Giants need to sign this super prospect!

[McCovey]

This kid has some serious tools! :beerbang:


Inoa Impresses At D.R. Workout

Posted Feb. 5, 2008 4:15 pm by Chris Kline

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/wp-content/uploads/image/minoa08260200ck.jpg

SANTIAGO, D.R.–Normally at workouts or ’showcases’ in the Dominican Republic, three or four scouts sit in the stands and watch.
But Luis Polonia, who has run an academy in the D.R. for the last seven years that has produced 27 signees, teamed up with Born To Play Sports to have an event to coincide with the Caribbean Series. More scouts and front-office personnel were in town than usual, and the workout itself had a feel to what one is like in the States.

And even though there were 25-30 players present, most scouts were there to see 16-year-old righthander Micheal Inoa, who is expected to be one of the top players when the international signing period begins on July 2.

Inoa, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound righty, creates easy velocity through relatively sound mechanics. At the workout, Inoa consistently sat at 91-92 mph with his fastball, topping out at 94. He also throws a softer breaking ball which was inconsistent at times, and will also show a splitter. Inoa turns 17 in September.

In the two innings he worked, just one hitter made contact, and that was a popup to the shortstop.

"Everything’s really easy and the fastball has good life," said one international scouting director. "For as big as he is, you’d expect him not to be able to repeat as well as he does. But he stays within himself and once he grows more into that frame, you’ll see that velocity start to climb . . . and that’s a scary thing."

Another interesting player in the workout was lefthander Carlos Perez. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound lefty has good velocity from that side, with his fastball sitting 88-91. He also throws a curveball and changeup, though lacks consistent command with both pitches.

"He commands the fastball pretty well, but the secondary pitches . . . I don’t know," said another international scouting director. "But events like this are total projection. You don’t have a stat sheet, you don’t know the background, you just show up and see what you see. Based on that, there is definitely projection."

Inoa didn’t pitch until the third inning, and once he was done, the group of 70-to-100 scouts left the formal workout and headed over to another field to see righthander Johenser Cevallos. Cevallos wasn’t invited to the event, but his agent brought him anyway, hoping to take advantage of the sheer number of eyes that would see him.


A 6-foot-5, 200-pound righty, Cevallos will likely be another July 2 bonus baby, though his stuff lags behind Inoa’s. Cevallos’ fastball sat in the 88-90 range, and there is some effort to his delivery. His command of the breaking ball lags behind his fastball right now, but most scouts liked what they saw.
"First, you love the body,but for what it is now," said another international scouting director. "With Inoa there is more long term projection. (Cevallos) is pretty maxed out. But he’s got arm strength and commanded the zone pretty good. Someone’s going to take a chance on him.

[Bear]

Mac would you go for a pitcher or position player? We have a great number of young guys who look like ML pitchers, but I think we need to look for some raw power to develop. This team needs some pop!;)

[SF Kid]

He looks too skinny. :p

[Bear]

He looks too skinny. :p


This from the Kid who did not weigh over 100 lbs. until he was 50?:pound:

[SF Kid]

Why did I KNOW that a smart ass reply by the Bear was in the offing?

Jesus H. Christ...what a tool. :D

[McCovey]

Mac would you go for a pitcher or position player? We have a great number of young guys who look like ML pitchers, but I think we need to look for some raw power to develop. This team needs some pop!;)
We definitely need some power hitters I agree. Since this kid is from the DR he won't be going through the draft. He gets to sign with whatever team he chooses just like Angel Villalona.

[McCovey]

More about Inoa.

