October 30, 200620 yr The future of the Marlins has a distinctive, backyard flavor. Two minor-league prospects with strong ties to South Florida -- Gaby Sanchez and Chris Volstad -- have been voted within the organization as their top two players for the future. ''There are 100-and-something guys in the organization that want to be playing with the Marlins,'' Sanchez, out of the University of Miami, said Sunday. ``Everybody talks about it. You just have to produce.'' Sanchez and Volstad received top honors: Sanchez as the organization's player of the year with Volstad selected as its top pitcher. The Marlins plan to announce the awards today. Volstad, out of Palm Beach Gardens High, was the Marlins' top draft pick in 2005, going 16th overall. The right-hander went 11-8 with a 3.08 ERA in 26 starts at Single A Greensboro (N.C.) last season. Sanchez established himself as a top corner infielder, flirting with a .300 average at the Single A level. Sanchez is playing first base in the Arizona Fall League, where he is hitting .286 with a home run and eight RBI. He hit 14 home runs with 40 RBI in 189 at bats with Greensboro this season. But injuries curtailed Sanchez's season. ''It started off real good, everything was clicking really well,'' Sanchez said. Sanchez was Volstad's teammate at Greensboro. ''We both just had really good years,'' Sanchez said. ``He was really dominant out there when he was pitching. Volstad has no problem. I think right now he's a little too young. But give him a couple of years. He's going to be a dominant pitcher up there.'' LINKAGE Congrats to both Chris and Gaby for this honor.......here is too looking forward to very promising careers from both of these players
October 30, 200620 yr It will be interesting to see Volstad's development if he does well in Double A next stop is S. Fl. I believe he could aid our bullpen right now if given the chance Can we expect his arrival in Sept 2007 or Spring 2008?
October 30, 200620 yr I would say more Spring 2008 out of those two and thats only if he has a great year next year, but probably more likely Sept 08 imo.
October 30, 200620 yr Volstad posted a 99/36 K/BB ratio in 152 innings, allowing 161 hits and a .275 opponent batting average. He went 5-1, 1.68 in his last 10 starts.
October 30, 200620 yr Volstad also had a very, very good GB/FB ratio. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I believe John Sickels (or some other minor league guru) posted the stats and wrote a small piece about how even with his not-so-impressive K/9 ratio Volstad was still a tremendous prospect because of his ability to get ground balls.
October 30, 200620 yr Volstad also had a very, very good GB/FB ratio. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I believe John Sickels (or some other minor league guru) posted the stats and wrote a small piece about how even with his not-so-impressive K/9 ratio Volstad was still a tremendous prospect because of his ability to get ground balls. He's also very big and they expect his velocity to raise when he gains another 20-30 pounds. That, plus experience, should bring up the whiffs somewhat. I think I like West a little better then him, but it's really a 1 and 1a situation.
November 1, 200620 yr I'm as excited as can be about Volstad too, but let's not get crazy. He's not going to be, nor SHOULD he be, anywhere near the big club until mid 2008 at the earliest.
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