ORGANIZATION REPORTS
PAGE 43
● The White Sox made the right call in the first round of the 2021 draft
PAGE 39
● A young backstop could end the Angels’ homegrown catcher drought
PAGE 40
● The Rays believe the best is yet to come for Kyle Manzardo
PAGE 42
● The Reds’ top prospect proves his 2021 pop up was no fluke
PAGE 43
● A teenage Brewers prospect makes a memorable full-season debut
PAGE 44
● Andrew Painter looks nearly MLB ready for the Phillies even as a 20-year-old
PAGE 45
Henderson Represents A Win For Development
The Orioles have tended to prefer college hitters in recent drafts, but Gunnar Henderson is a notable exception.
Baltimore drafted the Alabama prep shortstop at the top of the second round in 2019, betting on his raw skills and youth.
Despite losing the 2020 minor league season to the pandemic, Henderson beat even the most optimistic timetable when he made his MLB debut on Aug. 31.
Henderson conquered two Class A levels in 2021 and this season sped to Triple-A before his 21st birthday. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball when called up.
In 112 games for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season, Henderson hit .297/.416/.531 with 19 home runs, 22 stolen bases, 79 walks and 116 strikeouts. The Orioles wanted his lefthanded bat in their lineup as they vied for their first postseason appearance since 2016.
“I can’t say enough about how proud we are of what he’s done this far in his young pro career and especially this season,” Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said.
“It was about as meteoric of a season as you’ll see. Any time a guy goes across three levels and excels at each one—and especially when that third level is the major leagues—it bodes very well for the future.”
In addition to Henderson, the Orioles selected catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick in 2019. Three years later, the two are the future faces of the franchise.
Elias refers to Henderson as “a flagship” aspect of what Orioles player development is doing on the hitting side.
“He was a player who, in 2019, our scouting staff had very firmly in the first round … and he just kept falling,” Elias said. “I wasn’t 100% sure that he was going to be signable at that pick (No. 42).
“We were able to get on the phone and ensure that he had strong interest in signing with us at that pick … Once we got the indication that he’d be inclined toward signing, we took him, and I think it’s been a very fortuitous thing for him and for us.”
—ROCH KUBATKO
Swing Change Keys Breakout For Rafaela
Two months into the 2021 season, Ceddanne Rafaela looked overmatched at the plate.
He was hitting .225 with one homer in 39 games for Low-A Salem while swinging and missing too often for a batter who possessed impressive hand-eye coordination.
Rafaela and Salem hitting coach Nelson Paulino determined that a pre-swing hitch created too much movement. He raised his hands above his head and started working more directly down toward the ball.
The results showed promise. Rafaela hit .266/.306/.484 with nine homers in his final 63 games. The versatile infielder even looked like a natural in center field.
Yet no one could have anticipated the 5-foot-8, 152-pound Rafaela’s breakout.
In his age-21 season, Rafaela—who signed with Boston for $10,000 out of Curacao in 2017—delivered the most dynamic performance in the system.
Rafaela hit .299/.342/.539 with 21 homers, 28 stolen bases, 26 walks and 113 strikeouts in 116 games split between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. He coupled that with highlight-reel defense that graded as elite or near elite.
“You put him in the big leagues right now, he wins the Gold Glove as an outfielder,” said Red Sox infield coordinator Darren Fenster, who worked as minor league outfield coordinator in 2021.
Standout defense, above-average speed and solid contact skills give Rafaela a solid floor, but the fact that the righthanded hitter now regularly drives the ball for extra bases gives him above-average potential.
“This guy is progressing in such a short amount of time,” Red Sox outfield coordinator Corey Wimberly said. “There’s room for growth. He still can get stronger. He can still get faster. He can still learn. He’s only really scratching the surface right now.”
—ALEX SPEIER
Montgomery Handles Every Challenge
Shortstop Colson Montgomery could have been a star college basketball player.
Had he chosen to stick with football, the quarterback would have been heavily recruited on the gridiron as well.
Montgomery chose baseball, and the White Sox are thrilled with his decision.
Chicago drafted Montgomery 22nd overall in 2021 out of Southridge High in Huntingburg, Ind.
“A lot of people thought we were taking a risk with Colson, but to know the person, the ability, the projection—I really believe in him,” White Sox scouting director Mike Shirley said. “I do think we got it right. Colson is doing some special things.”
In his first full professional season, the 20-year-old Montgomery started at Low-A Kannapolis and was promoted to High-A Winston-Salem on June 24. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Montgomery moved to Double-A Birmingham on Aug. 23.
Montgomery hit just .146 in three-plus weeks at Double-A, but at his two Class A stops he hit .295/.408/.450 with nine home runs, 52 walks and 68 strikeouts in 82 games.
