Prospect Watch: Evan Chambers

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2009 9:25 PM EDT

This is a very small item for a slow day, so no need to get excited, but: I was inspired by WTM's photo journal earlier today and I checked on a number of prospects in the Pirates' system. I think if I were writing another Top 30 prospects list now, I'd probably have to put State College outfielder and 2009 3rd-rounder Evan Chambers on it. Chambers has quietly had a very interesting season, and you don't get the full picture if you just look at his overall numbers. Here are his monthly splits.

July .176/.349/.282

August .303/.442/.438

September (3 games) .375/.545/.625

Look at the overall line (.247/.403/.374) and you might get the idea that Chambers has little going for him besides advanced control of the strike zone, but it might simply be the case that he took a month to adjust to pro ball and wood bats, because he's been awesome since then. He's struck out way too much so far (71 times in 182 at bats), but he has also walked 49 times. He'll need to be more selective as he rises through the system, but if his .300-plus batting average since the beginning of August is more indicative of what we should expect going forward than the .176 average in July, he may have the tools to do it. He's also only 20, so he has plenty of time to figure things out. Of course, the distribution of his hitting between July and August could just be a fluke and his overall line could be something close to his actual talent level, but I'd bet against that. Chambers appears to be one to watch when he heads to West Virginia next year.

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Chambers is a small part of it,

and it just amazes me how weighted our talent pool is toward the lower levels of the minors. Other than Tabata and Lincoln, there’s almost nothing at AAA, then a good pool at AA, and then a ton in Class A’s three levels.

Chambers intrigues me, even if he’s a million miles from Pittsburgh.

by Suffering Buc on Sep 3, 2009 9:34 PM EDT reply actions

That's the "Creech valley" in the system.

Advancing one level per year, as we put his draft classes further into the past.

by Vlad on Sep 4, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Dont really know anything about Creech, but I would say when a inept regime is replaced, you can almost draw a line in the development system where their guys stop and the new regimes guys start, minus a few fast risers, and trade acquisitions.

Just ask Neil Walker (Kiiiiiiiding)

RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.

"I'D BE A CHEF"

-TONY PLUSH

by GTrain on Sep 4, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

chambers

The August improvement is a good sign and he is one to watch next season, but I’m really skeptical of players who don’t make contact. Same goes for Grossman. Tabata, on the other hand, had the kind of season that interests me.

by bolton on Sep 3, 2009 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

I figured they just signed Chambers because he’s short so his uniforms should cost less.

by WTM on Sep 3, 2009 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

ha

Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time. -Lou Brock

by Green_Wave on Sep 3, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice piece on the GCL Bucs (mainly on Singh, Patel and Ngoepe) here:

http://www.piratesreport.com/page/content.detail/id/501614/Bradenton-had-interesting-season-with-its-eclectic-roster.html?nav=5008

by WTM on Sep 3, 2009 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

He looks like the most interesting position player on the Spikes. Brock Holt has likewise been doing well in August (850 OPS) and September (1292 OPS in three games), but I’m remaining skeptical—we haven’t had the best track record with middle infield prospects this decade (Bixler, Lillibridge, Friday, Craig Stansberry…).

by Traco Bucco on Sep 3, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions