The Hawaii Winter Baseball league currently boasts five first rounders, a handful of other top 100 prospects, and scores of guys who'll find themselves on their team's top ten lists. Project Prospect takes a look at some of the performances so far.
Baseball in Hawaii is growing. The winter league has seen a dramatic increase in player quality since reestablishing itself three years ago. Traditionally a pitcher-friendly league, last season the average HWB batter hit .254/.334/.388 in 2007, with Mat Gamel winning the league's MVP after a .333/.410/.608 winter session. The introduction of multiple high end polished young hitters will likely up the league's vital line but the HWB is still a strong, pitcher's league with overall quality somewhere in between High-A and Double-A.
Since many high profile draftees don't sign until mid-August and minor league seasons end in early September, players just starting their professional careers need a place to get their fee wet. Enter Hawaii. Three of the top 10 picks in this June's draft are on the big island, and the HWB is firmly establishing itself as a league on par with the Arizona Fall League.
Onto the individual action:
Yonder Alonso 1B - Waikiki BeachBoys (Reds) 14 games: .234/.368/.489
Nabbed by the Reds in the first round last year, Alonso signed late only getting into six FSL games before the season ended. More well rounded than he is sometimes given credit for, Alonso's calling cards are his power and patience. The Cuban born University of Miami star should shoot through Cincinnati's system.
Andrew Brackman SP - Waikiki BeachBoys (Yankees) 5 games: 19.2 IP, 12 BB, 20 K
Brackman's probably the most closely watched pitcher in Hawaii this winter. Despite being drafted in 2007, Brackman is just now making his professional debut after ungoing Tommy John surgery. Brackman's start, so far, has been inauspicious. In his first appearance Brackman allowed six earned runs in two and a third innings. Most recently, he struck out four batters in 5.0 innings while walking one and allowing five hits. The former NC State Wolfpack star is big and risky with an upside few young pitchers can match.
Jason Castro C - North Shore Honu (Astros) 14 games: .362/.456/.533
While Castro's development will always be juxtaposed with Justin Smoak's - who Houston passed on in the draft in order to grab Castro, widely considered a reach at the number 10 pick - Castro's doing his best to carve his own niche. Upon signing with the Astro's, Castro was sent to the New York-Penn league where he was solid, not spectacular, posting a .767 OPS. Catcher's with good contact skill, power potential, and plus defense are valuable commodities. That's how Castro ought to be viewed from now on.
Roger Kieshnick OF - Waikiki BeachBoys (Giants) 17 games: .288/.386/.559
While Buster Posey and Connor Gillspie will, and should, get more pub as 2008 draftees in the Giants' rebuilding process, Kieshnick should not be forgotten. Kieshnick was arguably the most talented college outfielder in last year's draft, possessing four plus tools. Kieshnick has had all those on display, espcially power, as he is one off the league lead in homers (3) and 47.1% of his hits have gone for extra bases. The one missing tool, batting, has also been on display as Kiesnick has struck out in 21 of his 70 plate appearances.
Kyle Martin SS - North Shore Honu (Royals) 15 games: .283/.323/.633
Martin makes it back-to-back former Texas Tech Red Raiders on this list. And like Kiesnick, Martin possesses and interesting skill set. Martin has plus power (.222 and .218 IsoP in his last two minor league stints) and up-the-middle defensive ability, but worrisome zone judgement (high strikeout and low walk rates). Comming off and injury-plagued year in which he posted a .392 wOBA in Low-A, Martin is currently leading HWB in long balls (4) with an outrageous .377 IsoP.
Brad Emaus 2B - Honolulu Sharks (Blue Jays) 13 games: .342/.460/.500
Emaus is the breakout star of the HWB so far. After a nice FSL season, hitting .302/.380/.463 with a .161 ISO, .367 wOBA,and more walks than strikeouts, Emaus is starting to turn some heads. While his power ceiling may be somewhat of a question, the 22-year-old has shown rediculous bat control, walking eight times and striking out just once in 13 games. A former classmate of mine at Tulane, Emaus looked like a future superstar when he had a .966 OPS as a true freshman starting for a team ranked No. 1 for most of the season with as many doubles and more walks than Micah Owings. Emaus's stock fell slightly, as did the program overall, when Hurricane Katrina caused relocation, travel issues, and untold mental difficulties for the entire community. Emaus may now be tapping into all that potential.
Lincoln Hamilton can be reached at lhamilton@mail.com.