Cal Leaguers in the Arizona Fall League

I'm going to cover players that have participated in the Cal League in 2010. Obviously each parent club is sending a handful of guys to Arizona and there are plenty of former Cal Leaguers, but I think the most relevant ones for my purposes are only the ones that have spent time in the league in 2010. For batters, the slash stats are BA/OBP/SLG.

Mesa Solar Sox (Rancho Cucamonga/Anaheim)
Robert Fish, LHP (AA Arkansas)
2-0 16 IP 2 GF 1.13 ERA .94 WHIP 8 BB 25 K .132 BAA with RC

Robert Fish's career as a starter wasn't going very well, so the Angels moved him to the bullpen where he broke out at the beginning of the year with Rancho Cucamonga. He was quickly promoted to Arkansas and has struggled very badly. His arm can handle some more innings, and he needs them against quality hitters.

Steven Geltz, RHP (AA Arkansas)
3-1 34 IP 2 SV 3.44 ERA .88 WHIP 10 BB 51 K .167 BAA with RC

Steven Geltz went undrafted out of Buffalo, and a good performance in the AFL could continue making the other 29 organizations regret letting him slip through the cracks. His strikeout rate is getting a little ridiculous, but so is his walk rate. He'll need to work on his control this winter but still maintain that strikeout stuff.

Eddie McKiernan, RHP (Rancho Cucamonga)
3-2 53.2 IP 27 SV 3.52 ERA 1.23 WHIP 20 BB 55 K .230 BAA with RC

Eddie McKiernan is interesting to me. He signed out of high school, and he went right to the bullpen in professional baseball. This is his second year with the Quakes, and he improved on his numbers this time around. Hie strikeout numbers aren't overwhelming, and the AFL will be his toughest challenge yet.

Kyle Smit, RHP (formerly of Inland Empire)
5-3 50.2 IP 6 SV 2.49 ERA 1.20 WHIP 10 BB 46 K .262 BAA with IE

Kyle Smit has been fairly hittable since joining the professional ranks, but his control has improved as he's become more experienced. His strikeout rates are decent, and this is by far his best professional season. The Cubs thought enough to acquire him in the Lilly/Theriot deal, and he can keep up the momentum in the AFL.

Peoria Javelinas (High Desert/Seattle, Lancaster/Houston)
Maikel Cleto, RHP (High Desert)
4-9 95.2 IP 20 GS 6.59 ERA 1.71 WHIP 43 BB 80 K .311 BAA with HD

Maikel Cleto has one of the best fastballs in the minors, but it hasn't led to much success this year. It's not just because he plays at High Desert either. Cleto has struggled on the road too, and his control has taken a complete nosedive in August. The Mariners want him to get some extra work in after missing over a month this season due to injury.

Kyle Greenwalt, RHP (Lancaster)
8-7 133.2 IP 26 GS 5.72 ERA 1.67 WHIP 42 BB 89 K .324 BAA with LAN

Kyle Greenwalt was pitching well early in the season before an ankle injury sidelined him for a few turns in the rotation. He hasn't been the same since, and I think the AFL assignment serves two purposes. He can pitch some innings and make up for some of the time he missed and get a tough challenge against experienced hitters.

Patrick Urckfitz, LHP (Corpus Christi)
5-9 104.2 IP 12 GS 4.13 ERA 1.40 WHIP 32 BB 103 K .290 BAA with LAN

Patrick Urckfitz is quite a success story. The Astros signed him as an undrafted free agent from Monroe Community College (Tim Redding appears to be their only MLB player.) This year, Urckfitz was moved to the rotation for the first time in his pro career. The AFL will be an opportunity for him to get more innings under his belt.

Nate Tenbrink, INF/OF (AA West Tenn)
175 AB .377/.449/.646 38 R 9 HR 42 RBI 14/15 SB with HD

It didn't take long for Seattle to decide that a stint in High Desert was a waste of time for Nate Tenbrink. He has good athleticism, but was the power a product of High Desert? He has more extra base hits at High Desert in fewer at bats than he has with West Tenn. The at bats in the AFL can prove the power wasn't a fluke.

Peoria Saguaros (Lake Elsinore/San Diego)
Brad Brach, RHP (Lake Elsinore)
5-2 61 IP 40 SV 2.51 ERA .90 WHIP 10 BB 68 K .202 BAA with LE

Brad Brach has been one of the low minors' best closers the last two seasons, and as a 24 year old, it's time for him to start showing it against more experienced batters. Everything about his transition from college starter to professional closing has been smooth, but he'll face his toughest competition yet in Arizona.

