Callis: Pompey is the best all-around player in Arizona

[TwistedLogic]

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By Jim Callis / MLB.com | @JimCallisMLB | 9:53 AM ET

 

There's a good amount of subjectivity regarding baseball prospects. With the evaluation of talent being in the eye of the beholder, finding consensus

is often difficult. Even Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLBPipeline.com don't always see eye to eye. They discuss their viewpoints regularly in a feature

called Pipeline Perspectives. Submit a topic for them to debate.

 

The Arizona Fall League is known for speeding talented prospects to the Major Leagues.

 

Chris Cron, last year's AFL batting champion, became a key cog in the American League West-champion Angels' lineup this season. Andrew Susac won a

World Series ring with the Giants a year after topping the league in on-base percentage. Pitchers Kenny Giles and Marcus Stroman overpowered hitters

for the Phillies and Blue Jays just as they did in Arizona the previous offseason.

 

This year, the league is also known for its speedsters. Scottsdale Scorpions center fielder Roman Quinn (Phillies) tops the league with 13 steals and might

be the fastest player around, though he has plenty of competition.

 

Surprise Saguaros center fielder Mallex Smith (Padres) led the Minors with 88 swipes during the regular season. Glendale Desert Dogs shortstop Tim

Anderson (White Sox) and Saguaros shortstop Trea Turner (Padres) were first-round Draft picks in large part because of their speed. Peoria Javelinas left

fielder C.J. McElroy (Cardinals) turned down a scholarship to play wide receiver at the University of Houston and collected 60 infield hits this season.

 

But none of them is the best speed-oriented player in the league. That distinction belongs to Mesa Solar Sox center fielder Dalton Pompey, a Blue Jays

prospect. He may not be as quick as Quinn, who is Jonathan Mayo's choice as the best speedster in Arizona, but Pompey has a broader base of tools and

skills.

 

Drafted out of an Ontario secondary school in the 16th round of the 2010 Draft, Pompey signed for $150,000 and developed slowly. He didn't graduate to

full-season ball until his fourth year as a pro and he didn't truly break out until his fifth. He began 2014 in high Class A and earned a promotion to Double-A

in June, a trip to the Futures Game in July and a boost to Triple-A in August, hitting a combined .317/.392/.469 with nine homers and 43 steals.

 

The Blue Jays called up Pompey in September and eased him in slowly before starting him in the final 10 games of the season. He homered off the Mariners'

Felix Hernandez on Sept. 23 and doubled once and tripled twice against the Orioles' Chris Tillman three days later. With Colby Rasmus departing as a free

agent and Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar yet to prove they can consistently hit big league pitching, Toronto's center-field job is Pompey's for the taking.

 

A switch-hitter, he has a sound swing and is equally adept from both sides of the plate. His quickness helps him beat out hits, and he also controls the strike

zone nicely and draws his share of walks. While he's not a slugger, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has more power than the typical speedster -- as Hernandez

and Tillman learned firsthand.

 

He'll be just 22 next season and will need more time to develop, but once he settles in he projects to be a .280 hitter with double-digit home run power

and 30 steals a year. That said, his best tool may be his defense.

 

Pompey enhances his plus speed with quality reads and jumps, making him a potential Gold Glover in center field. He throws better than most players at

that position, a testament to his hard work considering that he had below-average arm strength when he turned pro.

 

His instincts in all phases of the game and his makeup earn positive reviews as well.

 

"He's very respectful, very intelligent," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said in September. "Carries himself like a pro, and you combine what he's doing

on the field -- he's flew through the system this year at a young age."

 

Quinn has true 80 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, so he'd beat Pompey in a footrace. But Pompey is a better hitter, has more power and plays better

defense in center field. And it's not a matter of age, because he's just five months older than Quinn despite finishing this season three levels ahead of him.

 

Pompey has continued to stand out with the Solar Sox, batting .283/.358/.417 with six extra-base hits and eight steals in 15 games through Wednesday.

He's the most talented speedster and best all-around player in the Fall League.

 

Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, Callis' Corner. Follow @jimcallisMLB on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major

League Baseball or its clubs.

