Category: Yasmany Tomas
What a year for top prospects
Admittedly in the past I haven’t paid much attention to prospects so I’m not going to try to compare those making their Major League debuts in the first half of 2015 to what may have happened in any previous years.
What I am going to do, is simply say, wow.
In regards to prospects and rookies, the first two and a half months of the baseball season have been spectacular.
Joc Pederson (he played 18 games in 2014, but is still considered a rookie) is on a tear in Los Angeles, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell have performed well in Chicago, Joey Gallo nearly hit for the cycle in his debut and that’s just the beginning.
Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Correa and Carlos Rondon have also debuted, while Byron Buxton and Francisco Lindor are set to get on the field Sunday.
While that’s already an impressive list of prospects, it doesn’t even include those that came to MLB internationally such as Jung Ho Kang, whom the Pirates signed from Korea and Yasmany Tomas, who the Arizona D-backs signed as a free agent out of Cuba.
Oh and don’t forget Giants right-hander Chris Heston who threw a no-hitter last week.
The amount of top prospects that have already been called up this season is remarkable and assuming they remain in the Majors and play at – or at least close to – expectations, it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch all these youngsters develop.
10 Things I’m Watching In 2015: Yasmany Tomas
As we count down to Spring Training, here’s the ninth installment of my ’10 Things I’m Watching In 2015′ series. Today’s topic: Yasmany Tomas.
After a dismal 2014 campaign, the Diamondbacks retooled both the front office and the roster in preparation for the 2015. Perhaps the biggest off season move the club made was the acquisition of Cuban free agent Yasmany Tomas.
The Diamondbacks inked Tomas, 24, to a six-year, $68.5 million deal. The deal, which has an opt out clause after four seasons, is the largest deal in team history – a sign of how much Arizona values Tomas.
Tomas is known for his bat and hit 30 home runs in 205 regular season games in Cuba, however he’s never played a full season in Cuba so the grind of a 162 Major League season may take its toll late in the year.
Cuba’s Serie Nacional’s season in 90 games and Tomas has never played more than 69.
Primarily an outfielder, Tomas has been working out at third base with the Diamondbacks and his ability to pick up the new position in Spring Training will be something to keep an eye on.
If Tomas struggles at third, he may start the season in the Minors, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t play in the majors at all this season.
Whether it’s Opening Day or somewhere down the line Tomas will don a big league uniform this season and all eyes in Arizona will be watching.
Previous Entries:
Boor on Baseball 