Dalton Moats: From KC HS Pitcher to MLB Prospect

First of all let me say that sometimes I get things right. I wrote a story here a few years ago about seeing young Dalton Moats in Florida pitching in a future stars game and he impressed me enough to write an article about what I saw. See article HERE that I wrote in December 2011.

Then I did a follow-up the next summer as I traveled the roads of Missouri. I caught his pitching in a summer league game and penned this ARTICLE in April 2012.

This now brings us to today. Moats has completed his regular season of his senior year and amassed some numbers that are bringing the scouts out to watch. He has been courted by many college scouts throughout the last few years and was able to narrow his choice and make his decision to play Division 1 baseball at Coastal Carolina.

But it has gone beyond that. The unassuming lefthander from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri left an array of pitching stats and numbers to raise the eyebrows of the major league scouts. Let sort through some of these outstanding numbers and look at what they are seeing.

It is every baseball players’ goal when in high school to play on the Varsity squad as much as possible as soon as they can. For Moats, he got his pitching chance during his sophomore season where he pitched in 4 games and came away with a 1-0 record. In that season he threw 150 pitches and 90 of them were for strikes. He was showing promise to his varsity coach during that season. In fact his High School coach, Greg Reynolds, had this to say in an article recently published in the Kansas City Star:

“We thought of him as a center fielder first and maybe a (No.) 3 or 4 pitcher on our staff,” Reynolds said of his future. “He came back his junior year, though, and he was a totally different kid. We didn’t even recognize him.”

His parents saw potential for Dalton and acted upon their responsibilities to see that he got the best help needed as he began working with a personal trainer and coach to improve his game. Then along came the junior season where he blossomed as a left-handed starter. His numbers became skewed towards the side of beyond the realm of possibility. Junior season saw his record end at 5-1 and a 0.94 ERA. Along with that, he walked 13 and fanned 86 batters in 51.2 innings. In that year he threw 771 pitches and 496 were strikes. This means 64% of his pitches were strikes.

Now we enter his senior season and all eyes throughout Kansas City and now the collegiate world is watching his every diamond move. Every chance for failure is there. It didn’t happen. As stated in the KC Star article:

Moats thinks the roots of his success are buried deeper than his pitching armory. Half the battle, he explains, is mental.

Now let’s look at some jaw-dropping stats from his senior season. He threw 55 innings and had a 5-0 record and a 0.63 ERA. He hurled 758 pitches and had 531 recorded as strikes for 70% strikes. Opponents managed 24 hits off of him for the year.

It is easy to see why the colleges were coveting this 6’3” lefty from Kansas City. Each game the pressure was placed on him and he came through flawlessly in front of many scouts. He was given several collegiate offers and made a decision to attend Coastal Carolina in the fall.

The story doesn’t end there. In fact, it is still being written. Now the Major League scouts have taken notice and are nipping at his heels. When June 6^th, the MLB draft, gets here the baseball world will likely hear the name of Dalton Moats being called.

This author is sure of one thing. The decision that is made will find Dalton Moats on the field learning his trade and never taking anything for granted.

His family raised him that way.

By: Tom on May 21st, 2013
Tagged as: MLB Banter

Cardinals Affiliates All Lose on Sunday

Peoria Chiefs lost 5-2 to Clinton

• Jacob Wilson 2 hits
• Charlie Tilson 1 RBI
• Josh Lucas LP (6.1IP, 10H, 5R, 1BB, 3K)

Palm Beach Cardinals were defeated 1-0 to Jupiter

• 1B Jonathan Rodriguez had 3 of the teams 4 hits
• Jonathan Cornelius (7IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 1K)
• Heath Wyatt LP (2IP, 2H, 1R, 1BB, 1K)

Springfield Cardinals lost 5-3 to Arkansas

• Mike O’Neill 2 hits and 1 RBI
• Xavier Scruggs a double and 1 RBI
• Jake Lemmerman 1 RBI
• Seth Blair (6IP, 6H, 3ER, 0BB, 6K)
• Kevin Thomas was losing pitcher (1-1)

Memphis Redbirds lost 6-5 to Tacoma by allowing a run in 9^th

• Brock Peterson 2 hits including a home run
• Jamie Romak 2 hits
• Jermaine Curtis 2 RBI’s
• Maikel Cleto (5IP, 5H, 5ER, 3BB, 5K)
• Jorge Rondon LP in 0.1 innings (1H 1R) (record now is 1-5)