Inoa, 16, at head of Latin American prospect class

By Enrique Rojas
ESPNdeportes.com
June 12, 2008

Less than a month after Major League Baseball's first-year player draft comes the big auction for Latin American prospects. No draft slot is necessary. Just bring loads of cash and make your best pitch. Starting on July 2, 16-year-old international players who will turn 17 after Sept. 6 may sign with major league clubs. Players who are 17 or older before Sept. 6 may sign at any time.


http://sports.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0610/mlb_michael_inoa_200.jpg


The 2008 sign-off edition features Dominican pitcher Michael Inoa, the crown jewel among the pool of 16-year-old players, any of who may sign with any major league club that meets his desires. Inoa (6-foot-7, 210 pounds) is a right-handed hurler with a three-pitch repertoire consisting of a fastball (93 mph), changeup and curve. "His most attractive asset is the fact that he has a lot of control for such a tall guy, and he knows what to do once he gets on the mound," said Ezequiel Sepulveda, a scout for the L.A. Dodgers in the Dominican Republic. "Inoa is every scout's dream. He has it all." Inoa has been evaluated by every MLB organization. The Yankees' Brian Cashman, San Diego's Kevin Towers, and Oakland's Billy Beane are a few of the major league GMs who made the trip to the Dominican Republic to catch a glimpse of the young gun. According to data obtained by ESPNdeportes.com, at least seven teams are ready to offer Inoa a $3 million signing bonus. Oakland, however, has the upper hand; the A's are ready to pay up to $4 million for Inoa. Right behind Inoa, two outfielders and one pitcher also have raised a lot of interest: right-handed pitcher Adis Portillo and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez of Venezuela, and Dominican outfielder Rafael Rodriguez. Each player will garner signing bonuses of at least six figures. "Inoa, Rodriguez, Yorman and Portillo would [challenge] the first selection if they were eligible for the American draft this year; I have no doubt about that," said a top AL executive.

Also with high expectations on the prospect list are shortstops Gustavo Pierre and Alvaro Aristy, right-handed pitchers Santo Franco and Elvin Tavarez, left-handed pitcher Swarling Jimenez, and outfielder Julio Morban of the Dominican Republic; Venezuelan outfielders Luis Domoromo and Ramon Flores; Panamanian catcher Christian Betancourt; and Nicaraguan pitcher Jose Valdivia. Meanwhile, Dominican outfielder Juan Duran (Cincinnati/$2.0 million) and Betancourt (Atlanta/$600,000) already have been signed because they turned 17 before July 2.

BEST LATINO PROSPECTS OF 2008

1 Michael Inoa RHP 16 (Sept. 24, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: His father was an outstanding amateur ballplayer (Simon Inoa) and his mother a stellar softball hurler (Juana Ventura), so it is only fitting to find him throwing strikes so comfortably and consistently. Inoa could get a bonus in the range of $3 million to $4 million. The Oakland A's loom as the front-runner.

2 Yorman Rodriguez OF 16 (N/A) Venezuela Comment: Many scouts compare Rodriguez with his countryman Miguel Cabrera. Like the Detroit star, Rodriguez is not fleet-footed, but his bat is extremely powerful and fast. His agent stopped showing him around awhile ago, which presumably indicates that he already has an oral agreement with a club.

3 Adis Portillo RHP 16 (Dec. 20, 1991) Venezuela Comment: A big guy (6-3) with big hands and fingers, Portillo can toss a mean fastball (88-92 mph), changeup and curve with great command. He keeps the ball around the plate and is not afraid to throw his changeups in the dirt. Many clubs want him, but none of them will get him for less than $2 million.

4 Rafael Rodriguez OF 16 (N/A) Dominican Republic Comment: To many, he is a duplicate of Vladimir Guerrero because of his size and power with the bat. Rodriguez can work the entire outfield and drive the ball anywhere. He has reportedly accepted an offer from the San Francisco Giants worth $2.5 million.

5 Luis Domoromo OF 16 (Feb. 4, 1992) Venezuela Comment: Domoromo looks like a typical center fielder, although he has a good arm that could be used in right. He is a smart hitter and occasionally hits powerfully to the alleys. Perhaps he'll get $1.2 million from San Diego? It's possible.

6 Alvaro Aristy SS 16 (Dec. 9, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: A great middle infielder with good legs and average arm. Aristy has solid mechanics in his swing but lacks power. He has a solid build (6-0, 155) with room for growth in weight and strength. San Diego is closing in on him.

7 Gustavo Pierre SS 16 (N/A) Dominican Republic Comment: Many scouts suggest Pierre's big frame (6-2) could cause teams to move him to third base early in his career. An agile player with a great swing, he has looked better in batting practice than in games. Rumors say he may have agreed to a deal with Toronto for almost $700,000.

