Baseball America has this week’s minor league transactions.
Signed: RHP Chris Booker, RHP Sam Marsonek
Booker returns to the Nationals after beoming a minor league free agent at the end of the 2007 season. Assuming he sticks around he’s likely a member of the Clippers bullpen in Columbus. Booker’s repertoire is primarily his fastball which sits in the 90s.
Marsonek is another RHRP. He was a Texas Rangers 1st round draft pick back in 1996. He was traded to the Yankees in 1999 with RHP Brandon Knight in exchange for OF Chad Curtis. Up until 2003, he was primarily a starter but has spent the majority of his time in the bullpen through 2005. He was apparently out of baseball in 2006 but pitched in the independent Atlantic League in 2007.
Here is a scouting report from Scout.com.
Repertoire. Fastball, Slider
Fastball. Marsonek flashes a power fastball that has been clocked upwards of 96 miles per hour on the radar gun. His 6′ 6″ frame makes him a menacing presence on the mound along with his great heater. The problem is, he doesn’t’ use this excellent heater enough. He will need to trust it more in order to be successful in the big leagues. But, there is no doubt that this is a plus fastball.
Other Pitches. For the most part, Marsonek is a two pitch pitcher which is probably why he never had much success as a starter. However, with these two power pitches, he can be a dominating Besides his good fastball, he has a hard, nasty slider that he uses as his primary strikeout pitch. If he can just learn to have slightly better command with this pitch, he could end up being a successful pitcher. But the good news is, his command has gotten better and better since the start of the 2004 season.
Pitching. Sam Marsonek is a natural power pitcher as a benefit of his monstrous frame and he is a very imposing and intimidating figure on the mound. With the stuff he has, many expect that he should be a bit more of a strikeout pitcher than he has been early in his career. However, he still just find ways to get outs but should probably learn how to trust his fastball much more. He also needs to learn to locate his pitches much better if he ever wants to be a successful major league pitcher. Marsonek leaves too many fat pitches out over the plate. However, he has good enough overall stuff to still be dominant at times.
If he sticks with the Nationals, Columbus also seems his likely destination.
Hendo | 28-Jan-08 at 3:09 pm | Permalink
Booker’s logged some years with decent numbers, superficially at least, as a AAA closer. One number I’d like to see is how many saves he’s blown. (Given his ERA, it doesn’t seem as if it could be that many.)
Any chance he can learn to throw another pitch effectively at the tender age of 31?
Pilchard | 28-Jan-08 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
Glad to see the Nats re-signed Booker. Must say that with all the weak bullpens in MLB, I am surprised that no other team was willing to give him a look on their MLB roster. Booker has a really good arm, and put up strong number in AAA and on Team USA. Not saying that Chris Booker will contribute much (also realize that he is over 30), if at all, to the Nats this year, just that he has better stuff (and has produced on the AAA level) than more than a handful of guys on MLB rosters.
18 more days | 28-Jan-08 at 4:48 pm | Permalink
I am still shocked that Albaladejo is the only reliever that we traded this off-season. I realize that there is still time, but it is the Nats’ position of strength. Adding Booker helps the depth.
Tom | 28-Jan-08 at 9:54 pm | Permalink
Marsonek on paper sounds like a good pick up.
Power pitching out of the bullpen is the big difference between th AL an NL.
This was very obvious watching the playoff this season.
donald says : | 01-Feb-08 at 6:51 am | Permalink
Marsonek although my nefue has loved baseball all his entire life when getting hurt you always come back stronger with willpower and confidence the time is now watch out batters !
Linda | 24-Mar-08 at 8:57 am | Permalink
Will you ever find a player with more heart? Not a chance. Marsonek not only has the heart but when totally healthy there are no limits! Is he healthy? totally!
Sandy | 25-Mar-08 at 5:57 pm | Permalink
Marsonek is the kind of player that gives everything he has. He is also a believer in baseball traditions.
It will be great to see him “go all the way.”