The Gamers vs. The Gifted: Fuller vs. Tapia

We're starting to get some interesting names on the list. Tapia is listed towards the tail of the Generation 2K discussion with Akeel Morris. He's one of only a handful of guys who can make a radar gun flash three numbers at once and he's pretty young. Ironically he's up against a guy who can't get his fastball above 90.

Full Name: James Fuller

Born: 06/01/1987

Birthplace: Marlborough, MA

College: Southern Connecticut State

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 180

Bats: L

Throws: L

Before the injury sidelined him for a full season Fuller was part of a trio of successful guys in Savannah. There was James Fuller, Mark Cohoon and Brandon Moore. There names were listed in THAT order for a reason. None of the guys had rocket arms but they were all flying through Savannah and onto bigger things. Cohoon skipped right by St. Lucie but Fuller took a more patient route and had okay success in his part of a season.

I love lefties who can throw strikes and think around a hitter. That is what Fuller is at his best and I think he will be again when he comes back. If I didn't think that I wouldn't have put him on the list. He's not assured a return to the Port St. Lucie rotation when he's healthy but my fingers are crossed that he can pick things up where he left off.

Fuller's Scouting Report:

Not a big kid, Jimmy Fuller might settle into a bullpen role shortly. He works comfortably in the high-80s from the left side with a meh curveball in the low-to-mid 70s and a decent slider and change-up.

Full Name: Domingo Tapia

Born: 12/16/1991

Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 186

Bats: R

Throws: R

Pure potential is the word on Tapia... AND Morris for that matter. Any time you can throw a pitch 100 MPH it tends to indicate that you can do big things. Tapia is a LITTLE more refined than Morris but scouts love Morris' stuff a little more.

Tapia was okay in Kingsport but his 1 and only start in Brooklyn was the thing that excited me more. Six scoreless innings, five hits, six strikeouts... AND NO WALKS. I have Tapia playing in Brooklyn in 2012 but he could go even higher if he continues to look so polished. My one confusion is the limited number of K's in the Appalachian league. Only 30 K's in 50 innings... it's more odd than anything.

Tapia's Scouting Report:

The powerful righty is a man-child, listed at 6'4", 186 lbs and reports had him hitting 100 mph during instructs. He is Mejia-esque, working in the mid-90's with a two-seamer and what's more, he throws a ton of strikes. Big time sleeper candidate.

This one shouldn't surprise anyone. An injured gamer who has to regain everything or a young kid with a fireball who has impressed in his brief time with the Mets. Tapia takes this round for the Gifted.