8 Santo Franco RHP 16 (Nov. 28, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: Franco has a great build for a pitcher (6-5, 175). His fastball (88-90 mph) has yet to reach its potential, but he has shown good command of his changeup and curve. He has looked better in real games than in exhibitions.

9 Swarling Jimenez LHP 16 (Nov. 27, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: Jimenez is a left-handed version of Pedro Martinez. He is not so big (6-0, 165 pounds), but he has wide shoulders and a good arm. He likes to pitch inside using a fastball (88-90 mph), changeup and curve. 10 Elvin Tavarez RHP 16 (Sept. 7, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: Tavarez (6-2, 170 pounds) is a diamond in the rough that, once properly polished, can become a great pitcher in the majors. Right now he has an 87-90 mph fastball that may speed up with more maturity. He has great presence on the mound.

11 Julio Morban OF 16 (Feb. 13, 1992) Dominican Republic Comment: Morban can play anywhere in the outfield, but his good defense and arm belong in center field. He is not too big (5-11, 178) but has speed on the base paths and swings an occasionally powerful bat. Morban bats from the left side and has a strong grasp of the game.

12 Ramon Flores OF 16 (March 26, 1992) Dominican Republic Comment: Flores is a fast runner and an excellent defensive outfielder. This left-handed hitter has good mechanics at the plate, great control of the bat and power to the alleys. He can easily add 25 pounds to his frame (6-0, 160) and gain more power in the process.

13 Jose Valdivia RHP 16 (March 19, 1992) Nicaragua Comment: Valdivia has a nice build (6-3, 185) but needs to work on his mechanics, something that is not surprising if we take into account that he turned 16 in March. Valdivia pitches with a three-quarter arm slot, and his fastball reaches 91 mph.

14 Carlos Perez LHP 16 (Nov. 20, 1991) Dominican Republic Comment: Perez is a lefty with a lot of presence, a loose arm and smooth moves on the mound. He will have to work on toning his body. He has a fastball that moves a lot and a curve with a lot of spin. The Yankees have showed great interest in him and are rumored to have offered a hefty $850,000 bonus for him.

OTHER HOT PROSPECTS Dominican Republic: 3B Aderilyn Rodriguez, OF Easdras Abreu, OF Yeico Calderon, SS Jose Osoria, 3B Jose Lorenzo, LHP Alfredo Heredia, RHP Manuel Montilla, SS Engel Vallejos, 3B Jefry Peña, 3B Roberto Pina, 3B Darwin Rivera Venezuela: C Jackson Valera, LHP Ismael Guillon, RHP Alvin Mejias, C Oscar Perez, SS Luis Cortes, RHP Jose Perdomo, SS Luis Villogas, RHP Josue Castellanos Colombia: SS Jonathan Barrios, OF Jair Lopez Panama: OF Abdul Nieto

[SF Kid]

Too skinny. See Lincecum.

[Bear]

If you want any of these guys bring your BANKER!:pound:

[McCovey]

Too skinny. See Lincecum.
Kid he's only 16 years years old. He's not going to weight 210 lbs when he's 25 years old. Just think about it this way. If he lived in the US he'd be a high school sophomore or junior.

[SF Kid]

Oh...Ok then...let's sign him. :p

[McCovey]

It's funny that the A's, supposedly a poor team moneywise, are willing to outbid every team and offer the kid $4 million to sign with them. Wow.

[Bear]

Kid he's only 16 years years old. He's not going to weight 210 lbs when he's 25 years old. Just think about it this way. If he lived in the US he'd be a high school sophomore or junior.

The Kid can't remember what it was like or what a high school sophomore or junior looks like!:pound:

[Bear]

Read another report today that the Giants are about to sign a 16 year old outfielder Rafael Rodriguez. Lets hope this Kid is good. The contract is worth 2.5 Mil.:bugeye:

[McCovey]

Read another report today that the Giants are about to sign a 16 year old outfielder Rafael Rodriguez. Lets hope this Kid is good. The contract is worth 2.5 Mil.:bugeye:
Teams are just rolling the dice with all these 16 year old Latin players. some pan out other don't. Willie Mo Pena, Adrian Beltre, and Aramis Ramirez were all signed as 16 year olds.

