National League
● The Dodgers’ James Outman patiently rebuilt his swing after being drafted in 2018 PAGE 82
● Andrew Baker’s electric arsenal has him on track to reach Philadelphia in 2023 PAGE 83
● The Juan Soto blockbuster returned prospect James Wood to his Washington D.C. roots PAGE 84
PAGE 81 Reds trade pickup Noelvi Marte got reps at third base in the Arizona Fall League after playing shortstop his whole career.
Alexander Learns To Trust His Approach
Blaze Alexander always had the tools, but this year the 23-year-old shortstop married them with a more mature approach.
The result was one of the better seasons of any hitter in the organization, a sort of post-breakout performance that put him back on the prospect radar.
Alexander hit .306/.388/.539 with 17 home runs in 88 games for Double-A Amarillo, then had a similarly impressive week-long stretch following a late-season promotion to Triple-A Reno.
“I feel like I did a good job of swinging at my pitch and not getting myself out swinging at pitches I wasn’t looking for,” Alexander said. “That really comes down to sticking with your approach and having a plan instead of free-swinging.”
Alexander credited offseason work with former big leaguers Tony Graffanino and Dustan Mohr and help from Amarillo hitting coach Travis Denker for his ability to simplify things and stay convicted in his approach.
“Simple thoughts such as, ‘What pitch I am trying to hit and which side or area of the plate I am trying to cover?’ ” Alexander said. “It’s hard to cover the whole strike zone and worry about every pitch.”
It allowed Alexander, who has a quick bat and the potential for plus power, to make the most of his ability. It had been awhile since he had performed to this level of consistency since being drafted in the 11th round in 2018 out of IMG Academy in Florida.
“He’s always been extremely talented,” D-backs farm director Josh Barfield said. “He’s one of the most talented players in the organization.
“But I think when the talent meets the preparation and the mental consistency, that’s when you start to see the performance he had this year, both offensively and defensively.”
Scouts and coaches say Alexander was a far more reliable defender at short, putting to rest any questions about whether he could handle the position in MLB.
—NICK PIECORO
Braves Await Return Of Schwellenbach
The Braves were routinely linked to Spencer Schwellenbach entering the 2021 draft.
They selected the Nebraska righthander in the second round and signed him for $997,500—or about 16% under slot value at pick No. 59. Not too long after he signed, Schwellenbach had Tommy John surgery.
The 22-year-old was sidelined in 2022 and did not pitch. He will enter spring training healthy with the chance to show why the Braves were so enamored of his potential.
“This is probably one of my favorite picks of my career,” Braves vice president of scouting said after the Braves selected Schwellenbach. “I was so excited to get this guy.”
