Bernie on the Scene: May Could be Important

LEADING OFF

• We are now in May when most observers expect MLB to announce some decisions about the season. Several ideas have been floated, each with issues to be resolved. There is just too much money on the line to cancel the entire season. Stay tuned. This could be the best May we have seen in years.

• The Indians' Emmanuel Clase received an 80-game suspension for the use of the performance enhancing drug Boldenone. Boldenone is sold under the brand names Parenabol and Equipoise and is used mainly as a veterinary medicine, including illegally in race horses.

• I think Clase was in line to be the team's next closer, and he still may be that guy. But for now, for the next 80 games, Corey Kluber was traded for… Delino DeShields Jr. 

TODAY'S LINEUP

Forrest Whitley, Astros, RHP, 6-7, 195, Age 22

I have never doubted Whitley's ability or his arsenal. There is no question he has a power arm and repertoire capable of being a major part of the Astros' future rotations. However, I do question Whitley's ability to put all the ingredients together to become an ace. He's not there yet. But he's still young.

Whitley was the Astros' first-round pick out of Alamo Heights (San Antonio) High School in the 2016 draft. He has been high on prospect lists since then.

I first saw Whitley dazzle opponents in the 2018 Fall League. He showed that he could hit 98 on the radar gun with regularity, but he is best suited in the mid-90s. He also showed times when he would lose his concentration and his command and control along with it.

Whitley has had a past that included a suspension for violating the drug protocol and missing time on the mound due to an oblique injury, then a lat strain injury and then a "tired arm." So there has to be some caution with his physical condition. He simply can't try to throw the ball through the backstop. He has to measure his pitches. That's why I think he is a much better pitcher, with much better command, throwing in the lower to mid-90s as opposed to 98 mph.

After making progress on his delivery and mechanics last year, Whitley struggled again. It was a season of highs and lows for the guy the Astros have hoped would be a fixture in their rotation. He pitched at Triple-A Round Rock in April and May. He went down to the Rookie League in July before his return to High-A Fayetteville, finishing the regular season at Double-A Corpus Christi. 

He pitched again in the Arizona Fall League, where I saw more inconsistency, but some very good outings. He mowed down hitters and piled on strikeouts last fall. However, given all his 2019 classifications, Whitley threw only 59.2 innings last year. Each stop was designed for him to gain confidence and find a stable, consistent release point.

For his 2019 season, Whitley had a combined 7.99 ERA, a 1.72 WHIP and a 3-7 record. 

I have seen Whitley's arsenal of fastball, slider, changeup and curve. Each is a good pitch that can stand alone in an at-bat. He's a strikeout pitcher. He sequences through that repertoire very well, knowing how to elevate the fastball above the shoulders to get the strikeout. His changeup is a pitch that really caught my eye. I just like every arrow in his quiver. He is an over-the-top arm slot pitcher who throws downhill from that huge size.

Whitley simply has to use newly found mechanics and reduce the stress on his shoulder and arm during his release. He has to repeat that solid delivery from that very tall frame, throw strikes and reduce the number of pitches he throws to dispatch each hitter. I have hope for him to become a true All-Star pitcher, because his stuff is that good. GRADE: 60

Corbin Martin, Diamondbacks, RHP, 6-2, 200, Age 24

Martin was a second-round pick of the Astros out of Texas A&M in the 2017 draft.

He threw 16 starts in 54 games at A&M, finishing his three years with a combined 11-5 record, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

Martin was traded by the Astros to the Dbacks with first baseman Seth Beer, pitcher  J.B. Bukauskas and infielder Josh Rojas for Zack Greinke at the 2019 trade deadline.

Martin made his major league debut for the Astros in mid-May last year. In mid-June, the Astros optioned him back to Triple-A. Ultimately, Martin suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in July. At the end of that month, he was traded to Arizona.

In many ways, Martin had some of the same promise and problems as Whitley. No, Martin isn't Whitley, but he can be a solid rotation starter. But he, like Whitley, has a solid repertoire and high velocity. I do have a bit of concern about him pitching half his games at hitter-friendly Chase Field.

Before his surgery, he had a high-velocity, 95 mph fastball that he used to pitch up in the zone, but his command wasn't always sharp. Before his surgery, his slider was above average, his curveball was above average and he threw an average changeup. Again, he will have to show that he can rebound from Tommy John surgery when he returns. 

I have always found it interesting that general manager Mike Hazen of the Dbacks included Martin in the team's trade for Greinke. That speaks volumes to me. I really trust Hazen.  Hazen must believe that Martin will return from surgery with his fastball and delivery intact. As a member of a rather shallow pitching inventory with his new team,  Martin is destined for their rotation once he returns and can show he can still pitch. I'm seeing more than an average pitcher if he comes out of his surgery without any hiccups. GRADE: 55

Nate Lowe, Rays, 1B/3B, BL, 6-4, 245, Age 24

I am including Nate Lowe in my profiles this week due to a reader's request. He is not a player I have on my own personal draft boards for 2020. I have little certainty he will get much playing time, but the reduced season may give him a spot on the parent club if rosters are expanded beyond 26.

