This is a continuation of the weekly series of of writing about a Cubs prospect profile. Early on, I will be writing about guys that Dave and I did not cover in our Prospect Ratings. Links for past ratings and past profiles at at the end. Additional links can be found at the end of the article.
Who is Ronald Torreyes?
Torreyes was signed out of Libertado de Berinas, Venezuela, by the Cincinnati Reds as a teenager. At 17 he came to the United States and made was naturally sent to the Reds rookie league. Born September 2, 1990, Torreyes is still young for his current level (Daytona), but has been loved by a number of prospect experts. He is only 5-9, 140 so these people have not thought he was capable of becoming a superstar, but they've really liked the way he's played at such a young age.
In 2010 at various rookie leagues, Torreyes played about an equal number of games at SS and 2B, but has since settled in at 2B permanently.
The Cubs acquired Torreyes prior to the start of the 2011 season for Sean Marshall. Along with Marshall, the Cubs also grabbed Travis Wood and Dave Sappelt.
Where is he?
He played the entire season in 2012 at High A, Daytona and has was promoted to AA Tennessee this season. He is the youngest qualified position player (15 AB or more) in the Southern League. Among all qualified Southern League players, only Taijuan Walker (Mariners) is younger. Unfortunately, Torreyes doesn't have nearly the potential that Walker has. Walkers threw 126 innings at AA last year and doesn't figure to be in the minor leagues too long.
Is he any good?
Torreyes began the season on the disabled list and returned just over a week ago. He has 30 PA at AA already and has played as well as possible. He's hit .350/.500/.400. It's only 30 PA, but a good start is better than a bad one. He has also taken 5 walks and has yet to strike out.
He got off to a horrible start last year, but came on strong in the second half and finished the year with a .264/.326/.385 batting line. The Florida State League is a pitcher's league so that was still good for a 102 wRC+.
In over 1200 career plate appearances, Torreyes has hit .324/.384/.463. He's also been very young for each level, which makes those numbers even more impressive.
Awhile ago I wrote about the median minor league age for each level and came up with my own appropriate age for those levels. According to that, Torreyes would be the Cubs prospect who is currently youngest for his level.
While prospect evaluators have been quite pleased with his performance so far, most see him as having a difficult time cracking the starting lineup on a regular basis. He's quite small and doesn't have much power, doesn't get on base a ton and doesn't have great speed.
The Cubs have a number of middle infield candidates that are ranked higher than he is.
OV Prospect Rating
Torreyes doesn't have tremendous potential, but when you consider his age and success at each level while being among the youngest players, he is a prospect. He gets on base enough and plays a valuable position, which mean that his floor is relatively high when you also factor in him being in AA.
Rating: 5.5 C. This gives him a ceiling of someone who could become a starter, which I think we have to consider. It also gives him a floor of someone who doesn't become the typical quad-A player. This makes sense since he hasn't even gotten to AAA yet.
This gives him 45 points in our rankings, which puts him above Nick Struck, Josh Vitters and Juan Paniagua among the now 24 players we've done. It's tied with Jeimer Candelario, Marco Hernandez, Dave Sappelt, Matt Szczur, Pierce Johnson and Paul Blackburn.
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Prospect Profiles
Prospect Ratings
Comments
Let’s face facts: Marmol is the best pitcher in the bullpen. I know that’s painful to admit.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
It’s close, but I think that’s right.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Let me qualify: that is currently available. Maybe, what, Russell is second?
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Russell, Camp and Fujikawa are all bunched together in my opinion. Just behind Marmol.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ josh:
I can’t argue with you on that.
But I damn well would like to be able to….
SVBQuote Reply
It’s probably going to snow here tomorrow. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Maybe Fujikawa is better, but he’s hurt for the moment. I can’t even remember who the other pitchers are. And I’m fine with that.
joshQuote Reply
Can the cubs score when they’re given 5 outs?
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Crazy. Keep that shit in Kansas.
joshQuote Reply
Reds want to give this game away but we aren’t going to take it.
MylesQuote Reply
aside
http://obstructedview.net/aside/jim-deshaies-is-trying-not-to-scare-anyone.html
GWQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
No idea where that came from. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Who pitches next? Bowden?
SVBQuote Reply
Come on, Starlin
MylesQuote Reply
Castro can’t even take a HBP to get the run in. And then he couldn’t take the walk. Poor fundamentals.
JQuote Reply
@ J:
He likes to swing the bat.
dmick89Quote Reply
Pete Rose doing a furniture commercial.
dmick89Quote Reply
That was a REALLY bad hack by Rizzo.
Send his ass down (dying laughing)
MylesQuote Reply
Holy shit, this game is still going?
joshQuote Reply
Castro saw 7 pitches. That’s pretty good. Rizzo too. Soriano and Schierholtz ought to know what Hoover has now.
SVBQuote Reply
I give up.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ SVB:
Not that it mattered…
SVBQuote Reply
So Gregg only threw 13 pitches. He can’t start the next inning? That bugs me. Especially when you are in extras, I think you plan for everyone to go 2 innings unless they throw a lot of pitches in one, or are particularly ineffective.
(not watching, except on gameday)
SVBQuote Reply
Just waiting for Rondon to go 7 strong and scoreless
MylesQuote Reply
Bill Buckner has entered the building
MylesQuote Reply
Now it’s up to the Cubs’ bullpen!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Luis Valbuena just wants to go home
MylesQuote Reply
From Gameday Scout–duhnalysis
The OPS numbers aren’t even needed to justify this suggestion.
SVBQuote Reply
@ SVB:
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing). Shut me RIGHT UP.
SVBQuote Reply
Bowden, Loe, or Rondon…right?
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That’s not a happy list of names.
joshQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Who’s the emergency relief pitcher? He may be better than any of the official options.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Oh vey.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
VALBONER
uncle daveQuote Reply
Other than that, he’s quite the exciting young player (dying laughing).
uncle daveQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
You knew the Reds were still in it with the Cubs horrible pitching.
joshQuote Reply
Cubs.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
You are still alive? !
SVBQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
@ SVB:
Yes, just working for the government officially now so I don’t post during the day most of the time.
Besides, I start to pay attention and then tonight happens.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Amazing.
joshQuote Reply
Oh, Cubs.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Yeah, I rarely posted during the day when I had my govt job too.
It’s gonna be one of those years….
SVBQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Congrats, BTW.
SVBQuote Reply
No lead is safe for Cubs pitching.
joshQuote Reply
There are not enough facepalms
BerseliusQuote Reply
So now the Cubs don’t get to eat dinner on the bus back to Iowa… or something?
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
@ SVB:
Thanks! Love the job. Want to keep it.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Too bad I’m not at the bar. And too tired to get up for a scotch.
SVBQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I’m trying the best I can!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
SVBQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
By the way, I love this new prospect ranking system. Gives a more complete description than most other systems. Nice work…
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
Obligatory post-meltdown optimistic thought:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Postgame thread up
http://obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/4-22-postgame-thread.html
BerseliusQuote Reply