12) Clark Packer
Throttle's all-time leader in WAR (9.1), plus an insanely gifted pair of legs combined with a slap-hitting technique that drives infielders crazy has Packer in the 12th spot this week.
Packer is coming off a year in which he batted .577 from the lead-off spot for Team Throttle in 2012 but only recorded two ground-rule doubles.
The switch from rover to "an infield position" in 2012 has some scouts wondering if he can be the player he was as a Dallas Christian Charger.
"Most people don't realize Clark's commitment off the field in the cages and keeping local box scores on a nightly basis," said one mid-level talent scout.
11) Bryce Orr
He has great hip rotation and really extends his arm well through his finish, so if he keeps his weight back a little better, he'll have above-average to plus power when he matures physically.
He also is Throttle's strongest asset out of the bullpen. He's young and hasn't logged many innings over the past few seasons so his arm should be fresh and ready if Huston can't close the deal in the late innings.
One foreign scout told me that other day that Lytle could set a new standard for Rookie of the Year voting.
9) Mason Orr
Mason comes in at #9 on our list after a solid 2012 campaign where he hit .332 with 15 RBI and 12 unassisted put outs at first.
10) Chay Lytle
One foreign scout told me that other day that Lytle could set a new standard for Rookie of the Year voting.
A left-handed hitter, has a furious swing with outstanding plate coverage, doesn't walk much or strike out much and, new in 2013, has plus raw power.
He shortened his swing last offseason, getting his hands a little lower and tighter and creating a more direct path to the ball, but still has the same ability to go out of the zone and square up pitches most hitters could only foul off.
His most frightening attribute is his ability to turn seeing-eye singles into extra bases.
Last year alone, he had 46 doubles and 27 triples off line drives that were fielded by cleanly by the outfielders. Think about that.
9) Mason Orr
Many scouts are raving though about his work he's put in during the off-season.
One scout from the 105.3 The Fan described him as a young Fred McGriff saying,
"Orr has an effortlessly picturesque right-handed swing with great acceleration that leads to surprisingly hard contact."
Exciting things are on the horizon for Mr. Orr and his fans.
One scout told me last week that Eyer's approach to the game is unlike anyone he's ever seen.
From his sage-like expertise centering around lineup changes to his plus-plus range of motion in the infield.
He certainly doesn't play like a player that will make his 2013 Throttle debut fresh up from
AA-Tyler.
"Orr has an effortlessly picturesque right-handed swing with great acceleration that leads to surprisingly hard contact."
Exciting things are on the horizon for Mr. Orr and his fans.
8) Jesse Eyer
From his sage-like expertise centering around lineup changes to his plus-plus range of motion in the infield.
He certainly doesn't play like a player that will make his 2013 Throttle debut fresh up from
AA-Tyler.
Eyer's Nebraska farm boy roots produced a sort of Niger Morgan-type grittiness that Throttle could definitely use.
Eyer's swing is very simple and he has quick wrists to generate bat speed; he lengthened his stride for his game at-bats, giving him a longer finish for more power with the slight downside of some collapse.
Not to mention he's one again teaming up with college bathroom mate Clark Packer for the first time since 2005.
Fun Fact: When Eyer and Packer are in the same lineup Throttle is a staggering 3-3 since 2005.
He couples that with both quick wrists and average white male hand-eye coordination for decent contact rates.
Fun Fact: When Eyer and Packer are in the same lineup Throttle is a staggering 3-3 since 2005.
7) Blake Browder
His warning-track power produces incredible BP sessions and near mammoth in-game shots; he has as much leverage from his thighs as a human can achieve without dislocating his spine midswing.
Don't fall in love with this guy too quick though. The over/under in Vegas on Browder staying focused is three games; reports are he's fathered a child that is due some time in June.
6) Hutton Harris
An semi-inconsistent legitimate switch-hitter, Harris has a better swing right-handed, keeping his weight back longer and staying steadier through contact, but his left-handed approach is so advanced that he'll be productive from that side even if he never quite equalizes his two swings.
