MLBTR Originals

Blake Rutherford (Chaminade Prep) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 26, 2016 at 11:46am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11; we’ve already spoken with Mercer’s Kyle Lewis, Oklahoma’s Alec Hansen and Louisville’s Corey Ray.

It’s wait-and-see time for Blake Rutherford. The left-handed-hitting centerfielder has been at the top of the prospect ranking charts all year – and figures to be among the first high school players selected in the June draft.

Rutherford, who attends Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, CA, has been known in scout circles for years. In fact, he committed to UCLA as a freshman and played on the international stage last summer – earning a Gold Medal as a member of USA Baseball’s 18U world championship-winning team in Japan.

The 6’2 ½”, 195-pound Rutherford was recently called “the most advanced pure bat in the class, college or high school” by ESPN.com’s Keith Law – who ranks him as the draft’s No. 4 prospect. Rutherford began the spring as Baseball America’s No. 3 prospect, while MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has him coming in at No. 6. Rutherford took some time out to talk with MLBTR:

Chuck Wasserstrom: Your brother, Cole is a first baseman at Cornell University. What have you been learning about college from your brother?

Blake Rutherford: “He’s told me that college is a great experience. Obviously, it’s hard sometimes to juggle both school and baseball, and he’s at a real prestigious school in Cornell. But he’s having a great time … he loves it. He just said it’s a really good experience for him, and he’s happy that he went across the country to go play baseball so that he could get a whole other perspective on life.”

How much of that is going to play in your decision as to whether you’re going to go to UCLA?

“It probably won’t. I’m going to have to make my own decision as to what’s best for me. He made the decision what’s best for him. He got into a good school like Cornell to play baseball. UCLA is another amazing school where you can get a great education. But I’m going to have to wait and see what happens with the draft. I’ll talk to him about it. We’ll talk about everything. When it comes down to it, I’m going to sit down with my family and make a decision that’s best for me – like he did when he made the decision to go to Cornell.”

I want you to describe your game for me. I don’t want a scouting report that I can read online. I want to hear you tell me about your game. So, Blake, how would you describe Blake?

“I would describe my game as someone who can do all things on a baseball field. I truly believe I’m a five-tool player who has a very overall strong game. I feel like the main thing people have always talked about is my hitting, but I really feel like my fielding, my running and my throwing have all taken a huge step this year. I’m also someone who’s super competitive, and I’m not going to stop until I get what I want – which is winning. I’m just someone who’s passionate and loves to play the game, but stays calm and cool during all situations.”

For most readers not in California, you’re a name. What do you do on the field that makes you unique, or at least makes you stand out?

“The thing that makes me stand out is I can try to change the game with my bat, on the base paths or in the field. I can make a diving catch that can save runs or save a game. I can steal bases consecutively; I’ve stolen home a couple times. I have the ability to hit a home run, hit a ball in the gap or get the base hit to get a rally started.”

Your high school was selected to the play in the National High School Invitational last month in North Carolina – where you went 9-for-14 facing some of the elite high school pitchers in this country. What was that experience like?

“That experience was unbelievable. USA Baseball did an amazing job putting us up and getting us around and getting the fields ready. But the competition out there was crazy. Every team had a couple guys on the mound that could deal. A lot of teams had hitters 1-through-9 that could absolutely mash. We knew going into it that we were going to have to play our best games. We did for three games, but in the fourth game we kind of ran out of energy and a couple things went the other way. I was really happy with how we did as a team. My performance individually … I was pretty happy with it because it helped my team win a couple of those games.

Baseball-wise, you’ve played on some pretty big stages already and done some pretty neat things like playing overseas. What stands out for you?

“This last summer, going to Japan (with the 18U USA Baseball national team) – I think that really stands out. We faced some adversity. We lost a couple exhibition games. We lost an earlier game to Japan. So we were kind of down a little bit. Then we came together as a team and bonded. We really got super close and we were able to pull it off. We came from behind in three or four of those games. And then to be able to defeat Japan in their big stadium in front of all their fans for the Gold Medal – that’s something I’ll probably never forget.”

To get there, you needed a 9th-inning rally against South Korea in the tournament opener – and you hit a clutch go-ahead three-run homer.

“We started the inning with a Will Benson walk. And then Hagen Danner had a pinch-hit double to set it up. Second-and-third, no outs … I knew somehow I had to get one run in. Their pitcher had thrown me all fastballs. I fouled a couple off. It got to 3-and-2, and I just got the barrel to the ball and it took off. At first, I didn’t know if it was gone; it’s kind of hard to hit the ball out of the park there. I never saw it go over. I just heard the crowd go crazy. And I saw the runners stop running – so I knew it must have gone out. I remember that I felt happy because we were now winning, but I wasn’t out of control or too excited because I knew South Korea still had to come up to hit – and they had a couple good hitters. Luckily, we were able to get a couple more insurance runs.”

You won the Gold Medal there, and as a result – your team was honored prior to Game Four of the World Series last fall (at Citi Field in New York). How amazing was that?

“That was so exciting. Not only were we at the World Series, but it was the first time the USA players had gotten together (since Japan). So we were just hanging out and loving every second of it. But just going on the field and meeting a lot of the guys and seeing the atmosphere of the World Series. It made all of us want to make it that much more.”

Growing up in Southern California, what are your favorite things to do?

“Obviously, going to the beach … Hanging out with my friends … Anything competitive. We might go hit on the local baseball field or go laser tagging. Me and my brother always grew up super competitive. We have a lot of friends who are competitive. So we ended up playing baseball or football. There was always some activity going on outside.”

Read on for more after the break …

What about a favorite baseball team?

“The Yankees.”

I was expecting a California team. I’ll ask … Why?

“I was born in New Jersey. I didn’t live there that long, but I was born there, and my favorite player growing up was Derek Jeter. So growing up watching him play, I just loved the Yankees.”

Obviously, different positions, but do you try to pattern yourself after his game in any way?

“I played shortstop until I was in eighth grade, so we played the same position for a long time. From three years old until 14, I played shortstop. Then I made the transition to the outfield. But I do pattern my game after him. The way he carried himself. Obviously, we hit a little different and have different stances, but I don’t think you pattern a mental game any better than Derek Jeter … the way he carried himself in the biggest moments in baseball and really in sports.”

You seem really comfortable doing this interview. Is this really natural for you, or is it because it’s the draft year?

“I’m pretty comfortable with it. When I committed to UCLA as a freshman, I had to do some interviews. It seems like every year, there are more and more interviews. I don’t feel a whole lot of pressure during this situation. I love getting to talk to people and like talking about the whole process and everything that’s been going on. It’s not something that I’ve really been uncomfortable with. It’s something I’m becoming more comfortable with, and I’m grateful. If I do get lucky enough that I am drafted and I sign, the media is a big part of what baseball is.”

Have you allowed yourself to think about the draft, or is it something you’re trying to keep at the back of your brain?

“There’s times when I’ll start thinking about it, then I’m like ‘You can’t start thinking about it. There’s a long season to go.’ But now, my main focus is winning the Mission League championship. There’s times when all of a sudden I’ll start thinking about it. Really, it’s in the back of my head. I’m not going to think about it until June 9. I’ll catch myself at times. Other than that, I’m just going to keep working hard and hopefully make a team want me enough to draft me.”

I’m guessing you do hear what people say. If you do get picked as high as it sounds like you will, is college an option for you? Has that decision been made?

“We honestly haven’t made a decision. We really haven’t talked about it yet. My family and I aren’t going to talk about it until my season ends. And then we’ll decide what the best situation is. I’m just going to have to wait and see what happens. Obviously, I want to play professional baseball. That’s my dream. I think that’s every kid’s dream who really loves baseball. So I really want that. But I have to wait and see what happens.”

– – –

Chuck Wasserstrom spent 25 years in the Chicago Cubs’ front office – 16 in Media Relations and nine in Baseball Operations. Now a freelance writer, his behind-the-scenes stories of his time in a big league front office can be found on www.chuckblogerstrom.com.

Rob Antony Discusses University Of Minnesota: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 25, 2016 at 9:05am CDT

MLBTR continues a series where we interview top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, their path to a big league front office and more.