[sdyment]

Thanks for that Logic.

 

Lots to look forward to in the future.

[G-Snarls]

f*** yes

[gruber92]

His approach at the plate is advanced for a player his age, combine that with a short compact swing that doesn't have many moving parts, he'll be a successful MLB player.

 

Brett Lawrie take notes please.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

This is Great news! can we just trade Gose now for something we need? Please, Rat Boy be gone! Lol

[Maahfaace]

This is Great news! can we just trade Gose now for something we need? Please, Rat Boy be gone! Lol

 

thats what they did with yan gomes.....they sould wait a bit

[TBJ12]

His approach at the plate is advanced for a player his age, combine that with a short compact swing that doesn't have many moving parts, he'll be a successful MLB player.

 

Brett Lawrie take notes please.

 

What is it Brett Lawrie is supposed to be taking notes on?

[Key22]

I wish this GM would bite the bullet and realize we're not close enough to compete - BUT that we have some young core pieces that look pretty good - I saw Pompey only once when he had that ridiculous game where he was making spectacular caches and hitting triples and I know you can't base it on one game but he sure looked like a 5 tool player to me.

 

The Jays trade Lind the OPS machine against RHP and replace him with a place holder and a 5th starter.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to build the team around Sanchez, Stroman, Pompey, Pentacost and some of the other young pitchers and then make a big Marlins like trade to teams looking to get back in and who can trade us some up an coming positional talent to go with the pitching.

 

Something like Bautista and Beurhle to Texas. MB's contract is a bit high but in a package with Bautista whose contract is very low for what he brings the two contracts together are offset. I'd have to think a lot of teams would like a number 3 soft number 2 starter and an elite RF bat number 3-4 hitter.

 

A follow up trade of EE/Reyes and Dickey(and Thole) would also be attractive because EE's and Dickey's low contracts for what they do would offset Reyes. The other team could move Reyes to left, second or third (or just live with the defense as the Yankees always did) and get an elite bat and #3 innings eating starter.

 

This would clear 70 million and bring in some young pieces. Bring in young SS, 2B, and a couple of power bats. In a couple years we could be KC but with more money

[Jimcanuck]

I wish this GM would bite the bullet and realize we're not close enough to compete - BUT that we have some young core pieces that look pretty good - I saw Pompey only once when he had that ridiculous game where he was making spectacular caches and hitting triples and I know you can't base it on one game but he sure looked like a 5 tool player to me.

 

The Jays trade Lind the OPS machine against RHP and replace him with a place holder and a 5th starter.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to build the team around Sanchez, Stroman, Pompey, Pentacost and some of the other young pitchers and then make a big Marlins like trade to teams looking to get back in and who can trade us some up an coming positional talent to go with the pitching.

 

Something like Bautista and Beurhle to Texas. MB's contract is a bit high but in a package with Bautista whose contract is very low for what he brings the two contracts together are offset. I'd have to think a lot of teams would like a number 3 soft number 2 starter and an elite RF bat number 3-4 hitter.

 

A follow up trade of EE/Reyes and Dickey(and Thole) would also be attractive because EE's and Dickey's low contracts for what they do would offset Reyes. The other team could move Reyes to left, second or third (or just live with the defense as the Yankees always did) and get an elite bat and #3 innings eating starter.

 

This would clear 70 million and bring in some young pieces. Bring in young SS, 2B, and a couple of power bats. In a couple years we could be KC but with more money

 

Agree 100#. Jays do not have/cannot afford an ace. Very few teams have won without one. Need to trade aging vets for youth and wait for one of these pitching prospects become ace calibre or alternatively use the money freed up to get one.

[Ziggyy108]

I wish this GM would bite the bullet and realize we're not close enough to compete - BUT that we have some young core pieces that look pretty good - I saw Pompey only once when he had that ridiculous game where he was making spectacular caches and hitting triples and I know you can't base it on one game but he sure looked like a 5 tool player to me.

 

The Jays trade Lind the OPS machine against RHP and replace him with a place holder and a 5th starter.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to build the team around Sanchez, Stroman, Pompey, Pentacost and some of the other young pitchers and then make a big Marlins like trade to teams looking to get back in and who can trade us some up an coming positional talent to go with the pitching.

