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TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Felix Pie By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 2/8/85, Age: 17, Bats/Throws: L/L,
Height: 6’2’’, Weight: 165. Acquired: Cubs - Signed out of the Dominican
Republic in 2001. 2001 Stats: Played in the D.R. 2002 Stats: (Rookie - Az.
Cubs) .321 AVG, 218 AB, 16 2B, 13 3B, 4 HR, 17 SB, 21 BB, 47 K, .385 OBP,
.569 SLG; (Rookie+ - Boise) .125 AVG, 8 AB, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 SB, 1 BB,
1 K, .222 OBP, .250 SLG.
First things first:
pronunciation. Pie is pronounced P-ay, not like the dessert. Felix Pie is
a scrawny kid with obvious raw ability, fresh out of a Cubs tryout camp in
the Dominican Republic. Transferred from the Cubs’ Dominican team before
the start of the Arizona Summer League campaign, Pie started out hot and
never looked back. He projects to be above average in all five tools, but
his best tool is his speed. Although the steal numbers don’t show it due
to his inexperience on the basepaths, Pie can run with the best. That
speed is readily apparent in his center field play, as his range is well
above average. His arm is also a plus tool, with both strength and
accuracy evident. At the plate, Pie has shown characteristics of both a
leadoff and a cleanup hitter. He makes contact, takes pitches very well
for a 17 year old, and has incredible speed, so he could be groomed as a
leadoff man. However, his wiry frame will likely fill out significantly
over the next few years, and he already hits a lot of balls to the gaps
with authority, as illustrated by his 34 extra base hits in 226 at bats
this season. At the very least, I would expect him to develop Kenny
Lofton-type (10-20 homer) power, but he could end up being quite a bit
stronger than that. The areas that Pie most needs to improve on
immediately are his strike zone judgment, which is already quite good for
his age, and his base stealing tactics. Everything else ought to come with
time. He is still incredibly raw both on the field and off (he still
requires an interpreter, like many young imports), but Pie has the makings
of an exciting young player.
The Cubs were one of my
sleeper picks this season, and though they were disappointing this year,
they have the makings of a franchise on the way up. (finally, might I add)
Except for catcher, where they might be stuck with Joe Girardi and his
rings, the Cubs have a top prospect or solid veteran earmarked for
practically every spot on the team. Choi, Hill, Montanez, and Kelton or
Bellhorn can handle the infield, while Sosa, Patterson, and Jackson or Pie
can take the outfield. Prior, Wood, Cruz, Clement, and Zambrano have live
arms that could fill out a rotation, while Farnsworth still looks like a
future bullpen ace. I might dare to predict a Cubs’ dynasty by 2006, if I
had some faith in their front office, but they should be good at the very
least. For Pie, I would actually liken him to Kenny Lofton, but he is
still a long way from Chicago. I would expect him to begin next year back
in the Northwest League, with an eye toward a full season league later in
the year. I don’t expect him to compete for a major league position until
2006 at the earliest. We always have to remember that there are hundreds
of players down in the low minors with four or five plus tools, and we
can’t be enamored with merely the few that happened to start out
hot.
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