Thus far, we’ve already chatted with Tigers GM Al Avila, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer, Phillies GM Matt Klentak and Reds GM Dick Williams. Next up in our question-and-answer series is Minnesota Twins Vice President and Assistant General Manager Rob Antony – a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

* * * * *

Hi Rob! Thanks for talking to MLBTR. Just like me, you began your baseball career in media relations before moving into baseball operations. Tell me about your start.

“I grew up in Minneapolis, about 15 minutes from the Metrodome. I went to high school in Minneapolis. When I graduated, I was all set to go play baseball at Minnesota Morris, which was 2 ½ hours away – and I was excited. I wasn’t a Division I player by any stretch of the imagination, but I was looking forward to being able to keep playing while getting a good education. Of course, the summer before I went there, I got a call from the head coach – and he told me he just got fired, and a new guy was taking over and that he’d be in touch. Well, he did get in touch, and he let me know he was going to recruit his own people. It was understandable, but at the time, it was disheartening. Now, as you get into the business and you see everything, you understand how that goes. I just opted to stay home and go to the University of Minnesota. I was done playing. I didn’t play college ball. I focused my sights on becoming a sports journalist. I just wanted a career in sports, whether it be writing about hockey or baseball – which were my two preferences. When I went to the University, I started on the journalism path. After about a year, when they started telling me I needed to take magazine layout and editorial classes and all these different things, I started thinking to myself – ‘I just want to write.’ I wanted to cover the Twins or the North Stars. So I shifted gears into speech communications and broadcasting. And that was a good move for me. The journalism classes have helped me throughout my career. But I just felt more comfortable in communications. It ended up leading to an internship with an NBC affiliate here in Minneapolis – KARE TV – in the sports department.”

And that led you to the Twins, correct?

“I got a large break in 1987. They recommended me to the Twins; they needed somebody in the media relations department. The guy who was their intern in the summer had to go back to school in August. At the U. of M., we were on a trimester system and didn’t start until the end of September. I was available to come in and work all day every day. And the Twins of ’87 were marching their way towards the playoffs – which was an unbelievable experience. I was then fortunate enough to intern in media relations all of 1988. There was some movement, and I was hired after I graduated … My time in media relations was great. Some of the things I learned were the continued development of communications – which is so important in our business. I think that’s the case in any business. And the ability to write, and to speak to people, and in front of people has been invaluable as my career has progressed.”

Let’s talk about your time at the University of Minnesota, which is a big commuter school. Did you live at home, or were you able to live on campus?

‘“I lived at home, and I did not have that ‘great’ college experience. A lot of my friends from high school went there as well and lived at home, too. It was an economic thing as much as anything. We could drive 20 minutes. We carpooled together. But we didn’t have a lot of money and we couldn’t afford to just live on campus. I have two kids now that are in college, and one of the things I told them was, ‘You pick where you want to go. You decide what you want to do. But whatever you do, you’re going to go and live on campus and get the entire college experience. That’s something I wish I could have had that I wasn’t able to do, and I want you guys to have that.’ For me, it was a different deal. It was about getting the degree and learning as much as I could – and then moving on to a professional life.”

But there must have been college learnings that have become part of your day-to-day work life, correct?

“Most definitely. Some of that just comes from going to a major university the size of the University of Minnesota. There were 60,000 students. When you had to register for classes, you’d get up there and say you’d want this class, and you’d get ‘Sorry, full.’ You’re now at the front of the line, so you’d get ‘What’s your next choice?’ and you’d have to react on the fly. You needed to know exactly what you needed to take and everything else to make adjustments. Some of the logistics of dealing with those things … I had to learn how to study. I had to learn how to organize and manage my time – especially when I was interning, when I was working 30-4o hours as well as going to class, trying to get my homework done. As it turned out, it probably couldn’t have worked out better with me staying home. I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity with KARE TV, which wouldn’t have led to my opportunity here. So it’s funny how things can work out for you. I met a lot of good people at school. You do some things with them, but it’s altogether different when people can live on campus. That’s just a whole different lifestyle.”

Did you have favorite professors or influential classes that really helped prepare you?

“Even though I moved out of journalism, I think some of the introductory journalism classes really set the tone for me to know that communication is an important part of things. It became a strength because, during the rest of my college career, I really leaned toward writing-intensive classes. In your article on Jed (Hoyer), he mentioned that he got his degree in American History. I guess if I had to do it all over again, I would have taken more statistics classes and some other things that might have helped me out. I know I would have focused on Spanish; I would have taken Spanish for four years and done everything I could to become well-spoken and bilingual. In this game, it would be such an advantage – and it is for those people who are.”

That sounds like something you tell students who are seeking college advice.

“I give advice to a lot of kids who call and write letters – asking for advice how to get into the game. What are the best ways to get into the game? It’s not an easy thing to do. But there are so many different avenues. My recommendation is – go to college and get your degree in what you have the most interest in. If you put all your eggs in one basket and you go for sports management, there’s a chance that will work out quite well for you. For some clubs, that’s a big separator – and you might get the nod over somebody else.”

On your transcript, what does it say? Bachelor of …

“Speech communication, with a minor in English.

Growing up, were you a Twins fan?

“Absolutely. And I’ve always been a Gopher fan. I continue to cheer for them.”

If you had the choice to do it all over again, would you have stayed at home and gone to the University of Minnesota – or would you have left the area?

“I don’t have any regrets about staying in the area. Minnesota is home for me. Not a lot of people get to grow up cheering for a team and then work for that team. So many people in baseball work where they can – because there’s an opportunity. I was just fortunate to have the opportunity here. If I wouldn’t have stayed at home, I don’t think it would have all fallen in line the way that it did. I don’t know anything other than Minnesota. I don’t know anything other than the Twins. I’ve been fortunate enough to be with them since 1987. I like talking with people from other organizations to see how they do things and get other ideas. I don’t regret staying at home; I’m a Minnesota guy. I’m very appreciative of everything I’ve gotten from the Twins – and I’ve been able to stay home and be where I want to be and do what I want to do. And with this organization, we’ve had so much continuity. There’s always been a definite structure in the hierarchy. Everybody gets their voice heard.”

* * * * *

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

MLBTR Originals

By Connor Byrne | April 24, 2016 at 8:18am CDT

Here’s a look back at MLBTR’s original analysis and reporting over the past seven days:

In the second edition of the MLBTR College Series, Chuck Wasserstrom spoke with Cubs vice president and general manager Jed Hoyer about his time at Wesleyan University, where he enjoyed an accomplished baseball career at multiple positions.
On this week’s MLBTR Podcast, prospect guru Ben Badler of Baseball America chatted with host Jeff Todd about the early major league success of youngsters like Trevor Story and Nomar Mazara. Badler also touched on some of the intriguing players on the international market, particularly those coming from Cuba and Japan. A new episode of the podcast is released every Thursday and can be accessed on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
Steve Adams examined how six teams’ early season bullpen decisions could impact the earning power of their late-game relievers through arbitration or free agency next offseason.
Continuing MLBTR’s Draft Prospect Q&A Series, Chuck interviewed hard-throwing University of Oklahoma right-hander Alec Hansen, a prospective first-round pick in June’s amateur draft. Hansen touched on why he chose to attend Oklahoma, what it would’ve taken for him to eschew college and sign with the Rockies as a 25th-round pick in 2013, and which big-time pitching prospect he likens himself to, among other subjects.
In another trip down memory lane with a baseball executive, Chuck talked to Phillies VP and GM Matt Klentak concerning his days at Darmouth College. Klentak helped set the stage for his current role back then by earning a degree in economics and making some important connections.
Chuck also had a discussion with Mercer University center fielder Kyle Lewis, who’s rated as one of the draft’s premier prospects. Lewis spurned a potential college basketball career elsewhere to play baseball at Mercer, where he has worked his way up from the bench to perhaps become the only major league first-rounder the school has produced.
To conclude a busy week of MLBTR College Series interviews, Chuck spoke to Tigers executive VP and GM Al Avila – a St. Thomas University alumnus. Interestingly, one of the people who helped Avila climb the ranks in baseball was Hall of Fame football coach Don Shula.
In the final edition of MLBTR’s 2016 Offseason In Review Series, Steve looked back at the Royals’ winter moves. Kansas City followed its World Series-winning 2015 campaign with a busy offseason headlined by the re-signing of outfielder Alex Gordon, the expensive contract given to right-hander Ian Kennedy, and the return of reliever Joakim Soria.

