The theme of the year for the Low A Augusta Greenjackets will be “show me.” The majority of the roster hasn’t played a full season of professional baseball. This year will prove to be the opportunity these young players have been waiting for to show their skills can translate to higher level. 

Loaded with players that have excelled at the lower ranks of competition, Augusta proves to be the furnace with which they will experience the heat, both figuratively in play and literally in temperature.

The starting staff is highlighted by 2010 4th round draft pick Seth Rosin. Seth was assigned to short season Salem-Keizer last year but only pitched a combined 11 innings with one start due to workload. A star at Minnesota, Rosin has a power arm with a mid 90’s fastball and his breaking pitches have a significant drop in velocity to low 80’s possibly high 70’s. Pitching in Augusta’s humidity and that ballpark can only help his stats.

After Rosin, I would anticipate the remaining starters to be Edwin Escobar, Austin Fleet, Justin Schumer, and Taylor Rogers.

Escobar was acquired in a trade from the Rangers for Ben Snyder a year ago. Although his record and ERA last year in Salem wasn’t anything special, Escobar has raw tools to be a solid left handed starting option considering alternatives. When locked in he can be effective (over a K/IP) but he has been prone to lose control after starts.

Fleet was the breakout talent of the Rookie League last year. Great command and he attacks the zone allowing only 8 walks and 65 Ks in 51IP he is the arm to watch on the squad in terms of translation to better competition.

Schumer has been a pleasant surprise in his limited game action. A non-draft sign, he’s proven to be effective as a pitch to contact type.

While I haven’t been able to confirm the catchers on the roster I am almost certain Daniel Burkhart and Jeff Arnold will be in Georgia.

Burkhart has impressed me out here in the desert. Great pop and noticeable power he brings a legitimate bat to the mask. Behind the plate, he’s looked great. A seasoned college catcher he has the experience of calling his own games.

Arnold on the other hand is the speed to Burkhart’s punch. A great combination of contact and speed proves to be an asset for his position. He’s also got a great batter’s eye and control, refraining from chasing pitches and hitting for the situation. A fluid swing with not a ton of power. Defensively, a great glove.

Dominican star and AZL standout Carlos Willoughby makes his affiliate debut surrounded by 1B convert Ryan Scoma, and 3B Adam Duvall.

Willoughby turned heads in the AZL with not only his performance but his speed on the bases. 23SB in 45 games, it is definitely a weapon which should slate him for the lead off or 2 spot. Not a ton of pop but solid contact, I’d like to see him hit more to the gaps. More than able with the glove at 2B, he also has great range.

Scoma took the NWL by storm at the beginning of last season but tailed off after the hot start. His move to 1B will definitely be a learning experience watching him field in ST but the bat may make up for the defensive learning curve.

Duvall, a 2B in college and most of last year, will be moved to the hot corner. Defensively he also will need to refine the transition but like Scoma his bat should play nicely in the SAL. He has a nice swing to watch, stays on the top of the ball with a big follow through. If he can capitalize on the alleys you could see a nice spike in production over last year. Doubles are the name of the game in Augusta.

Lastly, the other player to pay attention to is Josh Mazzola. He is making a 2nd appearance in Augusta after having a season ending injury last year in San Jose. He has been moved all over the diamond in ST and it is unclear as to where he will play but Josh knows how to be successful in the SAL. An RBI machine two years ago, I expect him to bounce back to form and be promoted.

Rafael Rodriguez joins the outfield and gets a chance to live up to the hype that has surrounded his young career. Only 18 years old, Rodriguez has the tools at the plate that scouts dream of, big body type to fill in, already a ton of pop, and solid contact but his skills with the glove are something to be desired. Having had the chance to watch most of his professional tenure, I wasn’t impressed with what I saw until this spring. Rodriguez was stinging the ball, fixing his loopy uppercut swing to a more compact version in my eyes. Still very very raw, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against the conditions and pitching after a disappointing stint in the NWL.

Sundrendy Windster, Chris Lofton, and Devin Harris round up the outfield.

Jacob Dunnington is my pick to be a standout player in Augusta. Signed out of high school he destroyed the AZL with a .63 ERA and 14.1 K/9.

Other additions that could make an impression are Shawn Sanford, Stephen Harrold, and Gaspar Santiago.