Minor league report

July 6, 200323 yr

I got this report I thought I'd pass it along,

I made the trek to Greensboro. The guy I wanted to see the most was Jeremy Hermida, but he decided not to cooperate.

He's an imposing figure at the plate. A legitimate 6'3" and well sculpted, he doesn't look like he's fresh out of high school. There's no question he's the best athlete on the team. He stands open from the left side and is an intimidating presence in the batter's box.

Unfortunately, I really can't say a whole heck of a lot about his swing, because he failed to use it. In five plate appearances, he took one hack, an eighth-inning fly out on a high fastball. The rest of his at-bats consisted of staring at pitches in a variety of spots, then taking a leisurely stroll to first base.

It's rare to see a kid Hermida's age who's willing to take four walks in a game, which is a testament to his patience.

LHP Scott Olsen, fared a bit better. He was also an eighth-round pick last summer, but the Marlins dipped into the high-school ranks for this 6'3" lefty. Olsen begins his delivery at an angle, giving him a bit more deception in his windup, but it may cost him command down the line. He sat between 88-92 for most of the game and showed the makings of a curveball, but didn't have the necessary spin each time he threw it. He got away with a few hanging breaking balls and went back to his fastball for most of the game.

There are some intriguing things about Olsen, mainly his size and left-handedness, but he's a project. He'll likely spend the year in Greensboro, and I'll make a point to see him again this summer to see how he's progressing. He'll need to improve his secondary pitches and smooth out his delivery to be successful, but he's got a shot to turn into a solid prospect.

A few other players caught my eye, though no one jumped out as an obvious major-league player. Greensboro shortstop Robert Andino is a solid glove at shortstop, showing a strong arm and good hands around the bag. His performance with the bat has left something to be desired, but he shows some real skills at the plate.

Andino's got a nice line-drive swing, but he hurts himself by stepping toward third base. He'll have to learn to stride toward the pitcher or they'll simply keep the ball on the outer half of the plate. He's not a strong kid, but I think there's more power in him than he's shown. Just 19 years old, he's one to keep an eye on.

Also, in the speed-and-defense mold, the Marlins have to like the progress Anthony Brewer is making. He's a small 5'10" but maximizes his speed to his advantage. He's not going to hit for much power, but he is capable of turning on a fastball occasionally. He can be worked down and in, but he's got the understanding to lay off good breaking balls at the moment. His patience has paid off so far, giving him 7 walks in just 21 at-bats.

When on base, Brewer can absolutely fly, and he's got easy 50-steal potential. Brewer is similar to current Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre, and he could find himself a career as a fourth outfielder/pinch runner in a few years.

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