Offseason In Review: Kansas City Royals

By Steve Adams | April 22, 2016 at 8:05pm CDT

This post completes a series in which MLBTR reviewed the offseason moves of every team in baseball. You can find all of those posts at this link.

After coming one game away from baseball’s top prize in 2014, the Royals again reached the postseason in 2015, this time closing out the job with their first World Series title in 30 years. The celebratory parade in Kansas City was a sight to behold, but GM Dayton Moore and his staff had plenty of work to do in what was a busy offseason.

Major League Signings

Alex Gordon, OF: Four years, $72MM plus 2019 mutual option
Ian Kennedy, RHP: Five years, $70MM plus opt-out after 2017 season
Joakim Soria, RHP: Three years, $25MM, plus 2019 mutual option
Chris Young, RHP: Two years, $11.5MM, plus 2018 mutual option
Mike Minor, LHP: Two years, $7.25MM plus 2018 mutual option
Total spend: $185.75MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Chien-Ming Wang, Travis Snider, Brian Duensing, Clint Barmes, Ross Ohlendorf, David Huff, Peter Moylan, Lester Oliveros

Trades and Claims

Acquired C Tony Cruz from Cardinals in exchange for INF Jose Martinez

Extensions

Salvador Perez, C: Five years, $52.5MM (replaced final three years of previous extension)
Lorenzo Cain, CF: Two years, $17.5MM
Mike Moustakas, 3B: Two years, $14.3MM

Notable Losses

Johnny Cueto, Ben Zobrist, Greg Holland, Alex Rios, Jonny Gomes, Jeremy Guthrie

Needs Addressed

The Royals entered the offseason with a pair of corner outfielders hitting free agency: Alex Gordon and Alex Rios. Gordon, the former No. 2 overall draft pick who has emerged as the face of this new wave of contending baseball in Kansas City, was the clear priority for Moore and the rest of the front office. With early reports that the Royals hoped to re-sign him on a three- or four-year deal, significant doubt was cast on that possibility. It seemed implausible to many, myself included, that Gordon could be had for a deal of that length. However, he was one of many outfielders that lingered on the market longer than pundits expected, and he ultimately signed for $72MM over a four-year term shortly after New Year’s Day. Retaining Gordon was a huge win for the fans, and the fact that the Royals were able to do so at a reasonably manageable price was a plus for the front office. Gordon’s contract is still a record-setter for the typically cost-conscious Royals, but the rest of their roster is affordable enough over the next couple of seasons that it shouldn’t be burdensome.

With Cueto, Young and Guthrie lining up as free agents, the Royals needed to supplement their rotation with innings. They were linked to a fair number of free-agent starters, but the primary addition to their rotation was rather stunning. Ian Kennedy always made sense as a target for the Royals — a fly-ball pitcher that would benefit from a large park and excellent defense (plus, Kansas City’s relationship with Scott Boras is strong) — but the terms of the contract were jarring. I was aggressive on Kennedy’s free agent stock this winter and always considered the narrative that he should accept San Diego’s qualifying offer to be ludicrous, but despite being more bullish on his earning power than most, I was still floored when he secured not only a five-year deal worth $70MM but also an opt-out clause.

Kennedy’s skill set is a great fit for a Royals club that can mask his greatest deficiencies via the aforementioned stadium and defensive prowess, but the contract is still teeming with downside. Kennedy is guaranteed just $27MM of that $70MM sum, meaning he’d be opting out of a three-year, $43MM contract as he heads into his age-33 season. While that’s certainly possible, Kennedy’s inconsistent track record and homer-prone nature also make it easy to envision a scenario where that sum tops what he’d earn on the open market. A spike in his homer-to-flyball ratio similar to the one he experienced in another pitcher-friendly environment in 2015 and 2013 would leave the Royals with an unsightly contract.

The Royals made a pair of smaller-scale commitments in the rotation as well. First, they paid up for right-hander Chris Young after two years of drastically outperforming his peripheral stats thanks to his propensity for weak fly-balls (and, weak contact in general). Young shouldn’t be counted on for innings, having topped 100 frames in a season just thrice since the conclusion of the 2008 season, but he’s being paid a fairly modest $11.5MM over the next two seasons and doesn’t need to do all that much to justify the investment. The Mike Minor contract is even lower risk, financially speaking, as the lefty followed former teammate Kris Medlen from Atlanta to Kansas City and signed a similar contract. Minor is recovering from shoulder surgery, but if he resembles anything close to the 2012-13 version of himself upon his return, it’ll be an easy win for the Royals.

The loss of Greg Holland to Tommy John surgery created a hole at the back of the Kansas City bullpen and turned their dominant late-inning trio into a still-formidable duo of Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera. The Royals sought to fill in the Holland-sized void by reuniting with Joakim Soria, but did so by paying top-of-the-market dollars for a 31-year-old reliever (soon to be 32) that delivered fairly pedestrian results in 2015 prior to a trade to the Pirates. While Ryan Madson’s age perhaps dissuaded the Royals from matching the Athletics’ $22MM commitment in him (understandably so), it was fairly surprising to see the Royals turn around and offer even more money to a setup man that will pitch the final season of a three-year deal at age 34.

Read more analysis after the break…

Questions Remaining

While some of the Royals’ offseason investments look a bit questionable, it’s still tough to find a glaring weakness on the team. The Royals have an offense that rarely strikes out, a strong bullpen and one of the game’s best defenses, which will help to offset the fact that the rotation is comprised mostly of mid-rotation arms. The likes of Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Alcides Escobar are all controlled beyond 2016, and the resurgent Kendrys Morales will reprise his role as the club’s DH this season (before likely testing the open market or having his mutual option bought out). All of that looks good on paper, but there are a few spots that could be questioned.

Kansas City’s investment in Omar Infante has been a bust to this point, with the second baseman hitting just .240/.269/.331 since signing a four-year deal worth a hair north of $30MM. He’s been a bit better this season, but with Infante and the light-hitting Christian Colon representing the club’s top options at second base, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kansas City seek a second-base upgrade for the second consecutive summer. Right field, too, could represent a potential area of upgrade. Jarrod Dyson is a stellar defender and adds plenty of value on the bases, but he’s dealt with an oblique issue already this season and owns a lifetime .256/.322/.343 batting line in 1214 plate appearances. At the very least, an upgrade over Paulo Orlando as a platoon partner could be worth exploring.

The other question for the Royals is whether they have enough in the rotation. Edinson Volquez, Yordano Ventura, Kennedy, Medlen and Young is a solid grouping, but Medlen and Young combined for just 181 2/3 innings last season. Ventura, meanwhile, has never topped 183 innings in a season. Kansas City made it work with a similar collection of arms that also lacked a track record of durability in 2015, but they had to trade for Cueto midseason and parted with one of their top near-MLB-ready arms (Sean Manaea) in the Zobrist deal. Dillon Gee and Minor provide some alternative options as the season wears on, but rotation depth could become an issue.

Deal of Note

For the better part of 18 months, there was talk of the Royals extending the contract of Salvador Perez — who infamously signed a five-year, $7MM contract that quickly became regarded as the most team-friendly deal in all of Major League Baseball. Perez’s new agents at the Beverly Hills Sports Council brokered a new deal with the club that effectively locked in the option years on Perez’s preexisting deal and extended the team’s control of Perez by two seasons for an additional $35MM.

While there’s every chance that the highly durable and excellent Perez will justify the value of that contract, from a pure business/risk standpoint, it’s difficult to believe that the Royals tore up a contract that carried so much surplus value. Perez was already controlled through the 2019 season, with club options of $3.75MM, $5MM and $6MM due to follow his 2016 salary of $2MM. That’s an incredible bargain for even a passable big league catcher, let alone one that has excelled to the levels that Perez has since establishing himself as the Royals’ regular catcher. The Royals not only forfeited the right to back out of those options in the event of a notable injury to Perez, they also signed themselves up for a considerable amount of risk beyond the previous scope of the contract.

