Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2014 Preview

Defense

LF - Whit Merrifield

CF - Lane Adams

RF - Jorge Bonifacio

3B - Cheslor Cuthbert

SS - Orlando Calixte

2B - Justin Trapp*

1B - Mark Threlkeld*

C - Juan Graterol

Rotation

Jason Adam

Greg Billo*

Tim Melville

Noel Arguelles

Sugar Ray Marimon

Bench

C - Micah Gibbs*, C - Parker Morin*, IF - Angel Franco, IF - Yowill Espinal, OF - Ethan Chapman*,  OF - Roman Hernandez, OF - Edinson Rincon

Bullpen

Scott Alexander, Angel Baez*, Malcom Culver, Cody Fassold*, Andy Ferguson, Hassan Pena*, J.C. Sulbaran, Andrew Triggs

Notes:

• There are 9 new faces that will put on a Naturals uniform for the 2014 season.  One of the more notable debuts is 23 year old pitcher Greg Billo.
• To begin the year, the roster doesn't look all that great to those who pay attention to prospects and all things Minor Leagues, but with a fully loaded Wilmington Blue Rocks roster, there will be some big name players that could easily arrive in Springdale by mid-season (Dozier, Starling, Mondesi, Almonte, Manaea, etc.)
• Top Prospect Kyle Zimmer, who ended last year's season with the Naturals, will stay in Arizona for extended Spring Training to get some work in while recovering from biceps tendinitis in his shoulder.  He is expected to join the Naturals on May 20th.
• Jason Adam returns to the Naturals after throwing 144 innings in 2013.  Although Jason posted a career high K rate, he's coming off a disappointing year on the bump as he also logged career highs in ERA (5.13) and BB/9 (3.38).  As of now, his ceiling is that of a back-end starter.  His pitches are solid, but lack the flash as they once did back in his Instructional League days.  His fastball velocity has dipped the past couple seasons and if he can somehow work his way back to his rookie year throwing 98 mph, his status has a rotation candidate will rise drastically.
• Adam won't be the only pitcher to watch at Arvest Ballpark.  Newcomer Greg Billo makes his Double-A debut coming off a successful 2013 campaign as he worked his back from Tommy John surgery.  In 40 innings for Lexington, he posted a 1.35 ERA, his best since 2011, 38 K's, 13 BB and 6 ER, along with a FIP of 2.93.  
• Ranked as #4 in the Royals' Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America, RF Jorge Bonifacio will come back to Springdale for a second season only because age is definitely on his side.  The 20 year old has a pure swing with a lot of power potential.  Between Wilmington and a short stint with the Naturals in '13, his slash line was .298/.372/.429 with 4 HR and 55 RBI.  Scouts still say the power is there and will arrive soon.  It will be nice to see Bonifacio display that power in a full season at Arvest Ballpark.

Prospect Countdown: #32 Justin Trapp

32. Justin Trapp Second Baseman

aeryssports.com

Age: 23
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 165
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 34th round of the 2009 Amateur Draft

2013 Rank: 30

2012 Rank: 46

2011 Rank: 56

Landon Adams (24): A former Division 1 quarterback recruit, Justin Trapp boasts plenty of athleticism. The former 34th round pick utilizes this athleticism in a variety of ways. Trapp has hit double digit home runs in back to back seasons while stealing 49 bases over the same time frame. In early June I was told by a Royals source that Trapp was close to a promotion to Northwest Arkansas after posting a .838 OPS in April and .811in May. Unfortunately, Trapp was on course to fall off a cliff in June when he struck out 18 times in 21 games and hit just .268/.307/.329. The slump continued throughout July, before Trapp rebounded a bit in August by hitting .257/.322/.410. Trapp is likely ticketed for a return to Wilmington in 2014.

Paden Bennett (29): I really like this Trapp kid.  He is a toolsy player with speed, a good eye (9% walk rate), and a little bit of pop as well with 10+ homers his last two seasons.  At 23 years old, Trapp has some time to really improve on his prospect status and that starts this season.  I think Trapp takes another step forward this season and you see him in Northwest Arkansas at some point.

Joe Cox (NR): I am a fan of any MI prospect with any amount of upside, and Trapp fits that profile.  The athletic 2B prospect spent his age 22 season in high A and posted a respectable .341 wOBA, which included 10 homers and 25 stolen bases.  He showed the ability to walk with a 9% BB rate (and 12 HBP) and a respectable 20.8% K rate, which is generally right in line with his career numbers.  Really, Trapp has consistently put up very similar numbers every year since 2010, moving up a level each season.  I consider that a good sign, and we will see if he can keep that consistency going, or even improve upon it, in 2014 when he will presumably move up to AA.

