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Post by chinmusic on Sept 27, 2017 21:41:00 GMT -8
K.J. navigated the Pioneer League's short-season-A Rookie ball with a .310 BA, 33 RBI and 10 Homers. He demonstrated some position versatility by catching (17 games), playing 1B and in the DH role. The Helena Brewers finished 27-45 for the season with K.J. appearing in 48 of those games. A good rookie season that will earn him a promotion in the Brewer's organization. I suspect he'll start 2018 with the Low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Appleton (Midwest League) with a probable in-season promotion to the Advanced-A Carolina Mudcats (Carolina League) in Zebulon, N.C.
K.J. will be working over the winter to improve his throwing out base runners - he was 7/27 in cutting down steal attempts, which was probably expected having played primarily at 1B during his 3 year OSU career. He can also cut down the number of strikeouts which totaled 55 in 185 at bats. Even a modest improvement in making contact will help him immensely. The Brewers won't rush him, they're heavily invested in him as a top tier prospect in their system. Making the position switch to C could slow his progress some but after two + to three seasons in A ball, he should reach the AA level late in his 3rd or 4th professional season.
How do you see it unfolding ?
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Post by kersting13 on Sept 28, 2017 10:48:56 GMT -8
A fairly typical progression for a college kid is
2017 Rookie
2018 A
2019 A+
2020 AA
2021 AAA
2022 MLB
Lots of players do it a bit slower, many do it a bit faster. Teams are often more patient with catchers, but it seems like the patience with catchers is for their bats to come around. If he can't hack it defensively, I expect they'll switch him to being a position player, and he might progress more quickly.
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Post by chinmusic on Sept 28, 2017 16:20:34 GMT -8
Good time table and good points on catcher development.
In fairness to K.J. it should be mentioned that Low-A Rookie ball has it's share of high school pitchers selected in the draft, and Latin American pitchers, many of them falling into the 17 and 18 year old age group.
It is raw talent that may have never worked with a pitching coach or had any advanced instruction in limiting stolen bases. Professional baseball may be their first exposure to effectively holding a runner or executing an abbreviated motion or slide step home. At that level speed, getting a good lead and getting a good jump likely outweigh the pitcher's developed skill at keeping runners in check or delivering a polished pick-off move to the bag.
Defensively, Harrison fielded .993 and was only charged with one passed ball. I suspect some those 20 stolen bases were on the pitcher.
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Post by kersting13 on Sept 28, 2017 19:47:52 GMT -8
It looks like KJ had 4 passed balls, but that doesn't seem too bad considering how much catching he's actually done in the past 3 years.
For perspective, Logan Ice, who was an extremely solid defensive catcher at OSU, in his rookie season, he had 4 passed balls in 36 games, and caught 17 of 47 base stealers.
Jake Rodriguez caught 30 games, had 2 passed balls, and caught 8 of 17 base stealers. (Jake also hit .157 in his two years in the minors)
Andrew Susac didn't play in his draft season, and started his next year at A+, so not exactly an apples to apples comparison.
Parker Berberet caught 30 games, had 4 passed balls, and caught 17 of 46 base stealers.
Ryan Ortiz caught 44 games, had 13 passed balls, and caught 17 of 48 base stealers.
KJ doesn't stack up too badly against these much more experienced guys.
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Post by baseba1111 on Sept 28, 2017 22:42:28 GMT -8
It looks like KJ had 4 passed balls, but that doesn't seem too bad considering how much catching he's actually done in the past 3 years. For perspective, Logan Ice, who was an extremely solid defensive catcher at OSU, in his rookie season, he had 4 passed balls in 36 games, and caught 17 of 47 base stealers. Jake Rodriguez caught 30 games, had 2 passed balls, and caught 8 of 17 base stealers. (Jake also hit .157 in his two years in the minors) Andrew Susac didn't play in his draft season, and started his next year at A+, so not exactly an apples to apples comparison. Parker Berberet caught 30 games, had 4 passed balls, and caught 17 of 46 base stealers. Ryan Ortiz caught 44 games, had 13 passed balls, and caught 17 of 48 base stealers. KJ doesn't stack up too badly against these much more experienced guys. It's not his defense that will be the issue for now. Rookie ball, as mentioned, is full of inexperienced "throwers" not pitchers. KJ still struck out nearly 30% of his ABs. That's a huge issue when you begin to face real savvy pitching. You can survive as a catcher with great defensive skills and as a handler of pitchers if your bat is average. But, that is not KJ at this point. There are just too many talented backstops in baseball to be a project there for long. So he'll have to really hit and they'll find a spot, probably back at 1B, for him. His progress will be based on his bat as the Brewers have a young 18 y/o catcher at A ball who showed very well for his age at that level and is more athletic. |
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Post by chinmusic on Oct 5, 2017 21:36:47 GMT -8
With the intent of giving K.J. a maximum amount of seasoning in 2017, particularly keeping his bat active, Helena used him at DH to keep in the lineup while gradually working him into the mix behind the plate. The everyday catcher was Payton Henry, a 20 year old second year pro who signed out Pleasant Grove, Utah HS in 2016. Henry and our RHP Dakota Donovan were the top two rated players in Utah in 2016. After some struggles his rookie year, Henry improved some this year hitting 7 home runs and for a .242 average.
Here is one scouting report on K.J. from Baseball America. Harrison was ranked the 8th best prospect in the Pioneer League for 2017.
"Harrison spent more time at first base and DH at Oregon State, but the Brewers intend to develop him as a catcher. He still needs plenty of work behind the plate, where he needs to clean up his mechanics and improve his agility, but he has soft hands and an above-average arm.
A slow release keeps Harison from posting impressive pop times on throws to second base, but he threw out 26 percent of base-stealers with Helena and should get better with experience.
No one doubts Harrison will hit. He has good pull-side power but also takes what pitchers give him and doesn't over-swing. He can hit gap to gap and drive home runs to center and right field. The ball jumps off his bat, and he projects to be an average hitter with average power. He's a below-average runner.
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