Bernie on the Scene: More Scouting Reports on Recently Promoted Players

This will be my second article regarding players who have recently been promoted to the big leagues.

Some of the players I profile will be sent back to the minors for further development. Some will stay on the big league roster. But when a player has been promoted, he is generally in a category where he is a viable major league option.

Scouting Grades:

45 - utility player
50 - everyday quality player, but subject to platoon in today's baseball environment
55 - everyday player who is better than average and less subject to platoon

Jose Devers, 2B/SS, Marlins
6-0, 174
Age 21
BL
International free agent from the Dominican Republic signed by the Yankees in 2016

The cousin of the Red Sox Rafael Devers was part of the package the Marlins got in the 2017 Giancarlo Stanton trade.

Devers is having a nice beginning to his big league career. He has some gap power, and has registered some doubles in his first few games.

While Devers hasn't yet developed home run power, he has a measured swing on a fairly strong frame. It can be expected that he will gain more strength as his body matures. Count on him using the entire field with good plate coverage and selectivity.

Devers makes very good contact. He should be able to hit for a high average with a low strikeout total once he settles in as a major league player. He's very capable of driving the ball and then using outstanding speed to stretch a single to a double.

I also think his speed will result in stolen bases. GRADE: 50

Sam Hentges, LHP, Indians
6-6, 245
Age: 24
2014 fourth-round pick out of Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota

A big, strong lefty, Sam Hentges has a really solid repertoire. He can throw a quality fastball, slider, curve and changeup. Each of his pitches is at least major league average, or better.

Hentges was rushed to the big leagues too soon, in my opinion. He still has command and control issues that have to be refined. He has to work hard on repeating his delivery. I just wish it would have happened in development, rather than on the biggest stage.

Because the Indians lack starting pitching depth, Hentges will likely remain in the rotation. But so far, he has fallen behind in counts and has to throw the ball down the middle of the plate far too often.

Hentges gets very good downward plane on his pitches, as he throws downhill with those long limbs and huge body.

Hentges would be a perfect pitcher to stash in a keeper league. He has the stuff, but he has to iron out the same type of wrinkles many lefties face. GRADE: 50

Estevan Florial, OF, Yankees
6-1, 195
Age 23
BL
International free agent out of the Dominican in 2015

While fantasy managers may want to consider Florial because he plays for the Yankees, I offer a bit of caution. He is more a defensive prospect than an offensive prospect at this point in his career.

He has trouble hitting breaking balls, and that's what he'll continue to see in the big leagues.

The more spin, the greater his issues.

But the Yankees still like his upside. He is aggressive at the plate, but that may be refined over time.

Florial has suffered injuries to his right hamate and wrist in consecutive seasons. And of course, when you have issues with your hands and wrists, that spells trouble.

Florial will be seen as a spare part outfielder that gets the call when the Yankees face their usual injury issues. But he'll probably serve more as a defensive replacement.

His power could be consequential when he matures.

Florial runs well, and if he can get on base he might be able to steal. GRADE: 50

Zack Short, SS/2B/3B, Tigers
5-10, 180
Age 26
BR
2016 17th-round pick by Cubs

This past August, Short was traded by the Cubs to the Tigers for Cameron Maybin.

Short will get some playing time as a utility player for Detroit. He can play anywhere in the infield, with the exception of first base.

Short is a very patient hitter. He knows the strike zone really well and he isn't afraid to accept a base on balls. In his first 12 plate appearances, Short walked four times. I'll take that.

However, Short won't get a great deal of playing time. He's useful to a fantasy manager short on middle infield candidates.  

He broke his hand in 2019 and missed several weeks of development time.

Short is strong. He is a fly ball hitter, and among those fly balls, it wouldn't surprise if some hit the gaps or even clear the fence.

Short has some speed to steal bases and could be a sleeper in that category in only leagues. He's the type of guy that nobody knows about who could be a sleeper. GRADE: 45

Taylor Walls, SS, Rays
5-10, 185
Age 24
BB
2017 third-round pick out of Florida State

Switch-hitting Tyler Walls has taken over at shortstop after the Rays traded Willy Adames to Milwaukee. But we must be clear. He's a placeholder until Wander Franco takes over at shortstop.

Walls flew through the Rays system. It was his development that allowed the Rays to trade Adames while waiting for Franco.

Walls makes a pitcher work. He knows the strike zone. He is patient at the plate and he doesn't get himself out.  

Walls has some power, and his pitch recognition and baseball instincts play well against quality pitching.

So far, he has struggled at the big league level. But he has enough speed to be a pest on the bases. He knows how to take a walk and make the most of his at-bats. But without a doubt, he doesn't have enough skill to be an everyday player. GRADE: 45

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners
6-6, 225
Age 24
2018 first-round pick out of Stetson

Gilbert is having a tough start to his big league career. But that's to be expected. I would have liked to have seen him get a bit more time in development.

A huge righty, Gilbert flew through the development program. Now, still only 24, he is the 6th starter in their six-man rotation. That means his appearances may be limited.

He throws his fastball at 97 miles per hour, which is pretty scary coming out of that long arm and huge frame. He also throws a curve, slider and changeup that are all well above average.

So far, we haven't seen Gilbert to be a huge strikeout pitcher. But his command and control are better than what I had expected. The problem? He has been very hittable. And he has yielded home runs.

Gilbert is long gone in your keeper leagues, but he may still be lingering on seasonal waiver wires. But I want to see more against quality big league hitters before taking a flyer on him for the remainder of this year. GRADE: 55

HEADING HOME

What is command? People often confuse command and control. They are different, but often mixed in conversations.

A pitcher can have one without the other.

Command is having the ability to repeatedly throw the ball where the catcher and the pitcher want it to land. It really is that simple. Can a pitcher hit his target over and over? Can the pitcher throw the ball where it was originally intended? Over and over. And that's the key.

The key to command is repetition of the pitch.

A vivid example of command is the pitcher being able to throw the ball outside the strike zone where the catcher has placed the target. The pitch is designed to make the hitter chase the pitch. The same can be said for the high, high fastball up in the hitter's eyes. Can the pitcher hit that mark? Can he command that pitch?

What is control? Control is being able to throw strikes on a consistent basis. The most important pitch in baseball is strike one. The next important? You guessed it. Strike two.

A pitcher can command his pitches — throw them where he wants to — and they aren't always strikes. A pitcher who controls his pitches throws strikes.

So a pitcher with good command and control throws the pitch at the catcher's target in the strike zone.

The difference in command and control might be slight, but a good pitcher can both command where he wants to throw the pitch and control it to the strike zone repeatedly.

• During a Friday night game against the Brewers, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo gathered his team around him at the end of an inning and blasted them for their incompetent play. He was pointing fingers and screaming. I don't remember ever seeing that with Lovullo's extreme shouting and anger, but I sure do admire it.

• I am all in favor of having unlimited injury spots on fantasy rosters. There is no limit in the big leagues, so why do we put a limit on injury spots in fantasy? And with the number of injuries this year, we can't have enough spots. I have one team with nine injured players.

• I'm also totally in favor of dumping two catchers in fantasy league requirements. If fantasy is to mirror major league baseball, having two catcher spots is ridiculous. I have trouble finding one good catcher.

• Thanks for following me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and for reading my work at Forbes.com.