Dan Ware (30): Trapp entered 2013 coming off a career year with Kane County.  Entering the pitcher-friendly confines of the Carolina League, Justin's slash line went down in all 3 categories to .257/.340/.390.  He still managed to put up 10 HR for the second straight year, adding 47 RBI and 30 XBH, 5 of which were triples.  On the base paths, he added 25 steals for Wilmington and continues to show off his athleticism.  He's still considered a decent prospect, while being just 23 years old still helps him out.  Trapp could start off in Wilmington in 2014, get a few AB's, then head west to join the Naturals if he starts off strong.  

Total Points: 10

Prospect Countdown: #30 Justin Trapp

30. Justin Trapp Second Baseman

Paden Bennett (27): I am a fan of Justin Trapp as I ranked him 27th in my rankings.  I like his ability to have good plate appearances and draw walks.  We don't have enough guys like that in this organization so when I see a young kid that is showing the ability to take a walk that ups their stock for me.  Trapp has a "very unique set of skills, skills that make him a nightmare for people like you" (Taken reference).  But really, he does have an intriguing set of skills, he has good speed and good pop and a good eye.  Those three factors right there make me feel like Trapp could turn out to be a very good player one day.   

Joe Cox (NR): To be fair, I had very little clue who Justin Trapp was before this write up.  The most analysis I could find was from Royal Revival’s review on November 17^th, 2011.   I learned that Trapp is a young athletic middle infielder with some power potential.  The 34^th round pick from the 2009 amateur draft had a very solid year for Kane County last season smacking 12 home runs and compiling 24 stolen bases over 469 with a solid .788 OPS.  He played 94 games at second base and made 22 errors at the position, which obviously needs to be cut down.  Trapp has some interesting skills that he needs to continue to improve on as he slowly makes his way up Kansas City’s farm system, hopefully as a second baseman.

Damion Mandalas (28): I think Trapp is a decent prospect that could offer some upside as a late bloomer. While there is no tool that stands out, he seems to be pretty solid across the board. He showed decent pop in 2012, hitting 12 home runs and an ISO of .158. He also showed good speed, stealing 12 bases and a decent eye at the plate walking in 8.7% of his plate appearances. Trapp is a good athlete, having originally been signed to play quarterback at Coastal Carolina. Hopefully, his athleticism can continue to allow him to develop and he can turn himself into a solid second base prospect. He should open the season in Wilmington.

Dan Ware (NR):  Trapp was drafted out of Fairfield Central High School in South Carolina in the 34th round of the 2009 draft.  A former recruit by Coastal Carolina to play quarterback, he is a 2B who has great athleticism and potentially some pop in the bat, which was shown last season as Trapp composed a decent .272/.352/.430 line with 12 dingers and 50 ribbies.  Early in April of 2011, Trapp was suspended for 50 games for violating MILB Drug Prevention and Treatment program, but since then has had a clean slate.  It wouldn't surprise me if Trapp started off the 2013 campaign in Lexington considering the poor display he put on at 2B last season.  Look for Justin to play out next season between Lexington and Wilmington.

Total Points: 7

Prospect Countdown: #46 Justin Trapp

#46 Justin Trapp

Position: 2B
Age: 21
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
B/T: R/R
Acquired: 34th Round of 2009 Amateur Draft
From: Columbia, South Carolina


Justin Trapp was drafted out of a South Carolina high school in the 34th round of the 2009 draft. Trapp who was recruited by Coastal Carolina to play quarterback had great athleticism and potentially some pop in the bat. The Royals knew he would take time to develop and as you can see by his progression, they have taken a patient approach.

Prior to 2010, Baseball America rated Trapp as the 31st best prospect in the Royals' system and selected as a sleeper for the organization. One year later Trapp was coming off a sub par season and didn't garner the preseason buzz that he had a year prior. But in 2011, Trapp showed some pop that we hadn't seen out of his bat before.

Yes, Trapp's batting average was the lowest of his career, but in seventeen fewer at bats, Trapp was able to knock ten more extra base hits than he did in 2010. While his Home Run on fly ball percentage was 11.5% compared to the Applachian League average 9.7%, I don't believe that his power surge was a fluke.

Trapp's strikeout percentage is still was too high at 22%, but for a middle infielder that showed some pop in the Appy League there is some promise here. The Royals gave him most of his reps at second base in 2011, I hope that this doesn't mean his days are a shortstop are over (although a .900 fielding percentage aint gonna cut it).

Trapp will likely get a shot in Kane County this summer, but if he struggles he could be sent to Arizona until short season ball begins. There is some reason to be optimistic here, but he is still a long way from establishing himself as a true prospect.

Picture credit to Burlington Royals' team site.