotely a baseball player. The next year the Padres picked another complete bust in Whitson, who didn’t even sign. Padres drafts have just been awful.
I haven’t even thought about that. That is 100% correct. How are you a 3rd overall draft pick but you can’t make it past single a. High draft prospects aren’t always what always what they are cracked up to be.
He also faced alcoholism
suffered a couple major injuries and battled alcohol addiction. yes a bust, but not entirely a matter of talent. After all, he was ranked #53 on BA America’s top prospects list before the start of the 2010 season.
This guy has some of the best tools I have ever seen in my life. If his house ever gets in line he could play for a lone time. Wishing him the best.