Falling Stars?

[Maow]

What can anyone tell me about the following guys?
Engel Beltre OF/TEX - seemed to drop off the map this year???
Oscar Tejada SS/BOS - has always seemed to have some mixed reviews - can he stay at SS even without two other top prospects at SS in their system???
Deolis Guerra SP/Min - usually been young for his level - great change, but two straight years of not much production???

Any info would be welcome. Thanks.

[kab21]

Beltre is young so his struggles aren't much of a surprise. The big concern is that he hardly ever walks (2.5% in '08 and 4.4% in '09), K's quite a bit and doesn't hit for much power. Not really a great combo but he's still real young and he can steal quite a few bases.

Guerra's ERA doesn't show it but he made some nice improvements this year. He cut BB rate in half to 6.5% and upped his K rate to about 16.5% while having avg or better GB rates. I will be interested in reading the scouting reports to see what actually changed for him this year (there has been considerable tweaking of his mechanics over the last two years) but those numbers are encouraging. He's not an upside guy since I don't think he'll ever K a lot but if he can be stingy with walks and have a decent GB rate then he's got potential to be a #3. I am still waiting for the scouting reports from this season before I get too excited as a Twins fan.

[Johnny Tuttle]

The issue with a Beltre is definitely plate discipline. He's so much the free swinger that a lot of his helium is lost: I'd bet you a quarter his earlier high rankings were at least partially premised on improved plate approach, and this is another year with no progression at all there.

I don't think all is lost with him; he is still young. But sooner or later, he's got to show some semblance of an ability to work a count, let alone start drawing walks and improving his contact rate.

Hit F/X is a little above my understanding and willingness to learn at the moment, but this would be a fun player to explore there. I'd bet it would be a scary portrait of a young man.