Prospect Watcher: Jordan Schafer

The Prospect Watcher is already evolving and a special thank-you goes out to everyone who has shared their opinions via posting comments, as well as by sending e-mails. To make the Prospect Watcher the most effective and valuable for fantasy owners, I am going to narrow the focus to 10 rookie hitters expected to see significant at-bats over the course of the season. Now, the list of players could change slightly if one of those players is sent down to the minors. It could also be altered if a top rookie threat is promoted from the minors (Matt Wieters, I’m looking at you). As of right now, the Prospect Watcher’s ‘Follow List’ will include: Travis Snider, Elvis Andrus, Chris Getz, Brett Gardner, Chris Dickerson, Dexter Fowler, Jordan Schafer, Colby Rasmus, Cameron Maybin, and Travis Ishikawa.

Games: Wednesday, April 8, 2009

American League:
Chris Getz | 2B | Chicago
Opponent: Kansas City (RHP Zack Greinke)
Result: 0-for-4, K
Trending: —
Notes: Getz is off to a modest start and is batting .250 in eight at-bats

Elvis Andrus | SS | Texas
Opponent: Cleveland (RHP Fausto Carmona)
Result: 2-for-4, home run (RHP Rafael Betancourt), 2 RBI, 2 K
Trending: —
Notes: Andrus is showing surprising pop and hit his first homer of the season after hitting just four in 482 at-bats last year.

Brett Gardner | CF | New York
Opponent: Baltimore (RHP Koji Uehara)
Result: 0-for-4, R, 5 LOB
Trending: —
Notes: Gardner is off to a slow start, hitting just .143 in seven at-bats with no walks or strikeouts.

Travis Snider | LF | Toronto
Opponent: Detroit (RHP Zach Miner)
Result: 0-for-3, 2 K
Trending: —
Notes: 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in his last two games.

National League:
Travis Ishikawa | 1B | San Francisco
Opponent: Milwaukee (RHP Yovani Gallardo)
Result: 1-for-4, R, 3 LOB
Trending: —
Notes: 3-for-9 with three RBI in two games

Chris Dickerson | OF | Cincinnati
Opponent: New York (RHP Mike Pelfrey)
Result: 0-for-3, R, RBI, BB, K
Trending: —
Notes: Two walks in two games

Dexter Fowler | OF | Colorado
Opponent: Arizona (LHP Doug Davis)
Result: 1-for-4, solo HR (Davis), 2 R, BB, K
Trending: —
Notes: Two walks and a homer in two games

Jordan Schafer | CF | Atlanta
At-Bat 1:

Result: Ground out to SS

Pitcher: Joe Blanton (RHP)

Situation: Second inning, one out, none on | 0-0 count

Pitch: Fastball | Outside and middle (strike) | 88 mph

At-Bat 2:

Result: Ground Out to 2B

Pitcher: Joe Blanton (RHP)

Situation: Third inning, one out, one on, 5 runs in | 3-2 count

Pitch: Change-up | Outside and middle (strike) | 81 mph

At-Bat 3:

Result: Two-run homer to RF

Pitcher: J.A. Happ (LHP)

Situation: Fifth inning, one out, one on | 2-2 count

Pitch: Change-up | inside, low (strike) | 79 mph

At-Bat 4:

Result: Walk

Pitcher: Chad Durbin (RHP)

Situation: Seventh inning, one on, two out | 3-1 count

Pitch: Fastball | Low and outside | 89 mph

At-Bat 5:

Result: Ground out to 2B

Pitcher: Brad Lidge (RHP)

Situation: Ninth inning, one out, one run in (solo homer) | 1-1 count

Pitch: Slider | Low and inside (strike) | 84 mph

Notes: Schafer hit his second home run of the season. What was most impressive about the at-bat was that the homer came against a southpaw (Schafer is left-handed) and it came on a change-up, which is the same pitch that Blanton used to get the rookie out in his previous at-bat (although this one was inside, whereas the previous one was outside). Schafer was pulling everything in this game, but at least he showed that he can make adjustments and think along with the opposing pitcher.

Colby Rasmus | CF | St. Louis
Opponent: Pittsburgh (LHP Zach Duke)
Result: 0-for-3, 2 BB
Trending: —
Notes: Three walks and no strikeouts in two games

Cameron Maybin | CF | Florida
Opponent: Washington (RHP Daniel Cabrera)
Result: Late-game defensive sub
Trending: —
Notes: No walks and three strikeouts in three games (nine at-bats)