In part due to Kansas City’s reliance on budget backups, Perez easily has the largest workload of any catcher in baseball, having logged 3635 innings behind the plate dating back to the 2013 season. In that time, only four other receivers have even topped 3,000 innings: Miguel Montero (3037), Russell Martin (3055), Jonathan Lucroy (3061) and Yadier Molina (3272). Perez’s workload tops his next-closest competitor by nearly 400 innings; he’s caught about 40 more games’ worth of innings than has Molina in that time span. That type of workload is taxing on any catcher’s body, but one has to imagine it’s particularly taxing on Perez, who at 6’3″ and 240 pounds is one of the largest catchers you’ll encounter. Indeed, Perez’s production at the plate has steadily declined over the past few seasons by virtually any measure. Per wRC+, Perez’s bat was 14 percent above the league average back in 2012 (114 wRC+). Since that time, he’s dropped to 106 in 2013 (six percent above average), 92 in 2014 (eight percent below) and 87 in 2015 (13 percent below). Kansas City had the choice of going year-to-year and seeing what type of impact that workload had on a backstop of Perez’s size, and instead chose to not only lock him in through age 29 but also extend him through age 31 at a fairly premium rate.

It’s understandable the the Royals would want to restructure Perez’s contract in an act of good will, and I’d be remiss not to note that the move was undoubtedly a popular decision in the clubhouse, where Perez is beloved by his teammates. And it’s not as if the two years added are without value. However, that’s a steep price to pay and an exceptional amount of risk to take on in negotiations where the Royals seemingly should have held all of the leverage. Extensions, almost by definition, are designed to lengthen a club’s control at a below-market rate or lock up a player that is nearing the open market, but this deal meets neither of those criteria. Perez’s extension strikes me as a clear win for the player, even if he lives up to his end of the bargain and proves capable of handling a historically large workload.

Overview

The Royals have been one of baseball’s best teams across the past two seasons thanks largely to an elite bullpen, a high-contact/low-strikeout approach and a significant emphasis on speed and defense. While Kansas City fans are assuredly dreading the days that Cain, Hosmer and Moustakas hit free agency, the good news is that the club has at least two more years of each. The Royals returned the vast majority of last season’s World Series roster, and they’re positioned as one of the top teams in a deep American League that features very few weak spots. While it’s fair to question the long-term wisdom of some of this offseason’s dealings, it’s hard to criticize the organization for continuing to invest after its historic breakthrough, and the simple fact is that the 2016 Royals look as formidable as any club in the AL. This type of sustained run is exactly what the front office had in mind when building the club’s young core of Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain, Escobar, Gordon, Perez, Ventura, etc. The Royals are not sneaking up on anyone; they’re a postseason favorite and a force to be reckoned with.

Now, you can weigh in on the Royals’ winter (link for mobile app users):

How would you grade the Royals' offseason?

B 60.86% (325 votes)

A 24.53% (131 votes)

C 11.24% (60 votes)

D 2.62% (14 votes)

F 0.75% (4 votes)

Total Votes: 534

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Al Avila Discusses St. Thomas University: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 22, 2016 at 11:10am CDT

Thus far, we’ve already chatted with Cubs GM Jed Hoyer, Phillies GM Matt Klentak and Reds GM Dick Williams. Next up in our question-and-answer series is Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations and General Manager Al Avila – a graduate of St. Thomas University (Miami Gardens, FL).

* * * * *

Al, first off, thanks for talking to MLBTR. You have taken a different path than most – in that you played professionally before going to college. Can you talk about the initial college steps after your playing career?

“I went to St. Thomas University for both undergrad and graduate school. Both majors were the same – Sports Administration.”

How did you arrive at St. Thomas?

“I graduated high school when I was 17, and that fall I went to Miami-Dade Community College for a year. The following summer, I was signed by the Dodgers’ organization as a non-drafted free agent. I played with their rookie team, but was released the following spring. I didn’t go back to school until I was 24. I went to St. Thomas as a student and as a coach for the baseball team. The head baseball coach was Paul Mainieri – who is now the coach at LSU. So I went to school and worked for free as a coach. After I graduated, I did an internship with the Dodgers in Vero Beach during spring training of 1986. The Dodgers actually then sent me to Latin America to help out in the building of their baseball complex in Las Palmas (Dominican Republic). In 1987, I worked for the Daytona Beach Admirals, an expansion franchise in the Florida State League. That team didn’t last very long. Lucky for me, Paul Mainieri called me back and offered me a full-time assistant coaching job at St. Thomas University.”

So basically, once you got to college, you stayed in college for quite a while.

“Yes. I went back there working for him as an assistant coach. After the 1988 season, he got the head coaching job at the United States Air Force Academy, and the university hired me as their full-time baseball coach. The following year, they made me the athletics director. I was the athletics director and baseball coach there until I joined the Florida Marlins when they first came into existence.”

Can you tell me why you picked St. Thomas when you decided to go back to school?

“There were two reasons. First, they had the Sports Administration program. At that time, they were only the second school in the entire country with that program. The first one was at Ohio University. Back in those days, Sports Administration was pretty much a brand new program. Now, every school pretty much has it. Second, I grew up in the game. My dad (Ralph Avila) worked as a scout with the Dodgers. I played baseball; it just didn’t work out for me as a player. It was about the shortest career you could imagine. So in order to stay in the game, I felt I had to get that degree in Sports Administration. At the same time, what made it perfect for me was that Paul hired me as an assistant coach. I was able to get coaching experience at the college level. That, with the degree, helped me tremendously.”

Can you tell me about some of the other important connections you made at St. Thomas that led to your eventual front office career?

“Being in Miami, I established relationships with Ron Fraser at the University of Miami. I was around Don Shula, the Miami Dolphins coach, since St. Thomas University was their training camp – and Don had an office there. Those relationships helped me get my job with the Marlins. Ron Fraser was one of the guys helping spearhead trying to get a Major League franchise in South Florida. And Don Shula worked for (Dolphins owner) Wayne Huizenga, who was buying the Marlins. They both put in a good word for me. I had other relationships in the game, like Tommy Lasorda through my dad. Peter O’Malley was the Dodgers’ owner at the time – and I had interned with them. So I had some good references.”

While your biggest route to where you are now came on the college baseball field, can you tell me about things you learned in the classroom that apply to what you do today?

“At St. Thomas back in those days, they had a lot of adjunct professors who were in the sports business. At the time, there was a Miami Grand Prix, and they had people come in and do a class. There was a guy who worked for the Dolphins who was an adjunct professor there. We had a guy from CNN who was there. So we had people who worked in different parts of sports who came in to teach for a semester. They brought in people working in the sports industry who gave you a realistic perspective of the day-to-day operations of working in sports. A lot of it had to do with marketing … sales … budgeting … things of that nature. And we also learned the legal aspects of sports – another area that it was great to get familiarized with. And of course, communications. For me, the uniqueness of it was that Paul Mainieri also taught a Sports Administration class. So I was on the field as a coach and going to school at the same time – which was very helpful. Then, when I became the athletics director, I gained actual work experience in budgeting, hiring and firing, and managing people. And as a baseball coach, I was recruiting players and coaching players. All those things were huge for me in building up the experience needed to run a department.”

Do you ever get back to visit your alma mater?

“It just so happened that we opened this season in Miami, so it was a homecoming for me. When I was there, St. Thomas University reached out to me. They want to put me in their Hall of Fame. I haven’t talked to them yet about it, but I’d like to think I’ll be going back there in the fall for that.”

Your road to being the Tigers’ general manager is pretty different from just about everyone else in the game. You have a different perspective than most. What type of advice do you give students who are looking to one day work in a Major League front office?

“I get asked that a lot. One thing I tell people is that everybody’s path is different, period. Not one path is the same. The biggest thing I can tell people is … whatever job you can get – go get it, and do that job as if it were your first and last job and the job you want to do forever. What you leave behind in that job is going to dictate the next job – and if you’re going to get the next job. My first internship was with the Vero Beach Dodgers – but I also helped in media relations with the big league club during spring training. After that, I worked at Daytona Beach. That job didn’t have anything to do with baseball operations; it dealt with sales, marketing, ticket operations, and the day-to-day operations of running a minor league baseball team. I wanted to be on the field, but that was my start – and that’s what I did. And I was lucky I did that. A couple years later, Paul (Mainieri) asked me to come back to coach. What I initially told Paul was I didn’t want to coach in college; I wanted to work in pro baseball. Paul said, ‘Hey listen, you don’t know how things will work out. I could be moving on, and you can be the head coach of this school someday. Or, this job can lead to another job – like scouting. So you don’t know where this job will take you.’ I took his advice and took the job. And I loved it. It was probably the best job I had my entire life, as I thoroughly enjoyed coaching in college. I tell people that I didn’t plan on being a college coach. I didn’t plan on working in minor league baseball selling advertising. I didn’t plan for it. I just took the route where the door was open – that’s the route I took. Wherever you go, work your butt off. Don’t go there as a stepping stone job. Work it like it’s your last job. And if you do a great job, people will take notice.”