On defense he's decently-instinctive with two hands and a plus arm.
Harris had a rough year in 2012; recording two hits or more in only 3 of 7 games.
Not to mention, his reputation of being the "dirtiest player in the league" has resulted in him having take a trip up to New York to the commissioner's office after last season's incident of round-housing the catcher on a close play at the plate.
One Throttle teammate deemed Harris "a marked man in Dallas/ Denton county."
5) Bradnon Maenius
Maenius is coming off a year that proved that he is still the player experts projected him to be coming out of college.
He wrote the book on shading power hitters as an outfielder.
With incredible instincts once the ball is hit; Maenius rarely gives away outs on fly balls.
His day/night splits at the plate are the cause for concern fro Throttle coming into 2013. He hit .207 with 7 RBI and 12 groundouts during Throttle's games that started before 7:30 pm last year.
When first pitch is later than 7:30 pm, he's a staggering .500 hitter with 27 RBI and 13 doubles.
Maenius is coming off a year that proved that he is still the player experts projected him to be coming out of college.
He wrote the book on shading power hitters as an outfielder.
With incredible instincts once the ball is hit; Maenius rarely gives away outs on fly balls.
His day/night splits at the plate are the cause for concern fro Throttle coming into 2013. He hit .207 with 7 RBI and 12 groundouts during Throttle's games that started before 7:30 pm last year.
When first pitch is later than 7:30 pm, he's a staggering .500 hitter with 27 RBI and 13 doubles.
4) Chandler Harris
Chandler's offensive potential is tremendous.
Despite an exaggerated leg kick, he gets his lead foot down in time, keeping his weight back enough to drive the ball, even showing doubles power down the line thanks to strong hands and excellent hip rotation.
Chandler's offensive potential is tremendous.
Despite an exaggerated leg kick, he gets his lead foot down in time, keeping his weight back enough to drive the ball, even showing doubles power down the line thanks to strong hands and excellent hip rotation.
The ultimate game manager behind the plate, Harris kept runners at bay last season to the tune of throwing out them out 39% of the time.
A newly-wed who has developed a reputation of strong pull hitting has denied reports of working on hitting the other way at the cages near his home in Allen.
Harris will once again anchor the middle-half of the order as he did in 2012 when he hit.613 with RISP.
3) Heath Huston
Huston has a junk-ball pitch that at times is semi- unhittable when he paints the corners of the plate.
He can make it more effective by using his plus-plus changeup, a true swing-and-miss pitch right now, and mixing in more two-seamers in the 19-21 mph range to keep hitters from squaring up the four-seam version.
Rumors were swirling that Huston was mentored this offseason by former Brewers pitcher and "friend" Trey Watten; but Heath quickly dismissed those inclinations.
2012 was his first full year of calling his own games, with plenty of positives and given another half-year he will blossom into Throttle's No. 1 starter.
2) Riley Orr
Sibling MVP showed in 2012 why his is the anchor of this infield at short stop and why he'll do what he needs to do to will this team to a title.
A plus defender with Shane Spencer-type range from left to right.
Not to mention his table-setting ability at the top of this batting order.
Not to mention his table-setting ability at the top of this batting order.
The Coppell native set the bar incredibly high in 2012 and he'll need to raise it even higher this season if he wants to vault this team to the next level.
1) Michael Stillwell
Our No. 1 spot goes to a man that decided to install an underground batting cage in his Abilene home as he finished school last year.
Stillwell is as close to the perfect prospect as you'll find in 2013.
His rare combination of patience and raw power at the plate is something that most teams would kill to have in the middle of their lineup.
Stillwell drove in over 200 runs from 2009-2011 out west in AAA- Sweetwater with a OPS of 1.678%.
Mike is already locked in as a sure-fire MVP candidate in this middle of this order.
Some experts are projecting a season that could break every record in the book.