Cole Figueroa, 2B (Lake Elsinore)
457 AB .300/.407/.392 83 R 4 HR 63 RBI 23/32 SB with LE

Cole Figueroa has shown a knack for getting on base, and that ability at the top of Lake Elsinore's lineup has been really important. He has some decent athleticism, playing time at both middle infield positions in his career, and this season he stole 20 bases. He needs to hit for a little more power.

Phoenix Desert Dogs (Inland Empire/Los Angeles, Stockton/Oakland)
Matt Wallach, C (AA Chattanooga)
243 AB .263/.313/.444 40 R 8 HR 31 RBI 0/3 SB with IE

Matt Wallach hit very well in two years with the Pioneer League, but in his first year in a full season league in 2009, he struggled. 2010 has kind of been in the middle. Since his promotion to AA, he's started walking more, which is always good. His CS% have been very good, so defense is likely his strength. Matt Wallach's brother Brett will play for the Peoria Chiefs.

Grant Green, SS (Stockton)
524 AB .315/.360/.517 96 R 19 HR 83 RBI 9/14 SB with STO

After a slow start to the season, Grant Green adjusted to professional baseball and is hitting for a lot more power. He's been a huge part of Stockton's second half turnaround, and it looks like he's on track like Oakland hoped when they took him in the 1st round last year. He's likely going to the AFL to get more reps at shortstop to see if he can stick at the position.

Stephen Parker, 3B (Stockton)
500 AB .294/.390/.504 96 R 20 HR 92 RBI 3/4 with STO

Stephen Parker has been one of the league's most consistent hitters this year, his lowest monthly OPS being .825. He struggled with A Kane County last year, but this year he's been the typical Oakland hitter, taking walks and getting extra base hits. Like Green, they likely want to see him improve on his defense.

Scottsdale Scorpions (Modesto/Colorado, San Jose/San Francisco, Visalia/Arizona)
Rex Brothers, LHP (AA Tulsa)
0-2 37 IP 3 SV 2.68 ERA 1.05 WHIP 19 BB 43 K .165 BAA with MOD

After Casey Weathers needed Tommy John surgery, the Rockies went back to the RP in round 1 well and chose Rex Brothers. Although he started at Lipscomb, the Rockies felt his stuff worked best in the bullpen, and it would allow him to advance through the system quickly. He needs to work on his control, which has been a problem with Tulsa (6.6 BB/9).

Josh Collmenter, RHP (AA Mobile)
2-0 15 IP 3 GS 2.40 ERA .93 WHIP 3 BB 21 K .204 BAA with Visalia

Josh Collmenter's second stint in Visalia was brief, and I wonder why they bothered in the first place. He struggled with his control in AAA, but he went back to Mobile and started dominating again. At 24 years old, he'll have to prove that he's a viable ML pitcher and not just an organizational arm. He'll face some tough competition in the AFL.

Adam Jorgenson, RHP (AA Tulsa)
0-2 39.1 IP 24 SV 1.60 ERA 1.12 WHIP 13 BB 47 K .208 BAA with MOD

Adam Jorgenson spent most of the year at the end of a deep bullpen as Modesto's closer. He's had nothing but success in pro baseball since being drafted in 2008, but as a player drafted as a college senior, he's been older than most of his competition. Going to the AFL could prove he can get hitters out in the higher levels of the minors.

Bryan Woodall, RHP (AA Mobile)
5-3 37.2 IP 9 SV 2.15 ERA 1.22 WHIP 10 BB 51 K .245 BAA with Visalia

For most of his tenure with Visalia, Bryan Woodall's statistics were comically good. He struggled just before his promotion, and at Mobile he's just been pretty good. What he did with Visalia might be a fluke looking at the rest of his career so far, but it's clear that he has control and the ability to strike guys out at these levels.

Jordan Pacheco, C (AA Tulsa)
390 AB .321/.407/.444 59 R 5 HR 70 RBI 5/11 SB with MOD

Pacheco got the call to AA after Wilin Rosario tore a knee ligament, and after some early struggles he's holding his own. All of a sudden, he's not walking, which I think is a problem because it's been one of the best parts of his game. In the AFL, he can continue to work on his defense and becoming a better catcher.

