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Series Thread: Rangers Host The Twins August 31-Sept. 2

saddles

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saddles

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New prospect Abdiel Mendoza doesn't turn 20 until about 3 weeks from now.

Oakland Athletics 2018 top-50 prospects: Abdiel Mendoza, RHP — OaklandClubhouse


“[At the time of his signing], he was a good body, good delivery, fast arm kid out of Panama that we signed two years ago,” Feinstein said midseason. “We’ve seen his velo spike to where we think it is going to go.”

Mendoza’s current calling card is his curveball, which is a mid-70s, overhand breaker with an above-average spin rate that has the effect of pausing halfway to the plate before tumbling down. The pitch, which he can throw for strikes, is very difficult on lower-level hitters to time and has the makings of a plus offering in the major leagues.

Mendoza has also shown a good fastball command. He sat mostly in the 88-90 MPH range with Vermont, but he ticked up to 92 on occasion and there is a feeling that more velocity could come as Mendoza matures into his frame. At the A’s 2016 Instructs, Mendoza added a two-seam fastball and a two-seam change-up.

“He got pretty good depth on it and some movement going down. He threw it well,” A’s minor league pitching coordinator Gil Patterson said of the change-up.

Mendoza’s change-up is behind the other two in terms of development, but it holds promise. Patterson was pleased with how Mendoza progressed with the two-seam fastball and the change-up this season.

“They were both very usable for him this year,” Patterson said.

Listed at 5’11’’, 135 when he joined the organization, Mendoza has put on some good weight over the past two years, but he still has plenty of room to add more strength. Patterson believes that Mendoza may still end up being effective even if he doesn’t add weight, but he says Mendoza’s ceiling could be quite high with even a little bit of weight gain.

“From a prospect potential, he’s right up there with anyone we have, save for [A.J.] Puk and a couple of other guys. But I like him. I like him a lot,” Patterson said. “He throws strikes. And if he gains just a little bit more strength, look out.”

Mendoza has demonstrated impressive maturity, competing against players mostly 2-3 years his senior and adjusting well to the US style of play.

How Mendoza develops will – as is often the case with young pitchers – depend on the development of his third pitch. He is still several years from reaching the big leagues, but Mendoza’s arm speed and feel for his breaking ball make him one to watch. The A’s may hold Mendoza back in Arizona until the weather warms in the Midwest next spring, but he should see the bulk of his innings with Beloit.
 

saddles

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saddles

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Teodoro Ortega won't turn 19 until next ST. He hasn't pitched in the States yet.
 

saddles

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Oakland Athletics off-season Q&A: Gil Patterson, part two — OaklandClubhouse

OC: Teodoro Ortega and Wilkin Ramos were July 2nd signings this year who made their professional debuts at the Instructional League camp. How did they fare?



GP: I’ll tell you what. They did really well. Ramos, probably because of his size [he’s 6’5’’ and Ortega is 6’0’’], you may be a little bit more impressed with at this point, but they both filled up the strike-zone and they have a feel for a change-up and a breaking ball. Ramos might average a tick higher, but Ortega was pitching at 88 and Ramos at 89-91, which is great at their ages. Free, effortless deliveries. Whoever signed them did a heck of a job as far as getting guys who don’t need a lot of work. Heck, if you keep signing guys like that, you won’t need me around. They are awfully good.

 

Duane1952

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Thanks Saddles. Sounds like the Rangers received 2 pretty good arms. Pretty young though.
 

saddles

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Crouse and Hearn pitch tonight.
 

saddles

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I hope Sadzeck shows us something these last few weeks.
 

saddles

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I still don't understand why some team with playoff aspirations couldn't use Mike Minor in the pen for the rest of this year and then as a possible rotation candidate for the rest of his contract.

Also, I really hope the Rangers push a trade of Choo by offering to pay half of his salary this year and next and then 75% of it in 2020.
 

saddles

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saddles

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saddles

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donaldson79

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Also, I really hope the Rangers push a trade of Choo by offering to pay half of his salary this year and next and then 75% of it in 2020.

You'd think his power/pitch selection/OBP, plus a good attitude would be worth a lot to a team in the hunt. I'm with ya 100%.
 

DT LUNA

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You'd think his power/pitch selection/OBP, plus a good attitude would be worth a lot to a team in the hunt. I'm with ya 100%.
I vote yep.
 

DT LUNA

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Rangers taking back seat to High school football.
Game is on FS1.
 

BULLPEN FAILURE

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I still don't understand why some team with playoff aspirations couldn't use Mike Minor in the pen for the rest of this year and then as a possible rotation candidate for the rest of his contract.

Losing Minor puts a massive hole in our rotation next year, so I'm sure the asking price was more than what anyone was willing to spend.
 

Kelleyman

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Losing Minor puts a massive hole in our rotation next year, so I'm sure the asking price was more than what anyone was willing to spend.

And Gio G is picked up by Brew Crew.

Minor is valuable and the price is more than a reliever would cost. You are paying for his future as well
 

Kelleyman

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Interesting note
 

Kelleyman

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For those of you watching. I think Gallo makes the catch at the one just over Choo missed on the warning track.

We escape damage though. No score as the Rangers come to bat
 
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