Lowe exceeded his rookie limits during the 2019 season, playing both corner infield positions and serving as the Rays' designated hitter occasionally.

Lowe was selected in the 13th round of the 2016 draft out of Mississippi State. Playing two collegiate seasons, he hit five home runs and drove in 54 runs in his 318 plate appearances. He made good contact and hit .320.

I scouted Lowe the last two seasons at the Rays' spring training site in Florida. He got in plenty of games and showed a solid bat with little to no power. At Triple-A Durham last year, he did hit 16 home runs. The previous season, he hit 27 homers and drove in 102 runs playing at three Rays classifications including High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.

Lowe saw playing time in 50 games for the parent Rays team last year. In his 170 plate appearances, he hit seven homers and drove in 19 runs. He struck out 50 times, which surprised me. He has always been a good contact hitter, but that strikeout rate was a bit telling.

I think there are better utility players than Nate Lowe available this year in fantasy. I have seen some inconsistent, and at times, late release of his hands in his hitting mechanics that give me pause. He's slow afoot, and that will limit your chances in the fantasy stolen base category. 

If he makes the team, Lowe will be fighting Ji-Man Choi, Jose Martinez and Yandy Diaz for playing time at first base. He probably has a better chance to play third, but even that is iffy.

What I am saying, is be careful with expectations of Nate Lowe for 2020. Overall, I evaluate Lowe as an average major league player, but just barely and on a team that is not as deep and competitive as the Rays. GRADE: 50

Keibert Ruiz, Dodgers, C, BB, 6-0, 200, Age 21

Few players have taken more of a negative beating by prospect analysts than Ruiz.

An international signing by the Dodgers out of Venezuela when he was just 16, perhaps the expectations for Ruiz to become a superstar catcher were a bit exaggerated. But make no mistake, to my way of thinking he is still a very credible catching prospect. 

Ruiz has lost his standing as the next Dodgers starting catcher to Will D. Smith, who is only 25 himself. Unless Smith falls off a cliff, he will be the starting catcher for quite a while. The backup is versatile Austin Barnes, leaving Ruiz remaining in development. For now.

The investment of $160,000 on the part of the Dodgers when they signed Ruiz is minimal. By comparison, Smith cost the Dodgers $1,772,500 out of Louisville. Get the picture? Follow the money. The Dodgers liked what they saw of Smith in college and voila, Ruiz waits his turn.

It would be helpful to him if the Dodgers traded Ruiz.

Ruiz is a solid line-drive hitter with a good approach at the plate. He isn't overly aggressive, using a rather measured, level stroke in his approach. I don't see much power at all in his game.

When I first scouted Ruiz in the 2018 Arizona Fall League, he struck out only two times in his 56 plate appearances. That was impressive. His contact rate has been very good his entire career. He's a solid hitter. He's smart at the plate, and he hits both right-handers and lefties equally well, leaving no need to use him in a platoon.

Ruiz is an above average defender with good skills. He has nailed an average of 25 percent of those trying to steal on him, which isn't great, but not bad. His arm is only average, but he can call a good game and hit enough to be of value. He just can't run or hit for much power.

Don't write off Ruiz. I think he can be a backup on the Dodgers at some point, but he is the perfect trade target to a team in need of his catching skills. Ruiz is better than average on both offense and defense, making him valuable to many MLB clubs. GRADE: 55

George Valera, Indians, OF, BL, 5-10, 160, Age 19

Valera was born in Queens, N.Y., but he grew up in the Dominican Republic. He was signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican by the Indians, who payed $1.3M for his services.

Valera broke his hamate bone in 2018, which set him back. Last season, he played most of his games at short-season Mahoning Valley and  a few at Low-A Lake County, hitting a combined eight home runs.

Valera is touted as having a picture perfect swing from the left side of the plate. I see that, and I see how his hands work very well for him. He recognizes pitches very well out of the hand of the pitcher and he has a good ability to hit secondary, off-speed pitches. Valera's hitting mechanics are very consistent and well advanced for his age.

I just don't see much in the way of power from a rather slight frame. However, there may be more depth to come in his body. This is a guy who will go as far as his hit tool-his batting average and ability to move runners along will take him. Once he puts more muscle on his frame, the home runs should come. That's the bright part about his future.

Valera is not fast. In fact, he's too slow to be a center fielder. And I don't see much in the way of stolen bases. So for me, His average arm strength projects him more as a left rather than right fielder. That's a bit limiting.

The Indians have collected outfielders without much power. They have a number of guys that can hit or run, but none other than Franmil Reyes and perhaps Domingo Santana have game-changing power. Valera is among a list of guys that could blossom at some point. But he's not doing it for me quite yet. Grade: 50 with a future of 55

HEADING HOME

• If there is a player you wish me to profile, please let me know in the comments below. I prefer to concentrate on players with at least two minor league seasons under their belt.

• Thank you. Thank you to all the wonderful doctors, nurses, health care workers, truck drivers, farmers, grocery store staff, food producers and everyone who has just done some much to help keep us healthy. 

• Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and read my baseball columns at forbes.com.