What other advice can you give?

“What people call networking – to me, it came natural. In college and the jobs I had, I just met people. You don’t have to send out 100 letters and 100 emails. Go out and meet people. That’s how relationships are established. And when the timing is right, things will happen. You can’t force timing. Just put yourself in a position where someone will want to hire you when the timing is right. I know how hard it is to get a job. I’m 57 years old. You see how fast and how young some of these guys are who have become GMs. I’m the opposite. It took me a long time.”

But you earned it.

“That’s right. And I can say Paul Mainieri really helped me the most. It was tough going back to school at an older age. I was already married. My wife was working. I wasn’t making any money. The beginnings were very humble and there was a lot of sacrifice. Sometimes you started to think, ‘Where is this taking me? Where is it going? Is it all worth it? And Paul was very helpful to me – almost as a mentor, and he’s only a couple years older than me. He was always very helpful, always very encouraging, always teaching. Having a guy like that was very important – and he helped me a lot. And his dad was the same. Doc Mainieri helped many people in the same way during his long tenure at Miami-Dade, guys like Jim Hendry and Randy Bush, to name a couple.”

Safe to say your college experience is a little more unique than most of your colleagues.

“Everybody gets to different positions in a different way. No two routes are the same.”

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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Kyle Lewis (Mercer University) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 21, 2016 at 10:33am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11; we’ve already spoken with Oklahoma’s Alec Hansen and Louisville’s Corey Ray.

Centerfielder Kyle Lewis is doing everything he can to put himself and Mercer University on the baseball map. The 6’4”, 210-pound junior has scouts flocking to Macon, GA, to watch the Southern Conference star play – and was named to the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List this week.

Undrafted out of high school, the Snellville, GA, product burst onto the scene during the summer of 2014 by earning Great Lakes League Player of the Year honors. Last year, he nearly won the Southern Conference Triple Crown (batting .367 with 17 homers and 56 RBI) before putting together a stellar summer in the Cape Cod League.

Lewis entered the 2016 season ranking as the No. 8 overall prospect for the draft according to both MLB.com and Baseball America. Last week, ESPN.com’s Keith Law listed him as the seventh-best prospect for the draft, calling him “an athletic centerfielder with real power in his wrists. That’s a rarity in the draft for a position player who projects to stay up the middle.”

Lewis began this week ranking in the national Top 5 in homers, total bases, RBI, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage, runs scored and batting average. He took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR:

Chuck Wasserstrom: Let’s start out by talking about Mercer – which isn’t exactly a baseball hotbed. You have the chance to become the first 1st-round pick in school history. Is that important to you?

Kyle Lewis: “Yes it is. It would be something exciting to say that I came from a small school and accomplish that type of thing. I take a lot of pride in being able to represent my school and be one of the faces for the school. So that would be something definitely exciting for me.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your baseball background? You went undrafted out of high school. Is it safe to say you played other sports growing up?

“I played baseball, but I played a lot more basketball. That was kind of my big thing – playing basketball coming up. I played baseball as well during the season, but I never played any summer baseball or anything like that until going into my senior year of high school. That year, I played my first year of full travel baseball – and I was able to have some success in that. So going into my senior year, I started picking up training and things like that in order to start working on my skills and be able to pursue a college scholarship and potentially get drafted.”

What types of things were you doing during the summer instead of playing travel baseball?

“I played basketball in the summer time. So I had to make a choice which one I wanted to play in college. After talking to some people around the baseball world, they told me if I was to practice more year-round and hone in on my skills, that I’d be able to be a pretty good player. That’s when I decided to commit to it.”

You had decisions to make in high school between pursuing paths in either basketball or baseball. How serious were you about going the basketball route in college?

“We had received interest calls in basketball. The Naval Academy was one of the bigger ones who wanted me to play for them. I did some workouts for mid-major schools. But after the season I went ahead and told my basketball coach to cancel those. At that point, I wanted to concentrate on baseball.”

So now you’ve decided you were going to play baseball in college. What other schools were showing you interest?

“Furman … Georgia State … Kennesaw State … Savannah State … and the University of Miami came on kind of late.”

It sounds like mostly schools closer to home.

“It was just a lot of local schools. By the time I got on the scene, most schools were already working on their next class and were done with my class. So it was tough to get interest from the major schools unless I would pursue a walk-on spot. But I wanted the scholarship, so I settled for the mid-major.”

Nothing wrong with that. You had your opportunity and ran with it.

“I tried to go where I’d be able to play and be able to get on the field and be a priority guy. That’s the biggest thing as far as picking a college. Where are you going to be able to learn and be able to pick up on stuff? Where are you going to be able to play? And I felt like Mercer presented a good opportunity for that as well as being able to potentially make regionals and play on a national stage.”

Your freshman year, you went through the typical first-year growing pains. Then things kind of exploded for you last year – and you never looked back. What happened?

“Going into my freshman year, I had to learn to sit on the bench and watch. I never had to do that before. A lot of that stuff was a mental challenge for me. I had to figure out how to learn and how to observe games from the sideline. I had to figure out what to do when my number was called. I got a lot of pinch-hit opportunities and a lot of pinch-running opportunities. Towards the end of the year, I started to figure it out – and I was able to start the last ten games. Going into that summer, I had a lot of momentum – and I was able to carry that momentum into the summer. I played in the Great Lakes League after my freshman year, and I was able to do really well up there. And I got called up to the Cape Cod League to play in the playoffs. That just gave me the confidence that I needed going into my sophomore year – when you saw the explosion.”

I’d have to think that sitting and watching as a freshman helped you learn the game, although I’m guessing you hated it at the time.

“(Laughing) Yeah, yeah, yeah. I definitely hated it. But from talking to people and talking to my family, they just said I should just see what guys ahead of you are doing that you’re not doing. Or what are they doing as far as preparation and extra work and things like that. And I was fortunate to watch a lineup full of seniors, so I was able to look up to guys who were 23 years old and had been through it. And they had made it to regionals. I was able to pick up on their tendencies and see what they do, and I was able to apply it to my own game.”

Growing up in Georgia, were you a big Braves fan?

“Yes I was – back when they had Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones.”

Those were your guys?

“Those were definitely my guys.”

Anybody growing up that you tried to model yourself after?

“The biggest person in high school that I watched was Adam Jones. I started watching him my junior year … just sit there watching YouTube videos of him. Then I’d try to embody myself after that as much as I could. I like the way he plays. I like the way he carries himself.”

Is he someone you want to be compared to?

“I think it’s kind of comparable as far as an athletic centerfielder with a smooth swing. I wouldn’t say that I try to be exactly like him, because I want to be my own person. But I can say that would be a nice comparison to have.”

I’ve also seen you called a right-handed version of Jason Heyward.

“I can see that. I like to take pride in my defense as well, and I think it’s overlooked sometimes. But I definitely take pride in my defense.”

[Continue reading after the break for more.]

Photo courtesy of Mercer University.

I know it’s hard to project, but where do you see yourself a few years down the line both position-wise and in the batting order?

“I see myself in centerfield and batting 3-4-5 in the order – maybe 2, if needed. But definitely somewhere in the middle of the order. I see myself as a game changer.”

I want to go back to your sophomore year, when things started clicking. What changed for you, other than now having some experience?

“For me, it was all becoming a student of the game. I started to understand how to influence counts. Understand when to look for certain pitches. Before that, I was just up there swinging and trying to let my athleticism work. Being able to expect what pitches were coming on certain counts, and what pitchers were trying to do to you based on your last couple at-bats. And being able to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch.”

Then you went to Cape Cod, you were now using a wood bat, and the momentum continued. Baseballs must have been looking like grapefruits to you – and nothing changed. Does that sound about right?

