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In response to
"Must be a tools thing, because his stats look fairly underwhelming."
by
musubi
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I'm just cribbing this from the Pirates' blog
Posted by
Brian (aka trav007)
Jun 3 '09, 17:09
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Scouting on Hernandez and Locke
"Gorkys Hernandez:
Background: Hernandez won the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League batting title and low Class A Midwest League award in his first two seasons in the United States, then was part of a one-sided trade with the Tigers that also delivered Jair Jurrens in exchange for Edgar Renteria. Hernandez missed a month in 2008 with a hamstring injury, but recovered to earn accolades from managers as the most exciting player in the high Class A Carolina League.
Strengths: Hernandez has all the tools to be a quintessential leadoff hitter and center fielder. He drives the ball from gap to gap with his line-drive swing and is a weapon on the bases with his above-average speed. He covers tremendous ground in center with his quickness and precise routes, and he also has a strong, accurate arm.
Weaknesses: While he has made improvements by cutting down on his swing, particularly with two strikes, Hernandez still gives away too many at-bats. He doesn't have much home run power but still swings for the fences on occasion. A more refined approach and improved strike-zone judgment will boost his modest walk totals and on-base percentage.
The Future: With Jordan Schafer and Hernandez, the Braves have two of the premier center-field prospects in the game. Their skills are similar, and Schafer is only one rung higher on the organizational ladder. Hernandez will spend 2009 in Double-A.
Jeff Locke
Background: Locke ended 2007 on a seven-game winning streak, but last season was not as kind. He lacked run support throughout most of the year and ranked third in the South Atlantic League with 12 losses. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and showed three solid-average pitches.
Strengths: Locke's two best pitches are a 91-94 mph fastball with good movement and a hard curveball that borders on being a plus offering. He also throws a changeup that continues to show improvement with its depth. He does an excellent job of keeping the ball down in the zone, which helped limit opponents to six homers in 2008. His herky-jerky delivery creates deception and makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball. His mound presence and competitiveness are impressive for a young hurler.
Weaknesses: Locke tends to fall out of sync in his delivery and needs to repeat his mechanics with more consistency to achieve better command. He throws strikes but can locate his pitchers better in the zone. He needs to fine-tune some of the nuances of his craft, such as fielding his position, holding runners and covering and backing up bases.
The Future: The best pitching prospect from New Hampshire since Chris Carpenter, Locke has the ability to be a workhorse in the middle of a major league rotation. His next stop will be high Class A."
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