Reader Vincenzo Russo commented on Riccardo Schiroli’s World Baseball Classic article and we thought his analysis was so great to publish it directly on Mister-Baseball.com
The WBC showed some good players to take notice to. I saw many games on TV during the last World Baseball Classic (on ESPN America). Some players captured my attention (and some scouts’ interest too): That’s the List.
RHP Suk Min Yoon (Korea), 22 Yrs: he showed a very good control of 4 pitches (a 90-94 mph fastball, a 83-86 mph slider, a 77-79 mph changeup and a 70-72 mph curve)
RHP Hyun Wook Jong (Korea), 29 Yrs: he showed 3 average or above average pitches (a 90-94 mph fastball, a mid 80 mph slider and mid 70 mph curve)
1B Tae Kyun Kim (Korea), 25 Yrs: a right handed hitter, led the WBC with 11 RBIs showing interesting power (made the All-Tournament team)
SS Ki Hyuk Park (Korea), 27 Yrs: in my opinion, the best defensive SS of the tournament, with above average range, defensive skills and arm. A major leaguer right now for his defense, but he doesn’t hit.
OF Jong Wook Lee (Korea), 28 Yrs: a left-handed hitter with above average hitting skills.
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (Japan), 28 Yrs: he can command 4 above average pitches (an 88-92 mph sinker with movement, an 84-86 mph splitter, a 78-81 mph slider and a 70-72 mph curve). In my opinion (and of teammate Dice-K too), the real MVP of the WBC (made the All-Tournament team).
LHP Toshya Sugiuchi (Japan), 28 Yrs: a reliever in the WBC, but a starter in the NPB, the lefty has an outstanding command of a low 90s fastball and of a 77-79 curveball.
1B-3B Shuichi Murata (Japan), 28 Yrs: a right handed slugger with solid average power and good discipline at the plate.
SS Hiroyuki Nakajima (Japan), 26 Yrs: a five-tool talent, bats for average and power, outstanding defender, plus speed. One of the best players of the tournament.
OF Norichika Aoki (Japan), 27 Yrs: left handed hitter with above average hitting skills and defense (made the All-Tournament team).
RHP Vladimir Garcia (Cuba), 26 Yrs: OK, Aroldis Chapman is the ace of team Cuba, but take a look at this closer with great stuff (96-97 mph heat, low 80s curve). He seemed a little bit wild during the WBC, but the arm is there.
Cuba showed two interesting OFs in Frederich Cepeda, 29 Yrs, a switch-hitter with above average hitting and power, and Yoennis Cespedes, 23 Yrs, a right handed hitter with an amazing combination of hitting (average), speed (above average), and defense (above average range and arm). Both made the All-Tournament Team.
Two 19 years old RHPs from Netherlands weren’t afraid of attacking Major League caliber line-ups with their low 90s fastball: Juan Carlos Sulbaran (a Reds prospect) and Dennis Neuman (Red Sox).
He can’t be considered a prospect anymore due to his age (34), but Dutch RHP Robbie Cordemans showed a plus plus command of his off-speed stuff.