Jeff Natale - Talksox

ksushi · 05-15-2006, 04:11 PM

23 year old second basemen currently playing DH for the Greenville Drive, a class A affiliate for the sox. A team captain in college he hit .470 at trinity university and is hitting .341 with some pop and only 14 k's right now. No idea why this guy isn't being talked about even though he is only in class A - but so is Bucholz and everyone raves about him. This guy is worth checking out, could be in for a call up sometime soon. Seems to be promising.

jsinger121 · 05-15-2006, 04:35 PM

He isn't being talked about that much because he is 23yrs old in Low A ball. He hasn't got promoted because he doesn't play great defense and he is not your typical DH type.

ksushi · 05-15-2006, 05:20 PM

Bucholz is in low A ball too and I wouldn't say that 23 is over the hill. To be honest, I'd promote this guy to AA because I think if he is capable of hitting .300+ in AA or AAA, defense can be sacrficed at 2B. As long as he isn't Soriano bad

jsinger121 · 05-15-2006, 05:27 PM

Buccholz is 21 not 23 and he is a much better prospect than Natale with much more upside. The knock on Natale is that scouts think he would not have success at a higher level but I would like to see him get the chance.

**yeszir** · 05-15-2006, 05:28 PM

How long has he been in A ball?

jsinger121 · 05-15-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeszir

How long has he been in A ball?

Natale or Buccholz?

jsinger121 · 05-15-2006, 05:34 PM

If you are talking about Natale then he started out last year in SS Lowell before getting promoted to Low A Greenville. This year he is in Low A ball again which just shows that he is not that good of a prospect. Natale played at D3 school in college so he really never faced that much top competition and the fear with him is that he would not succeed at a higher level because the talent level is significantly better. If you are talking about Buccholz he was a 20 yr old in SS Lowell last year before starting this year in Greenville.

YazYaz04 · 05-15-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsinger121

He isn't being talked about that much because he is 23yrs old in Low A ball. He hasn't got promoted because he doesn't play great defense and he is not your typical DH type.

And I, uh, hate to break it to him, but the sox have a pretty good D.H, forgot his name.

SchillingIsTheNatural · 05-15-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksushi

defense can be sacrficed at 2B. As long as he isn't Soriano bad

I'd have to disagree here. I believe a teams defense needs to be built up the middle (SS, 2B, CF)....they should be your top defensive players. Thats just my opinion though. Considering his age he would need to continue the high production to give the Red Sox no choice but to promote him. After a month it could be he is just hot at the moment.

jsinger121 · 06-01-2006, 03:18 PM

SALLY pitchers should be happy now that Jeff Natale has been promoted to Wilmington today.

jsinger121 · 06-01-2006, 07:45 PM

Jeff Natale homers in his first high-A at-bat for Wilmington.

CrespoBlows · 09-04-2006, 12:21 PM

After a rough start, Natale is starting to adjust well to Wilmington.

.282/.422/.398/.820.

This guy has walked 101 times this year.

jsinger121 · 09-04-2006, 12:34 PM

And he has 17 homeruns between Greenville and Wilmington which is pretty damn good for a guy his size.

DUSTINMOHR4LIFE · 03-25-2007, 12:05 PM

Natale is a guy who really jumped out at me this offseason. His career OPS is .950!!!! Sure, he is old for his level, but his numbers are truly ridiculous. I can't wait to see what he can do at a higher level.

Anuj09 · 03-28-2007, 04:32 PM

i heard someone compare him to Dan Uggla