Arizona Complex League Scouting Notebook: Part 2
Well, it admittedly took me a bit longer than a week to get around to writing this up - but better late than never?
Below are the final installment of my notes from my time watching the Arizona Complex League this summer.
Mariners @ White Sox - 7/21 - Box Score
There was a heavy focus on bats during my M’s Complex League trips but this game was my first live look at 2022 fourth-rounder, Ashton Izzi. The prep righty from Illinois worked exclusively out of the stretch and struggled to find a feel for his stuff in two innings of work, sitting 90-92 with his fastball while mixing in a fringy changeup and average slider. Izzi has an ultra athletic frame but perhaps what surprised me most was the velocity being down from his reported range during last year’s draft cycle. There is still projectability here but he’ll need to find a way to miss bats, particularly up in the zone, before we can expect to see him moving up levels in the Seattle system.
For the White Sox, Panama native Ryan Burrowes was the star of the show. The 19-year-old shortstop is a good athlete, flashing quick hands and staying inside the ball for loud contact to all fields. There is some swing and miss present but Burrowes is the type of player capable of shooting up prospect lists upon his expected promotion to Low-A Kannapolis next season.
Mariners @ Rockies - 8/10 - Box Score
A first look at the new wave of young talent for Seattle, 2023 first-rounders Colt Emerson and Tai Peete both lived up to expectations.
With Peete manning second and Emerson at short, this Complex league outing offered Mariners fans a potential glimpse into the future. Both players flashed their talent during short stints in the desert before heading off to help Low-A Modesto at the end of the Nuts’ season.
Emerson features an athletic, compact frame and to me looks almost like a souped-up version of 2022 first-rounder Cole Young at the plate. There’s still plenty of time to figure out whether Emerson sticks at shortstop long-term but there’s no denying the advanced approach and juice in the bat at this stage. For Peete, the athleticism and bat speed are evident, lending itself to potential plus power in the future. He’s likely to have a longer path developmentally than Emerson, but may simultaneously have the highest ceiling of any player in the ‘23 class for Seattle.
Tai Peete
Colt Emerson
This game also offered me a chance to see Seattle right-hander Jean Munoz, who sat 90-92 with his fastball and flashed an above average changeup that generated several swings and misses on the night. As has been in fashion for the organization in recent years, Munoz attacks hitters from a low 3/4 slot and has a whippy arm through the zone. There isn’t a ton of present value or shape with the fastball and the Dominican native is already 21 years old, but if he can make some tweaks to utilize his lower half a bit more, there’s some potential here for a middle-inning relief profile.
For the Rockies, one of my favorite ‘23 draft prospects, Cole Carrigg, launched no-doubt home run to right-center field helping to cruise through his short, 13-game stint in the Complex League. In total, the switch-hitting Carrigg finished off his first professional season by slashing .350/.408/.600 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases between the ACL and Low-A Fresno - not to mention his already-valuable versatility in playing multiple positions. I’d expect the former San Diego State star to move very quickly through a pretty barren Colorado system.
Keep an eye on Colorado outfielder Felix Tena, one of the club’s top international signees in the 2020-21 cycle. During his first season stateside in the ACL, Tena slashed .280/.316/.357 with 10 stolen bases. The Dominican native doesn’t yet generate a ton of loft and has a slightly smaller frame, but also produced a exit velo of 110 on one of his two hits in this game. Not bad for a 19-year-old kid, if you ask me.
