Today’s preview features the Peoria Javelinas who finished last in the AFL West in 2015 (12-15-1).

The Javelinas feature players from the following major league teams: Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.

Baseball Factory Alumni

Dan Altavilla (RHP) – Parent Club: Seattle Mariners

Dan Altavilla, a fifth round pick out of Mercyhurst College in 2014, is the first Javelina to have garnered Major League Experience, as he was called up in August and currently has a sparkling ERA of 1.13 in 8 innings pitched as a 24 year old.

Altavilla won a slew of awards while playing at the D-II level, including being named the inaugural winner of the Brett Tomko award for being the most outstanding Divison II pitcher and winning the ABCA/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year. Altavilla was also named an All-American by three different organizations.

We first saw Altavilla in 2010 at a National Tryout in McKees Rocks, PA where he touched 86 MPH and flashed both a plus breaking ball and changeup.

Brent Honeywell

Brent Honeywell (RHP) – Parent Club: Tampa Bay Rays

The Carnesville, GA native dominated hitters at both A and AA ball alike this year, starting 10 games at each level and posting sub 2.5 ERAs for both Charlotte (A+) and Montgomery (AA). Baseball Prospectus thought highly enough of the 2014 2nd round pick that they rated him as the 44th best prospect on their mid-season prospect ranking reports.

At Montgomery, Honeywell dominated hitters to the tune of 53 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched, while only allowing a WHIP of 1.096 and only serving up 4 long balls. His 10.3 K/9 suggests that he could be a very solid middle to top of rotation starter in the very near future.

Honeywell attended a National Tryout in Kennesaw, GA in 2011, which earned him an invitation to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Pre-Season Tournament as a two-way player. He was impressive on the bump, touching 89 and coming downhill. His true 12-6 curve coupled with a changeup and slider that all graded out positively put him on scout’s radar early.

Nick Ciuffo

Nick Ciuffo (C) – Parent Club: Tampa Bay Rays

2013 1st rounder Nick Ciuffo, out of Charleston, SC, spent all of 2016 at A+ Charlotte in the Florida State League, where he hit .262 over 59 games. The lefty hitting catcher threw out 59% of base stealers, showing off his cannon of an arm.

The 2012 Under Armour All American and 25th ranked Rays prospect (according to mlb.com), had 60 hits, including 8 doubles during the 2016 campaign, his most impressive professional season offensively to date.

We saw Ciuffo at Wrigley in 2012, where he showed off his elite defensive abilities, including an extremely impressive 1.87 pop time due to very good footwork and an innate ability to have a clean exchange when nabbing potential base runners.

Tyler Marlette

Tyler Marlette (C) – Parent Club: Seattle Mariners 

Marlette, a 2011 5th rounder out of Oviedo, FL, rebounded from a not great offensive year in 2015 to a stellar year at the dish in 2016. Marlette spent the majority of the year at A+ Bakersfield, before being called up to AA Jackson for the last few weeks of the season and the playoff run, as the Generals won the 2016 Southern League title.

The right handed hitting catcher hit to the tune of .277/.335/.463, while throwing out 33% of all would be base stealers. Marlette displayed his power potential, whacking 15 homers to go along with his 23 doubles, driving in 59 runs over the course of the year.

Marlette came to us in 2010 for a TeamOne South event and also attended the Under Armour Pre-Season All American Tournament in 2010, where he touched 88 MPH on the radar gun and had a pop time of 1.89 in addition to receiving plus grades on both receiving and blocking. At the plate he showed an ability to drive the baseball to all fields and keep his hands inside the ball, allowing his size and natural power to play up.

Josh VanMeter

Josh VanMeter (IF) – Parent Club: San Diego Padres

The former 5th rounder from Ossian, IN, had his offensive prowess on display for A+ Lake Elsinore this summer, eventually garnering a call up to AA San Antonio in the Texas League. The left handing hitting middle infielder hit .251 with an on base percentage of .331 at both levels. For the first time in his professional career, VanMeter was able to show off the same power that he first garnered attention for as a Team One player back in 2011, as he walloped 14 home runs, 11 more than his previous career high. He added 23 doubles and 11 stolen bases, while maintaining a fielding percentage of .896.

We saw VanMeter at multiple Team One events and a National Tryout in Plainfield, IN back in 2011. He was an athletic two way shortstop/RHP who had power to all fields at the plate. At the TeamOne Futures East event in 2011, VanMeter was considered to be one of the most well rounded players at the event, as he put on a show both at the plate and in the field,

Michael Gettys

Michael Gettys (OF) – Parent Club: San Diego Padres

The 2013 Under Armour All American was considered one of the most toolsy players in the 2014 draft, in which he went in the 2nd round. Gettys mashed pitching in just his second professional season, slashing .305/.363/.442 between Fort Wayne (A) and Lake Elsinore (A+). The right handed hitting outfielder is so well regarded that he still ranks as the 10th in the San Diego Padres farm system, despite the Padres rebuilding efforts.

Gettys crushed 12 homers to pair with 23 doubles to drive in 60 runs for the year, despite spending most of his season in pitcher friendly ballparks. He showed off his elite arm strength in the outfield, as he had 15 assists over the course of the year.

We saw Gettys at Wrigley in 2013, and he put on an absolute show. In the home run derby, he put a few balls onto Waveland Avenue, as he reached the finals. His arm strength was classified as elite, above Major League average as a high school senior. In the game itself, Gettys hit 2nd and reached base twice in five trips to the plate. He stole 2 bases and had an RBI.

D.J. Stewart (OF) – Parent Club: Baltimore Orioles

Perhaps the most recognizable name on the Javelinas, 2015 first rounder D.J. Stewart got off to a bit of a slow start in his first season of pro ball, but was able to right the ship and get back to being the hitter that everyone fell in love with at Florida State.

Stewart slashed .254/.377/.399 between SALLY league Delmarva and A+ Frederick while hitting 10 home runs, 24 doubles and stealing 26 bags. The former Seminole captain was a 2 time first team All American in college, while also being named the ACC player of the year in 2014. Stewart attended a Team One South Event in 2011, and it was evident there that he had a bright future ahead of him.

Justin Williams

Justin Williams (OF) – Parent Club: Tampa Bay Rays

Williams, a 2013 second round pick was acquired by the Rays as part of the trade that sent Jeremey Hellickson to Arizona, mashed A+ pitching at Charlotte, hitting .330 in 51 games and was called up to Montgomery for the 2nd half of the season. He continued to hit there, as the 15th ranked Rays prospect slashed .295/.318./.447 for the year.

The left handed outfielder showed some of the power that had him ranked so highly by scouts, as he hit 10 home runs with 18 doubles.

Williams was at Wrigley as an Under Armour All American in 2012, and while there he displayed his power, hitting balls out to both the pull side and the opposite field, cementing his status as one of the top players in the 2013 draft class.