“Yeah. Wood bats are bats. You swing them the same way. I was fortunate to get some good quality wood from some of my teammates, which helped. I don’t try to think that there’s a difference between a wood and a metal bat. You just have to swing it and find the barrel.”

I know the draft is a couple months away – and you’ve never been through the draft process before – but is it hard not to think about the draft?

“I think it’s something you definitely think about. It’s not a secret or anything. It’s something you discuss. Every game, I just try to get locked into the moment and locked into the task at hand – which is to try to do as good as I can each day. At the end of the day, nothing is solidified. Nothing is set in stone. So I’m going out there every day and perform to the best of my abilities and try to help my team win games. If we win games, we get to play longer. That’s how I try and look at it. But it’s definitely something I think about – but you can’t let it overwhelm you.”

You sound really grounded, and you’re definitely driven. Was there a point where you decided ‘I want to be a high-round draft pick?”

“Absolutely. Once I went up to the Great Lakes League and got the Player of the Year there, I started to feel like I could really be something special. At that point, I really started to believe in myself. I really started to hone in on figuring out what the best guys are doing from a work standpoint. I started to look up what major league players were doing in their (batting practice) routines. I needed to start to embody that and pick up on that type of stuff. At that point, that’s where I started to see my work ethic go up.”

Confidence is good, isn’t it!

“Yes it is. Confidence is a big thing.”

If you are indeed a first-round draft pick, how exciting is it going to be to receive that phone call?

“I honestly can’t even imagine the feeling. But if I’m fortunate enough for that to happen, my family will be right there with me. And everybody who has been there from the beginning will be there. We’ll all be there celebrating … You always want to be a first-round pick. That’s definitely the dream. You never know how things go, but that’s definitely what I’m shooting for.”

– – –

Photo courtesy of Mercer Athletics.

Matt Klentak Discusses Dartmouth College: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 20, 2016 at 10:48am CDT

MLBTR continues a series of interviews with top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, etc.

We’ve already spoken to Reds GM Dick Williams and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer. Next up in our question-and-answer series is Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak – a graduate of Dartmouth College.

* * * * *

Matt, thanks for talking to MLBTR. You earned an economics degree from Dartmouth College in 2002. Why did you choose Dartmouth?

“There were a few things about Dartmouth that jumped out right away. No. 1, just walking around campus – it’s one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. On top of that, it obviously had a very strong academic reputation. And Coach (Bob) Whalen did an excellent job recruiting me and selling me on their baseball program. So it was really a combination of the three factors – the campus and the community environment, the academics, and the baseball program.”

What other schools were you considering?

“I looked at a few different schools. I initially looked at some schools down south with top baseball programs, but I ultimately realized I wasn’t going to play much there. I might have been able to go there and make the team, but I wasn’t going to see a lot of action on the field. Once I realized that, I started to shift my focus to programs in the northeast where I might be able to play more regularly. I looked at a variety of the schools in the northeast, but ultimately settled on Dartmouth.”

Being in an Ivy League school, academics definitely took precedence over athletics. What was it like playing in that type of an environment – where it was school first?

“My dad always talked to me about the fact that baseball wasn’t – by itself – going to open up doors for me. It was going to be a combination of baseball and academics. He said it to encourage me to take school seriously back in junior high and high school. It turned out that he was right. Ultimately, my success at Dartmouth was a combination of baseball and academics. Managing the Dartmouth workload and playing Division I baseball – that was a challenge. It really forced the student-athletes to be disciplined and to prioritize their time management. The academic demands required a great deal of studying and homework. And the baseball program had its own demands. But I think that the student-athletes learned about the importance of time management.”

Thinking back to your freshman campaign, what do you remember about your first year on campus?

“It was exciting. It was the first time I was living away from home, and everything was new. Meeting lots of new people. Learning about what it takes to play baseball at the Division I level. Learning how to manage academics and baseball at the same time. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. And there were challenges you were facing for the first time in your life that you never experienced living at home. Ultimately, it can be very satisfying when you find you achieved some success.”

You earned your degree in economics, and that has suited you well in baseball. If you had to choose all over again, would that have been your major – or would you have gone another route?

“I think I would have chosen economics. I think any major is going to teach a student to think critically and to improve their writing skills. There were a lot of majors that would have interested me. I think economics was the right balance for me of objective thinking and mathematics. It was the right balance for my interests and my skill set.”

What important connections did you make at Dartmouth that helped you as moved forward into a baseball career?

“First and foremost, I’m still to this day very close to my college coach, Bob Whalen – and I stay in touch with him. Whenever I can, I get out to see the Dartmouth baseball team play. While I was there, I was teammates with Bryn Alderson – who works for the Mets. His father is Sandy Alderson. I had a chance to get to know the Alderson family, and they have been helpful to me in my baseball career. I met Jim Beattie while I was there; at the time, he was a general manager. As importantly as anything, I became friends – and in many cases, best friends – with my teammates, who I’m still in touch with to this day. A number of them work in the baseball industry.”

Any players on opposing teams that you came across that went on to become important connections for you?

“There’s a nice group of baseball executives that played in the Ivy League at the same time. I’m not trying to just name GMs, but there’s (Colorado GM) Jeff Bridich, who played at Harvard. (Cleveland GM) Mike Chernoff played at Princeton. (Oakland GM) David Forst was at Harvard. (Boston GM) Mike Hazen was at Princeton. (Oakland assistant GM) Dan Kantrovitz was at Brown. And (MLB senior VP) Peter Woodfork was at Harvard as well. That’s a pretty good group.”

***Read more after the break …

Were there lessons you learned in college that you still utilize today?

“Learning how to think critically … learning how to problem solve … time management skills … and learning how to write. That’s a skill that I developed both in college and in my job with the Commissioner’s Office right after that.”

What were your most memorable experiences that you can share?

“Both my sophomore and junior year, we won the Red Rolfe Division. The 2000 team – that was the first time that Dartmouth had won the division, and that was pretty exciting. And then to follow that up in 2001, we forced a one-game playoff against Brown – and then beat Brown to advance to the championship series. Those were two pretty exciting years for us.”

You spent three seasons as Dartmouth’s starting shortstop. Were you always a shortstop or did you also play other positions?

“Back when I was in high school, I had to decide whether I wanted to be a pitcher or focus more on playing every day. Ultimately, I decided to focus on playing shortstop so I could be on the field more frequently. It was a good decision. I was never the most talented player on the field, but I enjoyed getting out there and doing whatever I could to help the team win on a daily basis.”

Do you ever miss being on the field?

“I miss it all the time. If I could still play, I would absolutely still be playing.”

Final question. What advice do you give to high school and college students who want to work in a Major League front office some day?

“Really focus on the college experience. There’s a lot that can be learned outside of the classroom and off the baseball field. All those things that you learn in college can really help you on a baseball field and in life. I typically encourage people to enjoy and make the most of their college experience. They can focus on the next phase of their career once their college experience is over.”

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Alec Hansen (Oklahoma) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 19, 2016 at 9:18am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series, which gives readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11.

University of Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen hasn’t played up to his potential in 2016, but remains an intriguing prospect. At the beginning of the spring, he was rated third on MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Watch and No. 9 on Baseball America’s Top 100 in March. But ESPN’s Keith Law recently wrote that “Hansen was a potential 1-1 guy (top draft pick) going into the school year, missed fall ball with a forearm injury, lost his rotation spot after a dismal start to the season and now could slip out of the first round.”

Hansen says he’s healthy – and that his junior year struggles could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. He’s still going through the growing pains of pitching – as he’s still getting bigger. Despite an uneven season, teams are interested in pitchers who stand 6-foot-8 and can throw 99 MPH. He took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR earlier this week and was honest about his 2016 campaign – after a little family talk:

Chuck Wasserstrom: I’m going to start out by throwing some names at you. Nick Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at Wisconsin. Debbie Hansen swam at Wisconsin. Eric Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at the University of Arizona. Brooke Hansen is a freshman swimmer at Texas. Obviously, if Dad, Mom, Uncle and Sister have all done it, then it’s a family business. How did you miss out on that?

Alec Hansen: “I was a big-time swimmer growing up, and when I got to middle school I was playing other travel sports, too. I started liking the other sports better. I played baseball. I played basketball. I played football. Swimming was one of those sports where it’s the same thing every day. It was monotonous. So by the time I was in middle school I just was more interested in football, basketball and baseball.”

