Boyer –
The names of Justin Toerner and Conner Capel were brought up as 2 who might have been NRIs.
IMHO –
1.) Justin Toerner is a little outfielder out of Cal State
State Northridge who was drafted in the 28th round in 2018. He played a full 4 years at Northridge. The majority of his games in the minors have been played in RF. He’s 5′ 10″, and weighs only 165 pounds. In 2019, he did well at Palm Beach and was promoted to Springfield after 54 games. At Springfield, in 49 games, he slashed .211/.338/.367/.705.
Is he really a prospect for a corner outfield position? He did show a little speed as he stole 14 bases, but he also got thrown out 8 times. At this time, again IMHO, there is nothing to really go on to view him as a good prospect. Especially at a corner.
2.) Conner Capel is a high school kid who was a 5th round draftee of the Indians in 2016. He’s got decent size at 6’1″, 185 lbs. and has played mainly in CF coming through the minors. He made it to Springfield to start the season last year and here was his slash line in 98 games –
.232/.283/.352/.635. Is he a true prospect that deserves a non roster invite to practice alongside major leaguers in Jupiter? To take time away from other guys? I don’t think so yet, even though he had 8 good games at Memphis at the end of the 2019 season. Perhaps he’s someone to watch this season for the Redbirds.
As far the rest of the minor leaguer outfielders from Springfield on down, let’s look at the OPS numbers –
Hurst – .586
Pinder – .560
Nootbaar – .712
Denton – .540
Plummer – .606
Riley – .620
Cedeno – .707
Ynfante – .542
Machado – .690
Benson – .471
Vinsky – .711
Espinal – .734
Fuller – .708
Warner – .819
Soler – .596
Del Rio – .631
Fletcher – .666
Garcia – .655
Torres – .747
Montano – .561
Romeri – .809
Burgos – .999
Jiminez – .845
At least Warner and several kids in the GCL did okay. Outside of that, the cupboard at AA and below looks pretty bare for outfielders. Maybe Torres and Fletcher will give us some hope. Or maybe we’ll draft another high floor college outfielder or two in June. A Bader type.