By: Tom on May 20th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

Carson Kelly Homers; Ryan Jackson Boosts Average to .385; Cardinal Farm Results

The Peoria Chiefs were winners on Friday 5-1 over Clinton LumberKings in a rain soaked game that I was in attendance to witness Tyrell Jenkins. Jenkins was the winning pitchers as he lasted 5 innings and allowed 4 hits and one solo home run. After the rain delay Joseph Donofrio pitched 3 scoreless innings and recorded a hold while Zachary Petrick got the save with no runs allowed in the 9^th inning. Carson Kelly hit his 1^st home run of the season to attain 2 RBI’s while Breyvic Valera, Patrick Wisdom and Jacob Wilson each contributed with a run batted in.

Palm Beach lost 2-1 as Jupiter scored in the 9^th inning off of Jose Almarante to win it. Ryan Sheriff started and went 5 innings allowing 4 hits and 1 run but he walked 4 batters in the game. Jonathan Rodriguez got 2 hits including a double and Stephen Piscotty got the other extra base hit by doubling in the 6^th inning. Danny Steinstra recorded the only RBI for the Cardinals.

Springfield Cardinals lost 7-6 to Arkansas as Deryk Hooker took the loss in relief of Anthony Ferrara who hurled 5 innings and allowed 5 runs in the game. The Cardinals did hit 3 home runs in the game with them coming from Starlin Rodriguez, Luis Mateo and Xavier Scruggs (11^th).

Memphis Redbirds traveled to Tacoma and scored 4 runs in the 9^th inning to win 7-4. J.R Towles homered in the game as did Ryan Jackson. Jackson boosted his average to .385 for the season with 3 hits in 5 at bats. Tyler Lyons went 5.1 innings from the mound and gave up 6 hits and 3 runs but fanned 7 in the game. Barret Browning (1-2) picked up the win in relief.

By: Tom on May 18th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

Cardinal Affiliates Results; Ryan Jackson Moves Average to .376

Memphis Redbirds scored one run in the 10^th inning to defeat Tacoma. Ryan Jackson continued his torrid hitting with 2 hits to move his average up to .376 on the year. Kolten Wong had 2 hits and 1 RBI
in the win. Michael Wacha threw 7 solid innings allowing 4 hits and 1 run while fanning 8 batters. Victor Marte blew the save but picked up the win.

Springfield Cardinals lost to Tulsa in 15 innings 2-1. Ruben Gotay and Luis Mateo each had 2 hits and James Ramsey walked 3 times in the game. Jake Lemmerman got the lone RBI for the Cardinals. Scott McGregor had 7 very good innings on the mound but giving up 5 hits and 1 runs and also struck out 8 batters. Nick Greenwood took the loss.

Palm Beach defeated Lakeland 4-2 with Scott Gorgon getting his 3^rd win of the season. Danny Miranda picked up the hold and Ronald Shaban his 4^th save. Palm Beach scattered 6 hits but the big blow was a 3^rd inning homer by Nick Longmire. Danny Steinstra and Matt Williams each got an RBI in the win.

Peoria Chiefs were winners 8-2 over Kane County on Thursday to even their record at 19-19. Ildemaro Vargas had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s to lead the Chiefs to victory. Silfredo Garcia started and got the win in 6 innings of work on the mound. Sam Tuivailala pitched the last inning and allowed no runs and fanned 2 Cougar batters.

By: Tom on May 17th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

St. Louis Cardinals were rolling with a 2-0 lead until Rick Ankiel tied it in the 7^th to rob Shelby Miller of the win. A go-ahead single by Tony Cruz and an added RBI single from Yadier Molina sealed the deal as St. Louis defeated the Mets for the 3^rd time in a row. Edward Mujica got his 11^th save in 11 chances and Seth Maness got the win (3-0) in relief.

Memphis Redbirds defeated Tacoma 4-3 with Boone Whiting getting the win (1-0) with 5 innings on the mound and allowing 3 hits and 1 run. Marc Rzepcynski and Eric Fornataro each got a hold and Victor Marte recorded his 8^th save despite allowing a run. Ryan Jackson had 3 hits to improve his average to .372 and Brock Peterson got 2 hits in the win.