Back in 2013, you were selected by the Rockies in the 25th round of the draft, but you’re the son of a pair of one-time Division I athletes. Was there ever really a chance you would have turned pro, or did Mom and Dad sort of make it a slam dunk that you would be going to college?

“With them both being college athletes, they got to experience it. That’s what they wanted for me – to experience going to college and being part of a team. That’s why they wanted me to go to college. That’s an experience that lasts a lifetime, and you learn a lot from it. I’m really glad that I went to college after high school. Especially OU. I love OU.”

Did you really give much consideration about signing out of high school?

“I talked to my parents about it. We came up with an amount of money that – if I got that offer – that I should take it and play professionally. It would have been worth it if I got that much money. If I didn’t that offer, I would go to school. I didn’t get the amount of money that I was asking for, so I went to school. Now that I went to school, I see why they wanted me to go to college. Now that I look back at it, I should have asked for even more money, because you can’t put a dollar amount on the experience and the people you meet in college.”

Why did you pick Oklahoma?

“Of all the choices I had, the one that stood out to me was Oklahoma. It was a school that I always liked and wanted to go to growing up. Things just fell into place and worked out. Once I came out and visited OU, I made my decision pretty quickly.”

Turning to 2016 … obviously, this hasn’t been the easiest year for you.

“Not everything is always perfect. I’m not a person who gets too up or down about anything in life. Yes, it’s been frustrating. But it hasn’t changed who I am. I still work hard. I know this is all a process, and I’m still going to get a lot of opportunities to develop. My overall goal is not to be a first-round draft pick … it’s to make it to the big leagues.”

Can you talk about this year, and how much you’ll be able to grow off it?

“I think this is just something a lot of guys go through at any level. I know it happens at the professional level. You have expectations, but you’re not performing. It just becomes a battle – and you have to learn to overcome it. Maybe this could be a blessing in disguise. It could be a good thing for me. I haven’t pitched a lot now, so I’ll be able to go out and throw a lot this summer.”

I’d like to talk about your game a little bit. The scouting report is a plus fastball sitting 94-97 and touching 99, plus slider, above average curveball, makings of average changeup. How accurate would you call that report?

“I’d call that accurate. I’ve always thrown hard. My off-speed has always been pretty good. It’s just a matter of putting it all together. I think the more opportunities and experience I get to pitch in game settings, then it will all fall into place.”

[Continue reading after the break for more.]

Photo courtesy of OU Athletics Communications.

You’re 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, and you can reach 99 MPH. How uncomfortable do you want batters to be in the box when they face you?

“I think part of my problem sometimes is that I’m my own biggest competitor. Sometimes, I get so caught up in competing against myself … I don’t worry too much about the batter. I know if I could do what I’m capable of doing, then their chances aren’t very good.”

You have to step back and just play pitch-and-catch. Just throw the ball to the glove.

“Yeah.”

A person I’ve seen you compared to in some stories is Jon Gray of the Rockies. Do you agree with that?

“I’ve never really seen him pitch, but I’ve heard the comparisons. Everyone says we both throw hard and both have a hard slider, so I guess I’d be comparable. Another one I’ve heard is Lucas Giolito with the Nationals. I’ve watched him pitch. I feel like I look more like him.”

Have there been particular pitchers you’d like to model yourself after?

“I really like watching Matt Harvey pitch. It’s kind of hard not to like watching him pitch. I like his demeanor during the game. How he is on and off the field. I like his style.”

How would you describe his style?

“I feel like he’s a little Hollywood, but not too much – if that makes sense.”

How much does his success drive you?

“He was in the same position I’m in not too long ago. It just shows you that it’s possible if you put your mind to it.”

Have you been looking ahead at all to this year’s draft, or have you been trying not to worry about it right now?

“I think I did prior to the start of the season and a little bit during the season. But now, I’m kind of just trying to worry about the team. Just having fun with the team … trying to win as many games as we can … doing whatever I can to help the team out. I’m not worried about the draft right now. Whatever happens happens. I can’t really do anything about it other than do as good as I can.”

You said you’re back throwing. Everything feel good?

“Yes. I threw (Tuesday) and I felt great. And I threw great, too, so hopefully I’ll get more chances to get back on the mound.”

Arm’s good? Head’s good?

“Yes. All good.”

– – –

Jed Hoyer Discusses Wesleyan University: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 18, 2016 at 2:02pm CDT

We’ve already spoken to Reds GM Dick Williams, and next up in our question-and-answer series is Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President and General Manager Jed Hoyer – a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT).

* * * * *

Hi Jed, thanks for taking the time to speak with MLBTR. You have a little different path than some others, as you were an athlete, pitcher AND pitching coach at Wesleyan University. What led you to Wesleyan?

“The over-arching goal of my college search was to combine three factors – great academics, the ability to continue playing baseball, and a campus environment that would broaden my limited horizons. I looked at a lot of different schools and the best combination of those factors was Wesleyan. In hindsight, I was less intense and strategic about that decision than I would have been later in life. I simply had a great feel for the school, loved my interactions with the baseball coach (Pete Kostacopoulos), and could picture myself on campus. I had a wonderful four years at Wesleyan and will always be thankful that my instincts were right.”

When you look back at your Wesleyan days, what special moments can you share?

“My favorite moments from Wesleyan come from our baseball team my sophomore year. We advanced to the (Division III) College World Series and ended up losing in the national title game to Jarrod Washburn (Wisconsin-Oshkosh). Despite the disappointment of losing at the end, it was an incredible experience. We were already a close-knit group, but the intensity of the postseason that year only brought us all closer.”

I’m going to get to some student-athlete questions, starting with the academic side. But first, can you tell me about your immediate post-graduate career? I know you initially stayed in school, so to speak.

“My first job after college, I worked as an assistant director of admissions at Kenyon College (Gambier, OH). I also was an assistant baseball coach. I left Kenyon after a year and returned to Wesleyan in a similar capacity. I was really fortunate that my bosses at both schools allowed me the time away from the office to coach. At the time, I simply did it because I wanted to stay on the field. In hindsight, it was an invaluable experience for me to learn about the game from a different angle. I had never thought about how to teach fundamentals or how to motivate players prior to coaching. The three years I spent coaching has benefited me in ways I never would have imagined at the time.”

What was your college major?

“American History.”

I didn’t know that! Have you been able to apply your major to baseball?

“I loved being a history major. I loved the professors I had. I really enjoyed the reading material. Even today, if I get a chance to sit down and read a book, I’m going to grab a biography or something about a historical period. But I will say if I knew I’d be where I’m sitting right now, I certainly would have angled myself more towards economics or something more quantitative. I do think that’s important when you start your life after college to know that every move you make doesn’t have to be planned so specifically. I was kind of referencing that before in regards to coaching. I coached baseball because I loved being out there, and I wanted to stay involved with the game. It gave me an awesome perspective on the game that I never had. I worked for a couple consulting firms later on, and that really helped me learn how to build business models and advanced my quantitative skills. I think every job I’ve had has provided me with different skills or knowledge that I can use every day in baseball.”

You might have a different perspective on this question as a former admissions official and former coach. What advice do you give high school and college students who want to work in a front office someday?

“I always tell aspiring baseball people the same thing – get involved in baseball in every way you possibly can. For me, it was playing until I wasn’t good enough to play anymore and then coaching. Baseball was my athletic love, and now I’m fortunate enough to be able to come to work every day and apply that. Ultimately, when I come into work, my entire day is spent dealing with baseball in various forms – whether it’s contractual, whether it’s rules, whether it’s player evaluation. Sports science … analytic stuff … whatever it might be, it’s all baseball all day. If you don’t absolutely love baseball, this is never going to work for you.”

Were there lessons you learned at Wesleyan that you utilize today as part of this day-to-day routine?