[McCovey]

Wow, the Yankees dropped out? :eek:

Source: Rangers, Reds jump into bidding war for Dominican Inoa, 16

By Enrique Rojas
Monday, June 23, 2008
ESPNdeportes.com

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Texas Rangers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=tex) and Cincinnati Reds (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=cin) have joined the Oakland Athletics (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=oak) "Some teams have offered him a major league contract in order to make the offer even more attractive, but Inoa's team is not interested in that. The battle may be fought until the last minutes," the source added. in a bidding feud for the services of Dominican pitching prospect Michael Inoa, the crown jewel of the pool of Latin American players who will be available to be signed July 2, a source has told ESPNdeportes.com. "Oakland has led the pack of teams interested in Inoa, but both Cincinnati and Texas have surged in the past few days, and it is now a three-horse race of big favorites to grab this kid," the source said. July 2 marks the beginning of the eligibility period for players who turn 17 years old after Sept. 6, though they won't be able to play until next year. Players 17 or older may sign anytime. Inoa, 16, at 6 feet 7 and 210 pounds, is a right-hander with a repertoire consisting of a 93-mph fastball, a changeup and a curveball. The young prospect has been evaluated by every major league organization. General manager Billy Beane and a group of Oakland executives even traveled to Dominican Republic to evaluate Inoa. According to data obtained by ESPNdeportes.com, at least seven teams were ready to give Inoa a bonus of more than $3 million, but many of them, including the New York Yankees (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=nyy), pulled out of the race as the price for the young ace went up.

Enrique Rojas covers Major League Baseball for ESPNDeportes.com.

[Bear]

Mac, would you give a kid like this a 3 mil. signing bonus?

[SF Kid]

We gave Zito $1265 Million. Why not...

if you wanna dance 'ya gotta pay the fiddler. ;)

[McCovey]

Mac, would you give a kid like this a 3 mil. signing bonus?
It's a tough call. All the scouts are drooling over him. But it is a gamble. We just don't know how good he can get. A lot can happen between now and say age 21. Obviously, he is really advanced for his age. But I say, yes, roll the dice and see what happens. The Giants did pay 16 year old Angel Villalona $2.1 million and he's holding his own at single-A ball.

[Swede]

I agree with Bear. More pop. We will be paying for Cain, Timmy, Sanchez in the future (not to mention Zito). No need to sign more pitching unless you deal one of the top three to get a bat. Things will be interesting for the Giants this July. Let's hope they can do some smart moves to improve next year and contend a few years later.

[Bear]

I agree with Bear. More pop. We will be paying for Cain, Timmy, Sanchez in the future (not to mention Zito). No need to sign more pitching unless you deal one of the top three to get a bat. Things will be interesting for the Giants this July. Let's hope they can do some smart moves to improve next year and contend a few years later.

My hope is for improvement durning the second half this season, and to continue this through 2009. I hope we will make a run at the playoffs in 2010. In order to do this however we will have to unload Mr. Zito one way or another. At this point Zito is like a sure loss when you send him out there as they are tomorrow.:eek:

[McCovey]

The Giants are really high on their top pick, Buster Posey. He should start the season at San Jose as soon as he signs.

[Swede]

There are plenty of " high hopes" that come and go...Damon Minor, Foppert, Torres (although he is doing well with the Brewers) Wasn't there a possible trade with Dennis Martinez (Expos) for Torres when he was the next great pitching prospect.? Come on Elders, give me the year, or was I dreaming on this one?
Of course the Giants did not make the deal, but it would have been nice to have Martinez on the team for a few years.

[SF Kid]

Foppert. That was a big disappointment.

[Swede]

W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H R ER HR SO BB WP AVG
J Foppert 2 1 7.52 2.07 20 0 1 32.1 32 29 27 8 23 35 5 .256

Doesn't look like we will be seeing him in the near future. Fresno can keep him.