Springfield Cardinals defeated Tulsa 5-3 on Wednesday evening with Mike O’Neill (.347) and Adam Melker each contributing 3 hits to the win. Melker hit 2 home runs and drove in 3 runs. Richard Castillo picked up the win (3-3) with 7 innings of work allowing 4 hits and 1 run. Nick Greenwood got the hold and Keith Butler attained his 6^th save of the season.

Palm Beach was beaten by Lakeland 5-1. The Cardinals managed only 5 hits in the loss to see their record dip to 16-22. Jonathan Rodriguez managed 2 hits while Kyle Hald suffered the loss (1-3) by giving up 3 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings on the mound.

Peoria Chiefs was shutout 4-0 at Kane County. The Chiefs only got 3 hits in the game and made one error. Joe Cuda took the loss as he moves to 2-2 on the season. Cuda fanned 9 batters but allowed 3 runs.

By: Tom on May 16th, 2013
Tagged as: Cardinals

John Gast – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (70 pitches/47 strikes) in Major League Debut for St. Louis Cardinals. Cardinals Win 10-4 with home runs by Beltran (10) and Jay (4). Carlos Beltran knocked in 4 runs and Allen Craig gets 2 RBI’s.

Peoria Chiefs Win 8-4 at Kane County. WP: Hernandez (2-1). 2 hits each for Wilson, Tilson, Vargas & Martini. Chiefs are now 18-17 on the season.

Seth Blair goes a season high six innings with only two runs on five hits and six Ks. Springfield Cardinals win 4-2 in Tulsa. James Ramsey hits first AA homer and Chris Swauger goes 3-for-3.

Boone Whiting wins first AAA game with Memphis 4-3 winners over Fresno.  Ryan Jackson with 3 hits and average is now at .372.

Palm Beach loses 6-1 to Lakeland. Piscotty and Walsh 2 hits each. Travis Miller goes to 0-6 on season.

By: Tom on May 15th, 2013
Tagged as: Cardinals

How does the MLB Draft Bonus Pool Work? (from Baseball America)

Assigned pick values for the first 10 rounds of the 2013 draft have increased 8.2 percent from last year’s numbers, according to documents obtained by Baseball America. The total value for those rounds is $202,501,600.

The Astros, who own the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year, have the largest bonus pool at $11,698,800. The Nationals, who choose last in each round and gave up their top choice to sign free agent Rafael Soriano, have the smallest pool at $2,737,200.

The bonus pools cover the top 10 rounds and any bonus money paid in excess $100,000 to players drafted in rounds 11-40. If a player doesn’t sign in the first 10 rounds, his assigned value is removed from the team’s pool total.

A team that exceeds its bonus pool by 0-5 percent must pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. The penalties get much harsher after that: the loss of a first-round pick and a 75 percent tax for blowing past a bonus pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; the loss of first- and second-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and the loss of two-first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.

Last year, teams combined to spend 97 percent of their bonus pools and another $23.6 million on rounds 11-30. If they did the same in 2013, total draft spending would equal $220 million. That would be MLB’s second-highest draft expenditure ever, behind only 2011, which featured $228 million in bonuses and another $8.1 million in guaranteed salaries as part of major league contracts (which are no longer permitted for draftees).

(This article is from Baseball America)

The bonus pools for each of the 30 clubs:

2013 BONUS POOLS

Team     Picks      Team Total

Astros   10           $11,698,800

Cubs      10           $10,556,500

Rockies 11           $10,199,400

Marlins 12           $9,503,100

Pirates  11           $8,884,600

Royals   11           $8,290,700

Twins    10           $8,264,400

Yankees               12           $7,957,400

Diamondbacks  11           $7,229,600

Mets     11           $6,990,000

Cardinals              11           $6,907,900

Red Sox                10           $6,830,200

Padres  11           $6,808,900

Rays       11           $6,694,900

Rangers                11           $6,553,800

Tigers    11           $6,467,400

Blue Jays              10           $6,398,200

Orioles  11           $6,387,900

Indians 9              $6,188,800

Mariners              10           $6,132,700

Reds      11           $6,046,700

Phillies  11           $6,045,100

Athletics              12           $6,036,800

White Sox           10           $5,301,600

Dodgers               10           $5,211,700

Giants   10           $4,712,200

Braves  10           $4,522,300

Brewers               10           $3,944,600

Angels  9              $2,998,200

Nationals             9              $2,737,200

2013 Total            316         $202,501,600

2012 Total            338         $189,903,500

By: Tom on May 14th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

Memphis Redbirds gave up 3 runs in the 6^th inning to drop their game to Fresno 4-3. Maikel Cleto took the loss with 5 innings of work allowing 5 hits and 4 with 4 strikeouts and 4 walks. Jorge Rondon blew the save chance. Mitchell Boggs pitched a scoreless 8^th inning and Sam Freeman did the same in the 9^th. Justin Christian, Kolten Wong, Ryan Jackson and Chad Huffman each had 2 hits in the game.

