Jun 25th, 2009
Great Falls Begins Title Defense
By Dan Santaromita
Last year Great Falls debuted their name change as the Voyagers and won the Pioneer League title.
The team only went 37-35 in the regular season, but got hot at the right time behind some excellent pitching. Notable hitting prospects Tyler Kuhn and Brent Morel were key contributors (though Morel was promoted after only 15 games), but big time pitching prospects Dexter Carter and Dan Hudson led the way.
This year, the absence (for now) of top draft picks means the Voyagers will rely more on returning players and members of the ‘08 BriSox if they want to repeat.
Returnees Daniel Albritton and Mike Wickswat will be important to the bullpen, though neither profiles as much of a prospect. In the lineup, outfielders Johny Celis (.840 OPS) and Jordan Cheatham (.363 OBP with 20 SB) should improve on solid showings a season ago. Celis is 23 and Cheatham had a failed stint at Kannapolis earlier this season. As you would expect of players repeating rookie ball, neither are regarded as prospects, but should factor into how successful Great Falls is this season.
As for the prospects, the highest draft pick on the team is 6th rounder Justin Collop. The RHP had a mediocre career at Toledo and is definitely a project for the White Sox. He could be one of the more interesting pitchers to follow to see if the Sox can turn him around a la Dexter Carter (who had an ERA north of 8 at Old Dominion before being a great pitcher for Great Falls last year and Kannapolis this year). Former Monmouth righty Ryan Buch (8th round) brings a solid fastball-curveball combo, but needs to refine his control and his changeup if he wants to be a prospect as a starter.
Hitting wise 10th rounder Nick Ciolli and 12th rounder Kyle Colligan, both outfielders, should do well for the Voyagers this year. Ciolli, an Indiana State product, has hit third in both of their games with good results. He is 3-7 with a walk in the Voyagers (1-1) first two games. Colligan is a good athlete that brings some power and speed to centerfield.
Without any high draft picks (at least for now) on the team, it’s hard to find much to get excited about. The Voyagers have enough college talent and decent returnees to make the playoffs again (not that it’s hard in the Pioneer League, four of the eight teams qualify), but prospect wise it’s a lot of unknowns.
I think the guy to watch is Ryan Buch. He has very good stuff, especially for an 8th round selection. He has a lot of flaws to his game but if he can clean up his command and continue to develop, your talking about a guy with two good pitches currently (with room to develop more), that might make an impact in the Sox rotation or bullpen 2-4 years from now.
Yeah, I like Buch to be the guy to have a big year. We still don’t know if the Sox are going to start him or make him a reliever though. He seems like a good value pick for the 8th round. It’s hard to get excited about this Great Falls team right now though. I like Colligan to be successful in the lower levels of the minors, but I’m not sure he is prospect material.
I think both Colligan and Ciolli are guys that are going to hit at the lower levels (at least Great Falls and eventually Kanny). Collop has to show me something before I ever give the Sox credit for that pick. Everything about that pick sounds awful (Sorry in advance if you read this Justin, but I hope you do kick ass!!!). Great Falls could get more interesting if the Sox end up being agressive with Holmberg/Jones/Heidenreich.
Collop reminded me of Whisler from the reports. Mediocre college career, throws a lot of pitches, somewhat of an overdraft. Whisler was a Cape Cod League prospect that also spent time as a hitter though, so it’s hard to make that comparison. Hopefully it works out, it’s not like 6th rounders are supposed to be stars anyway.