[McCovey]

Like many young pitchers, Foppert was felled by a serious arm injury. The difference with Posey is according to scouts Posey's defense is already major league caliber right now. To me that's a good sign. But we shall see. I wonder how the Giants feel about Pablo Sandoval? He's a catcher as well.

[Bear]

There are plenty of " high hopes" that come and go...Damon Minor, Foppert, Torres (although he is doing well with the Brewers) Wasn't there a possible trade with Dennis Martinez (Expos) for Torres when he was the next great pitching prospect.? Come on Elders, give me the year, or was I dreaming on this one?
Of course the Giants did not make the deal, but it would have been nice to have Martinez on the team for a few years.

I missed that trade and I don't miss much. Torres was a great prospect that the Giants ruined. He had such a bad experence here that he has vetoed any move that would bring him back to the Giants. Foppert is another case, but injury was his undoing. He is back in the Giants farms system, and I hope he makes it back to the big club soon. I see him a a possible Joe Nathan.

[McCovey]

W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H R ER HR SO BB WP AVG
J Foppert 2 1 7.52 2.07 20 0 1 32.1 32 29 27 8 23 35 5 .256

Doesn't look like we will be seeing him in the near future. Fresno can keep him.
Wow, 23 Ks and 35 BBs! That's not going to get it done. It looks like he turned into Nuke LaLoosh.

[Bear]

Wow, 23 Ks and 35 BBs! That's not going to get it done. It looks like he turned into Nuke LaLoosh.

Oh we have very little faith. This guy had Tommy John surgery, and will take time to regain his form. Give him time. It maybe a big payoff.

[McCovey]

The A's signed Inoa for a ton of money! :eek:


A's give 16-year-old Dominican pitcher Inoa record deal

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- The Oakkand Athletics and prized 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa of the Dominican Republic agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with a $4.25 million signing bonus.

That is an A's record for a signing an amateur player. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound right-hander is widely considered the top prospect in his country and much of Latin America and is scheduled to play in the Dominican Summer League. Oakland likes Inoa's athleticism and he already has a fastball clocked in the mid 90s.

"Michael has a chance to be a very special pitcher in the major leagues," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "Even at this early age, he is a very polished pitcher with three above-average pitches and a fluid delivery. We are very excited about this young man's potential and look forward to watching his growth, both personally and professionally, in the years to come."

Beane and the A's have been upgrading their efforts in the Dominican over the past year. He and a group of A's executives including owner Lew Wolff visited the Dominican Republic last month to scout and evaluate Inoa.

"There is no question that Michael is an impact prospect," said Raymond Abreu, the organization's director of Latin America operations. "In my opinion, he's the most impressive Latin America player since Felix Hernandez (2002). As a pitcher, he has effortless mechanics with loose arm action on all his pitches and a clean, easy delivery. He's an exceptional athlete and he throws a very heavy fastball."

[Bear]

This guy must be great. Beane does not often shell out that kind of cash. I dare say he might be better than Matt Cain!:pound:

[McCovey]

Well, when Inoa can get major league hitters out, we can compare him to Cain. :D. Since he's 16 he probably won't reach the majors until 2012 at least.

[McCovey]

More on Inoa...


Inoa becomes a sign of the times

By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
07/03/08

Baseball evolved Wednesday. The little guys, the teams that for so many years cried poor, won by spending money. And the recipients of that largess, 16-year-old boys from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, ones who grew up in the third world, are the forbearers for a striking change in the sport.

In recent years, the best players in Latin America have gravitated toward the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox and New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, the teams that could afford to flash Costanza wallets loaded with cash. Baseball’s continued economic boom, amazing amid the country’s downturn, has infused so much money into the game that no longer is pricey amateur talent simply the domain of the big boys.

The Oakland A's – low-revenue Oakland, immortalized in the book “Moneyball,” about winning with a scrimp-and-save payroll – signed a 16-year-old named Michel Inoa on Wednesday. Along with his $4.25 million bonus, Inoa got an Anglicized name, Michael, and a ticket to the Dominican Summer League, where he can add weight to his lithe 6-foot-7 frame, throw his 94-mph fastball, unleash his polished breaking ball and work on his changeup.

“Most 16-year-olds are in 10th grade,” said Chris Buckley, the Cincinnati Reds' scouting director. “This guy compares very favorably to the top high school pitchers in this year’s draft. No. He’s probably more impressive.”

Disappointment tinged Buckley’s voice. He had visited the Dominican three times to watch Inoa pitch. Cincinnati – low-revenue Cincinnati, immortalized by former owner Marge Schott’s penny pinching, and only recently willing to loosen the purse strings under owner Bob Castellini – reportedly offered Inoa about $5 million. Inoa preferred Oakland’s track record of developing pitchers, and it didn’t hurt that A’s owner Lew Wolff and general manager Billy Beane commissioned a private plane to the Dominican for a meet and greet several weeks before the July 2 signing date.

The meeting convinced Oakland to shatter signing-bonus records for a Latino amateur not from Cuba. It’s been nearly a decade since the Yankees gave outfielder Wily Mo Peña a $2.44 million bonus and seven years since the Dodgers gave infielder Joel Guzman $2.25 million. The top bonuses each year since have vacillated between $1 million and $2 million.

So to see Inoa’s bonus, and the $2 million Cincinnati gave Dominican prospect Juan Duran in March, and the $5 million the San Diego Padres – low-revenue San Diego, consistently in the bottom third of major-league payroll – spent Wednesday to sign four Latin players and one Australian – well, it’s not just unprecedented. It turns on its head the way baseball has operated, and while there’s trepidation about bonuses spinning out of control, there’s more celebration that the Little Sisters of the Poor are throwing around money like Pacman Jones at the club.

“Large shifts always cause us some concern,” said Rob Manfred, baseball’s head labor lawyer. “But these are individual club decisions at the end of the day. The best we can do is educate people as to the relative risks and rewards and the various talent-acquisition modes. You have to get your talent somewhere.”

Today, Latin America is that place. It’s a continuous gold rush, because players are renewable resources. All 30 teams have a presence there for a good reason: nearly 30 percent of major-league players are Latino, and that number only figures to rise, so long as bargains can be had.

And, yes, Inoa at $4.25 million is a relative deal. Suppose he were born Michael Inoa, raised in California, scouted throughout his high school career, coveted ravenously and picked at the top of the MLB draft. Inoa would command a bonus far greater than the one he received from Oakland.

“Look how far this is from your ‘Moneyball’ theories a couple years ago,” Buckley said. “They were drafting all college pitchers. And now who’s the team that got the 16-year-old? Oakland.”

Buckley understands that it’s not so much a philosophy change by the A’s but a continuation of the lesson “Moneyball” taught: Oakland always tries to capitalize in efficient markets, and high-end Latino talent qualifies. One of Beane’s former lieutenants, San Diego assistant GM Paul DePodesta, called Wednesday “a monumental day for the Padres” on his blog. Buckley, months later, continues to celebrate the signing for the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Duran.
“We recognize how difficult it is to compete on major-league free agents dollar for dollar,” Buckley said. “We’re trying to level the playing field.”

Which, too, is the intent of MLB. The words competitive balance bring a twinkle to Commissioner Bud Selig’s eyes, and with it extending beyond the big-league clubhouses and into farm systems, baseball is pleased that so many teams are trying to build from the bottom up.
“We believe focusing on entry-level talent is the most efficient way to make yourself competitive,” Manfred said. “It’s the best competitive strategy, particularly for smaller-revenue clubs. We think that’s a very good thing.”

It shouldn’t stop, either. Even though San Diego ranks 18th in revenue, Cincinnati 21st and Oakland 24th, according to Forbes, each will continue perusing Latin America in hopes that the Yankees and Red Sox and Mets and Dodgers don’t start emptying their bank accounts.

“Tomorrow,” Buckley said, “we’ll start looking for some new (players).”
August should be a good test. A 15-year-old named Yorman Rodriguez, from Venezuela, celebrates his birthday that month. He’s supposed to be the next Miguel Cabrera. And two executives said they believe he has already agreed to a deal with Cincinnati. The Yankees keep pushing, though, sweetening their offer, doing anything to change the trend that could so affect them.

Evolution, ever slow, came on faster than they realized.