FCL Notebook: Yankees’ Henry Lalane Deals, Blue Jays’ Arjun Nimmala Stands Out
Image credit: Arjun Nimmala (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
From Aug. 3 until Aug. 7 Baseball America visited the Tampa/Clearwater pod of the Florida Complex League. We saw a handful of games in total between the Blue Jays’, Phillies’, Tigers’ and Yankees’ Florida Complex League affiliates. This time of year the league is ripe with talented international signees and recent draftees. This list of notes was compiled through first-hand accounts and conversations with scouts.
YANKEES
Henry Lalane, LHP: Lalane’s name had come up in conversations with scouts (and our own Josh Norris) when planning this trip. He threw in the first game of the doubleheader against the Blue Jays on Aug. 4. Lalane struggled with command early, as he walked two of the first four batters he faced while hitting another. He seemed to lock in after a wild pitch scored a runner, as he worked his way back from a 3-1 count to strike out Gregori Cano (Robinson Cano’s younger brother) on a 95 mph fastball for a swinging strike three. He finished the inning with a three-pitch strikeout of Luis Garcia, throwing a 93 mph fastball for a swinging strike, an 84 mph changeup for a called strike and a 96 mph fastball for a swinging strike. Over the final two innings Lalane struck out five of the next seven batters he faced, allowing just a single to lead off the second. His four-seam fastball sat 93-96 mph, touching 97 mph at peak. The pitch features heavy ride and run, showing good efficiency and shape. His combination of power and movement from the left side is unique. He pairs his fastball with a changeup in the mid 80s and a slurvy breaking ball. Each flashes average, with many evaluators split on whether they prefer his changeup or breaking ball. Regardless, there’s a true plus fastball present with a pair of secondaries he can throw for strikes. He’s an outlier in terms of size at 6-foot-8 and could add more strength and velocity in the coming years. Lalane is a player receiving considerable buzz on the complex and for good reason.
Eric Reyzelman, RHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the fifth round out of Louisiana State in 2022, Reyzelman was on a rehab assignment in the FCL as he returns from a stint on the 60-day injured list. Reyzelman has dealt with injuries in the past as he had Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. He’s worked primarily as a reliever since his time at LSU and came on in relief of Lalane. His pitch mix has changed over the years, and he used primarily a four-seam fastball and a pair of sweepy breaking balls in this look. Reyzelman did a poor job of locating his mix and was often catching too much of the plate. Reyzelman possesses quality stuff but he needs to harness his command and attack the spots in the zone where his pitches are most effective.
Hans Montero, SS: Part of a contingent of FCL Yankees players with strong numbers this summer, Montero started both games of a doubleheader and played second base. He immediately stood out at the plate for his steep bat path. He seems to fire his hands upward at contact, looking to get under everything. He shows a solid approach at the plate, as he’s looking to draw walks every time he steps to the plate, but that does lead to some passive at-bats. He shows strong bat-to-ball skills despite the unusual bat path, and he’s made contact at a well above-average rate this season. He’s an average runner and is unlikely to be much of a threat as a basestealer. Defensively, he was fine at second base and with the Yankees plethora of shortstop options he’s likely best suited there. It’s a matter of whether or not Montero’s unusual uppercut bat path starts to be exploited by more advanced pitching. Montero does have some very high-level traits from a plate skills perspective.
Keiner Delgado, SS: Delgado only played in the second game of the doubleheader, receiving four at-bats and starting at shortstop. The athleticism with Delgado immediately stands out to you as well as his diminutive size—he’s listed at 5-foot-7, 145 pounds. A switch-hitter, Delgado faced only righthanded pitchers, so he did not hit righthanded at any point during the game. He has an advanced approach and plate skills, as he discerns balls and strikes well and put a ball in play during each at-bat. He has plus bat-to-ball skills but his lack of power and level bat path are a concern. He’s unlikely to hit for much power without adding significant strength, and with his diminutive build that might be a problem. He could add more loft to better back spin the ball, but that might detract from what makes Delgado a strong player.
Enmanuel Tejeda, SS: In the second game of a doubleheader, Tejeda played third base and batted second. The lesser defender and athlete among the trio that includes Montero and Delgado, like the latter, Tejeda’s profile is driven by his advanced approach at the plate. He rarely chases, and this translates to a high walk rate but also masks some of his swing and miss. While it’s not a major red flag, as Tejeda is an average contact hitter, there’s more concern around his plate skills than with either Montero or Delgado. The other question with Tejeda is his ability to hit for impact. His bat path and launch angle data are conducive to power hitting. The larger issue is Tejeda doesn’t hit the ball that hard. Despite having a steep swing that translates to pull-side fly balls, Tejeda doesn’t hit for the type of impact that will likely translate. There’s always the chance he adds strength and sees an uptick in power, but as currently constituted he projects to hit for fringe-average power totals.
BLUE JAYS
Nolan Perry, RHP: A 2022 12th-round pick out of Carlsbad (N.M.) High, Perry made his pro debut this summer in the Florida Complex League. Perry has average size and strength, but is an above-average mover with a three-pitch mix. He started the second game of the doubleheader against the FCL Yankees lineup. Over five innings Perry stifled the Yankees bats, scattering four hits and two walks and striking out seven over five scoreless frames. He relied heavily upon his fastball and slider, going to each early and often. Perry’s bread and butter was his low-80s slider, a pitch he seemed to execute with precision throughout this start. It sat 80-82 mph and featured moderate glove-side break. He showed a curveball variation with more sweep and depth at 78-79 mph. His fastball sat 91-93 mph during this outing and it showed solid ride and run. He mixed in a single changeup at 87 mph but it was tough to take much away from the pitch. Overall, Perry showed starter traits and a one-two punch in his fastball and breaking ball that should work in the bullpen.
Arjun Nimmala, SS: Nimmala started the third of three games we were present for in FCL play. He batted second and played shortstop. Immediately Nimmala’s bat speed and power stood out. The ball jumps off of his bat, and he produces the sort of backspin and carry that portend well for future in-game power. He didn’t get beat more than once and showed the ability to handle fastballs on the inner half of the plate. Nimmala displayed plate discipline, but was hardly passive, attacking strikes over the plate and looking to do damage. Defensively he had plenty of range and good footwork but his actions weren’t always clean and he misplayed a few balls. His arm is above-average to plus and he showed the ability to make all the throws needed for a shortstop. He looks like a bat-driven infield profile with enough power to develop into an impact hitter in time.
Sam Shaw, OF: The Blue Jays historically have done a good job of scouting in their own backyard, with a track record of drafting and acquiring Canadian-born players. Shaw, the team’s ninth-round pick this July, hails from British Columbia. He’s smaller in stature but has broad shoulders. There’s not a substantial amount of projection or power present, but Shaw has advanced plate skills. He works deep into counts and doesn’t expand the zone. His bat-to-ball skills were evident and he showed the ability to hit the ball to all fields. It’s a limited profile due to his size and skill set, but he is a skilled hitter.
Gage Stanifer, RHP: Drafted in the 19th round in 2022 out of the Indiana prep ranks, Stanifer debuted in the Florida Complex League in 2023 and has made nine professional appearances to date. He went five strong innings in this look, allowing just two baserunners to reach. He used three pitches in his fastball, slider and splitter. His fastball sat 90-93 mph with above-average to plus ride, as he showed the ability to consistently land it at the top of the zone. He played a splitter at 86-87 mph off of the fastball and mixed in a low-80s gyro slider, particularly against righthanded hitters. He delivers from a high three-quarter slot with a simple operation, but lacks extension in his motion. He showed feel for his three-pitch mix in this look.