“I think the two things that come to mind right away are – No. 1, there’s nothing better than team sports. The camaraderie that’s built among a group of people fighting for a common goal is really something special. I know I experienced that playing in college. I don’t think that’s any different when you’re getting paid to play in the big leagues. Creating a great culture in the clubhouse, getting everyone pulling in the same direction, there’s no doubt that the teams that do that best have a big advantage. The second thing, on a more academic level, is that lifelong learning is something that’s exceptionally important. The most impressive thing about Wesleyan to me was that there was this eclectic group of intellectually curious 19-22 year olds– and those were the type of people I wanted to be around on a day-to-day basis. The school was filled with people that are constantly learning, always curious, and consistently pushing the boundaries. Those are the type of people I wanted to be surrounded by when I was 20 and they are the same people I want to fill our front office with at 42.”

As you reflect back on Wesleyan and being a student there, did you have a favorite professor?

“The most vivid memory of the classroom at Wesleyan – and I think back on this quite a bit – there was a professor named Richard Slotkin, and he taught American Literature. His classes were incredibly hard to get into because he was such an amazing lecturer. I remember sitting in his lectures and thinking … I hope someday I can be as good at my job and as passionate about my job and as knowledgeable about the field of study as this guy is. Candidly, I think I’m still trying to get there. I think it’s great when you see anyone in any walk of life that so dominates their field – and you can tell that it brings them so much joy to share it.”

Baseball-wise, did you make any important connections at Wesleyan that helped you in your baseball career?

“Ben Cherington played at Amherst, and they were our rival. My closest friend from high school played at Amherst with Ben, so I got to know those guys very well. It was a really fun and great rivalry. When I tried to get an internship with the Red Sox a few years later, the connection with Ben really helped me. Ben is an incredible talent. I was really fortunate to get to know him at age 19 in a setting that neither of us ever would have imagined would have led to a professional relationship and friendship.”

You set Wesleyan’s all-time school saves record – and were also the everyday shortstop. Can you talk about your playing days?

“If I had any strength in baseball at all, it was that I was really versatile. My sophomore year, I played left field and was the closer. My junior year, I played shortstop, was a starting pitcher, and even played catcher a few games when our catcher got hurt. My senior year, I played shortstop and was the closer. In general, I felt comfortable moving around the diamond. I knew I wasn’t going to play in the big leagues. I was self-aware enough to realize that. I played in the Cape Cod League after my junior year and was teammates with Mark DeRosa, John McDonald and Dan Reichert. It was a great experience and also a humbling experience. I realized that if I was going to have a future in baseball, it wasn’t going to be playing on TV.”

Do you ever get a chance to go back to visit campus?

“I’m actually going back soon. My 20th reunion is in the middle of May, so I’m going back for that – which will be fun. When I was with the Red Sox, I went back often; it was only a three-hour drive. I could get down there for a game or to visit people. But after I left the Red Sox, I haven’t been back since. I’m excited to be back on campus.”

Final question, as we tie together your college major and your professional career. Did obtaining a history degree pique your interest in learning more about the histories of the Red Sox and the Cubs?

“No doubt. I’ve been fortunate that two of the three teams I’ve worked for have incredibly rich, deep histories. Those two teams are more than just baseball teams to their cultures … they’re a way of life that’s passed down generation to generation. I think I’d be doing a disservice to the job if I didn’t completely embrace the history of the Red Sox or the Cubs. There are so many similarities between the two teams. The Red Sox ended their long suffering. Now we get the incredible opportunity to try to do the same thing in Chicago.”

– – –

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bullpen Decisions That Have Potentially Impacted Earning Power

By Steve Adams | April 18, 2016 at 1:16pm CDT

The 2016 season is still rather young, but decisions made late in Spring Training or early in the year can have lasting impact not only on a team’s results but also on the long-term earning power of players who find themselves in new roles due to injury or poor performance. This is perhaps most true when looking in the bullpen, where middle relievers are modestly compensated in arbitration (and, to a lesser extent, free agency) while their ninth-inning brethren receive significantly higher salaries due to the accumulation of saves. This past winter, we saw significant paydays for Trevor Rosenthal ($5.6MM), Hector Rondon ($4.2MM), Cody Allen ($4.15MM), Jeurys Familia ($4.1MM) and Shawn Tolleson ($3.275MM) 1in each reliever’s first trip through arbitration. Liken those figures to the arbitration salaries awarded to quality middle-relief/setup options like Justin Wilson ($1.525MM) and Bryan Morris ($1.35MM), and it’s clear that the ninth inning comes with clear financial benefit for relief arms. Even Allen’s setup man, Bryan Shaw, took home $2.75MM in his second trip through arbitration. Granted, many of the closers listed also possess gaudy strikeout rates, which do help to improve their earning capacity, but the saves are the most notable factor working in the favor of closers over setup men.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at a few early bullpen shifts that have bolstered (or, in some cases, hindered) the earning power for relievers around the game…

Arodys Vizcaino, Braves: Jason Grilli opened the 2015 season as Atlanta’s closer and pitched well in that role until an Achilles injury ended his season. Vizcaino stepped into the ninth inning and performed quite well in his stead, and while Grilli received the Braves’ first save opp of 2016, it took one blown save for Vizcaino to move up the ladder. Vizcaino is earning just under $900K as a Super Two player this season, but if he can add a full season’s worth of saves to the nine that he tallied last year, he’ll have a case for a markedly improved salary in his second trip through arb this winter.
Ken Giles, Astros: Conversely, the Astros’ decision to put Giles in the eighth inning after parting with a steep package to acquire him this offseason was a surprise to many. Houston’s decision has looked wise early on as Giles has struggled with home runs, but his troubles don’t figure to last long based on his track record and a strong 9-to-1 K/BB ratio through his first six appearances. Had Giles been placed into the ninth inning right away, he’d have hit arbitration following the 2017 season with nearly three full seasons as a closer under his belt and potentially had a case to top Rosenthal’s first-time record. Keeping him in the eighth inning could keep his future arbitration earnings more manageable and also allows manager A.J. Hinch to use him in higher-leverage situations as opposed to holding out for the ninth inning, as many managers tend to do with their best relievers.
Jeremy Jeffress, Brewers: The 28-year-old Jeffress was originally slated to share the ninth inning with Will Smith, but when Smith suffered a torn LCL in Spring Training, Jeffress received sole ownership of the ninth inning and has run with it through the first two weeks of the season. A full year of saves won’t get him into Rosenthal territory, but Jeffress could compare nicely with Tolleson if he holds onto the ninth inning all season. Smith, of course, is still attempting to return, but it’s easy enough to imagine Jeffress simply holding onto the ninth, if he’s pitching well, even if Smith proved able to pitch in 2016. Jeffress arbitration eligible for the first time in the 2016-17 offseason.
Jeanmar Gomez, Phillies: The 28-year-old received a save opp only after David Hernandez and Dalier Hinojosa blew their first opportunities, but he’s converted on four straight since getting his first chance. Gomez doesn’t have the traditional high strikeout rates or hard velocity that come with most closers, but he’s been an effective reliever and could cash in significantly this winter if the Phillies entrust him with ninth-inning duties all year. Gomez personifies the lack of earning power for low-leverage middle relievers; he’s earning $1.4MM this season after his second trip through arbitration despite a combined 3.19 ERA in 217 1/3 relief innings across the past three seasons. The Phillies ’pen could be the biggest carousel of any listed here (or of any in MLB), so perhaps Gomez’s mention here merits the “barring a change” caveat more than any of the others. For now, the ninth inning appears to be his, though.
Roberto Osuna/Drew Storen, Blue Jays: Toronto went the opposite route of the Astros, allowing their excellent young reliever to continue to pitch in the ninth inning despite having an experienced veteran alternative in Storen. Assuming he holds the job and isn’t sent down to the minors at any point, Osuna will hit arbitration following the 2017 season with three seasons’ worth of saves under his belt. That’s a recipe for a significant payday, but the Jays opted not to tinker with a role that worked quite well for Osuna in 2015. I listed Storen also due to the fact that while the impact on free agency is lesser, there’s no doubt that he’d have had a more compelling free agent case this coming winter were he coming off a full season as a closer. Instead, he’s slated to hit the open market one and a half seasons removed from his most recent ninth-inning work.
Kevin Jepsen, Twins: Jepsen is in the ninth inning out of necessity for the Twins following another injury to Glen Perkins. There’s no timetable on Perkins’ return, and while Jepsen isn’t likely to stick in this role all season, another successful run as an interim closer — he filled this role quite well for the Twins last year when Perkins was also hurt — would be a nice added bonus to his free-agent stock this coming offseason.

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