 

Something like Bautista and Beurhle to Texas. MB's contract is a bit high but in a package with Bautista whose contract is very low for what he brings the two contracts together are offset. I'd have to think a lot of teams would like a number 3 soft number 2 starter and an elite RF bat number 3-4 hitter.

 

A follow up trade of EE/Reyes and Dickey(and Thole) would also be attractive because EE's and Dickey's low contracts for what they do would offset Reyes. The other team could move Reyes to left, second or third (or just live with the defense as the Yankees always did) and get an elite bat and #3 innings eating starter.

 

This would clear 70 million and bring in some young pieces. Bring in young SS, 2B, and a couple of power bats. In a couple years we could be KC but with more money

 

Sounds good to me ...

[Atothe]

I wish this GM would bite the bullet and realize we're not close enough to compete - BUT that we have some young core pieces that look pretty good - I saw Pompey only once when he had that ridiculous game where he was making spectacular caches and hitting triples and I know you can't base it on one game but he sure looked like a 5 tool player to me.

 

The Jays trade Lind the OPS machine against RHP and replace him with a place holder and a 5th starter.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to build the team around Sanchez, Stroman, Pompey, Pentacost and some of the other young pitchers and then make a big Marlins like trade to teams looking to get back in and who can trade us some up an coming positional talent to go with the pitching.

 

Something like Bautista and Beurhle to Texas. MB's contract is a bit high but in a package with Bautista whose contract is very low for what he brings the two contracts together are offset. I'd have to think a lot of teams would like a number 3 soft number 2 starter and an elite RF bat number 3-4 hitter.

 

A follow up trade of EE/Reyes and Dickey(and Thole) would also be attractive because EE's and Dickey's low contracts for what they do would offset Reyes. The other team could move Reyes to left, second or third (or just live with the defense as the Yankees always did) and get an elite bat and #3 innings eating starter.

 

This would clear 70 million and bring in some young pieces. Bring in young SS, 2B, and a couple of power bats. In a couple years we could be KC but with more money

 

Bad idea to trade Buehrle and/or Dickey, they provide innings that allow the younger guys to develop at a steady pace. Very much needed. Until Stroshow and hutch can go back to back 200 innings I'd opt to keep Buehrle and Dickey. Bautista is always a good trade candidate because he's a stud and people love studs.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

if you do those trades right and grab a couple arms too you would not need dickey or buehrle's innings!

 

We would more then 8 arms as starter types, go to 4 man rotation a super piggy back system!

Each would make 20.25 starts x 5-6 innings a start. And relief of 2-3 innings ! Flip every 5 starts or every other I don't care! If I do the math right this could mean innings could fall in the 143-183 range for the season, use a 3 or 4 man pen.If the young arms start you can fill the pen with Delbar Loup Cecil and Graveman and still have Redman and Happ or trade them!

[Key22]

Bad idea to trade Buehrle and/or Dickey, they provide innings that allow the younger guys to develop at a steady pace. Very much needed. Until Stroshow and hutch can go back to back 200 innings I'd opt to keep Buehrle and Dickey. Bautista is always a good trade candidate because he's a stud and people love studs.

 

I get what you're saying - you want to have some innings eaters who are reliable so we don't have to rush the kids. But I think that you have to move MB if you can. He's got 1 year left - if he has a good season the Jays qualify him - $15.5 million do we do it? We need to if we want a draft pick.

 

With my proposals (and there would be teams out there who would probably seriously consider both packages and trade 4-5 high ceiling prospects our way). Remember we would be offloading 70 million in payroll. You can buy a lot of Estrada 150 inning types for 70 million. We would take a step back for a year or two - perhaps finish last in the division next year BUT we'd have a pretty solid young team.

 

When AA picked up Smoak I kind of thought he was going to trade the team. Smoak is a guy you pick up to play until a kid is ready. Estrada and Happ and Redmond and Jenkins are all a bunch of long reliever 5th starter types to fill the spot until the high ceiling stud is ready.