Category: Prospects

Where will the Next GLBL Hitting Stars Come From?

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In a league that is starving for more offense, which young players might step up to add more pop to their teams? Here is a partial list:

Phil Joyner

At 22 years of age, Phil Joyner has already logged 74 games in the outfield, mostly in center field and left field. However, it is his fielding that stands out more than his bat. With a +3.2 Zone Rating, he covers ground in center for the Comets, but his bat challenges the fact that he is the #1 prospect as rated by OSA: .198/.247/.304 are stats that belong to a one Mario Mendoza and not the likes of a second coming of Tony Gwynn. Phil’s AAA stats only reached a .652 OPS which begs the question: does he belong at the top level?  Time will tell as his starting duties have been decreased of late.

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The #1 Pick…

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…selected by the Toledo Neptunes is Todd ‘Rusty’ Bonnaud

Todd  Hailing from St. Catherines, Ontario  Bonnaud will be the ‘property’ of the Neptunes, at least into the foreseeable future. The 6′ 2″ 200 LB. twenty one year old has the potential to be a Starting Pitcher who commands three pitches including a cutter that tops out between 93-95 mph.  With the late movement on his pitches ground ball outs are to be expected.

This collegian from British Columbia University in Vancouver logged 113 innings in 2016 striking out 170 while walking just 24.  Translated to 9 IP that’s 13.5/1.9.  Gaudy numbers for a guy that won 11 and lost just 1.  Described by his college coach as  a’baseball rat’ who is the first one on the field and last one off,  it may not be long before the Great Lakes area gets to see this young phenom in action.

Waiting on Stephen Gilbert

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               Stephen Gilbert, 1B;     #23 overall pick

The Toronto Maples thought enough of him to burn their #2 pick in the inaugural draft on the then 23 year old first baseman from San Rafael, CA.  Last season, as a 24 year old he hit .287 in AA for Prince Edward Island while striking out 95 times, not eye popping numbers for that level at that age.

Gilbert was promoted to the AAA Mississauga Mad Catz for 2016 and is hitting .262 while striking out 11 times in 61 AB’s.  He’s muscled out 3 long balls to improve his SLG. average to .475 this season but at the expense of a falling OBP which is currently .318.

The Toronto Maples have 32 year old Art Hubert who played last season for Milwaukee holding down first base this season but chances are Hubert is going to run out of time before he establishes himself.  The question is whether or not he will get his first hit (yes, he is 0 for 12) before he gets the hook.

Will Gilbert have to prove himself in AAA before he gets the promotion or will the team go with the ‘now or never’ approach?  With 11 RBI’s, tops on the Mad Katz, Gilbert is making a case, albeit not an overwhelming one, but leading the team in that category from the six hole is sending the message that he can produce.