Brandon Belt, 1B/LF (AAA Fresno)
269 AB .383/.492/.628 62 R 10 HR 62 RBI 18/25 SB with San Jose

There isn't much left to say about Belt. He conquered the Cal League, went to AA Richmond and dominated there too, and now he's adjusting to AAA. There was some buzz that he might reach the majors this year, but it looks like it won't happen. I expect he'll get some time in LF, and that could give him a lot more value.

Charlie Culberson, 2B (San Jose)
482 AB .297/.348/.465 76 R 15 HR 70 RBI 23/30 SB with SJ

After two disappointing seasons with A Augusta, Charlie Culberson is finally breaking out like the Giants expected when they took him in the first round in 2007. His power has been much better than in previous years, and he adds some nice athleticism too. Is it a fluke, or has he turned the corner?

Marc Krauss, OF (Visalia)
511 AB .305/.374/.519 104 R 25 HR 84 RBI 1/4 SB with VIS

Marc Krauss has had a very good year, and it landed him on the postseason All-Star team. Reports are he's not a great fielder and his bat will need to carry him through the system. He's hit for good power, but he strikes out a lot and needs to improve his plate approach. The pitchers in the AFL will test his swing.

Surprise Rafters (Bakersfield/Texas)
Adalberto Flores, RHP (AA Frisco)
1-1 7.2 IP 2 SV 4.70 ERA 1.44 WHIP 6 BB 9 K .185 BAA with BAK

Honestly, I can't find much info on Adalberto Flores. He was originally drafted by Florida, but he didn't pitch in 2006-2007 and resurfaced in the Texas organization. He's big and has some good strikeout numbers, but other than that he seems to be pretty pedestrian. Obviously they think he has some potential or he wouldn't be headed to the AFL.

Danny Gutierrez, RHP (Bakersfield)
1-4 31.1 IP 6 GS 5.17 ERA 1.56 WHIP 12 BB 30 K .306 BAA with BAK

Danny Gutierrez lost a lot of time this season due to a 50 game suspension, and he already missed a lot of time last year because of an injury. The AFL assignment will be critical in getting innings and continuing his development with so much missed time. He has not been good in 2010, and the Rangers certainly expect more.

Tim Murphy, LHP (AA Frisco)
2-1 36 IP 4 GF 3.25 ERA 1.42 WHIP 24 BB 23 K .225 BAA with BAK

After a tough season as a starter for Bakersfield last year, Tim Murphy was moved to the bullpen. Initially, he really struggled with his control (more walks than strikeouts with the Blaze,) but all of a sudden in AA it hasn't been an issue. 1.4 BB/9 might be tough to maintain, but he can prove his new ability to throw strikes isn't a fluke.

Jose Felix, C (AA Frisco)
248 AB .282/.326/.367 27 R 2 HR 31 RBI 2/2 SB with BAK

Jose Felix has always been a light hitting catcher, and that didn't change this year. In the future, that's going to have to get at least a little better at some point, but for now I'm sure Texas is thrilled that he throws out so many baserunners. The more AB the better, and maybe the AFL can help him develop a plate approach.

Davis Stoneburner, 2B (Bakersfield)
390 AB .287/.359/.477 64 R 13 HR 49 RBI 15/19 SB with BAK

Davie Stoneburner has become a Bakersfield veteran at this point, finally breaking out in 2010 in his age 25 season. That's way too old for a player in High A, and a stint in the AFL will help him gain experience against higher level pitching that he hasn't had yet. Stoneburner has more home runs this year than he did in the rest of his career.

Engel Beltre, CF (AA Frisco)
263 AB .331/.376/.460 38 R 5 HR 35 RBI 10/17 SB with BAK

Engel Beltre has a lot of tools, and those translated into better performance at Bakersfield in 2010. He's back to being pretty unproductive in AA, but he's young and it takes times for guys like Beltre. The AFL experience will be good for him. He'll get more at bats to refine his game and hopefully develop a better plate approach.

It's important to note that the Giants haven't finished selecting players yet and still have to name some pitchers to their roster. If Eric Surkamp is healthy, I could definitely see him representing San Francisco to make up the time he's missed the last one and a half months. A player or two could change here and there otherwise, but those are the guys currently scheduled to participate.

I plan on having winter league coverage here, but since these guys won't always play, I don't expect to do daily entries on the AFL and various Caribbean Leagues. We'll see how it goes.