Springfield Cardinals walloped Tulsa 10-4 last night. Ruben Gotay led the offense with 3 hits and Xavier Scruggs hammered his 10^th home run. Chris Swauger, James Ramsey and starting pitcher Tim Cooney each had 2 hits in the game. Cooney hurled 5 innings and gave up 5 hits and 3 runs while fanning 7 in the game.

Palm Beach Cardinals defeated Lakeland 7-0 as Jonathan Cornelius was fantastic on the mound with 7 innings of work. He allowed one hit and fanned 4 batters. Dean Kiekhefer and Ronald Shaban each pitched scoreless innings. Nick Longmire, Anthony Garcia and Jonathan Rodriguez each had 2 hits in the win.

Peoria Chiefs were blanked by Quad Cities 8-0 on Monday. The Chiefs committed 4 errors in the game as only 1 run was an earned run. Josh Lucas took the loss allowing 9 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings on the hill. Alex Mejia got 2 hits and Casey Rasmus banged a triple to see his average at .326 in the loss for the Chiefs.

By: Tom on May 14th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

The St. Louis Cardinals have two picks in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. The baseball draft is probably the most difficult of all professional sports to analyze have the first 5 picks. Every team has different needs and is looking for something to plug into their organization. So with that said, I am listing 4 players that the team may take in the first round. I have no allusions of having anything correct in doing this.

Billy McKinney- CF Plano West HS Texas

McKinney is a hitter. He may be a machine. No, not really but he can hit the ball well. As a center fielder, he has some slick tools that may fit into the Cardinals organization. With Taveras likely becoming a corner outfielder in the future, this may their pick for center field.

Andrew Thurman UC-Irvine

There is little doubt that the strength of this draft is in right handed pitchers. Thurman can hit 94-95 MPH and is known as a four pitch pitcher. This season he has refined his finesse pitching and is more draft-able.

Braden Shipley RHP Univ of Nevada

This righty has a mid-nineties fastball and a plus changeup. He may be the Best Player Available at the point in the draft that the Cardinals are selecting.

Jonathan Crawford RHP Florida

Teams love his 97 MPH pitches that have late sink to them. He has been working on a slider and it has plus potential. He has worked on his curve and change but they are not ready to pass through many levels at this time.

By: Tom on May 14th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise

St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Results for Sunday May 12, 2013

Memphis Redbirds were defeated by Fresno 7-4 in 11 innings on Sunday. Kolten Wong picked up 3 hits to move his average to .303 on the season. Oscar Taveras, Ryan Jackson and Justin Christian each collected 2 hits in the game. Nick Addition started the game and allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs and struck out 6 in his innings of work. Eduardo Sanchez blew a save chance in one-third of an inning by giving up 2 runs. Barett Browning took the loss with one inning and allowing 4 hits and 3 runs.

Springfield Cardinals were 7-4 winners in their game with Northwest Arkansas. Anthony Ferrara got the win (3-3) by pitching 6 innings and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. He also fanned 3 and walked 3 in the game. Justin Wright got his 3^rd hold and Keith Butler his 5^th save of the season. Mike O’Neill got 2 hits to improve his average to .340 and Tommy Pham garnered 2 RBI’s.

Palm Beach did not have a game.

Peoria Chiefs defeated Quad Cities 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. Breyvic Valera got 3 hits including a triple and Alex Mejia contributed with 2 triples and 2 RBI’s in the win. Kyle Helisek picked up the win (3-1) with 6 innings on the hill and giving up 3 hits and 2 earned runs. He was followed by Joe Donofrio getting his 1^st hold and Zachary Petrick getting his 5^th save.

By: Tom on May 13th, 2013
Tagged as: Minor League Noise