Just got back from watching the Naturals drop their opener 3-2 to the Missions.   Some nuggets that I observed in-between making sure my kids didn't get hit by foul balls:

Chris Dwyer started tonight.  In the Naturals program this year, they list some "Bests" from the pages of Baseball American (I'll list them below, though many of you have likely seen).   Dwyer is listed as "Best Curveball" in the organization.   We saw it a few times tonight, but not much else out of him.   He struggled with control from the first pitch.   He settled down a bit after giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in the first inning, but his complete line of 4IP, 4H, 3ER, 3BB, and 4Ks was less than promising, and he never looked dominant.

Blake Johnson came in for the next 3 and was solid, but not spectacular.   He pitches to contact well and only gave up 3 hits in his stint.  Sisk finished the game with 2 strong innings.

Christian Colon:   Batted in the 2nd spot and absolutely crushed a ball for a first inning homerun to left field.  He had a second hit and was then caught stealing, but I was pretty impressed with his plate coverage.  He still doesn't take enough for my taste though.   In the field, he was never really tested, but did impress with a relay throw to gun a runner out at the plate.

Wil Myers:   Man he looks young.  No doubt he has some real pop though.   Sound is different off of his bat vs. the other guys.  He singled in his first at bat and that was all from him, but he has good ABs and battles well.   His play in RF was a little scary.   Specifically, he turned a routine fly ball into a 3 turn adventure late in the game, but to his credit he made the catch.   He'll be fine with some experience just because of his athletic ability.   Plenty of room for him to fill out still too.   He could add power.

Salvador Perez has an absolute cannon arm.  Dwyer practically begged a Mission to steal early in the game with a poor hold.  Dude got a HUGE jump and Perez gunned him down by a full step.   It's the real deal.

D. Rob still looks fast.   And still looks like he can't hit.

Player of the night for me was definitely the underdog of the team, Nick Van Stratten.   He played the kind of game you love to watch, specifically in the field.   He showed off a surprisingly strong arm twice:  once in doubling off a runner from first base after a flyout, and again in teaming with Colon to throw a runner out at the plate.   The highlight of the night though was his homerun saving grab over the wall to save 2 runs.   This was really a great, major league caliber catch.   Add to all of this his incredible hustle, and the fact that his walk-up song is "Your Love" by The Outfield, and you can't help but love this guy.

All in all, a more pedestrian team than last year, but Colon, Myers, Bianchi and VS will be worth watching.   And I can't wait to see more John Lamb.

Finally, the lists from the program (cited from Baseball America).  I assume this was as of the end of last year's season.

Best Tools

Best Hitter for Average:  Eric Hosmer

Best Power:  Mike Moustakas

Best Strike-Zone Discipline:  Wil Myers

Fastest Baserunner:  Jarrod Dyson

Best Athlete:  Derrick Robinson

Best Fastball:  Yordano Ventura

Best Curveball:  Chris Dwyer

Best Slider:  Aaron Crow

Best Changeup:  John Lamb

Best Control:  John Lamb

Best Defensive Catcher:  Salvador Perez

Best Defensive Infielder:  Humberto Arteaga

Best Infield Arm:  Mike Moustakas

Best Defensive Outfielder:  Jarrod Dyson

Best Outfield Arm:   Jordan Parraz

Projected 2014 Lineup

C - Salvador Perez

1B - Eric Hosmer

2B - Mike Aviles

3B - Mike Moustakas

SS - Christian Colon

LF - Alex Gordon

CF - Brett Eibner

RF - Wil Myers

Starters:  Greinke (thus my end of last year assumption), Lamb, Montgomery, Duffy, Dwyer

Closer:  Soria

Love that we are back in full swing at all levels again.